The Historical Functions and Goals of the Liturgy Cited from Dr. Stephen Sauer, SJ. Theology: Practice and Theology (LMU, 2007)
The Historical Functions and Goals of the Liturgy
Cited from Dr. Stephen Sauer, SJ. Theology: Practice and Theology (LMU, 2007)
Theology has a Sociology
The “function and goal” of liturgical activity change as a Christian community’s notions of God, world, self, and liturgy change.
Liturgy as “embodied or enacted theology”
The Early (Nascent) Church
Jesus perceived as “anti-ritual” or anti-establishment Note: meals for Jews are ritual, every
meal is liturgical. Even the whole life is ritual
Kingdom of Heaven is Jesus
God’s Reign, here and now
Jesus IS alive and present Secular and Sacred no longer
separated Sacrifice no longer necessary Everyone is now equal, the old order
is subverted (table fellowship) The end is near
Radical “secularism”
True worship = service of God and neighbor
Liturgy = work of the people Cultic vocabulary is avoided
Worship and Prayer
Rituals Attempt to express and celebrate the radical newness of the explosion of the sacred
Met in homes, within context of meals
Informal worship
Dura Eropas = name of town
Dura Europos House
Syria, 3rd Century
Function and Goal
g/f of ritual = g/f of liturgy = g/f of life and death of Jesus
Live out the new life and relationship with God, others and world as realized thorugh Christ (=Reign of God here on earth)
The Early Church
Followers of the LordFor Fraternal MealsIn the domus ecclesiae (House of the Church)To do what Jesus did
The Constantinian Church
313, 319 AD – Edicts of Tolerance
Major changes
Structure and organization of community
Social status of members Ritual space Shape and manner of worship
BasilicaBasilica of Maxentius (Rome 308-312)
Basilica
Basilica of Maxentius (Rome 308-312)
Another angle
Basilica (Roman to Christian)
Basilica of Maxentius (Rome 308-312)
Bishop’s
Chair
Caesar’sStatue
Major Changes
Attitudes toward the present world and time shift
Conceptualization of Reign from temporal (future erupted into the present) to spatial (above and beyond)
Empire now seen as instrument to bring about the Kingdom
Function and Goal
From celebrating new life in the Spirit to celebrating the sacred mysteries
Worship Christ the King (emperor) g/f of ritual= open a door to heaven
so that we might participate in the heavenly liturgy of Christ before the Father
The Constantine Church
ChristiansGathered as Imperial AssemblyBefore God and the heavenly courtTo celebrate the Sacred Mysteries
Continuing Trends
Sacred/ Divine more remote and inaccessible
Sacralization of the person of the priest begins
Reintroduction of cultic language
BasilicaGreece, 5th Century
BasilicaGreece, 5th Century
Nave is decorated as heaven
Separation of priest and laity
with “iconostasis”
The Middle Ages
Lave fifth Century= collapse of Roman Empire
567AD = Tours II forbids laity to stand among clergy
Ca. 950AD – Pepin decrees Roman Liturgy
1000 AD = Eucharistic controversies
Major changes
Invasion of northern tribes Great fear of hell; penitential focus Church “split” into 2 spaces
A devotional space for the laity The “holy of holies” for the preist
Major Trend
Mass is increasingly clerical Latin no longer understood Focus narrows to consecration = Mass is
whispered Meaning reduced to sacrificed and
propitiation Multiple altars fill church to increase
number of masses offered, especially for the dead
People’s participation reduces to visual communion
Basilica to Cathedral
Communion Rail
Iconostasis
Chartres, 13th Centurty
Gesu ChurchRome, 16th Century
Function and goal
From celebrating the sacred mysteries to offering the propitiatory sacrifice
Action of the priest alone g/f of ritual = provide grace for the
living and the dead to serve at the hour of judgment
The Medieval Church
The FaithfulGo to churchIn the precinct of “the holy of holies”For devotion and Eucharistic adoration
as the priest offers sacrifice
The Protestant Reformation
1521= Martin Luther excommunicated
1545 = Council of Trent begins 1563= Council of Trent ends 1570= Missal of Pius V issued
Major Trends
Reformers stress act of faith in response to Word proclaimed
Roman Catholic Church continues to stress efficacy of sacraments to produce grace independent of human involvement
Trent
Encourages “participation” and understanding Churches become “divine theaters”
Suppresses superstitious behavior Encourages communion
Doesn’t catch on until the 20th Century Treats Eucharsist as object
(presence) and sacrifice without offering a comprehensive or integrated treatise
The Post-Trent Church
Roman CatholicsObserve the Divine dramaIn the Divine Theater/Throne RoomTo dispose themselves to grace as the
priest offers sacrifice
The Vatican II Church
The Body of ChristGathers as ChurchAround the double table of Word and SacramentTo celebrate the Source and Summit of its
existence
Contemporary Church20th Century
Communion Rail
Vatican II Church