Sacred Liturgy

It is the [Pascal Mystery] of Christ that the Church proclaims and celebrates in her liturgy so that the faithful may live from it and bear witness to it in the world:

  • “For it is in the liturgy, especially in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist, that “the work of our redemption is accomplished,” and it is through the liturgy especially that the faithful are enabled to express in their lives and manifest to others the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church.” (CCC 1068, Inref Sacrosanctum Concilium)

Catechesis is intrinsically linked with the whole of liturgical and sacramental activity, for it is in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist, that Christ Jesus works in fullness for the transformation of human beings (Catechesi Tradendae, #23).  

Liturgy is the work of the people and encompasses not only the celebrations of the Seven Sacraments of the Church, but also the formal prayer of the Church, such as Liturgy of the Word, Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Stations of the Cross, and the May Procession, for example.  The liturgical celebrations of the Church are guided by the Liturgical Calendar of the Church.  Special care should go into the planning of every liturgy to ensure that it follows the guidelines and norms established by the Church and leads participants to an encounter with Christ Jesus.

Resources for Liturgy