Context and Text Method in Liturgical Theology

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Synopsis

Despite Sacrosanctum Concilium and the twenty-five years' worth of scholarship that followed, much still needs to be said and discovered about the relationship between liturgy and theology.

This work is situated within the present debate over liturgical theology in at least three ways: it concerns methods for the study of liturgy, it explores the meanings that the term liturgical theology can have, and it contributes to the evaluation and critique of present and possible future forms of liturgical rites. In addition, it articulates how the study of liturgy is essentially pastoral theology in that liturgical rites shape the faith and life of believing participants.

The historical, theological, and pastoral investigation of the liturgy required by the constitution on the Sacred Liturgy forms the background and part of the rationale for this work. It is both a proposal for and an example of an investigation of the Church's liturgical praxis from aliturgical-theological perspective. What the reader gains is principles for interpreting the various aspects of liturgy (texts, symbols, ritual gestures) in relation to each other in a theological way and for articulating some theological and spiritual implications derived from liturgy.

Content

Chapter 1 Historical Perspectives

  • The phrase ascribed to Prosper of Aquitaine ut legem credendi lex statuat supplicandi ("the law of prayer grounds the law of belief") has become something of a theme statement for many contemporary authors concerned with liturgical theology, often preferring original formulation to the shortened lex orandi, lex credendi ("the law of prayer [is] the law of belief").
  • The method here is historical
  • Precedents Preceding Prosper
  • Prosper of Aquitaine -
    • In the Indiculus, Prosper argues that the authority of the liturgy did not rest on a specified body of texts derived from the apostolic witness.13 h Here he simply indicates three things: (1) who should e prayed for, (2) what grace is needed for them, and (3) that theological weight is given to these prayers because the whole Church prays for these needs.
    • 14 Karl Federer maintains that the theological importance of the Good Friday intercessions referred to by Prosper derives from the fact that they are the Church's; chief evidence that the prayer for God's grace reflects the Churches belief that the needed grace comes from God.
    • He is referring to Good Friday intercessions
    • Hence Prosper's dictum ut legem credendi lex statuat supphcandi in its original setting means that the liturgy manifests the Church's faith
  • Patristic use of Liturgy for Theology

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Bibliographic info

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