LESSON 1: - God of Salvation, Mercy and signs, symbols, and sacred actions which

AN INTRODUCTION TO LITURGY Forgiveness, sings the eternal love songs- communicate to us the mystery of faith
then in the liturgy, we imitate God and that we commemorate (Panganiban and
Liturgy
thus worship God as God wants to be de Guzman, 2017).
- recent times, it is defined as the work of
worshipped - “an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus
the people but in order to fully participate
Christ” according to The Church’s
in the liturgy we've got to have a deeper
Constitution or solemn document on the
understanding of it. The Meaning of Liturgy
Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium, in
- it's not simply the people's work because  Liturgy
which our human “sanctification is
- comes from the combination of two Greek
there is "the triple nuance of the word manifested by signs perceptible to the
words: laos which means people
'liturgy' in which these 3 things come senses and is effected in a way proper to
and ergon which means work.
together and God is praised each of these signs,” so that “full public
Leitourgia means “public work”.
worship is performed by the Mystical Body
- Thus, from its root words, it signifies
Triple Nuance Of The Word Liturgy of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Head and his
“public service” in the sense of serving
1. Liturgy is the work that the people means members” (SC 7)
and worshipping God as a people or a
that the people have got to be engaged in it. - The Council acknowledged that “the
community.
It is made up of two Greek words:  liturgy does not exhaust the entire activity
- In the early Church, it meant everything
a. Lit - Laos or Lau's (people), in english it of the Church” preaching the Gospel,
that all Christians did in taking part in
inviting all to faith, conversion,
means 'laity “God’s work,” the divine “plan to sum up
observance of Christ’s commandments
b. Urgy-Ergon (work), in english it means all things in Christ” (Jn 17:4; Eph 1:10). This
and works of charity, are explicitly
cognate 'energy' is included not only divine worship, but
mentioned (cf. CCC 1072).
2. Liturgy is the work of Christ, done on behalf the proclamation of the Gospel (Rom
- Nevertheless, the Council went on to
of the people. 15:16) and service of one’s neighbor (2 Cor
affirm that “liturgy is the summit towards
 Christ 9:12).
which the activity of the Church is
- principal liturgist directed, and the fountain from which all
The Nature Of Liturgy
- he is the one doing the work for the her power flows” (SC 9-10; CCC 1074).
 Liturgy
people because they are not able to - But for the ordinary Filipino Catholic,
- is more than just the rituals, ceremonies,
accomplish salvation on their own.  liturgy means being caught up in the
or communal services we perform as an
- he is the one that can say the perfect yearly cycle of liturgical Seasons like
expression of our devotion to and worship
prayer to the Father  Advent, Lent, Holy Week, Easter time, and
of God.
3. Liturgy is the work of God in which the in celebrating feast days like Christmas,
- It is a wellspring of our relationship with
people participate.  Sto. Niño, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday,
God as His people or family gathered
- In Greek mythology, the best way to Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost, the
together to glorify Him and to receive
worship God is to imitate God Immaculate Conception, etc. Filipino
blessings from Him.
popular religiosity has helped enormously
- Ex: Dionysus-the best way to worship is to - is central to Christianity, for in it and
to bring the liturgical year down into the
have a drink through it the mystery of our salvation is
hearts and souls of simple worshippers
- Ex Poseidon-the best way to worship is to remembered, celebrated, and dispensed.
(CFC, 1505).  
go fishing - Both in liturgical and sacramental
celebrations, the Church makes use of
 Eucharist
 - The center of the Church’s liturgy - for catholic, it is a sacramental action which - something dead, cold, static, old but it
- commemorates the Paschal Mystery of unites the worshipers in the body of Christ isn't true *
our Lord Jesus Christ - his Passion, Death, as they are presented to God, to join in the
Resurrection, Ascension, and the sending divine life of love  Inculturation
of the Holy Spirit (SC 5). - when we go to mass, we participate - gathering what is good
- Through this Mystery, the power of God’s - leaving aside what isn't helpful
salvific love is offered to all. Since this
 Liturgy - it allows the worship of the church to be
salvation touches all of creation in its
- work + people communicated in tangible ways
entirety, liturgy in its broadest, deepest
- participation of people with God - the process in which the seed of worship
sense is the proclamation, manifestation,
- rooted in Greek words which is a nourished by the cultures that practice
and celebration not only of Christ and His
Paschal Mystery but also of the Church’s combination for work and people and was - the Christian tradition begins back before
own mystery and mission as the universal used in early context when someone did a Jesus 
sacrament of salvation, and of the whole public work of service on their own but on - Jews -first Christians who had Jewish
world and the temporal order, behalf of the people in early  concerns in Jewish rituals and ways to
consecrated and ordered to its Creator - in Christian history, the Christians began to worship
and Final Goal (CFC, 1504). see their worship as a liturgical action. they
were joined with Jesus Christ which was  Christian Worship
Catholic Liturgy offering his body, the church, to God as an - rooted in 
 Worship act of worship a. The Liturgy of the Word
- an act of love that highlights what we value - worship in the Catholic - God is speaking
most - this prophetic action makes alive anew the
- an action that grabs hold of what we value  Church- presented to God with Christ  old testament. (word of God),
and demonstrates it in a tangible way psalms, new testament, gospels
- it's a movement of the heart, of a love and  Ritual - the word of God
it's something that all people do and - the how, why, what we do b. The Liturgy of the Sacrament/Eucharist
worship in one way or another - language that lets people move together  - the Body of Christ sharing in the feast of
- a way of pointing to what is valued in - actions that point beyond themselves Christ 
someone's life; what we worship shows - rooted in a life of tradition in the church * - Thanksgiving, sacrifices, union
what we value  - everyone has rituals - Eucharisteo which means thanksgiving
- worshipping shows what happens when - helps bring order and meaning to life
someone lives out what they truly value to - give us a way to do things  Union with God
be a Christian and to be a part of the life of - very valuable in worship - we are invited to join in the life of God
the Catholic Church means that you are - worship is a foretaste of the Heavenly
called to worship and to be part of the body  Tradition Kingdom 
of Christ - it's active engagement with the family
- as a catholic, it means that you are involved tree of saints
in something called liturgy - the genetic understanding of the present 
- passing the baton
 according to different roles: priest, deacon, express the personal mystery of God’s love
readers, ministers of music and communion, etc. manifested in Christ’s Paschal Mystery (CFC 1509). 
While we all share the one Holy Spirit of love,
LESSON 2: Essential Qualities of Liturgy, different spiritual gifts or charisms are given to
Consequences, And Obstacles community members for the good of all. Thus, the
power of salvation is mediated through various Ethically Oriented
Jesus said: “The hour is coming, and is already relationships within the Church. The liturgy related directly to moral life
here, when authentic worshipers will worship the This ecclesial quality is especially since it empowers the people of God to full
Father in important for Filipino Catholics because it draws Christian discipleship. Concretely, liturgical
Spirit and truth. . . God is Spirit, and those who them beyond family bonds of intimacy toward worship, and Christian morality, both personal and
worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth.” community solidarity based on faith in Christ. social, go together. One goal of liturgical
(Jn 4:23-24) Ecclesial solidarity is a community that has moved celebrations is that we, the faithful, return to our
beyond the circle of intimacy toward unity and ordinary activities, newly strengthened in faith,
collaborative activity grounded on Christian confirmed in hope and inspired with the power to
Essential Qualities Of Liturgy discipleship rather than merely social relationships love. Far from separating us from our ordinary
(CFC 1507). work, duties, recreation, and relationships, the
Trinitarian and Paschal liturgy aims at confirming our mission as Christians
The Church’s liturgical prayer is directed to Sacramental to be the light of the world and leaven of the mass
the Father, through His son, Jesus Christ, in the Basically, the liturgy celebrates the (SC 9). 
Holy Spirit. Its specific Trinitarian form takes on a Church’s prayer through a pattern of symbolic,
Paschal quality since the liturgy celebrates the ritual movements, gestures, and verbal formulas Eschatological
Good News of our actual salvation worked by the that create a framework within which the The liturgy’s ethical dimension just
Blessed Trinity through Jesus Christ’s Paschal corporate worship of the Church can take place. By described reveals its eschatological characteristic
Mystery. The Trinity, then far from being an participating in the liturgy’s sacramental, symbolic as well. The liturgy makes present Christ’s saving
abstract God of the theologians, is the concrete activities, the Church members both express their Paschal Mystery whereby He inaugurated God’s
living, saving God who comes to us in the Risen faith in Christ and their desire to deepen it and rule, the Kingdom. The liturgy, then, at once
Christ and the Spirit, within the Christian actually share in the reality signified namely, commemorates Christ’s past saving Mystery,
community, the Church (CFC 1506). salvation through forgiveness and communion demonstrates the present grace effects brought
with the Risen glorified Christ in the Spirit. about by Christ, and points to the future glory yet
Ecclesial Among the predominant symbols used in to come.
Liturgy is the prayer of the Church the liturgy are the gathering of the baptized But this future orientation is operative
gathered in assembly, an ecclesial activity, assembly itself, the natural symbols from a now, and every moment of our daily lives. The
celebrated by the whole Christ, Head and creation like light, darkness, water, oil, and fire, as liturgy, far from being some escape from the
members. That is, it is the action of Jesus Christ the well as humanly produced symbols like the reading world, calls us to share in Christ’s own mission of
Priest, and at the same time an activity of the and interpretation of Scripture as the living Word saving the world. Again, we see the intrinsic
community, a gathering together in an ordered of God, the Sign of the Cross, the Paschal Candle, connection between authentic worship and
assembly and communion of the baptized. laying on of hands, etc. But the liturgy’s use of Christian moral witness, which PCP II describes as
Moreover, the liturgical assembly is arranged these symbols always involves persons, for they
the thrust for justice and preferential option for liturgies, lacking all spirit and heart. But even well-
the poor. No wonder, then, that: celebrated liturgies have to face the problem that
Both the eschatological future and the The Mother Church earnestly desires that praise does not come “natural” to many “modern”
now dimensions are effectively brought together all the faithful be led to that full, conscious, and persons. So many have lacked any experience of
in celebrating the feasts and seasons of the active participation in liturgical celebrations which genuine praise in their personal lives, or have so
Liturgical Year (CCC 1163-73). Vatican II describes is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy, and suffered from insincere, manipulative flattery that
how in the course of the year, the Church unfolds to which the Christian people, “a chosen race, a they distrust their emotions. But most
the whole mystery of the Incarnation and Nativity royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed fundamental is the current stress on “self-
of the Ascension, to Pentecost and the people” (1 Pt 2:9, 4-5) have a right and obligation development”, “self-fulfillment” etc. There is little
expectation of the blessed hope of the coming of by reason of their baptism (SC 14).  chance of praising and “taking delight” in God and
the Lord (SC 102).  For Filipino Catholics today, this desired others when we are so focused on ourselves (CFC
full, conscious, and active participation in the 1516).
This cycle includes five stages: liturgy presents a real challenge. Though great
1. The Lord’s Day strides have been made in the past few years,
2. Holy Week, Prepared for by Lent particularly through the Basic Ecclesial
3. Advent, Preparing for Christmas Communities (BECs), the average Sunday Mass
4. The 33 Sundays of The Ordinary Time attendance statistics reported by in the liturgy can
5. Special Feasts, Especially of Christ and only come about when ordinary Filipino Catholics
Mary grasp personally how their personal lives,
especially their prayer lives, and the Church’s
Surely, a practical and informed personal liturgy are mutually entwined and ultimately
understanding of the liturgical seasons is one chief inseparable. Ordinary Filipino Catholics have to see
means for achieving the enthusiastic, active and personally experience the value and worth for
participation of the faithful in the Church’s them of prayer, worship, ritual, and liturgy (CFC
worship, called for by the Second Plenary Council 1515).
(PCP II 176-82). 
Obstacles
Consequence: Participation Such active participation has to overcome
The liturgy, then, is:  rather formidable obstacles. There is, first, our
1. The official public worship of the Blessed general human laziness and weakness of which St.
Trinity Paul complained, fortified by the growing
2. By the whole Church, through the secularist materialism of our age. Secondly, are the
celebration of Christ’s Paschal Mystery more personal obstacles of “growing-up”
3. In a sacramental, symbolic activity complaints of children and youth (why do I have
4. With intrinsic moral/ethical links and  to…?) and common superficial reasons for Mass
5. In a built-in eschatological orientation attendance - to be with the crowd, show off my
toward perfect fulfillment in the future new clothes, etc. Thirdly, are the obstacles posed
by the liturgy itself: the many routines, uninspiring
LESSON 3: CELEBRATING THE The Church celebrates the liturgy by
LITURGY employing signs and symbols that serve as
“bearers of the saving and sanctifying action of
Who Celebrates the Liturgy? Christ.” These signs and symbols are related to Liturgical seasons in the Church’s calendar:
In the life of the Church, sacramental and creation (candles, water, fire), human life  Advent Season
liturgical celebrations are the fundamental (washing, anointing, breaking bread), and the - It is the time of joyful expectation in
occasions in which we gather together as God’s history of salvation (the rites of the Passover).
which we prepare in the spirit of
assembly. We could ask a question, “Who Interwoven with faith and taken up by the power
penance both for the celebration of
celebrates the liturgy? Many years ago, people of the Holy Spirit, these cosmic elements and
would point to the priest as the celebrant of the Jesus’ birth and for His coming again in
human rituals used in a liturgical celebration help
liturgy. Back then, there was a connotation that glory “to judge the living and the
us capture the mystery of God and the divine
the word “celebrant” means one who is pedagogy of salvation (CCC 1189).  dead” as we profess in the Creed.
celebrating one’s own occasion. Many people The Catechism of the Catholic Church - There are four Sundays in this season.
thought that the priest was the only one who was describes a sacramental celebration as a meeting - It marks the beginning of a new year in
celebrating the liturgy. Because of this confusion, of God’s children with their Father, in Christ, and the liturgical calendar.
some liturgists prefer to use the term “presider” in the Holy Spirit. This meeting takes the form of  Christmas Season
referring to the priest who leads the people in the dialogue through actions and words. The Word of - It begins from the vigil of the Lord’s
celebration of the liturgy. This is because the God and our response of faith give life to the signs birth and ends with the feast of the
liturgy is a celebration not only of the priest but all and symbols so that the liturgical actions may Baptism of the Lord.
the people of God who are gathered together as a express what they signify (CCC 1153). There are - It is the long-awaited birth of the Son
liturgical assembly (Panganiban and de Guzman, signs and symbols in the liturgies because “God of God, the Word made Flesh, the
2017).  knows that we men are not only spiritual but also promised Messiah, the Savior of all
We should remember that in all liturgies, bodily creatures, we need signs and symbols in mankind, Jesus Christ, true God and
Christ the Lord Himself is the one who celebrates order to perceive and describe spiritual or interior
true Man who came into the world to
the cosmic liturgy, which encompasses angels and realities” (YouCat 181). 
lay down His life for our redemption.
human beings, the living and the dead, the past,
present, and future, heaven and earth. Priests and  Ordinary Time
When to Celebrate the Liturgy?
believers participate in different ways in Christ’s - It is the period of thirty-four Sundays
The Church has her own calendar that she
divine worship” (YouCat 179).  referring to the “hidden life of Jesus”
follows faithfully. It is her liturgical calendar that
According to the Catechism of the Catholic the stage in the Lord’s life in which the
marks the events in the lives and mysteries of our
Church (CCC), “it is the whole community, the Gospels are silent about Him.
Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the
Body of Christ united with its Head, that celebrates - This period has two phases. The first
angels, and the saints. Different from the Roman
the liturgy”. Liturgical services pertain to the phase begins after the Christmas
calendar that begins on January 1 and ends on
whole Body of the Church. By virtue of baptism Season and continues until Tuesday
December 31, the Church’s liturgical year begins on
that makes one share in the sole priesthood of before Ash Wednesday. It resumed
Christ, one likewise shares in the common the First Sunday of Advent and ends on the
again on Monday after Pentecost and
priesthood. On the other hand, the ordained celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King held
ended at the beginning of Advent.
minister (ministerial priesthood) is the one on the last Sunday in Ordinary Time. From its
- It is called “Ordinary” because it refers
presiding at the Holy Mass. Therefore, it’s the beginning end, there are liturgical seasons that
to the time of the year in which the
whole assembly that celebrates the liturgy denote the unfolding of the various aspects of the
Church is not celebrating the more
(Panganiban and de Guzman, 2017). one Paschal Mystery (CCC 1171). 
 prominent seasons of Advent, Along with the liturgical seasons, we have represent the cultural, social, and spiritual
Christmas, Lent, or Easter.  mentioned earlier that there are certain days to be characteristics of a certain period in churches. The
observed as “Holy Days of Obligation” such as: church’s interior is usually fixed in its framework.
 Lent  January 1 - Solemnity of Mary as the The main parts of a church’s interior are
- It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends Mother of God the nave where the assembly is gathered and the
on Holy Thursday.  December 8 - Solemnity of the Immaculate sanctuary where the priest or bishop and other
- This penitential season is in preparation Conception altar ministers perform their respective functions.
for the celebration of Easter.  December 25 - Solemnity of the Nativity of The church must always be in order and clean in
- We spend forty days of prayer, fasting, our Lord Jesus Christ such a way that is inviting to prayer and
and almsgiving commemorating the recollection for everyone who enters it. 
forty days spent by Jesus in the desert Where to Celebrate the Liturgy? The church is the house of prayer in which
in preparation for His public ministry. We have churches to celebrate the liturgy. the Holy Eucharist is celebrated and reserved,
 Paschal Triduum  However, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church where the faithful assemble, and where our Savior
- It commences with the Mass of the explains, “these visible churches are not simply is worshipped. This house ought to be beautiful
Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday and gathering places but signify and make visible the and a worthy place for prayer and sacred
ends with the celebration of Easter Church living in this place, the dwelling of God with celebrations (SC 122-127; CCC 1181).
Sunday. men reconciled and united in Christ (CCC 1180).  It is imperative for us Catholics to be able
- During this most sacred time, we focus “The beauty of the church building directs to identify the important parts of the church that
on the Lord’s Paschal Mystery, that is, our attention to the beauty, greatness, and love of manifest the presence and action of Christ. The
His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. God. Churches are not just stone messengers of Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1182-1185)
- The day of Resurrection is the apex of the faith, but dwelling places of God, who is really enumerates these parts:
the Church’s calendar. “It is called the and truly and substantially present in the  The Altar
Lord’s day because the Lord rose sacrament of the altar” (YouCat 190). We Catholics - It is the center of the church where the
victorious to the Father” (CCC 1166). It give due reverence to our church as a “house of sacrifice of the Cross is made present
is Easter Sunday. “Therefore Easter is God” when upon entering, we bless ourselves with under sacramental signs.
not simply one feast among others, but the holy water and genuflect in front of the - It is the table of the Lord to which the
the “Feast of feasts”, the “Solemnity tabernacle. We know our church to be a “house of People of God are invited to share in
of solemnities” (CCC 1169).  prayer” not a place where to meet friends or the banquet of the Lord. 
 Easter Season where we can spend time to stand by.  The Tabernacle
- It is the fifty-day celebration of the Our churches may vary in size and shape, - It is the boxlike receptacle where the
joyful exultation of the Lord’s but they are all symbolic of our Christian faith. At Blessed Sacrament is reserved.
Resurrection from Easter Sunday to the onset of Christianity, the first Christians would - The dignity, placing, and security of the
Pentecost. usually meet at homes for their fellowship and Eucharistic tabernacle should facilitate
worship. As time went by, large buildings were the adoration of the Lord really present
The “sanctoral” in the liturgical calendar used as places of religious gatherings. The church’s in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the
year refers to the annual cycle of celebrating exterior speaks voluminously about the signs and altar.
mysteries of Christ, the memorial of martyrs and symbols of Christianity. Noticeably, artistic - The sanctuary lamp must be kept
saints, especially the Mother of God. structure, and architectural designs typically burning before the tabernacle.
 The Chair- It is reserved for the bishop
(cathedra) or for the priest to express his
office of presiding over the assembly and
directing prayer. 
 The Lectern (ambo) - This is a suitable
place in a church intended for the
proclamation of the Word of God.
 The Baptistry- The gathering of the People
of God begins with baptism, thus a church
must have an appropriate place for the
celebration of baptism.
 The Confessional
-  The renewal of the baptismal life
requires penance.
- It is an appropriate place to receive
penitents for the expression of
repentance and the reception of
forgiveness.