LESSON 1: THE MEANING AND NATURE OF
LITURGY
INTRODUCTION
This module discusses the meaning and nature of Liturgy. It also elaborates on the
foundation of our Christian Faith.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Enumerate and explain the essential qualities of Liturgy
Explain the importance of celebrating Liturgy for Catholic Christians
Partake actively in celebrating Liturgy
CONTENT
Jesus said: “The hour is coming, and is already here when authentic worshipers will
worship the Father in Spirit and truth. . . God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must
worship in Spirit and truth.”
(Jn 4:23-24)
THE MEANING OF LITURGY
The term “liturgy” comes from the combination of two Greek words: laos which means
people and ergon which means work. Leitourgia means “public work”. Thus, from its
root words, liturgy signifies “public service” in the sense of serving and worshipping
God as a people or a community.
In the early Church, liturgy meant everything that all Christians did in taking part in
“God’s work,” the divine “plan to sum up all things in Christ” (Jn 17:4; Eph 1:10). This is
included not only divine worship but the proclamation of the Gospel (Rom 15:16) and
the service of one’s neighbor (2 Cor 9:12).
THE NATURE OF LITURGY
Liturgy is more than just the rituals, ceremonies, or communal services we perform as
an expression of our devotion to and worship of God. It is a wellspring of our
relationship with God as His people or family gathered together to glorify Him and to
receive blessings from Him. Liturgy is central to Christianity, for in it and through it the
mystery of our salvation is remembered, celebrated, and dispensed. Both in liturgical
and sacramental celebrations, the Church makes use of signs, symbols, and sacred
actions that communicate to us the mystery of faith that we commemorate
(Panganiban and de Guzman, 2017).
The Church’s Constitution or solemn document on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum
Concilium defines the liturgy as “an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ” in
which our human “sanctification is manifested by signs perceptible to the senses and is
effected in a way proper to each
of these signs,” so that “full public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus
Christ, that is, by the Head and his members” (SC 7).
The Council acknowledged that “the liturgy does not exhaust the entire activity of the
Church” preaching the Gospel, inviting all to faith, conversion, observance of Christ’s
commandments, and works of charity, are explicitly mentioned (cf. CCC 1072).
Nevertheless, the Council went on to affirm that “liturgy is the summit towards which
the activity of the Church is directed, and the fountain from which all her power flows”
(SC 9-10; CCC 1074).
The center of the Church’s liturgy is the Eucharist which commemorates the Paschal
Mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ __ his Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and
the sending of the Holy Spirit (SC 5). Through this Mystery, the power of God’s salvific
love is offered to all. Since this salvation touches all of creation in its entirety, liturgy in
its broadest, deepest sense is the proclamation, manifestation, and celebration not only
of Christ and His Paschal Mystery, but also of the Church’s own mystery and mission
as the universal sacrament of salvation, and of the whole world and the temporal order,
consecrated and ordered to its Creator and Final Goal (CFC, 1504).
But for the ordinary Filipino Catholic, liturgy means being caught up in the yearly cycle
of liturgical seasons like Advent, Lent, Holy Week, Easter time, and in celebrating feast
days like Christmas, Sto. Niño, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter,
Pentecost, the Immaculate Conception, etc. Filipino popular religiosity has helped
enormously to bring the liturgical year down into the hearts and souls of simple
worshippers (CFC, 1505).
Briefly answer the following questions orally.
1. What is the triple nuance of the word liturgy?
2. What is Sacrosanctum Concilium?
3. Give examples of Liturgy on which you participated in.
4. Differentiate the terms: worship, ritual, tradition, liturgy.
5. Why is liturgy more than just a ritual?
6. What is the importance of participating in a liturgy?
