📖Overview

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, The liturgy is the participation of the People of God in "the work of God." Through the liturgy, Christ, our Redeemer and High Priest, continues the work of our redemption in, with, and through His Church. The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed and the font from which all her power flows. In the liturgy, the whole of public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Head and His members. The liturgy is an action of the whole Christ (Christus Totus), Head and Body. Every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the Priest and of His Body the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others. The Father is the source and goal of the liturgy; Christ's work in the liturgy is sacramental because His mystery of salvation is made present through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit prepares the assembly to encounter Christ, recalls and makes Christ manifest to the faith of the assembly, and makes the saving work of Christ present and active by His transforming power. The liturgical celebration involves signs and symbols drawn from creation, human life, and the history of salvation, which are integrated into the world of faith and become bearers of the saving action of Christ. The Word of God and the liturgical action together constitute the liturgy. The liturgical year unfolds the whole mystery of Christ from His Incarnation through His Ascension, Pentecost, and the expectation of His glorious return.

💡Key Points