Conference paper

Biblical-christian conception of liturgy throughout history

Zvonko Pažin ; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Teologija u Đakovu, Đakovo, Hrvatska

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to define the concept of liturgy; explain what it meant in the Holy Scripture and in the early Christian tradition. Liturgy is not what some uninformed individual would believe: a mere ritual performed according to the exact, determined rules, by a competent minister. Theology of Christian liturgy – with the Holy Scripture doctrine and the first Christian tradition as its starting point – emphasises that the real worship is actually fulfilling God’s will. To offer a sacrifice without respect for God and your fellow human being would be in vain. Therefore Christ himself gives an example of how it is important to make peace with your brother first, and then offer a sacrifice at the temple. Unfortunately, throughout the history liturgy has mostly been an outer act, it did not include a spiritual component, for it merely consisted of strict orders and was preoccupied with its own “validity”. Second Vatican Council returned to the origins, implying that liturgy belonged to the whole Church and that a person becomes a participant of Christ’s priesthood by sacredness of his/her own life.

Keywords

Spiritual liturgy; spiritual sacrifice; history of liturgy; Second Vatican Council

Hrčak ID:

40191

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/40191

Publication date:

30.6.2003.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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