By Fr James Bradley, August 15, 2025
After the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the Church began the process of evaluating the rich and extensive legacy of his long life. As a scholar and university professor, and as a Priest, Bishop, and Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for almost a quarter of a century, Joseph Ratzinger was an undoubtedly influential voice in both the academy and ecclesiastical affairs. Following his election to the papacy in 2005, his work took on a new significance, introducing his thought to a still wider audience.
Now that some time has passed since his passing, the 2025 Annual Conference of the Society for Catholic Liturgy will seek to examine the contribution of Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI to the Church’s understanding and celebration of the sacred liturgy. This coincides both with the 25th anniversary of Joseph Ratzinger’s most famous work, The Spirit of the Liturgy, and the Society’s own 30th anniversary (1995-2025).
In addition, over 40 papers will be delivered during the conference. In keeping with the Society’s interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary scope, these will include topics such as sacred music, architecture, canon law, the liturgical celebration, liturgical history, and the reception of Ratzinger’s work. For the past few years, the Society has made a special effort to welcome students at its conferences, and to this end there will also be a paper session dedicated to graduate students in disciplines related to the liturgy.
The conference, which will be help on the campus of The Catholic University of America, Washington DC, from September 15-16, will welcome over 100 scholars from across the United States and further afield, to consider this timely subject. We will be guided in our thoughts by two outstanding proponents of Ratzinger’s work, Professor Helmut Hoping (University of Freiburg) and Professor Christopher Ruddy (The Catholic University of America). Professor Hopping will address the cosmic dimension of the liturgy in Ratzinger’s writing, and Professor Ruddy will speak about the priority of God as the key understanding Ratzinger’s liturgical thought.
As has been the case for three decades of the Society’s life so far, the conference will also be an opportunity for attendees to worship together. This year, thanks to the generosity of its Rector and staff, we will be in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. There we will celebrate a Solemn Mass according to Divine Worship: The Missal, the liturgical provision approved by Pope Francis for the personal ordinariates erected for former Anglicans by Pope Benedict. This will be accompanied by the basilica’s internationally acclaimed choir under the direction of Dr. Peter Latona, and the music will include Lennox Berkeley’s exquisite Missa Brevis, composed for the Choir of Westminster Cathedral in 1960. On the final day of the conference a Mass will be offered for the repose of the soul of Pope Benedict XVI, with music from the Requiem of Maurice Duruflé, sung by the Chamber Choir of The Catholic University of America under the direction of Dr. Peter Kadeli.
Further details of the conference, including registration and accommodation information, may be accessed at the Society’s website here. The conference is open to the Society’s members and guests, and we warmly welcome any and all who wish to join us for what we hope will be an engaging enjoyable few days in the nation’s capital.
Father James Bradley is a Priest of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham and Assistant Professor of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America, Washington DC, where his research is focused on liturgical and sacramental law. He is currently serving as the President of the Society for Catholic Liturgy.
Image used with permission.