Category: Re-Reading Sacrosanctum Concilium

In the fifty years since this document saw the light of day, much debate has taken place in trying to determine the meaning of the formula “plena, conscia et actuosa participatio.”

It might be of interest for readers to discuss whether or not Vagaggini’s categories are still applicable or helpful, what pious exercises / popular devotions are enriching the lives of the faithful in their area, and whether these pious exercises / popular devotions conform to the criteria article 13 presents.

It may be of interest to reflect together on the past fifty years experience to see whether or not the balance of private, group, para-liturgical / devotional, and liturgical prayer has been maintained in our individual, domestic and worshiping community lives, what militates against such balance, and what can promote it.

I suspect that there might be some interesting discussion among readers about the intent of this article, how it has been implemented over the last fifty years, and what concerns we might have about its present implementation.

Liturgy is “summit” insofar as other ecclesial actions are ordered to it. Liturgy is “source” insofar as it is genuinely sacramental.

Articles 9 – 13 describe more exactly the relationship between the liturgy and other ecclesial actions. The proximate background to this article is Pius XII’s address to the 1956 International Congress of Pastoral Liturgy at Assisi and Rome, where the Pontiff repudiated any notions that the liturgy could or should absorb all others functions and…

Article 8 serves as a transition from the consideration of the nature of the liturgy to reflections on its role in the life of the Church. In J. D. Crichton’s lapidary sentence “[t]he liturgy recalls (anamnesis) the past events of salvation, makes Christ present here and now and looks both upwards to heaven and on…

Article 7 is the climax of SC’s treatment of the nature of the Liturgy. The text does not settle the disputed theological question of a strictly technical definition of the sacred Liturgy by proximate genus and specific difference. It pre-supposes the teaching of Mediator Dei ##20 and 22.

Having considered especially the person of Christ and his redemptive work accomplished in his paschal mystery in article 5, article 6 continues the doctrinal foundations of the first chapter by considering the extension of Christ’s person and work through the Church, especially in the liturgy.