Neri
Publications

The Spirit of the Liturgy
By Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
05-SPIL-H

     
The English version of the book we have all been waiting for has finally arrived: Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger’s The Spirit of the Liturgy. He chose the title from a book of the same name by Fr. Romano Guardini. Just as Fr. Guardini published his volume to encourage the liturgical movement of his time, so to, Cardinal Ratzinger hopes to do the same by the publication of this new volume. From the present day vantage point he is able to re-launch the liturgical movement, while at one and the same time both citing its blessings and clearly demonstrating some of the imbalances which surly need correction.

Perhaps most important of all is the emphasis he places on the sacred liturgy as part of apostolic tradition. Thus he emphasizes the delicacy with which it must be approached, lest we tamper unnecessarily with the great patriarchal liturgical rites of the Church.

Among other things he deals with are:
  • The proper orientation of the altar;
  • The role of silence in the liturgy, even recommending it for the Canon of the Mass;
  • The tendency to treat the liturgy not as a given, but as a field for constant committee work, reducing it to the level of a “show”, featuring applause at the various acts, so out of tune with the true spirit of the liturgy;


One cannot recommend highly enough the reading of this relatively short work. The benefits to the reader will be immense, if I could afford to I would send a copy to every cleric in the Church.

Hardcover - 17.95

  
   
Return to Neri Publications | Return to Home Page