Catholic Worship: An Introduction to Liturgy

'Catholic Worship' is a major introduction to today's liturgy by one of the country's most prominent liturgical scholars. It offers a comprehensive survey of the Second Vatican Council's teaching on the liturgy and its decrees concerning liturgical revision and reform, and it provides a guide to the revised forms of Mass, the office, the sacraments and other rites. Focusing throughout on the meaning and significance of the liturgy, the author also discusses the principles of authentic participation and why we should make the most of the liturgy. The early chapters deal with the origins of the liturgy and with significant developments in medieval and modern times. The main part of the book is devoted to the rites and texts, but there are also chapters dealing with the place of music, art, architecture, speech, and movement in liturgy, and the significance of time and of signs and symbols. The general principles governing music and signing in the various rites receive special attention, and there is a section on the design and re-ordering of churches.