Human DimensionsHuman Dimensionsof Divine Worshipof Divine Worship

Source and manifestation of the church’s life

Interaction between•Tradition & contemporary life•Central & local church•Internal & outreach•Community politics

Aesthetics <-> Ethics

Liturgy may be bad for you

Basic Concepts

Apostolic Letter for the Year of the Apostolic Letter for the Year of the Eucharist:Eucharist:

Mane Nobiscum Domine, Oct. 2004:Mane Nobiscum Domine, Oct. 2004: Eucharist as source and manifestation Eucharist as source and manifestation

of unity of the churchof unity of the church

Encourages personal (non-Encourages personal (non-sacramental) practices that had fallen sacramental) practices that had fallen into some disuseinto some disuse = “devotional” approach to prayer = “devotional” approach to prayer

Patriarchal nature of the church Patriarchal nature of the church represented in Eucharistrepresented in Eucharist= “restorationist” approach to church= “restorationist” approach to church

Stress on the implications of Eucharist Stress on the implications of Eucharist for social justice and solidarity, but not for social justice and solidarity, but not for ecology.for ecology.

““Liturgical Inculturation”Liturgical Inculturation”

The alteration of standard Christian rites The alteration of standard Christian rites

developed in other cultures or timesdeveloped in other cultures or timesso that their symbolism is intelligible,so that their symbolism is intelligible,both as affirmation and as critique,both as affirmation and as critique,

in new cultures. in new cultures.

Inculturation is a two-way Inculturation is a two-way processprocess

An existing form of Christianity is An existing form of Christianity is changed by a newly encountered changed by a newly encountered cultureculture

An existing culture is changed by An existing culture is changed by ChristianityChristianity

Times and placesTimes and places

Christian traditionChristian tradition

Is a process of integration of Is a process of integration of Christian faith with new cultures Christian faith with new cultures

Is not unilinear but a constantly Is not unilinear but a constantly changing network of inculturationschanging network of inculturations

InculturationInculturation

Christian tradition is a series of Christian tradition is a series of inculturationsinculturations

It is a process of integration of It is a process of integration of cultures with Christian faithcultures with Christian faith

It involves a two way critiqueIt involves a two way critique It includes a critique of existing It includes a critique of existing

structures of domination within a structures of domination within a cultureculture

It can result in the cultural It can result in the cultural capture of the Churchcapture of the Church

Interaction between•Tradition & contemporary life•Central & local church•Internal & outreach•Community politics

Aesthetics <-> Ethics

Liturgical inculturation and

liturgical renewal

Movements to inculturation

Recent official documents

Centralizing

The Current Liturgical Climate

Diverse

Key features of a Key features of a liturgical renewalliturgical renewal

Liturgical

leadership

Gender-inclusivelanguage

Holy GodChrist

Spirit

CreatorRedeemerSanctifier

Source ofall being

Eternal Word Holy Spirit

Earth-makerPain-bearer

Life-giver

Holy SpiritEternal Word

God all-compassionate

Trinitarian Trinitarian

languagelanguage

Key features of a Key features of a liturgical renewalliturgical renewal

Liturgical

leadershipGender-inclusivelanguage

Acknowledge cultural diversity Liturgy in

the Earth

Interpreter

of ScriptureFocus on‘sending

’

Lord, may the death and resurrection of Christbring us salvation and make us one with him in glory.

We ask this, . . .

God ever faithful,Protect and nourish in us that honesty and integrity

by which may bring about your justice in our world.We ask this, . . .

Focus on Focus on

‘sending’‘sending’

To be authentic, the process of To be authentic, the process of inculturation:inculturation:

always includes a Christian critique of always includes a Christian critique of structures of domination within a culturestructures of domination within a culture

always runs the danger of a cultural always runs the danger of a cultural capture of the Christian church where capture of the Christian church where Christianity is submerged below the values Christianity is submerged below the values of the culture (Christianity is unable to of the culture (Christianity is unable to change the existing culture)change the existing culture)

also runs the converse danger of colonial also runs the converse danger of colonial capture where the Christian church capture where the Christian church becomes an agent of foreign interests (the becomes an agent of foreign interests (the culture is unable to change a foreign form culture is unable to change a foreign form of Christianity).of Christianity).

Future Directions for

Liturgical Renewal ?