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162nd out of 287 books
—
46 voters
The Spirit of the Liturgy
Considered by Ratzinger devotees as his greatest work on the Liturgy, this profound and beautifully written treatment of the "great prayer of the Church" will help readers rediscover the Liturgy in all its hidden spiritual wealth and transcendent grandeur as the very center of our Christian life. In his own foreward to the book, Cardinal Ratzinger compares this work to a m...more
Hardcover, 232 pages
Published
September 1st 2000
by Ignatius Press
(first published 2000)
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Liturgy is the heart and apex of Christian life. And even though it is not true that we take away from it as much as we are willing to give (we always gain more than we could ever hope to give), it behooves us to know and understand deeply and thoughtfully the significance and importance of liturgy's various parts. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now pope Benedict XVI) has set out in this relatively slim volume to examine and meditate on various aspects of the Liturgy, and to defend it from various c...more
So far I have learned from Benedict's Biblical interpretation of Scripture in faithfulness to the early Father's, why and how Jesus' life, death and resurrection restores man's relationship with God. Benedict's selection of key scripture verses and its interpretation, gave me a clear picture of the role Jesus played in Salvation History. At first, it was difficult reading. I had to reread the first couple of chapters to get used to the writing style and gain some foundation to build on the next...more
Jun 07, 2011
booklady
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2009,
church-documents,
classic,
non-fiction,
philosophy,
prayer,
religion,
scripture,
spiritual,
theology,
worth-reading-over-and-over
June 7, 2011 Update: Listened to the first podcast last night. I really like Fr. Riccardo. Thanks again for the recommendation Lynda.
May 31, 2011 Update: A friend just recommended this set of podcasts by Fr. John Riccardo as very helpful in understanding this book. Can't wait 'til I have some time to listen! Thanks Lynda!
I'm not sure if it was good or bad that it took me so long to finish this book. It isn't what I'd call a 'cover-to-cover' read anyway. By that I mean, you don't necessarily hav...more
May 31, 2011 Update: A friend just recommended this set of podcasts by Fr. John Riccardo as very helpful in understanding this book. Can't wait 'til I have some time to listen! Thanks Lynda!
I'm not sure if it was good or bad that it took me so long to finish this book. It isn't what I'd call a 'cover-to-cover' read anyway. By that I mean, you don't necessarily hav...more
"The Spirit of the Liturgy" will forever be within arm's reach. This simple statement of then-Cardinal Ratzinger's theology of liturgy opened my eyes to the genius and the beauty of Catholic worship--admittedly a dry subject but one that is increasingly important for Catholics to grow in appreciation of. One might claim that it is precisely the failure to convey the intention and meaning of the Council's revision of the liturgy that has created the confusion and apathy so many Catholics now face...more
As a Protestant, despite some high church leanings, I find plenty to disagree with here. But this book wasn't written for me, and I greatly respect Ratzinger's learned, devout approach to his topic. This is the best overview of Catholic worship I have found.
He named this book intentionally after his hero, Guardini's 1918 book of the same name. It is divided into four parts (The Essence of the Liturgy, Time and Space in the Liturgy, Art and Liturgy, Liturgical Form)
It is very important to note...more
He named this book intentionally after his hero, Guardini's 1918 book of the same name. It is divided into four parts (The Essence of the Liturgy, Time and Space in the Liturgy, Art and Liturgy, Liturgical Form)
It is very important to note...more
1 like · like · see review
Third (maybe fourth) time reading this, but first time reviewing. It's still five stars and always will be. Along with Introduction to Christianity, this is, in my mind, the classic Raztinger/Benedict title. Up front, it really is a Catholic insider baseball book with a tiny secular audience, so may not be everybody's cup of tea - in other words, you may want to move on from this review and book.
That being said (or his dictis since we're in a Catholic realm) it should live on the shelf of all Ca...more
That being said (or his dictis since we're in a Catholic realm) it should live on the shelf of all Ca...more
Card. Ratzinger always makes good sense and presents his thoughts and arguments clearly. You don't have to be a theologian to understand him. Here, he speaks of the spirit of the traditional liturgy, and debates the trends that followed the liturgical renewal after the Second Vatican Council. This is a must read for all Catholics, that they may understand the difference between what the Council intended and what actually happened. There was, in many places, a disastrously large difference in vis...more
Hands down- a book that every Catholic MUST read. Then Cardinal Ratzinger, now His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, goes through great lengths to explain that the liturgy is connected to time, and yet connected outside of time to the Divine. Through its connection to time, the liturgy is bound by history, yet is organically in development. I went to this book looking some opinions from our current Pope on how to bring liturgical renewal back into the church. He lays out the elements of the liturgy, t...more
Prayers, music, postures, gestures, history, and development of the liturgy. Immensely readable. Best part: "Liturgical dance has no place in Christian worship." I feel so validated.
Very compelling in most respects, though Ratzinger seems to pull his punches in a few places, and also leaves tantalizing thoughts (e.g., about Western iconoclasm) unhelpfully undeveloped.
Jan 22, 2009
Andy
is currently reading it
Found the book on an airplane left by another passenger, so I started it. Nothing too exciting, but a decent look into the mind of the Pope.
May 31, 2011
Lisa
marked it as to-read
Benedict XVI surely puts the "Lit" back in "Liturgy" with this fascinating and refulgent view of the recently watered down Catholic Mass. With unabashed defenses of incense, gregorian chant and literary scriptural roots, His Holiness expresses a much needed return to the basics of liturgy and provides the Cliff's Notes of how to get the Mass back on track. I for one will regurgitate at the next "Folk Mass" I am obligated to attend.
The following sections were strong ones in the text: the cosmic and historical dimensions of the liturgy; liturgical art; corporal gestures in the liturgy.
Well written, but can be challenging for those who have not had much experience in academic and theological writings (though this book isn't so much theological as theoretical about liturgy...).
Well written, but can be challenging for those who have not had much experience in academic and theological writings (though this book isn't so much theological as theoretical about liturgy...).
Oct 25, 2009
Kathy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Kathy by:
Benedicts Book Club
Shelves:
benedict-xvi,
spirituality
This book was wonderful. I've taken several classes on liturgy and though I had a firm grasp of the mysteries, but there were chapters that really amazed me. The stuff about cosmology and the liturgy is facinating. I particularly enjoyed the chapter about history. This is a wonderful read if you want to learn to love liturgy more.
It took me a long time to get through this one; lots of information to process. Unlike Pope Benedict's other books, which tend to be meditative, this one is very instructional. A good study-book. (For me, a little too heavy, and a bit dry)
Daug gerų ir naudingų paaiškinimų liturgijos klausimais.
I have looked over sections of this work and look forward to reading it in its entirety! Thanks, Nick!
Benedict XVI - You are brilliant and you will be missed.
Still reading, but gleaning much.
May 20, 2013
Jordan
is currently reading it
May 20, 2013
Geokicks
marked it as to-read
May 20, 2013
Patrick Riviere
is currently reading it
May 20, 2013
Patrick Roach
marked it as to-read
May 19, 2013
Ted Leon
marked it as to-read
May 19, 2013
Patrick
marked it as to-read
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Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on 16 April 1927) is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the head of the Roman Catholic Church. He was elected on 19 April 2005 in a papal conclave, celebrated his Papal Inauguration Mass on 24 Apr...more
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“The glory of God is the living man, but the life of man is the vision of God', says St. Irenaeus, getting to the heart of what happens when man meets God on the mountain in the wilderness. Ultimately, it is the very life of man, man himself as living righteously, that is the true worship of God, but life only becomes real life when it receives its form from looking toward God.”
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25. Mai, 18:29 Uhr