Place of Christ in Liturgical Prayer

This first reprint in our "Classics in Liturgy" series is a study of the official prayer of the leader of the liturgical assembly that, as stated in the original edition, has "not only retained its validity but has also proved fruitful in the present liturgical and religious revival." Prayer, Jungmann states, is of its nature not bound to clearly determined forms and methods. Although rooted in history, liturgical prayer has also been shaped throughout history by our changing understanding of Christ, the center of our prayer. Jungmann inquires into liturgical prayer to determine to what extent and where this historical change or shaping actually occurred. Concentrating on prayer to Christ and prayer through Christ, he examines the place of Christ in different liturgies as they appear in the course of the Church's history. The result is a historical outline of the place occupied by the idea of Christ in liturgical prayer through the ages.