Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities, Year A, 2002

An annual resource for parish ministers, liturgists, and planning committees, Living Liturgy offers a practical, simple means for reflecting on, celebrating, and living the paschal mystery. Living Liturgy integrates spirituality and celebration, catechesis and pastoral practice, the ministry of the assembly and other ministries so that celebrating and living go hand-in-hand. Written by a pastorally experienced team with expertise in Scripture, spiritual direction, liturgy, and liturgical music, Living Liturgy emulates the reality of our Christian communities: that we learn from each other of the fullness of God's mystery and by learning together we enrich each other. Living Liturgy promotes living the paschal mystery Christ's life, passion, death, resurrection, ascension, sending of the Spirit, and promised second coming. Liturgy both enacts Christ's mystery in the here and now and sends people forth to live it. Living Liturgy suggests that worship is more than what takes place in the short time spent together in praise and thanksgiving on Sundays. Living Liturgy is to be used during the week before people actually gather for Sunday Mass. By readying themselves during the previous week, people come to the liturgy and to their ministry aware of its power in their lives and ready to offer God praise and thanksgiving. Those who serve the community in specific ministries presider, deacon, music ministers, hospitality ministers, altar ministers, lectors, eucharistic ministers are provided with specific suggestions and questions for reflection. Living Liturgy's format is simple and consistent. Its clear and concise content serves as a catalyst for liturgical ministers and assembly members to enter into the paschal mystery at Mass and at home. The work is divided into three major headings: spirituality, celebration, and catechesis. The individual sections appear on the pages in the same place each Sunday to assure familiarity with the format. The reflections on the Gospel and living the paschal mystery highlight one main point. The main point enables a more focused and practical reflection that generates various questions and suggestions for living a liturgical spirituality and guides the choice of opening prayer included in Living Liturgy. In the section headed "celebration" model rites and prayers shaped by the readings and liturgical season, and a commentary on the Responsorial Psalm, help ministers encourage participation of the assembly. Model general intercessions combine the possibility of both silence and response. The language of the intentions is drawn from the readings (especially the Gospel) and helps extend our reflection on God's Word. Suggested music for the general intercessions is included as a way to underscore their structure as litany. The Responsorial Psalm and first and second readings are set in Lectionary sense lines for the practical preparation of lectors and cantors. The material included under catechesis is meant to lead to a better understanding of the elements of liturgy. The catechetical points flow from the readings. Living Liturgy is beneficial for a wide spectrum of members of a liturgical community, each having a personal copy so they might refer to it when preparing for the Sunday liturgy. Parents and teachers may simplify its content and share it with younger members of the community. Members of faith-sharing groups, liturgy planning committees, and RCIA catechumens, candidates, and sponsors will find it useful as the focus of weekly prayer and reflection. The mystery of God's salvific action is vast, and we are privileged to share in the unfolding of these great events. Living Liturgy shows that who we are and how we live has a profound affect on those around us. We can spend time doing no more important a thing than intensifying our spirituality based on praying and reflecting on God's Word, celebrating the paschal mystery, and catechizing ourselves and others in God's ways. When we do so, we are, living liturgy. Living Liturgy: * promotes living the paschal mystery * is Word-driven * integrates spirituality, celebration, and catechesis * integrates pastoral practice and theology * includes solemnities * informs and forms the parish * captures the rhythm of the liturgical year Features for each Sunday and holy day: * commentaries on readings * reflection on the Responsorial Psalm * Working with the Word * Gospel Reflection * reflection on the paschal mystery * reflection questions for various ministers and groups * model Penitential Rite * model General Intercessions * liturgical catechesis * guide to how to select music * includes woodcut art on the Gospel message Utility features: * calendar-dated * perfect-bound * four pages per Sunday and Holy Day * First and Second Readings in sense lines Liturgical texts: * (official) Opening Prayer or Alternative Opening Prayer * Gospel * Responsorial Psalm * First Reading * Second Reading Living Liturgy is for: * pastors/priests * deacons * liturgists and liturgy committees * hospitality ministers * music ministers * altar ministers * lectors * eucharistic ministers * members of faith-sharing groups * RCIA catechumens, candidates, and sponsors * cantors, choirs, music directors * ministry team members * teachers