Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities, Year A, 2008

An annual resource for parish ministers, liturgists, pastors, and planning committees, "Living Liturgy" offers a practical means for reflection on and celebration of the Sunday Mass. "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" teaches that we learn from each other of the fullness of God's mystery, and by learning and worshiping together we enrich each other. "Living Liturgy" helps people live a liturgical spirituality.This is a way of living rooted in liturgy, which opens their vision to their baptismal identity as the body of Christ and shapes their living according to the dying and rising rhythm of paschal mystery. The paschal mystery is the entire salvific mystery of Jesus Christ - his life, mission, passion, death, resurrection, ascension, sending of the Spirit, and promised second coming - and our participation in this mystery. Liturgy enacts in the here and now Christ's mystery and sends each one of us forth to live this mystery. Anyone involved with liturgical planning and preparation will benefit from using this resource, including pastors, pastoral ministers, liturgy directors, musicians, and liturgy committee members."Living Liturgy" also assists those who serve the community in the visible liturgical ministries - presiders, deacons, music ministers, hospitality ministers, altar ministers, lectors, eucharistic ministers - because it clearly shows that each ministry deserves not only practical preparation but even more importantly spiritual preparation, suggestions that are a key component of "Living Liturgy". Further, catechumens, candidates, and sponsors use "Living Liturgy" to support and deepen their liturgical journey within the RCIA. Members of faith-sharing groups use this resource as the focus of weekly prayer and reflection together. Parents and teachers improve their ministry by simplifying "Living Liturgy" when sharing it with younger members of the liturgical community.