Understanding Liturgy

Making Sense of the Rites and Rituals of the Catholic Church

Charlie Dispenzieri, M.A.P.T.

• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781098010836
• eBook ISBN: 9781098010843
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Rituals & Practice

Understanding Liturgy is a thoughtful exploration of the meaning of the rites and rituals of the Catholic Church. This book is designed for anyone who wants to delve deeper into their Catholic faith and appreciate the beauty of the liturgy. Many Catholics experience the rites and rituals of the Catholic Church without fully understanding their meaning and significance. For these people, the sacraments and other liturgical rites are not relatable to their everyday life. They come to church to pray and encounter God, but often leave the church unfulfilled and unable to make the connections between liturgy and life. Understanding liturgy will draw each person into a more meaningful relationship with God by guiding them in their appreciation of: -liturgical art and environment; -the celebration of feasts and solemnities; -church devotions; -the Mass and the other sacraments; -the liturgical year. Understanding Liturgy is organized into sections, allowing the reader the opportunity to learn the material and put it into use immediately. The content is presented in a practical fashion to explain why the Church prays as it does, drawing upon Catholic Church documents published since the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Charlie Dispenzieri makes sense of these rites and rituals in a very accessible style. He is a master teacher, presenting throughout the country in formal classroom settings, retreats, and seminars. As a liturgist with a vast educational background and an abundance of practical experience, he has mentored priests, deacons, and laypeople to be more successful and effective liturgical ministers.

Understanding Liturgy

Making Sense of the Rites and Rituals of the Catholic Church

Charlie Dispenzieri, M.A.P.T.

Copyright © 2019 by Charlie Dispenzieri, M.A.P.T.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Incense

Liturgical Colors

Liturgical Vestments

The Altar

The Ambry

The Liturgical Environment

All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day

Christmas Proclamation

Epiphany Proclamation

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe

Presentation of the Lord

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Blessings

Holy Water

Inaudible Prayers

Liturgical Books

Liturgical Participation

Liturgy and Devotions

Liturgy and Social Justice

O Antiphons

Exposition vs. Adoration

Red, White, and Blue Masses

Sacred Silence

Understanding LiturgyLiturgical Books (History and Quality)

The History of Liturgical Books

The Sign of Peace

The Universal Prayer

The Introductory Rites of the Mass

The Liturgy of the Word

The Preparation of the Altar and Gifts

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Communion Rite

The Concluding Rites

The Sacrament of Baptism

The Sacrament of Confirmation

The Sacrament of Eucharist

The Sacrament of Holy Orders

The Sacrament of Matrimony

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

Advent

Christmas

Winter Ordinary Time

Lent—A Liturgical Overview

Holy Week

The Easter Season

Summer Ordinary Time

Fall Ordinary Time

The College of Cardinals

The Order of Christian Funerals

The Rites of Acceptance and Welcome

The Scrutinies

To Charlie Gardner, Fr. Rick Ginther, David Groeller, Fr. Pat Beidelman, and Fr. Julian Peters, OSB. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am to these liturgical mentors who have shared their wisdom, time, and patience with me as they helped form me into the liturgist I am today. Their willingness to guide and support me has had a massive influence on my life and on those whom God has allowed me to serve throughout the years.

To all those family, friends, clergy, and parishioners who have supported me throughout the years in liturgical ministry.

All of these people have enriched my life, and I trust this book will serve you in understanding and appreciating the rites and rituals of the Catholic Church.

Introduction

When people talk about liturgy, they are willing to share their opinions about how Mass should be celebrated, the length of the service, the type of music that should be sung, and if the homily was good or bad. People really do get animated about liturgy! Understanding Liturgy is written for all who want to learn more about the Catholic liturgy. There is much to learn, and in the following pages we will explore many facets of what makes up the church’s rites and rituals.

This book is not a comprehensive text on every aspect of liturgical theology. It encompasses topics that have come from questions I have received from parishioners and clergy. The chapters will give you a starting point for more reflection on each individual topic, and help you gain a better understanding of sacramental and pastoral liturgy without too much in-depth theology. Understanding Liturgy encompasses specific aspects of celebrating the liturgy and the ritualistic components of the rites.

It could also serve as the in...

Table of contents

• Introduction