Contemplata aliis Tradere on The School of Prayer

Paul Lew offers a compelling reflection on the significance of Liturgy here. He sees Liturgy as the antidote to the subjectivism and individualism that plagues our communal worship and even private spirituality. He alludes to the difficulty American Catholics have in particular: in an excessively individualistic culture such as that of the US, Catholics may lose touch with the anthropology that Catholicism teaches. He observes this without making the mistake that some make regarding liturgy: these make the coming together as community the focus of worship, as though God should be grateful that we make time out of our busy lives to come celebrate his presence. On the contrary, Mr. Lew contends:

As such, Benedict XVI immediately strikes at the core of Liturgy - it is oratio, prayer. It is not so much a celebration of the community, or humanity, or our experiences and rites of passage; it is the "great work wherein God is perfectly glorified and men are sanctified" (SC 7). The Liturgy is defined as "an action of Christ the priest and of His Body which is the Church, [it] is a sacred action surpassing all others; no other action of the Church can equal its efficacy by the same title and to the same degree" (ibid.). This is an awesome declaration indeed! What do we mean by the Liturgy? The Eucharistic Sacrifice and the Liturgy of the Hours: this is the very action of the whole Christ, the praying Christ - Jesus the Head and his Body, the Church.

When we worship God in Liturgy, we participate in the fullness of life as the Body of Christ. We become the cells that make up the organs of this body. This is more than just a union in community. This is union in Him. Therefore, our focus is Christ: His saving action and continued presence in our lives. Anything less makes whatever we do unworthy of the name Liturgy.

Mr. Lew's entire reflection deserves careful consideration. Read the whole thing!