Worship: A Primer in Christian Ritual

Keith F. Pecklers

Jan 2003 · Liturgical Press

About this ebook

What is worship? Keith F. Pecklers, SJ, answers this important theological question by focusing on the basics of Christian worship. Beginning with the definitions of such terms as ritual" and *liturgy - he writes in a very readable style about the historical/theological foundations of worship, tracing the evolution of Christian liturgy from the earliest centuries of the Christian era up to the reforms of Vatican II.

Pecklers focuses on such liturgical issues of importance in our post-Vatican II Church as: inculturation, popular religion, and the social responsibility that authentic worship requires. He also considers some key social issues of the twenty-first century and their impact on our worship: the break-up of the stale parish community and decline in church attendance; the clergy shortage and priestless parishes; ecumenical liturgical cooperation and interreligious dialogue; the credibility of preaching; and how worship welcomes or excludes the marginated.

Chapters are *Worship and Ritual, - *Worship in Development and Decline, - *Worship in Crisis and Challenge, - *Worship in Transition, - *Worship and Culture, - *Worship and Popular Religion, - *Worship and Society, - and *Worship and the Future of Christianity. -

Keith F. Pecklers, SJ, SLD, is professor of liturgy at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and professor of liturgical history at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of Saint'Anselmo. Liturgical Press recently published his book Dynamic Equivalence. He received Catholic Press Association awards for two other Liturgical Press publications, The Unread Vision and Liturgy for the New Millennium.

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About the author

Keith F. Pecklers, SJ, is professor of liturgy at the Pontifical Gregorian University and professor of liturgical history at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome. He is the author of the following titles published by Liturgical Press: Dynamic Equivalence: The Living Language of Christian Worship; The Unread Vision: The Liturgical Movement in the United States of America 1926-1955; Worship: A Primer in Christian Ritual; and editor of Liturgy for the New Millennium: A Commentary on the Revised Sacramentary. He is also the author of "Liturgy from Trent to Vatican II" included in the Handbook of Liturgical Studiespublished by Liturgical Press.