WHAT IS A LITURGICAL RITE

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WHAT IS A LITURGICAL RITE?

• A liturgical rite is a complex thing that is
  difficult to define in a few words. Let us say
  that a rite is normally a CORPORATE FORM of
  worship rendered to God this form is composed of
  elements that are HARMONIOUSLY interrelated,
  having arisen from customs that are at first
  accepted by a specific COMMUNITY and then
  APPROVED by the legitimate ecclesiastical
  authority

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WHAT IS RITE?

• Let us examine this definition in detailA rite
  is a CORPORATE form for worship. By these words
  we should understand that the form of the worship
  is obligatory for all believers, whatever their
  office in the Church may be. All baptized persons
  must respect the form of worship handed down by
  tradition and accepted by the Church-the Pope,
  the bishops, the priests, the deacons, and the
  Iay faithful, WHO MAKE UP THE BODY OF CHRIST.A
  rite is composed of elements that are
  harmoniously interrelated. The different parts of
  the rite are not added one to the other in an
  arbitrary fashion that is subjective or, perhaps,
  heterogeneous they are grouped according to a
  logic that is determined by a theology that is
  fully guaranteed to be Catholic.

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• A rite is the product of customs that are
  accepted by a community. This clearly indicates
  that a rite is not composed of elements that are
  invented or imposed by one person or by a group
  of persons rather, it arises from customs that
  have gradually AND ORGANICALLY prevailed in a
  community, the members of which are bound by the
  same Creed and therefore express their identity
  in these practices.A rite must be approved by
  the ecclesiastical authority. It is the
  prerogative of the legitimate authority (the Holy
  See) to say whether the use of a particular rite
  involves any danger, either for the faith of each
  of the individuals who make up the community, or
  for the unity of the group itself. The authority,
  therefore, is responsible for determining whether
  a particular liturgical practice tends to lead to
  an ill-regulated religiosity

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• Elements of a RITE
• The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the
  Second Vatican Council teaches that every
  liturgical act is composed of two sorts of
  elements.
• For the liturgy is made up of unchangeable
  elements divinely instituted and of elements
  subject to change. These latter not only may be
  changed but ought to be changed with the passage
  of time, if they have suffered from the intrusion
  of anything out of harmony with the inner nature
  of the liturgy or have become less suitable
  (Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 21).

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• 1)The unchangeable part of the liturgy or the
  "essential component"In every liturgy there is
  an "essential component" without it, the liturgy
  is no longer possible. For example, in the Mass,
  the "essential component" consists of
• the offering of bread and wine,- Matter
• the Consecration,-Form
• Communion.- Consummation/ Participation
• If one of these elements is missing, there is no
  celebration of the Eucharist there is nothing
  left but a simulation of the Mass.

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• The parts subject to change include2)The
  "substantial" componentsEvery liturgy includes
  a "substantial" part, which, in itself, is not
  necessary for the Eucharistic liturgy but which
  is found in more or less developed forms in all
  the Christian liturgies.This part is made up of
  psalms (entrance antiphon, gradual or
  responsorial psalm, Communion antiphon) as well
  as readings from Sacred Scripture (Old Testament,
  Letters of the Apostles, Gospel). It also
  includes the use of incense, the vestments,
  posture, and gestures of the officiating
  ministers, the different prayers, and so forth.

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• 3)The "modal" componentThis comprises the
  manner in which the "essential" and "substantial"
  components take place or are supposed to be
  carried out.The "modal" component depends to a
  great extent on the traditions of the local
  churches. It determines the order of the
  ceremonies and thus allows us to distinguish
  between large fan-lilies of rites (the Roman
  rite, the Ambrosian rite, the rite of Lyons, the
  Maronite rite, the rite of Saint John Chrysostom,
  etc.).

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4)The "accessory" components

• Unlike the essential and substantial parts of the
  liturgy, the "accessory" component is not
  codified it does not immediately concern the
  beliefs of the faithful and can therefore be left
  to the discretion of those who are responsible
  for conducting the liturgy.The "accessory"
  component is used to enhance the elements of the
  three other components of the liturgy it appeals
  to "good taste" and to "common sense" and thus
  includes everything that appeals directly to the
  senses in order to indicate the degree of
  solemnity of a celebration candles, altar
  cloths, flowers, lighting, etc. 1

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• It is through the "accessory" component that a
  liturgy can be adapted to the temperament and
  circumstances of different peoples, as the
  Council explains
• Even in the liturgy the Church does not wish to
  impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not
  involve the faith or the good of the whole
  community.
• Rather does she respect and foster the qualities
  and talents of the various races and nations.
  Anything in these peoples' way of life which is
  not indissolubly bound up with superstition and
  error she studies with sympathy, and, if
  possible, preserves intact.
• She sometimes even admits such things into the
  liturgy itself, provided they harmonize with its
  true and authentic spirit (SC 37).
  

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• HOWEVER, in order that the "accessory" may be
  introduced into the liturgy and yield its fruits,
  care must be taken to fulfill two conditions
  that the "accessory" does not become something
  cumbersome or more important than what is
  "essential", "substantial", or ,'modal", and that
  it does not become, for example, an opportunity
  for entertaining the congregations that have
  gathered in the first place to participate in the
  Church's liturgy (recall the famous "collage"
  pastoral letter of the French bishops, which
  now clutters our sanctuaries with brightly
  colored posters and felt banners that are
  supposed to testify to the so-called
  participation of children in the liturgy).that
  the "accessory" does not make us lose sight of
  the "noble simplicity" that the rites should have
  (cf. SC 34).

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• Three goals for sacred liturgy
• The Churchs Magisterium on the sacred liturgy
  has therefore three goals
  
• to safeguard the faith in its integrity,
• to ensure that God is honored as He deserves to
  be, and
  
• to advance the salvation of mankind, both of
  those who are already joined to the Church on
  earth and of those who still wander in darkness
  outside of her.

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Liturgy __________ Theology ______________
Philosophy ----------------------- MAN --
-Cardinal Ratzinger

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The liturgy makes present the three fold office
of Christ Because a threefold office belongs to C
hrist and through Him, to His Churchto teach, to
rule, and to sanctifythis threefold office
belongs in a special way to the liturgy or solemn
public worship of the Church, through which the
Head of the Mystical Body most perfectly
exercises His role as Teacher, Ruler, and
Sanctifier throughout the whole of history until
His final coming. The liturgy teaches by procl
aiming the inspired words of Scripture and
showing forth the life-giving symbols of the
sacraments, as well as other symbols that
continually lead the mind to God and have
ever-new lessons for the attentive soul. Symbols
in the Liturgy teaches us our faith- it is
symbolical not diabolical It Rules because thr
ough it Christ the Lord is truly present in our
midst, confirming His kingship over souls,
advancing His kingdom in the world. Seen from the
radical vantage of faith, Christ breaks into and
conquers the profane world in the timeless act of
Calvary, the moment in which He overcame and now
overcomes the world of sin, the moment in which
He raised and now raises all things to Himself.
Liturgy draws us into the timeless reality of God
It Sanctifies by communicating grace to the be
liever and making him receptive to this
communication. the Liturgy makes us holy for it
makes present the mysteries of faith
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WHAT is this Mystery of Faith?
Realizing the PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST Encounteri
ng the SALVIFIC LOVE OF GOD Sanctification of t
he HOLY SPIRIT LIVING A TRINITARIAN LIFE