The Case for the Liturgy

Extract

Something was said, in the last number of Blackfriars, about the modern liturgical movement and about a German centre of that movement, the Abbey of Maria Laach. It was hinted also in that article that behind the movement, especially in Germany, there lay a definite theory, or body of theory, regarding Catholic worship and devotion. The movement in Germany is in fact especially characterised by its insistence on the doctrinal foundations as distinguished from antiquarian or aesthetical considerations. It is essentially theological in its nature, bases its appeal upon doctrine, and asks for a full realisation of the implications of the official Christian liturgy. In the present article some attempt will be made to expound the criticism which this militant movement would pass upon our present practice, and to set forth the claims which it makes for the liturgy. We shall not attempt to set the matter out in full, but endeavour only to give a few of the main ideas which lie behind the liturgical attack.

Abbot Herwegen is of the opinion that there has been nothing short of a revolution in our devotional attitude as compared with the devotional attitude of the early Church. On the one hand, he argues, we have an objective, sacramental and social worship; on the other, a highly subjective, personal and individualistic effort. He conceives it to be the main work of the ‘liturgical apostolate’ to reform this state of affairs and to infuse into our present-day religion some measure of the ancient spirit. And he believes that the instrument of such a reform lies ready to our hands, is in fact nothing else than our current and official liturgy.