YOUCAT Question n. 166 - Part II. Why does the Church celebrate the liturgy so often?
(Youcat answer - repeated) The people
of Israel interrupted their work “seven times a day” (Ps 119:164) in order to
praise God. Jesus participated in the liturgy and prayer of his people; he
taught his disciples to pray and gathered them in the Upper Room so as to
celebrate with them the Liturgy of all liturgies: the gift of himself in the
Last Supper. The church, which calls us to the liturgy, obeys his command, “Do
this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11:24b).
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 1068)
It is this mystery of Christ that the Church proclaims and celebrates in her
liturgy so that the faithful may live from it and bear witness to it in the
world: For it is in the liturgy, especially in the divine sacrifice of the
Eucharist, that "the work of our redemption is accomplished," and it
is through the liturgy especially that the faithful are enabled to express in
their lives and manifest to others the mystery of Christ and the real nature of
the true Church (SC 2).
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment) Just as a man breathes air in
order to stay alive, so too the church lives and breathes by celebrating the
liturgy. God himself is the one who breathes new life into her day by day and
enriches her with gifts through his Word and his sacraments. We can use another
image, too: every liturgy is like a rendezvous of love that God writes on our
calendar. Anyone who has already experienced God’s love is glad to go to
church. Someone who from time to time feels nothing and goes nevertheless shows
God his faithfulness.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 1069)
The word "liturgy" originally meant a "public work" or a
"service in the name of/on behalf of the people." In Christian
tradition it means the participation of the People of God in "the work of
God" (Cf. Jn 17:4). Through the liturgy Christ, our redeemer and high
priest, continues the work of our redemption in, with, and through his Church.
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