Novelty in the Perspective of Continuity: On the Liturgical Hermeneutic of the Teaching of the Second Vatican Council

Fr. Bogusław MIGUT

Department of Liturgical Spirituality, Institute of Liturgics and Homiletics, Faculty of Theology, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Al. Racławickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Poland , Poland

Abstract

In its introductory part, the article shows the relations between the liturgical movement and the Biblical and kerygmatic ones. The three of them postulated unanimously the need for a renewal of the Church which was to be accomplished by way of providing a hermeneutic of continuity which would demonstrate that the second millennium of Christianity embraced a continuation of the first one. While the postulates in question concerned above all the liturgical celebrations, they were formulated with a view to the entirety of the vision of the Church and her life. This tendency is expressed in the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. Liturgy, despite not being the most important issue debated by the Council, became the first theme on its agenda, which was reflected by the order in which the Conciliar documents were promulgated. The Council demonstrated that the proper theology of the liturgy implies the proper understanding of the Divine Revelation, of the Church and her mission in the world. The proper theology of the liturgy also entails a conception of theology that serves not only knowing God, but also the adoration of God in human life.

Translated by Dorota Chabrajska