Holiness In Liturgy And Life

A primary theme in Christian worship is the holiness of God, which is celebrated by hymns and prayers found in every worship tradition. This virtue of holiness has important implications for how we view God, how we celebrate Christian liturgy, and how we relate our worship to our everyday life, all of which are discussed in the following article. The Theme of Holiness in Christian Liturgy Back and forth in the Christian liturgy echoes the language of holiness. Already by the fourth century the Sanctus had been introduced into the eucharistic prayer. The people, in response to the recalling of God's nature and the narrative of God's actions, are invited to join their voices with those of the hosts of heaven in the words: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of thy glory. The acclamation derives, of course, from the ecstatic song of the hosts of heaven which Isaiah heard when standing in the Temple (Isa. 6:3). Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; …