A Roman Catholic Theology Of Worship

The centerpiece of Roman Catholic theology of worship is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is celebrated in worship. The whole of Christian life takes its meaning from that which alone gives meaning to everything: the incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. This Paschal Mystery is the basis of any theology of Christian worship that takes the New Testament as its starting point. Until recently, however, Roman Catholic theology, like that of the Reformation churches, has suffered from the assumptions of medieval cosmology and scholastic philosophy. These assumptions continue to have their impact upon the concrete understanding and practice of the sacraments, especially Initiation and the Eucharist. The impact of historical studies upon the understanding of Scripture and other ecclesial documents not only provides for a richer integration of biblical data and subsequent church practice, but also gives strength to ecumenical theology. Worship i…