Abstract
As indicated in the title, the article’s starting point is the dual affirmation in Nostra Aetate, §4 that the Church “draws its sustenance from the root of that good olive tree,” and that its mystery involves “the spiritual bond” linking it “with Abraham’s stock.” Noting the Church’s commendable liturgical efforts of the past post-Nostra Aetate decades, it observes that the “density” of the present time calls for a more comprehensive approach in the Church’s 21st century liturgical renewal efforts. Due to the rapid and complex confluence of religious, political, intellectual and cultural movements marking the present time, courageous and creative efforts are necessary for the Church’s liturgical response to retain its efficacy and authenticity. The goal of this two-part article is to encourage liturgical conversations that will help foster creative developments in a responsible manner over the next post-Nostra Aetate decade. To enable a more comprehensive overview of recent developments in liturgical theology and liturgical history, Part One briefly explores today’s richly pluriform action of liturgy, and shows the effects, at significant historical moments, of ensuring or neglecting both continuity and change in the Church’s liturgical expressions. After identifying four events or movements contributing to the density of the present historical moment, it proceeds, in Part Two, to outline a three-point focus for 21st century liturgical transformation. This then serves as the lens directing an exploration of new liturgical possibilities relating to the Liturgical Year and the Advent-Christmas cycle.
Highlights
On October 28, 1965 when Vatican Council II – through the promulgation of Nostra Aetate – began the process of addressing the Church’s relationship with Jews and Judaism, the Council Fathers recognized the importance of the declaration and the depths to which this new teaching would reach
Aware that the Church and its liturgy are inseparably linked within the mystery of God and revelation, the Vatican Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, in its 1974 and 1985 documents, began expanding Nostra Aetate’s immediate liturgical concern for care “in the preaching of the word of God.”
Viewed in relation to effective ecclesial liturgical expression, the density of the present time can be attributed to four main events or movements: the Shoah and the Church’s theological and pastoral response to this tragedy; an increasing pluralist sensibility within the Christian community; the increasingly dangerous potential of the alliance between religion and violence; and expressions of ecclesial compassion gradually transforming a stance of triumphalism
Summary
On October 28, 1965 when Vatican Council II – through the promulgation of Nostra Aetate – began the process of addressing the Church’s relationship with Jews and Judaism, the Council Fathers recognized the importance of the declaration and the depths to which this new teaching would reach. They directed the Church’s attention to the links between Christian and Jewish liturgy, demanded caution in dealing with liturgical explanations and with translations of and commentaries on biblical texts, and began addressing problematic liturgical expressions and representations of Jews and Judaism in greater detail.[2] Various national Episcopal conferences developed related documents to apply these directives in their local contexts.[3]. This serves as the lens through which I explore new liturgical possibilities relating mainly to the Liturgical Year and to the AdventChristmas cycle
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