Overview

In Signs of the Holy One, Uwe Michael Lang addresses crucial questions which are just now coming to the fore concerning the sacred liturgy. His point of departure is that the Catholic liturgy is a synthesis of elements, far more than just its texts gesture, motion, architecture, art, music and that these elements are integral to the solemn liturgy and not just incidental. They are aspects of the non-verbal language of the sacred; they are what makes the liturgy beautiful. His consideration of the beauty of the liturgy poses the problem that the modern notion of beauty is subjective, which makes it difficult to articulate criteria for what is beautiful. But sacred beauty has criteria for each of its principal elements; these are the subject of extended discussion of architecture, art, and music, showing why and how they contribute to the total liturgy. Pope Benedict XVI, who wrote extensively about the liturgy, said, The greatness of the liturgy depends we shall have to repeat this frequently on its non-spontaneity."" Modern man needs to learn that banality and repetitious ""novelty"" are no substitute for the sacred and are unable to induce any sense of meaning, purpose and peace.The yearning for the Transcendent is always felt within the human psyche and is rarely far from the surface, especilly among young adults. A Church that forgets this is heading in the wrong direction.""

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9781621640073

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Reviews

In this wonderful book, Fr. Lang explores the beauty of sacred symbols and actions in the Catholic liturgy and explains why their rediscovery is important in our modern age. Deserves to be widely read. -- Cardinal George Pell

In this wonderful book, Fr. Lang explores the beauty of sacred symbols and actions in the Catholic liturgy and explains why their rediscovery is important in our modern age. Deserves to be widely read. -- Cardinal George Pell, Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy There are many reasons to recommend this book, including its convenient gathering together of many sources and documents of the Church, its ample footnotes and bibliography, its concise summaries of key issues, and its evaluation of various viewpoints concerning the sacred in contemporary theology. -- Fr. Samuel F. Weber, O.S.B., Author, The Office of Compline Fr. Lang reminds us that the liturgy is first and foremost the action of Christ Himself. He provides a welcome resource for that formation in the spirit and power of the liturgy for which the Second Vatican Council called. -- Dom Alcuin Reid, Author, The Organic Development of the Liturgy Fr. Lang urges us to think about liturgy as an event, not merely a collection of texts. After providing a comprehensive anthropological and theological foundation for sacred worship, he invites his readers to reflect on how the liturgy is performed. -- Milton Walsh, Author, In Memory of Me: Meditations on the Roman Canon This is an original synthesis, based upon a sound grasp of modern anthropological and theological foundations, showing the intrinsic connection between the beautiful and the sacred. -- Professor William Mahrt, Stanford University

Author Information

Uwe Michael Lang has an M.A. in theology from the University of Vienna and a Ph.D. in theology from the University of Oxford. A priest of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in London, he is currently Lecturer in Theology at Heythrop College, University of London, and on the Visiting Faculty at the Liturgical Institute in Mundelein, Ill. Among his publications are Turning Towards the Lord and The Voice of the Church at Prayer, both published by Ignatius Press.

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