Liturgical Formation, Culture and Christian Imagination

Dear Colleagues,

Religious experience is deeply rooted in ritual practices and social imagination. In traditional and postmodern societies, ritual practices shape habits and ways of thinking. At the same time, ritual practices are framed by cultural, theological and political agendas. From this perspective, Christian liturgy is no exception. Christian liturgy is an ordering force in social and individual life, and its historical development reveals the complex influence of popular imagination, theological debates and cultural policies on its practice and justification.

A common feature of the liturgical movements of the twentieth century was the recognition of the link between the liturgy and the social renewal of Christian life. In all of them, liturgical formation was seen as a key factor in living the liturgical action and transforming society. As can be seen in Romano Guardini's landmark works on methods in liturgical studies (Über die systematische Methode in der Liturgiewissenschaft, 1921) and on liturgical formation (Liturgie und Liturgische Bildung, 1923), the task to be accomplished implied “formation for the liturgy” and “formation through the liturgy”, the latter being essential and the former instrumental.

A hundred years later, this Special Issue aims to explore the interactions between liturgical formation, culture and the Christian imagination. Contributors are encouraged to build on the significant work that has been done in recent years in three main areas of research:

– Formation for the liturgy

The first area aims to reflect on ritual learning and liturgical education. Questions that may inspire the analysis include the historical appraisal of the methodologies used in liturgical studies and the experiences and models of liturgical formation in universities, seminaries and catechesis. Particular attention can be accorded to transdisciplinary dialogues and the critical function of liturgical studies within theological studies (e.g., dialogue between liturgical studies, biblical studies, systematic theology, moral theology, pastoral theology, canon law and church history) and the humanities (e.g., history, philosophy, psychology, sociology and ritual studies).

– The formation of the Christian imagination through liturgical experience

This area is concerned with the formative dimension of the ritual action itself. Key topics include the relationship between artistic experience and the aesthetic dimension of liturgy; the correlation between ritual memory and social imagination; contemplation in and through liturgical action; the interplay between the Holy Spirit and human symbolic action; emotions in ritual performances and the formation of the self; and the interaction between liturgical performance, mystagogy and meditative practices in the formation of the liturgical imagination.

– Formed by the liturgy 

The third area of research explores the impact of formation through liturgy in everyday life. Open questions for consideration include the relationship between liturgy and ethics; the transformative dynamic of liturgy: from reconciliation to communion; liturgy and work; liturgy and social justice; norm and play in the formation of the moral self; ecology and the sacramental vision of the world; and ritual habits and Christian virtues.

Please send 500-word abstracts and a short bio to the Guest Editor (rego@pusc.it). Final papers will be due on 20 October 2023.

Prof. Dr. Juan Rego
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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