The Spirit of the Liturgy

Regarded by followers of Ratzinger as his most significant contribution to the study of the Liturgy, this eloquent and profound exploration of the Church’s paramount prayer aims to guide readers in rediscovering the Liturgy with its concealed spiritual richness and transcendent magnificence at the core of Christian life. In the book’s foreword, Cardinal Ratzinger draws a parallel between this work and a prior classic by Romano Guardini of the same title. He perceives similarities in their insights, seeing this as a continuation of Guardini’s endeavor to renew the understanding of the Liturgy in his time. His goal is to assist in this revitalization of Liturgical understanding, aligning with Guardini’s original objectives. The distinction lies in the necessity to adapt Guardini’s post-First World War accomplishments to the current context of our questions, hopes, and challenges. Similar to Guardini, he refrains from engaging in scholarly discourse and research, focusing instead on providing a tool for comprehending faith and expressing it appropriately in the Liturgy.