Catholic worship is based in liturgy, and this liturgy comes primarily from ancient Jewish worship, both in the Temple and synagogues, and from the Biblical revelation that God is worshipped in heaven through liturgy.1 The word “liturgy” is a Biblical word2 and comes from a Greek composite word leitourgia (λειτουργία) meaning “the duty [or work] of the people.” This is the prescribed method of public worship God gave to the Hebrew people in their Temple rites which was carried over into the synagogues. The celebrant recites a passage of Scripture, and the people respond with Scripture, or else a response based on Scripture.
The idea is to present an organized and dignified way through which people can express their personal relationship with God publicly and in community. For God has made the New Covenant in Christ with his Church, not the individual.3 Individuals share in that covenant by becoming part of the larger Community (the Church) with which that covenant was made. The liturgy is merely a public expression of this. The Catholic Church has many liturgical rituals, but the two main rituals are the Divine Liturgy (often called the “Holy Mass”) in which Holy Communion is celebrated, and the Divine Office (also called the “Liturgy of the Hours”) which is a recitation of the Psalms modeled after Jewish temple worship.
The Divine Office is the official prayer liturgy of the Catholic Church and it is required daily reading for clergy. Regular Catholics (laity) may optionally participate in it too. This Divine Office comes to us directly from the Temple prayer liturgy in ancient Israel, and is based heavily on the Psalms of David. Prayers are set aside for certain times of the day, and the Bible tells us about the Apostles going up to the Temple to pray this liturgy at certain times of the day.4
The Divine Liturgy (Holy Mass) is the official celebration of the Church, and it’s obligatory for all Catholics on every Sunday and certain holy days during the year. This Divine Liturgy (Holy Mass) is a composite of two Jewish liturgies. The first half is the Liturgy of the Word, which comes to Catholicism directly from the Jewish synagogue liturgy. The second half is the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and this comes to us from the Jewish Passover seder combined with prayers used by Jewish priests in the ancient Templeperiod. Together, the Liturgy of the Word leads us into the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The whole thing marks a continuity between the Church and ancient Israel.
In contrast, when Protestants broke with the Catholic Church in the sixteenth century, they modified their liturgy accordingly. Anglicans and Lutherans initially made very little modifications. In contrast, Reformed and Anabaptists made rather large changes. As we go down through history we reach the modern Evangelical churches. They have stripped away a great deal of liturgy from their weekly services. However, they still retain a shell of liturgy. For example; certain times are designated for singing, other times for praying, and still another time for instruction. At various points during this liturgical shell, the congregation will stand up or sit down. While this is obviously less regimented and structured than Catholic liturgy, it is a shell of liturgy nonetheless.
- Images of heavenly worship from the Book of Revelation
- Luke 1:23; Acts 13:2; Romans 15:16; 2nd Corinthians 9:12; Philippians 2:14-17, 25, 30; Hebrews 8:2 & 6
- Matthew 26:28; Luke 1:72; Romans 11:27; Hebrews 8:8; Hebrews 8:10; Hebrews 10:16
- Acts 3:1
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