Introduction

This chapter introduces the idea of an ecumenical repertoire of “metaphors of eucharistic presence” and situates the book within discussions of metaphor, language, and embodiment in liturgical theology. It proposes an “additive method” that allows metaphors with different entailments to stand alongside one another as complementary rather than contradictory. Five motifs—identity, representation, change, containment, and conduit—are introduced, each of which will be more fully explored in later chapters. Each includes one or more verbal affirmations churches could be invited to endorse. The chapter concludes with some notes on the scope of the project and how it is informed by the author’s Anglican perspective.

“Extra-Special Care”

This paper reads Wes Anderson’s 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel through the lens of liturgical theology. It proposes that by revivifying collective memory—both its tragedies and joys—in a rhythmic, sensory, spatial, playful, and paradoxical way, the film forms our “social imaginary” for the better. In exploring the resonances between existing Anderson scholarship and liturgical theology, the paper highlights three key facets of the film: its implication of the present through the mythical stylization of the past; the relationship between M. Gustave and Zero, who find their place together as priest and acolyte of the Grand Budapest Hotel, enacting its liturgy of service against the rising tide of barbarism; and Anderson’s formal and aesthetic vision, which curates and elevates “found” objects and spaces, recognizing them as sacramental. Rejecting metaphysical dualism, the film suggests that communion and mystery are embedded in and enlivened by the material world.

Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann: The Liturgical Theology of the Symbol

В статье предпринимается попытка актуализировать богословское понятие «символ», существующее в литургическом богословии. Эта попытка осуществляется автором на базе имеющихся по этой теме материалов, опубликованных протопресвитером (1953-1970 гг. протоиереем, 1946-1953 гг. священником) Александром Шмеманом, известным богословом и литургистом Православной Церкви. В своих публикациях отец Александр выражает озабоченность по поводу того, что литургический термин «символ», широко использовавшийся в христианской Церкви уже с древних времён и являвшийся ключевым понятием в богословии и в литургической практике с середины второго тысячелетия, стал трансформироваться и приобретать несвойственные ему значения, что оказало негативное влияние на литургическую жизнь Церкви в целом, и особенно на понимание Евхаристии. Со временем термин «символ» стал терять своё богатое онтологическое содержание и приближаться к понятию «знак». Это понятие усвоено символу во многих современных толкованиях литургической жизни. The article attempts to actualize the theological concept of «symbol» that exists in liturgical theology. This attempt is carried out by the author on the basis of materials available on this topic published by Protopresbyter (1953-1970, Archpriest, 1946-1953, Priest) Alexander Schmemann, a renowned theologian and liturgist of the Orthodox Church. In his publications, Father Alexander expresses concern that the liturgical term «symbol», which has been widely used in the Christian Church since ancient times and which has been a key concept in theology and liturgical practice since the middle of the second millennium, has begun to transform and acquire uncharacteristic meanings which had a negative impact on the liturgical life of the Church in general, and especially on the understanding of the Eucharist. Over time, the term «symbol» began to lose its rich ontological content and approach the concept of «sign». This concept is adopted by the symbol in many modern interpretations of liturgical life.

Liturgical Anamnesis as an Element of the Euchology of the Mass

In modern liturgical theology, the concept of “anamnesis” has become a dominant feature that defines the liturgy. Without understanding the essence of anamnesis, it is impossible to grasp the essence of the Christian liturgy. In other words, without anamnesis, the liturgy would not be liturgy. Liturgical anamnesis is, above all, an objective remembrance and actualization hic et nunc of the Paschal Mystery of Christ. It is a reminder of the past, but also an anticipation of the salvific future and the heavenly liturgy. In a narrower sense, the anamnesis is an integral part of the Christian euchology. This paper presents the latter understanding of the word “anamnesis” as a formal element in the structure of the euchology that recalls not only the different stages and facts of Christ’s life, but also the entire history of salvation in both a theological and a chronological sense.

A “Liturgical Mysticism of Open Eyes”: Johann Baptist Metz, Caryll Houselander, and Pandemic Liturgy

The German theologian Johann Baptist Metz (1928–2019) called for a spirituality that sees more suffering, not less, the more liberated it is; he has described this as a “mysticism of open eyes.” This theological vision involves all people, living and dead, becoming free to stand as subjects before God. Caryll Houselander (1901–1954), an English author, developed a liturgically infused mysticism focused on seeing Christ in each person. Her vision of Christ in others was rooted in creatively portraying the particularities of human life in the great “rhythm” of the Christ-life lived in the Mystical Body and expressed in the liturgy. This article proposes that juxtaposing these two authors reveals a “liturgical mysticism of open eyes,” playing off Metz’s initial phrasing. The work of Metz and Houselander together presents a fruitful liturgical theology for Christian communities during and in response to the pandemic as they engage questions of suffering, justice, and responsibility. By rooting our decisions about liturgical and social lives in a “liturgical mysticism of open eyes,” the church may remain rooted to a liturgical spirituality, while also recognizing and being open to the suffering of individuals and communities while liturgies are altered, moved online, or postponed altogether.

Givenness, Saturation, and the Self: A Phenomenology of Christian Initiation

Phenomenology holds great promise yet underdeveloped potential for ritual studies and liturgical theology. As phenomenology has indeed taken a “theological turn” and the contentiousness of such an approach abates, questions remain as to what insights, concepts, and language phenomenology can offer to deepen our understanding of Christian ritual practices. Specifically with respect to rituals of initiation, does phenomenology open new avenues of appreciation for the sacrament of baptism, to enrich and to deepen the faithful’s experience of these rituals? This article considers insights afforded by a phenomenological approach to the sacrament, in particular with regard to adult baptism and the catechumenate in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), the rite of reception and sacramental initiation into the Roman Catholic Church. Considered through such lenses, a phenomenology of baptism promises to open new avenues of ritual understanding, theological appreciation, and depth of prayer. Drawing primarily from the work of Jean-Luc Marion, this article also considers prominent critiques of his work to articulate a phenomenology of baptism as an experience of givenness and reception, of identity formation within and through an ecclesial community, and of prayerful preparation for Christian neophytes.

Spiritualitas Eekofeminis-Liturgis: Mengupayakan Rekonstruksi Spiritualitas dan Etika di Tengah Persoalan Pencemaran Lingkungan Domestik

This article explains gender inequality that has emerged in the ecological crisis, particularly domestic environmental pollution. On the one hand, this injustice reduces nature and its sacredness and, at the same time, reduces women. Respond to this crisis is by constructing an eco-feminism-liturgical spirituality. I argue that the praxis of ecofeminism and liturgical spirituality leads to concerns about ecological justice and gender. Therefore, this paper shows a reconstructive effort on the idea of ecofeminist spirituality with liturgical theology regarding environmental pollution and gender-based injustice through a constructive theological method. The liturgy is explored to the point that it ultimately has an ecological, public, and domestic character. This reconstruction of the idea has three benefits. Firstly, presenting transexist and ecological images of the God of the Trinity and scrutinizing parental metaphors. Secondly, to emphasize spiritual praxis with emancipatory dimensions in the public and domestic spheres. It is thirdly, affirming the ecological role of women in one living system and opposing the paradigm pathos, ant(d)ropocentric and Cartesianism. AbstrakPenelitian ini memberi penjelasan mengenai ketidakadilan gender yang muncul dalam krisis ekologi, khususnya pencemaran lingkungan domestik. Di satu sisi ketidakadilan tersebut mereduksi alam beserta sakralitasnya dan pada saat bersamaan mereduksi kaum perempuan. Usaha untuk merespons krisis tersebut ialah dengan mengonstruksi spiritualitas ekofeminisme-liturgis. Saya berpendapat bahwa spiritualitas ekofeminisme-liturgis sangat bersifat praksis dan mengarah pada keprihatinan keadilan ekologis dan gender. Karena itu, melalui metode teologi konstruktif, tulisan ini menunjukkan usaha rekonstruktif atas gagasan spiritualitas ekofeminis dengan teologi liturgis perihal pencemaran lingkungan hidup dan ketidakadilan berbasis gender. Liturgi digali sampai ke arti akhaiknya memiliki sifat ekologis, publik dan domestik. Rekonstruksi gagasan dimaksud memiliki tiga manfaat. Pertama, menghadirkan gambaran transexist dan ekologis pada Allah Trinitas dan mengkritisi metafora parental. Kedua, untuk menegaskan praksis spiritual yang berdimensi emansipatoris di ranah publik dan domestik. Ketiga, menegaskan peran ekologis perempuan dalam satu sistem kehidupan dan menentang patos paradigma, ant(d)roposentris dan Cartesianisme.

The Faith Once for All Delivered: Liturgical Theology, Scripture, and the Evangelical Free Church Tradition

This article proposes to explain how the evangelical Free Church commitment to scripture as its primary authority affects their interaction with liturgical theology. Free Church theology is underpinned by various hermeneutical, theological, and cultural commitments—none more central than its commitment to scripture as revelation of and from God—which complicates Free Church engagement with much recent liturgical scholarship that emphasizes the ecclesiological basis for Christian worship and the corollary authority of Christian tradition. In the first part of the article, I provide an exploration of theological authority within Free Church evangelicalism, arguing that their commitment to scripture’s authority is a commitment to the ecclesial tradition of the apostolic church. In the second part of the article, I explore two additional hermeneutical considerations for evangelical liturgical theology that follow from their commitment to scripture: the priority of biblical exegesis in the theological process and the application of a trusting hermeneutic in their reading of scripture.