The Gospel of Divine Mercy in King Lear

The paper discusses Shakespeare’s preoccupation with the Christian notions of divine love, forgiveness and justice in The Tragedy of King Lear. In my reading I employ Jean-Luc Marion’s phenomenological reflection on the givenness of love and Hans-Urs von Balthasar’s theology of Paschal mystery. I take issue with the Marxist and existentialist interpretations of Shakespeare’s tragedy which prevailed in the second half of the 20th century. My aim is not a simple recuperation of the “redemptionism” of the play, but an in-depth consideration of Christian allusions in the play which may tie love and forgiveness to justice and throw light on the ending of King Lear.

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.

“For your Faithful Lord, Life is Changed not Ended”. The Roman Catholic Funeral Rite in Flanders and the Paschal Mystery

Since Vatican II, the paschal mystery has become the focal point of all liturgy, a development that also has consequences for the Roman Catholic funeral liturgy. Celebrating the funeral in the context of the Eucharist underscores the concept of the paschal mystery very explicitly. Since 2011, a number of factors has led to the funeral liturgy without Eucharist becoming the liturgical norm in Flanders. This paper investigates this shift in light of the funeral liturgy being a memorial of the paschal mystery. It (1) sketches the shift that occurred in the revised funeral rite, (2) presents a detailed study of the new Flemish approach towards the funeral liturgy, using the diocese of Hasselt as an example, and (3) evaluates this new approach to the funeral liturgy, specifically from the perspective of the liturgy as a memorial of the paschal mystery. Finally, some conclusions regarding this case from a liturgical-theological and pastoral point of view are formulated.

Liturgical Theology as a Research Program

This essay is centered around five questions: (i) What is the proper place of liturgical theology? (ii) What past evolutions have there been and what tendencies are there currently in the field of liturgical theology? (iii) What contents should liturgical theologians focus on? (iv) How can liturgical theologians engage in research? And (v): How can liturgical theology appropriately respond to events occurring in Church and society? Each question corresponds to one part. The rationale behind ordering the content this way is the following: starting from a reflection about the non-evident place of liturgical theology, an attempt is made to reposition it on the basis of its genealogy in the Liturgical Movement. It seems that this is a particularly fruitful way to give liturgical theology a proper profile and identity. Correspondingly, liturgical theology can be considered a fully-fledged research program that manifests its usefulness and fruitfulness. In particular, it is shown that liturgical theologians are called to engage in the study of the meaning of Christian worship, and thereby contribute to theology as a whole. They are to employ a variety of methods but should proceed in such a way that directs reflection, research and spirituality always towards the core of liturgy, as established by the history and economy of salvation and culminating in the paschal mystery. If, and inasmuch they do this, they will have a great deal to offer given the complex challenges the Church and theology are confronted with today. The fundamental principle of this entire essay is that liturgical theology does not simply deal with Christian rituals, festivals and sacraments, but with the core of faith itself—God, the world, the Christ event, tradition, Church, and redemption—to the extent that it is embodied and expressed in worship practices.