Liturgy was the first and most significant subject taken up by the Second Vatican Council. The Council produced a document on the liturgy, The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, that would give shape to Catholic worship for years to come. By calling for the revision of all the rites according to the principles set forth in The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the Council set in motion the most comprehensive liturgical reform in Catholic history. This new book explains and puts into context the background of the new translation of the Mass, only now approved by the American bishops. It presents a useful schema of the contents of The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy by identifying seven essential themes of the document. No book in recent years has selected these themes or presented them with such clarity. It evaluates critically the “reform of the reform” movement, and other groups that currently propose a radical revision of the church’s liturgy. It links the theoretical to the practical by asking concrete, pastoral questions about where the church stands today with respect to all of the key elements of the Constitution, making the book especially useful for pastoral practitioners.It offers a positive evaluation of the reform overall, while clearly focusing on the question of ongoing renewal. Finally, the unique annotated bibliography for further reading will appeal to a diverse readership by offering a stimulating variety of subjects, writing styles, and perspectives on the issues. †
