The Liturgy of Life by Ricky Manalo

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Of the books about worship I have recently read this was by far the most interesting, because despite the rhetoric of the others this was the only one that actually engages with “ordinary” peoples faith and practice.

Manalo's, writing in an USA Roman Catholic context, starting point is concern that since Vatican II the emphasis on the people's participation in the Mass has also devalued and marginalised a range on other formal and informal liturgical practices.

He takes the term Liturgy of Life from Peter C. Phan who defined it as the “universal experiences of God and mystical encounters with God's grace in the midst of everyday” - which prompts Manalo to realise that “the Eucharist is not so much the source and centre of my life or the church's life; God is.” This might seem blindingly obvious, yet how much of the church's practice denies this truth. As someone coming firmly from a Eucharistic tradition, who will find every reason to oppose the introduction of a non-Eucharistic service, I have for a number of years had this itch that using the Eucharist as the metaphor for every Christian activity is unhelpful.

He points out that “There is a general assumption that individuals commit ' to an entire, single package of beliefs and practices of an official religion,' when, in fact, many people come to negotiate a variety of religious and spiritual practices...” - how many people have you meet who explain that they would like to be a Christian but they can't believe in such and such random dogma – and you are like - OMG you think any of us believe that? I often find that those outside the church take our doctrines far more seriously than we ourselves ever would do.

But Manalo is also helpful in pointing to the ways in which there are a whole range of “religious” practices that are not directly related to going to church, and therefore the assumption that the decline in church attendance also marks a decline in religious disposition / an increase in rationality is without foundation.

I go to church because of my faith, I don't have faith because I go to church. But one of the wisest thinks I have read is Manalo's quote from Irene Duller, a born and bred but perhaps is many people's eye border-line lapsed catholic, she defines 'church' as “a place that you know God is there. While God can be everywhere, sometimes I'm not present. So it's kind of like that calibration: I'm here; God's here. God is everywhere but sometimes you need to be present to actually feel it. But I think factually, God is everywhere. You could find God anywhere.”

You could find God anywhere, but generally you don't – you need something to frame the encounter, to make you pay attention. The Eucharist is a powerful opportunity for encounter with the Lord, but it is not unique, just as Thomas and Paul had authentic but totally distinct encounters with the risen Lord, so the Eucharist is only one form of encounter. Never let us think that our Tabernacles can contain out God, he who burst from the tomb knows no boundaries – every-time we set a limit on his love he burst out and expanses our imagination.

One of the people Manalo interviews is Helen Rosario, (key stats, 87, widow, Filipina) whose house is full of icons – and I if I can work out how to add pictures to this blog, I will show you that I am not so far behind...