Liturgia źródłem i szczytem życia Kościoła

Abstract

The Liturgy in the present time of salvation is to do the work of redemption performed by Christ the High Priest and Mediator between God and people, and continued by Him in the Church. Therefore it is a form through which the Church is made present in the worship given to God by the fellowship together with Christ. It does not exhaust the whole activity of the Church, yet is the source and climax of her life. Making the paschal mystery of our Lord present, the Liturgy calls upon His disciples to practice love and be always ready to transform according to the example set by Christ. His work has not only a historical and salvational character, but also ecclesial and sacramental, for the mystery of our Lord is made present in it by the power of the Holy Ghost. Through her liturgical activities, the Church on pilgrimage participates now the heavenly Liturgy and receives its foretaste. Thus the Liturgy makes present and reveals the Church herself as a token of communion with God and people through Christ in the Holy Spirit. Being the first and indispensable source, from which the faithful draw a truly Christian spirit, the Liturgy becomes the bond and synthesis of the three basic trends of the life of the Church: the Liturgy, ministry and martyria. These three lead to the ultimate unity with the Father through Christ in the Holy Spirit, that is to say to koinonia.