Participatio actuosa w liturgii przed Soborem Watykańskim II i po nim : zarys problematyki

Abstract

The above titled article is dedicated to one of the most important issues to which the second Vatican Council devoted its attention and work. It is in it namely the issue of the participation of the faithful in liturgical celebrations. Among the council’s descriptions of that participation are such adjectives as conscious, fruitful, full, communal, pious and easy. Most often, however, as many as fourteen times, the council states that participation (participatio) of all in the liturgy, it should be „active” (actuosa). The form of the liturgy with the active involvement of all participants originates from earliest Christianity. Over time, the situation in this field, as in many other areas of life and the Church’s missionary commitment, have become increasingly hampered by prejudice, until finally, under the influence of various factors (such as the process of the clericalization of the liturgy, the absolute use of the Latin language, assigning Gregorian chant to the liturgy, et al.) was brought to an almost complete collapse, meaning the disappearance of the participation of the faithful in the liturgy. What was called for, was not a liturgical movement, which over nearly 100 years (from the mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth century) prepared fertile ground for a return to the source – which in the case of the liturgy means a return to the performance of the liturgy as a dialogue and the active participation of all, and not only of the clergy and select liturgical ministers. Certainly much in this matter remains to be done, however, inspired by Vatican II, liturgical reform has already put firmly in motion the process of a mature understanding of the parish community liturgical celebrations, as well as a competent engagement in them, by participating in the course of relevant activities, ministries, and engaging in liturgical singing.