The Language of Liturgy: A Ritual Poetics

Synopsis

How Language Works In The Worship Of The Church Has Been Vigorously Debated During The Period Of Liturgical Revision In The Twentieth Century Coming At The End Of What Is Known As The Liturgical Movement. Focussing Upon The Church Of England And The Anglican Tradition, This Book Traces The History Of 'liturgical Language' As It Begins In The Early Church, But With Particular Emphasis Upon The English Reformation Liturgies, Their Background In The Medieval Church And Literature And Their Long And Varied Life In The Church Of England After 1662. Inter-disciplinary In Scope, Yet Rooted In A Literary Approach, The Volume Provides A Rigorous Study Of The Effect Of Liturgy Upon The Theological And Devotional Life Of The Church. Part I. The Poetics Of Liturgy : -- 1. Poetry And The Language Of Prayer And Worship -- 2. The Poetics Of Liturgy -- 3. A Ritual Poetics And The Demands Of Liturgical Language -- Part Ii. Language And Performance In The Liturgy Of The Early Church : -- 4. Liturgy And Performance -- 5. Hippolytus And The Apostolic Tradition -- Part Iii. Medieval And Reformation England : -- 6. Liturgical Language And The Vernacular In Late Medieval England -- 7. Literature And The Prayer Books Of The English Reformation -- Part Iv. The Alternative Service Book And Common Worship : -- 8. Language And Liturgical Revision In The Church Of England -- 9. The Background To The Alternative Service Book -- 10. From 1980 To Common Worship -- 11. Reflections On The Eucharistic Body -- Appendix : Intercessory Prayer David Jasper. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 174-185).