Liturgy

Recently I've really grown to appreciate the Liturgy of the Church. By Liturgy I mean the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as well as the Liturgy of the Hours. There are several aspects that I love. The seasons: throughout the year the different liturgical seasons keep us engaged and focused on different aspects of the spiritual life. Even the ordinary season is much more that just ordinary; it's extraordinary. It seems that there is always a feastday of a fascinating saint to learn about and to pray to for intercessions. There's always someone or something to celebrate (besides the obvious gifts of the Eucharist and Scripture). We are a Church of celebrations and joy.
The content: Especially in the Liturgy of the Hours. The psalms are filled with such raw human emotions that they speak loudly to me. There's a cycle of falling away from God and the pain that that causes, a realization of this pain, a coming back to God, and God always renewing the covenant. This seems to be the basic human drama. It's amazing how the Church put the texts of each hour and day so perfectly to connect the passages and their meanings.
Entering In: The Liturgy is the primary means of entering into the Mystical Body of Christ. The universality of the Liturgy fascinates me. The whole Church is in harmony as we pray together. I really feel myself entering into something Other. I find myself centering my whole person around the Liturgy, it's pulling me in. It's my lifeblood. The more I enter in, the more I desire.

Brendan