Colloquia Theologica Ottoniana

The liturgy, which is the public worship of the Church, is a space characterized by objectivity and harmony. It is not focused solely on individual attitudes but assumes a process of unification as a community which, based on specific rites, participates in continuous celebration (anamnesis). The divine nature of liturgical rites also emphasizes the aspect of “encounter.” The liturgy, which can be vividly described as a “feast,” provides a space for encounter and the realization of the act of faith. Despite its focus on active, conscious, and fruitful participation in worship, for example through the introduction of national languages, liturgical action still very often remains incomprehensible to individual believers. In this context, Pope Francis, in his apostolic letter Desiderio desideravi, appealed for a renewed reflection on the liturgical formation provided by the Church. Based on Pope Francis’ document, the article aims to show the importance of preserving liturgical forms of prayer in opposition to widespread socio-cultural trends that have a degrading effect on the understanding of classical cult spirituality. This will highlight the important role of liturgy as a space that not only points to pedagogical elements, but also to the perspective of holistic spiritual growth of the human person. In view of this, the constitutive role of liturgical formation will be shown, which, as a process of education for conscious participation in worship, did not stop with the Second Vatican Council, but continues in the 21st century.