Joseph Ratzinger's Liturgical Theolog

Joseph Ratzinger(16 April 1927-31 December 2022),the former Pope of the Catholic Church,is one of the most important theologians of modern Catholic Church,and his liturgical theology has a great influence on the modern Catholic Church.This dissertation focuses on his liturgical theology.This dissertation can be divided into four parts.This dissertation reviews firstly the background and roots of Joseph Ratzinger’s liturgical theology.This dissertation believes that the religious atmosphere of his family and Bavaria and Platonism have profoundly influenced Ratzinger’s liturgical theology.Ratzinger is also the inheritor of traditional Catholic liturgy,which he regards as " die gewordene Liturgie”and tries to maintain it;moreover,Ratzinger is also deeply influenced by the modern liturgical movement,which is not only the source of his liturgical theology,but also the object of his criticism.In the second part focuses this dissertation on Ratzinger’s discussion about the essence of liturgy in the general sense.This part discusses firstly the Catholic view toward liturgy.In the context of Catholicism,the liturgy is understood as a transcendent ritual.On this basis,Ratzinger sees the liturgy as God’s action.But Ratzinger has not ignored the role of human beings in the liturgy.He believes that the liturgy is an interactive dialogue between God and man,and is an art prayer.Therefore,Ratzinger quotes the words of the Apostle Paul and calles it "rationabile obsequium".This rationabile obsequium is not only words,but is also reflected in material,and ultimately points to the future or telos promised by the history of Salvation.Eucharist is the most important rite in the Catholic Church,and Ratzinger extremely emphasizes it.Therefore,in the third part this dissertation further focuses on Ratzinger’s Eucharist theory.Ratzinger believes that the sacraments,especially the Eucharist,are essentially a "sacrum signum" in which man encounters others and God.Concerning the origin of the Eucharist,Ratzinger opposes the "meal"theory of Protestantism and the modern liturgical movement,and believes that the Catholic liturgy did not originate from the Jewish Passover Feast,but it has a new form,which can only be understood through the concept of "The Sacrifice of the Mass".Finally,according to Ratzinger,this Eucharist is also the foundation of the Church,and it guarantees the communion and constitution of the Church.The fourth part of this dissertation concentrate on Ratzinger’s discussion on the reform of Catholic liturgy.This dissertation analyzes firstly Ratzinger’s view of reform.Ratzinger believes that liturgy reform cannot be limited to specific rituals,and the purpose of liturgy reform is to clarify the essence of liturgy in its comprehensibility,participation,and simplicity.Facing the dispute over the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council,Ratzinger advocates a "reformed hermeneutics of Council",trying to view the liturgical reform from a continuous perspective.His Vatican Ⅱ hermeneutic is epitomized in his apostolic letter"Summorum Pontificum",which try to transcend the opposition between modernity and tradition,and maintain the continuity of the liturgical tradition of the Catholic Church.Finally,this dissertation believes that Ratzinger’s liturgical theology is of great significance to our understanding and research on today’s Catholic liturgy and its reformation.His liturgical theology is the starting point for us to understand the history of development of Catholic liturgy and modern liturgical reform.