History of Liturgy: An Introduction

Liturgy is a product of the society and culture that produced it. The history of liturgy can be understood and studied as a means of understanding the history of the people who wrote the liturgical texts and thus help us understand the texts better. Conversely, liturgical texts can also help us to better understand the social and historical factors at play in the time and place a liturgical text was written. This understanding then allows the liturgist to better understand the context of the theology that underpins a liturgical text. This course will examine major liturgical texts and historical moments in the Christian West, with an eye toward seeing how history, theology and liturgy are closely linked.