The “Reign of God” as Primary Goal of Liturgical Formation

I is difficult to overstate the importance and significance of the opening article of the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. Sacrosanctum concilium (SC) begins by placing the reform of the liturgy, not just in the context of, but as central to the agenda of the deep and thorough reform of the church that the Council intended to initiate in this, the first of sixteen documents. Article 1 expects the reform to relate to the church as both centripetal and centrifugal forces. Two statements address the internal: the reform hopes (1) to bring increasing vigor to the lives of Christians and (2) to change whatever needs to be changed so that the unchanging gospel will speak more clearly to people today. This proposed reform program also is outward-looking – ecumenical and missionary: (3) the promotion of union among all who believe in Christ, and (4) the making known of God’s Reign in Christ. That this vision was understood by the conciliar fathers to relate to, not just the wider work of the Council, but also – and in the first place – the liturgy, is clear from the final sentence: “The Council therefore sees particularly