Teologia i liturgia. Teologiczna nauka o liturgii w niemieckim obszarze językowym. Geneza i założenia teoretyczne

The present study initiates an in-depth reflection, a planned series of articles or a proper book concerning the position of liturgy in theology. It would be inappropriate to start such a subject from theology other than the German one, which had its origin in the liturgical movement. The homeland of the liturgical movement was, undoubtedly, France and later on Belgium. However, in none of the language areas it had such an intellectual foundation as in Germany and Austria. From the very outset the study of liturgy developed here into three directions, but the first two of them usually occurred alongside. The first approach is called the theological and historical study of liturgy, the second one is theological and systematic study of liturgy. The third approach consisted in pastoral liturgics. After the analysis of theoretical assumptions of the mutual link between theology and liturgy and the presentation of the teaching of the Second Vatican Council concerning the focal position of the study of liturgy in theology, there were presented the origins and main objectives of an independent theological discipline (Liturgiewissenschaft) emerging in the German language area and focused on liturgy. Two main trends of the developing discipline were displayed. The first of them is the systematic study of liturgy, created by Odo Casel OSB, and Romano Guardini. The second trend, which stems from the significance of liturgy for the Christian life, is theological and pastoral study of liturgy (Pastoralliturgik). Athanasius Wintersig OSB (1900-1942) is considered to be the creator of this approach.