The Spirit of the Liturgy

The Spirit of the Liturgy (German: Der Geist der Liturgie) is a 2000 book written by Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) before his ascension to the papacy. Ratzinger called for the return to the historical practice of the liturgical orientation towards the east—the ad orientem Mass, where this is not possible, he calls for the placement of the Crucifix in the center of the altar.^[1]

Excerpts

• "The Altar and the Direction of Liturgical Prayer:

• "Music and Liturgy:

• Wherever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and has been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment.