A Request from a Reader

I was having a discussion recently with friends and relatives about my changing feelings and thoughts about the liturgy. I asked how we can deepen people’s appreciation of the sacred, and in particular, the mass. My aunt commented that liturgy is very much a right-brained (meaning non-analytical, more emotional than intellectual) activity and that more often art is a better way to educate people about ritual and liturgy than talking analytically about it. So I’m wondering if you could ask your readers about good movies that show the power of ritual, in particular the liturgy. I’ve seen really beautiful movies of orthodox liturgies, but no specifically Catholic ones that I can remember.

But it needn’t be specifically liturgy. Any film that helps people understand the structures, role and power of ritual would be helpful. I’m thinking even parts of something like “Triumph of the Will” would be good to illustrate how profoundly we are affected by rituals and why this is so. The idea is to help people get an appreciation of why the rules and structures around liturgy exist and what it is they are protecting or promoting.

I’ll understand if you can’t do this. But I know of no better place offhand that I can ask this question and count on getting good replies than your blog. Thank you very much. All the best and God bless.

Anybody? Anybody? Bueller?
Update: A reader writes that he can’t get the following into my combox (too many links) and asks me to post:

Dear Reader,

There are several good PD resources available on Youtube, among which there is to be found an Easter TLM in the old DC cathedral with commentary from Fulton Sheen.

There are also several great blogs dealing with things liturgical, including, but by no means limited to The The New Liturgical Movement, Rorate Caeli, The The hermeneutic of continuity, and What What Does the Prayer Really Say?

For liturgical music, see also Chironomo’s Podium.

I suspect you will find, as you delve more deeply into matters liturgical, that it is not only possible, but most salutary and even necessary to speak analytically about the liturgy – the more we understand the liturgy, the more perfectly are we able to participate in it.

The liturgy is an inexhaustible source of reflection on the faith – the altar is where Heaven and Earth mingle.

Best,
Chris (The Lazy Disciple)