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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Liturgy outside Liturgy

Fr. David Friel · March 25, 2018

UST RELEASED this month, a new book by Professor David W. Fagerberg presents a fascinating study of the liturgical theology of Alexander Schmemann. The new volume explores the interconnectivity of liturgy, theology, and piety in a collection of five very accessible lectures.

Schmemann (1921-1983) was a distinguished theologian and protopresbyter of the Orthodox Church. He served as the long-time dean of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, NY. His immensely popular book, For the Life of the World (1973), is particularly memorable for his reflection on man as homo adorans: “‘Homo sapiens,’ ‘homo faber’ . . . yes, but first of all, ‘homo adorans.’ The first and basic definition of man is that he is the priest. He stands at the center of the world and unifies it in his act of blessing God, of both receiving the world from God and offering it to God.” 1

Schmemann’s life and writings have been a major scholarly interest for Fagerberg, who is himself a liturgical theologian, lover of Chesterton, and professor at the University of Notre Dame. Among Fagerberg’s other significant books are Theologia Prima (2003), On Liturgical Asceticism (2013), and Consecrating the World: On Mundane Liturgical Theology (2016).

The new book is entitled Liturgy outside Liturgy: The Liturgical Theology of Fr. Alexander Schmemann. It is available on Amazon and elsewhere, both in paperback and electronic format.

Fagerberg explains in his introduction that this new book is a collection of five lectures given in January 2017. Three were given during the course of a seminar on Schmemann at The Academy of St. John in Sweden, while the other two were presented to a doctoral seminar and a group of lay faithful. The texts have not been altered from their format as oral presentations.

The first three lectures draw heavily upon texts written by Schmemann, while the latter two lectures present Fagerberg’s own thought drawn from Schmemann’s work and ideas.

A look at the table of contents will help to demonstrate the timeliness and interest of this book:

Foreword (Chad Hatfield, President of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary)

Introduction

Part I: A Sketch of Alexander Schmemann’s Though on Liturgy, Theology, and Piety

Chapter 1: Should Liturgy Matter Outside the Church? Schmemann on the Study of Liturgy
Liturgy and the World
Defining Antinomy
The Kingdom and the World Meet in Liturgy
The Liturgical Mission to the World

Chapter 2: Can Theology be Done outside the Academy? Schmemann’s Concept of Theology
The East Path Not Taken
The Harder Path We Will Take
Liturgy as Ontological Condition for Theology
A Conversion Required

Chapter 3: Do We Need Liturgy in Our Life? Schmemann’s Connection between Liturgy and Spirituality
What Liturgical Piety is Not
What Liturgical Piety Is
Baptismal Foundations
Cosmic Priesthood
Conclusion

Part II

Chapter 4: Liturgy and the Consecration of the World
Liturgy and Cosmos
Liturgy and Anthropology
Liturgy and Hearts
Liturgy and History
Conclusion

Chapter 5: On Liturgy, Theology, and Asceticism
A Theological Definition of Liturgy
A Liturgical Definition of Theology
A Liturgical Theology of the World

For those not familiar with the writings of Alexander Schmemann, this new volume might well serve as an introduction. For those who are already familiar with Schmemann, Fagerberg’s work will help to raise new questions and synthesize thoughts from across Schmemann’s corpus.




NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Alexander Schmemann, For the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy (Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2002), 14-15.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Alexander Schmemann Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 14 September (Holy Cross)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for 14 September 2025, which is the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)
    A few days ago, I posted a draft copy of this 12-page pamphlet with citations about the laity’s “full, conscious, and active participation.” Its basic point or message is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music because Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do that! We’ve received tons of mail regarding that pamphlet, with many excellent suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to chime in!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“In my capacity as the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, I continue to remind all that the celebration toward the East (versus orientem) is authorized by the rubrics of the missal, which specify the moments when the celebrant must turn toward the people. A particular authorization is, therefore, not needed to celebrate Mass facing the Lord.”

— ‘Robert Cardinal Sarah, 23 May 2016’

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