Introduction to the Russian Edition of Theology of the Liturgy

The eleventh volume of the Collected Works of Joseph Ratzinger, consists of his writings on the liturgy.This volume of 634 closely-packed pages is headed by his The Spirit of the Liturgy, and followed by his voluminous writings under six additional headings: "Typos-Mysterium- Sacramentum"; "The Celebration of the Eucharist-Source and Summit of Christian Life"; "The Eucharist-Heart of the Church"; "Theology of Church Music"; and "Further Perspectives."On September 25, Metropolitan Hilarión at an ecumenical conference presented Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI each with a copy of the volume.With these words, St. Benedict, in his Rule (43.3), established the absolute priority of divine worship over any other task of monastic life.[...]I hope that this book will also help the Christians of Russia to understand in a new and better way the great gift that has been given to us in the Holy Liturgy. * 1 Joseph Ratzinger, Theology of the Liturgy: The Sacramental Foundation of Christian Existence, Collected Works, vol. 11, ed.