Day 164: Liturgical Diversity and Unity

The mystery of Christ is so unfathomably rich that it cannot be exhausted by its expression in any single liturgical tradition. the history of the blossoming and development of these rites witnesses to a remarkable complementarity. When the Churches lived their respective liturgical traditions in the communion of the faith and the sacraments of the faith, they enriched one another and grew in fidelity to Tradition and to the common mission of the whole Church. CCC 1201

In today's reading, the Catechism discusses the diversity of liturgical traditions that have historically risen within the Church in different cultural and geographical areas. The largest is the Latin or Roman Rite, of which I am a member. Then are the various Eastern Rites, such as Maronite or Coptic. Each of these is of "equal right and dignity" where the same Christ is truly received in the Mass and Divine Liturgy or Holy Qurbana. The Catechism Compendium summarizes this:

The [Mass/Divine Liturgy is celebrated by the Church in various ways because] the unfathomable richness of the mystery of Christ cannot be exhausted by any single liturgical tradition. From the very beginning, therefore, this richness found expression among various peoples and cultures in ways that are characterized by a wonderful diversity and complementarity. (#247)

Latin/Roman Rite Catholic Mass

 Malankara Catholic Qurbana