An annual resource for parish ministers, liturgists, pastors, and planning committees, Living Liturgy™ offers a practical means for reflection on and celebration of Mass for Sundays and solemnities as well as select other days.

Living Liturgy™ integrates spirituality and celebration, catechesis and pastoral practice, the ministry of the assembly and other ministries so that celebrating and living go hand-in-hand. Written by a pastorally experienced team with expertise in Scripture, spiritual direction, liturgy, and liturgical music, Living Liturgy™ teaches that we learn from each other of the fullness of God’s mystery, and by learning and worshiping together we enrich each other.

Living Liturgy™ helps people live a liturgical spirituality. This is a way of living rooted in liturgy, which opens their vision to their baptismal identity as the Body of Christ and shapes their living according to the dying and rising rhythm of the paschal mystery. The paschal mystery is the entire saving mystery of Jesus Christ—his life, mission, passion, death, resurrection, ascension, sending of the Spirit, and promised second coming—and our participation in this mystery. Liturgy enacts in the here and now Christ’s mystery and sends each one of us forth to live this mystery.

Anyone involved with liturgical planning and preparation will benefit from using this resource, including pastoral ministers, liturgy directors, musicians, and liturgy committee members. Living Liturgy™ also assists those who serve the community in the visible liturgical ministries—presiders, deacons, music ministers, hospitality ministers, altar ministers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion—because it clearly shows that each ministry deserves not only practical preparation but, even more important, spiritual preparation. Further, catechumens, candidates, and sponsors use Living Liturgy™ to support and deepen their liturgical journey within the RCIA. Members of faith-sharing groups use this resource as the focus of weekly prayer and reflection together. Parents and teachers will find that Living Liturgy™ can be simplified and shared with younger members of the liturgical community.

• Reflecting on the Gospel
• Living the Paschal Mystery
• Focusing the Gospel
• Connecting the Gospel
• Connecting the Responsorial Psalm
• About Liturgy
• About Liturgical Music
• Reflections for various ministers and groups
• Model Act of Penitence
• Homily Points
• Model Prayer of the Faithful
• Includes clip art drawn from the Gospel message

• Pronunciation guide
• Calendar-dated
• Perfect-bound
• Readings in sense lines
• Index of liturgical topics

• Opening Prayer or Alternative Opening Prayer
• Gospel Acclamation
• Gospel
• Responsorial Psalm
• First Reading
• Second Reading

Joyce Ann Zimmerman, CPPS, is the director of the Institute for Liturgical Ministry in Dayton, Ohio and is the founding editor and columnist for Liturgical Ministry. She is also an adjunct professor of liturgy, liturgical consultant, and frequent facilitator of workshops on liturgy. She has published numerous scholarly and pastoral liturgical works. She holds civil and pontifical doctorates of theology.

Kathleen Harmon, SNDdeN, is the music director for programs of the Institute for Liturgical Ministry in Dayton, Ohio, and is the author of the Music Notes column for Liturgical Ministry. An educator and musician, she facilitates liturgical music workshops and cantor formation programs, and is a parish director of music. She holds a graduate degree in music and a doctorate in liturgy.

Christopher W. Conlon, SM, is a Marianist priest who works with faculty and staff, and taught Scripture at the University of Dayton. He has been an educator for over a half century and is a highly respected homilist, a frequent workshop presenter, and a spiritual director. He holds a graduate degree in religious education and the licentiate in theology.