Liturgical Formation of the People of God -apostolic letter desiderio desideravi

“I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15)

Inspired by the verse from the Gospel of Luke, Pope Francis addresses the whole Church with a meditative letter with inspirations drawn from the Scriptures, the Church Fathers, and liturgical tradition. It is a meditation on the understanding of the beauty of liturgical celebration and its role in evangelization. It speaks about the liturgical worship that strengthens the communion lived in fraternal charity, which is the first and most effective witness to the Gospel.

This Apostolic Letter Desiderio Desideravi stresses the central role of liturgical formation in evangelisation and faith: ‘A celebration that does not evangelise, that does not lead to an encounter with the Risen Lord is not authentic – but like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1)’. The art of celebrating cannot be learned by ‘frequenting a course in public speaking or in persuasive techniques of communication’. It requires ‘a diligent dedication to the celebration, allowing the celebration itself to convey to us its art’ (50).