Father Anscar Chupungco fondly recalls his first class as a student at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in 1965. Professor Salvatore Marsili 'famed theologian, liturgist, and cofounder of the institute 'entered the lecture hall, and after a prolonged and awkward silence finally asked, And so, what is liturgy?"

This seemingly simple question underlies Chupungco's untiring love for liturgy and his lifetime of searching for answers. His is a passion deeply rooted in tradition, which is evident in this volume. Relying on Scripture, patristic writers, and conciliar and postconciliar documents 'and with great skill, prudence, and the fundamental virtue of obedience 'he carefully examines current liturgical trends that are the subject of fierce debate. At a time when we focus so intently on the debate itself, Chupungco cautions us to remember: "At the end of the day what matters are not personal opinions but what truly contributes to making the prayer of the Church an encounter with the person of Christ." It is this most sacred encounter that is at the heart of "What, Then, Is Liturgy?" And it is this encounter that will lead us day by day to the ultimate heavenly liturgy, our eternal and perfect offering of praise to God.

"Anscar Chupungco is a Benedictine of the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat in Manila. He is former president of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome, where he taught history of the liturgy and liturgical inculturation. Chupungco was Executive Secretary of the Philippine Episcopal Commission on Liturgy for eighteen years and is currently Secretary of the Asian Liturgy Forum. He has served as consultor to both the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education, was a member of the Advisory Committee of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) for ten years, and for some time served as Chair of ICEL's Translations and ReVisions Subcommittee. Chupungco edited the five-volume "Handbook for Liturgical Studies "and is author of "Liturgical Inculturation" (both published by Liturgical Press), Cultural Adaptation of the Liturgy, and Liturgies of the Future.""

The final volume in the "Handbook for Liturgical Studies" series, "Volume V: Liturgical Time and Space" contains the concluding material for an integral study of the liturgy. It opens with a preliminary notion of time and space, before discussing in detail three types of liturgical celebrations on which time and space have a direct and particular bearing. The first of these is the Liturgy of the Hours. This topic is developed in the light of the early Christian tradition until the fourth century and its subsequent forms in both East and West. The second is the Liturgical Year, traditionally called the anni circulas. The development of the Liturgical Year during the first four centuries is reviewed. This is followed by adetaled study of the Byzantine, Roman, and non-Roman Western tradition. It concludes with the theology and spirituality of the Liturgical Year wherein the mystery of Christ as a saving event is made present in time, so that the faithful may lay hold of it through the Word and the sacraments. The theology of liturgical space is drawn from the mutual interaction between the assembled community, which gives meaning to the place of assembly, and the place itself, which upholds and signifies community.

Articles and their contributors in Part I: Liturgy of the Hours are Liturgy of the Hours in the First Four Centuries," by Ruben Leikam, OSB; "Liturgy of the Hours in the East," by Robert Taft, SJ; "Liturgy of the Hours in the Roman Rite," by Ruben Leikam, OSB; "Liturgy of the Hours in the Non-Roman West," by Ruben Leikam, OSB; and "Theology of the Liturgy of the Hours," by Robert Taft, SJ

Articles and their contributors in Part II: The Liturgical Year are "The Liturgical Year in the East," by Matias Auge, CMF; "The Liturgical Year in the East," by Elena Velkova Velkovska; "The Liturgical Year in the Roman Rite," by Matias Auge, CMF; "The Liturgical Year in the Non-Roman West," by Gabriel Ramis; "The Cult of Mary in East and West," by Ignacio Calabuig, OSM; "The Cult of Saints in East and West," by Philippe Rouillard, OSB; and "Theology of the Liturgical Year," by Matias Auge, CMF

Articles and their contributors in Part III: Liturgical Space are "Dedication of the Church in East and West," by Ignacio Calabuig, OSM; "Liturgical Architecture in East and West," by Crispino Valenziano; and "Theology of Liturgical Space," by Cettina Militello.

"Anscar J. Chupungco, OSB, is the director of the Paul VI Institute of Liturgy in the Philippines and professor of liturgical inculturation at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome. Among his publications are "Liturgies of the Future: The Process and Methods of Inculturation "and"Liturgical Inculturation: Sacraments, Religiosity, and Catechesis," published by The Liturgical Press.""

"Volume IV: Sacraments and Sacramentals" contributes to a deeper understanding of the nature and purpose of sacraments and sacramentals and leads the reader to a more critical appreciation of Vatican II decrees and what the postconciliar reform has implemented. This fourth volume opens with a review of the basic liturgical notion of sacraments and sacramentals and then examines them according to their earliest known form going back to the first four centuries. After the fourth century the treatment is divided between the East and the West. Where opportune, as in the case of confirmation, questions are raised about pastoral implications of the postconciliarreform.

Articles and their contributors are Christian Initiation During the First Four Centuries," by Adrien Nocent, OSB; "Christian Initiation in the East," by Stefano Parenti; "Christian Initiation in the Roman Church from the Fifth Century Until Vatican II," by Adrien Nocent, OSB; "Reconciliation in the First Four Centuries," by Antonio Santantoni; "Reconciliation in the Eastern Churches," by Nicola Bux; "Reconciliation in Rome and the Non-Roman West," by Antonio Santantoni; "Anointing of the Sick During the First Four Centuries," by Stefano Parenti; "Care and Anointing of the Sick in the East," by Stefano Parenti; "The Anointing of the Sick in the West," by Philippe Rouillard, OSB; "Orders and Ministries in the First Four Centuries," by Antonio Santantoni; "Ordinations in the East," by Stefano Parenti; "Ordination and Ministries in the West," by Antonio Santantoni; "The Christian Rite of Marriage in the East," by Stefano Parenti; "The Christian Rite of Marriage in the West," by Adrien Nocent, OSB; "Monastic Profession in the East," by Manel Nin, OSB; "Rite of Religious Profession in the West," by Matias Auge, CMF; "The Rite of Consecration of Virgins," by Nichola Emsley, OSB; "Funeral Rites in the East," by Elena Velkova Velkovska; "Funeral Rites in Rome and the Non-Roman West," by Vincent Owusu, SVD; "Blessings in the East," by Elena Velkova Velkovska; and "Blessings in Rome and the Non-Roman West," by Renier Kaczynski.

"Anscar J. Chupungco, OSB, is the director of the Paul VI Institute of Liturgy in the Philippines and professor of liturgical inculturation at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome. Among his publications are "Liturgies of the Future: The Process and Methods of Inculturation" and "Liturgical Inculturation: Sacraments, Religiosity, and Catechesis, " published by The Liturgical Press.""

"Volume III: The Eucharist" contributes to the reflection on the meaning and purpose of the eucharistic celebration. It also offers to teachers and students of liturgy a handbook for studying this subject according to a system based on historical development, theology and doctrine, liturgical texts and traditions in both East and West, and pastoral considerations.

Articles and their contributors are A Eucharistic Lexicon," by Marcel Metzger; "The Eucharist in the First Four Centuries," by Enrico Mazza; "The Various Orders of Celebration," by Stefano Parenti; "The Oriental "Anaphorae,"" by Enzo Lodi; "The History of the Roman Eucharistic Liturgy in Rome," by Marcel Metzger; "The Sacramentary of Paul VI," by Michael Witczak; "The Roman Lectionary for Mass," by Adrien Nocent, OSB; "The Homily," by Domenico Sartore, CSJ; "Musical Elements in the "Ordo Missae" of Paul VI," by Jan Michael Joncas; "The Eucharistic Celebration in theNon-Roman West," by Gabriel Ramis; "Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass," by Nathan Mitchell; "The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts," by Nicola Bux; "The Viaticum," by Philippe Rouillard, OSB; "Questions about Specific Points," by Adrien Nocent, OSB; "Theology of Eucharistic Celebration," by David N. Power, OMI

"Anscar J. Chupungco, OSB, is the director of the Paul VI Institute of Liturgy in the Philippines and professor of liturgical inculturation at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome. He is the author of "Liturgies of the Future: The Process and Methods of Inculturation, " and "Liturgical Inculturation: Sacraments, Religiosity, and Catechesis," published by The Liturgical Press.""

What concepts must one have in order to understand and explain the nature and purpose, the plan and actualization, and the relational character of the liturgy? "Volume 2: Fundamental Liturgy" addresses this question in three parts - epistemology, celebration, and human sciences - which develop the foundational concepts of the liturgy. It leads the reader to a deeper understanding of the liturgy by examining the basic concepts that belong to its definition.

Articles and their contributors are Theology of the Liturgy," by Alceste Catella;"Liturgical Symbolism," by Crispino Valenziano; "Liturgy and Spirituality," by Jesus Castellano Cervera, OCD; "Pastoral Liturgical Ministry," by Domenico Sartore, CSJ; "Catechesis and Liturgy," by Domenico Sartore, CSJ; "Liturgy and Ecclesiology," by Nathan Mitchell; "The Liturgical Assembly," by Mark Francis, CSV; "Participation in the Liturgy," by Anna Kai-Yung Chan; "Liturgical Ministries," by Thomas A. Krosnicki, SVD; "The Psychosociological Aspect of the Liturgy," by Lucio Maria Pinkus, OSM; "Liturgy and Anthropology: The Meaning and the Method of the Question," by Crispino Valenziano; "The Language of Liturgy," by Silvano Maggiani, OSM; "Liturgy and Aesthetic," by Silvano Maggiani, OSM; "Liturgy and Music," by Jan Michael Joncas; "Liturgy and Iconology," by Crispino Valenziano; and "Liturgy and Inculturation," by Anscar J. Chupungco, OSB and Silvano Maggiani, OSM"

"Volume I" consists of three parts: Preliminary Notions," "Historical Overview of the Liturgy," and "Liturgical Sources." Articles and their contributors include "A Definition of Liturgy," by Anscar J. Chupungco, OSB; "Liturgical Families in the East," by Ephrem Carr, OSB; "Liturgical Families in the West," by Gabriel Ramis; "Bible and Liturgy," by Renato De Zan; "Liturgy and the Fathers," by Basil Studer, OSB; "Liturgy and Ecumenism," by Patrick Lyons, OSB; "History of the Liturgy Until the Fourth Century," by Anscar J. Chupungco, OSB; "History of the Eastern Liturgies," by Manel Nin, OSB; "History of the Roman Liturgy Until the Fifteenth Century," by Anscar J. Chupungco, OSB; "History of the Roman Liturgy from the Sixteenth Until the Twentieth Centuries," by Keith F. Pecklers, SJ; "History of the Liturgies in the Non-Roman West," by Jordi Pinell I Pons, OSB; "Liturgical Documents of the First Four Centuries," by Basil Studer, OSB; "Byzantine Liturgical Books," by Elena Velkova Velkovska; "Other Liturgical Books in the East," by Manel Nin, OSB; "Liturgical Books of the Roman Rite," by Cassian Folsom, OSB; "Liturgical Books of the Non-Roman West," by Gabriel Ramis; "Liturgical Textual Criticism," by Renato De Zan; "Criticism and Interpretation of Liturgical Texts," by Renato De Zan; "Translation of Liturgical Texts," by Anscar J. Chupungco, OSB; and "Liturgical Law," by Frederick R. McManus.

More than forty authors from Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, and Eastern and Western Europe have contributed to the "Handbook." Many are professors and graduates of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome. Each author, while drawing material from liturgical tradition and from ancient, medieval, and modern sources, writes also from a particular research and personal interest in a subject. Although diverse in style, the authors collectively express a spirit of fidelity to the Church, to its doctrine and tradition, and to its mission. The result is a cohesive view of the meaning, purpose, and celebration of Christian worship.

"Anscar J. Chupungco, OSB, is the director of the Paul VI Institute of Liturgy in the Philippines and professor of liturgical inculturation at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome. Among his publications are "Liturgies of the Future: The Process and Methods of Inculturation"and "Liturgical Inculturation: Sacraments, Religiosity, and Catechesis, "published by The Liturgical Press.""

Perhaps nothing is as important to the future of the Church as continuing to make the liturgy meaningful to those who celebrate it. Inculturation, the dynamic translation of the typical editions into the cultures of local Churches, is the key.

Inculturation as a branch of liturgical study has a dauntingly wide scope. It covers the areas of history and theology, liturgical and cultural principles, process and methods, sacraments and sacramentals, Liturgy of the Hours, liturgical year, liturgical music, liturgical arts and furnishings, and such related topics as popular religiosity and catechesis. So where does the average pastor, liturgist, or student begin?

With this volume the reader is introduced to the different technical terms expressing the relationship between liturgy and culture (indigenization, incarnation, contextualization, adaptation, acculturation ... ). The subsequent discussion on the question of sacramentals, popular religiosity, and liturgical catechesis explains how these disparate topics share the same basic concern of inculturation.

Throughout the book the focus is on method. Method encompasses both how one may remain true to the liturgy while also considering what culture offers the liturgy or requires of it. The question of how creativity relates to inculturation is also answered.

For the serious student of the liturgy, whether or not you serve a culturally diverse community, this work provides foundations, principles, and methods for creating a liturgy of the people and for the people.