Editorial
The new year, the sixteenth, of Ecclesia Orans begins also under the direction of a new editor. The new administration, however, intends to continue faithfully the original intent of the review to promote liturgical studies on a broad and international scale by publishing articles representing the wide range of liturgy and related areas. The review echoes the historical and theological approach to the liturgy of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute as reaffirmed in the recently completed curriculum revision. One area that will hopefully be expanded for the benefit of our readers is the review of books that are of interest and importance for the study of liturgy and its development.
A special feature of the first number of this year is that all the articles are contributions from the professors of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute. They represent a common and wide-reaching consideration of the topic of time, specifically of hodie, from the standpoint of different fields of expertise. The original versions of the studies were presented at a Symposium of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute for faculty and students on the subject at the beginning of the academic year 1998-1999. The published texts are a revision of oral presentations and their texture displays to a greater or lesser degree this common origin. The theme of the «here and now» aspect of our liturgical anamnesis is important and surely deserving of continuing study.
With the first fascicle of 1999 comes a supplementary issue that includes the listing of all the dissertations presented to the Pontifical Liturgical Institute for the licentiate and doctorate since the inception of the Institute. The roll of names of those who have earned a degree in liturgy at Sant’Anselmo underlines the truly international character of the student body over the years as well as at present. The list of topics presented and the index of subjects covered gives some notion of the breadth of approach of the faculty and the scientific level of the graduates. It may also help future students in their orientation and selection of subject matter for dissertations by indicating what has already been done.
By way of exception, the second issue of this year also offers a single theme. It will include the papers presented in a colloquium sponsored by the Center Eucharistia of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament in collaboration with the Pontifical Liturgical Institute on «The Eucharistic Prayer: Theology and Practice». The participants were well-known european and american scholars in Scripture, liturgy and sacramentai theology: Bishop Piero Marini, Jesus Castellano-Cervera, Paul De Clerck, Cesare Giraudo, Jan Michael Joncas, Eugene La Verdiere, Enrico Mazza, JacquesNoël Pérès, and David M. Power. After the presentations and discussions the finished versions of the talks have been prepared for publication. The work of Rev. Anthony F. McSweeney, S.S.S., in organizing the colloquium and in ensuring that the studies in polished form arrived at the office of Ecclesia Orans is greatly appreciated. The eucharistic prayer is a timely topic of interest for ali and the wide range of scholarly reflection on the question in the colloquium will profit any attentive reader.
The last number of 1999 will return to the usual format of articles treating various aspects of liturgical research and theology as well as associateci disciplines such as music.
As always the editorial staff welcomes scholarly articles in the field of liturgy for consideration. As an aid to authors and to ourselves, We hope to be able to provide a manual of style and a list of common abbreviations for items to be published in Ecclesia Orans before the end of the year.