Liturgy written with one’s heart! Rev. Prof. Józef Janicki PhD Habilitatus and his Masters

Abstract

According to the teaching of Vatican Council II: “liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed […] and the font from which all her power flows” (SC 10). This meaning of “a particle” of Church life is what Rev. Prof. Jan Józef Janicki, celebrating now his jubilee, is so much convinced that he has devoted to liturgy, this beautiful Church attire, his entire scientific and life pursuits, writing about it with all his heart! The scientific research of Rev. Prof. Janicki has focused on the following issues: theology of liturgy (basic liturgical realities, theology of euchological texts of the new liturgical books of the Church, Paschal Mystery and its expression in the Eucharist and in liturgical year); history of liturgy (the influence of the Hebrew, Hellenistic and Roman cultures on the Christian liturgy, the liturgy of the first centuries of the Church, history of liturgical books); history of holy and jubilee years (history of liturgical movement, history of liturgical congresses, the role of Saints in the Church life in the light of Mass formulas); liturgical ministry (liturgy as exercising the ministry of sanctification in the Church community, the ministry of a sacristan, liturgy of the Holy Land). It appears that the entire way of “writing liturgy with his heart” was implanted in Rev. Prof. Janicki by one of the most acclaimed theologians and historians of post Vatican Council II period, the Benedictine monk from Maria Laach Abbey, Professor Burkhard Neunheuser. This remarkable man, the professor of Pontificio Istituto Liturgico in Rome, became Rev. Prof. Janicki’s mentor guiding him and showing the path for his academic growth. The key idea in Fr. Neunheuser’s post­‑Council teachings about liturgy was emphasizing the role of the Paschal Mystery which is the very centre of liturgical year and of each Church activity. Therefore, Passion, Death and Resurrection as well as the Ascension of Christ are these events through which the most important “miracles” are done, namely, adoration of God and redemption of man (cf. SC 5,6). These are the pivotal moments in the history of salvation, as God’s plan is realized in Christ, and the centre of Christianity is Pascha, the sacrifice. The Mother Church takes an active part in His sacrifice, making His sacrifice her own, and by Him she is raised from this world up to God and praised. This participation in Christ’s sacrifice is the act of grace, so there must be belief, and everything is accomplished through the mystery of worship. Everything to which the greatest advocates of liturgy, such as, Prosper Gueranger, Pius Parch, Odo Casel, Romano Guardini and Burkhard Neunheuser amongst them devoted throughout the entire history of liturgy revival has been crucial to engrain the Paschal Mystery in man’s life. Here we can find this thread which links all those magnificent liturgists with our honourable Rev. Professor Janicki who has been proclaiming so successfuly the Paschal Mystery.