One of the main reasons I love to study liturgy is it equips me to do theology in the first person plural. Liturgy is a communal Theologica Prima. It is an ecclesial encounter of the I and Thou relationship of God and humanity. It is an expression of life with God that cascades across the communion of saints through every age. I love it. This is why I always find it interesting that so many people find what I study to be “boring” or “uninteresting.” They can’t imagine what could be fascinating about the liturgy. To them all they see is the study of old texts. They wonder why I would bother with such the cultic record of what they see as a superstitious backward Church. Why bother with other people’s prayers when one can pray in one’s own words today.

Although there is much more to liturgical theology than simply the study of texts, there is a great benefit to learning about the written prayers and directions in worship. This corpus, often referred to as the lex orandi opens new avenues for understanding and encountering God. Here are four of the reasons I think knowing the lex orandi of the church is useful for all people of faith.