What is liturgy? What is its purpose?
Liturgy derives from the Greek ergos ("work"), and leiton ("of the people"). Leitourgia (from the 3rd century BC Greek translation of the Old Testament) was a term for the worship led by the Levite priests of the Temple on behalf of the people. Since then, leitourgia has evolved into the liturgy we know and love today. Liturgy has come to define the Church's public and official worship of God. This includes the Mass as well as the official rites and cerimonies.
The liturgy's purpose is diverse: giving glory and honor to God, building the faith of the people, instructing the faithful in the Faith. It is also an exercise of the priestly office of Christ, which the Church continues under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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