An interesting proposal of solving the problem of relationship between theology and liturgy was put forward by the Roman school of liturgical theology comprising a group of theologians working mainly at Pontificio Ateneo San Anselmo, and more recently, mainly at Università Pontificia Salesiana over the time period directly preceding the Second Vatican Counsil up to now. The main founder of the Roman school of liturgical theology was Cipriano Vagaggini OSBCam (1909-1999). The second prominent personage was Salvatore Marsili OSB (1910-1983). The third theologian of this environment was Achille Maria Triacca SDB (1935-2002). The Roman school of liturgical theology also included Burkhart Neunheuser OSB (1903-2003); Adrian M. Nocent OSB (1913-1996), Matias Augé CMF, Domenico Sartore CSJ (1936-2006), and contemporarily the leading position belongs to Manlio Sodi SDB. Vagaggini understood liturgical theology as a type of systematic theology which, on one hand, describes liturgy and tries to comprehend it, and on the other hand, shows how the truths of faith live in various forms of liturgical celebration. For Marsili, liturgical theology was theology living in liturgy, moreover, he mostly equals these two concepts. This causes that liturgical theology becomes a type of mystical experience, as understood by Casel, which means contemplation of mystery in its actualization. The third of the mentioned theologians – Triacca made an effort to creatively harmonize earlier conceptions and then gave it an original shape. He started with the assumption that liturgy cannot be reduced solely to celebration (Actio), and its understanding should take into account everything that is present in in celebration which is the mystery of the Christian faith (Mysterium) and the Christian life (Vita). Theology cannot be an exclusive domain of researchers because it first comes from God, so it grows from experience of God. Liturgical theology in its strict sense can be analyzed on two levels. First and most important, it is a Christian experience which occurs in liturgical celebration. In this sense, one can often have impression that liturgical theology is something non-communicable and consists in the participant’s internal experience and reflection (contemplation). In this way, liturgical theology seems to be identified with the very conscious participation in celebration. The level of scientific reflection is the second level of analysis of liturgical theology. On this level numerous methodological attempts may be noticed but, eventually, most issues remain open and are challenges for further research. Practically, liturgical theology becomes theology from theologically interpreted liturgical celebration, especially from euchology.
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