„Totum psalterium in usu maneat“ – The Liturgy of the Hours in the Protestant Churches of the Holy Roman Empire between tradition and innovation Historical studies on Lutheran liturgical reforms
Protestant Theology
Final Report Abstract
According to popular opinion, the daily liturgy of the hours was abolished with the introduction of the Reformation in the churches of Lutheranism. This would mean that a central form of worship dating back to late antiquity and the Middle Ages, which characterised the entire public and ecclesiastical daily routine, was abandoned. Many recent individual studies have shown the opposite: in fact, the liturgy of the hours was continued in a creative way, adapted to the socio-cultural conditions of different groups. Monastic traditions were remodelled, as were those of cathedral and collegiate churches. In parish churches, especially in cities, the liturgy of the hours as a sung form in conjunction with the church school system offered the best opportunities for the training and practice of choirs. In view of the marginalisation of the Lutheran Liturgy of the Hours in the secondary literature, one of the first aims of the research project is to reposition the topic in scholarship; this will be done in the context of the preliminary work of both applicants. At the same time, the aim is to integrate the liturgy of the hours and its tradition into the major changes brought about by the Reformation and the subsequent confessionalisation, and to do so in the context of theological, political and social issues. The complex form of liturgy originating in late antiquity and the Middle Ages was reformed in the Lutheran spirit, often continued in a very traditional manner, and often modified or creatively developed further. Church history and liturgical studies are still in the process of determining the coordinates of these changes. The project therefore examines specific case studies, the Berlin Cathedral Abbey and the parishes of Leipzig. Here, the reforms of the liturgy of the hours will be investigated, the liturgical sources will be examined, the traditional and innovative potential will be explored and the decisive theological milestones will be highlighted. The aim is to gain a broader understanding of theological and cultural negotiation processes that are reflected in the worship service as a ritual that creates and changes identity. A twofold finding is increasingly crystallising: on the one hand, there were fundamental theological emphases of the Reformation, first and foremost the conformity to Scripture. Against this background, the Liturgy of the Hours seemed particularly appropriate as a Reformation service because its main component is the Psalms and other Scripture readings. On the other hand, there is great plurality in the concrete liturgical form according to context and situation, which can be seen as one of the strengths of Lutheran tradition-building beyond strict standardisation. The studies on Berlin and Leipzig confirm the findings of the applicants' preliminary work. At the same time, it becomes clear that there is still a wealth of liturgical sources from other contexts that require further investigation.
