Focus on the Liturgy

Office for Diving Worship Director Todd Williamson is joined by Vicky Tufano, Liturgical Consultant and Senior Editor of Liturgy Training Publications, for a lively discussion of the liturgical significance of the Easter Season.

Program hosts Todd Williamson and Danielle Knott talk about Lenten rites and liturgies with Vicky Tufano, Liturgical Consultant and Senior Editor of Liturgy Training Publications. The discussion focuses on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and its significance during Lent.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) talk about the Great Season of Lent! They discuss a bit of the history of the season, and spend a good amount of time talking about the real purpose of Lent: To prepare us to renew our baptism at Easter! Along the way they talk the Scriptures of the Season and much of the spirituality and theology of what the Church calls, "this joyful season of Lent!!"

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss the season of Ordinary Time. This year Ordinary Time in winter is 8 weeks. As part of their discussion, Danielle and Todd look at the Liturgy of the Hours as a "The Prayer of the Church."

This month's broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy was recorded for Christmas Day...so it seemed rather obvious what the topic would be!! So, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss Christmas and the Christmas Season. They explore the Feasts, traditions and celebrations that help us to mark this glorious season of the Incarnation!

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss the Liturgical Year and its renewal, stemming from the promulgation of The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. December 4, 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of The Constitution. In addition, Danielle and Todd discuss the upcoming season of Advent, which begins a new Liturgical Year.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson continue their discussions on the 50th anniversary of the promulgation of The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. The Constitution noted that "The treasures of the Bible are to be opened up more lavishly" during the Liturgy (no. 51). This month, Danielle and Todd explore the this call for the renewal of the Role of Scripture in the Liturgy.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, Co-Hosts Danielle Knott, of Liturgy Training Publications, and Todd Williamson of the Office for Divine Worship continue a discussion on the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the first document to come from the Second Vatican Council. This coming December 4th marks the 50th anniversary of that document's promulgation and Focus on the Liturgy is taking a look at some of the main governing principles from that historic document. In this show, Todd and Danielle discuss the principle of "Full, active and conscious participation" in the liturgy; a principle, the Constitution says should be considered before all else in the renewal of the Church's liturgical life (no. 14 in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy).

On December 4, 2014, the Church will mark the 50th anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the very first document that came out of the Second Vatican Council. This was the document that called for the renewal of the whole liturgical life of the Church. In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson begin discussing this foundational liturgical document. Be sure to stay tuned, as future shows of Focus on the Liturgy will continue to break open various aspects of the Constitution!

It's a potpourri of topics in this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy. Co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson talk briefly about Ordinary Time; they explore the Catholic Funeral Rites and the upcoming revisions of The Order of Celebrating Marriage and the Rite of Confirmation and they look at new liturgical resources from Liturgy Training Publications.

With the "Wedding Season" upon us - and the fact that co-host Danielle Knott recently got engaged!! - June's broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy explores the Rite of Marriage. Danielle and Todd Williamson discuss the theology of the Rite, it's symbols and ritual signs. Join them as they break open the texts and other elements of this Sacramental Celebration!

In this month's Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss the season of Ordinary Time. The longest season in the Liturgical Year, Ordinary Time gives the opportunity to discover the extraordinary presence and action of God in our lives. Danielle and Todd also discuss the closing of the Year of Sunday Mass and the world-wide Eucharistic Adoration on June 2 in observance of the Year of Faith.

In this month's show, Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss the great, 50-Feast of Easter. As a season in which we are called to live with Baptism renewed, the observance of Easter is truly an experience of Mystagogy (listen to learn more about this ancient art in the Church!). In addition they discuss the readings and texts of the Season as well as some of the key Easter symbols!

This month on Focus on the Liturgy, Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum - the great days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. They explore the central Liturgies for each of these days, noting how all of them call us to "Glory in the Cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ" (Entrance antiphon for the Mass of the Lord's Supper).

In this month's Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson talk about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the interregnum and Conclave that will elect a new Pope. In addition, they discuss the great season of Lent and the liturgies that accompany our journey to the Font, where we will baptize the elect and renew our own baptisms this Easter!

This year, the season of Ordinary Time between Christmas and Lent is very short - just one month long. This is unusual, as this section of Ordinary Time is usually closer to 7 or 8 weeks in length. In this month's Focus on the Liturgy, Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss this aspect of the season, why it's so short, and what it calls us to as a preparation for the Great Season of Lent, which begins just 3 weeks from the airing of this show!

The day after Christmas, Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) discuss the great season of the Nativity! Looking at the movement of the season, from Christmas Day, to the high point of the Epiphany and through the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Danielle and Todd explore the symbols, the theology and the spirituality of the Season of Christmas.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss the Year of Faith, the Year of Sunday and Mass and the new Liturgical Year that begins this weekend. As we prepare for the great season of Advent, Danielle and Todd explore the liturgies, devotions and observances that mark the season. From its eschatological elements to the Advent Wreath to the Christmas Novenas, it's the Advent show!

October 11 marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, arguably the most significant event in the life of the Church in the modern era! Co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss the spirit and work of the Second Vatican Council.

The show for September takes up a very fundamental topic in regard to the Liturgy: The sacramental sense with which Catholics view and understand life and the world. Co-hosts Danielle Knott, from Liturgy Training Publications, and Todd Williamson, from the Office for Divine Worship, discuss this sacramental sense, and how it governs a Catholic understanding of the world and God's action in it (i.e., that God is not distant to us, but rather is intimately engaged with His creation). God breaks into our world and our own personal experience in so many ways and through so many means (family, relationships, nature); this is sacramental, and it is the context for our understanding of Liturgy - one of the primary means through which the Father, through Christ and in the Holy Spirit, encounters us and saves us.

In this episode of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson talk about a brand new opportunity for Liturgical Musicians in the Chicago area. The new Chicago Series in Liturgical Music, an 18-month course of study, will begin in September, co-sponsored by the Office of Divine Worship (Archdiocese of Chicago) and the Rensselaer Program of Church Music and Liturgy (St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana). Anna Belle O'Shea, from ODW, and Steve Janco, Director of the Rensselaer Program, join Todd and Danielle to discuss this exciting new series.

This month, on Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives as Catholics; we look at the current Liturgical Season - Ordinary Time in Summer, and we spend time looking at the Bread of Life Discourse from John's Gospel, which will mark the next 5 weeks of our Liturgical Lives!

The Archdiocese of Chicago is about to enter the second year of 5-year Strategic Pastoral Plan. Each of these 5 years focuses on a particular aspect of parish life; for example, the first year was dedicated to Teens and Young Adults. The second year, which goes from July 2012 - June 2013, is dedicated to Sunday Mass. In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss the Year of Sunday Mass, and highlight a specific resource for any Catholic interested in deepening their awareness and appreciation for Sunday Mass: Blessed John Paul II's Apostolic Letter, Dies Domini.

In this months Focus on the Liturgy, Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) explore the season of Ordinary Time. Primarily looking at the Summer portion of this liturgical season, Danielle and Todd discuss upcoming solemnities and other liturgical observations, highlighting the liturgies and rituals by which we as Catholics mark the passing of time.

On this month's broadcast, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson focus on the Easter Season. They discuss the overall theology of the season and then explore how that theology is made evident in the liturgies of Easter. They look at the unique quality of the Liturgy of the Word and they discuss the special Solemnities and feasts that help mark this 50-day celebration of the Paschal Mystery of Christ.

In this month's broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) discuss Holy Week. Listen as they explore the many Liturgies that mark this most important week in the lives of Catholics: Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, the Chrism Mass at Holy Name Cathedral (at which all of the Holy Oils used in the Archdiocese of Chicago are blessed and consecrated by the Cardinal), and of course, the great days that mark the Triduum - Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

This month on Focus on the Liturgy, the show airs on Ash Wednesday (how perfect for the Liturgy Geeks!). So - Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson discuss not only Ash Wednesday, but also the whole season of Lent, exploring the Rites and the practices that help us to prepare to renew our Baptism at Easter!

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) discuss the Liturgical Year, exploring various aspects of how we Catholics mark the passing of time. Answering the question, “Around what do you order your time,” Danielle and Todd look at the seasons of the Liturgical Year, the cycle of feasts and solemnities that celebrate the saints and martyrs, and our Catholic sense of sacred time.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott (from Liturgy Training Publications) and Todd Williamson (from the Office for Divine Worship) spend the first half of the show looking back at the first month of using the revised Mass texts. They talk about not only how the transition has been going, but also remind listeners to continue exploring the new texts as a means of coming to a deeper understanding of the Liturgy. During the second half of the show, Danielle and Todd discuss the Christmas Season and it’s many symbols and customs, breaking open the theology and spirituality of the season.

In this final broadcast before the implementation of the third edition of the Roman Missal (November 26/27), co-hosts Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) review numerous aspects of the English translation. For the last year, Danielle and Todd have devoted at least some part of each show to this momentous event in the life of the U.S. Church. This show re-visits many of the issues and topics that have been discussed over the past year of preparing for the Roman Missal.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) discuss a number of liturgical matters: in the first half of the show, the topic of Communion under both species is addressed, stressing how the norm in the Archdiocese of Chicago (and in most of the dioceses in our region) is to offer both the Body and the precious blood of the Lord at Mass. The second half of the show addressed various issues related to the upcoming English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. This show was originally broadcast just one month before the implementation date for the Missal!

Less than 2 months before the implementation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy addresses a number of topics surrounding the English translation. Co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson talk about what parishes should be doing at this point in time in preparation for the Third Edition; Archdiocesan Workshops that are being offered for any interested Catholic; LTP's version of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, and how parishes might incorporate a blessing for the new Missal in their Sunday Mass.

In this edition of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Danielle Knot and Todd Williamson discuss the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. Looking at the structure of the season they delve into the readings and texts that mark this last season of the liturgical year

In this edition of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Danielle Knot and Todd Williamson spend the first part of the show discussing the USCCB's recent decision to allow each bishop to give permission in his diocese for parishes to begin in September using the sung versions of the new Gloria, Sanctus and Memorial acclamations, in preparation for the coming English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. In the second half of the show, they discuss the coming Ordination Liturgy for the two new Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Ordination Liturgy is scheduled for August 10, 2011.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, Todd Williamson and Anna Belle O'shea, both from the Office for Divine Worship, explore some examples of the music settings for the English translation of the 3rd Ed. Of the Roman Missal. Anna Belle and Todd discuss the role of music in the liturgy and listen to settings of the Gloria, the Sanctus and examples of the Memorial Acclamation.

This month, on Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss the latter part of the Easter Season, the Solemnities of the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost. In the second half of the show they wrap up their reading of the Order of Mass as given in the English translation of the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal. In this show they break open the texts of the Communion Rite and the Concluding Rite.

On Wednesday of the Octave of Easter, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson spend the first half of the show breaking open some of the symbols and rites of the Easter Celebrations! During the second half, they continue reading through and discussing the English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. In today's broadcast they finish the Eucharistic Prayer.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, we spend the first half of the show looking at the great, joyful season of Lent! In particular, we speak about the role and the importance of the Elect in our parish communities. For the second half of the show, we resume exploring and breaking open the English translation of the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal. Today, we look at the Eucharistic Prayer from the Preface Dialogue to the Memorial Acclamation.

In this show, we continue to unpack the texts of the English translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, consentrating on the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Guest Mary Fox, from Liturgy Training Publications, talks about an upcoming resource - a Study Edition of the Roman Missal.

In the last days before the Church celebrates the Nativity of the Lord, "Focus on the Liturgy" spends the first half of the show looking at the season of Christmas, exploring the theology and spirituality of the season. In the second half of the show, we continue to explore the texts of the English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. This month, we finish the Liturgy of the Word and then begin to explore the Liturgy of the Eucharist, with attention to the acclamations and responses.

The Day before Thanksgiving, "Focus on the Liturgy" uses the first half of the show to unpack the season of Advent. We look at the themes of Advent, the Scriptures that are proclaimed and the symbols of this first season of a brand new Liturgical Year. In the second half of the show, we continue the discussion on the English Translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, scheduled to implemented on November 27, 2011. This month we begin exploring the Liturgy of the Word and take an in-depth look at the Nicene Creed.

This edition of "Focus on the Liturgy" continues the discussion on the English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. This month we finish exploring the Introductory Rites by looking at the revised English translation of The Gloria and by looking at the role of the Opening Prayer. Also, in the first part of the show, we speak a bit about where we are in the Liturgical Calendar, looking at Autumn Ordinary Time, the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls).

In August of this year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) received from the Holy See the approved English texts of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal. The Order of Mass (the parts of the Mass that do not change from day to day) were posted on the USCCB website (www.usccb.org/romanmissal). Beginning with the show aired on September 22, 2010, Focus On The Liturgy will explore the revised English translation of the Order of Mass, breaking open the texts and examining the theology and spirituality behind the texts that we pray each week. This first edition focuses on the Introductory Rites.