Pope Francis released a new Apostolic Letter entitled Desiderio Desideravi, on the liturgical formation of the People of God. The title comes from Luke 22:15 where Jesus says: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” The Letter provides a summary of liturgical theology and calls for “serious and vital liturgical formation.”
The pope wants “to invite the whole Church to rediscover, to safeguard, and to live the truth and power of the Christian celebration.”
In the letter, Pope Francis addresses the nature of sacramental encounter, of symbols and symbolic language, of ars celebrandi, and the need to engage all the baptized in the fruitful celebration of the Paschal Mystery.
Pope Francis also calls for liturgical formation beyond the academic environment to be accessible to all Catholics, so as to revive a sense of wonder at the mystery of the sacrifice of the Mass.
The Office of Sacred Worship recommends sharing the link with all of the faithful, because, as the Pope notes, “the action of the celebration is the place in which, by means of memorial, the Paschal Mystery is made present so that the baptized, through their participation, can experience it in their own lives.”
This letter should particularly be shared with those who serve as readers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, cantors, sacristans, and other ministers.
The entire letter can be found at:
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/20220629-lettera-ap-desiderio-desideravi.html