Josef Jungmann
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LITURGICAL PIONEERS Josef A. Jungmann, SJ (1889 –1975) Josef Andreas Jungmann, sj, “In the liturgy of the Church there is may best be recognized as a pas- toral liturgist who spent his deposited a mighty potential for human academic career demonstrat- ing the inherent intersection guidance, the Christian orientation of between catechetics and liturgy. life and for the mastering of life; but it is His predominant quandary Photo courtesy of the Austrian Province of the Society Jesus was whether the lived Catholic a potential which up till now has been life was successful in preaching primitive liturgy, Jungmann the Gospel to the world. only partially utilized. The liturgy wrote, “Christianity flourished As a parish priest in has been an affair for the priest, and was vitally alive — because Austria, Jungmann discovered a the great truths of Christianity gulf between liturgy and piety; and the faithful felt it as their prime were learned and were a living the joy he preached seemed inca- experience in the liturgy” (“The pable of conquering the fear of duty to assist at Mass on Sundays Pastoral Idea in the History of God in the faithful. Thus, his until everything had been completed the Liturgy,” 1957). first writing was the collection While his scholarship of reflections, “The Way to conscientiously. In this way the was both prolific and meticu- Christian Joyousness,” and was lous, Jungmann believed that later reworked into his well- minimum conditions of a Christian way academic achievements in the known piece, The Good News of life were assured. But a mere area of liturgy meant nothing if and Our Proclamation of Faith. they did not produce renewal of Four years after ordina- trickle ran where a mighty stream liturgical practices. Thus, he tion, Jungmann decided to could rightly be given the title become a Jesuit, and at once, should have been flowing.” “Father of Pastoral Liturgy.” In embraced the intellectual apos- Jungmann, acute intellectual (Pastoral Liturgy® September–October 2011, Volume 42, Number 5, tolate, preparing to teach pasto- 334 – 335) prowess combined with a pow- ral theology at the University of erful sense of pastoral care. Innsbruck. There, he furthered the connection between pasto- Such qualities made him a desirable choice to serve as a member ral experience and theological inquiry. Besides being recognized of the preparatory commission for the Second Vatican as a man of deep faith, Jungmann the educator was touted Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, as a peritus at the as rigorously disciplined yet capable of expressing himself in Council, and as member of the Consilium responsible for the plain language. implementation of reform. Jungmann helped pave the way to the liturgical renewal Jungmann’s role as a liturgical pioneer was summarized of the Eucharist with two classics in the field of liturgical stud- thus: “It will be a long time before any individual comes along ies. His 1925 The Place of Christ in Liturgical Prayer traced who can match Father Jungmann in his roles as priest, theolo- methodically the evidence in ancient liturgies to answer the gian, teacher, scholar, and espe- question: “Do we pray to Christ or through Christ?” Second, his cially liturgist. He performed 1948 two-volume, 1,000-page The Mass of the Roman Rite: Its them all in a distinguished Origins and Development was one-of-a-kind in providing an manner, and for that reason his academically rich catechesis of the parts of the Mass as it had writings will influence the con- morphed through time. temporary Liturgical Movement As The Mass of the Roman Rite showed, Jungmann cham- for years to come” (Mary Ellen pioned the primitive era of the Church’s liturgy and demon- Evans, editor of Jungmann’s strated how the Mass evolved with accretions and emendations. 1976 The Mass: An Historical, Exposing the Roman liturgy to such scrutiny proved to be Theological, and Pastoral Survey). invaluable research for the Liturgical Movement. Regarding the The 50th Anniversary of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy: A Parish Celebration © 2013 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications. Orders: 1-800-933-1800. Written by Stephen S. Wilbricht, CSC, STD. This material originally appeared in Pastoral Liturgy® magazine. Imprimatur granted by the Reverend Monsignor John F. Canary, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Chicago on June 5, 2013..