Action

I think the reason that Hannah Arendt's political philosophy can be relevant to the study of liturgy is through her definitions of labour, work and action. Labour is not applicable, in this case, because it is based on necessity and religion, or the performance of the religious texts, are not (strictly speaking) necessary. People will live very well without ever engaging with such an activity. Work, on the other hand is part of what happens in the liturgy. Work is characterized by the idea of utility, it is used to make things, or order things. Work is used to create the objects which are used in the liturgy - decorations for the church, writing of the texts, composing the music, crafting the chalice and candles, etc. Work is also engaged in by people before they come to the service, in preparing themselves, mentally, spiritually, physically. Once in the space action takes over for the most part. The enactment of the liturgy is a series of actions which are mostly known, because they appear in the text that prescribes the liturgy. Yet, each beginning of an action is new and unique, and this is where, once again, Arendt's thoughts are relevant. Through action, humans reveal the unique 'who' of themselves. This means that each person has a unique way of being in the world which is shown through their actions. They usually are not aware of this identity as it can only be perceived by others. This unique way of acting means that each person contributes to the enactment of the liturgy in a way which is only visible to the others who are present. A group is needed to be aware of how the group is functioning. The group needs to pay attention to the contributions made and how they change what happens in each instance of the liturgy. The liturgy cannot function in a vaccuum where everything happens the same way each week, because it never does happen the same way each week. Added to this is the theological view that God, in all of his incarnations, is present and contributing to each enactment of the liturgy each week. So not only is every person present contributing, but so is the spiritual centre of the event. The liturgy needs to be formed through action which can never be anticipated, because action cannot be known before it happens. Its effects are far reaching and unpredictable.