O movimento litúrgico e a redescoberta da qualidade teológica da liturgia: António Coelho e a dimensão teológica do Mistério celebrado

‘Liturgical Theology’ was born at the beginning of the 20th century, with the Liturgical Movement. How did this new area come about in the framework of the history of reflection on the faith? A brief historical outline on the genesis of the Liturgical Movement and a presentation of two of its protagonists (Columba Marmion and Lambert Beauduin) lead us to the figure of António Coelho, principal promoter of the ideals of the Liturgical Movement in Portugal and to his Liturgical Theology. Reflecting on the ‘why?’ of the existence of worship and ‘what’ is its efficacy in the complex issues surrounding faith, A. Coelho gives two responses to the liturgical question: the first is found in his Curso de Liturgia Romana; the second in his sermons, for which reason he may be considered a ‘mystagogue’ of liturgy.