Catholic liturgy

In the Catholic Church, liturgy is divine worship, the proclamation of the Gospel, and active charity. Catholic liturgies are broadly categorized as the Latin liturgical rites of the Latin Church and the Eastern Catholic liturgies of the Eastern Catholic Churches. As explained in greater detail in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Liturgy is an "action" of the whole Christ (Christus totus). Those who even now celebrate it without signs are already in the heavenly liturgy, where celebration is wholly communion and feast Sacraments of the Catholic Church Sacraments in the Catholic Church are efficacious signs, perceptible to the senses, of grace. The effect of the sacraments comes ex opere operato (by the very fact of being administered). There are seven sacraments: Baptism Eucharist Confirmation Penance, also called Confession and Reconciliation Anointing of the Sick, formerly called Extreme Unction and Last Sacraments Holy Orders Matrimony The 1967 document Musicam sacram, that implemented the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy after the Second Vatican Council, repeatedly mentions facilitating the full, active participation of the congregation as called for by the Council. so that "unity of hearts is more profoundly achieved by the union of voices". Musicam Sacram states: "One cannot find anything more religious and more joyful in sacred celebrations than a whole congregation expressing its faith and devotion in song. Therefore the active participation of the whole people, which is shown in singing, is to be carefully promoted." It calls for fostering this congregational participation through attention to choice of song directors, to choice of songs, and to the nature of the congregation. It mentions the duty to achieve this participation on the part of choirs, choirs directors, pastors, organists, and instrumentalists. To achieve full, active participation of the congregation, great restraint in introducing new hymns has proven most helpful.