liturgique

Liturgique is the French adjective meaning relating to liturgy, the public worship and rites prescribed by a religious tradition. The term derives from Latin liturgia and Greek leitourgia, and is used across Christian contexts to describe texts, rites and conditions associated with official worship. In Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and many Protestant communities, liturgical practice comprises the order of service, the sacramental rites (such as the Eucharist or Holy Communion, baptism, and marriage in many denominations), liturgical vestments, music, and the calendar of feasts and seasons that shape annual worship.

Liturgical practice is organized through liturgical books and norms that guide prayers, readings, and actions. In Roman Catholic usage, for example, the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the rites for celebrations of sacraments are described in standardized books like the Missal and the Breviary; in the Byzantine rite, similar content appears in a distinct calendar and service texts. The liturgical year follows cycles such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost, though the structure and emphasis vary by tradition.

Scholarly study of liturgy, liturgiology or liturgics, examines how rites are planned, performed, and experienced, including theology, history, and pastoral practice. Debates within liturgy often center on questions of vernacular use, musical style, and the balance between reverence and accessibility. Throughout history, liturgical practice has undergone reforms and modernization, notably in the 20th century, while remaining a core element of communal identity in many Christian communities.