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For Immediate Release Contact: Janet Bondi 408-286-8505

ML links Catholic and Lutheran liturgy.

“Vatican II had a huge impact beyond Roman Catholic liturgy,” said ML editor Nick Wagner. “It indirectly influenced the reform of all liturgical churches. We thought it would be useful to devote one issue this year to exploring the current liturgical scholarship and practice of one of those churches.”

ML asked Lutheran pastor and guest editor, Gail Cromack, to assemble a team of Lutheran writers and feature subjects. The November issue features an extended review by Cromack of noted Lutheran scholar Gordon Lathrop’s new book, Holy People, which delves deeply into the primacy of the worshipping assembly as central to the liturgical reform. Cromack and Wagner also teamed up to interview Dr. Maxwell Johnson, a Lutheran pastor who teaches at the University of  Notre Dame. In addition, the November issue is being mailed as two editions, one with a planning insert based on the Roman Lectionary for the predominantly Roman Catholic subscribership and one with a planning insert based on the Revised Common Lectionary for a special mailing to  Lutheran pastors.

The November issue also features the winners of  the stained-glass division of ML’s annual visual arts competition. “The stained-glass issue is one of our most visually appealing issues,” said Wagner. “Many of the Lutheran pastors will be seeing the magazine for the first time, and we wanted to present our best face to them.”

ML’s readership is mainly Roman Catholic, but the magazine has a long ecumenical history. In its early years, when it was known as Folk Mass and Modern Liturgy and later as Modern Liturgy, ML had an editorial board composed of members from various denominations. Throughout its history, ML has featured articles by and interviews with liturgical leaders from many faith traditions. “This issue doesn’t represent a change in focus for us,” said publisher Bill Burns. “It represents an expansion and improvement of our longstanding mission to help liturgical ministers do their jobs better.”