Liturgical prayer (Christianity)

The liturgy takes the individual as the sinner he is, seeking the mercy of God. Although the words spoken out loud may not necessarily express the feeling at that moment in the heart, personal sentiments are put aside in order to be united with the thoughts and desires of the group as they are expressed in the prayer. These thoughts and desires then become the individual's own. He or she is thus raised above the individual level to that of the mystical Christ. It has been argued that the rhythm of the flowing words is as important or more important than the meaning of the actual words.