Joseph Ratzinger frequently expressed his views on questions of worship. Some authors identify a break in his early work in this regard. The author examines his understanding of the Eucharist and liturgy up to his appointment as Archbishop in 1977. A biographical section and a summary of the liturgical theology of his academic teachers Romano Guardini, Joseph Pascher, Gottlieb Söhngen, and Michael Schmaus illuminate the roots of Ratzinger's thinking. The main part of the study comments on his works published until 1977, insofar as they relate to worship. In doing so, the interconnectedness of Ratzinger's individual theological treatises becomes evident.