Drawing from theoretical and practical notions of negativity, the concept of a “work of the negative” bridges between various approaches to the “negative” within philosophy and theology—from apophatic theology to queer studies. This article analyzes how the concept of negative work, i.e., continued wrestling with the limits of language and understanding, builds a fruitful lens for studying liturgical texts. It presents the concept of “work of the negative,” its origins and connections to adjacent fields; applies insights and questions raised by this dynamic to liturgical examples from the recently published community-centered liturgical resource “A Liturgy for All Bodies”; and finally explores the potential of such an approach for the ecclesiological implications of liturgy (lex orandi, lex credendi).
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