“Our One Great Act of Fidelity: Waiting for Christ in the Eucharist” is a wonderful reflection on the many aspects the Eucharist touches our hearts and our lives. I have read Fr. Ronald Rolheiser for many years in our local diocesans newspaper…what a delight to finally have the opportunity to speak to him, especially about this deeply personal book which is not only offers theological insights, but is a also spiritual and a personal statement of how Fr. Rolheiser understands the Eucharist and why he celebrates it every day.
When you listen to Mike Aquilina express the mystery and beauty of the Eucharist, you know it is truly coming from someone who has been deeply touched in his depths of his own heart by this tremendous sacrament of love. I love talking with Mike, he strengthens and encourages my own faith so much…he is such a gift to the body of Christ! In “The Fire of God’s Love” he passes on insights on the Eucharist to inspire us all. Saints and popes are represented in this collection, but also reflections from folks representing in our own time, like J.R.R. Tolkien, Maria Montessori, Conrad Hilton, and George Wiegel.
Part 2…What a fantastic book, what a fantastic (and fun) interview with Dr. Brant Pitre, discussing “Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist”. This book has what it takes to become a classic, similiar in importance as Dr. Scott Hahn’s “The Lamb’s Supper”!
The description from the book says it best….“Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes. Using his in-depth knowledge of the Bible and ancient Judaism, Dr. Brant Pitre answers questions such as: What was the Passover like at the time of Jesus? What were the Jewish hopes for the Messiah? What was Jesus’ purpose in instituting the Eucharist during the feast of Passover? And, most important of all, what did Jesus mean when he said, “This is my body… This is my blood”?
To answer these questions, Pitre explores ancient Jewish beliefs about the Passover of the Messiah, the miraculous Manna from heaven, and the mysterious Bread of the Presence. As he shows, these three keys—the Passover, the Manna, and the Bread of the Presence—have the power to unlock the original meaning of the Eucharistic words of Jesus. Along the way, Pitre also explains how Jesus united the Last Supper to his death on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Inspiring and informative, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist is a groundbreaking work that is sure to illuminate one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith: the mystery of Jesus’ presence in “the breaking of the bread.”
What a fantastic book, what a fantastic (and fun) interview with Dr. Brant Pitre, discussing “Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist”. This book has what it takes to become a classic, similiar in importance as Dr. Scott Hahn’s “The Lamb’s Supper”!
The description from the book says it best….“Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes. Using his in-depth knowledge of the Bible and ancient Judaism, Dr. Brant Pitre answers questions such as: What was the Passover like at the time of Jesus? What were the Jewish hopes for the Messiah? What was Jesus’ purpose in instituting the Eucharist during the feast of Passover? And, most important of all, what did Jesus mean when he said, “This is my body… This is my blood”?
To answer these questions, Pitre explores ancient Jewish beliefs about the Passover of the Messiah, the miraculous Manna from heaven, and the mysterious Bread of the Presence. As he shows, these three keys—the Passover, the Manna, and the Bread of the Presence—have the power to unlock the original meaning of the Eucharistic words of Jesus. Along the way, Pitre also explains how Jesus united the Last Supper to his death on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Inspiring and informative, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist is a groundbreaking work that is sure to illuminate one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith: the mystery of Jesus’ presence in “the breaking of the bread.”
“The Mass: The Glory, The Mystery, The Tradition” is absolutely fantastic! This is the book so many of us have been waiting for and leave it to Mike Aquilina, along with co-author, his eminence, Cardinal Donald Wuerl to bring it to us. Every Catholic household should have a copy of this richly satisfying primer to the great prayer of the Church…The Holy Mass! Beautiful pictures, historical background, the essential how, what, where, why of every aspect of the mass, this work is neither too “light” nor too “heavy”, but just right to deeply educate us all on the celebration, while encouraging us all to dive deeper into it’s mysteries. And with changes coming to the Mass in late 2011, now is the time to pick this up! No excuses…this is a must!
reflection on the many aspects the Eucharist touches our hearts and our lives. I have read Fr. Ronald Rolheiser for many years in our local diocesans newspaper…what a delight to finally have the opportunity to speak to him, especially about this deeply personal book which is not only 
offers theological insights, but is a also spiritual and a personal statement of how Fr. Rolheiser understands the Eucharist and why he celebrates it every day.
