C. E. Hammond's Antient Liturgies provided a valuable resource at an early stage in comparative liturgical studies. Free of extensive critical apparatus, Antient Liturgies presents a collection of historic forms of worship from the Western, Eastern, and Oriental Churches. This extract from the book focuses on the Armenian liturgy. With a beginning in the early fourth century, in connection with the Exarchate of Caesarea, this liturgy is presented in English. As an analytical introduction this early study continues to provide a broad overview of early Christian worship made available in an accessible and convenient format for students and scholars.

C. E. Hammond's Antient Liturgies provided a valuable resource at an early stage in comparative liturgical studies. Free of extensive critical apparatus, Antient Liturgies presents a collection of historic forms of worship from the Western, Eastern, and Oriental Churches. This extract from the book focuses on the Clementine Liturgy, an important early liturgy, apparently known even to Justin Martyr. Rendered in Greek and with an analytical introduction this early study continues to provide a broad overview of early Christian worship made available in an accessible and convenient format for students and scholars.

This latest work from leading liturgical theologian Gordon Lathrop explores the extent to which the central symbols and interactions of Christian liturgy yield, for their participants, a new proposal for their understanding and experience of the world. In the process, it considers various kinds of world-making, the diverse maps, and the differing senses of "cosmology" in which we all live. Finally, the book examines how certain liturgical reforms can contribute to a refreshed sense of ecological ethics-to a Christian sense of the holiness of the earth itself.

This rich resource of ready to use liturgies and reflections for the richest seasons of the Christian year sold out within a year. Its timeless qualities found a ready and eager readership among all looking for fresh inspiration for these annual celebrations. This new edition includes extra seasonal reflections from Rowan Williams and Martyn Percy, and a new liturgy for Maundy Thursday from Jim Cotter. In addition it offers: probing reflections by outstanding thinkers to inspire preaching and personal devotion, complete liturgies for a Christmas Eve vigil, Maundy Thursday foot washing and watch, a Good Friday devotional service, an Easter Eve vigil, a dawn celebration of the Resurrection, a set of meditations on the Stations of the Cross and the Seven Words from the Cross, and seven Good Friday addresses by WH Vanstone. Jim Cotter writes strikingly beautiful liturgies and was publisher of the successful Cairns Publications. Martyn Percy is the Principal of Ripon College Cuddesdon.Sylvia Sands is a writer who lives in the heart of Belfast.W H Vanstone wrote the spiritual classic Love's Endeavour Love's Expense. He died in 1999. Rowan Williams is the Archbishop of Canterbury.

'the highest matter in the noblest form' John Donne's description of the Psalms celebrates not only the perfection of the biblical psalms but their translation into poetic form by the Sidneys, who turned them into some of the most accomplished lyric poems of the English Renaissance. Although it was not printed until the nineteenth century, the Sidney Psalter was widely read in manuscript and influenced poets from Donne and Herbert to Milton and beyond. It turned these well-known and well-loved Psalms into sophisticated verse, selecting or inventing a different stanza form for each one. This variety of forms matches the appeal of their content: there are Psalms of praise and blame, Psalms of cursing and lamentation, Psalms of joy and exaltation, Psalms that recount history, and Psalms that describe Creation or divine law. This is the first complete edition of the Psalter for over forty years. The Psalms are provided in an authoritative modernized text, with helpful glosses and notes illuminating points of interpretation, and an introduction setting the Psalms in their literary and cultural contexts. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Written centuries before Christ, the Psalms of the Hebrew Bible have been prayed by Christians since the founding of the Church. The early church fathers expounded the psalms in the light of the mystery of Christ, his death and resurrection, and his saving redemption. In this book, a Benedictine monk examines the Christian praying of the Psalms, taking into account modern and contemporary research on the Psalms. Working from the Hebrew text, Fr. Laurence Kriegshauser offers a verse-by-verse commentary on each of the one hundred and fifty psalms, highlighting poetic features such as imagery, rhythm, structure, and vocabulary, as well as theological and spiritual dimensions and the relation of psalms to each other in the smaller collections that make up the whole. The book attempts to integrate modern scholarship on the Psalms with the act of prayer and help Christians pray the psalms with greater understanding of their Christological meaning.The book contains an introduction, a glossary of terms, an index of topics, a table of English renderings of selected Hebrew words, and an index of biblical citations. "Praying the Psalms in Christ "will be welcomed by students of theology and liturgy, by priests, religious, and laypeople who pray the Liturgy of the Hours, and by all Christians who seek to pray the Psalms with greater profit and fervor.

"It is no easy task to combine devotion with scholarship. From the introduction onwards this book breathes a prayerfulness that lifts the heart to God. With contemporary linguistic, literary, and theological scholarship, it joins the rich tradition of the Church expressed over the centuries in the writings of the Fathers. Each psalm is given a striking image as a sort of 'logo' and then discussed for itself. A special feature of the book is the appreciation that the prayer of the psalms in Christ is interwoven, threads of one bringing richness to another." --Dom Henry Wansbrough, Master Emeritus of St. Benet's Hall, Oxford

"In "Praying the Psalms in Christ," Fr. Kriegshauser has given us a form of reading the psalms that runs very close in intention to that ancient practice of "lectio divina" where the text of the bible is read prayerfully as a form of contemplative prayer. His prayerful study is made all the more rich by the abundant cross references to other places in the bible, both Old and New Testaments, that add richness to the text. The result is an informative and spiritually nourishing companion to reading the psalms." --Lawrence S. Cunningham, University of Notre Dame

"Clear, accessible, and rooted in the tradition, "Praying the Psalms in Christ"""guides us into the ancient prayers of Israel and the Church. The result is a fresh contribution to the great Christian tradition of spiritual commentary." --Russell R. Reno, Creighton University

Bieler and Schottroff bring together the best of contemporary scholarship on ritual theory and practice, Eucharistic origins, the Eucharist and eschatology, the Eucharist and world hunger, the global economy, and the dynamics of torture in a dramatic new vision of the transformative power of the Eucharist for our world. It includes reflection questions that lead readers into the issues raised in each chapter.

Seeks to identify and describe the continuing Christian vision, to trace its modes of transmission, and to permit it to illuminate the human context. The result is a systematic theology in the perspective of worship.

The Christian mystery, celebrated in the Roman Catholic liturgy, is a sensible mystery, and calls out for artistic expression. Living Beauty explores the Christian mystery and points to the need for a liturgical aesthetic as a means to encounter the divine mystery. A liturgical aesthetic gives an account of Christian worship in terms of a new set of categories that includes divine beauty, a theology of sensibility, and the new notion of a unitive revelatory experience. These categories help to reveal the aesthetic dimensions of the Church's watershed document on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium. The Church today stands in need of a new conversation on the aesthetic dimension of the liturgy and the role of the arts. Contrary to common opinion, the arts provide more than an environment or mere extrinsic ornamentation for the liturgy; they are intrinsic to the very nature of liturgy. They provide the means of being sanctified in the encounter with divine beauty that is the mystery of Christian worship. Artistic expression enables the worshiping community to receive the divine mystery in beauty.

The Christian mystery, celebrated in the Roman Catholic liturgy, is a sensible mystery, and calls out for artistic expression. Living Beauty explores the Christian mystery and points to the need for a liturgical aesthetic as a means to encounter the divine mystery. A liturgical aesthetic gives an account of Christian worship in terms of a new set of categories that includes divine beauty, a theology of sensibility, and the new notion of a unitive revelatory experience. These categories help to reveal the aesthetic dimensions of the Church's watershed document on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium. The Church today stands in need of a new conversation on the aesthetic dimension of the liturgy and the role of the arts. Contrary to common opinion, the arts provide more than an environment or mere extrinsic ornamentation for the liturgy; they are intrinsic to the very nature of liturgy. They provide the means of being sanctified in the encounter with divine beauty that is the mystery of Christian worship. Artistic expression enables the worshiping community to receive the divine mystery in beauty.

Los siete sacramentos estan en el centro de la vida y de la experiencia cristiana, porque por medio de ellos la Santisima Trinidad, alcanza la vida y el corazon de las personas. Actualmente este libro es uno de los pocos que ofrece una sintesis global de los temas principales del misterio sacramental, en el cual el universo humano y divino, material y espiritual, estan intimamente ligados. Paul Haffner ilustra el hecho que los sacramentos tienen un significado central en la Iglesia, pues con ellos el pueblo de Dios se reconcilia con el Padre, mediante Su Hijo, por obra del Espiritu Santo. El libro propone algunas cuestiones clasicas, como las condiciones para la validez y la eficacia de los sacramentos, desarrolla los temas del ministro, el receptor y los efectos de estos misterios sacros, asimismo trata algunas particulares problematicas, como la necesidad del bautismo, el caracter sacrificial de la Eucaristia y la naturaleza del matrimonio. En el analisis de cada sacramento, el autor explora tambien las nuevas cuestiones ecumenicas y su influencia sobre la comprension sacramental cristiana. Este libro, escrito originalmente en ingles, ha sido tambien publicado en idioma italiano y ruso.

This title examines how worship is, and should be, at the center of the assembly. Contributors look at the historical and contemporary factors that infuence how and why we worship the way we do. An essential resource for pastors, worship leaders and laity.

The Constitution of Sacred Liturgy is widely regarded as the most significant among the sixteen documents produced by the Second Vatican Council. The constitution has radically redefined the methods and meanings of Catholic worship, including a shift from rote enactment of rituals, to the laity as a spiritual community. Transforming Catholicism offers the first social scientific analysis of these liturgical changes in worship and their implementations in local situations. Guided by a consistent theory of policy implementation, Michael J. McCallion and David R. Maines examine the growing emphasis placed on biblical interpretations of sacred meanings, interpretative homilies, and the production of mass in local languages. This book incorporates first-hand empirical data in studying the influence of professional liturgists on parish worship practices and the subsequent symbolic interactionist theories. Transforming Catholicism is a sophisticated and engaging read that will captivate seminary professors and those interested in policy analysis.

The Constitution of Sacred Liturgy is widely regarded as the most significant among the sixteen documents produced by the Second Vatican Council. The constitution has radically redefined the methods and meanings of Catholic worship, including a shift from rote enactment of rituals, to the laity as a spiritual community. Transforming Catholicism offers the first social scientific analysis of these liturgical changes in worship and their implementations in local situations. Guided by a consistent theory of policy implementation, Michael J. McCallion and David R. Maines examine the growing emphasis placed on biblical interpretations of sacred meanings, interpretative homilies, and the production of mass in local languages. This book incorporates first-hand empirical data in studying the influence of professional liturgists on parish worship practices and the subsequent symbolic interactionist theories. Transforming Catholicism is a sophisticated and engaging read that will captivate seminary professors and those interested in policy analysis.

Intercessory prayer is a key part of the liturgy of the Eucharist. Intercessory prayers need to reflect a response to the preached Word and topical concern for the world and need to be prepared afresh for each service. Intercessory prayer is also known as 'the prayer of the people' and is often said by a member of the congregation, not a priest. For anyone with this ministry in their local church, here is a complete companion handbook that includes: a simple theology of intercessory prayer; an explanation of its purpose within the liturgy and its relation to the readings of the day; the difference between public and personal prayer; a guide to writing intercessory prayers that connect with the whole service; technical advice: use of language, addressing God, vocal expression; common errors to avoid: excessive length or detail, breaches of confidence; prayerful preparation; using other resources; developing a personal style; and, ready to use intercessory prayers.

As part of the research around the Faith and Life commission of the Church of England (which is a long term follow up to Faith in the City) people have been getting together to look at worship in an urban context. There are many people responsible for leading worship in urban contexts and few resources for this. In urban situations big questions arise and there is a growing awareness of the essential value of religious and spiritual capital. Contributors cover a wide range of church backgrounds and involvements in the urban church.

This book offers a diverse and imaginative collection of original liturgies for the 'high days' of the church year. It grows out of the author's experience and conviction that these familiar events can be brought alive by focusing on specific themes within the central message of each festival. The chapter headings are: Christ the King, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Day, Pentecost, and Eucharists for Special Occasions; with each providing a goodly selection of material which has all arisen from experience and can be used or adapted with confidence

The ancient Dormition and Assumption traditions are a collection of over sixty different narratives, preserved in nine ancient languages, that commemorate the end of the Virgin Mary's life. These traditions have long been overlooked by scholars of early Christianity, no doubt largely because this complicated corpus was insufficiently well known. The present study aims to remedy this situation with a detailed analysis of the earliest traditions of Mary's death, including liturgical and archaeological evidence as well as the numerous narrative sources. Several of the most important narratives are translated in appendices, many appearing in English for the first time. The book will be of interest to all scholars of early Christian literature.

Communion and otherness: how can these be reconciled? In this wide-ranging study, the distinguished Orthodox theologian, Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon, seeks to answer that question. In his celebrated book, Being as Communion (1985), he emphasised the importance of communion for life and for unity. In this important companion volume he now explores the complementary fact that communion is the basis for true otherness and identity. With a constant awareness of the deepest existential questions of today, Metropolitan John probes the Christian tradition and highlights the existential concerns that already underlay the writings of the Greek fathers and the definitions of the early ecumenical councils. In a vigorous and challenging way, he defends the freedom to be other as an intrinsic characteristic of personhood, fulfilled only in communion. After a major opening chapter on the ontology of otherness, written specially for this volume, the theme is systematically developed with reference to the Trinity, Christology, anthropology and ecclesiology. Another new chapter defends the idea that the Father is cause of the Trinity, as taught by the Cappadocian fathers, and replies to criticisms of this view. The final chapter responds to the customary separation of ecclesiology from mysticism and strongly favours a mystical understanding of the body of Christ as a whole. Other papers, previously published but some not easily obtainable, are all revised for their inclusion here. This is a further contribution to dialogue on some of the most vital issues for theology and the Church from one of the leading figures in modern ecumenism.

Money, power, marriage, friendship, health, sleep, jealousy, war, peace, eternity: the ancient wisdom of Solomon in the 21st-century language of the Scottish patter. Full-to-the-brim of pithy wisdom, this expressive book will appeal to all who enjoy the richness of the Scots tongue. Injecting life into these ancient wise words, Jamie Stuart's language of the people connects the down-to-earth Scots character with the practical relevance today of the wisdom of Solomon.

Einander ins Bild setzen. Darum gehe es beim Predigen, sagte 2002 Martin Nicol, Praktischer Theologe in Erlangen, und begrundete mit diesem Leitbild die Dramaturgische Homiletik. Mehr Gott wagen. Das sei die Herausforderung angesichts religioeser Indifferenz, sagt Nicol nun, nach vielen Jahren pastoraler Fortbildung im Predigen, und oeffnet seine eigene Predigtwerkstatt zur Besichtigung. Zehn Predigten werden prasentiert, kommentiert, jeweils einem aktuellen Thema der Homiletik zugeordnet und dieses Thema in der offenen Form von Reden entfaltet. Dabei gibt Nicol eine Fulle handwerklicher Anregungen fur die laufende Predigtarbeit. Zugleich zeichnet er an den Konturen kunftiger Predigt, die sich als Kunst unter Kunsten von Gustav Mahler ebenso inspirieren lasst wie von Udo Jurgens, die dem leidigen Kanzelpathos mit Humor begegnet, die mit Lust an Sprache ins Ungesagte springt, die dem Bibelwort traut, Verheissungen der Tradition in die Zukunft wirft und in alledem auf spezifische Resonanz hofft: Aufmerksamkeit bei den Menschen und Gehoer bei Gott.

This best selling prayerbook has now been redesigned for a much wider audience. This treasury of prayers for the third Christian millennium offers practical guidance for an increasingly busy world. Cardinal Basil Hume, in his foreword, writes "the need for us to be people of prayer has never been more urgent. We know that unless we are deeply rooted in a sense of God's presence and able to refer all things to God, then our pilgrimage into the future will be marked more by uncertainty than by peace which is God's gift." This book's extensive range includes favourite Catholic prayers such as the "Rosary" and the "Stations of the Cross," along with others that may be less familiar, organised under many different themes and topics. Helpful introductions and a pattern of daily prayers make this book nothing less than a course in Christian spirituality. This book is for people approaching Christian prayer for the first time as well as for those who want to begin afresh. It will be especially helpful to young people and the parents and teachers who want to help them learn to pray in the living tradition of the Church.

Even for an experienced reader of Latin, the Psalter sometimes follows underlying Greek and ultimately Hebrew idiom too literally and thus poses real difficulties. This new commentary on selected psalms, the first to be published for many years, seeks to resolve these problems by placing the Latin within its historical linguistic context. For the reader without Hebrew and only a little Greek, it clarifies how those languages, by bilingual interference and over-literal translation, have influenced and shaped idioms. Finally, it demonstrates how Early Christian exegetes, especially Augustine, confronted unidiomatic peculiarities in a fundamentalist way; specifically, how the resorted to an exegetical resolution of what they perceived as an underlying theological mystery.The psalms have been selected to illustrate the character of this Hebraising, Hellenising post-classical Latin. The commentary, with a glossary of grammatical terms, is accessible to both the beginner and the more advanced reader.

'Love' is an anthology of readings that celebrates the ideal and the humorously down to earth in relation to love, friendship and marriage across the centuries. Sonnets, poems, wedding blessings, readings from the Bible, and the reflections of various ancient and contemporary writers, together create a tapestry of wisdom about the joys of love and its occasional struggles. Offering, quite literally, something for everyone, 'Love' offers plenty of choice for those looking to personalise their wedding service.

This very practical resource offers a well-informed guide to an aspect of ministry that every single priest or minister will encounter. It is one of the most difficult tasks, yet many embark on it with very little theological or practical training. They will encounter a wide range of beliefs about death and the afterlife in today's secular society, such as can be seen in the death notices of local newspapers - grandma goes to sleep, is reunited with grandpa, becomes an angel or a star in heaven. They need a resource that equips them to deal sensitively and wisely with the variety of demands that will be made of them in the planning and conduct of funerals and in helping the bereaved to understand that resurrection is God's response to death's terrible finality.