Perhaps nothing is as important to the future of the Church as continuing to make the liturgy meaningful to those who celebrate it. Inculturation, the dynamic translation of the typical editions into the cultures of local Churches, is the key.

Inculturation as a branch of liturgical study has a dauntingly wide scope. It covers the areas of history and theology, liturgical and cultural principles, process and methods, sacraments and sacramentals, Liturgy of the Hours, liturgical year, liturgical music, liturgical arts and furnishings, and such related topics as popular religiosity and catechesis. So where does the average pastor, liturgist, or student begin?

With this volume the reader is introduced to the different technical terms expressing the relationship between liturgy and culture (indigenization, incarnation, contextualization, adaptation, acculturation ... ). The subsequent discussion on the question of sacramentals, popular religiosity, and liturgical catechesis explains how these disparate topics share the same basic concern of inculturation.

Throughout the book the focus is on method. Method encompasses both how one may remain true to the liturgy while also considering what culture offers the liturgy or requires of it. The question of how creativity relates to inculturation is also answered.

For the serious student of the liturgy, whether or not you serve a culturally diverse community, this work provides foundations, principles, and methods for creating a liturgy of the people and for the people.

A Community of Joy suggests practical, innovative, and nontraditional forms of worship, enabling churches to minister more effectively. * Addresses the felt need for worship renewal * Shows how liturgical worship and contemporary worship can coexist * Specifically targets seekers outside the church, using worship services as a primary vehicle for evangelism and outreach * Includes contemporary worship services as illustrations of Wright's method

* Revised and updated * Based on the NRSV and NIV translations * Covers every book verse by verse * Each volume also contains maps, charts, a pronunciation guide, and a glossary * Available in sets or individually

This text covers changes in the Mass since publication in 1971, including the 1985 reprint revisions (notably Eucharistic Prayers and Eucharistic Prayers from Masses with children). It also describes the rites of the Church in the context of their theological and historical background and in relation to pastoral practice. It is aimed at theology students, students on liturgy courses especially those following the syllabus for liturgical formation issued by the Liturgy Office and all those seeking a deeper understanding of the Mass.

Despite "Sacrosanctum Concilium" and the twenty-five years' worth of scholarship that followed, much still needs to be said and discovered about the relationship between liturgy and theology.

This work is situated within the present debate over "liturgical theology" in at least three ways: it concerns methods for the study of liturgy, it explores the meanings that the term liturgical theology can have, and it contributes to the evaluation and critique of present and possible future forms of liturgical rites. In addition, it articulates how the study of liturgy is essentially "pastoral theology" in that liturgical rites shape the faith and life of believing participants.

The historical, theological, and pastoral investigation of the liturgy required by the constitution on the Sacred Liturgy forms the background and part of the rationale for this work. It is both a proposal for and an example of an investigation of the Church's liturgical praxis from aliturgical-theological perspective. What the reader gains is principles for interpreting the various aspects of liturgy (texts, symbols, ritual gestures) in relation to each other in a theological way and for articulating some theological and spiritual implications derived from liturgy.

Days of the Lord is an excellent guide to the riches of the Church's liturgy, and a welcome companion to the Sacramentary, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Lectionary. First published in Belgium, this outstanding seven volume series will enable all Christians to enter into the mystery of the liturgical year, to pray with understanding, to proclaim the beauty and wealth of the liturgy. More than a thorough commentary on the readings, more even than a reflection on the liturgical seasons, this series comprehends the totality of the liturgical year-that vehicle developed by the Church to express, summarize, and present "the whole mystery of Christ," the mystery that we are called to profess and celebrate every day. Since this mystery belongs to all Christians, the writers of this series have written their reflections with the average reader in mind. Yet the knowledge and insight that they bring to this work make it invaluable even to those who are themselves well versed students of the liturgical calendar. Readers will come away not only with a greater understanding of the liturgical year, its structure and meaning, but with a deepened appreciation of the prayer life the liturgical year provides through its structure.

"'May they be cursed in town and cursed in the fields. May their barns be cursed and may their bones be cursed. May the fruit of their loins be cursed as well as the fruit of their lands.' French monks of the Middle Ages hurled curses like these at their enemies, seeking supernatural assistance when no secular judge could help them. In a long-awaited book written with elegance and erudition, Lester Little undertakes the first full-length study of these maledictions. . . . The book's focus is the way that religious communities--especially the monks who followed Benedict's Rule and hence were known by his name--used liturgical cursing to safeguard their integrity and their possessions, against both laymen and other ecclesiastics." --Journal of Social History

Father Brown completes his look at the great seasons of the liturgical year, making the rich insights of modern biblical exegesis conveniently available to all, with this volume for the season from Easter to Pentecost.

During this season the Church reads consecutively from the Acts of the Apostles, recounting the external life of the Church after Pentecost. The accompanying readings from the Gospel according to John portray the internal life of Christian disciples and promise a coming Paraclete to be sent by the Father. Father Brown's title "A Once-and-Coming Spirit" signifies these two great biblical sources that he reflects on. He shows how these readings speak to our time as we live out the external history of a visible Church while internally drawing life from Jesus as branches on the vine. His comments offer an opportunity to appreciate the intent of the season after Easter and to prepare ourselves for the intensified gift of the spirit at Pentecost.

The women whose writings are included in this anthology are al different colors in a kaleidoscope of history. Spanning nearly one thousand years in the history of spirituality, these works, arranged chronologically, begin with Hildegard of Bingen in the eleventh century and move to Ita Ford in our own. Their authors are mystics, contemplatives, actives, intellectuals, poets, and dreamers. They are portraits of women through the centuries who loved deeply their families, their communities, their careers, or their causes, but who, most of al, loved God.

Some women whose writings are included: Beatrice of Nazareth, Dorothy Day, Edith Stein, Mary Ward, Jessica Powers, Ita Ford, Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, Simone Weil, and Elizabeth Anne Seton. The editor introduces each selection.

Days of the Lord is an excellent guide to the riches of the Church's liturgy, and a welcome companion to the Sacramentary, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Lectionary. First published in Belgium, this outstanding seven volume series will enable all Christians to enter into the mystery of the liturgical year, to pray with understanding, to proclaim the beauty and wealth of the liturgy. More than a thorough commentary on the readings, more even than a reflection on the liturgical seasons, this series comprehends the totality of the liturgical year-that vehicle developed by the Church to express, summarize, and present "the whole mystery of Christ," the mystery that we are called to profess and celebrate every day. Since this mystery belongs to all Christians, the writers of this series have written their reflections with the average reader in mind. Yet the knowledge and insight that they bring to this work make it invaluable even to those who are themselves well versed students of the liturgical calendar. Readers will come away not only with a greater understanding of the liturgical year, its structure and meaning, but with a deepened appreciation of the prayer life the liturgical year provides through its structure.

Too often we evaluate worship as a matter of taste without examining the presuppositions that inform worship in a given congregation. The authors help church leaders see that worship is a public event, which must be continually renewed and revitalized. They identify sources of conflict in worship, provide creative approaches to resolving these conflicts, and examine five road maps for revitalized worship.

"Do not stay where you are, but move ahead, move toward Jesus ... Do not ask yourself whether the road is firm or practicable... look only to see that it is really the road that leads straight to Jesus."
(from the sermon about Albert Schweitzer)
Here are 12 worship resources about modern-day saints. Eleven are designed for "the sermon slot." Dag Hammarskjold's chapter is an entire liturgy. Each resource has parts for two or more readers. One is the narrator while another shares excerpts from the writings of the saint. Additional readers may make connections to our lives today.
The 12 saints are:
- Wilhelm Loehe
- St. Benedict
- Cyril and Methodius
- Bartolome de Las Casas
- Thomas Aquinas
- Albert Schweitzer
- Perpetua and Felicity
- Dag Hammarskjold
- Athanasius
- St. Ignatius
- Ludwig Nommensen
- John Christian Frederick Heyer
Lutherans will find these 12 commemorated in the "Lutheran Book of Worship "during 1993 and 1994.
Thomas A. Renquist is pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minnesota. He previously served two parishes in Iowa. He holds a master of divinity degree from Yale.

Much has been written regarding the western liturgy; the same cannot be said of the Byzantine liturgy. Father Taft contributes to a remedy of that shortfall through this work. In it he traces the origins of the Byzantine Rite during its period of formation: from its earliest recorded beginnings until the end of Byzantium (1453 c.e.). While the rite has undergone some change in the period since then, its outlines remain essentially the same.

Days of the Lord is an excellent guide to the riches of the Church's liturgy, and a welcome companion to the Sacramentary, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Lectionary. First published in Belgium, this outstanding seven volume series will enable all Christians to enter into the mystery of the liturgical year, to pray with understanding, to proclaim the beauty and wealth of the liturgy. More than a thorough commentary on the readings, more even than a reflection on the liturgical seasons, this series comprehends the totality of the liturgical year-that vehicle developed by the Church to express, summarize, and present "the whole mystery of Christ," the mystery that we are called to profess and celebrate every day. Since this mystery belongs to all Christians, the writers of this series have written their reflections with the average reader in mind. Yet the knowledge and insight that they bring to this work make it invaluable even to those who are themselves well versed students of the liturgical calendar. Readers will come away not only with a greater understanding of the liturgical year, its structure and meaning, but with a deepened appreciation of the prayer life the liturgical year provides through its structure.

Days of the Lord is an excellent guide to the riches of the Church's liturgy, and a welcome companion to the Sacramentary, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Lectionary. First published in Belgium, this outstanding seven volume series will enable all Christians to enter into the mystery of the liturgical year, to pray with understanding, to proclaim the beauty and wealth of the liturgy. More than a thorough commentary on the readings, more even than a reflection on the liturgical seasons, this series comprehends the totality of the liturgical year-that vehicle developed by the Church to express, summarize, and present "the whole mystery of Christ," the mystery that we are called to profess and celebrate every day. Since this mystery belongs to all Christians, the writers of this series have written their reflections with the average reader in mind. Yet the knowledge and insight that they bring to this work make it invaluable even to those who are themselves well versed students of the liturgical calendar. Readers will come away not only with a greater understanding of the liturgical year, its structure and meaning, but with a deepened appreciation of the prayer life the liturgical year provides through its structure.

The Eucharistic celebration is 'the center of the Christian community,' 'the source and summit of the Christian life,' or further, 'the center and culmination of the entire life of the Christian community.' Root, source, center, summit: the Eucharistic celebration is at the heart of our faith and our life. To study it is to look at its own heart. That is where we meet Jesus Christ, present in his Word, present in the Eucharist, present in the celebrating community." From these words of introduction to his concluding remarks, Father Deiss offers an explanation of the post-Vatican II Mass that is as remarkable for its simplicity as it is for its thoroughness. He examines the structure of the celebration as revealed by Vatican II, a structure that, in his words, appears now "simpler, more luminous, more beautiful" than ever before. Lucien Deiss, C.S.Sp., for ten years a professor of theology and Scripture at the Grand Scholasticat de Chevilly-Larue, is one of the pioneers of the biblical and liturgical renewal. He worked for the reform brought about by Vatican II and participated in the ecumenical translation of the Bible. He is the author of numerous books, including Celebration of the Word; Springtime of the Liturgy; The Mass; and Joseph, Mary, Jesus, published by The Liturgical Press. He has composed many liturgical songs, some of which have been translated into the principal world languages, including Chinese.

The official announcement of the revision to the Common Lectionary, in which 20 international denominations, from Protestant Free Wesleyan to Roman Catholic, participated for six years. A complete three-year listing of the Lectionary (A, B, C) guides Scripture reading on the Lord's Day, aiding pastors and professors who use the Revised Common Lectionary that begins in Advent (November) 1992.

Shalom means much more than prosperity, more than a sense of well-being, and more than quiet and calmness. It is more than the absence of stress and much more than peace. It is a peace that surpasses understanding; it is a promised gift. This book of eloquent poems, monologues, and worship resources is about the search for shalom.

Days of the Lord is an excellent guide to the riches of the Church's liturgy, and a welcome companion to the Sacramentary, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Lectionary. First published in Belgium, this outstanding seven volume series will enable all Christians to enter into the mystery of the liturgical year, to pray with understanding, to proclaim the beauty and wealth of the liturgy. More than a thorough commentary on the readings, more even than a reflection on the liturgical seasons, this series comprehends the totality of the liturgical year-that vehicle developed by the Church to express, summarize, and present "the whole mystery of Christ," the mystery that we are called to profess and celebrate every day. Since this mystery belongs to all Christians, the writers of this series have written their reflections with the average reader in mind. Yet the knowledge and insight that they bring to this work make it invaluable even to those who are themselves well versed students of the liturgical calendar. Readers will come away not only with a greater understanding of the liturgical year, its structure and meaning, but with a deepened appreciation of the prayer life the liturgical year provides through its structure.

Days of the Lord is an excellent guide to the riches of the Church's liturgy, and a welcome companion to the Sacramentary, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Lectionary. First published in Belgium, this outstanding seven volume series will enable all Christians to enter into the mystery of the liturgical year, to pray with understanding, to proclaim the beauty and wealth of the liturgy. More than a thorough commentary on the readings, more even than a reflection on the liturgical seasons, this series comprehends the totality of the liturgical year-that vehicle developed by the Church to express, summarize, and present "the whole mystery of Christ," the mystery that we are called to profess and celebrate every day. Since this mystery belongs to all Christians, the writers of this series have written their reflections with the average reader in mind. Yet the knowledge and insight that they bring to this work make it invaluable even to those who are themselves well versed students of the liturgical calendar. Readers will come away not only with a greater understanding of the liturgical year, its structure and meaning, but with a deepened appreciation of the prayer life the liturgical year provides through its structure.

'I have spent al my life in this monastery', wrote Bede from his isolated Northumbrian cell, 'applying myself entirely to the study of the Scriptures...I have made it my business, for my own benefit and that of my brothers, to make brief extracts from the works of the Venerable fathers on the holy Scripture, or to add notes of my own to clarify their sense and interpretation.'

From the eighth to the fifteenth centuries, Bede's authority as a scriptural exegete was second only to that of the Doctors of the Latin Church. His influence was enormous. Yet modern readers associate this remarkable scholar-monk only with his History of the English Church and Nation and ignore the works he saw as his chief accomplishment.

'I have spent al my life in this monastery', wrote Bede from his isolated Northumbrian cell, 'applying myself entirely to the study of the Scriptures...I have made it my business, for my own benefit and that of my brothers, to make brief extracts from the works of the Venerable fathers on the holy Scripture, or to add notes of my own to clarify their sense and interpretation.'

From the eighth to the fifteenth centuries, Bede's authority as a scriptural exegete was second only to that of the Doctors of the Latin Church. His influence was enormous. Yet modern readers associate this remarkable scholar-monk only with his History of the English Church and Nation and ignore the works he saw as his chief accomplishment.

Days of the Lord is an excellent guide to the riches of the Church's liturgy, and a welcome companion to the Sacramentary, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Lectionary. First published in Belgium, this outstanding seven volume series will enable all Christians to enter into the mystery of the liturgical year, to pray with understanding, to proclaim the beauty and wealth of the liturgy. More than a thorough commentary on the readings, more even than a reflection on the liturgical seasons, this series comprehends the totality of the liturgical year-that vehicle developed by the Church to express, summarize, and present "the whole mystery of Christ," the mystery that we are called to profess and celebrate every day. Since this mystery belongs to all Christians, the writers of this series have written their reflections with the average reader in mind. Yet the knowledge and insight that they bring to this work make it invaluable even to those who are themselves well versed students of the liturgical calendar. Readers will come away not only with a greater understanding of the liturgical year, its structure and meaning, but with a deepened appreciation of the prayer life the liturgical year provides through its structure.