Beauty of the Eucharist: Voices from the Church Fathers
'The Beauty of the Eucharistprovides a wonderful summary of the evolution of the Eucharistic theology in the early church. In twenty-three chronologically arranged chapters the reader encounters the voices of prominent Fathers of the Church beginning with Clement of Rome and ending with Gregory the Great. Each of the chapters follows a consistent pattern established by the author: a highlighted passage from the works of the featured patristic writer, a brief commentary on the theme of the passage and its significance to Eucharistic theology, salient historical and pastoral observations, a conclusion and a series of reflective questions for additional study. Billy, a successful author and professor, beautifully reintroduces the reader to those often forgotten gems of ecclesiastical literary history. The twenty-three voices speak with clarity, passion, and authority to a modern church. The insights provided by his thoughtful and pastoral commentary are appropriate for both pastors and members of the faithful seeking to live a deeper Eucharistic life. This text also functions as a brilliant introduction to the study of patrology.' --John-Leonard Berg,Catholic Library World,June 2010'Dennis Billy has undertaken the massive chore of giving voice to popular leaders from late antiquity through the dawn of the Middle Ages.... From simple to sublime we are carried through the early centuries of the Church and exposed to the thoughts of the finest minds of the time.' --Spirit & Life'Father Billy has made a monumental contribution to the popularization of the Church Fathers at a time in the life of the religious community when being reminded of tradition is vital for the perpetuity of the faith. By a careful, sensitive and thoroughly readable exposure to the original texts of the Fathers, this book provides the faith community and the individual with a resource of equalized utility in both a delineation and explication of the Churchs teaching about and the meaning of the Eucharist. If ever a time was right for such a reintroduction of the Fathers teachings, now is unquestionably the time.' --John H. Morgan, Ph.D., President, Graduate Theological Foundation'This is a wonderful and user-friendly introduction to Patristic writing about the Eucharist.... The book would be extremely useful in an introductory course on the sacraments in a seminary setting or for an adult education series in a parish. The chapters are very succinct and the exposition is clear and lucid.... A book that introduces a wide audience to foundational Christian reflection on the Eucharist that is at once theological, biblical, devotional, and pastoral is to be welcomed.' --Rev. Dr. Leander S. Harding,The Living Church'Father Billy has made a monumental contribution to the popularization of the Church Fathers at a time in the life of the religious community when being reminded of tradition is vital for the perpetuity of the faith. By a careful, sensitive and thoroughly readable exposure to the original texts of the Fathers, this book provides the faith community and the individual with a resource of equalized utility in both a delineation and explication of the Churchs teaching about and the meaning of the Eucharist. If ever a time was right for such a reintroduction of the Fathers teachings, now is unquestionably the time.' --John H. Morgan, Ph.D., President, Graduate Theological Foundation