Praying the Eucharist: Reflections on the Eucharistic Experience of God

by Charles Miller

Book Overview

The book reflects on each section of the liturgy, exploring its content and the manner of celebrating the Eucharist as 'a spiritual journey into another dimension, the kingdom, where God is all in all.'

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0819216704
• ISBN13: 9780819216700
• Release Date: September 1996
• Publisher: Church Publishing
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Valuable reflections for both Anglicans and Roman Catholics

While Fr. Miller is an Episcopalian/Anglican, and bases this commentary on his own church's eucharistic rite, his reflections are just as valuable for Roman Catholics. The structure of the Anglican rite for Holy Eucharist is akin to the Roman Catholic Mass. Indeed, some Episcopal/Anglican parishes, such as the one that Fr. Miller now serves as rector, prefer to use the term "Mass" themselves. Even more importantly, Anglican doctrine on the nature of the sacrament of the eucharist is broadly similar to that preached by Rome.This book expounds on the eucharistic rite as a exercise in corporate (or communal) prayer, and focuses on how the celebrant or congregant can contribute to the cohesiveness of that undertaking. The author is particularly thought-provoking when he discusses how the moments of silence within the rite should be utilized for intense private prayer, and not dismissed as "dead air time" during which nothing is happening. He also is very strong is commenting on the importance of the oral proclamation of the scriptures. This section in particular deserves close attention from Roman Catholics: with the advent of missalettes, many R.C. congregants now read the scriptural passages, and do not really listen to the priest or lector. Finally, Fr. Miller offers a number of informative historical notes on how the structure of the eucharistic rite developed over time, such as how the traditional seating arrangement in synagogues of Jesus' time led to the traditional placement of priest and congregation.The general reader should note that this book is written in a style that may be comfortable for academics with a theological background, and not in a more "popular" manner. In other words, while this book is accessible to most general readers, few will find it a quick read.The author, who is an American, has held academic and pastoral posts in both the U.S. and the U.K., and has a particular interest in Eastern Orthodox thought and spirituality. He recently became rector of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in New York City (long nicknamed "The Little Church Around the Corner"). At its founding in 1848, few Episcopal parishes other than Transfiguration celebrated the eucharist every Sunday (non-eucharistic Morning Prayer was the principal service at most of them). Today, while Holy Eucharist has become the norm for Episcopal Sunday worship, Transfiguration is the rare parish that has it daily, and usually twice daily at that. While Fr. Miller wrote this book several years before he came to the "Little Church," noting his current association with this parish, I believe, gives the reader useful perspective on the author.