Understanding the Sacraments Today

by Lawrence E. Mick

Book Overview

The sacraments are at the heart of our life as Catholics, the way we celebrate together our continuing conversion and encounter with God. Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing, Marriage, and Holy Orders 'al are activities that require preparation to bring us to the fullness of our life in community and in Christ. Chapter by chapter, Father Lawrence Mick puts these core experiences into their historical and theological context, and...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814629253
• ISBN13: 9780814629253
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Liturgical Press
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 4.8" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Generally well balanced presentation

I used this book as a study guide for the sacraments in my parish for adult faith formation. It is a readable, generally balanced presentation of sacramental theology along with a very brief, but very informative history of each of the sacraments.

Fine , readable book on the sacraments

This well-written book gives excellent, readable coverage of the seven sacraments. It is accessible to new Catholics and those learning about the faith, while providing insight and context for those who have long experience with the sacraments. The writing is warm and personable. The presentation includes sufficient history of each sacrament to give a sense of origin and development, while the emphasis is on the sacraments as experienced today and their meaning for us. A theme through the book is that sacraments are not just between the individual and God, but involve the church community as the Body of Christ.

THE WELL RESPECTED LITURGICAL PRESS HAS NO AX TO GRIND

unlike another reviewer here who pans all of this author's good work at making accessible sacramental truths and essences. I find nothing controversial nor even challenging nor unorthodox in this author's work. The Liturgical Press is our least questionable Catholic press, and our most popular. For a more profound meditation of the sacraments, try the great Fr. Richard McBrien, Sr. Joan Chittister, or even Father Thomas Merton. Then learn French and contemplate Fr. Charles de Foucauld's meditations in Bethlehem.

Sacraments: Past, Present, and Future

Father Mick wrote this book to help people better understand the sacraments individually and in terms of eight common characteristics. Fundamentally, he explains, all sacraments are (1) human activities, (2) ritual actions composed of symbols, (3) clarified by the word of God, (4) communal actions, (5) actions of Christ, (6) expressions of faith, (7) part of a larger process, and (8) formation for mission. Each sacrament is addressed individually with information on its history, current practices, and possibilities for the future. All chapters end with 10 to 13 questions for review and discussion. Some of the history falls into the "What?" category: An early example of early initiation rituals had baptismal candidates facing west and spitting toward Satan then facing east and committing themselves to Christ. The chapter on confirmation stresses that this sacrament "has had a difficult life." To focus the discussion, Mick borrows from a study by Paul Turner ("Confirmation, the Baby in Solomon's Court") that presents three basic models in antiquity: the completion of the rite of baptism, the reconciliation of heretics, and the post-baptismal anointing deferred until some time after baptism. Today, those entering the church through RCIA celebrate baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at one ceremony, and some parishes have adopted that pattern for children baptized as infants: their confirmation and first Eucharist are celebrated together. This sort of broad information against a backdrop of church doctrine is a hallmark of Understanding the Sacraments Today, a work suitable for individuals, catechists, pastors, and faith formation groups.