Available through Ignatius Press: "Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist"

Dr. Brant Pitre's new book is published by Image and is available for purchase from Ignatius Press. I have it on my Kindle and just started to read it recently. I've raved in the past about Pitre's book, Jesus, The Tribulation, and the End of the Exile: Restoration Eschatology and the Origin of the Atonement, which is a very dense academic work (it was originally his dissertation), but well worth the effort; this new book is aimed at a popular audience, drawing on Pitre's extensive studies of Scripture and non-canonical Jewish and Christian writings of the early centuries.

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper

by Brant Pitre

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes. Using his in-depth knowledge of the Bible and ancient Judaism, Dr. Brant Pitre answers questions such as: What was the Passover like at the time of Jesus? What were the Jewish hopes for the Messiah? What was Jesus' purpose in instituting the Eucharist during the feast of Passover? And, most important of all, what did Jesus mean when he said, "This is my body... This is my blood"?

To answer these questions, Pitre explores ancient Jewish beliefs about the Passover of the Messiah, the miraculous Manna from heaven, and the mysterious Bread of the Presence. As he shows, these three keys-the Passover, the Manna, and the Bread of the Presence-have the power to unlock the original meaning of the Eucharistic words of Jesus. Along the way, Pitre also explains how Jesus united the Last Supper to his death on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Inspiring and informative, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist is a groundbreaking work that is sure to illuminate one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith: the mystery of Jesus' presence in "the breaking of the bread."

"Clear, profound and practical-you do not want to miss this book."
- Scott Hahn, Author, Rome Sweet Home.