The Eucharistic Liturgies: Their Evolution and Interpretation

by Paul F. Bradshaw, Maxwell E. Johnson

In graduate theology programs across the United States and elsewhere, Maxwell Johnson's The Rites of Christian Initiation: Their Evolution and Interpretation has become a standard text. Now Johnson and Paul Bradshaw together offer a companion volume on the historical development of the liturgy and theology of the Eucharist.

Like the earlier volume, this study proceeds historically, from the origins of the Eucharist up to our own day. Unlike most studies of this kind, it includes an introduction to and developmental summary of the diverse eucharistic liturgies of the Christian East. It also explores the various Western rites (Ambrosian, Gallican, and Mozarabic) in addition to the Roman.

With regard to theological themes, the authors give special attention to the topics of real presence (including the "consecration" of the bread and wine) and eucharistic sacrifice, the most central and most ecumenically challenging issues since the sixteenth-century Reformations.

Making the book especially teacher- and student-friendly are the summary points at the end of each chapter. Each chapter also contains an abundance of liturgical texts for ease of reference.

Genres: Theology

390 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simultaneous interesting and boring read: while the subject matter is of great interest and through reading I learned a lot, it's easy to get bogged down and overwhelmed in the midst of all Eucharistic prayers, rites and name dropping. The back of each chapter has a summary of all the main points made in that chapter. Best part about the book! If only all my textbooks had that.

[StephenM]

I'm not a big fan of the historical-critical methods the authors use in the early chapters here. I'm pretty skeptical of large swaths of their opinions on the first and second centuries. But then they keep going, and cover liturgies all the way up to the late 20th century, giving good, detailed descriptions of the theology of figures from Aquinas to Luther to Calvin, and covering ecumenical discussions very helpfully. In the end, this is a remarkably comprehensive resource, and I do recommend it for anyone doing research in this area.

[Lilly Pittman · Rating 3 out of 5]

For what it is, this book is exceptional and in a class of it's own. However, my professor summarized each chapter so well in our lectures, I quickly learned reading this book was a waste of my time. Even if my professor hadn't summarized the content, it can be easily gleaned by reading each chapter's 1-2 page conclusion. Therefore, my rating reflects my experience, not the quality of the book.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

My interest in picking up this book was mainly in the various positions churches hold on the Eucharist. In that respect I was really reading the wrong book. It was hard for me to follow all the nuances of the differences between various liturgies, but it was worth it as well, because liturgies are of course tied to the various theologies on which they are based.

[Anne Dunn]

Very comprehensive. A great resource that I know I'll come back to reference.