The Mystery of Faith: Meditations on the Eucharist

by Father Tadeusz Dajczer

With this profound little book, you will discover how to live the Eucharist.   First appearing in its original Polish in late 2007, The Mystery of Faith has quickly sold through six printings in Poland. Now available in England, and soon to be published in German, Russian, and Lithuanian, The Mystery of Faith is impacting Catholic spirituality all over the world.  The Eucharist is—for most of us—the undiscovered land, the unknown world. We want to live the Eucharist, not just go to Mass, and now comes a clear and compassionate voice of “Set your foot on the undiscovered land, take the first, second and third step and He’ll lead you on. He, your God, who by rising from the dead has overcome all obstacles, now wants to introduce you to this stunning truth that’s regularly occurring on our altars.”

Genres: Catholic, Prayer

118 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

April 18, 2015: I've never forgotten this book when I first read it almost four years ago. What an impression it made on me! I was a little afraid to get it out again, thinking I would be disappointed this time. I shouldn't have worried. It is taking me to the depths of the Eucharistic mystery all over again. At heart that is what the Eucharist is, mystery. How do you write about Mystery? Well for starters you don't even attempt to 'solve' it. To do so would mean it wasn't a mystery to begin with, but a simple riddle or puzzle. Rather, you spend time, sitting, holding, looking, meditating, pondering, shining light, and marveling at its qualities and effects, coming no closer to 'solutions' but accepting that 'searching is finding and finding is searching'. ~St. Gregory of Nyssa Homiliae In Canticum, 8 PG 44,941 C.

This time I was struck by the book’s title, Mystery of Faith, when we say it during Mass—just after Consecration—and its association with Our LORD’s Presence in the sacred species, which in fact is a mystery and a mystery of faith, faith itself always being something of a mystery. What a lot all that is to ponder.

Also, the second to last chapter was called ‘I have Only You”. It was about how everything comes from God. When we allow ourselves to contemplate this great miracle we can easily become lost in the wonder of it all. What caught my attention was when the author wrote, ‘I can’t love You. I know my “love” is to receive Your love, ever wider, ever deeper.’ p106.

I can recall asking God how I was supposed to love Him with my whole heart, mind and soul. His answer seemed to be, “Let me love you.” But that didn’t seem like it could be a real answer... Now I wonder...


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June 15 - July 17, 2011: This book was exactly what I needed to read at this time in my life! I kept encountering phrases and words which resonated with where I was in my spiritual journey. Because of this, I would often put the book down and prefer prayer to reading. Sometimes I would just read a sentence and that was enough for the evening.

And yet at the same time, I also wanted to devour Fr. Tadeusz Dajczer's work in a single setting.

It is a profoundly mystical book and hard to classify. Most simply put it is a series of meditation on the Eucharist, on the Real Presence of Our Lord, His Body and Blood, which Catholics receive at each Mass. However, that doesn’t do it justice, because the way it reads is like the Voice of God speaking to you. Anyone familiar with such books as The Imitation of Christ and God Calling will have some idea what I’m talking about.

I found myself frozen time and again by the applicability of certain phrases, sentences and ideas ... so much that I had to pause and meditate on a passage, or stop reading altogether. The book is saturated with St. John of the Cross, and has led me to the Doctor of Mystical Theology.

I could have read it in one night—but didn't want to ever finish it.

A new ALL TIME FAVORITE, to which I will return!

[Gonzaga Escauriaza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me ha sorprendido mucho, porque no se parece nada, en la forma de expresarse, al único libro que

había leído del mismo autor, Meditaciones sobre la FE, que es posiblemente el mejor libro que haya

leído nunca.

Mi calificación no es alta porque no creo tener el nivel para intender este libro la primera vez que lo

leo.

Cuando he entendido algo, me ha parecido muy bueno y que me puede hacer vivir mejor la Eucaristía.

Como se trata de una trilogía, voy a leer los otros dos libros antes de volver a leer éste nuevamente.

[Doris Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I was impressed with the writing of this book. It was well done and very meaningful. Secondly, the word faith begins the meditations of the Eucharist. A person must have faith to appreciate the Eucharist. That is at its core. We are like the prodigal son, returning to his Father, and the Father is waiting for him. Lastly, the importance of silence is stressed when we come to receive the Eucharist. This silence is not only necessary around us but also within us. We cannot be planning our week or some such frivolity. We will not hear the Lord even though He is pounding at our door.

[George M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly done. A must read for any catholic wishing to participate more fully in the Mystery of The Eucharist.