From Age to Age: How Christians Have Celebrated the Eucharist [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Edward Foley (Author), Robin Faulkner (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1991

"From age to age you gather a people to yourself, so that from east to west a perfect offering may be made to the glory of your name." Eucharist is the fullest expression of our life with God, a life we share with Christians throughout the ages. It is also a sensory experience, engaging us in the sights and sounds, tastes and touch of the worship. Edward Foley's revised and expanded From Age to Age draws readers into that sensory experience. He traces the development of Christian Eucharist from its Jewish roots to our own time. In addition to exploring the architecture, music, books, and vessels that contributed to each period's liturgical expressions, this edition introduces readers to the theology of each age as well as the historical and cultural contexts that shaped the Eucharist. Richly illustrated with numerous images and quotations from period texts, this book is a feast for the mind and eye. Through many examples of the visual and auditory symbols that are central to Eucharist, readers will discover how Christian worship is embodied worship that from age to age gives glory to God and sanctifies peop! le.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"What a rich feast of insight, knowledge, and information about eucharistic history and practice through the centuries! The liturgical tradition--in both its vibrant diversity and its lively engagement with material reality, the visual arts, music, and architecture--truly comes alive in this volume. From Age to Age is a must for anyone interested in how Christians have celebrated the sacrament of God's real presence in ever changing contexts." --Professor Teresa Berger, Yale ISM & Divinity School, New Haven, Connecticut --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

"This is an excellent historical survey of the development of the eucharistic celebration, with very helpful treatment of developments in architecture, music, books, vessels, and eucharistic theology in each major era. Running alongside the text are well-chosen quotations, photographs, diagrams, and musical examples. Each chapter ends with a delightful story suggesting what it must have been like for real people who celebrated the eucharist. This second revised edition is nearly twice as long as the original, and readers will welcome the addition of eucharistic theology to each chapter, as well as the expansion of the quotations and accompanying material. This will be an indispensable text on the eucharist for teachers and students. Congratulations to the author for this achievement--very highly recommended!" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: Liturgy Training Pubns; illustrated edition edition (December 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929650417
• ISBN-13: 978-0929650418
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,049,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christian History, May 25, 2000

By 

Sally Matter ([e-mail]) (WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Age to Age: How Christians Have Celebrated the Eucharist (Paperback)

This book covers the history of the liturgy and Christianity from the first century to the present day. Although this is a large time span, Foley breaks down each chapter into several concentrations. Some examples include architecture, music, vessels, and books used in worship. Each catergory is then broken down into sub-catergories that focus on specific objects, clothing, structures, and other aspects specific to the liturgies. Through the format of this book, it is easy for one (especially one who is not at all familiar with the history of the liturgy or Catholic Church) to follow it through the centruries. This is a good starting point for those that want to learn about the geographical setting, the major religious figures, and the evolution of the liturgy. For others, this book will allow one to look more deeply at the role and evolution of specific liturgical practices through the descriptive details and numerous pictures--including maps, architectural layouts, and music from each century. This is a great book for all!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding walk through Christian liturgy, May 9, 2001

By 

Andrew Casad (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Age to Age: How Christians Have Celebrated the Eucharist (Paperback)

Foley walks you through the history of Christian liturgy in several different ages, from the beginnings of Christian worship, to the height of Gothic Christianity, to the practices of today. Beginning each era with a dramatization/story from the perspective of the worshiper, Foley makes clear the point of Christian liturgy - to personally engage the worshiper in the liturgy. Each era also includes a discussion or art, architecture and music. While the book is scholarly in nature, it is certainly not only for academics and can be approached by all.

22 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fine book in some ways; in others, not, March 1, 2007

By 

Jeri Nevermind "loves to read" (Idaho) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: From Age to Age: How Christians Have Celebrated the Eucharist (Paperback)

First, this is an interesting book on an interesting subject--how the Eucharist was celebrated throughout history. It's easy to read and with tons of illustrations. The pictures alone make this book worthwhile to anyone interested in history.

That said, I was surprised by the lack of discussion on the Eucharist itself and how it was regarded in the church. Apparently the author was more interested in a discussion of the vessels, the music, and the architecture.

In the chapter on the first century, the author can only say, "In this time, it is not the things--not even the bread and wine--that are important, but the community. The believers more than any single food are the body of Christ" (p 21).

Yet Paul said that those who ate the Eucharist unworthily brought death upon themselves. And here is 1 Cor "the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?"