Fire of God's Love: 120 Reflections on the Eucharist [Paperback]

Mike Aquilina (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2009

The only cure for sagging or fainting faith is Communion. J.R.R. Tolkien

Science falters and poetry fails when we try to speak of the Eucharist, but across the centuries saints, theologians and ordinary Catholics have nevertheless found words to express the inexpressible: Jesus, fully present, body, blood, soul and divinity, offers himself to humanity in this sacrament.

Mike Aquilina brings together 120 of those reflections to encourage and inspire you as you ponder the fire of God s love revealed in the mystery of the Eucharist.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

MIKE AQUILINA is executive vice president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He is the author of many books on Church history, doctrine and devotion, and has hosted several series on The Eternal Word Television Network. He is past editor of New Covenant magazine. Mike's books include Angels of God: The Bible, the Church and the Heavenly Hosts, Love in the Little Things and The Fathers of the Church.

Product Details

• Paperback: 97 pages
• Publisher: St. Anthony Messenger Press (July 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867169230
• ISBN-13: 978-0867169232
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #714,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mike Aquilina is author or editor of more than thirty books, including The Fathers of the Church, The Mass of the Early Christians, and A Year with the Church Fathers. He has co-hosted eight series that air on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). He has co-authored books with Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., and theologian Scott Hahn. He is past editor of New Covenant magazine and The Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper. He appears weekly on Sirius Radio's "Sonrise Morning Show." Mike and his wife, Terri, have six children, who are the subject of his book Love in the Little Things.

In 2011 Mike was a featured presenter of the U.S. Bishops' Diocesan Educational/Catechetical Leadership Institute. He also wrote the USCCB's theological reflection for Catechetical Sunday in 2011.

His reviews, essays and journalism have appeared in many journals, including First Things, Touchstone, Crisis, Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register, and Catholic Heritage. He contributed work on early Christianity to the Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought.

Mike is a also poet whose works have appeared in U.S. literary journals and have been translated into Polish and Spanish. He shared songwriting credits with Grammy Award-winner Dion DiMucci on the forthcoming album "Tank Full of Blues."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and Thought Provoking Reflections to Use in Adoration, October 1, 2009

By 

Julie D. (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fire of God's Love: 120 Reflections on the Eucharist (Paperback)

It is simply impossible to express what we gain from adoring the Eucharist as I know full well. How do we describe an encounter with God? Yet many Catholics have expressed some facet of it over the thousands of years since Christ gave us Himself in that gift.

Mike Aquilina has chosen 120 wonderful quotations that not only help us rise to meet God but that God uses to push aside the veil between us. Some are short and some are long, some are poetic and some are straight to the point, but all are well chosen. One of the surprising things I found what that Aquilina doesn't just include saints and popes, though they are well represented here as one might expect. I was pleased and interested to find reflections from more modern sources such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Maria Montessori, Conrad Hilton, and George Wiegel.

This book could do double service not only as a source for reflection during adoration but as a daily devotional if one wished. It is much more interesting and thought provoking than the usual quote collections. Also, it is beautifully typeset and organized which is something I always notice, especially in a book that is to be used in prayer. I am sorry to say, careful attention to layout is not something we see very often from small publishers. Servant Books is to be congratulated on this.

Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent aid for meditation, September 2, 2009

By 

Joan (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire of God's Love: 120 Reflections on the Eucharist (Paperback)

This is a gem of a book. Mike Aquilina has gathered quotes from a variety of different people in a variety of different walks of life. It's so fruitful for prayer-- I love picking one quote and sitting with it. Perfect for Adoration and Holy Hours.

It is also a good resource for showing that the Catholic belief in the Eucharist isn't something the Church just made up a few centuries ago -- it's always been central to the Faith.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Make a Good Communion, August 17, 2009

By 

Carol Blank (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Fire of God's Love: 120 Reflections on the Eucharist (Paperback)

Aquilina has compiled 120 reflections on the Eucharist featuring words of the saints and "Catholics ancient and modern." In the brief introduction, he lays the groundwork, reminding us that in the Eucharist Jesus makes us like himself and shares his divine nature "as generously as once he took up our human nature." Through the Eucharist God builds up a civilization of love to replace he culture of death, he writes. And "Think globally? Act eucharistically...Asking what you can do for your country? Make a good Communion."

Quotations are taken from the Baltimore Catechism, Scripture, and the writings of numerous saints and several lay people. One of the most quoted saints is John Vianney, a nineteenth century French curate who is patron saint of parish priests. The laity featured in this book range from Italian education reformer Maria Montessori to American biographer and commentator George Weigel. The Montessori reflection recounts "visible miracles, seen not only by holy persons, who were assisting at Mass with great faith; but even by people of little fervor, or by absolute unbelievers." Weigel wrote that true worship isn't about looking into another's eyes, it means "looking together, in love, at the One who is Love all the way through."

Aquilina, author of a number of books on Church history and doctrine, provides a nine-page "Voices" section containing biographical information on those quoted. A list of sources is also included.