Customer Reviews

Great Lent: Journey to Pascha

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Father Alexander Schmemann, of blessed memory, the great Orthodox liturgical theologian, presents in this volume a series of brief yet spiritually incisive essays guiding the Orthodox believer through the season of Great Lent -- the period of prayer, fasting and alms-giving thaht precedes Pascha, the Orthodox Easter. Father Alexander explains the spiritual significance of the Lenten calendar, practices and special Lenten services, such as the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, in a fresh and thoughtful manner. This book is required reading for all Orthodox Christians on their Lenten journey.

Fr. Alexander's exposition of the mindset of Lent is indispensable. He demonstrates clearly how Lent is more than following rules and giving up "the good stuff" until we can indulge oursleves at Pascha. Lent is, rather, a time to rediscover who we are and why we are here. I recommend any serious Christian reread this book every year when Lent approaches.

I read this book as a catechumen making my first journey through Orthodox Lent, and found it a wonderful guide and aid in making sense of the sights, sounds, smells, prayers, prostrations, liturgies, etc etc that set this season apart from others in the Christian year.

That said, Schmemann wrote in a far more engaging style and tone in his extremely popular "For the Life of the World." "Great Lent", in contrast, is drier (for Schmemann) and seems to drag a bit at times. That's not to detract from the value of the book in its essential purpose: to educate and enlighten Orthodox Christians, catechumens and inquirers about the theology behind, and inspired by, Church practices in Lent. It serves that purpose well, and gets 4 stars for it. However, I wish to reserve the five stars for some of his other books, which are truly outstanding both in content and style, whereas the style in this particular book felt weaker than his other works.

The chapter on the presanctified liturgy, describing the two views of the Church (both in waiting and in fulfillment) was masterful and, to me, showed some of that same Schmemann spark that makes one get all giddy to get back in Church and live this stuff out.

I HIGHLY recommend this book for any curious about educating themselves about Orthodox Lent and the Church's views on it.

This is the book you want to give your Protestant and Catholic friends. It will detail for them just what Lenten Liturgical Worship is? (page 86, 87) and Looking for the Spiritual behind the formal (page 88) What Lent is & how it works? (Page 88) Along with What Christian Fasting is and is not, How to fast and the different kinds of fasting? (Pages 97, 98, 99)

Fr. Alexander knows his triodion (i.e. the liturgical book of Great Lent and Easter in the orthodox church). I fully agree with my co-reviewers that his book is indispensable for people who want to deal with the orthodox practice of great lent. Fr. Alexander as a passionate liturgical theologist takes us by the hand and helps us exploring the beauty and richness of this most wonderful of all liturgical books of the eastern church. lent - the way the tridion tells about it - is less a "what to do when and how" it is a spiritual journey from the acknowlegment of how far from God we live our lives to the mystery of the risen Lord who reaches out to us.
When singing the triodion I often have the impression that this book an the journey it takes us to are a microcosmos of the christian religion. Fr. Alexander's unique gift is the way he manages to show us it's beauty and the hope that lies within it.

The appendix concerning the relationship between the Eucharist and Penance is the best part of the book. Fr. Alexander clearly explains the need for frequent Communion and the "modern" connections with Confession.

For those who appreciate Father Alexander's counsel, there are many gems to mine in this 133-page text. Chief among the precious stones is his discussion of spiritual diseases. For example, Father Alexander unfolds the spiritual diseases that St. Ephrem the Syrian battled in what is now called "the lenten prayer."

These spiritual diseases include sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. In a deft analysis, Father Alexander argues that lust of power results from sloth and despondency. (Paraphrasing the author, sloth is a cynical attitude toward life, and despondency is a pervasive view that everything will reach a negative end.) Once other beings have become subordinated to selfish desires (lust of power), then all reserves of the soul have been spent, leaving nothing more to speak than idle words.

For anyone who battles these diseases and cannot see the way clear to reach God, this book is a compassionate guide both during Lent as well as any season of repentance in life.

This is easily one of the best books that I've read on Lent, but more to the point, on liturgy in general. That being said it is important to note that Fr. Schmemann himself warns against the tendency to make the liturgy `sentimental' or, as is the case in Lutheranism, to rationalize it. While I am passionate about liturgics, it is difficult to find books that treat the subject intelligently--that is, without writing paragraph after paragraph using nothing but adjectives and superlatives. The liturgy is that which outfits us for Kingdom life; not the Kingdom of Christ, but rather the Kingdom in Christ. Fr. Schmemann is more than aware of this. I would urge anyone interested in the liturgy of their confession to read this book.

Sadly Fr. Schmemann passed away 25 years ago, but his impact as the greatest modern Orthodox theologian lives on. This book is a seriously written theological work, but it's easily understood by the ordinary lay person as well as the theologian. Fr. Schmemann explains clearly and carefully the place and purpose of Great Lent and dispels the myth that it's merely another period of observances and self-denials as Roman Catholics practise. To Orthodox Catholics it's part of a complete attitude and way of life, and the relationship of Great Lent to Pascha and the rest of the year and to the life of the Church is well explained in this book. After reading it cover to cover I was left awestruck. Other than the Bible itself, if you never read another book, read this one. It will change your whole attitude toward life, I guarantee it.

Alexander Schmemann takes readers on a liturgical journey of discovery or re-discovery for some of the spiritual treasures found in the great traditional liturgy of Lent in the Orthodox faith. This book is truly something the church needs today. It brings readers to a remembrance and renewal through walking with Jesus and Communion with Him and the Church.

Few readers probably will follow through with this full liturgy but walking through it in these pages is a spiritual exercise in itself. Schmemann emphasizes the disciplines of repentance, confession, forgiveness, Holy Communion and resurrection for the Body of Christ.

The concluding Appendix was truly the highlight for me, as he examines the Eucharist in the early church and the church today. I was especially moved by the following quote:

"At all times but especially in our troubled and confused era, every Orthodox revival has had its source in the "rediscovery" of the Sacraments and sacramental life, and above all in a eucharistic revival....And that today this eucharistic and sacramental revival knocks at the doors of our Church should hearten us as a sign that the fateful crisis of "secularism" can be overcome."

I think the church needs to rediscover the Sacraments and sacramental life to experience a rejuvenation in our day.

Schmemann shows how the liturgy is a resource to help us and lead us from our world to the spiritual state of the kingdom of heaven. He shows how the liturgy of the Great Lent reveals the Biblical way of life and helps us to live it.

I hope this book will continue to find resonance in the Western church. I also encourage you to read his book "For the Life of the World."