Jesus with Us *: The Gift of the Eucharist (First Communion) [Paperback]

Anthony Tarzia (Author), Julian Ferri (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1996 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: First Communion

A history of the Eucharist, that sacrament of the Catholic Church in which, by partaking of bread or wine, one receives the body and blood of Jesus.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English
Original Language: Italian

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Pauline Books & Media (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081984781X
• ISBN-13: 978-0819847812
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Theology > Christology
  • #46 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity > Jesus
  • #78 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity > Jesus

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars With Him, In Him, Through Him..., October 10, 2008

By 

Judy K. Polhemus "Book Collector" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jesus with Us *: The Gift of the Eucharist (First Communion) (Paperback)

"Jesus With Us: The Gift of the Eucharist (First Communion)" is truly written in simple language to explain the importance and the impact of the Eucharist in the young Catholic's life.

In fact, please follow this logic: In the beginning God gave Man wheat and grapes. From those gifts Man made bread and wine. In gratitude for those gifts, Man gives God back a portion of those products.

When Jesus was born to Mary, he became God's gifts of wheat and grapes incarnate. When we partake of the Eucharist, we literally eat the body of Christ and drink the blood of Christ so that we become one with him.

If Communion ends at this point, not much is accomplished in changing the world. That's why we greet each other and say, "Peace be with you." Then through Christ we are to go out into the world to bring the kind of change that promotes peace.

This is a simple book which explains the history of the Eucharist, its importance and its impact. Although the product info indicates this book is written for ages 4-8, I think it is too deep for that group. I cannot imagine my four-year-old great-niece sitting through the first page, much less a 32-page book with half the pages illustrations and the other half text. The year of First Communion is the most appropriate age, but then straight reading would still be too much.

"Jesus With Us" is probably most suitable as a teaching aid for Catechism classes and one-on-one sittings of parent/child. But what a beautiful teaching tool!!

Highly recommended as noted!

68 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I'm torn, February 8, 2010

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M. Calamia - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jesus with Us *: The Gift of the Eucharist (First Communion) (Paperback)

The illustrations are wonderful and some of the information in this book is really great, but some of it makes me uncomfortable. When introducing the topic of sacrifice to God, the book states "In the Bible, the Jewish people, the Christian people and the Moslem people read about people who gave gifts to God." The Muslims read the Bible? I just don't know why that sentence is even necessary. In addition, it goes on to state "In some religions bread and wine are offered to God as sacrifices." Well, why? There is no explanation of this being motivated by an innate desire to follow the one true God or of it pointing to the Sacrifice of Christ (see the Catechism). Sacrifice is described as something nice that people wanted to do for God because he gave them so many wonderful things. There is no mention of original sin or atonement.

For me, there is too much focus on it being a special meal rather than on it being a re-presentation of the Sacrifice at Calvary, which opened the gates of Heaven for us. The Passover is mentioned as "an important anniversary" for the Jewish people instead of a covenant with God. The book explains that "Jesus wanted to give another meaning to the celebration, too." No, Jesus offered himself as the Lamb of God to be slaughtered in atonement for the sins of the world (rather than for the sins of one family as in the Passover). Just as the Jewish family would then consume the flesh of the lamb, we consume the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of the Lamb of God in the Eucharist. This Sacrifice was the fulfillment of the old Covenant and the establishment of the new. I do not feel that this point is made in the book, so the kids never get the connection between the two.

Then we get to the section about Vatican II, which IMO is unnecessary. The book talks about changes made to the Mass and states, "They did this to make our Eucharistic Celebration more like the Mass celebrated by the first Christians." Well, everything that I've read states the purpose of the Council as breathing fresh air into the life of the Church by "updating" things to make them more in tune with the modern age. The book then explains that before the second Vatican Council it was hard to follow along with the Mass because the priest did not face the people and because the Mass was said in Latin. Now I am NOT anti-Vatican II, but we must be honest about the abuses that resulted during the implementation of the Council's changes. Read the documents. I have not come across any statement that calls for the priest to abandon the "ad orientem" (facing East) posture when leading the people in the offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to God. As for the Latin: the canon of the Mass - those parts that do not change from week to week - are still to be said in Latin. The picture on page 29 of people turning their backs to the altar and reaching across the aisles for the sign of peace, IMO, is a perfect illustration of the reverence that has been lost. Again, I just don't see the purpose of having this section in the book.

There are, however, some things in the book that I really like. I like the inclusion of Melchisedek and his gift of bread and wine to Abraham (although no mention of foreshadowing). I like that the book states that the Eucharist is truly the body and blood of Christ, and explains it using the words of the Council of Trent, St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas - very valuable. I also really like the section about Mass in the Catacombs and the explanation of the Icthus and other Christian symbols. The page about the Miracle of Bolsena is also a great thing to have in the book.

There is nothing that goes directly against the Faith in the book (as it has been given the Nihil Obstat by Very Rev. Timothy J. Shea, and the Imprimatur by Bernard Cardinal Law). However, it falls short on substance and is presented in too much of a watered-down "kumbaya" style for my taste. If the parents are not catechized well enough to make the connection that the book misses, it could be misleading in some parts. I'm certainly no expert though, so maybe I'm the one who is missing something.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must-have for every Catholic child!, November 24, 2009

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S. Greydanus - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jesus with Us *: The Gift of the Eucharist (First Communion) (Paperback)

This book is brilliant -- it is both beautifully illustrated as well as wonderfully profound. It goes from Creation through Melchisidek and Abraham, through Jesus establishing the Eucharist in the New Testament all the way to Vatican 2 and what the Eucharist means for us today.

It manages to be simple enough for a child, yet complete enough even for an adult. What other book aimed at children manages to mention Aquinas and Augustine? Amazing!

All Catechists should give this to their students, every parish should hand it out to First Communion kids, and all Catholic parents should read it to their kids.

Also, you can't beat the price!!!