Customer Reviews

Understanding the Sacraments: A Guide for Prayer and Study

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This work, by the well known catholic theologian Fr. Peter Stravinskas, is a helpful little book covering the fundamentals of the seven sacraments (form and matter) with some added detail on the symbolism of their elements, their context in modern society, and the proper ways they are used (or abused).

Stravinskas writes, "Throughout history, in every culture and religous experience, we find man making symbols and ritualizing the crucial aspects of his life (CCC 1146). It is in this sense that one can say that liturgy is natural to man. Since Christianity is an incarnational religion, it takes the multidimensional person seriously and thus offers a sacramental system whereby the physical leads the beliver to know in the deepest sense the One who is spiritual" (p.2).

At only 10-15 pages per sacrament, this is not a deep, challenging read. But it is perfect for anyone studying the sacraments from a catechetical perspective, and the discussion questions at the end of each chapter make it ideal for RCIA classes. There are numerous references (for further study) to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and to various ecclesial documents as well.

The writing here isn't especially inspirational so this book isn't that useful for prayer or spirituality, but it works nicely for catechesis and feels like a textbook. It has the added benefit of being a much more readable survey of the sacraments than the somewhat dry summary in the Catechism itself.

Recommended for educational usage.

Understanding the Scriptures is a very easy to read primer on the seven Sacraments of the Church as in the Church today. Mr. Stravinskas explains each sacrament well, without going into unnecessary detail that would lose the average reader. In the first chapter the author explains what a sacrament is; then he devotes a chapter to each sacrament. One of the most interesting parts of the book is the epilogue in which the author speaks out on his opinions on the state of the sacraments in the Church today!

This is a book you will enjoy reading, it's not a boring discourse and it's easy enough for young adults to read. This book is solidly orthodox Catholicism without any special interest spin found so often in Catholic books these days.