Eucharist: The Basic Spirituality

Frank O’Day, 2010
E-Book: www.theeucharist.wordpress.com

O’Day begins his book with “We live in very challenging times! Many are searching for a spirituality to suit their twenty-first-century needs and many young people have joined this search. However, I fear too few are engaged in a serious search. My hope is that this book will assist the serious searchers to find their spirituality in the Eucharist.”

The various chapters cover enormous ground from reflections on the parts of the Mass through to engagement with Eucharistic themes and theologies such as mission, presence, transformation, covenant, sacrifice and reconciliation. The strength of the book is its depth of scriptural, liturgical and theological research and thought. Through all this it remains primarily a search for a spirituality and is filled with practical applications of its theoretical terrain.

Its format allows you to dip into it anywhere and then return at another time to look at a different aspect of Eucharist. The text often refers to the spirituality of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers of which O’Day is a member.

Another interesting aspect of this book is a large number of what O’Day calls “Witness Stories”. This autobiographical research is impressive. When Brendon recalls the pain and loss associated with the death of his 14 month old child, he recalls how in desperation he turned to the Eucharist: “God didn’t seem near at all. We were asking Him why, or at least to be with us and comfort us. There appeared to be no response. I sought peace in the Eucharist. I knew there were no answers I could understand but always in the past in times of crisis I felt God’s presence at the Eucharist. As before, God was there again.” There are many stories like this bringing to life Eucharistic theology.

Finally O’Day has included the Eucharistic prayers of the Mass for reference. It is free and available on the web anytime. I am confident you will find it worth a look.

E-Book: www.theeucharist.wordpress.com