Paulist Press Theology of the Sacraments Collection (3 vols.)

Kenan B. Osborne radically rethinks sacramental life and theology from the standpoint of postmodern philosophy.

In Pastoral Foundations of the Sacraments, Carmelite priests Gregory L. Klein and Robert A. Wolfe propose a model for exploring and understanding Catholic worship. The model begins with the human experience of persons who come to the Church for a variety of reasons and occasions. Many chapters begin with an actual pastoral situation, then examines the sacraments and a review of the history of the sacraments in the Church. Finally, the model focuses on the actual rites of the Church and some of the pastoral challenges Catholics encounter in their efforts to live the truth that only memory can treasure.

The authors make continual reference to the wealth of doctrinal and catechetical material contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and all of the chapters conclude with a “Questions for Reflection and Discussion” section.

With the Silent Glimmer of God’s Spirit gives a comprehensive account of recent developments in sacramental theology in the context of postmodern thinking. Lambert J. Leijssen uses the concepts of “gift” and “icon” to speak about the sacraments in a way that implies interaction between giver and recipient. Leijssen discusses the individual sacraments according to the usual categories of initiation, healing, and vocation, but views these categories through the lens of their relation to everyday life. He considers the grace of each sacrament as a gift of the Holy Spirit by which the Christian’s daily life is illuminated with a silent glimmer of God’s Spirit. He also looks at the current realities faced by those responsible for administering the sacraments and considers the pastoral implications. The book concludes with ecumenical perspectives for the celebration of the sacraments in agreement with the Eastern churches and the churches of the Protestant Reformation.