Book review: The Liturgical Year

The Liturgical Year by Sister Joan Chillister is a stretching, challenging and insightful book to read.  Written from the perspective of a Benedictine Roman Catholic background, Sr. Joan Chillister provides a spiritual richness and depth in her writing as you might read from Henri Nouwen’s works.  The purpose of the book is to present the reader with the liturgy seasons and festivals, from Sunday to Advent and Lent and commemorations of the saints and “ordinary times”, with the intent of the reader growing deeper with Christ through the celebrations that occur in a year.  A believer’s focus on Christ and walk with Him and worship of Him every week and month can be renewed through acknowledgment, understanding and participation in the liturgical year.  Depending on your spiritual background and upbringing, much of this book may be foreign to your current style of worship; Sr. Chillister provides extensive history and context background for the liturgy seasons and festivals, explaining how and when these events came about, and gives insights into practical ways to observe and incorporate the liturgy into all of life.  Again, depending on your spiritual background and upbringing, you may not agree with every aspect of Sr. Chillister’s theology, but it is her heart as the author to enrich the worship and glory given to Christ through the liturgical year.  This is a worthy book that will broaden a person’s vision and worship of Christ.

I am a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program at http://brb.thomasnelson.com/