A study of communion and how it brings community to a church.

"Sacred Food" explores the dishes that are traditionally served at significant moments in human life--birth, puberty, courtship, betrothal and marriage, death, burial, and remembrance--and unravels why and how humans celebrate with food. 40+ recipes. Photos.

Examines the Lord's Supper through the lens of seven words arising out of New Testament passages to give Christians a deeper appreciation of this holy meal.

As seen on EWTN, bestselling author Scott Hahn unveils the mysteries of the Mass, offering readers a deeper appreciation of the most familiar of Catholic rituals. Of all things Catholic, there is nothing that is so familiar as the Mass. With its unchanging prayers, the Mass fits Catholics like their favorite clothes. Yet most Catholics sitting in the pews on Sundays fail to see the powerful supernatural drama that enfolds them. Pope John Paul II described the Mass as "Heaven on Earth," explaining that what "we celebrate on Earth is a mysterious participation in the heavenly liturgy." The Lamb’s Supper reveals a long-lost secret of the Church: The early Christians' key to understanding the mysteries of the Mass was the New Testament Book of Revelation. With its bizarre imagery, its mystic visions of heaven, and its end-of-time prophecies, Revelation mirrors the sacrifice and celebration of the Eucharist. Beautifully written, in clear direct language, bestselling Catholic author Scott Hahn's new book will help readers see the Mass with new eyes, pray the liturgy with a renewed heart, and enter into the Mass more fully, enthusiastically, intelligently, and powerfully than ever before.

A revelatory exploration of the Jewish roots of the Last Supper that seeks to understand exactly what happened at Jesus’ final Passover. “Clear, profound and practical—you do not want to miss this book.”—Dr. Scott Hahn, author of The Lamb’s Supper and The Fourth Cup Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes. Using his in-depth knowledge of the Bible and ancient Judaism, Dr. Brant Pitre answers questions such as: What was the Passover like at the time of Jesus? What were the Jewish hopes for the Messiah? What was Jesus’ purpose in instituting the Eucharist during the feast of Passover? And, most important of all, what did Jesus mean when he said, “This is my body… This is my blood”? To answer these questions, Pitre explores ancient Jewish beliefs about the Passover of the Messiah, the miraculous Manna from heaven, and the mysterious Bread of the Presence. As he shows, these three keys—the Passover, the Manna, and the Bread of the Presence—have the power to unlock the original meaning of the Eucharistic words of Jesus. Along the way, Pitre also explains how Jesus united the Last Supper to his death on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Inspiring and informative, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist is a groundbreaking work that is sure to illuminate one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith: the mystery of Jesus’ presence in “the breaking of the bread.”

The Sacred Table: Creating a Jewish Food Ethic is an anthology of diverse essays on Jewish dietary practices. This volume presents the challenge of navigating through choices about eating, while seeking to create a rich dialogue about the intersection of Judaism and food. The definition of Kashrut, the historic Jewish approach to eating, is explored, broadened and in some cases, argued with, in these essays. Kashrut is viewed not only as a ritual practice, but also as a multifaceted Jewish relationship with food and its production, integrating values such as ethics, community, and spirituality into our dietary practice. The questions considered in The Sacred Table are broad reaching. Does Kashrut represent a facade of religiosity, hiding immorality and abuse, or is it, in its purest form, a summons to raise the ethical standards of food production? How does Kashrut enrich spiritual practice by teaching intentionality and gratitude? Can paying attention to our own eating practices raise our awareness of the hungry? Can Kashrut inspire us to eat healthfully? Can these laws draw us around the same table, thus creating community? In exploring the complexities of these questions, this book includes topics such as agricultural workers' rights, animal rights, food production, the environment, personal health, the spirituality of eating and fasting, and the challenges of eating together. The Sacred Table celebrates the ideology of educated choice. The essays present a diverse range of voices, opinions, and options, highlighting the Jewish values that shape our food ethics. Whether for the individual, family, or community, this book supplies the basic how-tos of creating a meaningful Jewish food ethic and incorporating these choices into our personal and communal religious practices. These resources will be helpful if we are new to these ideas or if we are teaching or counseling others. Picture a beautiful buffet of choices from which you can shape your personal Kashrut. Read, educate yourself, build on those practices that you already follow, and eat well. Published by CCAR Press, a division of the Central Conference of American Rabbis

“It is a particular thrill to follow [Gallagher] to the Lord’s Table; I know of no contemporary writer whose insights about the Eucharist match hers.” —Lauren F. Winner, Duke Divinity School, author of Wearing God The sacred meal that is part of our faith does more than connect us to the holy, it connects us to each other. “I think Jesus wanted his disciples and everyone who came after him to remember what they had together. What they made together. What it meant to be together. How the things he did could not have been done without them.” In her inimitable style of memoir and personal reflection, Nora Gallagher explores the beauty and mystery of this most fascinating of topics. Whether exploring the history of Christian communion, taking us inside the workings of a soup kitchen, or sharing times of joy and sadness with friends, she reminds us what it means to partake of, and be part of, the body of Christ. A volume in the eight book classic series, The Ancient Practices, with a foreword by Phyllis Tickle, General Editor. “Nora Gallagher does just what Holy Communion does: she folds sacred life and ordinary life together like a sandwich, holding it out to me so that I suddenly remember how hungry I am.” —Barbara Brown Taylor, New York Times–bestselling author of An Altar in the World

Recounts the author's experiences founding a faith-based community garden in rural North Carolina, and emphasizes how growing one's own food can help readers reconnect with the land and divine faith.

Divine Nourishment A Woman's Sacred Journey with Food Did you realize that living and eating seasonally is actually a map for transformation that brings health and balance on the physical, emotional AND spiritual levels? Divine Nourishment offers superb support in reclaiming lost and rejected aspects of ourselves. Learn how to recognize your authentic self through the eyes of nature as you deepen your relationship with the natural rhythm and flow of life. Ground and nourish yourself according to the Earth's wisdom while healing the collective wounding of the feminine that perpetuates the imbalance in our culture. Apply practical daily use of healthy organic seasonal foods, recipes, potions, tonics, practices, and cleanses that are nourishing and appropriate for alignment with the seasonal journey. "Mary Lane infuses her cooking, her thinking, her dance on this earth with exquisite feminine grace and wisdom." Gabrielle Roth, author of Sweat Your Prayers & creator of 5RHythms(R) "Mary is a wonderful chef, plant spirit medicine practitioner, lover of nature, and world traveler. Her book is a mystical-made-physical journey into the depths of self, body, and spiritual connection. This long-awaited treasure holds such a simple key to satisfying a deep spiritual connection: nourishing ourselves, body, mind, and spirit, as well as connect with Mother Earth through the sacred act of nourishment. I love, love, love the book, though I have to admit reading of the 'wounding' absolutely tore me apart... truly from the heart." Dianne Seale "Mary's book offers us a brilliantly conceived and richly layered compilation of the wisdom of the ages. Mary's offering draws from her many years of study as well as from her own experience and direct communication with the Divine. Ranging from a profound explanation of the very forces of Creation to practical suggestions for embodying these forces in daily life, Mary's book is a true guide for healing and restoring the Divine Feminine within us and in our world." Katia Wolf "Finally.....I am sitting in my room in Rome and using the extraordinary early awakenings to read Mary's book in total...not just fragments allowed to me over the last few months. I am touched by the passion of her conviction and knowledge and opened to tears of recognition of dynamics long left without words. She has had some amazing journeys that I am thrilled to read about again in book form. It gives outline to a journey that often can be daunting as there is no map for this ride However, she tells it with the grace of hindsight with all of the trials and glory, highs and lows that come with this human form with a desire and commitment to live a spiritual life. Kudos to Mary and the healing for those who come to read her story." Stevie Gayle

How did we evolve into a nation obsessed with fad diets? And how is it possible that so many people are starving when the planet produces enough for everyone? Our approach to food seems topsy-turvy. Certainly, this is not what nature intended!Questions such as these kick-started author Lisa Tremont Ota's personal and professional exploration of the unbreakable links between food and spirituality. Now, after almost thirty years of academic study and work helping the public understand its dynamic relationship with food, she's igniting a food-centric eco-revolution with The Sacred Art of Eating. Serving up a menu of grounded, practical guidelines along with expansive ideas on what it means to eat, this transformative book offers invigorating new perspectives on health and well-being and reframes the discussion about sustainable living. By taking you on an imaginative journey through planning, preparing, enjoying, and cleaning up after a dinner gathering, The Sacred Art of Eating presents a pathway toward wholesome living that stimulates the senses and nourishes spiritual connection.From better health and vitality to improving your impact on the environment, this book puts it all on the table like never before.