Life and Liturgy

by Louis Bouyer

Excellent Book

Genres: Theology, Catholic

284 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1955

About the author

Rev. Louis Bouyer (1913-2004) was a member of the French Oratory and one of the most respected and versatile Catholic scholars and theologians of the twentieth century.

A friend of Hans Urs von Balthasar, Joseph Ratzinger, and J.R.R. Tolkien, and a co-founder of the international review Communio, Bouyer was a former Lutheran minister who entered the Catholic Church in 1939.

He became a leading figure in the Catholic biblical and liturgical movements of the twentieth century, was an influence on the Second Vatican Council, and became well known for his excellent books on history of Christian spirituality. In addition to his many writings, Bouyer lectured widely across Europe and America.

Woman in the Church (with an epilogue by Balthasar and an essay by C.S. Lewis), was one of the first three books published by Ignatius Press, in 1979. Other Ignatius Press books by Bouyer include The Word Church and Sacraments in Protestantism and Catholicism, Women Mystics, and the introduction to John Henry Newman: Prayers Verses Devotions (Bouyer wrote a biography of Newman).

He was chosen by the Pope to be part of a team to initiate the International Theological Commission in 1969.

Reviews

[Bijoy Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book that aims to foster a deeper understanding of the liturgy. It takes a scriptural, historical, and spiritual approach to the liturgy to show how the liturgy, starting with its Jewish origins, and moving into the Patristic period, aims to make present the Mystery. It is clear that this book influenced the minds of the Council Fathers of Vatican II with many of the ideas outlined being included into Sacrosanctum Concilium.

[Paul A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am re-reading this book, a master piece. Father Louis Bouyer (of the Oratory) is a brilliant thinker. I first read this book when I was Notre Dame doing the MA in liturgical studies.