A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist

by Anscar Vonier

"A Jewel of a Book. Utterly lucid, penetrating, and humble."  - Peter Kreeft THE EUCHARIST is the source and summit of the Christian life - a sacrament of inexhaustible richness, according to the Catholic Catechism. Written to give lay Catholics a better understanding of the Eucharist, this book is recognized as a modern spiritual classic. In remarkably clear and straightforward language, it takes the reader step-by-step into the deepest mysteries of the Eucharist-a religiously exhilarating journey to the heart of the Christian faith. A classic example of the best twentieth-century Eucharist theology -Aidan Nichols, O.P., writing in The Holy Eucharist Remarkable for its balance, depth, and accessibility. -Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J. Profound insights ...I recommend this excellent book to all Catholics who desire a better understanding of the Mass, and especially to priests. - Father Kenneth Baker, S.J., Editor, Homiletic and Pastoral Revie One could spend a lifetime contemplating the many dimensions of the Eucharist, and it would be a life well spent. Father Vonier's... lucid and compelling account will put into his debt Catholics who would spend their lives well. -Richard John Neuhaus, Editor in Chief, First Things   A best-selling author in England of the 1920s-that golden age of Catholic letters when Chesterton, Knox and Belloc flourished Abbot Vonier was a gifted intellectual who regarded his literary activity as part of the mission with which Divine Providence had charged him. Vonier penned some fifteen works of popular theology, developing "a vast company of admirers who welcomed every new book of his with enthusiasm." Although largely forgotten today, Abbot Vonier's work remains absolutely fresh and engaging, filled with rich insight lucidly conveyed. Starting with A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist, Zaccheus Press plans to bring Abbot Vonier's finest works back in

Genres: Catholic, Theology, Religion, Faith, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Christian

162 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 1925

About the author

Abbot Vonier was a Benedictine monk who lived from 1876 to 1938. He was elected Abbot of Buckfast Abbey, England, in 1906, and served in that capacity until his death. During his lifetime Vonier gained fame as the rebuilder of Buckfast, which had been left in ruins following the Reformation, and as the author of some 15 books of popular theology — works which developed “a vast company of admirers who welcomed every new book of his with enthusiasm.”

Reviews

[Brett Salkeld]

This book is essential reading for Catholics who want to better understand the Eucharistic mystery. Abbot Vonier's key insight is that whenever the Eucharist is detached from the sacramental logic that undergirds it, the integrity of Eucharistic faith is lost. A consistently sacramental vision of presence and sacrifice will do much to rid Catholic piety of magical, fideist and voluntarist tendencies. Leaning heavily on Thomas Aquinas, Vonier does an excellent job of providing just such a consistent vision.
The book misses a 5-star rating for me because it is occasionally difficult to understand the author's organizational purposes and some sections (notably the section on the Cross) are less than clearly written, which could lead to confusion. With these caveats, however, I still feel the book to be indispensable.

[Thadeus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very challenging and rewarding read. I believe that I benefited a lot from reading it, but it will definitely take a re-read or two to really grasp all that is laid out in the book. The whole thing was edifying, but I think that the most plain language (and what spoke to me) was the section in chapter 21, "The Eucharistic Liturgy," especially from page 249 to the end.

Recommended for anyone who wants to learn deeply about the Eucharist.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book with many great insights into the mystery surrounding the Blessed Sacrament. It is, however, very dense theologically, and thus may not appeal to the large majority of laity. It is a book that needs to be read fairly slowly, both for comprehension and assimilation of ideas before continuing on in the book.

[Fr. Peter Mottola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many Catholics think that the Real Presence is, pretty much, all there is to know about the Eucharist. But Dom Anscar Vonier in this beautiful series of reflections on the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas allows us to rediscover what Catholics once kept in the fore-front of their minds: namely, that the a fuller understanding of the Eucharist includes not only the Real Presence of Christ, but also the fact that the Eucharist is both a sacrament and a sacrifice.
If you're the type of Catholic who loves to proclaim that in the Eucharist Christ is present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity ... then you are precicely the person who would benefit from reading this book. In the Eucharist we have something much greater even than this! Reclaiming our theological heritage about the Sacrifice of the Mass will bear tremendous fruit in our spiritual lives.

[Karen]

Deep, good info, hard to read the style of writing though. - 89

[Michael Vidrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was shocked by how much this book was able to teach me about the Eucharist, the Mass, and sacramentality in general. Here, Vonier provides many clarification concerning the Church’s understanding of the Eucharistic sacrifice that fly right in the face of the way that Catholics speak about it all the time, while at the same time doing an excellent job of preserving the mystery-dimension of the Sacrament, pointing the reader to the aspects that must lie beyond the limits of verbal explanation. He succeeded in increasing both my understanding of and love for the Sacrament, while at the same time showing me how much I do not understand it. And all of this, Vonier accomplished in a surprisingly accessible way.

[Father Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, just simply WOW

There is absolutely nothing to dislike about the material in this book. If anyone Catholic or not wants a richer and more comprehensive understanding of the sacramental-sacrifice, this book is the boon for you.

[Emily Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a deeper dive into the theology of the Holy Eucharist, drawing heavily from the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas. I highly recommend it. There were many teachings or insights in this book that were new to me, and much to feed meditation and love for the Most Blessed Sacrament.

[Tesfit Gebreamlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist

[Christine]

Above my head and probably just not for me.