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Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty
WHAT BRILLIANT LIGHT do redbud trees, your favorite dessert, the Mona Lisa, dew drops and flowers, The Sound of Music , beeswax, and passionate kissing shine on the liturgy? Christopher West weaves all these and many other seemingly disparate themes seamlessly together in this eye-opening and jaw-dropping mystical and liturgical tour de force. Prepare to be dazzled as a corner of the veil is lifted on the Mystery that unites all things in heaven and on earth. You will never see yourself, the Incarnation, the Mass, erotic love, and sun-bathing lizards the same way again! DRAWING EXTENSIVELY from the spousal symbolism of the Scriptures and from the mystical wisdom of the greatest saints of both East and West, these rich but accessible meditations take the reader on a journey from the insatiable hunger of the human heart for lasting beauty, through the pitfalls of both idolizing and despising the things of this world, to arrive at the one and only hope of liturgizing our yearning by opening it to the One who is Infinite Beauty revealed in the body and freely given up for us in the Eucharist. Along the way you’ll discover that in all the things you’ve always found exciting and attractive, God has been wooing you towards the unimaginable possibility of “eating the sunrise”. BY READING THIS BOOK YOU WILL … • Discover the path that leads to the fulfillment of your most passionate longings. • Come to understand God’s eternal plan for your life and the universe like never before. • Experience the Christian faith as an invitation to be seized and intoxicated by beauty. • Move beyond today’s “liturgy wars” to discover the hidden beauty of the Mass. • Understand the basic problem of human existence and its ultimate resolution. • Have your eyes opened to the divine secrets revealed through your body. • Discover the surprising roots of today’s gender confusion and the hope of overcoming it. • Encounter the glorious love song at the base of all things. • Be able to recognize the diabolic deception that is robbing humanity of all it longs for. • Rejoice in a beauty-first – rather than sin-first – approach to growing in holiness. • Unearth countless other treasures that illuminate your heart, its yearnings, and your destiny.
PRAISE FOR EATING THE SUNRISE "This book is not only inspired and inspiring but life-changing. West provides the 'big picture' in which the Christian faith is (1) concretely embodied, (2) passionately erotic, (3) joyfully Beautyfull, and (4) mystically Eucharistic. In the process he shatters the confining little categories we are used to and replaces them with the infinitely expansive Mind of Christ. Its style is clear, accessible, and full of striking images that are sure to open the reader to the Infinite treasures of Christian liturgy." —Peter Kreeft, Professor of Philosophy, Boston College "In this marvelous book, full of passion and poetic richness, Christopher West draws us into the mystery of the God made flesh, who has given himself to us as food—the mystery that fulfills the deepest longings of the human heart. This book will further Eucharistic revival by enkindling 'Eucharistic amazement.'" —Dr. Mary Healy, Professor of Scripture, Sacred Heart Major Seminary "In Eating the Sunrise , West’s beauty-forward approach explores our encounter with God in the physical world. In doing so, he offers spiritual, theological, and practical wisdom for entering the 'feast of body and soul' that marks our longing for communion with God and one another. This thought-provoking book is singularly poised to facilitate Eucharistic revival." —Christine Falk Dalessio, Ph.D., Catholic Theology, Marquette University
PRAISE FOR EATING THE SUNRISE "This book is not only inspired and inspiring but life-changing. West provides the 'big picture' in which the Christian faith is (1) concretely embodied, (2) passionately erotic, (3) joyfully Beautyfull, and (4) mystically Eucharistic. In the process he shatters the confining little categories we are used to and replaces them with the infinitely expansive Mind of Christ. Its style is clear, accessible, and full of striking images that are sure to open the reader to the Infinite treasures of Christian liturgy." —Peter Kreeft, Professor of Philosophy, Boston College "In this marvelous book, full of passion and poetic richness, Christopher West draws us into the mystery of the God made flesh, who has given himself to us as food—the mystery that fulfills the deepest longings of the human heart. This book will further Eucharistic revival by enkindling 'Eucharistic amazement.'" —Dr. Mary Healy, Professor of Scripture, Sacred Heart Major Seminary "In Eating the Sunrise , West’s beauty-forward approach explores our encounter with God in the physical world. In doing so, he offers spiritual, theological, and practical wisdom for entering the 'feast of body and soul' that marks our longing for communion with God and one another. This thought-provoking book is singularly poised to facilitate Eucharistic revival." —Christine Falk Dalessio, Ph.D., Catholic Theology, Marquette University
212 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2023
45 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Christopher West
138 books229 followersChristopher West is a research fellow and faculty member of the Theology of the Body Institute. He is also one of the most sought after speakers in the Church today, having delivered more than 1000 public lectures on 4 continents, in more than a dozen countries, and in over 200 American cities. His books – Good News About Sex & Marriage, Theology of the Body Explained, and Theology of the Body for Beginners – have become Catholic best sellers.
Christopher has also lectured on a number of prestigious faculties, offering graduate and undergraduate courses at St John Vianney Seminary in Denver, the John Paul II Institute in Melbourne, Australia, and Creighton University’s Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha. Hundreds of thousands have heard him on national radio programs and even more have seen him defending the faith on programs such as Scarborough Country, Fox and Friends, and At Large with Geraldo Rivera. Of all his titles, Christopher is most proud to call himself a devoted husband and father. He and his wife Wendy have five children and live in Lancaster County, PA.
Christopher has also lectured on a number of prestigious faculties, offering graduate and undergraduate courses at St John Vianney Seminary in Denver, the John Paul II Institute in Melbourne, Australia, and Creighton University’s Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha. Hundreds of thousands have heard him on national radio programs and even more have seen him defending the faith on programs such as Scarborough Country, Fox and Friends, and At Large with Geraldo Rivera. Of all his titles, Christopher is most proud to call himself a devoted husband and father. He and his wife Wendy have five children and live in Lancaster County, PA.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 27, 2025
This book actually did wonders for my prayer life so I’m giving it 5 stars because it was just what I needed
June 17, 2024
A fantastic read outside of my own faith tradition (I am not Roman Catholic, Eastern, or even Anglican), but there was so much to provoke thought here. If you're interested in the concepts of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty (or related issues) you will probably find something of interest within. Some of it was "out there, mystical" for me, probably, again, because of some significant doctrinal differences, but the positives outweighed that for me.
January 23, 2025
Great food for thought and prayer, covered a lot of bases, I could read this again at another time and probably be wrecked by it.
April 17, 2025
fascinating read on beauty vs Beauty, and the likes of it. took it bite by bite, and i don’t regret it!
“In this world we must suffer the ache of longing for the Infinite without demanding more from the finite than it can offer.”
“In this world we must suffer the ache of longing for the Infinite without demanding more from the finite than it can offer.”
April 8, 2025
Can't do 4.5 starts so I rounded up.
April 17, 2024
If you want to learn more about how God is pursuing us through Beauty and how our erotic love and desire is really a cry for the infinite, read this book. My eyes are open towards the way God seduces my heart through beauty.
July 27, 2024
yeah pretty good, some great passages, I especially took note of the meditation on pashing 🫠 TOB is so rogue I love it. just wish this was less talky and colloquial, like you don't have to worry about my attention span Chris, I've sat down with your book so I'm here to focus
September 28, 2024
One of the best spiritual books I’ve ever read!!
February 7, 2024
“What must I do? I must be overcome by beauty, by beautiful things, by finding beauty everywhere.”
This line is on the second to last page of the book, part of a summary Christopher West condensed for the end of this book from writings of his “professor and mentor… the late Monsignor Albacete.” What a seemingly simple statement - find beauty everywhere. Our culture makes it tough as the finite beauty is made to look like something it’s not, something lasting. All created beauty is meant to lead us to Beauty itself, the Lord. And where better to encounter Beauty than Mass? Nowhere! How blessed are we that the Lord is for us, that He is yearning for us to be in intimate relationship with Him! Lord, help me rest in Your Most Sacred Heart!
This line is on the second to last page of the book, part of a summary Christopher West condensed for the end of this book from writings of his “professor and mentor… the late Monsignor Albacete.” What a seemingly simple statement - find beauty everywhere. Our culture makes it tough as the finite beauty is made to look like something it’s not, something lasting. All created beauty is meant to lead us to Beauty itself, the Lord. And where better to encounter Beauty than Mass? Nowhere! How blessed are we that the Lord is for us, that He is yearning for us to be in intimate relationship with Him! Lord, help me rest in Your Most Sacred Heart!
November 27, 2024
This was beautiful, deep, profound, thought-and prayer-provoking. So much truth resonates from these pages. I am so thankful for the insights gained through reading this work.
There are so many beautiful quotes from other sources too…at first I was thinking, gosh there’s too many footnotes, this is annoying, but I got over that.
Usually I highlight passages that stick out to me in nonfiction books that I own and read, but had I done that for this one, I would have highlighted every page. I think I will likely return to re read this book again and again in years to come.
There are so many beautiful quotes from other sources too…at first I was thinking, gosh there’s too many footnotes, this is annoying, but I got over that.
Usually I highlight passages that stick out to me in nonfiction books that I own and read, but had I done that for this one, I would have highlighted every page. I think I will likely return to re read this book again and again in years to come.
May 14, 2025
I was very torn on what to give this read. I really really loved the first few chapters and was very excited to keep reading, but the rest of the book turned from the sacraments to more Theology of the Body (which is fine but not what I was lead to believe the book was about) and was incredibly repetitive. I got very tired of reading the same thing over and over again. I think it could have been very good if it had been kept much shorter. The first few chapters and the recap at the end are really beautifully written and great for a spiritual read.
March 18, 2024
Mind blown! How do we respond to Eros? How do we open our eyes to how beauty draws us to God? We've been designed to be fulfilled by the Eternal one. So much to say but it's better you read this gem of a book from Christopher West.
January 1, 2024
An amazing must read
What do we have that demons and angels lack? Bodies. Humans are both spirit and body and Christopher West brilliantly snow us how to have it all.
What do we have that demons and angels lack? Bodies. Humans are both spirit and body and Christopher West brilliantly snow us how to have it all.
July 15, 2024
thought provoking and deeply inspiring
We had the pleasure of Christopher discussing each chapter with us on a Zoom call over a few months ago he is very inspiring
We had the pleasure of Christopher discussing each chapter with us on a Zoom call over a few months ago he is very inspiring
November 13, 2024
A wonderful book to sacramentalize your daily life and world view
May 20, 2025
The first few chapters are beautifully written. Subsequent chapters are more full of theology.
June 18, 2025
Top 3 books of all time. 2nd time reading! Incredible insight to how beauty can save the world.
October 17, 2025
12/10. Bwautifully portrays the longing on every heart for infinite Beauty. Would highly recommend.
“The more we pass over from beauty to Beauty, the more…we know and appreciate creation through the Creator and we come to experience a symphonic oneness in all of creation…each being gives voice to what God is in it, and all of them together produce a marvelous harmony: so creatures will be for the soul a harmonious symphony of sublime music surpassing all concerts and melodies of the world”
are you kidding !!!!!
“The more we pass over from beauty to Beauty, the more…we know and appreciate creation through the Creator and we come to experience a symphonic oneness in all of creation…each being gives voice to what God is in it, and all of them together produce a marvelous harmony: so creatures will be for the soul a harmonious symphony of sublime music surpassing all concerts and melodies of the world”
are you kidding !!!!!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews