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Life in Christ: Practicing Christian Spirituality
Explore how Anglican traditions enrich Episcopal worship.With its great heritage from English mystics, the Episcopal Church has been “spiritual” since before it was trendy, and modern Episcopalians have been in the forefront of exploring practices beyond Anglican boundaries. Yet, perhaps only rarely do they grasp the implications of the theology embedded in these practices or in the liturgies of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, which has shaped Episcopalians in this country with its emphasis on baptismal spirituality and the centrality of the Eucharist. Julia Gatta wants to change that with her book, Life in Christ. Applying her years of experience as pastor and spiritual director combined with her study of the spiritual wisdom of the past, she explores common Christian practices and their underlying theology through an Episcopal lens. In the tradition of Esther de Waal, Martin Smith, and Martin Thornton, with particular reference to scripture, the Book of Common Prayer, and the wisdom of the Christian spiritual tradition, she illuminates methods readers may already be practicing and provides insight and guidance to ones that may be new to them.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2018
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108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 15, 2019
People are embracing spirituality, though perhaps not religion. There is a great attraction among Western Christians to eastern forms, hoping to find a pathway to a deeper sense of God. In the course of these searches, it is often forgotten that there is a long tradition of Christian spirituality that can be drawn from. There are the mystics of course, but the sacraments and the liturgies are also deep sources of spiritual nourishment.
Julia Gatta, the Bishop Frank A. Juhan Professor of Pastoral Theology at the School of The9ology at Sewanee, seeks to address the deep longing for spiritual sustenance by introducing readers to the resources found in the Anglican/Episcopal tradition. "Life in Christ" was written to be used in the Education for Ministry program of the Episcopal Church. A lay education program it has a long history within the Episcopal Church.
The audience for this book is first of all Episcopalians. The Book of Common Prayer stands at the center of the spirituality she leads readers into. Knowing that there is both a deep desire for things spiritual, and knowing that it is easy to dip into the latest technique, she wants to offer the reader something deeper and more comprehensive. This spiritual path, which is guided by the Holy Spirit is "linked to moral theology and the cultivation of virtue." It involves service to others and "it is critically shaped at every turn by the vision of faith and sacramental community of which we are a part" (p. xiv). In the pages that follow her introduction, Gatta emphasizes sacramental life and the liturgy. While she emphasizes the corporate, she recognizes that mere participation or observance is not enough.
The book is comprised of five chapters, each of which is lengthy -- most are around fifty pages in length -- thus they allow her to go into her ideas with some depth. She begins the journey with a discussion of the sacrament of baptism, through which one relives Christ's death and resurrection. While acknowledging the practice of infant baptism, she roots event that practice in the biblical identification of baptism to Christ's death and resurrection. She understands that standing at the heart of this sacrament is the call to repent, and so she takes us into the catechetical foundations of baptism. From Baptism, she moves to the Eucharist, in which the Christian shares in communion with Christ. She invites us into the theology of communion, helping us understand its roots in the Last Supper. Since this is to be understood in Episcopal terms, she takes the reader through the Eucharistic liturgy, one step at a time, and then invites us to live eucharistically. The purpose here, of course, is to deepen one's experience of Christ in the Eucharist. The purpose here is not to be prepared for mission, we are called to live eucharistically "in prayer, in self-offering service, ever mindful of the death and resurrection of Jesus." (p. 86).
In chapter three, Gatta introduces the reader the the resources of the liturgical year and the liturgy itself. This enables us to make sense of time, to see it as a place of spiritual experience. By taking us through Jesus' earthly life, "as we pass through the days of our life, then, both individually and collectively become ever more immersed in Christ's life. Our brief time on earth is thus sanctified and charged with eternity" (p. 90).
It is only after she immerses the reader in the sacraments, the liturgy, and the liturgical year, that she brings into the conversation "prayer in solitude" (chapter four). While the corporate and liturgical are central to the Christian life, she recognizes that " a sole diet of liturgical prayer can become rote and in, time, exhausting." (p. 128). Noting that the Gospels suggest that Jesus withdrew from the community for solitary communion with God, she encourages the reader to do the same. This is not a substitute for the liturgy, but part of a deeper spiritual pathway. In the course of the chapter she introduces the reader to various practices, including vocal prayer and intercession. She addresses the challenge of distractions, and offers guidance on how to deal with them.
It is only after all of this is laid out that she turns to spiritual practices in the final chapter, including spiritual retreats, spiritual direction, confession. Starting with the Benedictine Rule that served as a foundation for monasticism in the west, she encourages the reader to create a rule of life, which is designed to provide for regularity not iron-clad laws. So, while the Eucharist is to be given primacy, as part of corporate worship, there is, she believes the place for other spiritual practices. Again, she points the reader to the resources provided by the Book of Common Prayer.
Although written for Episcopalians, this book can have a much broader audience. The Anglican resources, of course, are helpful to non Anglicans, but the principles themselves can stir interest in one's own traditions. The point here is that the Christian community is richly endowed with resources that enable us to practice Christian spirituality. Gatta is a gracious and thoughtful guide to this path. The book is nicely written, and along with her words, she has provided images (all in color) to help us visualize the pathway.
Julia Gatta, the Bishop Frank A. Juhan Professor of Pastoral Theology at the School of The9ology at Sewanee, seeks to address the deep longing for spiritual sustenance by introducing readers to the resources found in the Anglican/Episcopal tradition. "Life in Christ" was written to be used in the Education for Ministry program of the Episcopal Church. A lay education program it has a long history within the Episcopal Church.
The audience for this book is first of all Episcopalians. The Book of Common Prayer stands at the center of the spirituality she leads readers into. Knowing that there is both a deep desire for things spiritual, and knowing that it is easy to dip into the latest technique, she wants to offer the reader something deeper and more comprehensive. This spiritual path, which is guided by the Holy Spirit is "linked to moral theology and the cultivation of virtue." It involves service to others and "it is critically shaped at every turn by the vision of faith and sacramental community of which we are a part" (p. xiv). In the pages that follow her introduction, Gatta emphasizes sacramental life and the liturgy. While she emphasizes the corporate, she recognizes that mere participation or observance is not enough.
The book is comprised of five chapters, each of which is lengthy -- most are around fifty pages in length -- thus they allow her to go into her ideas with some depth. She begins the journey with a discussion of the sacrament of baptism, through which one relives Christ's death and resurrection. While acknowledging the practice of infant baptism, she roots event that practice in the biblical identification of baptism to Christ's death and resurrection. She understands that standing at the heart of this sacrament is the call to repent, and so she takes us into the catechetical foundations of baptism. From Baptism, she moves to the Eucharist, in which the Christian shares in communion with Christ. She invites us into the theology of communion, helping us understand its roots in the Last Supper. Since this is to be understood in Episcopal terms, she takes the reader through the Eucharistic liturgy, one step at a time, and then invites us to live eucharistically. The purpose here, of course, is to deepen one's experience of Christ in the Eucharist. The purpose here is not to be prepared for mission, we are called to live eucharistically "in prayer, in self-offering service, ever mindful of the death and resurrection of Jesus." (p. 86).
In chapter three, Gatta introduces the reader the the resources of the liturgical year and the liturgy itself. This enables us to make sense of time, to see it as a place of spiritual experience. By taking us through Jesus' earthly life, "as we pass through the days of our life, then, both individually and collectively become ever more immersed in Christ's life. Our brief time on earth is thus sanctified and charged with eternity" (p. 90).
It is only after she immerses the reader in the sacraments, the liturgy, and the liturgical year, that she brings into the conversation "prayer in solitude" (chapter four). While the corporate and liturgical are central to the Christian life, she recognizes that " a sole diet of liturgical prayer can become rote and in, time, exhausting." (p. 128). Noting that the Gospels suggest that Jesus withdrew from the community for solitary communion with God, she encourages the reader to do the same. This is not a substitute for the liturgy, but part of a deeper spiritual pathway. In the course of the chapter she introduces the reader to various practices, including vocal prayer and intercession. She addresses the challenge of distractions, and offers guidance on how to deal with them.
It is only after all of this is laid out that she turns to spiritual practices in the final chapter, including spiritual retreats, spiritual direction, confession. Starting with the Benedictine Rule that served as a foundation for monasticism in the west, she encourages the reader to create a rule of life, which is designed to provide for regularity not iron-clad laws. So, while the Eucharist is to be given primacy, as part of corporate worship, there is, she believes the place for other spiritual practices. Again, she points the reader to the resources provided by the Book of Common Prayer.
Although written for Episcopalians, this book can have a much broader audience. The Anglican resources, of course, are helpful to non Anglicans, but the principles themselves can stir interest in one's own traditions. The point here is that the Christian community is richly endowed with resources that enable us to practice Christian spirituality. Gatta is a gracious and thoughtful guide to this path. The book is nicely written, and along with her words, she has provided images (all in color) to help us visualize the pathway.
June 30, 2020
Generally a helpful, informative book on individual spiritual practices and their reason for importance to a faithful life. However, in a book dedicated to spiritual practices, almsgiving, service and stewardship were given barely a mention.
December 18, 2019
This was certainly an informative book, and useful for stimulating discussion around faith practice in the Episcopal Church.
The writing at first is a bit dense, but then either I adapted to her style, or she relaxed her academic stiffness. Either way it does make the text more of a theological writing for those already familiar with the subject, than a preparatory document for beginners. It would definitely help someone preparing to mentor someone through adult confirmation, but perhaps is a bit much or the confirmand themselves.
I did enjoy the care Gatta+ took to cover the wide range of practices when it comes to prayer and discipleship; and her detailed breakdown of the importance of the Eucharist was a really great read.
In the end I found her a bit stiff in her doctrine, but not in an off putting way.
The only real criticism I have is that the book ends rather abruptly, without a real conclusion or even an epilogue.
The writing at first is a bit dense, but then either I adapted to her style, or she relaxed her academic stiffness. Either way it does make the text more of a theological writing for those already familiar with the subject, than a preparatory document for beginners. It would definitely help someone preparing to mentor someone through adult confirmation, but perhaps is a bit much or the confirmand themselves.
I did enjoy the care Gatta+ took to cover the wide range of practices when it comes to prayer and discipleship; and her detailed breakdown of the importance of the Eucharist was a really great read.
In the end I found her a bit stiff in her doctrine, but not in an off putting way.
The only real criticism I have is that the book ends rather abruptly, without a real conclusion or even an epilogue.
December 31, 2019
I read this for my EfM group at church. The author examines baptism, communion, and the Episcopal/Anglican liturgy, then goes on to discuss forms of prayer and other spiritual practices. I really enjoyed its examination of the theology underpinning Episcopal/Anglican spiritual practice. It’s given me such a richer experience of liturgy, and was a great complement to some practices I’ve been revisiting lately.
December 4, 2019
Episcopal priest, educator, and spiritual director, Julia Gatta provides an extensive, but easy-to-understand overview of the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist. She also extols the sacredness of time as evidenced through the cyclical liturgical year. Finally, she explores spirituality tools such as prayer couched in rule of life, spiritual direction, reconciliation, and holy retreats. My Education for Ministry group is currently exploring this book and found it a wealth of information which was eloquently explained. I would recommend this book for anyone new to any liturgical-style church or those who have been members for some time.
December 21, 2023
There are few books on Christian theology and practice that are this good. Gatta is instructive, comforting, encouraging, and grounding, and she somehow doesn't just balance but mingles a mystic and practical mode in explaining and exploring the tenets of a small-c catholic, liturgical discipleship.
April 2, 2020
Like many others, I read this book as an assignment for an EfM class. It focuses on instruction about worship and prayer. There are flashes of great insight and good literary references. Other than that, it was quite difficult to get through in other spots--there's no place where questioning seems to be allowed! No true freedom. Spirituality seems to be supposed to look similar each time it shows up. What about the sacramental nature, for instance, of a family playing games together and having fun? Or intimate friends sharing a meal in laughter and deep conversation? I believe the Spirit shows up in surprising places. This book seems (perhaps--I may be reading "in" too much) about a sort of control--this is what the Spirit looks like, and a good way to find the Spirit is to submit to a Spiritual "Director". I believe more in mutuality. The book has inspired me, though... to find another book about spirituality in worship and prayer, in community and alone, that pulls me in the whole way. If I cannot find one, eventually I'll come back to this spot and give this book a higher score.
December 23, 2019
I did not read every word of this book. Everybody else in an EfM group I ran absolutely read every word and most enjoyed it. I had issues with some of the theology but also there was a tone I didn’t like - it was a theological treatise and less a textbook atmosphere it was projected as (by me or others I cannot pinpoint). It is a good reference with a listing and description of personal prayer practices. I’ll need to revisit someday.
March 27, 2020
Rev. Julia Gatta wrote this book with seasoned Episcopalians in mind as her audience. She walks the reader through paragraphs of why-we-do-what-we-do and provides a fresh look at how we can build a deeper and more satisfying prayer life, simultaneously challenging and inspiring us to explore a wide spectrum of devotional, meditative, and apophatic prayer. I would not recommend this book to anybody who is new to Christianity but consider it enlightening to those well established in the faith.
August 2, 2020
Had to read it for class. Not what I needed right now.
I also did not appreciate how The Number One Ladies Detective Agency (not anywhere close to own voices) was referenced because a fictitious witch doctor was the only possible representation of evil in the world. It was very odd. Gatta spent a lot of time before that quoting The Chronicles of Narnia in a way that, while not as offensive, was really tiring.
I also did not appreciate how The Number One Ladies Detective Agency (not anywhere close to own voices) was referenced because a fictitious witch doctor was the only possible representation of evil in the world. It was very odd. Gatta spent a lot of time before that quoting The Chronicles of Narnia in a way that, while not as offensive, was really tiring.
December 9, 2019
EfM reading. I'm not sure who the intended audience is for this book. As a long term Episcopalian, I thought much of the material was stuff that I already knew, but there was still a lot of jargon and implicit "We" to appeal much to a newcomer to the church. The later chapters on prayer in solitude and help for the journey were interesting and worth reading.
December 18, 2019
I read this for my EfM class. I am the only non-Episcopalian in the class. Sacraments, liturgy, silent retreats are not the way I worship. Our next interlude reading is Bonhoeffer. I am REALLY looking forward to that.
January 14, 2020
Beautiful book about faith in turbulent world. Love all the connections to Judaism. I would consider it fine primer for fledgling Episcopalians and Confirmands. Even @ 60 it persuaded me to overturn longstanding biases regarding the rosary and icons and that saying quite a lot.
February 4, 2024
I appreciated this solid, methodical examination of the sacraments and liturgies of the Episcopal Church. Mother Gatta shares helpful insights and practical guidance for focusing on our Christian spirituality.
December 2, 2018
Fascinating, full of information, and incredibly informative. Not going to be surprised if Julia is canonized as a saint in the decades to come.
December 16, 2019
I have loved reading this. We see Jesus here and also receive practical teachings re worship and prayer.
December 31, 2019
Dense read. Very good at explaining the why behind the church service and prayer both community and private.
January 6, 2020
This was an interesting read covering the symbolism of the liturgy and forms of prayer and worship.
January 18, 2020
A great overview of Christian faith, from a classic understanding of sacramental norms. A good book for people seeking to understand Christian life and practice.
January 18, 2020
amazing book with amazing insight
August 23, 2021
Excellent read. Worthy of the 5 stars for content and writing
September 4, 2023
Wonderful!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews