Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist

by Brant Pitre

In recent years, Christians everywhere are rediscovering the Jewish roots of their faith. Every year at Easter time, many believers now celebrate Passover meals (known as Seders) seeking to understand exactly whathappened at Jesus' final Passover, the night before he was crucified.
"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 Pitreanswers 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, mostimportant of all, what did Jesus mean when he said, "This is my body... This is myblood"?
To answer these questions, Pitre explores ancient Jewish beliefs about the Passoverof 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 unlockthe 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 EasterSunday.
Inspiring and informative, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist is a groundbreaking work thatis sure to illuminate one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith: the mystery of Jesus' presence in "the breaking of the bread."

"From theHardcover edition."

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

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Dr. Brant Pitre is Professor of Sacred Scripture at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. He earned his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, where he specialized the study of the New Testament and ancient Judaism. He is the author of several articles and the books Jesus, the Tribulation, and the End of the Exile (Baker Academic, 2005); Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist (Image Books, 2011); and Jesus the Bridegroom (Image Books, 2014). Dr. Pitre is an extremely enthusiastic and engaging speaker who lectures regularly across the United States. He has produced dozens of Bible studies on CD, DVD, and MP3, in which he explores the biblical foundations of Catholic faith and theology. He currently lives in Gray, Louisiana, with his wife Elizabeth, and their five children.

Reviews

[Jeff Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankfully much of the silly season when it comes to Catholic scripture scholars is over and the new breed of Catholic scripture scholars are not likely to get their views displayed on the History or Discovery Channel.

This comes to mind after reading Brant Pitre's new book Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper. When it comes to the Eucharist, the better understanding that we have of the Eucharist in the Jewish context the better understanding we have of the Eucharist itself. It was a fulfillment of the Old Testament and gave in that what came before became fully realized. The God-given manna which nourished the Israelites physically when brought to the fullness nourishes us spiritually as the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ.

Brant Pitre has focused on the Old Testament along with several non-scriptural sources of Jewish writing to fully give us an understanding of the Eucharist from its Jewish roots. He starts by looking at the Last Supper and how Jesus' words must have gone beyond surprising from a Jewish point of view. We so often hear the words of institution at Mass and have accepted them that it is so easy to forget what they meant to the Jews of that time when it came to eating his body and blood. Even if you saw the blood as pure symbolism it would still be upsetting to Jewish ears and the commandment not to eat the blood of the sacrifice.

He goes on to discuss what was the idea the people had of the coming Messiah. We have often heard that they expected a political Messiah and like so many common facts it isn't exactly true. Some expected a more political Messiah, but the majority expected a new Moses with all that entails. A new Exodus, Passover, and a Manna that was something more and given perpetually. He spends chapters discussing the Exodus and a new Passover along with the Manna. There is much information passed on here and all of it worthwhile. While I have read many of the ideas presented before in other books, I found the chapter the on Bread of the Presence most interesting in that I haven't seen much on this topic before other than just passing information. There is a much deeper connection with the Bread of the Presence and the Eucharist that I had suspected and the Eucharist is much more than just a fulfillment of the Manna.

Much of this information comes together on the Last Supper as the new Passover and a discussion of the Four Cups. The tying of the drinking of the Four Cups of wine in a Passover mean and Jesus' institution of the new Passover and his sacrifice is not new information and as the author admits is is speculative. This idea as popularized by Scott Hahn and supported by earlier Protestant scripture scholars has the ring to it of truth along with the beauty of it pointing to the truth. Brant Pitre makes a thorough explanation for it here as the presentation he agrees with and certainly one that I also believe to be correct. As I said this chapter really brings the book together in the understanding of the Eucharist via Jewish eyes.

He goes on to explain how the information in the book is nothing new and then gives information from the Catechism and the Church Fathers in how they also saw this. He also relates a story about how he thought he had found something new in the Our Father in a Eucharistic tone that later he found exactly the same idea expressed in the Catechism. Well he is in good company since Dr. Scott Hahn has also expressed finding the same thing himself in that what he thought was original was already known by the Church. Often though a theological understanding once known gets lost or at least not focused on and so good books bringing these truths to our eyes are well worthwhile. Brant Pitre has certainly done a good and thorough job here of a scholarly presentation written for every Catholic.

[Ava Keating · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE BEING CATHOLIC

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist" sets out to prove that the bread and wine in the Eucharist/Communion are literally Jesus' flesh and blood. The author stated that he would use the Bible and ancient Jewish sources to prove that's how the Jews would have understood it.

There was some cultural background information, but it wasn't very comprehensive as the author tended to ignore anything that didn't directly support his argument. The first part of chapter 6 did do a good job of giving details about the "order of service" for the Passover at the time of Jesus, but "Christ in the Passover" by Ceil Rosen and Moishe Rosen covers the same information and more if you're mainly interested in that.

If you're looking for a book that explains or proves the Catholic beliefs about the Eucharist, then I wouldn't recommend this book. Despite all the quotes, the author's core arguments used his assumptions about the Eucharist to "prove" his assumptions.

For example, one core argument was that eating the Passover lamb was necessary during the original Passover or the firstborn son would have died even if the lamb's blood was on the doorpost. To quote from page 56, "If they took the lamb, sacrificed the lamb, spread the blood of the lamb, but did not eat the lamb, what would have been the result? Well, the Book of Exodus does not say. But it's a good guess that when they awoke the next morning, their firstborn son would be dead."

So he admits he can't prove this idea using the Bible. (In fact, Exodus 12:13, 22-23 makes it clear that the only requirement for having the house "passed over" was the blood on the door frame and staying inside that house.) He also didn't quote a single ancient source that said if someone in the family--or even just the firstborn--didn't eat the lamb, then the firstborn would die. So he bases his core argument on what he calls "a good guess" but which actually contradicts Scripture. Many of his arguments had this same flaw.

One of his stronger arguments could have been John 6:55. His argument (from page 101) is, "It is widely recognized by New Testament scholars--Protestant and Catholic alike--that Jesus is speaking here [in John 6:48-59] about the Eucharistic food and drink that he will give the disciples at the Last Supper....any attempt to insist that Jesus was not speaking about what he would do at the Last Supper here is a weak case of special pleading." So his argument is "don't question what I'm saying, the authorities back me up." He didn't even quote an ancient source that supported his view.

But read the chapter for yourself. In John 6:32-59 and during the Last Supper, Jesus is talking about his death and resurrection. It's a minor but important difference. Yes, Jesus' words in both places have similarities, but that's because they refer to the same event. The author gave no evidence that Jesus meant his speech in John 6:48-59 as a commentary on how to understand the yet-to-happen Last Supper.

The author's claim that Protestant scholars agree with his claim is untrue. After studying the passage for myself, I looked up what a few scholars had to say and it was easy to find scholars that disagree with Pitre. For example, from "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" by Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, commenting on John 6:51, "...our Lord explicitly introduces His sacrificial death--for only rationalists can doubt this not only as that which constitutes Him the Bread of life to men, but as THAT very element IN HIM WHICH POSSESSES THE LIFE-GIVING VIRTUE."

And commenting on John 6:53-58, "He says they must not only 'eat His flesh' but 'drink His blood,' which could not but suggest the idea of His death--implied in the separation of one's flesh from his blood. And as He had already hinted that it was to be something very different from a natural death, saying, 'My flesh I will give for the life of the world' ( John 6:51 ), it must have been pretty plain to candid hearers that He meant something above the gross idea which the bare terms expressed. And farther, when He added that they 'had no life in them unless they thus ate and drank,' it was impossible they should think He meant that the temporal life they were then living was dependent on their eating and drinking, in this gross sense, His flesh and blood."

Finally, some of the information Pitre used to support his position could equally support the Protestant view. This is true for the Scripture he quoted, especially when it's read in full context or along with other verses that he failed to quoted.

So, overall, I wouldn't even recommend this book to Catholics since his arguments weren't properly supported.


I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pitre’s Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist is a clear, biblically grounded look at the real presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. He walks through all the key passages and does an especially good job showing how Old Testament topics like the Passover, manna, the Bread of the Presence, set the stage for Jesus’ words at the Last Supper.

That Old Testament background alone makes the book worth reading.

I don’t agree with the Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation and other details specific to the Supper, but I do hold unreservedly to the real presence, and I think Pitre makes a strong case for it.

My main hesitation with his approach is his widespread use of later Jewish writings, like the Mishnah and especially the Talmud, to fill in first-century background. Those sources can be interesting and sometimes helpful, but they’re written a hundred to several hundred years after the New Testament, so they can’t carry too much weight in reconstructing what Jews in Jesus’ day believed. And I say this as one who studied these same texts in my graduate work with Jewish scholars at Hebrew Union College.

All that said, this is a solid, thought-provoking book, and I’m glad I read it.

[Haley Baumeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I kept finding things to clean and organize in our house so I could keep listening.

Here is a work of simply beautiful historical theology, waiting to fill you with pure awe at the glory of it all.

Christians from any tradition will benefit from this accessible scholarship. Who wouldn't want to see Christ revealed in "the Passover of the Messiah, the miraculous Manna from heaven, and the mysterious Bread of the Presence"? Truly a radiant book.

These are truths worth pondering for the rest of our lives. Mercifully, we have Christ's body and blood to help us with that.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An impassioned defense of the traditional Catholic beliefs about the Sacrament of Communion, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist is a very Scriptural, readable piece of non-fiction. Pitre presents his scholarship and analysis in thorough, forthright prose. It is a terrific answer to common arguments raised by those anti-Catholics who try to trip Catholics up on the topic. I'm not sure, though, that someone who's not religious, or at least not Christian, would be terribly interested in the story told here. I hope they will be, though, if only for the sake of the fascinating ancient texts quoted and rituals described therein.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard Dr. Pitre speak at my church several years ago and was impressed with what he had to say, so I grabbed this book when First Wildcard made it available. It is an absolutely fascinating look at how the Eucharist, as understood by Catholics, truly has its roots in Judaism, and not just in the Passover story. Pitre talks about the Passover (and brings out details I've never heard elsewhere) but also talks about the sacrificial worship of the Jews in the Temple. He compares the Eucharist to the Bread of the Presence kept in the Temple. He goes through John 6 and explains what the various phrases would have meant to Jews of Jesus' era. Pitre makes scripturally and historically-based arguments in favor of the Eucharist being understood as both sacrament and meal and as Jesus' body, not just a symbol. I highly recommend this book and give it an A.

[Lee Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever wonder how the Eucharistic teachings of the New Testament evolved? Where did Jesus get the idea for his Last Supper ritual? How did Paul think to tie this ritual to his theology of atonement? Why does John’s Gospel emphasize so strongly the Paschal Lamb? Why were the church fathers so adamant about tying the Eucharist to the Passover?

Because the Sacraments have deep Hebrew roots. I have studied a little about the pagan influences on the ceremony of bread and wine, this concept of “eating the body” and “drinking the blood,” but never delved much into its Hebrew side … other than to imagine how bizarre it must have appeared to God-fearing Jews, who had been taught since childhood never to ingest blood. Pitre digs into scripture and Judaic writings, and his research is fresh, scholarly, and easy to digest. If I can find more Pitre books, I’m going to snap them up.

Absolutely fascinating, and critical to Pitre’s conclusion, is a chapter in his book about the “shewbread” (showbread), what Pitre calls the “Bread of the Presence.” This bread, kept fresh in the Holy of Holies at the back of the Temple, shares a table with the libation flask, and thus links to the wine offering. Judaism has long connected the bread and the wine, back to the days of the very first priest, Melchizedek. But this holy bread carries with it a certain symbolism, understood by every Jew each time it was carried out for their viewing at the major festivals. Jesus references this “Bread of the Presence” (the presence of God, if you haven’t already guessed) directly in the Gospels, and it forms an important basis for understanding Jesus’ teaching at the Last Supper.

One interesting conclusion Pitre reaches is that Jesus never finished the Passover meal with his disciples! The fourth and final cup of wine, which each participating Jew shared during the Passover celebration, was never drunk. Instead, Jesus drank this final cup just moments before his death. Pitre thus brings the theological meaning of Jesus’ timing to life in a most intriguing way.

Pitre writes from a conservative Catholic perspective, as seems appropriate. (I'm no scholar of current-day religious practices, but who finds more ritualistic meaning in the Eucharist than the Catholics?) He does lean toward a Roman Catholic understanding of the bread and wine, though he avoids the word "transubstantiation" in favor of the baggage-free phrase "reality of Jesus' presence in the Eucharist." But I guarantee Christians of all denominations will enjoy this one.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely friend (thanks!) recommended this well-written and interesting exploration of eucharistic theology and the roots in the Old Testament. I'd heard some of this before in a wonderful Podcast series, and it was good to read and confirm.
Pitre is Roman Catholic and doesn't address Orthodox theology, which was the only small quibble I had with the book.
However, it was an excellent, faith-affirming, and interesting book. He has written others that I am planning to, and have, looked for.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book. It opened my eyes wide and I enjoyed it the whole way through. The author writes in an accessible style and it reads like he's talking to us. The book is exhaustively researched and references Christian, Jewish, and secular sources, but, in a pleasant change, all the footnotes have been moved to the back and not even superscripted numbers remain (resulting in no distractions and just letting the author talk to us). The author starts with the question of the Eucharist, what did Jesus mean when he asked his disciples to eat his flesh and drink his blood? He then begins to work carefully and methodically through the experiences and expectations of a 1st century Jew hearing those words. He moves us through the Passover, the manna in the desert, the Tabernacle, the Temple, the Bread (and wine) of the Presence, the Holy of Holies, the annual feasts and sacrifices Jesus would have seen, the Last Supper, the Eucharist, and, in a surprising finale, the disciples on the road to Emmaus. He draws a remarkably straight line connecting all these biblical themes, and then extends the line further into the early Church Fathers and their writings connecting the same themes. There's even a chapter exploring the 4th Cup, an idea strongly promoted by Scott Hahn, but concedes that it's speculative. Brant Pitre has laid out the clearest treatment of perhaps the most important subject imaginable. He's intellectually honest. He cites a wide range of sources dating back centuries. He reads like the most interesting dinner conversation you've ever heard. This is just an amazing, amazing book.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read. One can NOT understand Christianity without understanding ancient Judaism. The rampant increase in number of Protestant denominations is in part due to this lack of understanding. Our faith grew out of Judaism, and it's necessary to put all doctrinal and scriptural things in their proper historical context. Failure to do so leads one away from the Church Christ founded.
At any rate, if you've ever wanted to know why Catholics believe that Holy Communion is truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, this right here's the answer.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

This is a comprehensive work of drawing not only typological parallels defending the presence of the Eucharist. But also drawing on ancient belief of Judaism to what Christ said about himself, and why we should also have that perspective.

I learned so many fascinating aspects of my faith.

[Darryl Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith building in the most glorious way, and an utterly convincing and convicting exposition on the Eucharist as the Real Presence of Jesus. I need to (and want to!) read this multiple times to engage even more deeply with Pitre’s teaching on this subject. My deepest gratitude, Dr. Pitre!!

[Parmida R. A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great in-depth analysis. 100 stars!!! It was a fascinating book and highly recommend it to livers of theology like myself :)

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much to say about this. It's easy to say that EVERY Catholic should read and know this, but we know how that works. We think EVERY Catholic should already understand the tremendous gift of God the Son present before them 24/7 in every Catholic Church around the world. We should be crawling on our faces to Communion....but so many willfully ignore Christ. Fantastic book, by a man with tremendous gifts.

[Tiffany Shank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful read. Diving deep into the Jewish roots of Jesus and tradition. A beginning review of where our understanding of Jesus’ teachings and traditions passed down directly from Him, to us, during his time on earth. Oral history and tradition has been a part of us since the beginning of time - literally. How else would we have remembered His teachings. Brant does such a great job of review and explanation.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pitre is always a fascinating and wonderful read. His latest is no disappointment. With clarity and insight he explains the Jewish roots of the Eucharist. He admits it is no secret and references the catechism and church Fathers to illustrate his points. Highly recommended.

[J.M. Varner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. An absolute must-read for any Christian -- Catholic or Protestant -- who wants to add a mind-blowing additional layer of insight into their understanding of the Eucharist. This is an A-list must-read.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want to give this book to literally everyone i know!!!! thanks cath for letting me borrow 🥰

[Dominic Muresan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author interprets the Eucharist and defends the perspective of the real presence through the glasses of Judaic tradition. Seeing how Jesus, in His planning, fulfilled not only the scriptures but also their rabbinic/traditional interpretation of His day.

The book is a miraculous well of Judaic knowledge, written in the same simple (yet not dumb) style the author had gotten us used to.

[Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basically couldn't put it down once I really started it. All the connections were just fascinating and beautiful.

[Clayton Brannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptionally well written explanations of the Jewish historical roots in the modern day Eucharist.

[Meg Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an interesting read!! It's short, easy to understand, and he really focuses on the task at hand so I never got bored. It taught me a lot about some things which I sort of knew about, but really never delved into, like meanings of specific things Jesus had said during His proclamation. I think it's super important what Pitre did as Jesus was a Jew! It's something I have begun to reflect on recently. The Jewish aspects, meanings, and traditions are crucial to understanding big parts of the Catholic Church, like the Last Supper, the Eucharist, the institution of a new Passover. I didn't know much of what Jewish scripture taught/teaches until reading this book.
I highly recommend this easy read for the Christian/Catholic that wishes to grasp the mystery of the Eucharist more, and adore Jesus all the more for it!

[Margie Dorn · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was some interesting information to be had here, especially in the first half of the book. The reason I did not rate the book more highly was because as the book went on I realized that this was less a case of a scholar who happened to be Roman Catholic doing good research on an interesting topic, and more a case of a person turning a research project into a matter of Roman Catholic apologetics. The researcher was not unbiased, nor attempting to be. The last-written gospel, the book of John, was quoted more than just about anything, which would be fine except for the author's unscholarly literalism and transparent bias. That being said, I was glad to be reminded of the Jewish roots of the holy food, holy drink, and holy meal no matter what one's current tradition.

[Valerie L · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book turned out to be different from what I was looking for. It seemed the author kept repeating himself, took forever to get to a point, and was hung up on the literal eating and drinking of Christ's blood and body. Perhaps for someone wanting to read everything about the Jewish sacrament this would be good, but if you are a casual reader looking for a thoughtful but interesting book to give you new insights - I'd go elsewhere.

[Joshua Biggs · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main goal of this book is to demonstrate how an understanding of the Jewish roots of the Eucharist leads to the conclusion of Christ’s body being physically present in the bread and wine (transubstantiation); I don’t think the book accomplished that which is why I’m giving it 2 stars. There were lots of great historical insights on how Jesus was instituting a new Passover in the Last Supper, and how a failure to see the Last Supper as a recapitulation of the Passover fails to see its full significance. Love that. The section on Gethsemane and the cross being a continuation and consummation of the Passover meal was particularly insightful for me. But where the author failed (at least in my opinion) is proving how the Jewish roots of the Lord’s Supper proves the catholic view of the bodily presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
There were several times in the book where the author made some inferences from biblical texts and then proceeded in his argument as though his inferences were fact. For example, a key argument he used was claiming that the Passover meal in Egypt was not complete until the sacrificed animal was eaten, thus the blood on the doorpost was not effective until the animal was eaten by all members of the household. This, of course, is only a guess and isn’t claimed by the actual text, but is subsequently used throughout the book as if it were fact. This is indicative of a pattern throughout the book which was reading the Old Testament through the lens of Transubstantiation, rather than the opposite. Though I’m sure someone could say I’m reading the text through my Protestant lenses, and they could certainly be right.
I’m glad I listened to this book (Audible) and enjoyed it for the most part. I feel like my understanding of the Eucharist has grown, but I still don’t think the author succeeded in his goal of proving how the Old Testament roots of the Supper necessitate Chrit’s bodily presence in the Euchaist.

[Javier Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una joya absoluta de libro. No puedo decirlo de otra manera.
El autor nos acerca al significado de la Última Cena, de la Crucifixión y la Resurrección de Cristo a partir de la explicación de los textos bíblicos del Antiguo Testamento, así como de otros textos judíos y también del Nuevo Testamento; todos ellos aportan una luz impresionante sobre la Eucaristía que se instituye en la Última Cena.
Siguiendo las explicaciones del autor, Brant Pitre, todo cobra un sentido y una dimensión que son realmente emocionantes, especialmente a los ojos de un creyente.
Se recuerda y explica la primera pascua que los judíos comen en Egipto, cargada de símbolos, que Jesús, como judío, recupera en la Última Cena; pero también acompañamos a los judíos en el desierto, cuando reciben el maná del cielo; vemos qué se guarda en los Tabernáculos, cuál es el ritual que seguían los sacerdotes para sacrificar el cordero; qué esperaban del Mesías los judíos (mucho más que un salvador político); el sentido de las cuatro copas que se bebían en la Pascua; su sermón en la sinagoga de lenguaje duro que pedía a sus discípulos que comieran su carne y bebieran su sangre... todo esto y más es acogido por Jesús en la Última Cena y en la Cruz, dando continuidad, explicación y sentido a la primera Pascua para llegar a la nueva Pascua.
El pan del rostro, el pan de la presencia... son algunas expresiones preciosas que recogen el milagro de la Eucaristía.
En resumen, un libro maravilloso y de mucho provecho tanto para la razón, como para el corazón y la fe.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Brant Pitre provides an excellent popular level overview of Catholic scholarship in a comprehensive and accessible manner. In this edition, Pitre covers the Catholic doctrine of the True Presence of the Eucharist, citing to scripture and ancient Jewish practices as the context for a full understanding of Jesus’ commandment to “eat His flesh and drink His blood” and the Church’s consistent interpretation of these words for 2000 years. I found Pitre’s scholarship and defense of the doctrine of the True Presence to be convincing, well researched and defended, and informative, while also providing spiritual sustenance that strengthened my faith as a Catholic. Pitre covers many basics related to the Biblical and historic roots of the Eucharist, but also covers many lesser known elements of Eucharistic theology that I was less familiar with. He relies a lot on typology between the Old and New Testaments and also cites Jewish sources dating back to Second Temple Judaism. I particularly found the scholarship on the “Fourth Cup” theology to be fascinating. As always with a popular level book, there could be plenty more said for the various topics Pitre covers and it would be impossible to cover everything within the confines of this singular book, but this was just enough to whet the reader’s appetite to dig more deeply into this topic. Though Pitre does come with the perspective of a Catholic, I do believe that Christians of any tradition will be able to benefit from Pitre’s work in uncovering more of the mystery of the Eucharist/Lord’s Supper. Overall, for what it sets out to do, I believe Pitre succeeds in giving an accessible summary of the Jewish roots of the Catholic teaching on the Eucharist. This is truly a great resource for our Faith and I am grateful for Pitre’s excellent work and service to the Church.

[Nick Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredible and I think extremely important to read for any Catholic who wants to understand why we celebrate the Eucharist. I love the way Brant Pitre writes. I feel like I'm sitting in a lecture and he communicates in a way that makes me eager to learn more

[Katie Wyble · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reaffirmation that there is no other option besides being enamored by the history, the mystery and the beauty of the Eucharist