The Liturgical Year: Volume VIII - Paschal Time - Book Two

The Liturgical Year #8

by Prosper Guéranger, Peter Holm (Editor), Eric Hamric (Editor)

The Liturgical Year is an essential addition to the library of any historian. It is a detailed written work, spanning 15 volumes, describing the depth and beauty of the liturgical year of the Catholic Church. The series was written by Dom Prosper Louis Pascal Guéranger, a French Benedictine priest and abbot of Solesmes, starting in 1841. In 1875, after writing nine volumes, Dom Guéranger, passed away. The remaining volumes of the series were later completed by another Benedictine monk under Dom Guéranger's name. This eye-opening series highlights the full span of the intricate and meaningful history of the Catholic Church for all to see. It details the traditions, celebrations, and liturgical practices of faithful Catholics throughout the liturgical year as they commemorate the life of Christ and His followers. Guéranger lays significant emphasis on the historical development of the liturgy in both Western and Eastern traditions, across multiple rites of the Mass. And he details how the Catholic tradition differs from the later Protestant traditions, established after 1517. Contained within the depths of Guéranger’s writings are the significances of each liturgical season, the holy days, and biographies of the saints with portions of the liturgies recited on their feast days. This is a must-have for any Christian historian or apologist who wishes to understand the foundation of European culture and the later years of Christendom. In this book you will get detailed writings - The History of Paschal Time - The Mystery of Paschal Time - The Practice during Paschal Time - The Proper of the Time (Monday of the 2nd Week after Easter to Saturday of the 5th Week after Easter) - The Proper of the Saints (April 2 - May 31)

412 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 7, 1875

About the author

Dom Prosper Louis Pascal Guéranger, Servant of God, was a Benedictine priest, abbot of Solesmes Abbey (which he founded in the disused priory of Solesmes) and founder of the French Benedictine Congregation (now the Solesmes Congregation). Dom Guéranger was the author of The Liturgical Year, which covers every day of the Catholic Church's Liturgical Cycle in 15 volumes. He was well regarded by Pope Pius IX, and was a proponent of the dogmas of papal infallibility and the Immaculate Conception. Dom Guéranger is credited with reviving the Benedictine Order in France, and revitalizing the Tridentine Mass.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosper...

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

June 7, 2023: Although I am late to post this, Volume 8 ended on May 31st and the Saint Feast days now goes to The Liturgical Year: Volume XII - Time After Pentecost - Book Three. I am sure it was much easier to follow when this actually was the Church calendar, but there is enough here which is still the same. And the rich history makes it all worthwhile!

May 4, 2023: For the last few days I have been enjoying the readings about the feast days most. In some cases, they are the same as what we still celebrate, but there are also changes, minor and major shifts and deletions, things we no longer even recognize. What a loss! Here is the line-up for the first few days of May so you can see what I mean:
May 1 – Saints Philip and James the Less, Apostles
May 2 – Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
May 3 – The Finding of the Holy Cross, also, Saint Alexander, Pope and Martyr
May 4 – Saint Monica, Widow
But it is not just the changes which are so interesting, there is a plethora of fascinating information as well as rich liturgical reading and prayers for each day! Beautiful!

The wonderful thing about these is that they are day-by-day exegesis. Unfortunately, they do not necessarily match the current Masses and readings we have now, but somehow that doesn't matter, they are still fascinating and enriching.