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Mystery of the Altar: Daily Meditations on the Eucharist
The voices of great saints and holy teachers of the past ring out clearly in a unanimous chorus of praise and adoration for the supreme sacrament of the Eucharist. In Mystery of the Daily Meditations on the Eucharist, Kenneth J. Howell and Joseph Crownwood have brought together these voices to demonstrate the unwavering faith of the Church in the Real Presence of Christ. Aligning daily readings with the liturgical calendar, Mystery of the Altar will enlighten and enliven readers as they contemplate the wide-ranging applications of Eucharistic truth to their lives. A worthy companion for Eucharistic adoration or personal prayer, Mystery of the Altar will ignite love for the Eucharistic Lord in the hearts of all who savor its wealth of meditations.
509 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2021
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December 19, 2021
One of the things that people all around the world have been deprived of at various stages of the COVID-19 is the gift of celebrating the Eucharist around the altar of the Lord. Such memories of “attending” livestream Mass is all too fresh in the minds of many. I think for many, including myself, there have been a renewed sense of appreciation and devotion to the Eucharist. Yet, if the Eucharist is such a great, beautiful gift given to us by Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and continued to be made available to humanity in every generation, what have the saints, Church Fathers, Popes and lay people said about it in general?
Mystery of the Altar is a new daily Catholic devotional, recently published in January 2021, which contains meditations on the Eucharist from ancient and modern Catholic sources from the ‘classics’ like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, to the ‘newer’ figures like St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. There are also several figures whom I have not heard of before, such as Maximus of Turin, Columbia Marmion, Jacobus da Varagine… and many more. Kenneth Howell and Joseph Crownwood really put in a lot of time of and effort to compile a wide variety of credible Catholic voices. The extent and diversity of reflections on the Eucharist honestly surprised me, about how many people have written and reflected upon the Eucharist throughout 2000-years of Church history. At the same time, it should not be surprising because “[t]he Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.”” (CCC 1324) Due to its centrality of the liturgical mysteries we celebrate, it has therefore deserved much attention, reflection and contemplation.
The devotional tries its best to align the feasts and memorials (that have fixed dates) with the writing of the respective saint of the day, or at least a meditation on the Eucharist which in some way relates to the mystery celebrated that day. For example, August 19 is the memorial of St. John Eudes and so the meditation contains a meditation on the Eucharist written by Eudes. September 18 is the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and so the meditation of that day contains a meditation from Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich which highlights “Mary’s priority in receiving Holy Communion” in her vision of the Last Supper. You are then not only able to meditate on the Eucharist, but you have the opportunity to do so in communion with the Saint whose feast/memorial the Church celebrates on a specific day.
However, judging by what I have written so far, I hope you are not instilled with the thought that it is just day after day of excerpts of writings of Catholic figures on the Eucharist. It is not that at all. Howell and Crownwood have put together such eloquent but concise introduction for every meditation. These serve to provide some context for what you are to read. I think the two authors put this best in their Preface:
Introductions are affixed to each passage to provide necessary background information and to highlight the prevailing Eucharistic theme.
Just like any primary source of the Catholic Church, even with the Vatican II documents, it is always good to have some introduction, at least some historical, theological context to what you are reading. It helps you to become informed about the background of what you are reading. More importantly, I think it also helps one to not form opinions or thoughts that may distort the meaning of the text being read. People nowadays I think need such introductions to what they read. A scroll on social media makes this clear – people say and form thoughts that lack background knowledge that in turn causes misundertandings among others. Therefore, just like Howell and Crownwood, if you are considering publishing a devotional with primary sources, please take that effort to not only compile material well, but also provide short introductions – it helps readers tremendously.
Speaking about compiling material well, it is very well worth noting that much time and effort was spent to provide quality content, especially in terms of its readability. I quote again from the Preface:
Many of the quoted texts have been newly translated, while others represent fitting English editions. In most cases, familiar poems and hymns have been retranslated with an eye toward the literal, avoiding poetic renderings that distort the original meaning.
Expect then, literal translations, not dynamic equivalence that would fit a certain tune. I think a prime example of this is on June 11 which features the Pange Lingua of St. Thomas Aquinas. Most people would be familiar with the hymn’s last two stanzas, commonly referred to as Tantum Ergo or Down in Adoration Falling, often sung at the start of Benediction. I provide here a side-by-side view of the poetic version, often sung at Benediction and the one provided in this devotional.
Poetic version
(commonly sung at Benediction)
Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the Sacred Host we hail,
Lo! o’er ancient forms departing
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail.
To the Everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Ghost proceeding
Forth from Each eternally,
Be salvation, honour, blessing,
Might, and endless majesty.
Amen.
Literal version
(used in Mystery of the Altar)
Therefore, so great a Sacrament,
let us afore in prostration,
and the old rites
give way to the new.
Let faith give strength
where the senses fail.
To the Begetter and the Begotten
be praise and jubilation,
reverence, honor, and might,
and blessings,
And to the one who proceeds from both,
may equal praise be.
Amen.
Interesting comparison, right? I think it is interesting to read a literal translation of such an ancient and seemingly familiar hymn, which then doesn’t seem familar when you read the literal translation.
What do you get out of this devotional? Is it merely just reading as a spiritual practice? Well maybe, but the authors have something a bit more than that, as they end the Preface:
In these pages, one finds endless apologetics, exegetical insights, and miraculous works in confirmation of the faith. It is the hope of the authors that this volume may stir hearts to an ever more profound devotion to that love of loves, Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Therefore, Mystery of the Altar would be more than just a spiritual read for every day of the year. It would become a “school” of the Eucharist, where one will have the opportuntiy to see different viewpoints of the Eucharist, in a apologetical lens, from an exegetical theological point of view but also learn of the miracles that confirm this great Mystery of our Faith.
The book comes in two versions: an eBook and a hardcopy with imitation leather cover. The copy I am reviewing from is a hardcopy and it is indeed quite a handsome volume in the hand. The hardcopy comes in imitation leather, with gilded edges, and a white stain ribbon. It is indeed a book that you would want to pick up in hardcopy, in my opinion. However, an eBook for those on the go would be equally beneficial as well. Either version will serve as a great tool for your spiritual life.
Mystery of the Altar is a great resource to start the year off right. It will give you a sense of deeper appreciation and renewed insight on the Eucharist that you may not want to take for granted such a wonderful gift. This is beautiful volume that will serve as a companion for Eucharistic renewal for many, many years to come, especially as the church in the United States of America, in particular, begin their plan for Eucharistic Revival.
Full review here: https://thecatholicmanreviews.wordpre...
Mystery of the Altar is a new daily Catholic devotional, recently published in January 2021, which contains meditations on the Eucharist from ancient and modern Catholic sources from the ‘classics’ like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, to the ‘newer’ figures like St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. There are also several figures whom I have not heard of before, such as Maximus of Turin, Columbia Marmion, Jacobus da Varagine… and many more. Kenneth Howell and Joseph Crownwood really put in a lot of time of and effort to compile a wide variety of credible Catholic voices. The extent and diversity of reflections on the Eucharist honestly surprised me, about how many people have written and reflected upon the Eucharist throughout 2000-years of Church history. At the same time, it should not be surprising because “[t]he Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.”” (CCC 1324) Due to its centrality of the liturgical mysteries we celebrate, it has therefore deserved much attention, reflection and contemplation.
The devotional tries its best to align the feasts and memorials (that have fixed dates) with the writing of the respective saint of the day, or at least a meditation on the Eucharist which in some way relates to the mystery celebrated that day. For example, August 19 is the memorial of St. John Eudes and so the meditation contains a meditation on the Eucharist written by Eudes. September 18 is the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and so the meditation of that day contains a meditation from Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich which highlights “Mary’s priority in receiving Holy Communion” in her vision of the Last Supper. You are then not only able to meditate on the Eucharist, but you have the opportunity to do so in communion with the Saint whose feast/memorial the Church celebrates on a specific day.
However, judging by what I have written so far, I hope you are not instilled with the thought that it is just day after day of excerpts of writings of Catholic figures on the Eucharist. It is not that at all. Howell and Crownwood have put together such eloquent but concise introduction for every meditation. These serve to provide some context for what you are to read. I think the two authors put this best in their Preface:
Introductions are affixed to each passage to provide necessary background information and to highlight the prevailing Eucharistic theme.
Just like any primary source of the Catholic Church, even with the Vatican II documents, it is always good to have some introduction, at least some historical, theological context to what you are reading. It helps you to become informed about the background of what you are reading. More importantly, I think it also helps one to not form opinions or thoughts that may distort the meaning of the text being read. People nowadays I think need such introductions to what they read. A scroll on social media makes this clear – people say and form thoughts that lack background knowledge that in turn causes misundertandings among others. Therefore, just like Howell and Crownwood, if you are considering publishing a devotional with primary sources, please take that effort to not only compile material well, but also provide short introductions – it helps readers tremendously.
Speaking about compiling material well, it is very well worth noting that much time and effort was spent to provide quality content, especially in terms of its readability. I quote again from the Preface:
Many of the quoted texts have been newly translated, while others represent fitting English editions. In most cases, familiar poems and hymns have been retranslated with an eye toward the literal, avoiding poetic renderings that distort the original meaning.
Expect then, literal translations, not dynamic equivalence that would fit a certain tune. I think a prime example of this is on June 11 which features the Pange Lingua of St. Thomas Aquinas. Most people would be familiar with the hymn’s last two stanzas, commonly referred to as Tantum Ergo or Down in Adoration Falling, often sung at the start of Benediction. I provide here a side-by-side view of the poetic version, often sung at Benediction and the one provided in this devotional.
Poetic version
(commonly sung at Benediction)
Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the Sacred Host we hail,
Lo! o’er ancient forms departing
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail.
To the Everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Ghost proceeding
Forth from Each eternally,
Be salvation, honour, blessing,
Might, and endless majesty.
Amen.
Literal version
(used in Mystery of the Altar)
Therefore, so great a Sacrament,
let us afore in prostration,
and the old rites
give way to the new.
Let faith give strength
where the senses fail.
To the Begetter and the Begotten
be praise and jubilation,
reverence, honor, and might,
and blessings,
And to the one who proceeds from both,
may equal praise be.
Amen.
Interesting comparison, right? I think it is interesting to read a literal translation of such an ancient and seemingly familiar hymn, which then doesn’t seem familar when you read the literal translation.
What do you get out of this devotional? Is it merely just reading as a spiritual practice? Well maybe, but the authors have something a bit more than that, as they end the Preface:
In these pages, one finds endless apologetics, exegetical insights, and miraculous works in confirmation of the faith. It is the hope of the authors that this volume may stir hearts to an ever more profound devotion to that love of loves, Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Therefore, Mystery of the Altar would be more than just a spiritual read for every day of the year. It would become a “school” of the Eucharist, where one will have the opportuntiy to see different viewpoints of the Eucharist, in a apologetical lens, from an exegetical theological point of view but also learn of the miracles that confirm this great Mystery of our Faith.
The book comes in two versions: an eBook and a hardcopy with imitation leather cover. The copy I am reviewing from is a hardcopy and it is indeed quite a handsome volume in the hand. The hardcopy comes in imitation leather, with gilded edges, and a white stain ribbon. It is indeed a book that you would want to pick up in hardcopy, in my opinion. However, an eBook for those on the go would be equally beneficial as well. Either version will serve as a great tool for your spiritual life.
Mystery of the Altar is a great resource to start the year off right. It will give you a sense of deeper appreciation and renewed insight on the Eucharist that you may not want to take for granted such a wonderful gift. This is beautiful volume that will serve as a companion for Eucharistic renewal for many, many years to come, especially as the church in the United States of America, in particular, begin their plan for Eucharistic Revival.
Full review here: https://thecatholicmanreviews.wordpre...
February 23, 2024
Was not as powerful as I expected. Some days left me with nothing while some days I shared with others what I read. I just wanted more on every page!!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews