Why Go to Church?: The Drama of the Eucharist

by Timothy Radcliffe

The Eucharist, writes Timothy Radcliffe, is a three part drama, forming us in faith, hope and love. In this book he examines what it means to "celebrate" the Eucharist. Other people experience it as boring and pointless. Listening to the readings, the homily and the creed all take us through the crises and challenges of faith. From the offertory through to the end of the Eucharistic prayer we are caught up in the hope that was Christ's, faced with Good Friday. From the Our Father until we are sent on our way, especially in receiving communion, we are formed as people who are capable of love.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, Spirituality

214 pages, Paperback

First published April 12, 2008

About the author

Timothy Peter Joseph Radcliffe, OP was born in London in 1945. He joined the English Province of the Dominican Order in 1965, and was ordained a priest in 1971.

He was master of the Dominican order from 1992 to 2001 and professor at Oxford University.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though at times it seemed as though Timothy Radcliffe was writing on commission for a deadline, this was an excellent choice for the Archbishop's Lent Book 2009. The 'Church' is basically the Eucharist and the 'Why go' is to be sent out again, but that doesn't spoil all the insights and nuances which the author includes. The short chapters in the style of Scenes in Acts of a Drama make it easy to stay disciplined in taking it as a study over several weeks. The most ardent protestants would find little to disagree with from this Catholic's teaching, and it really does help to see that what unites us is so much greater than the tricks of the light that seem to cause Christians so much discourse and division. Recommended, and not just for Lent

[lanius_minor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anglický dominikán ve své knize (letos čerstvě vydané v češtině) představuje svoje vnímání katolické mše a já se jeho myšlenkami cítila i při třetím čtení (anglickou verzi mám doma už dávno) znovu oslovená a obohacená. Navíc když píše tak čtivě, živě a (britsky) vtipně.

[Matthew Batten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning read. One of the best theology books I have ever read.

[Melvyn Foo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suspect I may have gotten out a lot less from the book than I could have, if I had the proper background and a more academic disposition. That being said, here's my take on it.

This book was a mess of ideas. I mean that in both a good and bad way.

Bad - the ideas leapt from one to another with thin threads of connection. It was hard to discern a structure or even an argument that lead up to any kind of main thesis. The book seemed to aim to cover anything and everything in life that had the remotest connections to the Mass (which, actually, may be a legitimate aim, if the purpose of the book is to show how the Mass is pervasive in all the various aspects of life).

Which brings me to the Good - the strands of ideas were flung far, wide and deep. This book was essentially a network of theological musings criss-crossing with spiritual writing. It engendered a gamut of ideas - mostly brilliant and insightful - that fit haphazardly on a web of connections, at the centre of which was the Mass.

Sadly, my mind is not the kind that can do without structure and simply flow from idea to idea. I need distilled points, a big picture, clear structure and where each point fits in the grand scheme of the thesis (if there is a singular one). So I didn't really absorb as much as a less rigid and more flexible mind could have.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be Radcliffe's most gripping book thus far. Written by a Roman Catholic, but commissioned for and with an eye for the ecumenical, this book explores the Eucharist as the heart of who we are as Christians. Using the metaphor of a drama, he opens up a passage through how the liturgy is experienced: gathering, word, sacrament, communion, sending forth. Along the way he pauses to let us soak in the meaning and history of what we do and how we pray. In the customary Timothy Radcliffe way, he illustrates the pages with poems, quotes, songs, films and personal experiences. All mainstream Christians who value the Eucharist could find something in this book.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the quality of the prose, Radcliffe’s humour and warmth that permeates each page that makes this such a great book. Former master general of the Dominican Order, he takes familiar stuff - the parts of the Catholic Mass - and explores them to make his point: churchgoing is good for us. Theologically mainstream, but drawing on examples from life, literature and film to add flavour, he builds up his case. One can almost imagine seeing and hearing him delivering these chapters as sermons, a sight to behold. (For those curious who have never experienced him in person, check him out on YouTube).

[Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the perfect book to encourage people to go to mass and really mean it. After What is the Point of Being a Christian?, Timothy Radcliffe once again brings knowledge in the light of faith, and I really appreciate it.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Often our churches keep alive an Old Testament understanding of holiness, separating off our communities from those who are considered to have gone astray. This may look like keeping up standards, refusing the moral relativism, but actually it is just failing to catch up with the novel holiness of Christ".

[Tynan Brooks]

The central conceit of the Eucharist as drama is neat, but it's a bit too introductory for me at this point, only occasionally profound or challenging. Still a nice read.

[Ross Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is essentially a commentary on the mass of the Roman rite, and it is one of the best such commentaries I’ve read. (It might be thought of as doing for the Roman mass what Schmemann does for the Byzantine divine liturgy in his book The Eucharist.) Fr. Radcliffe is an astute interpreter of the mass and shows it to be the vital center of the Christian day.

On the other hand, the pointless digressions are frequent enough that I can’t give the book my unqualified endorsement.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that I would recommend to any Christian looking to pray more deeply in the Eucharist. Helpfully works through what happens during Eucharist (the drama) as well as tying this back to the biblical narrative. If any flaw could be detected it would be the author's love of anecdotes and stories to illustrate his points. For me this was fine (and perhaps reflects his background in the order of preachers), but for other reads could be a distraction.

[Sam Eccleston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic contribution from Radcliffe. Looking closely at the structure of the Eucharist and the associated Biblical texts, Radcliffe outlines how participation in Eucharistic worship inscribes the great themes of the Christian faith and the moments of the Biblical narrative on the consciousness of the believer. In a book overflowing with content it can be difficult to single out any particular section of the narrative for specific praise without ending up discussing the whole thing; every paragraph is bursting with insights, anecdotes, Biblical exegesis and philosophical or theological analysis, so much so that it can be difficult at times to hold onto the thread of what Radcliffe is saying. Nevertheless, there is a particular section dealing with the name of God which I would recommend the reader to look out for, if only for the breathtaking beauty of the idea it outlines, never-mind its over-all relevance to the book. This is the kind of thing most readers will have come to look out for in Radcliffe; fantastic content throughout, but with the occasional gem of insight or analysis that is so rare it changes or informs one's worldview for years to come.

Little of the material is original, but Radcliffe is not, strictly speaking, a Theologian or Philosopher, but rather a Preacher, indeed, a Master Preacher, and he does what a preacher does best- assembling the relevant information into a coherent, and crucially beautiful discourse.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book written by a Catholic Priest (Dominican) at the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury. While there wasn't anything in this book that I found completely new or earth shattering, it often offered a slightly different perspective. Spoiler - the answer to the question "Why go to church" is found at the end of the book - "To be sent from it" - thankfully, there was much more to the book than the answer to this question. For example, in the Beatitudes Christ says, 'Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.' Having a pure heart is not avoiding thinking about sex all the time. Simong Tugwell OP writes: "To have a pure heart means that everywhere you look, whatever you are looking at, you see God. God revealing himself in myriad ways, but always God..." I found the book to be a good read with many interesting nuggets of information and would be a good addition to the library of a Christian looking to explore their faith further.

[Lyndon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Radcliffe is a skilled exegete of the Christian life. In this work, he addresses the perennial question of 'why church?' through an exploration of a liturgically-shaped existence. This is not another piece of historical critique of liturgical development, but an explication of how a life lived with God is defined by the movement and posture of the Eucharist. He writes as a Roman Catholic, as a Dominican (as he should); however, this book shifts common ecclesial boundaries through an invitation to a holy life lived as a gift from a holy God. In reading, the text becomes a kind of feast that serves as a sign to the heavenly feast it celebrates. Read it for Lent.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Livre lu tout au long de l annee. Livre facil a lire mais tres difficile d en retirer des messages ou des enseignements clairs. J ai beaucoup aim'e les citations et ses phrases consices mais a la fin je ne suis pas plus avancee' sur le deroulement de la messe (a part l offertoire peut etre). Suis contente de l avoir lu cependant. Est ce que je le recommende a d autres? probablement pas. Bien que l origine decoule que l archeveque de Canterbery (church of England) au moment de Paques commande un livre religieux a un ecrivain et il y a qqs annees il en a demande' un a un prete Catholique (et non Anglican), cela demontre bien l ouverture d esprit des anglo-saxons.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book by Radcliffe sort of follows on from his previous book on Why Be A Christian, but as he states, it is not necessary to read that one first. Why Go Church closely examines each aspect of the liturgy (be it Roman Catholic or Anglican) and investigates the deeply symbolic and religious meanings behind each part. He beautifully brings the liturgy to life and his reasons for church ultimately are summed up as "we go to be sent from it" - that we may tell others of the joy and love we find therein.

[James Millikan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scholarly yet accessible, orthodox but not doctrinaire, fresh yet rooted in tradition, Why Go to Church? is an engaging read that left me wanting more. Radcliffe's Oxford credentials are on full display as he masterfully weaves pithy stories and world-affirming theology to explain the merits of the Catholic Mass.

Recommended to agnostics whose intelectual reservations stymie their belief and the beleaguered faithful who find find church to be dull and boring and need a short in the arm.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Radcliffe ends: "Why go to church? To be sent from it." An utterly obvious statement to anyone who has set foot on K Street, even for the shortest time. Yet, in a rambling, story-telling way, the 220-odd pages needed to be said to get to that one truth.

Rector's Forum, Pentecost / Advent 2009

[Melissa Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this- so insightful. 80% lines up with a progressive theology which I find interesting and appreciate. This makes me want to continue to push into the Catholic stream of Christianity. It has much to offer.

[versarbre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! I hope there are similar books for the Buddhist institution!

[Marcfavreau · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.niobium.fr/post/2009/10/05...

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

he has a very fragmentary style that works well in person, but less so on paper where it often felt like a deluge of barely-connected anecdotes.