The Liturgical Year, a review

I have been, or can be if you click on a link and make a purchase, compensated via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value for writing this post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

When I first began reviewing books beyond homeschooling, it seemed like few offerings were Catholic books.  So, I jumped at the opportunity to see what a Christian publisher had to offer with a nun (Joan Chittister, a Benedictine sister) doing the writing.  The topic of the liturgical year is something I am always seeking to learn more about as I grow in my faith.  The book is the seventh in an eight part series covering ancient practices of Christianity.

I’m not exactly sure what I was expecting.  However, I can say that this particular volume is just not hitting the mark for me.  And, I can not put my finger on where it is missing the mark.  The writing isn’t bad, but it sometimes seems to hover on a point rather than state it clearly and concisely and move along to the next item. For some, that could be a good thing.  But, for someone who is short on time and wanting a quick read to educate themselves on what the liturgical year IS, this is not the book for them.

That being said, Sister Joan Chittister still does a decent job of walking the reader through the liturgical year from Advent and Christmas to Lent and Easter with Ordinary Time found in between.  She emphasizes that the spiral we walk year after year builds upon itself as we grow in our faith.  I don’t disagree there as what we learn as a more mature adult will be different from our memories as a child.

It is the repetition within the Catholic calendar with our return to the same scripture every three years that I have grown to appreciate.  Scripture that had little meaning for me in my youth may suddenly have me going “Ah ha!” at this time in my life.  Even the major seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter take on a different tone as I have matured in faith and understanding.  Knowing that I will have the chance to revisit different times in Christ’s life on a regular schedule brings me comfort as well.  What better way to grow closer to Christ than by walking with him through the Holy Scripture documenting his life on Earth.

While I did not find this a book I would have sat down and just ‘devoured’, I can see it having great benefit for those NOT in a church with following the liturgical year.  It just might take a while to get through the entire book, unless a more academic read is enjoyable for you.  I know that several Christian friends seem to have an awakening of their own when learning about how you can walk along Christ’s life each year through the liturgical cycle.  Maybe through Sister Chittister’s writing more people will embrace this practice which some Christians had abandoned.

The Liturgical Year retails for $12.99 in paperback and can be found at major retailers along with other books in The Ancient Practices series.

Disclaimer ~ I received a copy of The Liturgical Year so I could complete this review as a blogger with BookSneeze.  No other compensation was provided and the opinions expressed are my own.