The Liturgical Year: The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life - The Ancient Practices Series

Used for a class

This is a very good introduction to understanding the liturgical calendar. It is also one of the better books in this series produced by Thomas Nelson. But the book has some glaring faults as well. There is not a lot of Scripture to reinforce the liturgical calendar so much of the book relies on stories and history. Now, this is not bad but it make the book feel a little "light." Also, the book has some obvious references to Roman Catholicism. Again, this is not a bad thing either but if you are any other denomination or practicing Christian faith than RC you will have to work through some of that thinking as well.All in all the book is very good and the faults aren't enough to ruin the book but take what you can and toss the rest. You will still enjoy the book!

I absolutely adore the writing style of Joan Chit roster! She is so wise and really breaks down the "why" behind the liturgical year ❤️

Arrived quickly and am enjoying the book.

Our Christian liturgical year is the product of many traditions and centuries of interpretation. Reading The Liturgical Year" was a rewarding experience for me despite my many years of study and involvement with the events of the various seasons. What has fascinated me is that over the years the people have made a number of embellishments to the seasonal events which have enhanced their significance and religious importance. The book is well worth a reading! Rick Wheeler

An excellent resource for anyone interested in following the liturgical calendar. Clear, concise explanations of the Feast days and insightful glimpses of the history of the Church through its' traditions and practices.I'm Presbyterian and thank Sr. Joan for a truly catholic (small 'c' intended) book.

I sometimes wish she included more breakdowns for the liturgical year. And sometimes I don't totally agree with her opinions regarding a liturgical item. But it is good information and sometimes helps me see the liturgical items in a different way.

A joy filled encounter with the annual cycle, made blessed by an inspired guide. With the beginning of each New season of the church, I will revisit these reflections.

“LIKE A GREAT WATERWHEEL, THE LITURGICAL YEAR goes on relentlessly irrigating our souls, softening the ground of our hearts, nourishing the soil of our lives until the seed of the Word of God itself begins to grow in us, comes to fruit in us, ripens in us the spiritual journey of a lifetime.”This was a delightful read. I’ve been enjoying the depth of the church calendar in recent years, but not having grown up in a liturgical tradition, I confess to being a bit lost as to the purpose and logic of some aspects of the calendar. However, Chichester, in simple prose, guides through the year pausing to explain, enhance and enjoy the moments of the journey.What began for me as a quest to understand surprised me in opening up to me just how much discipleship can be done by the calendar. These dates and rhythms are far from accidental and deeply spiritual.If you are interested in exploring a deeper spirituality which is fundamentally shaped by Jesus, I’d recommend this book and what it recommends to you.Here’s a couple of extra quotes to convince you:“We live a liturgical life in order to become like the One whom we follow from the manger to the Mount of Olives. We live a liturgical life to learn to think like He thinks. To do what He would do. To make Him the center of our lives.”“those who see the spiritual life as a life of restrictions and demands, of only yes or no, of life bounded by limits and denial, fail entirely to understand that the spirituality of the liturgical year is a spirituality made out of the shards and triumphs of life.”“The way we define our years determines what we think our lives are meant to be about and how we will live because of it.”“The liturgical year is an adventure in bringing the Christian life to fullness, the heart to alert, the soul to focus. It does not concern itself with the questions of how to make a living. It concerns itself with the questions of how to make a life.”“The liturgical year is the year that sets out to attune the life of the Christian to the life of Jesus, the Christ. It proposes, year after year, to immerse us over and over again into the sense and substance of the Christian life until, eventually, we become what we say we are—followers of Jesus all the way to the heart of God. The liturgical year is an adventure in human growth, an exercise in spiritual ripening.”

Came on time. Great book. Brilliant.

Like all Joan's books she brings new insights to a subject you thought you already knew. I love her thoughts on 'ordinary time' in the liturgical year - most of our lives are made up of ordinary days; the scriptures, accompanying those ordinary days, guide us to walk the paths of the Gospel.

Food for thought!

This little book gives deeper reflections on the Christian year. I found it very helpful when reading about Advent and preparing for Christmas.