Details

We believe that every time we gather to celebrate we are acting in obedience to Jesus' command to 'do this in memory of me.' Christians have obeyed this command for nearly two thousand years on every continent, in great cathedrals and simply country churches, not to mention battlefields and prison cells. Some have given their lives as martyrs for the privilege of celebrating the Lord's death and resurrection and for partaking of His real sacramental presence in Holy Communion. What is the spiritual meaning of our celebration?

Through this fascinating series of 12 lectures, you will explore the beauty and theology of the Mass as never before with one of the world’s leading liturgical professors, and one of our favorite presenters, as your personal guide.

How does what we celebrate today find its roots in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of the Lord? How has the celebration of the Mass developed over the centuries? What is the spiritual meaning of our celebration? How did Vatican II impact Eucharistic Liturgy? Why do we read the portions of Scripture that are used in the Sunday lectionary? How were they chosen?

In a series of twelve lectures Jesuit Father John Baldovin answers these and many other questions about the most important of our Catholic liturgical celebrations. You will find these talks fascinating and uplifting.

With this order you will receive, free of charge, a detailed Electronic Study Guide. With your confirmation email, you will receive a link that will take you to this Electronic Study Guide, which includes outlines for each topic, review questions and suggested readings for further study. The link to access this Electronic Study Guide will also be included on the case of your CDs or DVDs. You are allowed to print up to 7 copies of your guide. Simply click on the link, or type it into your browser, to access the file.

About Your Presenter

John F. Baldovin, S.J. has been teaching in university and seminary settings for the past 28 years. He is currently Professor of Historical and Liturgical Theology at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. He has taught at Fordham University and the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. Fr. Baldovin worked with the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) from 1994-2002. He is past president of the North American Academy of Liturgy and the international ecumenical Societas Liturgica. He is currently president of the International Jungmann Society for Jesuits and the Liturgy.

His most recent books are Bread of Life, Cup of Salvation: Understanding the Mass (Rowman and Littlefield, 2003) and Reforming the Liturgy: A Response to the Critics(Liturgical Press, 2008).

Topic Titles

• Why Study the History of the Liturgy?
• The Earliest Liturgies in the Didache and Justin Martyr
• The Beginnings of the Eucharistic Prayer
• The Development of the Entrance Rites and the Liturgy of the Word
• The Classic Eucharistic Prayers
• The Byzantine Liturgy
• The Roman Mass in the Middle Ages: Liturgy of the Word
• The Roman Mass in the Middle Ages: Liturgy of the Eucharist
• The Roman Mass in the Middle Ages: Medieval Developments in Mass
• The Challenge of the Protestant Reformation
• The Catholic Response
• Liturgical Reform in the 18th-20th Centuries