Why Go to Church?: The Drama of the Eucharist
Radcliffe, Timothy
Continuum, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-8264-9956-1
Subject: church, eucharist

Written by a spiritual master this is an important Lent title that examines what it means to celebrate the Eucharist, and in turn reminds us of our capability for love, hope and faith.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. Whilst 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.

Timothy Radcliffe was until recently Master of The Dominican Order. He is the winner of the 2007 Michael Ramsey prize for theological writing for his book What is the Point of Being a Christian? He lives in Oxford.

Here is something you don't see every day. Timothy Radcliffe's recent book, Why Go to Church?: The Drama of the Eucharist, has been selected as the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book for 2009. The text also contains a foreword by the Archbishop, Rowan Williams. Aside from the important issues explored by Radcliffe in this text, it is a sign of great ecumenical convergence that we might see a Catholic author, writing on the Eucharist, recommended by an Anglican archbishop.