The most solemn, majestic, and beautiful gifts that Jesus Christ gave to the world are His sacraments. He endowed them with unprecedented and unparalleled power—power to change lives, save souls, and share God’s very life

Well, I honestly took my time getting through this one - but decided to finish it off today. Being a cradle Catholic and having gone through my rebellious/secular stage and got out of *that* tunnel alive and well (phew) & then being somewhat "born again" with the help of my cousin (by God's grace of course) - I suppose I always accepted with faith the church and all Her teachings. Having said that, I found reading this volume rather edifying. Here the sacraments are painted in terms of covenants between God and man, oaths that you make and keep (with dire consequences in their breaking) - sacraments that are the physical manifestations of divine mystery and grace, a sign that "signifies invisible realities, but it's symbolic value is infinitely richer". Heaven and earth, religion and law. Joined as only God can join such things.

"Passover, the Eucharist, and the heavenly liturgy, then, are two-edged swords. While the chalices of the covenant bring life to the faithful, they mean certain death to those who reject the covenant. In the New Covenant, as in the Old, God gives man the choice between life and death, blessing and curse (Dt30:19). To choose the covenant is to choose eternal life in God's family. To reject the New Covenant in Christ's blood is to choose one's own death."

Written by someone who, in his own words, once found the sacraments "boring" & who once held the church he is now a member of "in contempt" allows for a narrative approach and POV that is interesting to say the least (well at least to my cradle Catholic sensibilities anyhow). This is not my first Scott Hahn book and it, hopefully, won't be my last. The writing style is clear and concise and aimed at laymen - I read it without much difficulty and found many lines to go back to.

I do admit that the main reason I initially gravitated towards this title was due to fact that I had Protestant friends and also knew Catholics who had join other Protestant churches. I could not myself fathom wanting to leave the Eucharist or the rich sacraments of the Mother Church. But I suppose the Lord paves the paths that are the most fruitful for his children. And sometimes those paths may lead us away before it leads us back to Him.

Source: Bought off Book Depository
First Finished: 5march2017 ( )

NO

La promesa y la fuerza de los sacramentos

A protestant leader converts to Catholicism. In this book he tells why. ( )