Book Review: Eastern Catholic Theology in Action
This book, Eastern Catholic Theology in Action – Essays in Liturgy, Ecclesiology, and Ecumenism, is part of a useful collection of resources being developed by The Catholic University of America Press.
I came upon this book recently while writing a paper exploring ecumenism within/among Roman Catholicism, Catholicism’s Eastern rites, and Eastern Orthodox traditions. While I had already read several books about Eastern rites and Orthodox traditions and have worked as a liturgist in the Roman Catholic rite, I spent far more time than I expected pulling together and synthesizing accurate and reflective information for my paper. I was initially self-critical (“Why did it take so much time to write this paper? I’ve already read several books about Eastern rites and traditions. Aren’t I more academically competent than this?”). Then, after I submitted my own academic paper for grading, I started reading in full the book Eastern Catholic Theology in Action (2024). The editors and publishers explain at the book’s beginning that too little academic and theological attention has been given to Eastern Catholic rites; The Catholic University of America Press has committed to changing this with a series of books – include this book. Reading this provided me with a sense of relief. I realized that the books I had already read (I reviewed some of them for this blog) were catechetically insightful for understanding the spirituality and liturgical perspectives of Eastern rites and traditions, but did not lay enough academic groundwork needed for the Master’s in Theology paper I wrote. Of note: the inside cover of this book (Eastern Catholic Theology in Action – Essays in Liturgy, Ecclesiology, and Ecumenism) states that scholars of Eastern Christianity often have little to offer when asked for an intro to Eastern Christian theology. Therefore, I appreciate The Catholic University of America Press’s commitment to ongoing scholarly attention to Eastern Catholic rites. My recent dismay at how hard I worked to write my own paper has produced enthusiasm for absorbing The Catholic University of America Press academic content on this subject. I bookmarked their website to keep track of additional pending publications about Eastern Catholic rites. This book is contributing to my academic development from reading books catechetically to thinking academically about ecclesial theology.
Eastern Catholic Theology in Action – Essays in Liturgy, Ecclesiology, and Ecumenism has been published to scholastically explore “the unique patrimony of the Eastern Catholic Churches, divided according to the categories of Liturgy, Theology, Spirituality, Discipline, and Culture.” The book provides a deep dive into the concepts I sought to discuss in my own brief paper. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deepened understanding of Eastern Catholic rites. Count The Catholic University of America Press as a go-to resource for Westerners wanting to learn about Eastern rites.
Kim Burkhardt blogs about faith at The Hermitage Within. Thank you for reading this faith blog and for sharing it with your friends. While you are here, please feel welcome to provide support to sustain this blog ($$).
