NIHIL OBSTAT:

IMPRIMATUR:

"The work of our redemption is continued, and its fruits are imparted to us during the celebration of the liturgy," says Pope Pius XII in his encyclical Mediator Dei. In this book will be found some account of the work of our redemption precisely under this aspect of its continuation and application through the liturgy. The first part deals with some underlying principles and with the seven sacraments; the second part treats of "the summit and centre of the Christian religion", namely the Sacrifice of the Mass.

These chapters originally appeared as articles in the American liturgical review Worship, published by the Benedictines of St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota, U.S.A. The Editor, Dom Godfrey Diekmann, O.S.B., wanted some articles which would be intelligible to new readers of the review - readers who had as yet no "liturgical background", and he did me the great honour of asking me to write the series which, it was hoped, would help not only beginners but also others who desire to spread the knowledge of the liturgy.

The articles were later published from St. John's Abbey in the form of a book entitled Of Sacraments and Sacrifice. Now they are presented afresh to the English public under a new title. There have been a few minor changes and omissions to adapt the book for England, and one new chapter (the last) has been added.

An important addition to the original articles comes into the book in the form of illustrations. (Illustrations omitted from Website to save on download time). These have been drawn by Miss Jane Sampson who has put into artistic form the ideas supplied to her. My best thanks are due to her for her fine work, to the Editor of Worship for his permission to bring out an English edition, and to Fr. Paul Crane, S.J., of the Catholic Social Guild, Oxford, for undertaking to publish it in this country.

PART ONE: THE SACRAMENTS

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