Providentially today being The Feast of Corpus Christi the next book I turned to in my book queue was 7 Secrets of the Eucharist by Vinny Flynn put out by Ignatius Press. I had read a good review of it in the Catholic blogosphere earlier and ordered it.
One of the reasons the Church gives us feasts in the first place is often to emphasize a mystery. It would be wonderful if once are intellects grasped something it was immediately incorporated in our will and daily lives, but the fact is that even with great mystery of the Eucharist of which we can never fully plumb we still become complacent. Feasts such as today’s can help remind us and to restore that wonder and so too can good spiritual reading.
7 Secrets of the Eucharist is exactly that type of book. It is not an apologetic book on the Eucharist but a helpful guide on living out this Holy Sacrament. At 107 pages the book is an easy read, but its shortness has nothing to do with its usefulness. The author admits that what he has to say are not secrets in reality, but information that seems to be last to many in however they received their catechesis. I would call them virtual secrets because they are not put much in practice, but are certainly part of the Church’s constant teaching.
The seven secrets he lays out our immediately useful for application and he says of course the number seven in this case does not limit the actual great number of helpful advice in incorporating the Eucharist fully into our lives, but just seven he has picked out. Prominently he uses the writings of St. Faustina to illustrate his points. Also referenced are Papal documents, the Catechism, Saint Padre Pio, and several other saints.
Vinny Flynn’s writing style is very good and while at times he uses some of the theological terms that Church uses, he does it in such a way as that you easily know what the terms signify. This is a book that will be pretty much be useful for the majority of Catholics and I know I picked up quite a few solid ways of looking at the Eucharist that once again sparks that wonder and joy of the Blessed Sacrament. Highly recommended and definitely on my re-read list.
6 comments
Thanks for the review, Jeff. Sounds like one to add to my list. You know “the list” of books that every time you have crossed one off as read its three longer than when you picked that book up?
Under the Mercy,
Matthew S
If anyone is interested, Vinnie Flynn has a talk based on the book available at Catholicity.com. He also has an excellent CD of Eucharistic Hymns called “Benedictus” that I would highly recomend.
By the way Jeff, you’re in good company in recommending the book. It is also highly recommended by George Cardinal Pell of Australia & Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R.
Actually I just bought the book on the weekend, just in time for Corpus Christi. I haven’t finished yet, but there’s definitely lots to think about in connection with my own spiritual life.
It’s not surprising he mentions St. Faustina a lot because he’s very involved with the Divine Mercy devotion (for those who don’t know, he sings the Divine Mercy chaplet with his family in the broadcast on EWTN during the week).
That book doesn’t list the “alternative” interpretation of the miracle of the loaves and the fishes, does it? Sigh.
One advantage to hearing one of my most unfavorite “alternative” perspectives on, of all days, Corpus Christi, is that the most likely purpose of the much less satisfying miracle of people sharing and creating community is to undermine the Eucharist as Source of our community…
How else, unless this theory began with evil intent, could theologians ignore “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd. By now they have been with me three days, and have NOTHING to eat.
(Mt 15)
Could it be that the “new miracle story” is made of yeast?
Ah, the infamous “Miracle of Sharing” …..I escaped it this year. It always amazes me how could anyone even think of giving Jesus’ miracle a natural human “community” interpretation?
Don’t these “scholars” believe in the Real Presence? If not, how can they call themselves Catholics?
We have copies of this book in our adoration chapel. It is a treasure. Our pastor spoke on it at a recent homily.
Thank you for using your blog to promote this wonderful work.
Karen