A Living Tradition: On the Intersection of Liturgical History and Pastoral Practice

Maxwell Johnson has made multiple contributions to our understanding of liturgical history and liturgical theology. This volume honors his work by offering a set of important essays by respected scholars that bridge the distance between scholarship and praxis, to be accessible and relevant to both pastoral ministers and academic theologians.

It is organized according to three categories: liturgical year, Christian initiation, and Eucharist. Within these categories, the contributors are especially attentive to three important aspects of liturgical history:

the role that important figures in liturgical history played as liturgical pastors

how liturgical history has been used in shaping contemporary liturgical rites and prayers

how liturgical history informs contemporary understandings and beliefs

Ultimately, the book pays tribute to Johnson’s contributions to the life of the church by exploring ways that the study of liturgical history might help the church remain faithful to God and to the sacramental worldview that continues to define and characterize classic Christianity.

Contributors include:

Stefanos Alexopoulos

Paul F. Bradshaw

Michael Daniel Findikyan

Ruth Langer

Lizette Larson-Miller

Christian McConnell

Anne McGowan

David A. Pitt

Walter D. Ray

Nicholas V. Russo

Bryan D. Spinks

Robert F. Taft, SJ

Jeffrey A. Truscott

Gabriele Winkler