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Anyone know a book about the laity ?
Topic Started: Sunday, 13. May 2012, 20:18 (114 Views)
Gerard

All,

I am looking for a good book on the laity. This one was looking ideal - short and covering history from the earliest church till now.

The Laity in Christian History and Today

But on reading the first page (it has a preview function) it looked a tad partisan, which put me off. Could anyone recommend a good substitute book from a more catholic and/or impartial viewpoint?

Gerry
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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Rose of York
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I googled for

Catholic laity amazon

A list came up, some of the books are missals and daily office, others seem to be the sort Gerry is looking for.

***************

Amazon's list

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Keep the Faith!

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OsullivanB

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Catholicism-Crossroads-Laity-Must-Plate/dp/082642810X/ref=sr_1_114?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337021380&sr=1-114

I just came across this while browsing Amazon. It sounds as if it might be the sort of thing you're looking for, Gerry.
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer
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Gerard

Thanks Bernard, looks good.

I am afraid I succumbed and bought the first book I mentioned above and also Raymond Brown's book about the churches left by the apostles to balance it out. I have placed this recommendation in my basket but it will be a while before I get round to reading it.

Thanks again.
Gerry
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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Mairtin
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Gerard
Sunday, 13. May 2012, 20:18
All,

I am looking for a good book on the laity. This one was looking ideal - short and covering history from the earliest church till now.

The Laity in Christian History and Today

But on reading the first page (it has a preview function) it looked a tad partisan, which put me off. Could anyone recommend a good substitute book from a more catholic and/or impartial viewpoint?

Gerry
I what way partisan? It seems a fairly factual account to me.
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Gerard

Mairtin

I was a bit put off by the first two sentences of the book proper. Ch. 1, p 1.

Quote:
 
From the day of Pentecost to at least the end of the first century A.D. The church was essentially a lay movement. As the faith spread from Jerusalem outwards the converts gathered together in non-hierarchical groups in the homes of their members.


This strikes me as the wishful thinking of a charismatic house group person. Now, as a charismatic and member of house groups and prayer groups I could buy into such wishful thinking. But I dont and I think this is not an accurate description. There are elements of truth there but also too much spin. From simply reading the NT is is obvious that there was a hierarchy. And even Paul was answerable to it. And even then it did not act as instructed by their Lord (the apostles being too important to wait on tables being the example I am thinking of).

However, I also agree that the laity were at least as active as the apostles.

And - I bought the book anyway. Alsongside raymond browns book which will have a (needed?)different perspective

Gerry
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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