The brilliant and apparently indefatigable Elizabeth Scalia, known to many as The Anchoress, is hard at work again, expanding the Book Club on Patheos. Patheos is a newish site, sort of an online clearinghouse for religious ideas and information — a fascinating place!
Scalia is the managing editor of Patheos’ Catholic Portal, and she recently asked me to review Brant Pitre’s new book, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper.
I will admit, I hardly ever read non-fiction books, whether religious or otherwise — but I enjoyed the heck out of this one. It was easy to read, with a pleasant, conversational style; but the ideas in it were . . . astonishing. That’s the only word for it.
I heartily recommend this book as Lenten reading — not because it would be a penance, ho ho, but because it does a great job of taking what you know, half-know, forgot, or never would have guessed about the Eucharist and making it into a cohesive story that illuminates – well, the history of salvation. I know that sounds like a lot, but it’s quite a book.
Read my review here! And here you will find Scalia’s interview with the author, an excerpt from the book, and a review by Julie Davis, the Happy Catholic.
