At the Supper of the Lamb: A Pastoral and Theological Commentary on the Mass by Paul Turner (review)

238 Antiphon 16.3 (2012) library of those who are seeking deeper spiritual reflections on fully entering into the sacramental and liturgical actions of the Mass. Shawn Colberg Saint John’s University Collegeville, Minnesota Paul Turner At the Supper of the Lamb: A Pastoral and Theological Commentary on the Mass Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 2011 x + 163 pp. Paperback $16.95. The appearance of the third edition of the Roman Missal, according to the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, blesses the whole Church with the opportunity to “deepen its understanding of the Sacred Liturgy, and to appreciate its meaning and importance in our lives.” Parish communities are encouraged not to simply implement the changes, but to use this event as a moment for liturgical catechesis so that the faithful may deepen their engagement with the liturgy. Paul Turner’s volume provides an excellent tool for doing exactly that. This book seeks to help individuals and communities “understand the parts of the Mass so that you may enter them more intentionally and prepare for them with wisdom” (ix). Further, it strives to provide a pastoral, historical and theological background to the various parts of the Mass, not merely as a commentary but as “an invitation to worship, a call to a new intention, a deeper awareness of the privilege we share to be invited to the supper of the Lamb” (ix). Fr. Turner is one of the most prolific and respected authors of pastoral resources on sacramental and liturgical practices. He holds a doctorate in sacred theology from Sant’Anselmo in Rome, is a former president of the North American Academy of Liturgy, and serves as a facilitator for the International Committee for English in the Liturgy. He is also a priest of the Diocese of Kansas City-St Joseph and pastor of St. Anthony parish in Kansas City, Missouri. Turner’s scholarly expertise and his rich experiences as a pastor come together to make this book a truly distinctive and effective resource for worship leaders, liturgy committees, pastors, and music ministers. At the Supper of the Lamb follows the Order of the Mass in the Roman Missal, including the texts for each of the four Eucharistic Prayers. Turner treats each rite by beginning with the appropriate text and rubrics from the Roman Missal, along with pertinent citations from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. He then considers many of the theological, 239 Book Reviews historical, and practical aspects underlying the given text and rubrics. Every section concludes with a series of discussion questions that probe deeper into the meaning of the rites described and their application within particular worshipping communities. These discussion questions are a particularly strong point within this excellent text. The questions reflect Turner’s deep insight into the lives of parish communities and the theological and pastoral concerns that arise in them. For example, after describing the development and theological foundation of the Penitential Act, Turner asks: “On what occasions does your worshipping community use the blessing and sprinkling of water? Why have you made those choices?” and “How much silence is observed after the priest invites the community to recall its sins? Is it enough?” (13). Space is given for readers to write responses to the questions, and thus the entire volume has the appearance of a workbook. In this way, the very format of the book helps engender the result it seeks to achieve: personal reflection and engagement with the Mass. One of the greatest strengths of this volume is the way it uses the pastoral experience of particular communities as a resource for their own ongoing liturgical catechesis. Turner’s book laudably traces the historical origins of various rites to give readers a sense of the ancient patrimony surrounding certain prayers and practices. Few readers will know that the earliest extant version of the Roman Canon comes from a fourth century work on the sacraments by Ambrose of Milan (69) or that the word Alleluia appears only once in the New Testament, in the Book of Revelation, where it serves as a refrain for a hymn sung to the risen Christ and that this is, perhaps, why the Alleluia became attached to...