Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told, by Brant Pitre. Image Books, 2014.
Readers are invited to the Messiah's wedding
feast plus what heaven might be! Therein is contained a new way to look at the sacraments, private prayer, Scripture, and the sacrament of matrimony. The author writes with a very special style and deep insight into the way of Jesus Christ, in which the reader is encouraged to develop a great love for Christ and the Church.
The theme of Bridegroom is given with a fresh taste for
the divine love story, and shows how baptism, Eucharist, marriage, and religious life can be transformative. Pitre opens insights to the many ways Christ wants to marry His people, and shows that death is that final marriage with the Holy. Hence in heaven there is no marriage and giving in marriage between humans; there is only the divine espousal with Christ.
Several Scripture stories are
developed in depth, especially the wedding feast at Cana, the woman at the well, the Last Supper, and the crucifixion. Pitre develops the Passion of Jesus as the consummation of the spousal relationship between Jesus and His people.
Scholars and the ordinary folks on the street can find richness in this book and help to translate it into everyday life. I found Chapter Six called the "Bridal
Mysteries" to be the richest and most practical chapters. Pitre develops the four mysteries as true signs of the spousal relationship between Christ and the Church, namely baptism, Eucharist, marriage, and the way of the vowed religious. This chapter is definitely worth the price of the whole book!!!!
Already as a child, Joseph showed a fondness for prayer. After a short career with the Capuchins, he joined the Conventuals. Following a brief assignment caring for the friary mule, Joseph began his studies for the priesthood. Though studies were very difficult for him, Joseph gained a
great deal of knowledge from prayer. He was ordained in 1628.
Joseph's tendency to levitate during prayer was sometimes a cross; some people came to see this much as they might have gone to a circus sideshow. Joseph's gift led him to be humble, patient and obedient, even though at times he was greatly tempted and felt forsaken by God. He fasted and wore iron chains for much of his
life.
The friars transferred Joseph several times for his own good and for the good of the rest of the community. He was reported to and investigated by the Inquisition; the examiners exonerated him.
Joseph was canonized in 1767. In the investigation preceding the canonization, 70 incidents of
levitation are recorded.
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Topics being discussed at this time include: A Christian critique of Sri Aurobindo's writings - Book and Movie Reviews forum. Watching Iraq - Religion and Culture forum.
Spirit is a difficult word to define. It is the part of the conscious person, that aspect of awareness that animates our bodies. Biblically, it is sometimes used synonymously with soul (Job. 7:11; Isa. 26:9). It is often used in reference to a person's most
inward thoughts (1 Cor. 2:11). Spirit does not have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). The spirit of a man is created by God (Zech. 12:1).
The word is also used in reference to the 3rd person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:32), and also for demonic spirits (Mark 1:23; 5:8; Luke 4:33).
