Flesh of the Church, Flesh of Christ

This book is a fitting last testament of a great ecumenist whose extensive writings on ecclesiology have consistently imagined Christ's Church ecumenically.Theological Studies Flesh of the Church, Flesh of Christ takes one to the inner mystery of the church where daily experiences of conversion, ecclesial identity, eucharistic spirituality, integrity of life, sacramental practice and contemplative living are linked. Tillard mines the tradition to make clear that Christian existence is 'integrally a church existence.' He lays the foundation from which contemporary issues of globalization and diversity, inculturation, ecumenism and eucharistic practice must ultimately be resolved.Judith A. Merkle, S.N.D. de N., Niagara University This book includes an abundance of primary source material; it could serve an important function in a course on ecclesiology. Because Tillard's passion for church unity is palpable, this work is an exhortation as well as an argument. Fidelity to Christ, he urges, requires conversion of life and the restoration of visible unity in a Eucharistic and an ecclesial communion.Worship In Flesh of the Church, Flesh of Christ the late J.-M.R. Tillard leaves us a fitting conclusion to his considerable body of work on an ecclesiology of communion. Tillard offers a virtual tutorial in biblical and patristic ecclesiology as he makes the case that in the early centuries of the church Christian life was understood as a thoroughly ecclesial existence. 'Communion' has become a central concept in contemporary ecclesiology. For those who wish to grasp the depth and breadth of this ancient view of the church, there is no better guide than Tillard.Rick Gaillardetz, University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas With Tillard's death, the Church laments and gives thanks for one the great ecumenists of our time. In this, his first posthumous work in English, he takes up again his abiding concern: Rather than being a juridical or sociological reality, the Church is first and finally a sacramental and mystical communion. Only by taking this insight with utmost seriousness can our ecumenical efforts move forward in the twenty-first century.Michael Downey, Professor of Systematic Theology and Spirituality, St. John's Seminary, Camarillo, Author, Altogether Gift: A Trinitarian Spirituality