Many liturgists refer to the Mass as drama, a great drama which encapsulates the human experience and the mysteries of God’s plan, work and love for us. T. S. Eliot once said, “the perfect and ideal drama, [is] to be found in the ceremony of the Mass”. Why go to Church? is an analysis of this drama.
Though commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury (as his 2009 Lent Book) this work is very accessible to the Catholic reader. It is rooted in the Western liturgy of the Eucharist as understood by Catholics, and most Anglicans. It’s written in a way that lacks denominational polemic, and deals with differences between Catholic and Anglican teaching by not directly dealing with them (i.e. the real presence).
Timothy Radcliffe uses the theme of drama to good effect. The book is written as a kind of study guide, which explores how the Mass relates to our human condition. It’s a commentary on the “scenes” that make up the three “acts” of the Eucharist. Therefore a wide range of topics are covered in this work – the economy, death, prayer, sin, and theology, to name a few! The first act, which Radcliffe calls Faith, covers the introductory rites and the liturgy of the word; the second, called Hope, deals with the liturgy of the Eucharist; and the third, Love, is a beautiful meditation on the rite of Communion and the dismissal. The two sections on silence (“Those who have known the deepest silence rarely say much”) and the theology of redemption (“So, one may argue, Jesus died not because God demanded a victim but because we did”) are worth noting, for their profundity and originality. Timothy Radcliffe also provides brilliant exposition on scripture throughout. One is reminded of Scott Hahn’s The Lamb’s Supper, the great exegesis on the Book of Revelation and its relevance to the Mass. Both, however, approach the subject very differently: Hahn’s book can be quite mystical, whist Why go to Church? is fundamentally an earthy book. It’s the most attractive quality of Radcliffe’s writing. This is not a liturgical flight of fancy, but, rather, a book grounded in the joys and pains of being human.
True to form, Timothy Radcliffe deploys humour effectively. The book starts with a joke! He also “preaches” well! This is a great homily on community celebration of the Eucharist. The constant use of anecdotes, quotes, and modern day parables ensure book is never egocentric. Radcliffe tells us that once a preacher hears himself preach it’s time for him to stop! The author, known for his erudition, is able to draw on writers as diverse as Dostoyevsky, Tom Wolfe, Julian of Norwich, and the Pope - to name a few! He also engages effectively with the popular genre of film: touching on Brief Encounter, The Shawshank Redemption, and Love Actually, amongst others. Many powerful anecdotes from his ministry and life as a Dominican fill the pages, such as the month he spent in Zimbabwe in 2006.
A couple of things could have added to my reading experience. At times the book seems rushed. For example, Timothy Radcliffe mentions he could spend a long time discussing why bread is important for the Eucharist, but tells us that he has no space to do this, thus leaving the reader in the dark. Also, it might be argued that the book is slightly too ambitious and covers too many subjects.
Why go to Church? is highly recommended reading. Everyone will find treasures throughout this book, and sources of grace and learning. It would be ideal “retreat” material. Timothy Radcliffe’s latest masterpiece is a must for anyone wishing to deepen their faith and explore the hidden depth and powerful human mysteries hidden within the drama of the Mass.
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