The Sacraments In the Christian Life by John F McDonald (St Paul Publications, £4.95).
GOODNESS knows how many bOoks have been published that deal with the Sacraments of the Church.
This one has the great advantage of being thoroughly up to date in the sense that its theology stems from the Second Vatican Council, and all references to Canon Law as it affects the administration of the Sacraments are taken from the New Code of Canon Law promulgated on January 25th, 1983, and which comes into force on November 27.
It should be read by laypeople as well as clergy, and much can be learned from it in its forthrightness, and even bluntness.
One thing for example, is the admission that the preparation of the people before receiving some of the Sacraments has been deplorable.
So the real significence of Baptism or of Marriage has not been fully appreciated or understood. Thus in some cases there have been disastrous results at a later date.
We often hear of "the film of the book". This could be named the book of the Code and Vatican Two.
Graham Jenkins