Not by Bread Alone

Rating:
Summary: The Sungenis Style
Review: All of the books written (or edited) by Robert Sungenis are all basically in the same vein. Slowly cover every inch of ground Biblically, linguistically and historically; then, systematically destroy the opponents arguments.

It worked in Not By Faith Alone and Not By Scripture Alone and it works well here too.

Mr. Sungenis explains the nature of God's covenant and the atonement in the Old and New Testaments and applies it to the theology of the Mass and the Real Presence. Finally, he develops the theology of the Eucharist historically through the writings of the church fathers. Through the course of the book, he shows how the Protestant (and Liberal Catholic) positions are simply unworkable Biblically or historically.

If you are really interested in theology then dig in. It is written at an advanced laymans level. Its exhaustive, encyclopedic scope might intimidate some readers, but I encourage anyone to read it. The theology of the Lord's Supper is central to the Christian life, so study it carefully and I guarantee you will profit greatly from it.

Rating:
Summary: Detailed Excellence
Review: Not only is this the best, most thorough work of its kind, but if all Catholic priests had to master it and use it to teach about both the Real Presence and the necessaity of propitiation, then we would not see so many contemporary Catholics who think more like Zwinglians and Calvinists than like Catholics. As with Not By Faith Alone, this book is also a must for apologetics.

Rating:
Summary: Thorough and exhaustive, yet easy enough for the layman
Review: This book is an excellent treatment of the Catholic doctrine of the Mass. Sungenis provides solid background behind the belief in covenant between God and man, and how this theme sets up our entire relationship with God. He goes through the Old Testament and explains the importance of propitiation, and how Christ atoned for man's sin.

The book also provides a good defense of the Real Presence. He answers major Protestant objections, and the footnotes provide much more technical detail. The beginner may simply skip the footnotes and focus on the substance of his arguments in the actual text.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent work!!!!
Review: this book was meant to be an apologetic defense of the sacrifice of the Mass and the Catholic teaching on the Eucharist. Sungenis does an excellent job laying out the Catholic position and giving answers to the common objections against it. This is a complete and thorough work on the topic, a must have for any serious Catholic. This book should be on every apologists book shelf.