Take the Plunge: Living Baptism and Confirmation

Description

Timothy Radcliffe holds a unique position in the modern Catholic Church. As Master of the Dominican Order in Rome for nine years, he held one of the most senior and influential appointments the Catholic Church has on offer. But he is a member of an Order of Preachers and is thus truly apostolic. The order's motto consists of one word, Veritas (Truth), and it is the vigorous pursuit of intellectual and emotional truth which is the hallmark of his writing. This new book will not disappoint his admirers. Here, Fr Radcliffe argues that Christianity will only thrive today, overcoming the challenges of secularism and religious fundamentalism, if we rediscover the beauty of baptism. It touches the deepest dramas of human life: birth, growing up, falling in love, daring to give oneself to others, searching for meaning, coping with suffering and failure, and eventually death.

Timothy Radcliffe was Master of The Dominican Order. He is the winner of the 2007 Michael Ramsey prize for theological writing for his book What is the Point of Being a Christian? He lives in Oxford but spends much of his year giving retreats, lectures and conference key-note addresses in the UK and overseas.

In this wide-ranging, wise and engagingly written book, Fr Radcliffe initially deals with many of the practical questions that people ask about Baptism, and then proceeds to discuss not only the various elements of the baptismal liturgy, but also the nature and challenge of the Christian vocation. In doing so he displays a deep understanding of sacramental theology, but also a deep compassion and pastoral concern for people. He has a broad and inclusive approach, finding support for his position in the Gospels as well as Church teaching, and is always clear-sighted and honest. * Spirituality * Take the Plunge is a must-read not only for priests and deacons, but also for religious education catechists and those conducting pre-baptism sessions for parents and sponsors. Readers will want to approach this book with a yellow highlighter in hand. To bypass this book would be like stumbling upon a gold mine and mistaking its ore for coal. -- Alfred J. Garrotto * US Catholic Magazine * Take the Plunge is a spirituality book based on living initiation, so its appeal is not limited to sacramental preparation or explicitly baptism-based programs. It would be a helpful resource for preaching, for faith formation of adults or young adults, and for any interested lay reader. Though written from a Catholic perspective, the ecumenical consensus on initiation may make it ecumenically useful as well. -- Kimberly Hope Belcher, University of Notre Dame * Worship, Vol 88 No 2 *