Reviews
Worship in the Early Church transforms a rich store of liturgical tradition into a readily accessible reference set. This work is highly recommended for libraries with strong theological collections.
American Reference Books Annual
Worship in the Early Church will provide a useful overview of the commonalities and differences in worship traditions within the Church, not only across time but also across space. . . . To discover these early writings on worship is to discover a spirit that has been lost in our modern age. For Christians to appropriate that spirit would connect us much more strongly to the Early Church and to the teachings of Christ than any given liturgical practice.
Theological Librarianship
The layout and format are clear, the bibliographies substantial and helpful, and the translations straightforward and accessible. This will be a helpful resource for those without access to original languages and critical editions who are looking for a good, brief orientation to important sources of liturgical study in the first six centures.
The Catholic Historical Review
This work has been long awaited in many quarters. . . . This set will be of immense practical value for a variety of audiences. Highly recommended.
CHOICE
Lawrence Johnson has accomplished the near impossible in this four-volume anthology of early Christian liturgical texts and other patristic documents related to the study of early Christian worship in the first six centuries of the Church. This collection is comprehensive in its cope and wide in its breadth. . . . There is not another collection like it in English.
Worship
Worship in the Early Church is a rich treasure trove of source materials for those who study early Christian worship. This anthology gives them access to English translations of a wide range of ancient sources that may not be otherwise available to them. The author, who studied under Pierre Marie Gy and Pierre Jounel at the Institut Catholique in Paris, has done scholars a great service in providing these translations, the majority of them his own. Johnson's comprehensive bibliography, with entries covering the past century and a half, will be a welcome bonus for those wishing to trace the development of scholarship on these early documents. A truly remarkable and indispensable resource!
Gilbert Ostdiek, OFM, Professor of Liturgy, Catholic Theological Union
It will be very useful to have all these texts in one location. The ability to search and to cite directly from a disk will lighten the task for authors. The bibliography is very useful and the translations are excellent.
Dominic E. Serra, SLD, Associate Professor and Director, Liturgical Studies/Sacramental Theology, The Catholic University of America
They will serve as valuable tools for serious research in the future.
Gerard Austin, OP, Rice School for Pastoral Ministry, Arcadia, Florida
The project looks tremendous . . . eminently usable for classroom purposes. This is a volume that can be used and used for years to come. . . . A much-welcomed product.
Rev. Paul Turner, S.T.D.,Saint Munchin Parish,Cameron, Missouri
This set will be a great resource. I was impressed with the thoroughness of Johnson's bibliography and his attention to detail. In addition to scholars in the area of worship or liturgy, this collection could also serve those in theology and historical theology. . . . It could have significant ecumenical appeal.
Judith M. Kubicki,Associate Professor,Department of Theology,Fordham University