John Lawrence Darretta, Ph.D.'s Books

Sacred Senses in Sacred Space

A Journey into a Church

By: John Lawrence Darretta, Ph.D.

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Sacred Senses in Sacred Space

A Journey into a Church

By: John Lawrence Darretta, Ph.D.

Entering a church, our senses are sparked. We see candlelight, the colorful windows, and statues. We smell the faint burning wax and incense. We touch our foreheads with holy water and our knees to the floor. During Mass, we hear bells and the choir singing, and taste the sacrament. Some would say we are overwhelmed with physical objects but not spiritual essence. However, how does one know the spiritual essence if not through the physical objects? Knowledge comes through the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. We achieve understanding and move further into spiritual awareness. Our senses communicate symbols that are physical signs of the abstract, the spiritual, and the metaphysical. SACRED SENSES IN SACRED SPACE contributes to a greater understanding and reverence for sacred objects as perceived through the senses designed for the layman rather than an academic study of the historical or liturgical origins of sacred objects and images. Sacred Senses guides the reader through a church on a meditative journey down the sanctuary’s central aisle. Along the way, it reveals what we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch, which moves us from the physical to the spiritual. It begins with an introductory chapter on using your senses and recognizing signs in a sacred space. The book is organized according to the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Listed under each specific sense are various objects and practices that we experience in church with a page of description, definition, background, and meditative comments, and a scriptural reference. Each chapter showcases a relevant photograph and ends with a pertinent quote or poetic verse, so that the sacred objects are revealed and revered. Together, the pages quickly explain and show each object with its beauty, meaning, and purpose within the sacred space. Teaching the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and Religious Education programs for adults and youths, I discovered students of the Catholic faith must know the truth about the “smells and bells” of the Catholic Church and their spiritual significance. Yet, I have known Catholics who do not fully understand why we have statues, fonts, tabernacle, ringing bells, burning candles, swirling incense, and more. Sacred Senses in Sacred Space is an excellent devotional and educational experience for use in RCIA and Religious Education programs, book clubs, and for inquisitive audiences.

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114

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Gatekeeper Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

1662932561

ISBN 13

9781662932564

Before the Sun Has Set

Retribution in the Fiction of Flannery O'Connor

By: John Darretta

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Before the Sun Has Set

Retribution in the Fiction of Flannery O'Connor

By: John Darretta

This detailed analysis of the theme of retribution is a key to understanding the fiction of Flannery O'Connor. An idea central to the Bible, Dante, and Chaucer - one is paid back for the evil one does or for failure to do good - retribution expresses O'Connor's interest as a writer and defines the contour of her achievement as an artist. Within the twenty-year span of her writing career, O'Connor's notion of retribution expanded from her original concept in her first story, «The Geranium, » of retribution as personal and familial, to her final version in her last story, «Judgement Day, » which shows an interest that is eschatological.

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162

Publisher

Peter Lang

Published Date

ISBN 10

0820481661

ISBN 13

9780820481661

Sacred Senses in Sacred Space

A Journey into a Church

By: John Lawrence Darretta, Ph.D.

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Sacred Senses in Sacred Space

A Journey into a Church

By: John Lawrence Darretta, Ph.D.

Average ratings

N/A

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Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

114

Publisher

Gatekeeper Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

1662932561

ISBN 13

9781662932564

Book's by John Lawrence Darretta, Ph.D.

Sacred Senses in Sacred Space

Sacred Senses in Sacred Space

Before the Sun Has Set

Before the Sun Has Set

Sacred Senses in Sacred Space

Sacred Senses in Sacred Space

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