Living Water, Sealing Spirit: Readings on Christian Initiation

The ritual structure, specific detail, prayer content and theology within the various Rites of Christian Intiation indicate significant differences, ones that cannot be forced to fit the single normative Western model that has been advaned. These essays recognize the richness of the Christian liturgical tradition: multi-formed, multi-layered and multi-liturgical. They are presented in an order that facilitates their use in the study of the historical development and theological interpretation of Christian initiation. They offer the solid foundation in the initiatory theology and history needed to promote an informed pastoral practice in the Churches today. Following the model of editor R. Kevin Seasoltz’s Bread, Saving Cup: Readings on the Eucharist , this ecumenical collection should forward the teaching and study of the rites of Chritian initiation by gathering in one volume the significant contributions of many scholars working in the field.