Janet Gentles

The concept that Christ indwells everyone is familiar to many but is not understood as well as it could be. Yet it is a concept that we need some appreciation of in order to begin to truly enter into an understanding of the spiritual teachings of Christianity. In Part 1 Janet Gentles provides an explanation, while the selected and abridged sermons of the Ven. Basil Wilberforce in Part 2 serve to shed valuable light on the subject. Archdeacon Wilberforce was an Anglican priest and author and is a former Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons and Archdeacon of Westminster. He was the grandson of the abolitionist William Wilberforce.

The annual cycle of liturgical Collects provides a rich resource for meditation and reflection. This book presents some of the insights which can be gained from them. Based on the Collects currently used by the Church of England many of these short prayers are very ancient and are also used by other denominations. Extracts from 'Meditations on the Collects' have been published in the Church Times.

Christianity rests on a profound spiritual foundation much of which is to be found in the oral or unwritten Judeo-Christian Tradition. This book introduces the reader to how access can be gained to the knowledge, understanding and wisdom of this Tradition through the methodology of the Jewish mystical Kabbalah. It begins by explaining what the Mysteries are and considering a short history of the Kabbalah. It then introduces the fundamental concepts of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. These include the sephiroth, the four worlds, the nature of soul and spirit, and the descent of spirit into matter. By this point the reader will have begun to discover deeper insights into scripture and, also, that some of the most enigmatic writings of the Church Fathers are easily understood from the Kabbalistic perspective. Some further examples of these revelations are found in the chapters that follow before the implications of this with regards to spiritual development are considered. Applying the methodology of the Kabbalah to Christian teachings demonstrates that a far greater unity between Jewish and Christian theology exists than is often thought to be the case.. It also opens the door to discovering the deepest insights into biblical texts.

Volume Four of this translation of the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum contains Book Five of this work. This book examines the Canonical Hours observed within monastic communities. The monastic way of life is a very ancient form of Christian observance. Those who follow this way seek to remove themselves from the mundane way of life in order to commit themselves more fully to God. This includes observing regular hours of prayer, both of the day and the night, which are known as the Canonical Hours. In this book Durandus presents readers with an understanding of these regular times of prayer and their spiritual foundation. In doing so he continues to add to the understanding of those who seek a better spiritual perception of the Christian spiritual way. The translator of this work, Janet Gentles, has spent over forty years exploring the spiritual foundations of both Christianity and Judaism as both assist in gaining an understanding of the profound teachings of the Bible. The Rationale Divinorum Officiorum provides a substantial contribution to such understanding.

Volume Seven contains indices for the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum. The first is a list of chapters found in each book, for quick reference. The second provides summaries for each of the nearly three thousand paragraphs the entire work contains.

Volume Six of this translation of the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum contains Books Seven and Eight, which are the final two of this work. Book Seven presents a number of holy days and solemn feast days and while some of these are seldom marked in the Church today others are annually observed. In this book Durandus presents an extensive chapter on the Office for the Dead and here the reader will discover an early understanding of many practices which are still found today. Book Eight provides instruction on the nature of the calendar which was undoubtedly of considerable use in its time. Today the methods used are obsolete, nevertheless one can gain an understanding of how the civil and Church calendars were formed. It is also perhaps surprising that the methods of computation used in and before the thirteenth century, and which seem primitive to us today, were nevertheless accurate. The translator of this work, Janet Gentles, has spent over forty years exploring the spiritual foundations of both Christianity and Judaism as both assist in gaining an understanding of the profound teachings of the Bible. The Rationale Divinorum Officiorum provides a substantial contribution to such understanding.

Volume Three of this translation of the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum contains Book Four of this work. Here, over fifty-nine chapters, the Mass and all which occurs during it is examined in great detail. Following an introduction it begins with the vesting of the priest and ends with the final blessing. Throughout the entire work the reader discovers that Durandus is not superfluous with words. Each paragraph is tightly compiled and filled with much to reflect on. This book is likely to be not only the most detailed examination of the Mass which has ever been written but also one which speaks of the various levels of spiritual expression it contains. This book can prove fruitful to anyone who wishes to enrich their spiritual experience of the Mass. The translator of this work, Janet Gentles, has spent over forty years exploring the spiritual foundations of both Christianity and Judaism as both assist in gaining an understanding of the profound teachings of the Bible. Her publication the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum, provides a substantial contribution to such understanding.

Volume Two of this translation of the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum contains Books Two and Three of this work. Having dealt with the church and its parts in Book One Durandus moves on in Book Two to look at the ministers and orders of the Church and their obligations. The ten ministries he examines are those of the chanter, psalmist, usher, lector, exorcist, acolyte, subdeacon, deacon, priest, and bishop. In Book Three Durandus explains the vestments of priests, bishops and other officials. As with so much else in the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum the author shows the extensive degree to which the origin of these things can be found in the Old Testament. In these books, as throughout the entire work, Durandus continues to provide spiritual insights which may well be regarded as having been overlooked for too long a time. The translator of this work, Janet Gentles, has spent over forty years exploring the spiritual foundations of both Christianity and Judaism as both assist in gaining an understanding of the profound teachings of the Bible. Her publication the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum, provides a substantial contribution to such understanding.

With its profound insights, over three hundred chapters and more than four thousand scripture references in its eight books the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum (Rationale for the Divine Offices) stands in a class of its own. Written towards the end of the thirteenth century, the original, which was published in Latin, is the inspired opus of William Durandus, a highly regarded bishop of the time. Now, after more than seven centuries, it is possible for the English reader to discover the entire work of eight books along with an extensive index in seven volumes. However this work should not be regarded as a historical relic as the Ecclesiastical Offices have seen little change and most importantly, the spiritual foundations on which they rest are immutable. Furthermore, this work remains a primary authority on Western liturgies. Volume One of this translation contains the Author's Preface and Book One of this work. In his Preface Durandus points to the importance of the clergy having a sound understanding of the Offices and explains the various levels of spiritual interpretation the work presents. In Book One his focus is on the symbolic meaning of the church building and its parts. Here he examines not only the building but also at its contents and then cemeteries and other sacred and religious places. Durandus then moves on to examine the dedication of both church and altar. He concludes with a general consideration of the nature of the sacraments. The translator of this work, Janet Gentles, has spent over forty years exploring the spiritual foundations of both Christianity and Judaism as both assist in gaining an understanding of the profound teachings of the Bible. Her publication the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum, provides a substantial contribution to such understanding.

Volume Five of this translation of the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum contains Book Six of this work. Here consideration is given to the Offices of Sundays and their services, ember fasting, and other festivals. Through one hundred and forty-three chapters Durandus carries his readers through the liturgical year. In doing so he opens the door for his readers to a comprehensive understanding of the significance of the various parts of the annual Church cycle. This book provides an excellent companion as one journeys through the year. Indeed, its scope is so extensive a single year may well prove insufficient to fully absorb and appreciate all it contains. The translator of this work, Janet Gentles, has spent over forty years exploring the spiritual foundations of both Christianity and Judaism as both assist in gaining an understanding of the profound teachings of the Bible. The Rationale Divinorum Officiorum provides a substantial contribution to such understanding.