Bücher von Nicholas Ayo C. S. C.

Next to the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary may well be the most recited prayer in Catholic Christendom. In this volume, which comprises the most thorough and comprehensive book-length study of the Hail Mary available, Nicholas Ayo, C.S.C., presents a compendium study of this ancient prayer, one that is at once historical and exegetical as well as critical and meditative. Here he thoughtfully examines the quintessential Marian prayer word by word and line by line, analyzing each phrase in itself and in relation to the other phrases, a method that will enable readers to study the prayer for maximum understanding, appreciation, and spiritual gain.With a balance of clarity and insight, Ayo considers the Hail Mary from every angle, taking into consideration its history, language, literary quality, theology, and spirituality. His reflections reveal a deeper spiritual appreciation for the particular genius of the Ave Maria, which, when combined with an enhanced knowledge of it, will help readers gain a more meaningful understanding of this treasured prayer.In addition to an in-depth study of the pray itself, The Hail Mary includes an overview of the larger issues of Marian theology and devotion, a review of Mary in the biblical scriptures and in the apocrypha, and a summary review of the place of the Virgin Mary in the hearts and prayers of Christian men and women. Although Ayo treats the Hail Mary as it is known today, he also provides an anthology of commentary on the prayer from over the centuries, including the reflections of such writers as Thomas Aquinas, Matilda of Helfta, and Caryll Houselander, and others.This insightful study will be useful for clergy, religious, and all Christians who seek a greater understanding of the fundamentals of their faith and devotion.

From its probable beginnings as an interrogatory creed for catechumens to its current place in the Sunday liturgy, the Apostoles' Creed has played an integral role in the sacraments of the church. The symbol of faith, as it was called by generations of Christians, was not only a vehicle of orthodox instruction but a profession of faith of profound beauty and meaning to be memorized and pondered for a lifetime. It is this Creed, a lasting achievement of the Christian tradition that Nicholas Ayo, C.S.C., presents to the general reader in The Creed as Symbol.A meditative yet thought-provoking study, this volume presents the Apostles' Creed as more than a basic confession of faith but as a symbol/metaphor of the mystery of God. Ayo holds that the Apostles' Creed is a sacred poem, an ancient psalm, holy and beautiful in its form as well as in its content. Basic literary criticism and linguistics are used to explicate the figurative body of the Creed-its words-as well as the theological meditation of its soul-the mysteries it seeks to teach. And as Ayo balances the study of the medium with the message, he does so with the conviction that the two are inextricably linked together and can never be separated.Ayo divides the Apostoles' Creed into its 12 historically recognized articles, each with its own chapter. In addition to his introduction, Ayo has included a brief history of the Creed's formation, a full summary of the ideas covered, an appendix containing differing versions of the Creed, a bibliography, and complete notes. This work is an ideal companion piece to any student religious text or standing alone, as a parish renewal source book or primary text for catechumens. The Creed as Symbol will enrich anyone's understanding of the Creed, the perennial and core doctrine of Christianity.