Light on Darkness: The Untold Story of the Liturgy

(Hardback)

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Light on Darkness: The Untold Story of the Liturgy offers a captivating journey through the history of religious rituals in Western Europe, showcasing the profound impact of Christian liturgy on art, literature, music and architecture. Through ten evocative stories, it explores medieval rituals and their cultural influence up to the present day, providing fresh insights into the enduring legacy of the liturgy as an expression of human emotion and religious experience. Accessible to all, this guide provides translations and explanations to uncover the hidden treasures of ancient rites and their lasting significance, appealing to those seeking a deeper understanding of Western liturgical traditions.

Reviews

"This is a superb book. Gillhammer writes with great sensitivity and imagination, skilfully demonstrating how over many centuries the rituals and songs of the liturgy have shaped and given voice to the deepest emotions of human experience. Insightful, accessible and often moving, this book is a wonderful guide to the liturgy, its rich history and its lasting influence on modern culture."--Eleanor Parker, lecturer in medieval English literature at Brasenose College, Oxford, and author of "Winters in the World"

Author Bio

Cosima Clara Gillhammer is Junior Research Fellow in Medieval English at Christ Church, University of Oxford. She teaches and researches medieval literature, culture and liturgy. Her books include A Late-Medieval History of the Ancient and Biblical World (2022).