The Church's understanding and use of sacraments have a long history. The development of sacraments took place alongside the development of Christian worship, which has evolved in many different ways from the days of the early Church to the present. Sacraments and Worship provides a comprehensive source-book for all concerned with the history of Christian worship and the meaning of the sacraments. The history and theology of the individual sacraments and their liturgical context in the church's worship is traced along with Liturgies of the Word and liturgies of time, with texts on daily prayer and the liturgical year. The editor provides backgrounds and contexts for the readings, demonstrating the breadth and depth of the Church's thought in this vital area of its life.

"This is an attractive and inviting volume: a visiting priest-friend immediately picked it up and started browsing. Whether for occasional reference or detailed study, the book includes a comprehensive range of quotes from primary and secondary sources down the centuries, arranged into sections covering initiation, the eucharist, liturgies of the word, other sacraments and occasional services, and the calendar and liturgical time. The first two chapters preface this with significant quotations tracing the evolution of both sacramental and liturgical theology from the earliest Christian era and include many contemporary authors. With judicious editing and explanation, Maxwell Johnson demonstrates the variety revealed by the sources at different periods and within different traditions. The texts offer a useful and fascinating corrective to a linear model of liturgical development, and rich material for preaching and devotional use as well as for study." - Modern Believing