Gender Differences and the Making of Liturgical History

'In this challenging and convincing new study, Teresa Berger uses the lens of gender analysis to take a fresh look at the writing of liturgical history. With scholarly insight, she demonstrates how gender has shaped liturgy’s past and continues to influence its celebration today. An indispensable resource for students of Christian worship and gender studies alike.' Simon Jones, Merton College, Oxford, UK 'In this excellent study Teresa Berger offers a challenging and intriguing correction to the ways in which the study of liturgical history has ignored the reality of gender differences in the shaping of, and the being shaped by, Christian liturgies past and present. From the gendered limitations of sacred spaces, to ignored Eucharistic imagery, to the sacramental impediments of bodily flows, and to gendered-troubled leadership, Berger "lifts the veil" and allows us to see with new eyes and new appreciation what was there all the time in the tradition - a renewed appreciation for the saints. What a great text this will be to use in courses in liturgical history.' Maxwell Johnson, University of Notre Dame, USA 'The author [...] gives a broad and deep analysis of the way gender influenced liturgical practice in the first centuries of Christianity... makes the important step of addressing how the past affects the present, noting contemporary issues, questions and developments.' Magistra ’Berger has presented a convincing case for re-reading our familiar sources with the veil of gender removed...’ Church Times 'This review can only be an incomplete reflection of a rich and panoramic history... the case histories are compelling and every page is rich in footnote references. The bibliography is extensive. It is a work to be studied at leisure, leaving the reader with an enhanced awareness and a responsibility to pursue future developments.' Women, Word, Spirit 'In lifting a veil on a largely overlooked aspect of the past, Berger shows how gender continues to