“Sacramentalized,butnotevangelized“isaphraseoftenusedbythoseintheChurchinvolvedinpastoraloutreachandevangelizationefforts.Whilethephrasegetsatatruth--manyCatholicswhohavereceivedthesacramentsarestillindesperateneedofevangelization--itistheologicallyandspirituallyimprecise.Theproblemisnotthatpeoplehave“only“receivedtheirsacraments,butthatwedonotfullyunderstandtheevangelizingworkofthesacramentsthemselves.InInvitationandEncounter:EvangelizingThroughtheSacraments,theologian,author,andspeakerTimothyP.O’Malleyshowshowthesacraments,asefficacioussigns,areChristworkingintheChurchbythepoweroftheHolySpirit.Thisbookpresentsapastoralintroductiontosacramentaltheologyfromthestandpointofevangelization.Howdosacramentsevangelize?Howdosacramentsbothhealanddivinizethosewhoreceivethem?InvitationandEncounterintroducesthemajortermsandideasofsacramentaltheologyandhelpsthereaderrecognizehowthesacramentallifeisintegraltoevangelization.Byevangelizingthroughthesacraments,thegoaloftheNewEvangelizationisfulfilled,buildinguptheBodyofChristwithmoreCatholicswhoaresacramentalizedandevangelized.AbouttheAuthorTimothyP.O’MalleyisdirectorofMcGrathOnlineandtheacademicdirectoroftheNotreDameCenterforLiturgy.HeisaprofessoroftheologyattheUniversityofNotreDame,whereheteachesandresearchesintheareasofliturgical-sacramentaltheology,catechesis,andspirituality.
