Jesus the Bridegroom: A Beautiful Love Story

Rising near the top of my "to read" list, and especially poignant and pertinent for Lent, is the new book Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by bestselling author Brant Pitre. Since my review copy just landed on my desk, I can't give a full review quite yet, but I did want to get this on your "great spiritual reading for the season" radar. Pre-order now for a March 11 release and read an excerpt online here. LMH

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

What do you see when you look at a crucifix?

In Jesus the Bridegroom, Brant Pitre taps into the wells of Jewish Scripture and tradition, and unlocks the secrets of what is arguably the most well-known symbol of the Christian faith: the cross of Christ.

In this thrilling exploration, Pitre shows that Jesus saw his own suffering and death as far more than a tragic Roman execution. Rather, as the apostle Paul puts it, the torture and crucifixion of Jesus on Calvary was nothing less than an expression of spousal love with Christ as a bridegroom and the Church as his bride.

“By looking at the love of God and the passion of Christ through the lens of the Bridegroom Messiah, we can transform not only the way we see Jesus and his death,” writes Pitre, “but also how we understand baptism, the Lord’s Supper, marriage, virginity, and even the end of the world.”

“This book will change you,” says Scott Hahn, author of The Lamb's Supper and Signs of Life. “It is an invitation to the Messiah's wedding feast--and a foretaste of heaven. It will change the way you experience the sacraments, personal prayer, Scripture study, and marriage. Most of all, it will deepen your love for Christ.”

About the Author

Brant Pitre is a professor of sacred Scripture at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the author of the bestselling book Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper (2011). Dr. Pitre is an extremely enthusiastic and highly sought-after speaker who lectures regularly across the United States. He has produced dozens of Bible studies on both CD and DVD, in which he explores the biblical roots of the Catholic faith. He has also appeared on a number of Catholic radio and television shows, such as Catholic Answers Live and EWTN. He currently lives in Louisiana with his wife, Elizabeth, and their five young children.

Praise for Jesus the Bridegroom:

"Brant Pitre has a wonderful gift for blending insight, scholarship, and an elegant, appealing style. The result is an extraordinary encounter with Jesus Christ, the meaning of his mission, and the spousal nature of God's love for humanity and Christ's love for the Church." -Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Capp., Archbishop of Philadelphia

"Brant Pitre helps us to know Jesus not just as a Savior and lord, but as our divine bridegroom. This excellent book shows how the theme of Christ the bridegroom is at the very heart of salvation history and how it can transform the way we view baptism, the Eucharist, marriage, and our own relationship with Christ. The profound Biblical insights and clear, engaging writing style will take you deeper into the divine love story found in Sacred Scripture." -Edward Sri, author of Walking with Mary

“With his customary combination of deep erudition and clarity of expression, Brant Pitre sheds light on a central theme of the New Testament: Jesus as the incarnation of the God who wants to marry his people. In the course of elaborating this motif, Pitre offers wonderfully fresh readings of the Wedding Feast of Cana, the Woman at the Well, the Last Supper, and the Crucifixion. His interpretation of the Passion as the consummation of the spousal relationship between Jesus and his people is simply stunning. This is a book that will appeal to both the scholar and the ordinary believer, indeed to anyone interested in understanding Jesus Christ more profoundly.” -Father Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire and author of Catholicism

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