The Spiritual Significance of Eating ─ A Biblical Reflection

As a society we are obsessed with food. Our supermarkets are overfilled, recipe books crowd the aisles of bookstores, and there are more cooking shows than can be counted. But we are also addicted to food, burden our bodies with toxic food, and are the most obese nation on earth with a growing segment of people who have little access to healthy food or enough food at all. What is the meaning bread, wine and water hold for our material and spiritual lives? How can we who have more food than appetite learn to respect and cherish the food we have, share it in joyful fellowship, and not forget those who have more appetite than food. In this concise book Cardinal Ravasi who is know for his interest and understanding of contemporary culture leads readers to the spiritual, and biblical core of Christian wisdom, respect and enjoyment of food. Discussion questions help the reader to deepen his or her understanding, and use the book for reading groups.

Gianfranco Cardinal Ravasi is sometimes called the Vatican minister of Cultural Affairs.’ He is the president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education , and a member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.