Where does the word Easter come from? Why is Lent called Lent? We are immersed in the liturgical year and impelled across the weeks by the liturgical calendar, but how did it come about? Earth Unites with Heaven reveals the impulse behind the seasons and ceremonies, the colours and prayers, the structures and priorities of the liturgical year. The book is a more than a useful guide to the background of our order of worship. It opens up the way in which time itself is placed at the service of the mystery of faith in Christ. Each page reveals something of how the paschal mystery is lived in culture, history and piety. And with this comes the opportunity to revisit our time and place, our culture and piety, and challenge them afresh with the power of Christ through the ages. In a compact and accessible form, Earth Unites with Heaven offers us an insight into the larger lines of thought, prayer and action that underpin the liturgical year, always with an eye to the more interesting and hidden facts, historical traces and popular devotions that hold our attention captive, and more vitally enrich our worship and participation. ""Immensely valuable for insights while preparing various liturgies throughout the year. It leads to other possible areas of exploration that could very well enrich the way in which we all celebrate liturgy in our communities."" Angela McCarthy, Pastoral Liturgy