Book Description
“This book is… my personal search ‘for the face of the Lord.’” —Benedict XVI
In this bold, momentous work, the pope—in his first book written as Benedict XVI—seeks to salvage the person of Jesus from recent “popular” depictions and to restore Jesus’ true identity as discovered in the Gospels. Through his brilliance as a theologian and his personal conviction as a believer, the pope shares a rich, compelling, flesh-and-blood portrait of Jesus and incites us to encounter, face-to-face, the central figure of the Christian faith.
From Jesus of Nazareth… “the great question that will be with us throughout this entire book: But what has Jesus really brought, then, if he has not brought world peace, universal prosperity, and a better world? What has he brought? The answer is very simple: God. He has brought God! He has brought the God who once gradually unveiled his countenance first to Abraham, then to Moses and the prophets, and then in the wisdom literature—the God who showed his face only in Israel, even though he was also honored among the pagans in various shadowy guises. It is this God, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the true God, whom he has brought to the peoples of the earth. He has brought God, and now we know his face, now we can call upon him. Now we know the path that we human beings have to take in this world. Jesus has brought God and with God the truth about where we are going and where we come from: faith, hope, and love.”
Customer Reviews:
mind boggling.......2007-10-10
Benedict is a brilliant thinker who comments on ideas presented by people i never heard of.
His perspectives on Jesus are amazing
THE MAN , The REDEMMER , THE WAY.......2007-10-01
Pope Benedict XVI guided by the HOLY SPIRIT gives us JESUS in all HIS MAJESTY
A beautifully wriiten Book....I recommend it to Everyone!!
Convoluted.......2007-09-29
Convoluted and never seems to get to the real point(s). The Pope cites Scriptures and the Bible time after time in the book, but then never seems to come to any real conclusions of what those statements really mean for him other than quoting more scripture. Example, where it says, "Son of Man," "Son," "I am he;" but, then there is the "Son of God." According to the Pope the proper interpretation of those statements it seems is in the Nicene Creed where the Church joins Peter in confessing to Jesus ever anew: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Mt16:16).
Why not just say that Jesus came from man, "Son of Man," but that he also came from God, "Son of God." Jesus was/is of man/men and of God.
Also, the Pope in the beginning of the book states his suspicions of Science. Why that attitude among some theologians is a mystery since Science is the study of what God created; how then can anyone be suspicious of what Science discovers?
For whom is this book written.......2007-09-27
I read this book hoping to deepen my understanding of the mystery of Jesus. To a large degree, the book was able to do that and to help me on my own spiritual journey. But there is an important question that potential buyers need to consider, and it is: For whom is this book written? I am not totally sure of the answer. The Pope is a brilliant theologian and spent many years as an academic. As a result, this book often becomes rather technical and academic. This means that in many places the text is somewhat difficult to follow for the average reader. I wish that the Pope had written the book in a manner in which it was a bit more spiritual, and a bit less technical. Certainly, children and most teens would find the book over their heads. As far as adults are concerned, it would be desirable to have some background in biblical exegesis. Still, the insights of the Pope are really remarkable. And so for me, it did help in my ongoing spiritual journey and daily conversion to Christ.
Excellent!.......2007-09-26
This was the best book I've read on the subject of Jesus. It's deep, challenging and mind opening! I bought several to give as gifts to my family. Highly recommended for all those who think the Pope is the anti-christ!
Product Description
Catholics' hunger for the faith continues to grow. Pope Benedict XVI gives the Church the "food" that is seeks in the 598 questions and answers in the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This 200-page volume offers a quick synopsis of the essential contents of the faith as promulgated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Like the 1992 Catechism, the Compendium has a four-part structure, and includes a section on common prayers and Catholic doctrinal formulas. Because of the question-and-answer format, catechetical leaders-parents, pastors, teachers, principals, and catechists-have a unique opportunity to dialogue with the faithful, and reinvigorate the Church's ongoing mission of evangelization and catechesis. Individuals can come "to know the unfathomable riches of the salvific mystery of Jesus Christ" by reading, using, and memorizing parts of the Compendium of the Catechism. An essential tool for youth and young adults, the Compendium is the perfect companion to a youth or young adult's Bible, spiritual reading, or textbook. Catechetical leaders in high schools, colleges, and parishes will appreciate its versatility-as a reference book, discussion starter, or core resource for RCIA programs. Fourteen images taken from masterpieces of Christian art set a tone for each part or section. "The sacred images, with their beauty, are also a proclamation of the Gospel and express the splendor of the Catholic truth," explained Pope Benedict XVI. The Compendium of the Catechism was prepared by a commission presided by the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Following the request for greater appreciation of the Catechism, and in order to meet a widespread need that emerged during the 2002 International Catechetical Congress, in 2003 the Holy Father established a special commission, presided by the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, that he charged with preparing a Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, containing a more concise and dialogic version of the same contents of Catholic faith and morals.
Customer Reviews:
What's Old is New Again.......2007-09-25
For those who remember the Baltimore Catechism, the question and answer format provided an easy way to explore questions of Catholic Faith, Morals and Doctrine. Although the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH provides the most comprehensive exposition of matters of faith and is the standard for study and inquiry, its sheer depth and breadth often intimidated many who sought to develop a greater understanding of the faith. Recognizing this, Pope Benedict worked with his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, to develop this compedium in which essentials are once again communicated in a well-written, thorough-yet-direct question and answer format.
The COMPENDIUM follows the outline and meticulously references the CATECHISM. Yet, the topics address specific questions in easy to understand language. It is an excellent tool for RCIA and catechesis for both lifelong Catholics or those who are just entering into the faith.
I recommend that this be added to every Catholic family's library!
Compendium a must!.......2007-09-16
In the information era, it is often difficult to discern what to believe. The Catholic Church has made its beliefs very clear with the "Catechism of the Catholic Church". Now Pope Benedict XVI has made it even easier by publishing this "abbreviated version", the Compendium, so that all the Faithful would know the basics of the Catholic Faith. For Catholics or for those interested in knowing about Catholicism, the Compendium is a valuable resource.
Excellent reference and companion to the Catechism.......2007-08-25
I purchased this booklet on advice from our local priest (I'm a newer Roman Catholic convert) and while the Catechism is not difficult to read, this does help present the information in an easy to look up and understand format. It is also helpful for my non-Catholic husband when he has a question on why Catholics do one thing or another. He doesn't feel like I'm trying to convert him (which I am not; that's the Holy Spirit's job) when I refer him to this booklet because it is written in a reference-type format with question/answer notes. It also has a great format for looking up your general question. I have found myself reading this booklet from cover-to-cover when just trying to find out the answer to a specific question as the material is interestinly written and keeps sparking more desire to read through it.
BACK TO THE TRUE ROOTS OF MY CATHOLIC FAITH.......2007-07-28
If you need to know an answer to a question regarding the Catholic Faith, this book is exactly what you'll reach for.
Helpful catechism approach.......2007-07-25
Having converted from a Reformed-Protestant background, I was eager to find methods of learning the Roman Catholic faith similar to Protestant methods I had used previously. I had been impressed with the Westminster Catechism and so, when I discovered this, a summary of the RC Catechism in question and answer format, I was thrilled. It has not disappointed in scope of coverage. The questions are well organized to follow the full Catechism but with a more concise and simpler language form. It is an invaluable tool for teaching and self-study. A must have for every Roman Catholic.
Book Description
Prepared and co-published by the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, this book is a combination of two lengthy essays written by Cardinal Ratzinger and delivered in talks when he was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Both talks deal with the importance of conscience and its exercise in particular circumstances.
Ratzinger's reflections show that contemporary debates over the nature of conscience have deep historical and philosophical roots. He says that a person is bound to act in accord with his conscience, but he makes it clear that there must be reliable, proven sources for the judgment of conscience in moral issues, other than the subjective reflections of each individual.
The always unique and profound insights that the new Pope Benedict XVI brings to perennial problems reminds the reader of his strong warning before the recent Papal conclave of the great dangers today of the "dictatorship of relativism."
Customer Reviews:
Essential Reading for All People Trying to Act Rightly.......2007-05-15
On Conscience is an essential book for anyone trying to figure out how to know the right thing to do in any given situation. Today there are many who -- while continuing to recognize that acting rightly (whatever that means) is still important -- a large number seem also to believe that anything is right as long as they sincerely think it is right. Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) shows very clearly, and very dramatically and convincingly, that this can not be true. While continuing to honor the ancient tradition that a certain conscience must be followed, he shows that there also must be a serious effort to form a correct conscience, and illustrates from recent human history what can happen if this effort to cultivate a correct conscience is not taken. This book deals directly with the apparent conflict between individual conscience and external authority. The only shortcoming of the book is that some of the explanations are unduly long, and make for dry reading as a result. Well worth the effort anyhow.
Spectacular Reflections on Conscience!.......2007-04-02
To the best of my knowledge, these essays were presented in English (both were keynote addresses to bishops' workshops.) and it may partly this fact - their lack of translation by a second party - that makes the texts so wonderfully approachable. Having studied a great amount of Ratzinger's work from his more than forty-year career, I feel that I have a decent grasp of his world-view, approach and theological method. Absolutely consistent with his previous and following work, the essays reprinted in "On Conscience" (one from 1984, the other 1991) are real gems.
What is perhaps the most interesting and significant feature of these texts is the insider's view one obtains from the 1991 address. Written just under a year before the publication of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church, of which Ratzinger was primary editor, this address highlights almost verbatim much of what is written in the CCC under the heading of conscience. I have to wonder whether or not the bishops at the time really appreciated the preview they were privy to.
Both texts and the introduction total around 85 pages, so this is a very short read. I highly recommend it, especially for it's clear language and well articulated views.
Book Description
(Revised Edition) One of Cardinal Ratzinger's most important and widely read books, this volume is a newly revised second edition with an improved translation and an in-depth 20 page preface by the Cardinal. As he states in the preface, since this book was first published over 30 years ago, many changes and significant events have occurred in the world, and in the Church. But even so, he says he is firmly convinced that his fundamental approach in this book is still very timely and crucial for the spiritual needs of modern man. That approach puts the question of God and the question about Christ in the very center, which leads to a "narrative Christology" and demonstrates that the place for faith is in the Church.
Thus, this remarkable elucidation of the Apostle's Creed gives an excellent, modern interpretation of the foundations of Christianity. Ratzinger's profound treatment of Christianity's basic truths combines a spiritual outlook with a deep knowledge of Scripture and the history of theology.
Customer Reviews:
A little difficult to read..........2007-07-14
Okay, maybe this isn't such a good way to review a book but it may be of assistance to another reader or two.
I started reading this book 3 years ago...I haven't made it past page 15 yet. Why? Well, I think I'm in need of a more focused brain - I have a touch of A.D.D. and a book this focused is very hard for me to digest.
On the funny side of all this I want to share a conversation between two priests about this book. Both priests had bought the book to read and one of them said "I just can't seem to get past chapter 1" the other said "Oh good. I couldn't make it past the 3rd paragraph"
This book was written very early in Joseph Ratzinger's vocation and was more a part of his proving his qualifications to teach Theology (I guess the equivalent would be a Doctorate thesis).
So if you're anything like me, this book may be over your head. I'll get back to it one day but it is highly recommended by many, many people I trust. Therefore I recomment this book.
If you are intellectually superior, you may not find this review helpful. However, if you more on the average level I hope this review is of some assistance to you.
IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS.......2007-05-31
Reading this amazing book is like being wrapped in a warm blanket reading the writings of a beloved friend who is sharing his heart with you alone. Not only is the scholarship amazing but the heart of a man who is in love with Jesus comes through clearly and loudly. Don't miss this book.
Brings back memories of theology class ..........2007-04-01
This is an excellent introduction to the basics of Christian thought and its relationship to modernity at the start of the 21st century. Ratzinger is clear, precise, and profound. While his perspective is obviously that of a Catholic, the basics he covers are at the core of all the religions that identify themselves as Christian. Highly recommended.
A Journey into Your Faith.......2007-02-06
Although I found myself searching the web for various references and opening the dictionary often -- my classical Catholic training is sorely lacking -- I found the book a fast read. The feeling of fellowship and the the joy of Jesus permeate from the text.
One of the most profound books I have ever read.
While C.S. Lewis' comparable text is enthralling, this book is soaked with historical relevance for teh modern age.
Introductory its not.......2007-01-09
For a layman, this is a difficult but fascinating "introduction" to serious reflection on the Catholic faith.
Book Description
Pope Benedict XVI will present his essential thinking on issues of greatest popular concern culled from recent homilies, interviews with the press, official Church documents of his authorship, excerpts from theological journals and from some of his more than two dozen books. This book will serve as a comprehensive introduction to the man who has shaped Catholic thought and opinion for decades in his role as Pope John Paul II's head of the Congregation fo the Doctrine of the Faith, and now as the successor to his beloved predecessor. Heralded by conservatives and held in suspicion by liberals, what will define Pope Benedict XVI's tenure as the leader of over one billion Roman Catholics worldwide? This one volume will be the best source for understanding the concerns that will animate the agenda of this new pontiff.
The book will include features such as a chronology of Pope Benedict XVI's life, "Suggestions for Further Reading," which would include all the books available in English by Benedict XVI, and an Index for easy access to the Pope's thinking behind current issues of concern.
Customer Reviews:
A Superb General Introduction to the Thought of Benedict XVI!!.......2007-02-23
When I received notice of this book's forthcoming publication, I had my doubts about its quality. I stand corrected in any initial hesitations the anticipation of this volume lent me. I am very pleased with the work done by Thornton and Varenne (two rather `unknowns' in the world of Ratzinger scholarship). This is by far the best general summary of the thought of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI available today! Divided into eight categories of his writings, this book surveys a significant portion of Ratzinger/Benedict's work.
The Introduction by D. Vincent Twomey, SVD, is truly priceless. I cannot say enough about how on-target these remarks are. Perhaps the most striking comment for me can be found in the first paragraph of his intro: "Students of theology who quoted him [Ratzinger] were punished by their liberal professors, and those professors who did quote him - he is eminently quotable - would not reveal their source, lest the quote be rejected." (xvii). This has been my own experience and a real shame indeed. Having been on both sides of the above-mentioned fence, I can relate the disappointment that comes in feeling that one has to preemptively screen Ratzinger-inspired comments due to the tendency for the audience to dismiss or ridicule the remark solely because of hearsay-based reputation assigned to the thinker.
It is my hope that this collection of easily accessible nuggets of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict's thought and insight might help the greater community of professional theologians, as well as "armchair theologians," take the work of a theological giant of our time more seriously.
I do have some critical remarks about this book. The first is the omission of some of the scholarly notes that should accompany the texts. In the preface, the editors explain the notes' absence as allowing better flow and access of the material to the unscholarly: great in theory and intent, poor in practice. I found that to be disappointing. While the editors insist that their omission of contextual introductions to each passage was intended to make the book "about the author" and not "about the editors," I feel - as someone well versed in the theology of Ratzinger - that the novice reader of the material will not have a full appreciation for the snippet outside of its original context. Even a page-long intro providing some background to each document would have sufficed. The book is already 512pp why not another 40 or more elucidating pages?
All in all, I am overjoyed at this work. I certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the theology of our current pontiff. While this is not a scholarly survey of the thinker's work (see Aidan Nichols, OP, "The Thought of Benedict XVI" for a more academic survey), I am happy to see a popular publishing company (HarperCollins) take this field seriously and make available a valuable resource accessible to all.
Product Description
Letter & Spirit is a journal of Catholic biblical theology for the new millennium. It seeks to foster deeper understanding of sacred Scripture and the divine liturgy of the Church. This second volume of the journal, The Authority of Mystery: The Word of God and the People of God, is inspired by the scholarship of Pope Benedict XVI especially Benedict s concerns about the relation of the Bible to faith in Christ. The editors write in their introduction: As we write in our introduction: How to read the Bible is, at bottom, a question about the identity of Jesus. Is he Jesus of Nazareth only, or is he also the Christ, the Son of the living God? Did he have a divine mission to reveal the mystery of God, or was he only a man like others? Does he remain among us in sacrament and liturgy? Letter & Spirit is published annually by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a nonprofit research and educational institute founded by Dr. Scott Hahn.
Customer Reviews:
A must for all chatolic to read.......2007-08-23
I are grateful that Catholic scholars re-assume and re-invent a Catholic exegesis. By this I intend an exegesis which is inserted in the whole of the Catholic Tradition, Catholic Magisterium and Catholic sacramental life. Thank you Dr. Scott Hahn for this exegetic review which is a precious instrument for all Bible readers
An astounding compendium of Biblical theology.......2007-02-08
As a director of adult formation in a Catholic parish, one of my primary tasks is to teach the adults in my parish the Faith. Following the lead of the authors of Scripture themselves and the Early Church Fathers, this is done best when we use the inspired and sacred word of God himself as a springboard. Scripture is exciting; it is incredibly rich; and my students are thirsty for a Biblical approach to the Faith... to see the Catholic Faith within the pages of the Bible.
I cannot teach my students what I don't already know, and so it is important for me to continue my ongoing formation in learning the riches of Sacred Scripture. Thanks to the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology in Steubenville Ohio (founded and directed by Dr. Scott Hahn), we are given the Letter and Spirit Journal of Catholic Biblical Theology. In 2005, the first volume was published, and this is the second volume (2006). I have found this journal to be an astounding compendium of Biblical theology, which feeds my ongoing formation in the riches of the Bible. This in turn has helped me explain and teach the inspired Word of God to my adult students, and they are eating it up! One volume a year is perfect for me, because - with my workload and time constraints - that is about all I can consume.
I was blown away by two particular articles in this 2nd volume of Letter and Spirit. The first is titled "The Lord's Prayer and the New Exodus" by Brant Pitre. Dr. Pitre received his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, where he specialized in the study of the New Testament and ancient Judaism.
In his article, Pitre recounts an insight given by N.T. Wright: that the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 draws upon a profound theme among the O.T. prophets: the New Exodus. Pitre then expounds upon this insight by demonstrating how each of the petitions of this prayer evoke key Old Testament passages - among the prophets - that foretell and promise the restoration and redemption of all 12 Tribes of Israel with the Gentiles. This coming restoration/redemption is specifically framed in terms of the "New Exodus." As Israel was oppressed by Egypt and released from slavery in the first Exodus to enter the Promised Land, so Israel, oppressed by foreign powers in Exile, will be released from Exile and regathered and restored under the Messiah, the Son of David. This is incredibly exciting for a cradle Catholic who has always prayed the Lord's Prayer, yet without an understanding of its implications. Jesus is having us pray for the New Exodus: the restoration of Israel with the Gentiles - which is essentially the Evangelistic mission of the Church. What does this mean? The Lord's Prayer is a prayer of evangelization! It is a prayer that encapsulates a monumental prophetic theme from the Old Testament, and in so doing, demonstrates that this prophetic hope is answered in Jesus the Christ.
The second article, which I found to be difficult, yet profoundly rewarding is "The Lord Will Accomplish His Word" by Fr. Pablo T. Gadenz who is a priest from the Diocese of Trenton, N.J. and was sent to Rome by his bishop to work towards his Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) - which he has since completed (Pontifical Biblical Institute, 2005) - and his Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) at the Pontifical Gregorian University. This guy is amazing! Fr. Gadenz is currently completing his doctoral disseration over a veritable standstill (or as Gadenz says, "impasse") in academic circles: Romans 9-11. In this article, he shares with us a significant piece of his doctoral work.
In his article, "The Lord Will Accomplish His Word," Gadenz does the dirty work for us in examining a very difficult passage in St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. He examines Paul's use of the Old Testament in Romans 9:24-29 by doing a serious historical-literal investigation of the text at hand. Some have seen Paul contradicting himself in this passage or that he is quoting the Old Testament out of context. However, Gadenz examines Paul's use of 3 compositional models: midrashic, chiastic, and rhetorical. This includes "gezerah shaway," which is a Rabbinic method of merging two similar Old Testament texts together. This serious inquiry into how Paul wrote really illuminates the Letter to the Romans and shows how Paul carefully uses the Old Testament to demonstrate his point.
What is that point? Well, Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles. Among the Gentiles are those exiles of the Northern Kingdom (10 Tribes + Levites) who were conquered, deported, exiled, and intermarried among foreign peoples in 722 B.C. by the world power at the time, Assyria. In the Old Testament prophets (e.g. Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc.), we find the prophetic expectation time and time again of God restoring all 12 tribes in the covenant to come with the Messiah. Well, in Paul's day, the Jews are mainly Judah-ites (from which they get the name "Jew"), which is only 1 of the 12 Tribes. There are also some Levites such as John the Baptist and some Benjaminites such as Paul himself. But what about the other 10 tribes? Gadenz's study helps demonstrate that Paul saw his mission to the Gentiles as a mission to reach those other 10 tribes, which are now among the Gentiles!
If you are hungry for a serious study of the Bible, I wholly recommend taking the time and effort to acquire every volume of the Letter and Spirit Journal. Above, I only reviewed two articles. There are so many other rich examinations of the Bible in just this one volume, but as you can see, I have already written too much. Get this text. It is well worth the small price!
Book Description
Written by Joseph Ratzinger shortly before he became Pope Benedict XVI, Christianity and the Crisis of Cultures looks at the growing conflict of cultures evident in the Western world.
The West faces a deadly contradiction of its own making, he contends. Terrorism is on the rise. Technological advances of the West, employed by people who have cut themselves off from the moral wisdom of the past, threaten to abolish man (as C.S. Lewis put it)—whether through genetic manipulation or physical annihilation.
In short, the West is at war—with itself. Its scientific outlook has brought material progress. The Enlightenment's appeal to reason has achieved a measure of freedom. But contrary to what many people suppose, both of these accomplishments depend on Judeo-Christian foundations, including the moral worldview that created Western culture.
More than anything else, argues Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI, the important contributions of the West are threatened today by an exaggerated scientific outlook and by moral relativism—what Benedict XVI calls "the dictatorship of relativism"—in the name of freedom.
Christianity and the Crisis of Cultures is no mere tirade against the moral decline of the West. Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI challenges the West to return to its roots by finding a place for God in modern culture. He argues that both Christian culture and the Enlightenment formed the West, and that both hold the keys to human life and freedom as well as to domination and destruction.
Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI challenges non-believer and believer alike. "Both parties," he writes, "must reflect on their own selves and be ready to accept correction." He challenges secularized, unbelieving people to open themselves to God as the ground of true rationality and freedom. He calls on believers to "make God credible in this world by means of the enlightened faith they live."
Topics include:
• Reflections on the Cultures in Conflict Today
• The Significance and Limits of Today's Rationalistic Culture
• The Permanent Significance of the Christian Faith
• Why We Must Not Give Up the Fight
• The Law of the Jungle, the Rule of Law
• We Must Use Our Eyes!
• Faith and Everyday Life
• Can Agnosticism Be a Solution?
• The Natural Knowledge of God
• "Supernatural" Faith and Its Origins
Customer Reviews:
Quite important in these days of relativism.......2007-08-04
A must read if you are interested in the recent and ongoing decline of western civilization. The causative factors are clearly delineated from many points of view, but always from the starting point of the pope's awesome faith and love for God and His Creation.
-Jeremy
Adressing the current situations with a keen and clear understanding.......2007-04-15
In this book Cardinal Ratzinger studies the tension that arises when a split occurs between the state and religion. He tackles modern secularist notions, discusses abortion, and also addresses the notion that if not atheism, then perhaps agnosticism is the best position that man can hope for. The discussion he provides is well thought out and easy to grasp. You may not agree with everything he says, but the beauty and brilliance of the arguments put forth are undeniable.
Succinct.......2006-11-08
Non-Catholics and those of nominal faith might be more comfortable reading
"Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam"
by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger and Marcello Pera first. The analysis is much the same but correctives, in the form of a return to a pan-European shared faith (by Pena--the head of the Italian Senate) and/or individual action (Benedict)will find a wider audience.
Either book is a must read for anyone commenting upon or interested in the current geopolitical scene. At the end of the 19th century, Dostoyevsky in "Notes from the Underground" and Pope Leo XIII in "On Socialism" (Quod Apostolici Muneris) warned where conflicts within Western Civilization were headed. 1917 and the horrors of communist and fascist totalitarianism were not adverted. Pera and Benedict are raising the same warning flags today. Is the problem as critical as they believe? Can a tragedy be averted? No one knows of course. But that there is a problem is irrefutable and these two book should not be ignored.
Recently purchased "America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It" by Mark Steyn. Rated it three stars and that was being charitable as Steyn not only provides little hope but the witty prose his newspaper columns are, rightly, admired for is flat and tendentious when spead out over 256 pages.
Benedict and Pera, in contrast, explain why the west is unable to condemn evil and what can be done to ameloriate that failing.
An essential read for understanding the crisis that we are in.......2006-09-12
Pope Benedict has been a keen and precise critic of the cultural clashes that have been shaking the West over the last half a century. He doesn't kowtow to the latest politically correct fad, nor does he mince words to state the truth. In this book he clearly outlines the what the greatest threats are to the Christian culture and the civilization which is based upon it. This is a must read for anyone who wants to understand better the position of the Catholic Church in the ongoing global culture wars.
An essential read.......2006-06-01
Along with such classics as 'clash of civilizations' and 'rage and the pride' this book is a must read for anyone interested in the least bit in preserving their culture and faith in the face of the assault on the west by various non-western and supra-western cultures. For those who are pro partial-birth abortions, probably this book will be offensive because the Pope takes the Catholic church's view that abortion is immoral.
The central theme of this book is that the West is threatened by the new immorality of western moral relativism and that it is additioanlly partially threatened by the non-western immigrants who invade the west, however the greater danger is internal, the abandonment of religion and faith, and the denial of the fact that Christian roots are indigenous to Europe.
Many wont be able to stumach this book, and even some protestants will find the catholic overtones problematic. However it is an essential and important work.
Seth J. Frantzman
Book Description
Written in late 2004 shortly before his election as Pope Benedict XVI, Ratzinger raises serious questions about the issues facing Europe amidst the new European Union and forming of a European Constitution.
Some of the main issues he raises include: How did Europe originate and what are its boundaries? Who has the right to call himself European and be admitted into the new Europe? What about the spiritual roots of Europe and the moral foundation she is founded on?
Ratzinger sees the lack of focus on these fundamental questions in the forming of a new Europe as a very serious dilemma for the future of Europe, and the world. The ties that Europe has to the USA, and the rest of the world make these questions and reflections by the current Pontiff of critical importance for facing the future together.
Customer Reviews:
"Is there a European identity that has a future?".......2007-08-01
"Is there a European identity that has a future?" "Europe...is a cultural and historical concept," but many, it seems, appear to think otherwise. But "There is no such thing as an ahistorical State based on abstract reason.""Europe, precisely in this hour of its greatest success seems to have become hallowed out, paralyzed in a certain sense by a crisis of its circulatory system, a crisis that endangers its life, which depends, so to speak, on transplants, which then, however, cannot help undermining its identity." "Meanwhile, the manipulation of man by man is proceeding apace with even greater impudence. The visions of Huxley are definitely becoming a reality: the human being must be no longer begotten irrationally but rather produced rationally. But man as a product is at the disposal of man. The imperfect specimens are discarded, so as to develop the perfect man by way of planning and production." and "more and more often the principle of behavior is affirmed that states that it is permissible for man to do everything he is capable of doing."
"In a world that is understood in an evolutionary way, it is also self-evident that there cannot be any absolute values, things that are always bad or things that are always good; instead the weighing of goods is the only way to discern moral norms." "Whereas currently the once legendary success of the word revolution is on the decline, definite and far-reaching reforms are being demanded and promised all the more. One would have to conclude, however, that in modern society a deep sense of dissatisfaction predominates, and this precisely in places where well-being and freedom have reached a level heretofore unknown. The world is perceived as hard to endure; it must improve, and bringing this about seems to be the task of politics." In short, "Suffering must disappear; life must be nothing but pleasant." "Learning to live," however, Pope Benedict argues, "also means learning to suffer." Heaven is not possible on Earth, in other words. "A definitively well-run society would presuppose the end of freedom." And from freedom everything else comes. This is the subject of parts 3 & 4 of this albeit very short work: Responsibility for the Peace and Pope Benedict's reflections on "The occasion of the 60th anniversary of the landing of the Allied Forces in France (speeches he made during events commemorating such). "The process of reconciliation that has taken place in Europe, thanks in particular to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, has changed the course of world history; this process has its origins in the Christian spirit." He instructs us that such a progression ought be respected and built upon; not cast aside. After all, Pope Benedict asks "...has the world really become brighter, freer, happier after setting God aside?"
In Pope Benedict's view, one of the primary reasons Islamists are hostile to the West is their perception of the West as Godless. Hence Pope Benedict's admonition that by being more religious/more respectful of our own religious heritage perhaps the West and Islamic states can move somewhat closer to each other; that we in the Judeo-Christian West may be able to moderate aspects of the Muslim faith by standing firm for Freedom. Abandoning Europe's faith, in contradistinction, is akin, in effect, to conceding the moral high ground to an otherwise respectable faith, but one which has not progressed much in the way of individual and women's rights; which does not respect individual freedom, nor a distinction between secular politics and faith. (07Jul) God Bless
An Invitation for a Moral Rebirth.......2007-05-30
Ratzinger is at his finest- not writing above our heads as with some theological works, but as a teacher warning us about the inevitable consequences of our behavior.
A gentler version of The Cube & The Cathedral by Weigel, Ratzinger explains how the refusal of Europeans to accept their Christian roots is contributing to a declining culture. The text examines models of government, specifically the two totalitarian regimes of the previous century and insists that we allow the state to provide moral guidelines once again.
Finally, a good argument against the acceptance of Turkey into the EU is explained, drawing on the ancient history of this continent we call Europe today and how Christianity forged those boundaries, cultural identities and systems of faith.
This is a call to return to the moral center; a faith based civilization that was once great but has recently shunned the core that made it so. This is an example of how man's enlightenment and greatness should be accepted as gifts from God and therefore attributed as such.
Book Description
Considered by Ratzinger devotees as his greatest work on the Liturgy, this profound and beautifully written treatment of the "great prayer of the Church" will help readers rediscover the Liturgy in all its hidden spiritual wealth and transcendent grandeur as the very center of our Christian life.
In his own foreward to the book, Cardinal Ratzinger compares this work to a much earlier classic of the same title by Romano Guardini because Ratzinger feels that his insights here are similar with what Guardini achieved in his time regarding a renewed understanding of the Liturgy.
"My purpose here is to assist this renewal of understanding of the Liturgy. Its basic intentions coincide with what Guardini wanted to achieve. The only difference is that I have had to translate what Guardini did at the end of the First World War, in a totally different historical situation, into the context of our present-day questions, hopes and dangers. Like Guardini, I am not attempting to involve myself with scholarly discussion and research. I am simply offering an aid to the understanding of the faith and to the right way to give the faith its central form of expression in the Liturgy."
—Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
Customer Reviews:
Understanding what we do on Sunday........2007-06-12
This book held me spellbound. Filled with insights and history surrounding the mass and the liturgy, as a lifelong Catholic, I suddenly saw the mass in a whole new light. Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger demonnstrates his abilities as a clear patient teacher as he teaches about the liturgy and its meaning, in ways that are down to earth and don't require a degree in theology to understand. It will open your mind and understanding. Highly reccomended!
Slow in the middle but thrilling at the end.......2007-02-06
The last of the four sections is the heart of the book and contains the enthralling thoughts one expects after reading "Introduction to Christianity". For me, the text on art proved very dull and lifeless. But in the final section of the book, the Pope returns to the topic of active participation in the liturgy. He brings vitality and thought to these topics. The section on the Human Voice as part of the Mass is exceptional and thought provoking.
Perhaps one day I will gain enough insight to revisit the middle sections. Undoubtedly, the last section will become familiar to all Catholics as the Mass adopts these thoughts in practice. Although I still have trouble with his thought of an oratio conducted largely in silence. The Eucharistic Prayer is the heart of the liturgy; to place it in silence seems a terrible loss.
Very clarifying on post-Vatican II RCC worship.......2006-12-11
As a Protestant, despite some high church leanings, I find plenty to disagree with here. But this book wasn't written for me, and I greatly respect Ratzinger's learned, devout approach to his topic. This is the best overview of Roman Catholic worship I have found.
He named this book intentionally after his hero, Guardini's 1918 book of the same name.
It is divided into four parts (The Essence of the Liturgy, Time and Space in the Liturgy, Art and Liturgy, Liturgical Form)
It is very important to note at the onset, Ratzinger clearly is NOT giving some call to return to the Medievel past, but is giving a dynamic new expressions of ancient practices. He is not a reactionary grasping for nostalia, but a modern Neo-orthodox catholic. (Conservative neo-orthodox, but neo-orthodox).
Conservative Catholics tend to rail against all changes in the liturgy the past 40 years, but without a theological basis to weigh the good from the bad. Ratzinger gives a helpful framework to evalute these developments, whether you agree with them or not.
For those who find Roman Catholic theological discourse thin on thoughtful and intense exegesis, this book will be a pleasant surprise. Scriptures are explored often and deeply.
Sadly, there are no footnotes, but a good bibliography is provided for each chapter.
Some random notesL Chapter 4 - Reservation of Blessed Sacrament is least convincing to me, though full of historic tidbits. He acknowledges that Augustine, above other Church Fathers, had a `spiritualizing tendency" (I know Peter Brown shows this too). Ratz. argues that the early church's "corpus mysticum" doesn't mean anything like the modern English `mystical', but instead "pertaining to the mystery."
p. 107ff.: debunks the craziness about Christmas' date being tied to the Mithras myth and Saturn's b-day etc. He shows why Dec. 25 developed in the 3rd cent. West. Pegging Christmas to December 25th related to the time of the winter solstice. This was important as up to this day, dark days increase, but from this day, the darkness decreases! Theologically: As Jerome says in the 4th cent: "The light advances while the night retreats; Christ must increase but I must decrease."
pp. 136ff. is ON MUSIC and liturgy: "the cosmic character of liturgical music stands in opposition to the two [prevailing] tendencies of the modern age...music as pure subjectivity, music [and] as the expression of mere will. We sing with the angels."
pp. 177ff. Argues for making the sign of the cross in prayer. Goes into OT foreshadowing with the Hebrew letter Tav etc. (p. 179) Some of it is strained and weird and too clever for its own good. But bottom line - many Xians make the sign of the cross to remind ourselves and tell a watching world that our prayers are PARTICULARLY XIAN. I Co. 2:2. It is the CROSS that sets us apart from that imam that Ratzinger pretended to pray with in the Blue Mosque last week! Our prayers are to a PARTICULAR God - not some Universal god!
POSTURE (KNEEELING) pp. 184ff. convincing. Why not conform our bodies to our hearts? Otherwise we are being Gnostic.
On VESTMENTS, pp. 216ff., interested me. "The liturgical attire worn by the priest during mass should make clear that he is not there as a private person, as this or that man, but stands in place of Another - Christ. What is merely private, merely individual, about him should disappear and make way for Christ." P. 216. Christ who incarnated (as a male, Ratz. notes).
Paul Gal. 2:20 "It is no longer I , but Christ who lives in me." On priests in worship "It is not he himself who is important, but Christ. It is not he himself who is communicating to men, but Christ. HE MAKES HIMSELF THE INSTRUMENT OF CHRIST, ACTING, NOT FROM HIS OWN RESOURCES, BUT AS THE MESSENGER, INDEED AS THE PRESENCE OF ANOTHER - IN PERSONA CHRISTI, AS THE LITURGICAL TRADITION SAYS..."
Ratz. ties vestments to Paul in Gal. 3:27 "putting on Christ" (also in Rom. 13:14). Eph. 4, Col. 3 "putting on new nature." May overplay his hand a little there, but overall he is convincing.
ON APPLAUSE: "Wherever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of the liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment."
On MATTER pp. 220f.: The incarnational nature of the Christian faith is essentially reflected in its use of material things - bread, wine, water, oil, etc. - in the liturgy.
232pp., but no index. GREAT binding, and cover art.
A Great Introduction.......2006-08-09
The Holy Father repeatedly refers to The Spirit of the Liturgy as "this little book." The book is only 224 pages, however, each page is packed with depth. For those looking for an introduction to liturgy this book is a gem. It is divided into four parts. Part One discusses what Christian liturgy is in its essence and how it developed within salvation history, its relation to the created universe and biblical faith. Part Two discusses how through the liturgy we in the present are enabled to join in the immediacy of the historical events of our salvation. Part Three addresses the iconoclastic protest and how the Incarnation makes the incomprehensible otherness of God visible in the historical Person of Jesus. This part also takes up the topic of the "music of the spheres" as articulated by the ancient Greeks and how this music, which witnesses to the intelligent ordering of the cosmos, is sung in the Church's liturgy. In Part Four the various postures incorporated in the liturgy are explained in their relation of manifesting true worship. (Then) Cardinal Ratzinger, takes pains to explain how the liturgy was given to us by God in the same manner as were the Sacred Scriptures and the Apostolic Tradition. The essence of the liturgy therefore cannot change even though there may be an organic development of its expression through time. Through His actions in the history of salvation the liturgy's meaning and expression were determined directly by God, not through human innovation or genius. The liturgy is the true worship of mankind in that it makes present the paschal mystery of Jesus' offering of His humanity in obedience to the Father. Through our real participation in the saving events made present to us in the liturgy we are given the power of the Gospel in union with Christ to conform our will and actions to those of the Father. As usual, the Holy Father's literary expression, while scholarly, is I think accessible to the average reader. I enjoyed reading the book tremendously.
A Readable Book for Lay People and Clergy, Catholic and non-Catholic.......2006-08-07
The "Spirit of the Liturgy" outlines the history, the evolution, and the theological underpinnings of the liturgy of the Catholic Church. There is something in this book for everyone, whether Catholic or not.
Author Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) is one of the Catholic Churches foremost theologians and, possibly, its best teacher. While not a quick, easy read, he has taken care to write a readable book for lay and clergy alike. This book will appeal to those who have a real interest in the liturgy of the Catholic Church - the Mass, the use of art, posture (sitting, standing, and kneeling) - and/or in its theological/historical basis.
Ratzinger begins the book with a discussion on what liturgy is, and how it serves us as a center and source of inspiration, an anchor in an uncertain world. He writes extensively on the roots of worship (bound up with three dimensions - personal, social, and the universal), the relationship of God to man, a sacred space, a sacred time, and mediating symbols.
Ratzinger includes the events and history around the setting of the major Christian feast days, Easter and Christmas. As an example, pegging Christmas to December 25th related both to the feast of the Annunciation, and to the time of the winter solstice. The latter was important as up to this day, dark days increase but from this day, the darkness decreases. Theologically: "The light advances while the night retreats; Christ must increase but I must decrease."
My review covers only a sliver of Cardinal Ratzinger's valuable work. I have over nine pages of high quality notes from "Spirit" which I would love to share with you, but believe you would be better served to buy a copy to read if this provokes your interest. You will not be disappointed.
Customer Reviews:
A Wake Up Call for the World's Thinkers..........2007-07-05
This book was my first introduction to Fr. Schall and I must say I was very impressed. This book is a great resource for those who have either read the Pope's Regensburg speech or have not read it yet, seeing as the first appendix contains the Pope's speech at Regensburg in its entirety.
Fr. Schall really unlocks the genius of the Pope's address and really gets to the reality of what the Pope was saying and at the same time shows the incredible neglect by the media in the recent past in it's treatment of what the Pope "said".
This book is a must and a challenge for anyone in higher education who thinks that the Roman Catholic Church and her teachings about reality, God, and man are outdated. Fr. Schall demonstrates with certain clarity that Pope Benedict XVI clearly understands the current cultural problems and makes them clear in this work, namely the abandonment of the objective rational world in religion and politics. Also given in this wonderful work is the foundational answer to getting our culture back on track in order to realize the true good for you and all peoples.
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General
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| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
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Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain, and Defend the Catholic Faith
The Apostles
Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light
Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Images of Hope: Meditations on Major Feasts
