Papal
Since his election, Pope Francis has captured the attention of media and the people. Transfixed by his charisma and the many firsts of his papacy - first pope from the Americas, first Jesuit Pope, and first to be named Francis - they are now eager to know the substance of the man. In 10 Things Pope Francis Wants You to Know, John L. Allen, Jr., veteran Vatican news analyst, author, and National Catholic Reporter Senior Correspondent, writes with intimacy and clarity, from the perspective of his decades of experience covering the papacy.
Discover the qualities that have defined Pope Francis from his days as a Cardinal and the early days of his papacy. Using the most recent, as well as archived, interviews with Pope Francis and those who know him, Allen describes his vision of leadership and evangelism and his desire for the Church to be close to the people, especially the poor. Allen describes several more teachings and insights from Pope Francis, such as: Never give up on God's mercy, always remain optimistic, create unity, and even keep a sense of humor. After reading 10 Things, you will know your new Pope and feel your faith renewed.
Vatican correspondent Joshua J. McElwee tackles the topics of faith and family life as covered in the 2015 World Meeting of Families and the October 2015 Synod on the Family. A follow-up to the successful 10 Things Pope Francis Wants You to Know, this booklet introduces readers to the most important points Pope Francis has made about the family. At a time when many Catholics are contemplating Church teaching, Joshua J. McElwee brings a fresh voice and perspective to the issues of faith and family closest to the hearts of Catholics everywhere.
If knowing someone's family helps us to know that person, then we must understand Francis as a son of St. Ignatius to appreciate the sources of his spiritual fire, and we must look at how the Jesuit saints lived to fully grasp how Francis strives to live. - From the introduction
What makes Pope Francis tick?
Where do his (sometimes unexpected) ideas come from?
Why does he often rattle people with what he says?
What makes him so different from other popes before him?
And why should we care?
All the Pope's Saints can help us to discover and develop six virtues of Jesuit spirituality: secrets to a new, refreshed, and even unpredictable relationship with God.
This isn't just a book about Pope Francis' spiritual inspiration. As the first Jesuit pope in history, Francis has brought a radical shift in focus that stems directly from a long line of Jesuits dating back to St. Ignatius of Loyola. In All the Pope's Saints, you'll get to know many Jesuit saints--both famous and not--who are the Holy Father's heroes and role models.
"Offers some unique insights into the mind and heart of this Jesuit Bishop of Rome and introduces us to some of the pope's best friends." --Fr. Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., English-language media attaché of the Holy See Press Office and CEO of Salt and Light
Catholic Media FoundationABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sean M. Salai, D.Min, is the culture reporter for The Washington Times. A former Jesuit, he holds a doctorate in evangelization and digital media from The Catholic University of America and is an author of multiple books on Ignatian spirituality.
"For a believer, beyond the Bronze Door, is the Father's House; the tangible and ever active presence of the Successor of Peter; the inextinguishable light of the Vicar of Christ. For a non-believer, beyond that door, is the living history of two thousand years; the astonishing testimony of a civilization that the vicissitudes of time have been unable to overcome" Piero Bargellini, florentine writer.
Through this precious book the reader, with respect and understandable curiosity, would gladly enter these rooms, the Home of so many Popes over the centuries, rooms which have been visited by countless persons of different faiths, by political figures from all over the world. Rooms that artists from every period have left an indelible mark of their inspiration and of their deeply felt religious faith.
Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have each approached the papacy in strikingly different ways, yet they share the same fundamental vision of the world and man. In these pages, Cardinal Muller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, explores the differences and commonalities of these two popes, showing how the challenge for the Church's hierarchy remains the same, and how these two popes are leading the Church to resist worldly infections and to heal the spiritual diseases of our time.
He also provides a succinct and fascinating look into the universal ministry of the Church, showing how the popes, as successors to Peter, are the visible head of the pilgrim Church and are tasked with carrying out the pastoral ministry of Christ.
Cardinal Muller shows us that the popes are bound by the testimony of the Word of God in Scripture and tradition, and that when the Church liberates herself from worldly thinking the way is cleared for a spiritual renewal in Jesus Christ.
With frank analysis of the challenges that societies and contemporary culture pose to the Church in light of the two pontificates, Cardinal Muller explores the proper role of the state and of the Church in secular society as well as the challenge for the Church hierarchy in resisting worldly infections and healing the spiritual diseases of our time.
Working closely with both Benedict XVI and Pope Francis as a trusted member of the Roman Curia, Cardinal Muller offers us an inside look at the differences and similarities of the two men who have most recently been entrusted with the Chair of Peter.
Widely recognized as one of the most talented and respected journalists in Rome, Paul Badde offers here a unique glimpse into the drama of Pope Benedict's pontificate. He doesn't simply capture the various reasons for which Benedict XVI will go down in history, Badde chronicles the almost superhuman struggle against overwhelming hostilities that formed against this shy and exceedingly kind man.
With fascinating vignettes back into history, you'll learn how Pope Benedict's experiences in a totalitarian Germany impacted the papacy and the Church, and how this son of a policeman became the "Thomas Aquinas of our time" - one of the most brilliant and accomplished minds on the globe.
Leaning on his own personal conversations with Pope Benedict as well as his extensive interviews with those within the Holy Father's inner circle, Badde explains how Pope Benedict dealt with the blows and calumnies that rained down on him during those tempestuous eight years. You'll come to a
Through stunning photographs, glorious art, insightful commentary, and his own inspiring words, this beautiful deluxe commemorative book celebrates the extraordinary life and legacy of Pope Benedict XVI. Lavishly illustrated. Special Commemorative Edition.
Part 1: Benedict XVI, the Man
An intimate portrait of Joseph Ratzinger in word and image from his youth through his reign as Pope Benedict XVI
His writings on Divine Revelation, Christ, the Church, Mary, the Eucharist, Charity, Faith and Reason, and more Part 3: Praying with Benedict XVI
The Pope's most inspiring spiritual meditations and prayers
"Faith begins when we realize we are in need of salvation. We are not self-sufficient; by ourselves we flounder: we need the Lord, like ancient navigators needed the stars. Let us invite Jesus into the boats of our lives. Let us hand over our fears to him so that he can conquer them. Like the disciples, we will experience that with him on board there will be no shipwreck. Because this is God's strength: turning to the good everything that happens to us, even the bad things. He brings serenity into our storms, because with God life never dies."
In addition to reading about the historical background of the event, you also will learn the significance of elements of the unique and deeply moving service, including
"Christ is alive!" proclaims the pope. Pope Francis's new Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit calls to "all Christian young people" and the People of God, including pastors and the faithful, and urges them to seek the youthful newness of life in Christ!
The pope proposes that youth engage the joy of a living God, the richness of their Catholic faith, and the strength of living in Christian community. He illuminates the Scriptures to give youth tangible hope and draw them more fully into the Church. And in a time of new technology and transformative social changes, the pope challenges youth to take the grounded path of generous sacrifice and faithful companionship with peers, family, neighbors, and elders.
Pope Francis knows committed and bold youth and young adults can change our world! He listened to youthful voices from all over the world during the synod on young people. Pope Francis now speaks full of the conviction that the youth will have great impact-and he challenges them to their best. The pope affirms the sacred time of youth as a time of dreams and decision, of maturity, courage, discernment, and valiant commitment. And he considers a plan for action that will take young people forward quickly, amid fears and hopes, into the work of a life with mission and purpose.
For the young and young at heart, this exhortation will stir all who read it to seek a newness of life in the promise of Christ's Resurrection. Christus Vivit is vital for youth and young adults, as they live out their vocation in the Church and their mission in the world. The exhortation is also an important read for pastors, parents, educators, families, youth and young adult ministries, and all Christian young people. Get your printed copy now, and pick up a copy for a friend or young adult in your life!
2017 Illumination Book Awards, Gold (tie): Children's Picture Book
2017 Independent Press Awards, Distinguished Favorite: Book Cover Design, Children's
2017 Catholic Press Association Book Awards, First Place: Children's Books
2017 Catholic Press Association Book Awards, First Place: Pope Francis
2017 Association of Catholic Publishers' "Excellence in Publishing Book Awards," Book of the Year
If you could ask Pope Francis one question, what would it be? Children have questions and struggles just like adults, but rarely are they given the chance to voice their concerns and ask the big questions resting deep in their hearts. In Dear Pope Francis, Pope Francis gives them that chance and celebrates their spiritual depth by directly answering questions from children around the world. Some are fun. Some are serious. And some will quietly break your heart. But all of them are from children who deserve to know and feel God's unconditional love. Also available in Spanish as Querido Papa Francisco. "Feels akin to sitting in on a series of intimate conversations." -Publishers Weekly "The People's Pope shows that he is a down-to-earth man who understands both religion and children." -Kirkus Reviews
Don't miss out on this treasure of inspiration that will gladden the heart of a beloved priest in your life.
Disciples Together on the Road: The Words of Pope Francis for Priests offers light-hearted commentary, down-to-earth suggestions, and practical discernment. In his easy-to-read style, Pope Francis explores the joys and challenges of priestly life, offering stories and wisdom that will give nourishment and sustenance to priests everywhere.
This is a wonderful gift for Christmas, a priest's birthday, the anniversary of his ordination, or just to say thank you. Disciples Together on the Road includes practical discussions that will benefit seminarians, too!
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to dialogue and encounter. We are expected to be welcoming and open to all people, including those who think differently from us or who hold conflicting opinions. We are also called to share the Truth, which is God's love for us in Jesus Christ.
"[Jesus] asks us not to fix our gaze on what divides us, but rather on what unites us, seeking to know and love Jesus better and to share the richness of his love," Pope Francis writes in Diverse yet United: Communicating Truth in Charity.
Jesus' love spurs us to dialogue, helping us to listen to one another and to get to know others. His love becomes the foundation of human solidarity and renders us capable of overcoming the barriers of our own weaknesses and prejudices. Jesus' love within us creates bridges, teaches new paths, and triggers the dynamism of fraternity.
Pope Francis invites us to communicate the Lord's merciful love to the whole world: "We too are given the gift of the 'tongue' of the Gospel and the 'fire' of the Holy Spirit, so that as we proclaim the risen Jesus, alive and present among us, we may warm our hearts and the hearts of peoples, bringing them closer to him, the way, the truth, and the life."
It took nearly thirty years for a forgotten box of cassette tapes, mislaid in an abbey in Austria, to be brought to light. On these tapes, recorded in 1985, the voice of Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) walks his listeners, with small, careful steps, through the thick terrain of contemporary theology. Now, after decades, these lectures have been dusted off, transcribed, and published for readers across the globe.
The Divine Project is a study of God the Creator and of man as this Creator's masterpiece. "Ratzinger", as Professor Matthew Levering writes, "guides us through the most difficult domains of modern theology and modern life: how to read the Bible; the Reason of God and the reasonableness of the cosmos; the meaning of original sin; technology, ecology, and creatureliness; the Cross and the Eucharist; and Vatican II, pluralism, the Magisterium, and the nature of the Church."
This once-forgotten work offers a short and accessible tour of the whole theological world of Joseph Ratzinger, one of the most important minds of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Increasingly, the future is becoming a theme for theological reflection. In the background we can detect a growing concern among many people for the future of faith.
How does the promise of an eternal future affect the present? How does faith, our hope for life in the future, affect the way we live and interact with the world today? In order to answer these questions, Joseph Ratzinger reflects on such questions as the following: What precisely is faith? What does it have to do with knowledge, modern philosophical trends, technology, and our modern world? What is faith's relationship to truth? And finally, what consequences do the answers to these questions have for the future of our world and our Church?
The problem of the future assails not only the believer. In the ever more rapidly advancing process of technological change, man is confronted with enormous opportunities, but also with colossal perils. For him, the future is not only promising but also a possible nightmare. He cannot avoid asking what part faith can play in building tomorrow's world.
Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, approaches the universal concern for the future from a variety of angles, bringing his deep personal faith and theological brilliance to bear on the serious questions facing mankind.
"It is precisely in times of vehement historical upheaval, when all the past seems to dissolve and completely new things seem to emerge, that men need to reflect upon history, which enables them to see the unreal exaggeration of the moment in the right perspective and integrates them again into a happening that never repeats itself but, on the other hand, never loses its unity and its context. . . . I maintain that reflection upon history, properly understood, embraces both looking back into the past and, with that as the starting point, reflecting on the possibilities and tasks of the future, which can only become clear if we survey a fairly long stretch of the road and do not naively shut ourselves up in the present."
-- Joseph Ratzinger
Increasingly, the future is becoming a theme for theological reflection. In the background we can detect a growing concern among many people for the future of faith.
How does the promise of an eternal future affect the present? How does faith, our hope for life in the future, affect the way we live and interact with the world today? In order to answer these questions, Joseph Ratzinger reflects on such questions as the following: What precisely is faith? What does it have to do with knowledge, modern philosophical trends, technology, and our modern world? What is faith's relationship to truth? And finally, what consequences do the answers to these questions have for the future of our world and our Church?
The problem of the future assails not only the believer. In the ever more rapidly advancing process of technological change, man is confronted with enormous opportunities, but also with colossal perils. For him, the future is not only promising but also a possible nightmare. He cannot avoid asking what part faith can play in building tomorrow's world.
Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, approaches the universal concern for the future from a variety of angles, bringing his deep personal faith and theological brilliance to bear on the serious questions facing mankind.
"It is precisely in times of vehement historical upheaval, when all the past seems to dissolve and completely new things seem to emerge, that men need to reflect upon history, which enables them to see the unreal exaggeration of the moment in the right perspective and integrates them again into a happening that never repeats itself but, on the other hand, never loses its unity and its context. . . . I maintain that reflection upon history, properly understood, embraces both looking back into the past and, with that as the starting point, reflecting on the possibilities and tasks of the future, which can only become clear if we survey a fairly long stretch of the road and do not naively shut ourselves up in the present."
— Joseph Ratzinger
Pope Benedict XVI is widely considered among many to be the greatest theologian and Catholic thinker of our time. In these pages, author James Day unpacks the voluminous teachings of Pope Benedict and presents his remedies for the many ills afflicting the Church and our culture, including individualism, materialism, secularism, and godlessness.
At a time when the many "isms" of our day are pulling people away from the Faith, Father Benedict presents a hope-filled future, but only if we are to follow the guidance of Pope Benedict and the path he presents to us in every aspect of life: the formation of the Christian faith, in loving others, in personal vocation, in education, and in how we see the natural world.
Tornielli, the foremost "Vatican insider" journalist, offers here inspiring stories, incidents, encounters, and excerpts from the writings and talks of Pope Francis through his first year as Pope.
These add up to a powerful witness by Pope Francis of "heartwarming stories of the Gospel in action," and reflect on various spiritual and social themes important to the Pope, including mercy, forgiveness, charity, prayer, justice, Eucharist, Our Lady and much more.
His little gestures and big ones, the minor or major choices that he has made each day, his ability to meet everyone and to speak to everyone, his simple way of being himself, have made Francis not only credible but above all close. The Pope is perceived by many, many people throughout the world as ''one of us''. It is enough to watch him embrace the sick, the suffering, the children, to see why that is so.
The title echoes the Little Flowers of Saint Francis, the famous collection of stories about the beloved Francis of Assisi, whose name the Pope adopted for himself.
This work offers a wonderful collection of insightful fragments from various aspects of the life of the Pope in his first year that will help the reader become better acquainted with the immensely popular Bishop of Rome who came ''from the end of the earth''.
This short book gives the wisdom of recent popes-including St. John XXIII, Bl. Paul VI, St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis-on prisoners, the prison system, and the restoration of those detained. The popes' speeches are taken from their own pastoral visits to prisoners. The popes speak encouragement to prisoners and their families and inspiration to those responsible for their conditions and rehabilitation.
"Francis, rebuild my Church!" That is how St. Francis of Assisi heard the call of Christ. It is also how Jorge Mario Bergoglio, at the age of 76, and a Jesuit, seems to have accepted his election to the papacy with the choice of a name that no other pope has ever chosen.
Who is Pope Francis, elected in one of the shortest conclaves in history? Who is the man chosen to be the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope?
How does he see the world and his ministry? How does he understand his call to serve Christ, his Church, and the world? In short, what is the mind and heart of this new pope of a new world--of the Americas and the rest of the world of the 21st Century?
In the words, the ideas, and the personal recollections of Pope Francis-- including material up to the final hours before his election--the most highly regarded Vatican observer on the international scene reveals the personality of this man of God, gentle and humble. The son of Italian immigrants to Argentina, he made radically following Christ and the way of non-violence the pillars of his pastoral ministry in a country, continually tormented by social and economic inequities.
This complete biography offers the keys to understanding the man who was a surprise choice, even a kind of revolutionary choice, for pope. It is the story of the humble pastor of one of the world's largest archdioceses; a cardinal who takes the bus, talks with common folk, and lives simply. It is the story of why the cardinal electors of the Catholic Church set aside political and diplomatic calculations to elect a pope to lead the renewal and purification of the worldwide Church of our time.
The priesthood is going through a dark time, according to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Robert Cardinal Sarah. Wounded by the revelation of so many scandals, disconcerted by the constant questioning of their consecrated celibacy, many priests are tempted by the thought of giving up and abandoning everything.
In this book, the pope emeritus and the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments give their brother priests, and the whole Church, a message of hope. They honestly address the spiritual challenges faced by priests today, while pointing to deeper conversion to Jesus Christ as the key to faithful and fruitful priestly ministry and genuine reform.
Benedict XVI and Cardinal Sarah fraternally offer these reflections to the people of God and, of course, in a spirit of filial obedience, to Pope Francis, who has said, I think that celibacy is a gift for the Church. . . . I don't agree with allowing optional celibacy, no.
Responding to calls for refashioning the priesthood, including proposals from participants in the Amazonian Synod, two wise, spiritually astute pastors explain the importance of priestly celibacy for the good of the whole Church. Drawing on Vatican II, they present celibacy as not just a mere precept of ecclesiastical law, but as a sharing in Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross and his identity as Bridegroom of the Church.
The Simple Wisdom of Pope Francis collection captures the wisdom of Pope Francis during his general audiences that consist of short, scripturally-based teachings in which the pope instructs the faithful across the world.
"We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves." -- Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate
In his third apostolic exhortation, Pope Francis presents the universal call to live holy lives with a new, fresh approach. We are encouraged to strive for -- and achieve -- holiness in our everyday lives. As we actively live out holiness day by day, we not only draw closer to the Lord ourselves, but become participants in bringing others to Christ.
Gaudete et Exsultate shows us:
The Second Vatican Council says, We ought to try to discover a new reverence for the Eucharistic mystery. Something is happening that is greater than anything we can do. The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is the font from which all her power flows.
This profound statement about the Eucharist stands at the center of this book by Cardinal Ratzinger. He compellingly shows us the biblical, historical, and theological dimensions of the Eucharist. The Cardinal draws far-reaching conclusions, focusing on the importance of one's personal devotion to and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, for the personal reception of Communion by the individual Christian, as well as for the life of the Church. For Ratzinger, any transformation of the world on the social plane grows out of the celebration of the Eucharist. He beautifully illustrates how the omnipotent God comes intimately close to us in the Holy Eucharist, the Heart of Life.
In this book of meditations, based on a series of meditations by the author shortly before he became Archbishop of Munich-Freising, in 1977, theologian Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) presents his profound thoughts on the nature and person of God, building a bridge between theology and spirituality as he makes wide use of the Sacred Scriptures to reveal the beauty and mystery of who God is. He writes about each of the three persons in the Holy Trinity, showing the different attributes of each person, and that "God is three and God is one."
God is - and the Christian faith adds: God is as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three and one. This is the very heart of Christianity, but it is so often shrouded in a silence born of perplexity. Has the Church perhaps gone one step too far here? Ought we not rather leave something so great and inaccessible as God in his inaccessibility? Can something like the Trinity have any real meaning for us? It is certainly true that the proposition that "God is three and God is one" is and remains the expression of his otherness, which is infinitely greater than us and transcends all our thinking and our existence.
But, as Joseph Ratzinger shows, if this proposition meant nothing to us, it would not have been revealed! And it could be clothed in human language only because it had already penetrated human thinking and living to some extent.
"Without Jesus, we do not know what 'Father' truly is. This becomes visible in his prayer, which is the foundation of his being. A Jesus who was not continuously absorbed in the Father, and was not in continuous intimate communication with him, would be a completely different being from the Jesus of the Bible, the real Jesus of history... In Jesus' prayer, the Father becomes visible and Jesus makes himself known as the Son. The unity which this reveals is the Trinity. Accordingly, becoming a Christian means sharing in Jesus' prayer, entering into the model provided by his life, i.e. the model of prayer. Becoming a Christian means saying 'Father' with Jesus."
-- Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)
It's August, 2005. The newly elected Benedict XVI returns to his homeland, Germany, for World Youth Day-the spectacular event created by his popular predecessor, Pope John Paul II. All eyes are on the German pope in Cologne. Will he relate to young people as John Paul II did?
The zealous loving welcome of more than a million young people provides the answer. Benedict XVI pulls it off-in his own way, with his own style, without missing a beat. His encounters with young people are magical, even mystical. His message--a straightforward presentation of the Christian faith aimed at answering the perennial questions of young people: Who am I? Where am I going? Is there Someone who can help? How can I make a difference in the world?
Benedict XVI's answers to these questions all point to Jesus Christ and his teaching. He urges young people not to think that following Jesus requires abandoning anything of real worth. Christ takes from you nothing that is beautiful and great, he declares. He dares young people to become radicals-to be part of God's revolution. To commit themselves without reservation to Jesus Christ.
Reaffirming the "greatness and inestimable value of human life," Pope John Paul II discusses in this encyclical letter the present-day legal, ethical, and moral threats to life.
In view of today's climate of practical materialism, he addresses, among other issues:
The Holy Father encourages the faithful to promote and develop the Christian message concerning life, based on the goodness and dignity of life and on the human responsibility to share in the fullness and truth of God's love. In order to build a new culture of human life through prayer and action, he welcomes evangelization efforts and stresses the role of the family in bringing this to fruition. Noting the unique role of women in promoting a "new feminism" that overcomes discrimination, violence, and exploitation, the pope recognizes the witness of love through motherhood and also adds a special word to women who have had an abortion.
The letter concludes by looking to Jesus, in order that all may contemplate the life that was made manifest, and to the example and solace of Mary, who is the mother of life.
Focusing specifically on the 13th-century founding of the Franciscans by St. Francis of Assisi and the Dominicans by St. Dominic Guzm n, the pope said personal holiness led the two saints to preach and to help actualize a return to Gospel poverty, a deeper unity with the Church, and a new movement of evangelization, including within the European universities that were blossoming at the time.
Great Teachers include:
Hugh and Richard of Saint-Victor
William of Saint-Thierry
Rupert of Dutz
John of Salisbury
Peter Lombard
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Dominic Guzm n
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Bonaventure
St. Albert the Great
St. Thomas Aquinas
John Duns Scotus
Given on the feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1989, this apostolic exhortation focuses on the way Saint "Joseph, like Mary, remained faithful to God's call until the end." Pope John Paul II encourages us to consider the ways that Saint Joseph lived his faith day to day.
This 25th anniversary edition provides the complete text of the apostolic exhortation, accompanied by a commentary by Joseph Atkinson that makes Pope John Paul II's language more accessible. In six parts, readers are given a fuller understanding of Saint Joseph as guardian, husband, carpenter, and patron.
References to various religious documents and Biblical passages provide rich context for highlighting Saint Joseph's role in Christ's life and as patron of the Church today. Joseph Atkinson's commentary helps readers to understand the exhortation, and offers reflection questions and a prayer after each section. Reading the exhortation becomes a way to fully recognize and appreciate Saint Joseph's role in salvation history.
In this special Anniversary Edition, we can delve more deeply into our comprehension of the guardian of the Redeemer, husband of Mary, and patron of the Universal Church.
"The question of human procreation, like every other question which touches human life, involves more than ... biology, psychology, demography or sociology. It is the whole man and the whole mission to which he is called that must be considered: both its natural, earthly aspects and its supernatural, eternal aspects." - Pope Paul VI, Humanae Vitae
Pope Paul VI's prophetic encyclical Humanae Vitae, issued in 1968, presented the Church's consistent teachings on marriage and contraception to the modern world -- a world that demanded then, as it does now, that the Church adapt her teachings to itself. Standing calmly and firmly against a culture that sees contraception and abortion as individual choices, Humanae Vitae shows us what it means to share in the creative work of God. Paul VI lays out God's plan for human sexuality, a plan that invites married couples to celebrate the incredible gifts of human love and human life.
Humanae Vitae is a loving and honest look at the benefits and the challenges of Church teaching, and a call to the Church to provide guidance and support for couples as they strive to live out God's design for human life and marriage.
This inspiring compilation of homilies delivered by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio from 1999-2013, before he became Pope Francis, offers a unique glimpse into the mind, heart, and character of the Holy Father when he was still the cardinal archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina. These excerpts, compiled by Argentinian Sister María Gabriela Flores, FSP, captures Francis' thoughts, reflections, and concerns on a wide array of topics, from theological meditations on Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to his thoughts and commitments to education, family life, and social justice. A simple but effective introduction to the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from Latin America, this pocket-sized volume will inspire you to reflect, pray, and act.
For Christians, Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, who died for the sins of the world, and who rose from the dead in triumph over sin and death. For non-Christians, he is almost anything else--a myth, a political revolutionary, a prophet whose teaching was misunderstood or distorted by his followers.
Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, and no myth, revolutionary, or misunderstood prophet, insists Benedict XVI. He thinks that the best of historical scholarship, while it can't "prove" Jesus is the Son of God, certainly doesn't disprove it. Indeed, Benedict maintains that the evidence, fairly considered, brings us face-to-face with the challenge of Jesus--a real man who taught and acted in ways that were tantamount to claims of divine authority, claims not easily dismissed as lunacy or deception.
Benedict XVI presents this challenge in his new book, Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection, the sequel volume to Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration.
Why was Jesus rejected by the religious leaders of his day? Who was responsible for his death? Did he establish a Church to carry on his work? How did Jesus view his suffering and death? How should we? And, most importantly, did Jesus really rise from the dead and what does his resurrection mean? The story of Jesus raises many crucial questions.
Benedict brings to his study the vast learning of a brilliant scholar, the passionate searching of a great mind, and the deep compassion of a pastor's heart. In the end, he dares readers to grapple with the meaning of Jesus' life, teaching, death, and resurrection.
"Only in this second volume do we encounter the decisive sayings and events of Jesus' life . . . I hope that I have been granted an insight into the figure of Our Lord that can be helpful to all readers who seek to encounter Jesus and to believe in Him."
-Pope Benedict XVI
In this bold, momentous work, Joseph Ratzinger--in his first book written since he became Pope--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 invites 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: What did Jesus actually bring, if not 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 formerly unveiled his countenance gradually first to Abraham, then to Moses and the Prophets, and then in the Wisdom Literature--the God who revealed 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, Isaac, and 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."
The Study Guide is also available!
With a foreword by Tim Gray, Ph.D., chapter summarizes and outlines by Mark Brumley and Curtis Mitch, and study questions by Mark Brumley and Laura Dittus
A user-friendly aid for readers of Pope Benedict XVI's Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection, this Study Guide is excellent for individual or group study, for formal class instruction or informal study. Excellent for parish groups, high school programs, college classes, and graduate studies. The Study Guide does not replace Benedict XVI's book, but it makes it more accessible and beneficial to the average reader-whether lay, religious, or clergy-as well as the knowledgeable student.
The Study Guide includes:
Based on Pope Benedict XVI's weekly teaching on the relationship between Christ and the Church, this book tells the drama of Jesus' first disciples -- his Apostles and their associates -- and how they spread Jesus' message throughout the ancient world. Far from distorting the truth about Jesus of Nazareth, insists Pope Benedict, the early disciples remained faithful to it, even at the cost of their lives.
Beginning with the Twelve as the foundation of Jesus' re-establishment of the Holy People of God, Pope Benedict examines the story of the early followers of Christ. He draws on Scripture and early tradition to consider such important figures as Peter, Andrew, James and John, and even Judas Iscariot. Benedict moves beyond the original Twelve to discuss Paul of Tarsus, the persecutor of Christianity who became one of Jesus' greatest disciples. Also considered are Stephen, the first Christian martyr, Barnabas, Timothy, Titus, the wife and husband "team" of Priscilla and Aquila, and such key women figures as Mary, the Mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Phoebe.
Jesus, the Apostles and the Early Church is a fascinating journey back to the origins of Christianity. It reveals how Jesus' earliest disciples faithfully conveyed the truth about the "Jesus of history" and how they laid the foundations for the Church, through whom people today can know the same Jesus.
--Pope Francis, from The Joy of Discipleship Near the end of Luke's Gospel, two disciples slowly make their way home from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus. At the outset, they are deeply saddened by Jesus' tragic death. By that evening, however, they have made a 180-degree turn: from dejected disciples to followers filled with joy--a joy they simply must share with others as fast as they can. What accounts for this change? They have encountered the risen Christ! In The Joy of Discipleship, Pope Francis reminds us that joy should be one of the defining characteristics of any person who has truly encountered Jesus. This skillfully curated collection of homilies, speeches, and other documents from Pope Francis, compiled and edited by James P. Campbell, offers a fresh perspective on why Christian disciples should be so joyful in the first place and how that joy might manifest itself in our individual daily lives. Covering a broad range of themes--Christ's Resurrection, mercy, wealth and poverty, the Christian family, and more--The Joy of Discipleship moves us to meditate on Christ and then inspires us to move out from our own four walls, jubilantly proclaiming God's transforming love in word and deed. For anyone who wants what Pope Francis has--an active, abiding, authentic love for Jesus Christ, for the Church, and for the people of this world--The Joy of Discipleship will point the way. "This volume gives us a portrait of the Pope and what amazing joy fills his life, his mind, his teaching . . . his discipleship!"
--From the foreword by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo