Posted on 09/21/2005 10:46:21 AM PDT by NYer
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21 /U.S. Newswire/ -- On The Way To Jesus Christ, the newest book by Pope Benedict XVI, which is released exclusively by Ignatius Press this month, is about the true Jesus, the Jesus of the Gospels, who is "quite different, demanding and bold." This Jesus is controversial, inconvenient, and brings an often- unpopular message. Ignatius Press is releasing a total of four new books by Pope Benedict XVI this year.
Jesus remains as popular as ever -- as the recent books, films and news articles prove. Yet is this "popular" Jesus an accurate rendering of the true Jesus of Christianity? So many articles and books ask "Who was Jesus Christ?" And yet, the Jesus they construct seems somehow incongruent with the Jesus of Christianity. The "popular" Jesus makes no demands and never challenges people. Everything and everyone is O.K. with him, under all circumstances. In fact, even when many people see the "pop" Jesus as representing God, they don't perceive him as making any judgment upon their actions or lives.
But this "phantom" Jesus is not a real figure, according to Pope Benedict XVI.
"The articles (in On The Way To Jesus Christ) ...are all meant to be attempts to approach Jesus," says Pope Benedict XVI. "(They are) a search for his authentic, undiminished figure." He goes on to say, "The crisis of faith in modern times began with a modified way of reading Sacred Scripture -- seemingly the sole scientific way. The question of how we should read the Bible is inseparably bound up with the question about Christ. I hope that this book, with all its imperfections, can still be a help on the way to Jesus." The Pope indeed uses Scripture to present an authentic portrait of Jesus Christ.
The book is written for both believer and non-believer alike, across all denominations -- for all who want a better understanding of the true Jesus of the Gospels, the genuine Christ of Christianity.
The 185-page, 5-1/4" x 8" sewn hardcover book (ISBN 1-58617- 124-0) is $19.95, and is a series of meditations that Pope Benedict wrote while still the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It also examines other topics, including whether Jesus Christ is the only savior, and the Church's role and responsibility to evangelize. Pope Benedict shows how Jesus answers the deepest question of human existence which -- whether people admit it or not -- keep them on the lookout for God, for a gratification that is limitless, for the infinite.
The book concludes with reflections on Jesus' Presence in the Holy Eucharist, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church's presentation of the Christian mystery as seen through the Catechism's view of Sacred Scripture.
Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, was for over two decades the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under Pope John Paul II. He is a renowned theologian and author of numerous bestselling works published by Ignatius Press, including: Introduction To Christianity, Milestones, Pilgrim Fellowship of Faith, Salt of the Earth, God and The World, The Spirit of the Liturgy, God Is Near Us, Truth and Tolerance, and many more.
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San Francisco-based Ignatius Press, founded in 1978, is one of the largest Catholic publishers in the U.S. Ignatius Press is the primary publisher of Pope Benedict XVI's books in the U.S. It is likewise dedicated to publishing and distributing genuine information on the Catholic faith, and publishes over 40 books each year (with over 900 titles in print). Its author-roster includes some of the foremost names in the Catholic Church. Ignatius is also the publisher of Catholic World Report and Homiletic & Pastoral Review magazines. Ordering can be done through: http://www.ignatius.com , or by calling: 800-651-1531.
I'm really looking forward to reading this. I love the Eucharistic message of the cover art for the book.
Sounds interesting.
Methinks this book promises to be a great help for doing just that, Eastbound. Time to hustle over to Amazon.com....
Thanks so much for the ping, my friend!
What a profound and awesome statement! Yes! He knows His sheep and they know Him.
Looks like I have yet another book to add to my "gotta get" list. Which keeps growing and growing. I'd better get rich fast and retire so I'll have enough time to real all the books I have as well as those on my "gotta get" list!
All of his writings that I have read so far I have found to be beautiful, wonderful, articulate, eloquent, thought-provoking, inspirational food for the soul. I look forward to reading more of his writings. Thank God for Pope Benedict XVI!
"All of his writings that I have read so far I have found to be beautiful, wonderful, articulate, eloquent, thought-provoking, inspirational food for the soul."
So true! I've only just begun his "Introduction to Christianity" and am on the portion where he examines the nature of faith, before examining the articles of the Christian Faith. I think there you can get a sense of the Holy Father as an individual, as a believer. His treatment of the nature of faith roundly refutes the image of him as being a harsh, unforgiving, arrogant hypocrite.
I hope someday to read his works in his native German.
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