Benedict Books

The life of the late Terence Cardinal Cooke has been a great inspiration to me. He suffered greatly during the last few years of his life. Fr. Groeschel sets out a wonderful portrait of a man who was totally devoted to God and his people. During the last nine years of his life, Cardinal Cooke suffered from cancer. Yet, he did not wish that be known. He did not wish to be "a lame duck Archbishop". He would receive chemotheraphy and then continue the arduous schedule of the Archbishop of New York. He kept this up for nine years. It is for this reason that the Catholic Church is considering making him a saint. He was one who spent his life for God and his people on earth.

In this thought-provoking, easy to read book, Dr. Ang and Mr. Auer suggest some cultural and biochemical bases for depression; not the garden variety, mind you, but true suicidal depression. While most depressive patients can be helped by spiritual counseling, medications, and/or psychotherapy, a small percentage simply continue to see death as the only solution. Among these are some very spiritual people who want dearly to serve God and to please Him. This book explores some of the paradoxes involved in their stuggles, and treats depression with respect, rather than offering a sermon or a cure-all.

This tale has everything you could ask for in a story. Intrigue and romance played out on a grand scale during the American revolution. The real story behind Benedict Arnold's defection is told in fascinating detail. The reader gets a glimpse of the everyday concerns of our nations greatest heros and it's greatest villians. We meet the beautiful and ambitious Peggy Shippen and the handsome and tragic Major Andre'. A rousing good yarn.

A moving account of the teachers and administrators who love and work with hard-to-reach high school students.This book is much more that a description of how dedicated staff members crafted an alternative education program to meet he needs of high school drop outs. It personalizes the mix of heartbreak and celebration that accompanies the task of working with at-risk kids. I was moved to anger and tears and finally to hope. A must read for all secondary teachers and those who believe that the public schools can and must meet the needs of all children.

A powerful book that will change your life. Should be a must for all Catholics and a great way to understand man's relationship with Christ through our Blessed Lady. Reading in a group with a Cenacle Leader is the best way to explore St. de Monforts' Method of True Devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ. The entire book should be read before making any judgement on the text-you'll want to reread it every time you finish!

We are all going to get old; that's a given. How we handle that inescapable fact of life is important to us. This book, which treats the subject of ageing with love, concern and sensitivity, should be read by folks who can accept age graciously, and also by those who cannot. Everyone faces the long, dark corridor at the top of the stair, but we must be optimistic, and move steadily toward the Light at its end. Read this work, it will help.

Oxford academic Adam Roberts, long considered the most influential expert on the subject of the UN system, has produced an excellent book, with great academic rigour, very comprenehsive, and very concise (or at least as concise as it could possibly be, given the enormous amount and variety of issues covered therein). With great ability, the author manages to highlight the positive and negative sides of the UN system and its work, criticizing them where appropriate and by giving very thorough explanations, and praising them in other respects. It offers information and analysis on the major challenges confronted by the UN in the recent past, and those likely to arise in the near future. The book is an absolute must for anyone wishing to know more on the UN system. It is suitable both for those intending to learn the basics, and those who are on a start of deep research work on the subject. It is a serious academic study, yet easy to read and even enjoyable.

I was unaware of this little gem until I was visiting the refectory of the monastery which is affiliated with my former undergraduate institution. While eating, the spiritual reading progressed as it normally does, although the tone most definitely sounded somewhat contemporary. Hearing the text, I though that it might just be something by Pope Benedict, for the presentation and style surely sounded like his. Additionally, the no-nonsense, profound approach to the subject set of "Ratzinger-sirens" in my brain. Once it was confirmed that this was a work of His Holiness, I made certain to place it on my "to buy" list because of my deep love for his work.

I must say that this book should be a necessary read for all politicians in the Western World, as West that is losing its conviction for the truth and is slowly slipping into the hole of relativism. What we have here is an enlightened testimony on the power of the Truth, a power which is not coercive, as the Pope affirmed in Regensburg. Although I am not ready to proclaim this from the roof-tops, it is my conviction that we have forgotten the nature of democracy and are slipping into a "mob-rule" (or "majority rule") society which has little conviction for the Truth but instead embraces the agonal principles of political power, particularly in the factionalistic party system. Although it is my conviction that the political realm will never be perfect on its own (for the world will not be perfect on its own), I do think that steps must be taken in the right direction in order to ensure that we function as Collaborators in the Truth and not partisan dialecticians. I must say that this text is very accessible and yet profound and is therefore suggest it to all Catholics, as well as all persons of good intent who are open-minded enough to reflect upon the thoughts of a profoundly brilliant man.

Wonderfully detailed researched and well-written. Good foot notes and cross references. A primer on the topic.

Excellent book! The section which dissected the "Lord's Prayer" is powerful. Highly recommended for believers to strengthen their faith and for non-believers to get a bright insight.

There has been a great deal written on the "real" Jesus in recent years. We have had the "Jesus Project" in which a team of scholars has edited the Gospels, to throw out the parts they consider not "real" Jesus. We have had a wide variety of other scholars use various methods of modern scholarly research to cut through what they consider to be the fog of the centuries, to show us who the person Jesus really was. Interestingly, they pretty much all conclude that Jesus was really a modern thinker, whose conclusions pretty much agreed with those of the writer. In other words, we have seen many writers try to take advantage of the prestige of Jesus' name to advance their own modern agendas.

In this book, Joseph Ratzinger tries to give us back the real Jesus. Ratzinger is, of course, one of the world's foremost scholars and theologians. He is very familiar with, and respectful of, modern scholarship. He is also, of course, the current Pope, although he makes it clear that this book is not written as an act of papal authority, but as a personal search for the truth.

His basic conclusion is that the Gospels present Jesus accurately, and that Jesus was the Son of God and the savior of the world. This bald conclusion makes him sound like a fundamentalist, which he is not. He is a man of deep faith, which, of course, one would expect from the Pope.

So, it is not news that the Pope is an ardent believer in Jesus. What is news is the very passionate, simple yet dense way that Ratzinger expounds his case. He does not just tell us that Jesus is the Son of God. He tells us why he says that, how Jesus and His mission are founded in the entire Bible, and what it means to say that he is Son of God. Ratzinger does not simply affirm the faith, he explains it. He makes it a living thing.

Ratzinger's prior big book, of a generation ago, was Introduction to Christianity. It remains a wonderful book. I feel that it is somewhat mis-titled, however. It is not so much an introduction to the religion of Jesus, as it is a sustained argument, to a predominantly secular world, why it should take the idea of God seriously. I feel it is less a specifically Christian book, and more a general case for religion.

This book is a very specifically Christian book. It does not express hostility to other religions, which, of course, we know that the Pope does not feel. It simply is not very concerned about other religions, except for Judiasm, which is discussed at length because it is the religion from which Jesus emerged. This book is totally focused on the Christian view. If you want a one-volume introduction to, and summary of, what Catholics believe, and why they believe it, this is the book you want. It is absolutely magnificent.

Benedict XVI is a great theologian. Those who had the honor and happiness to approach also know he is a man of great goodness. What wealth Benedict XVI us with this book so clear, deep, humble knowledge on the topic of Christianity in the person of Jesus Christ, Son of God.

As a passionate in religious readings, I was conquered by scientific rigor used by Cardinal Ratzinger, including "Here's what our God" and the encyclical "God is love: Encyclical on Christian love." "Jesus of Nazareth" goes even further in this necessary accompaniment of the Christian in his love of God.

Outstanding work.

I do not usually listen to audio books, but I made an exception when I ordered this one because I have a friend whose sight is fading who could only enjoy the book this way. I have already read (and marked) a copy of the print version, so I ordered an additional audio version for myself to listen to in the car and then maybe give away to someone else. What a surprise! The reader has the right voice and cadence to make it something like listening to a fine lecture--and I've heard a few that were truly top notch in my time. I have no doubt that I will listen all the way through the 11 CD's in this set. Even if you've already read the book, get this CD set. I hope that other titles from Pope Benedict XVI will become available in this form, and I hope they will keep this reader on retainer.

Bert Harrell
Jacksonville, Florida

His Holiness brings a tremendous wealth and background of academic knowledge to the subject of Jesus which is clearly evident from his writing. But most importantly, he describes the beginning of the life of Jesus as chronicled in the Gospels from a perspective that is neither the liberal reconstructionist so popular among academia and the media today, nor the unquestioning faith of those who adhere to a literal translation of the Bible ("Sola Scriptura"). Instead he reflects the Catholic affirmation of the divinity of Christ, but uses historical criticism to bring perspective to the narrative of the Gospel-writers. The only reason I would keep it from being a 5-star rating is that the writing is likely way over the heads of many people who might be interested in exploring the subject from a Catholic perspective, but lack the background His Holiness assumes the readers bring.