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The Meaning of Christian Brotherhood
Written over three decades ago, Cardinal Ratzinger's profound treatise on the true meaning of Christian brotherhood is perhaps even more timely and important now as a clear statement on the biblical grounds for cooperation among believing Christians. In treating Christian brotherhood from the perspective of salvation history, Ratzinger opens up the meaning of both the Old and New Testament in this most essential area. After establishing the distinctively Christian sense of brotherhood (vis-a-vis Judaism, Hellenism, Stoicism, the Enlightenment, and Marxism), he shows how fraternal charity can only be perfected through God's fatherhood, Christ's divine sonship, and our brotherhood in Christ.
115 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 4, 2021
Is there anything that he has written that does not deserve five stars. This little book is astounding in revealing the breathtaking extent of his familiarity with scriptural scholarship and all that it connects with as well as its interface with modernity. It is a short book, indeed hardly a book at all - just a gathering together of his thoughts of over 50 years ago, but as enlightening in our time as they were then.
August 8, 2025
A compact volume with many points to meditate on. The main things I took away from the text—Catholic brotherhood is unique, made real by our real relationship to the Father and the Son, strengthened by the sacraments, and it should be for the good of others.
June 15, 2019
Just spectacular.
Read it.
Read it.
July 28, 2019
A pretty heady book — but good points were made and gave me good questions to consider.
December 11, 2025
A must read for everyone who desires to grow in discipleship with Christ and to grow as an ecclesial man or woman.
December 11, 2023
For something I never thought about, this book now has me thinking about the concept all the time. Benedict lays out his ideas so clearly and logically.
July 7, 2012
Pope Benedict XVI’s book “The Meaning of Christian Brotherhood” is divided into two sections:
Part One is “A Historical Analysis” of the meaning of brotherhood as expressed in some of the great cultures that most directly and profoundly influenced modern Christianity. This section is also divided into a further two sections, the first having to do with “the idea of brotherhood before and outside Christianity”, which is a survey of the meaning of brotherhood as cultivated by Ancient Greece, Old Testament believers, Hellenism, and Enlightenment and Marxist thought and the second portion having to do with “the development and the idea of brotherhood in early Christianity” which includes a treatment of brotherhood in the words of Christ, New Testaments writings, especially the Pauline texts, and the Fathers of the Church.
The first part is obviously necessary if Pope Benedict XVI (at the time of writing: Father and Professor Ratzinger) is to give a just nod to the historical development of this idea. Indeed, I think he does this very well and his use of historical events and cultural customs is particularly helpful for developing an understanding of a historical meaning. However, I must admit, I found this part of the book to be very dry reading.
Part Two, “An Attempt at Synthesis”, is a treatment of “the basis of Christian brotherhood: faith”, “the removal of barriers within the brotherhood of Christians”, “the limits of brotherly community”, and “true universalism.” This is by far the most engaging and helpful portion of the book as it is essentially a call for the restoration of and the living out of this basic Christian idea of brotherhood. The weaving of the historical meaning with the needed remedies both in how we think of the issue and how we is fascinating and easily countered the dry portions of the book.
If you want to know what brotherhood has meant historically and, perhaps, what is should look like now, this book is a great place to start.
Part One is “A Historical Analysis” of the meaning of brotherhood as expressed in some of the great cultures that most directly and profoundly influenced modern Christianity. This section is also divided into a further two sections, the first having to do with “the idea of brotherhood before and outside Christianity”, which is a survey of the meaning of brotherhood as cultivated by Ancient Greece, Old Testament believers, Hellenism, and Enlightenment and Marxist thought and the second portion having to do with “the development and the idea of brotherhood in early Christianity” which includes a treatment of brotherhood in the words of Christ, New Testaments writings, especially the Pauline texts, and the Fathers of the Church.
The first part is obviously necessary if Pope Benedict XVI (at the time of writing: Father and Professor Ratzinger) is to give a just nod to the historical development of this idea. Indeed, I think he does this very well and his use of historical events and cultural customs is particularly helpful for developing an understanding of a historical meaning. However, I must admit, I found this part of the book to be very dry reading.
Part Two, “An Attempt at Synthesis”, is a treatment of “the basis of Christian brotherhood: faith”, “the removal of barriers within the brotherhood of Christians”, “the limits of brotherly community”, and “true universalism.” This is by far the most engaging and helpful portion of the book as it is essentially a call for the restoration of and the living out of this basic Christian idea of brotherhood. The weaving of the historical meaning with the needed remedies both in how we think of the issue and how we is fascinating and easily countered the dry portions of the book.
If you want to know what brotherhood has meant historically and, perhaps, what is should look like now, this book is a great place to start.
October 6, 2020
Ratzinger's historical examination of the Stoic and Enlightenment views of brotherhood is excellent. There is, however, much to be desired in this work, and one can see Ratzinger struggles to understand how Christian brotherhood works in the age of Protestantism because he doesn't ground the brotherhood in the gospel faith, but in the Eucharistic sacrament.
June 24, 2010
Brother's, make sure to read this book!
April 7, 2017
An absolutely stunning short book. My only complaint is that Ratzinger seems to shy away from some of the radical logical conclusions one can hint throughout the book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews