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Who Do You Say I Am?: Meeting the Historical Jesus in Prayer
Book by Barry, William
152 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1996
About the author
William A. Barry
43 books37 followersWilliam (Bill) Barry, a distinguished spiritual director and author, was born in Worchester, MA. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1950, studied philosophy in Germany from 1953 until 1956, and was at Weston College for theology studies from 1959 until 1963. Ordained a priest in 1962, Barry went on to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan in 1968.
In 1969, he began teaching psychology at Weston School of Theology, Cambridge, MA, and in 1971 was named director for the Center for Religious Development. He served in both capacities until 1978, when he was put in charge of formation for the New England Jesuit Province. Barry was the Assistant Director of Novices for the Province (1985-88) when he was named Rector of Boston College.
From 1991 to 1997, he served as Provincial of the New England Jesuits. Following that, he was named co-director of the Jesuit Tertianship Program. Barry directs retreats at Campion Center in Weston, MA.
Despite such a busy and committed life, Barry found the time to write 15 books, including The Practice of Spiritual Direction, God and You, Finding God in All Things, Spiritual Direction and the Encounter with God, Who Do You Say I Am?, With an Everlasting Love, and A Friendship Like No Other.
Barry has the rare ability to present complex spiritual issues in clear, well-written prose. He is one of the most influential Ignatian commentators at work today.
In 1969, he began teaching psychology at Weston School of Theology, Cambridge, MA, and in 1971 was named director for the Center for Religious Development. He served in both capacities until 1978, when he was put in charge of formation for the New England Jesuit Province. Barry was the Assistant Director of Novices for the Province (1985-88) when he was named Rector of Boston College.
From 1991 to 1997, he served as Provincial of the New England Jesuits. Following that, he was named co-director of the Jesuit Tertianship Program. Barry directs retreats at Campion Center in Weston, MA.
Despite such a busy and committed life, Barry found the time to write 15 books, including The Practice of Spiritual Direction, God and You, Finding God in All Things, Spiritual Direction and the Encounter with God, Who Do You Say I Am?, With an Everlasting Love, and A Friendship Like No Other.
Barry has the rare ability to present complex spiritual issues in clear, well-written prose. He is one of the most influential Ignatian commentators at work today.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 21, 2023
In 1990s, I had a chance to translate Fr. William A. Barry's 'Finding God in All Things' into Korean for Korean Christian Life Community members, and I fell in love with the book; I loved Fr. Barry's warm touch in telling us how we can find God in all things.
'Who Do You Say I Am?' is written in a very different style from his other books I have read. He keeps quoting 'The Marginal Jew' by John Meier to hlep us to discover the historical Jesus does not disturb our trust or faith in him.
Fr. Barry guides us to pray as this: "I want to know more about you so that I may love you more intensely and walk with you more closely." He also advises us to ask Jesus to share with us Jesus' feelings whenever we come accross with some small and big incidents Jesus experienced. We do this to follow him more closely and to become like Jesus.
I felt funny when Fr. Barry said in the end that Jesus never experienced the married and family life. Our experiences that we have are foreign to him. He might rely on 'our willigness to reveal ourselves to him to experince those aspects of life that could not be packed into his own earthly life. This might be another reason for engaging in a muturl relatiohship of friendship with Jesus.' He will listen to our saying with sympathy and empathy. He wants to be our friend. And I would like to practice his advices to become closer to Jesus.
'Who Do You Say I Am?' is written in a very different style from his other books I have read. He keeps quoting 'The Marginal Jew' by John Meier to hlep us to discover the historical Jesus does not disturb our trust or faith in him.
Fr. Barry guides us to pray as this: "I want to know more about you so that I may love you more intensely and walk with you more closely." He also advises us to ask Jesus to share with us Jesus' feelings whenever we come accross with some small and big incidents Jesus experienced. We do this to follow him more closely and to become like Jesus.
I felt funny when Fr. Barry said in the end that Jesus never experienced the married and family life. Our experiences that we have are foreign to him. He might rely on 'our willigness to reveal ourselves to him to experince those aspects of life that could not be packed into his own earthly life. This might be another reason for engaging in a muturl relatiohship of friendship with Jesus.' He will listen to our saying with sympathy and empathy. He wants to be our friend. And I would like to practice his advices to become closer to Jesus.
Displaying 1 of 1 review