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On the Way to Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is as popular as ever. Films, books, and news articles ask,"Who was Jesus Christ?" Even outside of Christianity he continues to appeal to people. And yet for so many, the popular Jesus is not the Jesus of Christianity. The popular Jesus makes no demands and never challenges people. He accepts everyone and everything under all circumstances. On the Way to Jesus Christ is a series of meditations that Pope Benedict XVI wrote while he was Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. The true Jesus, he writes, is the Jesus of the Gospels, who "is quite different, demanding, bold. The Jesus who makes everything OK for everyone is a phantom, a dream, not a real figure. The Jesus of the Gospels is certainly not convenient for us. But it is precisely in this way that he answers the deepest question of our existence, which--whether we want to or not--keeps us on the lookout for God, for a gratification that is limitless, for the infinite. We must again set out on the way to this real Jesus." This book also examines whether Jesus Christ is the only savior, and the Church's responsibility to evangelize. It 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 dynamic view of Sacred Scripture. On the Way to Jesus Christ is for anyone--believer or unbeliever-who wants better to understand the true Jesus, the Jesus of the Gospels, the Christ of Christianity. "Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, has written a brief but compelling invitation to know Jesus Christ as He really is: bold, demanding, merciful, strong, and the answer to our deepest longings. This is a must-read book for anyone serious about deepening his or her faith."
—Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Denver
—Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Denver
185 pages, Hardcover
Published October 8, 2005
About the author
Pope Benedict XVI
942 books962 followersOriginally
Joseph Ratzinger
, a noted conservative theologian before his election in 2005, Benedict XVI strove against the influence of secularism during his papacy to defend traditional Catholic teachings but since medieval times first resigned in 2013.
After Joseph Ratzinger served a long career as an academic and a professor at the University of Regensburg, Pope Paul VI appointed him as archbishop of Munich and Freising and cardinal in 1977. In 1981, he settled in Rome as prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, one most important office of the Roman curia. He also served as dean of the college of cardinals.
Benedict XVI reigned 265th in virtue of his office of bishop of Rome, the sovereign of the state of Vatican City and the head of the Church. A conclave named him on 19 April 2005; he celebrated his inaugural Mass on 24 April 2005 and took possession of his Lateran cathedral basilica of Saint John on 7 May 2005.
Benedict XVI succeeded Saint John Paul II, predecessor and his prolific writings on doctrine and values. Benedict XVI advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increase of many developed countries. Relativism denied objective truth and moral truths in particular; he viewed this central problem of the 21st century. With the importance of the Church, he understood redemptive love of God. He reaffirmed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism" "of many Christians engaged in charitable work." Benedict also revived a number and elevated the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.
Benedict founded and patronized of the Ratzinger foundation, a charitable organization, which from the sale of books and essays makes money to fund scholarships and bursaries for students across the world.
Due to advanced age on 11 February 2013, Benedict announced in a speech in Latin and cited a "lack of strength of mind and body" before the cardinals. He effectively left on 28 February 2013.As emeritus, Benedict retained the style of His Holiness, and the title and continued to dress in the color of white. He moved into the newly renovated monastery of Mater Ecclesiae for his retirement. Pope Francis succeeded him on 13 March 2013.
(more info on Ratzinger Foundation: https://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology...)
After Joseph Ratzinger served a long career as an academic and a professor at the University of Regensburg, Pope Paul VI appointed him as archbishop of Munich and Freising and cardinal in 1977. In 1981, he settled in Rome as prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, one most important office of the Roman curia. He also served as dean of the college of cardinals.
Benedict XVI reigned 265th in virtue of his office of bishop of Rome, the sovereign of the state of Vatican City and the head of the Church. A conclave named him on 19 April 2005; he celebrated his inaugural Mass on 24 April 2005 and took possession of his Lateran cathedral basilica of Saint John on 7 May 2005.
Benedict XVI succeeded Saint John Paul II, predecessor and his prolific writings on doctrine and values. Benedict XVI advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increase of many developed countries. Relativism denied objective truth and moral truths in particular; he viewed this central problem of the 21st century. With the importance of the Church, he understood redemptive love of God. He reaffirmed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism" "of many Christians engaged in charitable work." Benedict also revived a number and elevated the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.
Benedict founded and patronized of the Ratzinger foundation, a charitable organization, which from the sale of books and essays makes money to fund scholarships and bursaries for students across the world.
Due to advanced age on 11 February 2013, Benedict announced in a speech in Latin and cited a "lack of strength of mind and body" before the cardinals. He effectively left on 28 February 2013.As emeritus, Benedict retained the style of His Holiness, and the title and continued to dress in the color of white. He moved into the newly renovated monastery of Mater Ecclesiae for his retirement. Pope Francis succeeded him on 13 March 2013.
(more info on Ratzinger Foundation: https://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology...)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 5, 2018
Like most of his books there is a lot of gold here.There were plenty of insights that made it into my quote journal. Just brilliant.
January 9, 2016
Beautiful. Ratzinger at his best--yet again. The essay on the wound of beauty is particularly wonderful.
January 15, 2023
Satuinpa aloittamaan lukemaan tätä kirjaa kokonaan ennen ex-paavin siirtymistä ajasta iäisyyteen. Samalla tämä on ensimmäinen Joseph Ratzingerin kirjoittama kirja. Kirja kyllä kertoo, että paavi Benedictus XVI on ollut erittäin syvästi kristinuskon teologiaa ja hengellisiä syvyyksiä ymmärtänyt mies. Kirja on täynnä erittäin rikkaasti avattuja opetuksia kristinuskosta, mitkä elävöittivät minun hengellistä elämää ja näkemystä. Erittäin suuri lukusuositus kaikille, jotka palavat Kristukselle tai niille, jotka ovat vähän etääntyneet kristinuskosta. Jonkin verran taustaymmärrystä kuitenkin kirja vaatii, ettei ihan ummikko tästä irti välttämättä saa isoa kuvaa. Täyttä viittä tähteä en anna, koska kirjan loppupuoli keskittyy kuvaamaan Vatikaanin toisen kirkolliskokouksen linjauksia ja katolisen kirkon katekismuksen pääpointteja. Nämä eivät ole minulle niin tuttuja asioita, joten ehkä loppu kirjasta jäi omalta osaltani hieman kuivaksi; tosin välillä sieltä helmiäkin löytyi, joita sain äimätä. Ehkäpä minun tulisi tutustua katolisen kirkon katekismukseen. Ainakin katekismuksen alussa on hyvinkin diippiä läppää:
"Kaipaus Jumalan puoleen on kirjoitettu ihmisen sydämeen, sillä ihminen on Jumalan luoma ja Jumalaa varten luotu. Jumala ei lakkaa milloinkaan
vetämästä häntä puoleensa. Vain Jumalassa ihminen löytää totuuden ja onnen, joita hän etsii lakkaamatta."
"Ihmiset ovat jo vanhastaan monin tavoin ilmaisseet uskonnäkemyksillään ja uskonnollisilla tavoillaan (kuten rukouksella, uhreilla, kultilla ja mietiskelyllä) etsivänsä Jumalaa. Näitä tapoja voidaan tulkita monin tavoin,
mutta ne ovat niin yleisiä, että ihmistä voidaan kutsua uskonnolliseksi olennoksi."
"Kaipaus Jumalan puoleen on kirjoitettu ihmisen sydämeen, sillä ihminen on Jumalan luoma ja Jumalaa varten luotu. Jumala ei lakkaa milloinkaan
vetämästä häntä puoleensa. Vain Jumalassa ihminen löytää totuuden ja onnen, joita hän etsii lakkaamatta."
"Ihmiset ovat jo vanhastaan monin tavoin ilmaisseet uskonnäkemyksillään ja uskonnollisilla tavoillaan (kuten rukouksella, uhreilla, kultilla ja mietiskelyllä) etsivänsä Jumalaa. Näitä tapoja voidaan tulkita monin tavoin,
mutta ne ovat niin yleisiä, että ihmistä voidaan kutsua uskonnolliseksi olennoksi."
November 17, 2022
As expected, Ratzinger's collection of his previous essays encompasses themes relevant to Christology as a whole through the lenses of contemporary culture and circumstances. Characteristic of Ratzinger's writings is the depth displayed in every single page; there is no section that does not invite the reader to further spiritual reflection and evaluation.
May 12, 2019
Absolutely phenomenal. Pope Benedict XVI writes eloquently about difficult, complex topics that appeal to all readers in an unabashedly academic manner without abandoning an exhortation that the reader internalize his lessons and become a better person.
April 23, 2026
Pope Benedict was brilliant.
"But this bread is of another sort. It is greater and more substantial than we are. We do not assimilate it into ourselves, but rather it assimilates us into itself, so that we are conformed to Christ--in Paul's words, as members of His body, one in Him."
"But this bread is of another sort. It is greater and more substantial than we are. We do not assimilate it into ourselves, but rather it assimilates us into itself, so that we are conformed to Christ--in Paul's words, as members of His body, one in Him."
February 10, 2023
Fourth of my favourite Ratzinger books
April 14, 2009
Without doubt, this book is life-changing for those who believe. It is very challenging and profound. It is not a book that can be read as a novel or story. It is theological and I found it to be very inspiring for my personal life.
March 22, 2008
תמיד חשבתי שקרדינל רצינגר היה האויב ואני לא יכול להסביר מדוע בחרתי בספר זה אך מאוד נהנתי ממנו
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews