The Apostles [Hardcover]

Pope Benedict XVI (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 20, 2007

Through the Apostles, we come to Jesus himself." -- Pope Benedict XVI

In this fascinating and inspirational journey with the chosen disciples of Jesus, Pope Benedict XVI demonstrates a profound, unbreakable continuity -- built upon the foundation of the Apostles and alive in the succession of the Apostles -- by which Christ is present today in His Church.

"At the start of the third millennium, my beloved predecessor John Paul II invited the Church to contemplate the Face of Christ (cf. Novo Millennio Ineunte, n. 16 ff.). Continuing in the same direction, I would like to show in this book how it is precisely the light of that Face that is reflected on the face of the Church (cf. Lumen Gentium, n. 1), notwithstanding the limits and shadows of our fragile and sinful humanity. After Mary, a pure reflection of the light of Christ, it is from the Apostles, through their word and witness, that we receive the truth of Christ. Their mission is not isolated, however, but is situated wthin a mystery of communion that involves the entire People of God and is carried out in stages from the Old to the New Covenant." -- From The Apostles

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor; 1st edition (July 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592764053
• ISBN-13: 978-1592764051
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A former publishing executive, John F. Thornton is a literary agent and co-editor of Tongues of Angels, Tongues of Men: A Book of Sermons. He lives in New York City. Susan B. Varenne holds an M.A. from the University of Chicago Divinity School and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. She is a New York City teacher and a freelance writer specializing in religion.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

133 of 135 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Follow-up to Jesus of Nazareth, August 6, 2007

By 

Michael Dubruiel "annunciations.wordpress.com" (Birmingham, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Apostles (Hardcover)

In some way this book was being written at the same time as Jesus of Nazareth as Pope Benedict gave his weekly teaching on the Apostles that Jesus chose and that the Church chose after Jesus' resurrection. The pope had insisted that in Jesus of Nazareth he was writing as Joseph Ratizinger, not as the Pope--but in this book we have the clear teaching of Pope Benedict with some of the same conclusions as he reaches in Jesus of Nazareth, but also a lot more that touches on some issues that were found wanting in the later work by some scholars.

One of Pope Benedict's loudest critics of Jesus of Nazareth was the former Catholic (now Jewish) scholar Geza Vermes who wrote in his review of the book in The Times of London saying "Another recurrent theme in Ratzinger's perception of Christ is that Jesus
intended the Gospel to be preached to all the nations. If so, did he just forget Jesus' sayings that contradict the universality of the apostolic mission, namely, that both Jesus and his disciples were sent only to the "lost sheep of Israel" (Matthew x, 5-6; xv, 24)."

In this book The Apostles, the Pope answers this criticism, showing how the accounts that we have in the Bible show that Jesus clearly intended to create a Church that would reach out beyond the limited scope of Israel. He also provides an excellent overview of what can be known from the Bible and the early church about the first followers of Jesus--as well as what lessons we can derive from their example. This is an excellent follow-up to Jesus of Nazareth and like everything that Joseph Ratzinger writes is clear and precise--while at the same time incredibly inspirational.

The publisher has also created Study Guide for the Apostles by Pope Benedict XVI which will make this book a great small group study item for churches wishing to delve deeper into the Biblical accounts of those Jesus chose to follow Him.

I am the author of The How-To Book of the Mass: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You.

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Apostles is a Must Read!, September 16, 2007

By 

happy in Oly "mjm" (Olympia, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Apostles (Hardcover)

Pope Benedict XVI has created a wonderful work in "The Apostles." A word for those who have read his pre-Pope works, or even Pope JPII's works, this book is amazingly simple and readable in style, and one can easily take a chapter a day and get through it. He provides meditations, scriptural history and traditions for each of the Apostles and a few others mentioned in the New Testament in a way I have never seen. This book will open your eyes to the profound lives of each of the Apostles and how they experienced Jesus in their own unique ways, their strengths and their weaknesses. I honestly could not put this book down. Incredible, packed with depth yet written for the common lay person!

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Origins of the Holy Church, March 9, 2008

By 

Faucon - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Apostles (Hardcover)

The Apostles by Benedict XVI is a collection of some of the General Audiences given by Benedict XVI which deal with the origins of the Catholic Church (the full title of the book is The Origins of the Church, the Apostles, and Their Co-Workers). The book provides a look at the founding of the church by Christ and an examination of the apostles and some of the important early figures within the church. Because it is a collection of general audiences the book lacks the sort of opening or conclusions that one would expect from a typical book; however, the collected audiences hold together very well.

Readers are given an excellent taste of the Pope's brilliant analysis. This book is great for Catholics who do not read a lot of theology. The Pope's books, generally speaking, are not beach reads and require a lot of time and thought; however, the subject matter in this book is presented in a much simpler fashion making it an excellent choice for those who aren't used to reading theological works. A simple style is not the same thing as simple minded though, so even veteran readers of theology will find this book to be enjoyable.

This book will make a great addition to any Catholic's personal library, whether that library is a whole room of books or a single shelf.