Customer Reviews

God Is Near Us: The Eucharist, the Heart of Life

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I was unprepared for the breadth and beauty of Cardinal Ratzinger's sermons (homilies?) and essays concerning the Eucharist. This book wonderfully summarizes Catholic teaching and tradition, particularly by tackling modernist and traditionalist approaches to the sacrament.

The first article, "God with Us and God among Us" serves as a nice introduction to the other "chapters" in this collection, meditating upon one line in the profession of faith, and speaking directly to the Incarnation.

"God's Yes and His Love..." approaches the issue of the sacrifice Jesus made, and how it relates to the sacrificial character of the Mass. Cardinal Ratzinger addresses Christ's self-abasement for our salvation, and contrasts this against our false humility, self-limitation in freely offered grace, and suffering as a characteristic of the Church.

"The Wellspring of Life..." explores the exegetic similarities between the opening of Christ's side at His crucifixion and the removal of flesh from Adam's side in Genesis. Along the way, Cardinal Ratzinger explores the unity of the Church, and the atemporal communion encapsulated in the Eucharist, and again touches upon the issues of sacrifice.

In "Banquet of the Reconciled", the polar extremes in the discourse on liturgical evolution are examined, quite calmly and reasonably. Cardinal Ratzinger utilizes I Corinthians as the basis for a reasoned response to those who want to reduce the Mass to a simple meal of friendship and community, as well as to those who see any alteration of the form of the Mass as heretical and invalid. Along the way, he makes excellent points concerning the proper reception of communion (in the hand or on the tongue, kneeling or standing), the use of the vernacular and the origins of the Eucharistic prayers, and preparation of one's heart for receiving the sacrament.

"The Presence of the Lord..." deals with transubstantiation, the Real Presence, the resurrection of the body, and the importance of Eucharistic Adoration. Similar themes are explored in "The Immediacy of the Presence of the Lord", and later in "Standing before the Lord"

"The Lod is Near Us" is remarkable for insights into our relationship with the Law, in such writing as "The law became a burden the moment it was no longer being lived out from within but was broken down into a series of obligations external in their origin and their nature."

A series of shorter articles follows, but the book is concluded by two profound chapters: "The Church Subsists as Liturgy..." treats the importance of the Eucharist and the liturgy to the very lives of man, arguing that life's meaning can only be found by seeking to live in God's community. The Cardinal emphasizes the modern mentality that subconsciously rejects the efficacy of faith and prayer, really believing only in our own power to affect our lives.

The final chapter "My Joy is to Be in Thy Presence" is a worhty capstone to this remarkable book, addressing our modern disdain for the very concepts of immortal life with God. The themes sounded in this article can be heard clearly in Pope Benedict's inaugural homily and the broad vision he is expounding for his papacy. I can only related the beauty of Cardinal Ratzinger's vision in quotes from this work: "Eternal life steadily withdraws from a person whose attention is fixed on himself," "the idea of eternity appears to us like being condemned to boredom," "The struggle to keep evil under control, within limits, has to be taken up a new by each generation and can never be removed by the institutional arrangements of an earlier generation," "We should finally bid farewell to the notion of working to build the ideal society of the future as being a myth and should instead work with total commitment to strengthen those factors that hold evil at bay in the present..." "man is that creature in which spirit and material meet together and are united as a single whole"...

Through the course of these articles, Cardinal Ratzinger touches upon dualism, utilitarianism, the Reformation, unitarianism, the meaning of life, transubstantiation, heaven, hell, purgatory, utopian rational secularism, the communion of saints, grace, salvation, the person of Christ, Christ as God's Word, as Logos, etc., etc., etc. For a brief, small book, its scope and impact are immeasurable.

Cardinal Ratzinger, the new Pope Benedict XVI, is a man whose devotion and spirituality is definitively focused upon the Eucharist. In this text, 'Gott ist uns nah: Euchariste: Mitte des Lebens', Ratzinger provides a series of essays reflecting on the importance, the mystery, and the spiritual aspects of the Eucharistic feast.

'God is with us and God is among us' is the title of the first essay, and sets the tone for Ratzinger's devotion in this regard. God in Jesus Christ took on human form to become for us a way and a light, and this same presence is available to us, not just on Sunday mornings and other times when we are in church, but throughout all our lives, according to Ratzinger. Church must mean more than simply that which happens in lofty and grand buildings a short while on a weekly basis - just as the Eucharist provides an Incarnational way for us to be in relationship with God, so too must we strive for ways to connecting our church life (ethically, spiritually, and practically) in our daily life and work.

Ratzinger shows his education and breadth of knowledge on these theological matters by drawing on sermons and essays he's written in the past, as well as reflections on biblical texts, from the Torah to the Epistles to the Acts of the Apostles as lead inspirations, and further into the heart of the gospel itself, reflected through the Paschal mystery.

Like his predecessor Pope John Paul II, Ratzinger also has a significant strand of Marian devotion - again, his first essay draws upon the incarnation as Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. 'She has an indisputable place in our belief in the living and acting God.'

The Incarnation required acceptance, first from Mary, and continues to require acceptance by those who attend mass regularly, and those who strive to live their lives in conformity with the creeds. Creedal history is a principle guideline in Ratzinger's development in much of his theology here - a very traditional theologian in method, he nonetheless can be surprising in the breadth of his interpretations.

This is a good book from which to glean insight into the heart of theology of the Eucharist, the central rite of the church, of the new pope, Benedict XVI.

Cardinal Ratzinger never fails to satisfy the reader hungry for insight and depth. In this small book, which is a collection of past homilies and addresses on the Eucharist, Ratzinger discusses the Eucharist from many perspectives. For Catholics, the Eucharist is the "heart of life," as the book's subtitle states. So to deepen knowledge of the Eucharist is life-changing. For Protestants, there is no better way to see the Catholic difference, a Catholic difference shared with the Eastern Orthodox.

You can see the Catholic difference in this excerpt: "The church is not just a space in which something sometimes happens early in the morning, while for the rest of the day it stands empty, 'unused'. There is always the 'Church' in the church building, because the Lord is always giving himself, because the eucharistic mystery remains present . . . ." (p. 89). This excerpt is from the address entitled "The Presence of the Lord in the Sacrament," which, in my view, is the most compelling of all the addresses in the book.

"God is Near Us - The Eucharist the Heart of Life" is a collection of numerous homilies given by Pope Benedict XVI when he was Archbishop of Freising and Munich. The separate entries contained within this remarkable book address various questions, problems and issues related to the origin, meaning and practice of the Eucharist in the life of Christians. The issues covered include, the birth of Christ, Easter, the Mass, Eucharistic adoration, the feast of Corpus Christi, communion, the liturgy, and eternal life.

The understanding and insight demonstrated by this book is truly remarkable. With casual ease, Pope Benedict explains the Biblical and historical contexts and origins of Christian practices and doctrines. Beyond this, this book aims to identify and answer the most pressing contemporary concerns that people have about the Eucharist, the liturgy, God and the idea of an afterlife. Pope Benedict is not afraid to address very difficult religious and theological questions. But, as the Pope says in his own words (p.149-150) this book is intended to teach the faith and encourage reflection on one's personal faith, rather than be a scholarly treatment of the subjects.

If you interested in a highly readable book on Catholic beliefs, written by a respected and learned author, then this book is for you. As well, if you are curious to know why Joseph Ratzinger was chosen to be Pope, read this book and learn how capable he is. All in all, one of the best books I have read.

For those among the faithful, this book has no equal. Don't just read it. Reread it. But not just once. The good Cardinal has a way of clarity in matters for which I once thought there were no words. Each page is captivating. Each page brings more light.

For those unconvinced, read it once. You might be surprised.

This book by Pope Benedict XVI (though written while he was Cardinal Ratzinger) is excellent! As a Catholic who goes to Mass and receives the Eucharist almost daily, I found this book very helpful in helping me to have a proper devotion to the Eucharist.
Pope Benedict XVI starts out by discussing God becoming man ("By the power of the Holy Spirit He Was Born of the Virgin Mary, and Became Man".-the Nicene Creed). He continues with chapters on God's Love for us, and the origin of the Eucharist in the Paschal Mystery. He makes the point about how the Eucharist is the Heart of the Church, and the Wellspring of Life from the Lord. He then follows with chapters about the proper celebration of the Eucharist, that it is a banquet of those who are reconciled to God. He follows with chapters on the Real Presence of Christ, and Adoration of the Eucharist, and the Lord's Personal Presence in the Eucharist. He discussing our standing before the Lord, and the Eucharist and the Church, how we who are many, are one body. He discusses Peace as one name for the Eucharistic Sacrament, how the Church is for all times and places, and its subsistence in the Liturgy. He concludes with a chapter on the Christian belief in Eternal Life, how our joy is to be in the Presence of the Lord, and also makes reference to the Resurrection of the Lord, and of the body. Throughout the book he uses biblical and historical references to make his points. He helps us understand the theology regarding the Eucharist.
I highly recommend this book especially for Catholics, in order to have a better understanding of, and stronger devotion to, the Eucharist. I would also recommend it to non-Catholics who are interested in the Catholic Church, and our belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

I have read many books about the Eucharist and many books by Cardinal Ratzinger. However this is one in a million. It has a vibrant quality that springs from a true contemplative, a profoundly spiritual man that really lives what he is writing about. I think that what makes this book really special is the depth of Ratzinger's knowledge of the Bible and how he illuminates the reading of the Old Testament when read in the light of the New Testament. For me it has been a real higlight in my spiritual life and in my understanding of this Sacrament.I cannot recomend it enough.

As is characteristic of Ratzinger's work, the texts collected in this volume are both refreshing and traditional. As in all of his works, the future Pope Benedict XVI shows a true reverence for the teaching of the Church while discussing those age-old teachings with a true vibrancy. For him, the Eucharist is, at its core, a concern of love. It is the sacramental center of the Church which gives her life. In contact with God, man is able to reach out beyond himself to his fellow man. This love is the center of the various texts in this volume. Because of the variety of topics held in here, I will not attempt to outline the text. However, I will quote him from page 90: "The Eucharist means, God has answered." I recommend this text to all who want to reflect on what this answer means and how we may truly respond to it.

Nicely written. Really helps understand and prove the presence of God in the Eucharist. Some of the vocabulary was a bit hard to get through but I'm a new Catholic so it will probably be fine for someone whose been a long time practicing catholic.

CS Lewis said that one should read a classic 20 or 30 times. Now, whilst this book is not a classic it is nonetheless excellent and what I discovered after reading it again recently after a 4 year gap was that I had forgotten most of it. So, it seems to me to emphasise the importance of retaining and re-reading good books.
Anyway, this book is made of a number of lectures and homilies given by Joseph Ratzinger on the Eucharist. Like all books of this nature, it does not have the kind of organic unity one finds in a purpose written book. Inevitably that means one finds some sections better than others. I found the chapter entitled: "The presence of the Lord in the Sacrament" to be particularly valuable and I found the chapter "standing before the Lord- walking with the Lord - kneeling with the Lord" very moving.

Those who are familiar with Ratzinger's work including his work as Pope Benedict XVI will notice common themes. For example the chapter "My joy is to be in thy presence" on eschatology anticipates some of the themes which appear in Benedict XVI's excellent encyclical "Spe Salvi". There seems also to be some development of the thought in his book on Eschatology.

But, most of all one finds in this book as in all Ratzinger books is that lovely combination of heart and mind. Ratzinger is more like the medieval theologian who believes that his first call is to be a saint.

But let me relay why I thought this is valuable book.

The Eucharist and death

In the Chapter "The wellspring of life", Ratzinger brings to our attention the connection between the Eucharist and death:

"The Eucharist is far more than just a meal. It has cost a death to provide it and the majesty of death is present in it... Death is the ultimate question, and whenever it is bracketed our there can be no real answer. Only when this question is answered can men truly celebrate and be free. The Christian feast, the Eucharist, plumbs the very depths of death"

God's risk taking

In "Banquet of the Reconciled" Ratzinger reminds us of the risk God takes in coming to us:

"God takes an enormous risk - and at the same time this is an expression of his merciful goodness - in allowing not only our hand and our tongue but even our heart to come into contact with him".

Ratzinger echoes the Fathers

In "The presence of the Lord in the Sacrament", he echoes the Fathers by showing how the Eucharist inverts the normal rule for human foods:

"In the normal process of eating, the human is the stronger being, He takes things in, and they are assimilated into him, so that they become part of his own substance. They are transformed within him and go to build up his bodily life. But in the mutual relation with Christ it is the other way around; he is the heart, the truly existent being. When we truly communicate, this means that we are taken our of ourselves, that we are assimilated into him, that we become one with him and, through him, with the fellow-ship of our brethren".

Ratzinger rejects a kind of crass naturalism

In "The presence of the Lord in the Sacrament , he notes "This is my body" therefore means: This is my whole person, existent in bodily form." "Jesus is not like a piece of meat, not in the realm of what can be measured and quantified". Defending the continuing subsistence of Christ in the Eucharist post mass, he notes: "Wherever Christ has been present, afterward it cannot be just as if nothing has happened".

Ratzinger explains the significance of the body but particularly the resurrected body. Also in this interesting Chapter he notes that whilst the body is a kind of boundary, it is also a "bridge". Thus, he concludes:

"Resurrection means quite simply that the body ceases to be a limit and that its capacity for communion remains." "To have risen from the dead means to be communicable".

The importance of outward signs

In the Chapter: "The immediacy of the presence of the Lord", he notes:

"People are not shaped merely from within outward, another line of influence runs from without inward"

The myth of progress and the humility of God

In the Chapter ; "Standing before the Lord", we find a theme which appears in lots of Ratzinger's writings, namely the myth of progress:

"Progress can only be a meaningful term if we know where we want to go. Mere movement in itself is not progress. It can just as well represent a rapid descent into the abyss".

"We are bowing down before him who himself bowed down, because we bow down to enter into a love that does not make slaves of us but transforms us".

The dreariness of life without God: existential boredom.

In the Chapter "The Church subsists as Liturgy ad in the Liturgy", he notes a characteristic of the then Marxist world but which may perhaps be applied to western civilisation which seeks to relieve its boredom through the "finding" of more outlandish rights: ""What was most characteristic of that world, no longer allowed to be open to anything transcendent, was its unbelievable dreariness, the boredom of a world that can expect nothing but itself, the everlasting grayness of leaden everyday life with no celebration, in which nothing else can arrive, because man alone simply reproduces himself".

This Chapter also has a fascinating story of a German soldier's communion with a cretan, whose land he had just invaded.

Eternal life

The Chapter "On the Christian belief in eternal life" in many ways anticipates the thoughts contained in Benedict XVI's encyclical Spe Salvi, namely the existential boredom of living forever ("an endless sucession of moments would be unbearable"), defining eternal life not in terms of "endless sequence of moments" but in terms of "quality of existence" and the challenge for each generation of fighting evil. He also touches on purgatory as a "purifying pain" a thought process reflected in Spe Salvi. But who is man? "Man is the creature in which spirit and material meet together and are united in a single whole. If we set aside the word "soul", then we inevitably fall into a materialistic conception in which the body is not exalted but robbed of its dignity" But does the emphasis on the soul mark a return to a kind of Platonism? Ratzinger proposes and answer to this: "If we ourselves become members of the body of Christ, then our solus are safely held within this body, which has become their body, and this they await their final resurrection, in which God will be all in all". Thus, the platonic existence of a wandering soul never applies to the Christian soul which always has recourse to the body of Christ.

Hopefully, it should be apparent that this small little book has a lot to offer - certainly it's worth several reads!