Gospel, Catechesis, Catechism: Sidelights on the Catechism of the Catholic Church [Paperback]

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1997

Ratzinger, one of the key persons responsible for the compilation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, offers new insights on the catechetical character and Biblical foundation of the worldwide bestselling Catechism that has had such a positive response from ordinary Catholics across the globe. But he acknowledges that the response of many theologians and "professional religionists" has been negative toward the Catechism.

He says that if theologians don't want to be "shut out" of this worldwide development of sensus fidei and lose touch with the common Catholic, they will have to engage the Catechism positively. The main purpose of this book is to offer an invitation to this changed approach to the Catechism. He wants people to see, as he shows here, how the Catechism is an excellent teaching tool that responds to man's deepest questions about the meaning of life, how to live a good life, and how to attain happiness in this life and in eternal life. He shows how the Catechism affirms that man's happiness is love, and that the essence of true love has been manifested in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Paperback: 101 pages
• Publisher: Ignatius Pr (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898706335
• ISBN-13: 978-0898706338
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #290,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Catholicism > Roman Catholicism
  • #21 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Theology > Catechisms

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.

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40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Theological Gem, January 5, 2003

By 

Oswald Sobrino (Traverse City) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Gospel, Catechesis, Catechism: Sidelights on the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Paperback)

Cardinal Ratzinger has produced a small and worthwhile book consisting of short lectures and articles presenting his insight into the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In the preface, he notes with satisfaction that the Catechism has been enthusiastically adopted by the Christian public although some establishment academics hold it askance. In this book, he assists those eager to embrace the Catechism with his accessible commentary on various aspects of the Catechism. In my view, the most significant chapter deals with the "biblical realism" of the Catechism which treats the Jesus of the Gospels as the real Jesus, in contrast to the absurd reconstructions of idle professors who peddle their fictions as the so-called "historical Jesus." He also has a chapter on the relation of Judaism and Christianity which is in welcome contrast to the recent defective and mediocre reflection on the issue by a group associated with the U.S. Bishops' conference. We are fortunate to have the quality work of a distinguished theologian like Cardinal Ratzinger when we are deluged by so much mediocrity from academia.