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What It Means to Be a Christian Hardcover – July 1, 2006

by Joseph Ratzinger (Author), Henry Taylor (Translator)

13 customer reviews

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Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, writes eloquently and persuasively about how one can live as a serious Christian in today’s secular world. He talks in depth about the true meaning of faith, hope, and love--the love of God and the love of neighbor. He also discusses at length the crucial importance of a lived faith, for the believer himself as well as being a witness for our age, and striving to bring faith in line with the present age that has veered off into rampant secularism and materialism. He passionately encourages the reader to practice a deep, abiding Christian faith that seeks to be at the service of humanity.

As Joseph Ratzinger mentions in the preface, "the book presents in written form three sermons that the author preached in the Cathedral at Muenster to a congregation from the Catholic Student Chaplaincy, December 13-15, 1964."

In other words, these are essays derived from sermons preached to college students toward the end of Vatican II. They are remarkable, among other reasons, for their insights into the ongoing Christian struggle to understand and realize in action "what it means to be a Christian".

What It Means to Be a Christian

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Product Details

Hardcover: 100 pages
Publisher: Ignatius Press; First American edition (July 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 158617133X
ISBN-13: 978-1586171339
Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.6 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #390,175 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3568 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Catholicism
- #6556 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Christian Denominations & Sects
- #7892 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Theology

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Actually read the book!

By Amazon Customer on April 7, 2007

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

Given the anti-Catholic reviews on this (and other Catholic book pages) by folks who have never read the texts they are posting reviews on, I thought I would actually buy and read this book. I've read through the book this week, and must say it was well worth it.

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger in this series of sermons is not speaking to the North American Fundamentalist, it should be pointed out. In fact, his sermons are not even addressed specifically to Americans. It is certainly not a treatise on justification as some may think from the title. Cardinal Ratzinger is very aware of the decay of European society and the decline of Christian values and spiritual well being in Europe. Many of his texts, this one included, calls us back from secularism and individualism. He calls Christians to service to the Gospel message, to be heralds in the world and not to lose that important missionary zeal. He notes that the true Christian does not only become a Christian for the salvation of his own soul, but for others as well:

"Becoming a Christian is not taking out an individual insurance policy; it is not the private booking of an entry ticket into heaven, so that we can look across at other people and say, 'I've got something the others haven't got; I've got salvation arranged for me that they don't possess.' Becoming a Christian is not at all something given to us so that we, each individual for himself, can pocket it and keep our distance from those others who are going off empty-handed." (pg 54)

The intent of the text is not to say "This is how you become a Christian", but to address Christians and say "You are called to live a life of service to the Gospel, to work in the vineyard of the Lord, this is what it means to be a Christian".

An entire text is well worth reading, Protestant or Catholic.

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Before he was Pappa Ben.

By Angelo Natalie on July 6, 2006

Format: Hardcover

"What It Means to Be a Christian" is being released shortly after Pope Benedict XVI's 79th brithday. The book presents three sermons that the Pope, then Jospeh Ratzinger, preached in December of 1964 at the age of 37. He was a college professor speaking to a congregation from the Catholic Student Chaplaincy.

I found his call to be a Christian "for others" to be the most challenging and provacative idea. In an age of individualistic, consumer-driven Christianity, this is a message that needs to be taken to heart. I suspect that modern, Western Christians who read this through a "Purpose Driven" lense may be a little rattled by his assertion that, "Becoming a Christian is not taking out an individual insurance policy." (Shoot. That's exactly what I thought it was about.)

If you are of the "fire insurance" mentality, you may have to read this book twice. I know I need to.

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Blessed are those who are persecuted...

By K. Moore on March 2, 2007

Format: Hardcover

I was a non-catholic christian for 26 years. I used to think like a couple of the reviewers of this book. But PRAISE GOD I don't anymore. This book is incredible. It is simple, concise, and TRUE. This orthodox Pope is a gift from God to all christians, Catholic or protestant. I would encourage everyone to read this powerful collection of sermons from this very devout, humble, and loving man. And just to clear up a couple of things from some of the other reviews of this book, Catholics don't worship anyone but the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We honor Mary as Jesus did and still does. Even He obeys the commandment He wrote, "Honor your mother and father", which in His case would be , Mary and the Holy Spirit. And we don't worship Saints either, we simply ask them to pray for us, it's called the communion of the saints. One might want to look into what one thinks is the Catholic Church, not what one assumes it to be. That's what I used to do too.

Peace of Jesus,

Keith

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Excellent: Edifying and Challenging.

By Franciscan on October 4, 2006

Format: Hardcover

This is a collection of three sermons given by the young Joseph Ratzinger (decades before his elevation to Cardinal and his eventual election as pope) to an audience of Catholic College Chaplains. Orienting his reflection on the metaphor of Christianity understood as Advent, Ratzinger does a splendid job elucidating the Gospel message of what it means to be a Christian in contemporary terms that strike a chord some 40-plus years after they were first spoken.

This is the second publication in English, the first by Franciscan Herald Press - same publisher of his dissertation - and it bears a new translation. While the opportunity to be more inclusive in some of the general references to humanity (vs. "Man") was neglected, and may prove to be a mild burden to the reader conscious of the exclusive nature of such a language-choice, the translation as a whole is very approachable and easily read.

Perhaps the most frequently mentioned milestone in Ratzinger's life by his biographers and scholars is his so-called "intellectual conversion" (or "regression as some have declared) during the academic turmoil in 1968. For those who wish to read something that predates that event, this is a great starting place. Sermons given in December 1964 and first published in German in 1965, this is a taste of his theological vision nearly a half-decade prior to the 1968 revolutions. A must-read for any scholar (professional or "armchair" alike) of Ratzinger/Benedict XVI!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

An amazing book

I came across this book by accident but it changed my life. Ratzinger's words touched so many of the questions I struggle with and helped me see my questions in a while new light. Read more

Published 7 months ago by K. Shankman

Five Stars

Excellent. Thank you!

Published 12 months ago by Matty Bear

Five Stars

As usual, Pope Benedict hits the ball out of the park!

Published 13 months ago by Tom M

Five Stars

Thoughtful reading...

Published 16 months ago by Ron Sagnella

Had to read this for a college theology class. ...

Had to read this for a college theology class. Well written with much residing deep in the text. Rather complex writing style with many intertwining ideas.

Published 17 months ago by Lauren Buck

Five Stars

Simplicity at its best. Only a brilliant mind has the simplicity to present profound truths so understandably.

Published 20 months ago by Grazina

My Quick Review on what it takes to be a Christian

If you have ever wondered what it takes to be a Christian then this is the definitive book on the subject. I love it. Read more

Published 22 months ago by Louis J. Barbier

If you can only read one by Pope Benedict...

As unexpected and uplifting in content as his "Introduction to Christianity,"

only more accessible, in that it's a very short work, written in plain-spoken language,... Read more

Published on August 13, 2012 by Ed

A Little Gem

This little book -- three sermons by Joseph Ratzinger, is a real gem. The first sermon: Are We Saved? Or, Job Talks with God is the best of the three sermons. Read more

Published on March 9, 2008 by Stephen B. Perzan

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