BOOKS: 'Jesus of Nazareth' by Pope Benedict

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Catholic_Opinion said:
The English edition of the Pope’s new book on Jesus will be out in a few days (unfortunately, while I’ll be in Italy, so I won’t be able to get it–or have time to read it–till I get back), but
JOHN ALLEN HAS AN INTERESTING PREVIEW.
He also has some interesting thoughts on how the press tends to miss the point of books like this.

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For something coming from NCR, this review is pretty tame, certainly an understatement of the Pope’s achievement in JON.
Great to say, theology is the best part of this book. Allen exhalts some of Benedict’s side notes, and as such is playing to the usually critical, skeptical, and liberal NCR audience.

Forget this review, get the book.
 
I’m well into my second reading, with more look-ups from scripture this time around.

Although the Pope cites many other theologians (I guess that’s what they are) and he mentions the citations, he doesn’t mention all his references, as far as I can tell.

Specifically, his discussion of the Our Father is very parallel to that in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, although it not just a word-for-word copy-over.

I’ve also found some identical thought on the Sermon on the Mount and on the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

That does not dim my estimate of the quality of the work by the Pope. I understand he’s already on vacation and working on the follow-up book.
 
I haven’t got around to buying it yet but I am going to and looking forward to reading it.

Our PP didn’t give a homily at Mass today, he told us all to buy the book and read it, then briefly went through it, telling us what the chapters were about, and quoting a couple of passages.

He probably feels that if we read the book we will get more out of it than we would from one of his homilies. 🙂
 
I have been reading this book for a couple of weeks. A book of this size I would usually finish in a couple of days. Reading this book forces me to slow down and meditate on the words. I find the experience similar to lectio divina (sp?). I sometimes read a paragraph and become lost in the newness of insight. Words and verses that I have heard for years take on a fullness that I did not imagine. And at times, it truly amazes me, as though someone handed me a beautiful, sparking, jewel, and I know that I will not be the same. Thank-you, Holy Father
 
I bought the book recently and I can’t wait to start reading it. From what I’ve heard so far, it should be excellent, as I would expect from the Holy Father.
 
I’m just over half way through. Ten minutes reading leads to an hour or so of thought and prayer. 👍
 
I bought the book when it first came out, but I procrastinated in reading it. This thread is making me start the book today.

What is the delay in the release of The Apostles, the next book by B16? It was due out a few weeks ago. 🤷
 
Jersey_Jeepster said:
I bought the book when it first came out, but I procrastinated in reading it. This thread is making me start the book today.

What is the delay in the release of The Apostles, the next book by B16? It was due out a few weeks ago. 🤷
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I believe that it is out. I just ordered it yesterday off of amazon, and it is expected to arrive later this week. So excited:D .
 
all4love said:
I have been reading this book for a couple of weeks. A book of this size I would usually finish in a couple of days. Reading this book forces me to slow down and meditate on the words. I find the experience similar to lectio divina (sp?). I sometimes read a paragraph and become lost in the newness of insight. Words and verses that I have heard for years take on a fullness that I did not imagine. And at times, it truly amazes me, as though someone handed me a beautiful, sparking, jewel, and I know that I will not be the same. Thank-you, Holy Father
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I too have found that this one works best a few pages at a time with a lot of thought in between. I’m about 250 pages in now and while I have found a few places where I don’t necessarily come to the same conclusion on interpretation, it is insightful and has given me much to chew on.
 
I just finished reading it about an hour ago. I am a VERY slow reader, and read only a chapter every week or two due to various other activities.

With the above in mind (as it is likely a major contributing factor in my impression of the book), I found it sometimes didn’t flow smoothly. I felt like he often bounced around before he finally made his points. His writing is more “technical” than inspirational, which is certainly fine, of course, but I’m a huge fan of Pope JPII’s writings, and I guess I’m trying to draw an unfair comparison (not comparing apples to apples, as it were). Nevertheless, it answered some of my questions (and raised a few new ones), and helped me understand some topics more deeply. It was also interesting to see the variety of sources he drew from, as well as how he methodically disproved several “conclusions” made be historical-critical exegesis.

I hope I’m not discouraging anyone from reading the book. I do recommend it, but with the caveat that it may not be as emotionally moving as you might hope/expect. If I had not had those expectations, I probably would have enjoyed it more. For example, I read his “Spirit of the Liturgy” several years ago without such expectations, and enjoyed its explanations of the history and architecture related to the Mass.

All I’m saying, I guess, is to read it for what is intended to be: a step-by-step guide to the biblical description of who Jesus is. Don’t expect a JPII-esque writing which will deepen your devotion to Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, although there are some parts that will do so (I did highlight several things for that reason).

Buy the book, and read it to gain a better understanding of Jesus’ teachings. I will probably read it again sometime myself (hopefully faster), and I’m sure I will enjoy it more.
 
I got “Jesus of Nazareth” by Pope Benedict as an audiobook from my library. I have checked it out twice, and tried to listen to it twice. Now I have to finally admit that it is over my head. I would really love to read a book about Jesus like this, though. Any suggestions?
 
It’s a shame you are not getting on with that book, it is a master class. Maybe reading the book instead of the audio version may help? Try both together, read as you hear the audio?

There are a lot of books that it is really hard to pick the gems from the trash, one book I’ve recently purchased is the life of Christ, by Archbishop Fulton Sheen. You can buy it on Amazon, search for ISBN 0385132204
 
Its funny, I only get audio books from the library, because I am super hard on paper books and I don’t want to pay fines. I will try to pick it up at the store and read it, and thank you for the other reccomendation. There are a million books out there, and I hate sifting through what may be good and what may be junk, so I really appreciate any reccomdations.
 
It can be a tough read at times – quite scholarly I guess would be the description. I think the paper version would be best as I had to often re-read paragraphs in order to really understand.

May not have helped much that the TV was on in the room at some times when i was reading.
 
I could never have listened to this book in audiobook, it’s a scholarly work so you’ll have to re-read and flip back and forth- not condusive to listening. Audiobooks are good for novels, not for this kind of stuff.
 
Add me to the list of those who found this a very difficult read, as I do many of Pope Benedict’s writings. I am usually very comfortable with advanced concepts and scholarly treatises, but I find the writings of our dear Papa a challenge. I’m wondering if the difficulty is not a result of the translation from German to English, or, more likely, German to Latin to English?
 
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