The New York Times bestselling final volume in the Pope's Jesus of Nazareth series, detailing how the stories of Jesus' infancy and childhood are as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.

In 2007, Joseph Ratzinger published his first book as Pope Benedict XVI in order to make known the figure and message of Jesus. Now, the Pope focuses exclusively on the Gospel accounts of Jesus' life as a child. The root of these stories is the experience of hope found in the birth of Jesus and the affirmations of surrender and service embodied in his parents, Joseph and Mary.

This is a story of longing and seeking, as demonstrated by the Magi searching for the redemption offered by the birth of a new king. It is a story of sacrifice and trusting completely in the wisdom of God as seen in the faith of Simeon, the just and devout man of Jerusalem, when he is in the presence of the Christ child. Ultimately, Jesus' life and message is a story for today, one that speaks to the restlessness of the human heart searching for the sole truth which alone leads to profound joy.

Pope Benedict XVI's iconic life of Jesus, a rich, compelling, flesh-and-blood portrait of the central figure of the Christian faith.

This book is . . . my personal search 'for the face of the Lord.'--Benedict XVI

In this bold, momentous work, the Pope seeks to salvage the person of Jesus from today's popular depictions and to restore his true identity as discovered in the Gospels. Through his brilliance as a theologian and his personal conviction as a believer, the Pope incites us to encounter Jesus face to face.

From Jesus of Nazareth . . . the great question that will be with us throughout this entire book: But what has Jesus really brought, then, if he has not brought world peace, universal prosperity, and a better world? What has he brought? The answer is very simple: God. He has brought God! He has brought the God who once gradually unveiled his countenance first to Abraham, then to Moses and the prophets, and then in the wisdom literature--the God who showed his face only in Israel, even though he was also honored among the pagans in various shadowy guises. It is this God, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the true God, whom he has brought to the peoples of the earth. He has brought God, and now we know his face, now we can call upon him. Now we know the path that we human beings have to take in this world. Jesus has brought God and with God the truth about where we are going and where we come from: faith, hope, and love.

It is difficult to overestimate the impact that Pope Benedict XVI has had on the Catholic Church. He served the people of God as a priest, an advisor at the Second Vatican Council, a bishop, a cardinal, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the 265th pope. But in addition to his influence as a churchman, Joseph Ratzinger also stands out as one of the most significant thinkers in recent history. He is the author of more than sixty books, numerous articles, and countless homilies. Catholics and non-Catholics alike have been inspired and challenged by his theological writings.

For many people, it can be difficult to know where to begin. The Pope Benedict XVI Reader offers a point of entry for those seeking a deeper engagement with his teachings, whether you have read little of his work or have enjoyed it for years. This wide-ranging collection draws together some of the finest excerpts from Ratzinger's interviews, speeches, audiences, homilies, and books, with insights on a variety of topics, including the Trinity, the person of Jesus Christ, the Church, Mary and the saints, the Bible, the liturgy, prayer, the Second Vatican Council, and the challenge of living the faith in the modern world. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of a man whose legacy of scholarly erudition, pastoral gentleness, and deep and abiding love for Christ and his Church continues to awe the world.

This series of catechesis begun by Pope St John Paul II and completed by his successor Pope Benedict XVI is devoted to promoting the Liturgy of the Hours as a prayer of the whole people of God. These two popes offer original and illuminating reflections on each of the psalms and canticles leading the reader to deeper meditation and understanding. The Psalms and Canticles of the four-week cycle of Morning and Evening Prayer are also reproduced here for convenience.

This series of catechesis begun by Pope St John Paul II and completed by his successor Pope Benedict XVI is devoted to promoting the Liturgy of the Hours as a prayer of the whole people of God. These two popes offer original and illuminating reflections on each of the psalms and canticles leading the reader to deeper meditation and understanding. The Psalms and Canticles of the four week cycle of Morning and Evening Prayer are also reproduced here for convenience.

En este original y oportuno libro --el primero que escribe desde su elecci n como papa--, Benedicto XVI rescata la figura de Jes s de recientes descripciones populares y restaura la verdadera identidad de Jes s que nos presentan los Evangelios. El papa, con su excepcional lucidez como te logo y su convicci n personal como creyente, nos presenta un retrato de Jes s impactante y veraz, y nos invita a encontrarnos cara a cara con la figura principal de la fe cristiana.

De Jes s de Nazaret: La gran pregunta que nos acompa ar a lo largo de todo este libro: qu ha tra do Jes s realmente, si no ha tra do la paz al mundo, el bienestar para todos, un mundo mejor? Qu ha tra do?
La respuesta es muy sencilla: a Dios. Ha tra do a Dios. Aquel Dios cuyo rostro se hab a ido revelando primero poco a poco, desde Abraham hasta la literatura sapiencial, pasando por Mois s y los Profetas; el Dios que s lo hab a mostrado su rostro en Israel y que, si bien entre muchas sombras, hab a sido honrado en el mundo de los pueblos; ese Dios, el Dios de Abraham, Isaac y Jacob, el Dios verdadero, l lo ha tra do a los pueblos de la tierra.
Ha tra do a Dios: ahora conocemos su rostro, ahora podemos invocarlo. Ahora conocemos el camino que debemos seguir como hombres en este mundo. Jes s ha tra do a Dios y, con l, la verdad sobre nuestro origen y nuestro destino; la fe, la esperanza y el amor .

The ten catecheses in this richly illustrated volume take us back to the historical period immediately following the first Fathers of the Church. Each of the Spiritual Masters described by Pope Benedict left their mark on the Chruch's culture and spirituality and helped in her growth.

John Climcacus describes the ladder to heaven famously depicted in many icons but also present in the practical counsels he passes on to us in his writings. Bede the Venerable reminds us of the centrality of the Sacred Scriptures as a constant source of theological reflection. St Boniface, Apostle to the Germans and a great organiser, founded the monastery of Fulda in 743 which became the heart and the centre from which a new spiritual and religious culture spread. A less well known writer from Provence was Ambreso Autpert, who transmits across the centuries his precious theological work on the struggle between good and evil; he was a great defender of sacred images and the Assumption of Our Lady. John Damascene was a figure of great importance in the history of the Universal Chruch and Byzantine theology. St Theodore de Studite bore a vivid and coherent witness to Jesus in turbulent times. Rabanus Maurus was a monk whose writings help put us into contact with the wisdom of the ancients. John Scotus Erigena excelled as a notable thinker and patristic scholar. St Cyril and Methodius were brothers united both in Faith and blood who together committed their lives to missionary work and sanctity.

Genesis, the rst book of the Bible, tells of the creation of the world and our dominion over it. But is this the whole story? The planet on which we live is ecologically fragile, and all people of good will have a respon- sibility to take care of this most precious gift. During his papacy, Pope Benedict XVI repeatedly drew attention to the environment, whether in terms of preserving it--such as his address concerning Amazonia and his letter regarding the Arctic--or distributing its vital resources--such as water--more equitably. What is more, during Benedict's papacy, the Vatican became the rst, and remains the only, carbon-neutral country in the world. This book gathers together the audiences, addresses, letters, and homilies of Benedict on a wide-ranging set of topics that deal with the world about us. The major themes and connections he explores are cre- ation and the natural world; the environment, science, and technology; and hunger, poverty, and the earth's resources. In these pages, Benedict insists that if we truly desire peace, we must be increasingly conscious of and nurture all of creation. Further- more, he argues convincingly that as our love of God should cause us to protect the environment, so should our heightened sense of appre- ciation of the natural world draw us closer to God. Benedict speaks out against the spread of nuclear weapons, threats to biodiversity, and in favor of alternative energy. He urges sustainable development, equita- ble distribution of food and water, and an end to hunger. This book is a valuable resource for all those who seek to under- stand more fully the relationships among the environment, Catholic social teaching, and theology. Whether speaking to a vast crowd, meet- ing with a small group of scientists, or writing letters to world leaders, Benedict has shown a clear path towards a theologically cogent con- cern for the planet on which we live.

From the earliest days of the Church through modern times, women have always played a unique and critical role in the story of Christianity. Jesus Christ called both men and women to be his disciples, and countless women in Church history have stood out for the holiness of their lives and the wealth of their teaching.

In each chapter, derived from catechesis given during his weekly general audiences from September 2010 to April 2011, Pope Benedict XVI expertly and thoughtfully explores the life stories and writings of these seventeen holy women:

Saint Hildegard of BingenSaint Clare of AssisiSaint Matilda of HackebornSaint Gertrude the GreatBlessed Angela of FolignoSaint Elizabeth of HungarySaint Bridget of SwedenMarguerite d'OingtSaint Juliana of CornillonSaint Catherine of SienaJulian of NorwichSaint Veronica GiulianiSaint Catherine of BolognaSaint Catherine of GenoaSaint Joan of ArcSaint Teresa of ÁvilaSaint Thérèse of Lisieux

The remarkable examples of the feminine genius in Holy Women are still relevant today. These models of prayer, faith, and good works will help you gain a fuller understanding of Church history and serve as guides on your faith journey.

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 by which Christ is present today in his Church. In choosing the Apostles, Jesus brought them into communion with himself and involved them in his mission of proclaiming the Gospel. After Mary, the Mother of God, it is from the Apostles, through their word and witness, that we receive the truth of Christ.

Delving into Sacred Scripture and writings from the early Church fathers, Benedict XVI highlights each of the Twelve, along with Saint Paul and select men and women who were coworkers of the Apostles. By studying the origins of the Church, we see that the Apostles are the foundation of the community of faith, hope, and charity that involves the entire people of God.

Imagine some personal hours face to face with Pope Benedict XVI, one of the greatest Catholic thinkers and spiritual writers of the twentieth century. In this slim volume, hundreds of short quotations and sayings taken from Benedict's papal writings, addresses, and homilies have been classified by the Christian virtues of which they speak, and then categorized according to the mysteries of the Rosary and the great themes of prayer, the Church, the Mass, the papacy, Sacred Scripture, the priesthood, and the saints. Praying with and reflecting on these spiritual gems, we feel the breadth and depth of their author's spiritual knowledge, experience, and ability to communicate a vibrant love of Jesus Christ, of the Catholic Faith, and of the people God has placed in our lives.

Pope Benedict's writings communicate an air of Christian authenticity arising from his deep and abiding relationship with Our Lord, and their clarity and precision serve as a faithful guide for those seeking to strengthen that relationship for themselves. Making time and space to cultivate our friendship with Christ will always be a challenge, but with this collection of Benedict's guiding insights in hand, we are better fortified to meet that challenge.

Imagine some personal hours face to face with Pope Benedict XVI, one of the greatest Catholic thinkers and spiritual writers of the twentieth century. In this slim volume, hundreds of short quotations and sayings taken from Benedict's papal writings, addresses, and homilies have been classified by the Christian virtues of which they speak, and then categorized according to the mysteries of the Rosary and the great themes of prayer, the Church, the Mass, the papacy, Sacred Scripture, the priesthood, and the saints. Praying with and reflecting on these spiritual gems, we feel the breadth and depth of their author's spiritual knowledge, experience, and ability to communicate a vibrant love of Jesus Christ, of the Catholic Faith, and of the people God has placed in our lives.

Pope Benedict's writings communicate an air of Christian authenticity arising from his deep and abiding relationship with Our Lord, and their clarity and precision serve as a faithful guide for those seeking to strengthen that relationship for themselves. Making time and space to cultivate our friendship with Christ will always be a challenge, but with this collection of Benedict's guiding insights in hand, we are better fortified to meet that challenge.

The New York Times bestselling final volume in the Pope's Jesus of Nazareth series, detailing how the stories of Jesus' infancy and childhood are as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.

In 2007, Joseph Ratzinger published his first book as Pope Benedict XVI in order to make known the figure and message of Jesus. Now, the Pope focuses exclusively on the Gospel accounts of Jesus' life as a child. The root of these stories is the experience of hope found in the birth of Jesus and the affirmations of surrender and service embodied in his parents, Joseph and Mary.

This is a story of longing and seeking, as demonstrated by the Magi searching for the redemption offered by the birth of a new king. It is a story of sacrifice and trusting completely in the wisdom of God as seen in the faith of Simeon, the just and devout man of Jerusalem, when he is in the presence of the Christ child. Ultimately, Jesus' life and message is a story for today, one that speaks to the restlessness of the human heart searching for the sole truth which alone leads to profound joy.

During the special Pauline Jubilee Year, Pope Benedict XVI used his Wednesday audiences as an opportunity to meet one of the most influential persons in the history of Christianity, Saint Paul. Meeting Saint Paul is the complete collection of these twenty-one papal reflections.

With clarity and wisdom, Pope Benedict XVI sets out his vision for Catholic higher education in this first and only collection of his major addresses on the topic. What is the mission and identity of a Catholic university? What are the responsibilities of administrators, teachers, and students in Catholic institutes of higher learning? Where does the central theme of love of God and others fit into academia? The pope's most important statements on the nature of the university and its cultural and educative tasks are brought together in this volume. Featured are the various speeches he has given to university audiences since his pontificate began. Also included are select addresses on education and culture, themes that go to the heart of the mission of the university, and that possess a value for society as a whole. Throughout these addresses, the pope presents 2,000 years of lived tradition with a striking freshness. His response to the contemporary challenges in Catholic higher education will have an enduring historical impact. The addresses are grouped in parts as follows: The Problem and the Urgent Task Ahead; The Relationship of Faith and Reason; The Symphony of Freedom and Truth; Education and Love; Pedagogy and Learning; The Church: Education in Faith and Community; Culture and the University; Science, Technology, and Theology; and Caritas and Mission. John Garvey, president of the Catholic University of America, provides a foreword in which he reflects on the themes of the pope's speeches. J. Steven Brown, professor of mechanical engineering at The Catholic University of America, edited the volume.