Journal of a Soul

by Pope John XXIII, Dorothy M. White (Translator)

From the age of 14 until his death at the age of 82, Pope John XXIII kept what he called his Journal of a Soul, jotting down in school exercise books and on odd pieces of paper the record of his growth in holiness. Elected Pope at the age of 78 he astonished the world by his breadth of mind, his simplicity and the love which shone out of him for the whole world.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Biography, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Theology, Christianity

441 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Pope Saint John XXIII (Latin: Ioannes XXIII), born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli reigned from 28 October 1958 to his death in 1963.

He was ordained a priest on 10 August 1904 and served in a number of posts, including papal nuncio in France and a delegate to Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. In a consistory on 12 January 1953 Pope Pius XII made Roncalli a cardinal as the Cardinal-Priest of Santa Prisca in addition to naming him the Patriarch of Venice.

Roncalli was elected pope on 28 October 1958 at age 77 after 11 ballots. His selection was unexpected, and Roncalli himself had come to Rome with a return train ticket to Venice. He was the first pope to take the pontifical name of "John" upon election in more than 500 years, and his choice settled the complicated question of official numbering attached to this papal name due to the antipope of this name.

Pope John XXIII surprised those who expected him to be a caretaker pope by calling the historic Second Vatican Council (1962–65), the first session opening on 11 October 1962. He did not live to see it to completion. John died of stomach cancer on 3 June 1963, four and a half years after his election and two months after the completion of his final and famed encyclical, Pacem in Terris."


He was beatified on 3 September 2000 by Pope John Paul and declared a saint by Pope Francis on 5 July 2013, based on his merits of opening the Second Vatican Council. He was canonised on 27 April 2014. His feast day is 11 October, the day of the first session of the Second Vatican Council.

Reviews

[booklady]

Started this last night. It begins with this very challenging and long list of ascetic resolutions (rules of life) the youthful Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli set for himself. As I'm reading his rules I'm trying to imagine myself now—a middle-aged woman—getting through one Lent doing all the things on his list, never mind doing them from youth onward for the whole of a very long life time! He had morning tasks, daily tasks, before and after dinner, evening and before bed, then weekly tasks, monthly, yearly, at all times, recommendations, additions, special rules for dress, etc. I was exhausted by the time I finished reading his rules. I had to keep reminding myself it was a slower time, in many ways more predictable and routine. However, once the journal actually started, another picture emerged. Young Angelo was very human. He set very high standards for himself to be sure, but he was ruthlessly honest about his inability to live up to those high standards. A delightful book right from the start!

[John Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entries from 1895 onwards. We read the demands he placed on himself from a very early age (the Journal begins when he was 13/14). The discipline of a monk out in a secular world, with all its temptations. A valuable guide to prayer and the spiritual life. I recently read and much enjoyed Lawrence Elliott’s biography. This was harder work.

Some super photographs of this lovely, saintly man, his family, colleagues and the world and locales he was living and working in.

[Erik]

Included in the "Holy Men and Women" section of Fr. John McCloskey's 100-book Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan.

[7jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books helps us to see how this man grew into the saint he is today. One can really see the development: from the hummingbird-like up-and-down-and-up-again circling of his earlier writings to these wise and very humble turtle-like (in a good way) days of mature age.

I'm sure his time in Bulgaria and Turkey/Greece was a particularly remarkable influence in his life, alongside good people and patient regathering to do one's best in virtues and devotions every day plus constant striving to be humble - because becoming humble(r) was the great key to make this great man.

I wish I could've met him, or just seen him, but just reading this was inspiring. I'm sure I will keep this humble saint in mind when I want to ask for prayers some day.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pope John XXIII was a very special person who never expected nor wanted the pontiff. He was elected, say some, as an "interim" Pope(because he was so old). He surprised them by showing old also still has new ideas by calling the Vatican II council and changed the Catholic Church forever. This writing from his journal gives a great insight into this humble man's real life whom the world realized was prophetic regardless of age, or maybe because of age. What makes up a Pope? This Journal of a Soul helps you see the real man under the hat.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admire Pope John's holiness, but this book was very hard for me to get through! Not the fault of the author, since it was his diary and not meant to be published... Most of the book consisted of his resolutions and his perceived failure to live up to them. I was hoping for more background about his life, etc., so I think a good biography is in order!

[Peter Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s really a shame that sedevecantists and some trads make a negative judgement on Pope St. John XXIII, simply because he opened the Second Vatican Council. It was clear that his goal for the Council was to “present a clear doctrine able to enlighten the modern world in the state which it finds itself today,” and even wrote an Apostolic Exhortation of the praying of the Breviary “for success of the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council.”

One can have criticisms of the saintly Pope’s revisions to the Breviary and Mass in 1961 and 1962, respectively, but his autobiography paints a picture of a man wholly devoted to God and to the service of the Church. In his early life, as a seminarist, Angelo Roncalli seemed to have struggled with scrupulously, which abated as he aged and you can see the sense of peace he had in his older years. Pope St. John XXIII lived strictly according to the Imitation of Christ, having great humility and taking criticisms from others as truth. Most importantly, he was convinced of the necessity of obedience to the Church and his superiors, which can be seen from his Episcopal motto, Oboedientia et Pax.

“In the hour of farewell, or, better, of leave-taking, I repeat once more that what matters most in this life is: our blessed Jesus Christ, his holy Church, his Gospel, and in the Gospel above all else the Our Father according to the mind and heart of Jesus, and the truth and goodness of his Gospel, goodness which must be meek and kind, hardworking and patient, unconquerable and victorious.”

Pope St. John XXIII, ora pro nobis!

[Orchid · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I was not familiar with Pope John XXIII going into Journal of a Soul, I really enjoyed learning about him and his journey from seminary to that of Pope.

What to see my full thoughts on Journal of a Soul: The Autobiography of Pope John XXIII then stop by my blog.

[Mary Hemenway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting notes from his journals over a lifetime on his interior life

[Fr. Daniel Carr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that I did not read this book from cover to cover. I only had access to it during my five day retreat at Ampleforth Abbey, and as it was more of a "relaxation" book, I didn't want to push myself into feeling forced into completing it.

I journal during my time at prayer, and I found it extremely helpful to see what kinds of things a saint has to say about his life of prayer. It was enjoyable to see some areas in common and to mark the differences as well. I found it a helpful exercise for me to observe another method of journaling and to recognize in myself a different and distinctive style.

As for the writing, I was profoundly impacted by the realness of Saint John XXIII. He really knew what he wanted out of life - sanctity - and held that standard up during his entire life. While it looked different throughout the different phases of his life, it remained constantly on his mind and he truly recognized both the blessings in his life as well as his sins and failings.

I found this to be helpful for me, but many may see it as overly legalistic, saccharine, and fake if they are not familiar with the spirituality of his time. I found it truly genuine. There are those who would see it as incredibly redundant, but often that is what we are going through and journaling the same thing over and over is nothing new. The different ways he would articulate his frustrations and joys allowed me a keen perspective into a holy and humble man who God has deemed as worthy to be held up as a saint.

[kiwi ☆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be perfectly honest, I had to skim through a lot of pages in this book. I initially picked it up because I wanted an insight into the life and perspective of the Pope as someone that doesn’t know all that much about the Catholic Church.

I could see myself reading a biography or an external look into the work of the Pope, but this was a rather disorganised stream of thoughts and prayers and I appreciate that I should have taken into account that this book is a diary and collection of notes, as opposed to an informative piece.

The reasons I’m rating it two stars instead of one is because I did gain a general understanding of the life of the Pope, his views, and his mode of thought. I can see how he and his faith matured over the years. I learned more about the holy rosary and it’s significance. I understand if I were more aligned with the Christian faith and it’s practices, I may rate it higher, hence the extra star is for the benefit of the doubt. However, from the perspective of someone who cannot appreciate the nature of this book, I couldn’t see myself recommending it to anyone who isn’t highly involved with a form of religious devotion.

[John Hayward · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having now read Pope John XXIII's "Journal of a Soul", I can't keep but think that the ending to Robert Harris's "Conclave" would have been far more thought-provoking if, rather than pandering to current cultural fashions, it had transpired that the newly-elected Pope held reformist, evangelical views like those of Hans Küng. Despite the prevalence of Angelo Roncalli's Marianism and superstitious (if not idolatrous or blasphemous) obsession with guardian angels and deceased saints, his writings also contained nuggets to challenge and edify. E.g. p.57 (1898): "When I am about to think myself superior, or satisfy my pride, here is the sovereign remedy which will cure me and humble me: to think what a great sinner I am, I who am not worthy to appear before my Jesus, I who should thank the Lord and think it an honour to be treated as the least, not only of my companions, but of all men."

[Cainneach Rua · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book in a second hand shop. I can still remember the nice smell of the pages and the fine quality of the printing. It was a fascinating read, particularly the earlier diary entries of when St. John was a young man in the seminary. It caused me to have increased admiration for the good pope whom i did not know up to that point

[PJ Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

An autobiographical account of Pope John XXIII's journey from seminary to papacy. Difficult reading, but an good insight to his daily devotions, formation, and what really made him such an inspirational servant: his fervent humility.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful insight into a holy man who strove to live a simple unassuming life with depth and love with his God.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much more of a Catholic than the secular media and others would have you think... Read his own words before you let others with agendas hijack his reputation.

[Mary Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

very very good. im relieved that popes have the same spiritual struggles we do.

[Francesco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Che dire, una lettura lunghissima ma densissima e pregna di significato.

[Francisca · Rating 4 out of 5]

St John XXIII's spiritual journal, from his time as a seminarian in Bergamo until the year before his death. His example in the spiritual struggle, beginning again and again on the same points, and his simple piety and ardent desire to love God more and more are really inspiring.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

John 23rd is kind of forgotten about today, but he changed the Church and therefore the world.

[Gille Liath · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good Company Man
I have literally spent years nibbling away at this, bit by bit (I would defy anyone to read it right through at one go). Pope John XXIII was canonised a few years ago, along with John Paul II, I think mainly for having called Vatican II; yet there is little sign of any progressive agenda in this ‘journal’, which is actually made up of his retreat notes from youth to old age. On the contrary, what you see is the most conventional of conventional piety, in a man whose keynotes seem to be not outstanding holiness but loyalty to the firm (ie the Church) and a blithe indifference to the things that affect most of the rest of mankind – with whom, other than his family and other clergy, he seems to have had little directly to do.

Maybe that’s a little bit harsh, but certainly there’s often a self-satisfied air to his writing. He writes notes for a potential future biographer, which start, ‘It is certainly of some interest to find out who are [his family] from whose stock was to spring such a precious branch’. And there’s an extraordinary passage towards the end where he notes down a ‘general confession’ – and actually can’t think of anything to accuse himself of: ‘Chastity – nothing serious, ever…Obedience – I have never felt any temptation against it [that I believe!]…Humility – I make a special point of cultivating this…Charity – this is the virtue that comes most easily to me'…etc, etc. Aware that, almost as a matter of doctrine, he cannot be entirely sinless, he says he has offended in minor ways against ‘the regulations of the church’ – but he can’t say exactly how.

It’s enough to make you wonder whether the best Christian can really be simply the one who feels least temptation. But how about vainglory, or (to give it its official name) Pride? At least a little of that can be read between the lines in quite a number of passages besides those quoted above. And they say that's the most serious sin of all.

It may be that John was a great man whose greatness simply didn't get into his diaries. But sadly there’s little value in this book except as an historical document of traditional Catholic prayer practices.

[Patricia Mckenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the recent canonization of Pope John XXII, it is interesting to see into the mind of a saint. This book helps you to hear the inner thoughts of a pope. It starts with the early days in seminary and goes through 1962, the year of the Second Vatican Council.
We hear often of the humbleness of Pope Francis, but he is not the first pope to be a humble servant of God. During Angelo Roncalli’s seminary days his writings are consumed with self discipline, often calling himself a sinner and pointing to where he falls short of becoming a saint. This is ironic now knowing him as St. John XXIII.

His writing shows a growing maturity from his seminary days as he becomes, priest, bishop, cardinal and pope. It culminates in the beauty of his rosary meditations and prayers included at the end of the book. It follows a diary format that would lend itself to devotional time in prayer. It is harder to read straight through because you find yourself wanting to stop and contemplate his reflections.

The writings of Pope John XXIII are beautiful and insightful. I would like to know more about the Second Vatican Council. This book gives very little information about the historical event and more of the thoughts of the pope in the background.

I definitely recommend this book. One part that was striking was Angelo’s following of the “Little Rules” of the ascetic life as described in appendix two. This will help anyone trying to deepen their spiritual and devotional life. This gives the average layperson an idea of the devout life of a consecrated religious.

[Marti Martinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tedious, labored, and gynophobic for more than half the book. His actions in life appear to have been far greater than his perception of himself. I'll prefer to remember him from the Bob Hoskins movie about his life.

[pjr8888 · Rating 5 out of 5]

paperback version, First Printing, 1966