Great Teachers

by Pope Benedict XVI

"To renew the Church in every age, God raises up saints, who themselves have been renewed by God and are in constant contact with God." Pope Benedict XVI

Discover the greatest teachers of the Faith as Pope Benedict XVI highlights their essential role during a time of scandal and strife in the Church.

Focusing specifically on the 13th-century founding of the Franciscans by St. Francis of Assisi and the Dominicans by St. Dominic Guzmán, the pope said personal holiness led the two saints to preach and to help actualize a return to Gospel poverty, a deeper unity with the Church, and a new movement of evangelization, including within the European universities that were blossoming at the time.

The Franciscans and Dominicans followed in the footsteps of their founders and demonstrated that it was possible to live evangelical poverty, to live the Gospel itself, without separating themselves from the Church, he said.

Their example continues to be relevant today as we struggle with a culture that focuses more on having than on being, and look to emulate those holy people who chose to live very simply.

Great Teachers

--Hugh and Richard of Saint-Victor
--William of Saint-Thierry
--Rupert of Dutz
--John of Salisbury
--Peter Lombard
--St. Francis of Assisi
--St. Dominic Guzman
--St. Anthony of Padua
--St. Bonaventure
--St. Albert the Great
--St. Thomas Aquinas
--John Duns Scotus

Genres: Theology, Catholic, Religion, History

141 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Originally Joseph Ratzinger , a noted conservative theologian before his election in 2005, Benedict XVI strove against the influence of secularism during his papacy to defend traditional Catholic teachings but since medieval times first resigned in 2013.

After Joseph Ratzinger served a long career as an academic and a professor at the University of Regensburg, Pope Paul VI appointed him as archbishop of Munich and Freising and cardinal in 1977. In 1981, he settled in Rome as prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, one most important office of the Roman curia. He also served as dean of the college of cardinals.

Benedict XVI reigned 265th in virtue of his office of bishop of Rome, the sovereign of the state of Vatican City and the head of the Church. A conclave named him on 19 April 2005; he celebrated his inaugural Mass on 24 April 2005 and took possession of his Lateran cathedral basilica of Saint John on 7 May 2005.

Benedict XVI succeeded Saint John Paul II, predecessor and his prolific writings on doctrine and values. Benedict XVI advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increase of many developed countries. Relativism denied objective truth and moral truths in particular; he viewed this central problem of the 21st century. With the importance of the Church, he understood redemptive love of God. He reaffirmed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism" "of many Christians engaged in charitable work." Benedict also revived a number and elevated the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.

Benedict founded and patronized of the Ratzinger foundation, a charitable organization, which from the sale of books and essays makes money to fund scholarships and bursaries for students across the world.

Due to advanced age on 11 February 2013, Benedict announced in a speech in Latin and cited a "lack of strength of mind and body" before the cardinals. He effectively left on 28 February 2013.As emeritus, Benedict retained the style of His Holiness, and the title and continued to dress in the color of white. He moved into the newly renovated monastery of Mater Ecclesiae for his retirement. Pope Francis succeeded him on 13 March 2013.

(more info on Ratzinger Foundation: https://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology...)

Reviews

[Mick Maurer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting to post my Lenten 2025 Readings., 15 in March & 11 in April most were Jeremiah, Daniel, Habakkuk, Joseph in Egypt, Esther, Isaiah, & Lamentations. Also two works by Pope Benedict XVI & one by Elie Wiesel
The first is Great Teachers (2011) by Pope Benedict XV, focusing on the greatest teachers of the Faith as he high-lights their essential role during a time or scandal & strife in the Church.
Focusing specifically on the 13th-century founding of the Franciscans by St. Francis of Assisi & the Dominicans by St. Dominic Guzmán, the pope said personal holiness led the two saints to preach — & to help actualize — a return to Gospel poverty, a deeper unity with the Church, & a new movement of evangelization, including within the European universities that were blossoming at the time.
The material is derived from catechesis given by Pope Benedict during his weekly general audiences from 28 October 2009 to 7 July 2010. Starting with Monastic Theology & Scholastic Theology, into two models in comparison: Bernard & Abelard. The Cluniac Reform, to the Romanesque to Gothic Cathedrals. Chpt Five then is Hugh & Richard St-Victor. Then Chpt Ten the Mendicant Orders. Chpts 11 thru 17: Francis of Assisi, Dominic Guzman, Anthony of Padua, Alber the Great, John Duns Scotus with extensive presentations on the life, writings & teachings of St Bonaventure & St Thomas Aquinas.
Four I have not pictured that Pope Benedict presented are: William of St-Thierry, Rupert of Deutz, John of Salisbury, & Peter Lombard. The work is a good introduction to each of the teachers

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book should more aptly be titled “Great Teachers of the Late-12th and the 13th Centuries: A Collection of Catecheses from the General Audiences of Pope Benedict XVI Over a Nine-Month Period.” If you can get through that title, you can probably get through this book, which isn’t long but is heavier than one might expect.

The “great teachers” are presented in chronological order, and this chronology is literally the only thing that ties each chapter together. I am left wondering why the late pontiff chose these particular men to highlight and why he focused on some so much more than others. Most of the teachers are given about six pages each, but St. Bonaventure and St. Thomas Aquinas are given much more detail.

I wanted so much more from this book.

[Joseph R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Teachers is another volume that collects the Wednesday lectures by Pope Benedict XVI. These catecheses cover a small but highly fruitful period of history, the 12th and 13th centuries. Several factors contributed to the growth and development of spiritual thought in these years. One factor was the monastic reform that brought about a new emphasis on the study of the Bible as the center of theology. By meditation and reflection on the Sacred Scriptures, the monks were able to delve more deeply into the mysteries of the faith. Another factor was the creation of the universities, where learned men had the opportunity to discuss and debate various ideas. The discussions were further enhanced by the rediscovery of Aristotle's works, which present a more or less comprehensive understanding of the world through reason and observation (i.e. science) but apart from the Judeo-Christian heritage. A third factor was the rise of the mendicant orders, viz. the Franciscans and the Dominicans, whose charism included preaching the word of God to all and teaching at the universities, where they worked to integrate the Aristotelian world view with the Christian faith.

Benedict describes the various strands that come together and reviews the lives and works of fifteen men who have had a lasting impact on the church and Western civilization. His writing style is clear and concise as always. He often draws parallels to modern day problems and demonstrates the relevance of these thinkers and theologians to today's world. His work is also an excellent entrance for those interested in the medieval period and he mentions several of the best works of each writer.

Here's a quote I found fascinating from the chapter on Saint Bonaventure:

Christ's works do not go backwards, they do not fail but progress, the saint said in his letter De Tribus Quaestionibus. Thus St. Bonaventure explicitly formulates the idea of progress, and this is an innovation in comparison with the Fathers of the Church and the majority of his contemporaries. For St. Bonaventure Christ was no longer the end of history, as he was for the Fathers of the Church, but rather its center; history does not end with Christ but begins a new period. The following is another consequence: until that moment the idea that the Fathers of the Church were the absolute summit of theology predominated, all successive generations could only be their disciples. St. Bonaventure also recognized the Fathers as teachers forever, but the phenomenon of St. Frances assured him that the riches of Christ's word are inexhaustible and that new light could also appear to the new generations. The oneness of Christ also guarantees newness and renewal in all the periods of history.

[Christopher Pokorny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compilation of addresses to papal audiences from 2009-2010. Focused on "Great Teachers" of the Middle Ages & Renaissance
periods.