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The Way to Christ: Spiritual Exercises – Essential Sermons on Faith and Human Dignity from a Cardinal Who Became Pope
The Writings of One of the World's Greatest Religious Leaders on the Most Important Spiritual Issues of Our Time. The Way to Christ offers a unique opportunity to experience inspiring sermons Pope John Paul II preached during spiritual retreats he led while he was still a cardinal. In them he addresses the pressing spiritual issues of our the miracle and dignity of each human life, the need for a community that nurtures humanity, the necessity of cultivating the inner spiritual life, and the power of Christ to transform our present and future realities. These deeply scriptural, very personal talks celebrate the reality and the immediacy of Christ, offering rich insights and solid guidance for Christians living in today's world.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
3 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Pope John Paul II
1,046 books632 followersSaint Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus II), born Karol Józef Wojtyła was elected Pope at the Conclave of 16 October 1978, and he took the name of John Paul II. On 22 October, the Lord's Day, he solemnly inaugurated his Petrine ministry as the 263rd successor to the Apostle. His pontificate, one of the longest in the history of the Church, lasted nearly 27 years.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994. John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April 2005 at 9.37 p.m., while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord's Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church's beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father. On April 1, 2011, he was raised to the glory of the altars and on April 27, 2014 canonized.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994. John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April 2005 at 9.37 p.m., while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord's Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church's beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father. On April 1, 2011, he was raised to the glory of the altars and on April 27, 2014 canonized.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 27, 2023
Enjoyable meditations. I imagined I was rly with him:)
——
Quotes worth sharing w/ my friends:
If this encounter has not taken place, you have not yet read the Gospel.
To want is to choose, to choose God who is in the gospel, and choosing this God means choosing Christ, because God reveals himself in him. Choose Christ, because you see, my dear children, Christianity is not an abstract religion, but the religion of the choice of Christ.
If rebellion entails the search for authentic values, it is possible to encounter Christ in it.
The only thing I can tell you is that you should draw closer and closer to Christ, and not just superficially as a passing frame of mind, but with your whole heart, your whole being and your whole life. Seek him and draw closer to him. You know how to do this. You have known since you were small children, and I do not need to teach you how to approach Christ. I simply want to assure you that with him everyone gains interior independence.
Following Christ also means following yourself. Christ does not tear you away from yourselves. He does not diminish or nullify the personhood of any of us. He enriches us if we truly desire to join him.
He is not afraid of the truth, and no truth about man is too frightful for him, because he can place his own truth and wealth in each human truth; he can always place his love in every human truth, and before the power of love everything else loses its power.
We come to the reality of the Eucharist — The reality of communion — then we must realize that here we have two people in one another’s presence: our Lord and me. We can even say that it is he who first receives me, allowing me to come to him when I receive him.
——
Quotes worth sharing w/ my friends:
If this encounter has not taken place, you have not yet read the Gospel.
To want is to choose, to choose God who is in the gospel, and choosing this God means choosing Christ, because God reveals himself in him. Choose Christ, because you see, my dear children, Christianity is not an abstract religion, but the religion of the choice of Christ.
If rebellion entails the search for authentic values, it is possible to encounter Christ in it.
The only thing I can tell you is that you should draw closer and closer to Christ, and not just superficially as a passing frame of mind, but with your whole heart, your whole being and your whole life. Seek him and draw closer to him. You know how to do this. You have known since you were small children, and I do not need to teach you how to approach Christ. I simply want to assure you that with him everyone gains interior independence.
Following Christ also means following yourself. Christ does not tear you away from yourselves. He does not diminish or nullify the personhood of any of us. He enriches us if we truly desire to join him.
He is not afraid of the truth, and no truth about man is too frightful for him, because he can place his own truth and wealth in each human truth; he can always place his love in every human truth, and before the power of love everything else loses its power.
We come to the reality of the Eucharist — The reality of communion — then we must realize that here we have two people in one another’s presence: our Lord and me. We can even say that it is he who first receives me, allowing me to come to him when I receive him.
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June 10, 2007this is actually a really good book and a fairly easy read. the book was created from talks john paul II gave when retreating in the mountains with the young adults in his parish before he became a pope, when he was just an ordinary (i doubt that!) priest. the insights are so pertainable to today.
January 16, 2009
Very interesting. The guy is amazing.
Tough to read, heavily rooted in lofty theological and philosophical concepts, which probably should not have surprised me. But, it did.
Tough to read, heavily rooted in lofty theological and philosophical concepts, which probably should not have surprised me. But, it did.
October 14, 2022
Reading this book made me feel I really was in a spiritual retreat with the saint. There are big keypoints tackled. I noticed I highlighted many passages from the book.
I just can't give it five stars as some of the English translations are just distracting. Many of the translated sentences can be restructured/shortened.
I just can't give it five stars as some of the English translations are just distracting. Many of the translated sentences can be restructured/shortened.
December 13, 2020
Good information in it. Given the fact that it is a translation of a translation of a transcription, it is a bit difficult to read and several parts didn't resonate with me because I am not the target audience for the original lecture series.
Regardless, I wouldn't rate it lower just for that.
Regardless, I wouldn't rate it lower just for that.
February 28, 2025
Great simplified explanation and exploration of gaining deeper catholic faith. Supposedly, if you can read the polish version, it's even more profound as the word choices also have additional play in his lectures.
Excellent read for those at beginner or intermediate level of catholic faith.
Excellent read for those at beginner or intermediate level of catholic faith.
December 30, 2012
In general,my impression of Pope John Paul's writing is that he is difficult to read because he is extremely advanced intellectually and spiritually, and because he is multi-lingual, his translations may not "speak" to our sensibilities. That being said, I found this book very 'read-able' and applicable to us 'lay people'. The book is a transcription of a two day retreat given to university students in Poland in the early 60s. You would never know it. The content and context of the subject matter is still relevant today as it was 50 years ago.
June 5, 2014
Very good, especially with the spiritual exersizes
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews