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A Turning Point for Europe? The Church in the Modern World- Assessment and Forecast
Cardinal Ratzinger addresses the challenges and responsibilities that both the Church and society in Europe face after the collapse of Marxism. Both liberalism and Marxism have denied religion the right to have any influence on public affairs and the common future of humanity. Since there is also a great spiritual emptiness growing in the West with the increased secularization, consumerism and hedonism, Ratzinger's comments apply as much, if not more, to the United States as well. With the downfall of Marxism, religion has been discovered anew as an ineradicable force for both the individual and society. While there is renewed interest in religion, the dangers also exist to lay hold of religion as an instrument to serve various political ideas. Ratzinger, whose theological work has often dealt with the "reasons for our faith," reflects upon the various problems facing humanity at this turning point of our history and offers genuine hope based upon a deep Christian faith. He also addresses the critical role that the Church has in relationship to the world and the essential task of bringing Christ back into our culture.
177 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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About the author
Pope Benedict XVI
943 books935 followersOriginally
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...)
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...)
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 22, 2024
“The inherent worth of a society is seen in the values it counts worth protecting.“ if the only reason you read this book is to better understand that quote it is well worth your time reading. There are so many great insights into this book that can hate us in our current time. There are some items in the text that are a little poly Ennis in terms of a hopeful perspective. They haven’t panned out, but overall he really still has the pulse on the situation as regards the cultural rot in the West.
July 26, 2024
A COLLECTION OF TALKS ABOUT THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger (born 1927) is of course now Pope Benedict XVI; however, at the time this book was published in 1991, he was the 64-year old Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He explained in the Preface, "I have been invited with increasing frequency in recent years to speak on themes concerning the relationship of the Church and the world; most of these were formulated by those who issued the invitation, thus giving expression to questions perceived to be especially urgent at each particular place. I have collected in this little book the more important studies that arose in this manner."
He said, "in the Middle Ages the emptiness of the soul, which drugs are an attempt to fill, did not exist; the thirst of the soul, of the inner man, found an answer that made drugs unnecessary." (Pg. 19) He adds, "moral values have lost their evidential character, and thus also their competing claim, in a society conditioned by technology." (Pg. 27) He states, "Morality is not man's prison but rather the divine element in him." (Pg. 36)
He asserts, "All this goes to show the limits of the Church's task and powers. She cannot enforce peace. She could not do it in the past, and she cannot do it in the future. She must not be transformed into a kind of political peace movement, whose only raison d'etre would be the attaining of world peace. The planned 'peace council' of religions is, therefore... an impossibility. The leaders of the Church have no authority to take direct political action." (Pg. 58)
He suggests, "One will not restore power to faith today by reducing it as much as possible to the indeterminate but only by seeing it in its entire magnitude. Reduction does not save faith; it cheapens it. It becomes meaningful only when one leaves it its entire power." (Pg. 109) He adds, "Anyone who offers faith as a comfortable path will not succeed. It makes the highest demands of man, because it thinks highly of him. But precisely because it does this, it it beautiful and in keeping with our own being." (Pg. 111)
These brief talks are warmer and more "personal" (i.e., less doctrinal) than many of the former Cardinal's writings, and are of considerable interest to anyone concerned with Catholicism.
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger (born 1927) is of course now Pope Benedict XVI; however, at the time this book was published in 1991, he was the 64-year old Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He explained in the Preface, "I have been invited with increasing frequency in recent years to speak on themes concerning the relationship of the Church and the world; most of these were formulated by those who issued the invitation, thus giving expression to questions perceived to be especially urgent at each particular place. I have collected in this little book the more important studies that arose in this manner."
He said, "in the Middle Ages the emptiness of the soul, which drugs are an attempt to fill, did not exist; the thirst of the soul, of the inner man, found an answer that made drugs unnecessary." (Pg. 19) He adds, "moral values have lost their evidential character, and thus also their competing claim, in a society conditioned by technology." (Pg. 27) He states, "Morality is not man's prison but rather the divine element in him." (Pg. 36)
He asserts, "All this goes to show the limits of the Church's task and powers. She cannot enforce peace. She could not do it in the past, and she cannot do it in the future. She must not be transformed into a kind of political peace movement, whose only raison d'etre would be the attaining of world peace. The planned 'peace council' of religions is, therefore... an impossibility. The leaders of the Church have no authority to take direct political action." (Pg. 58)
He suggests, "One will not restore power to faith today by reducing it as much as possible to the indeterminate but only by seeing it in its entire magnitude. Reduction does not save faith; it cheapens it. It becomes meaningful only when one leaves it its entire power." (Pg. 109) He adds, "Anyone who offers faith as a comfortable path will not succeed. It makes the highest demands of man, because it thinks highly of him. But precisely because it does this, it it beautiful and in keeping with our own being." (Pg. 111)
These brief talks are warmer and more "personal" (i.e., less doctrinal) than many of the former Cardinal's writings, and are of considerable interest to anyone concerned with Catholicism.
June 22, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It is an insightful commentary from a Christian perspective on questions that continue to reverberate today in public discussions around religion. The main theme of whether the West can survive as a post-Christian civilization or whether it must return to its Christian roots is something that more people across the globe should consider. The book contains 6 essays, and I especially liked the first one which examines faith as a solution to nihilism and escapism, but I found many worthwhile reflections in each of the essays. I would strongly recommend this to anyone interested in the crossroads of politics and religion or in the search for meaning in the modern secular era.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews