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Jesus Christus: Meditations
Romano Guardini, widely recognized as the theological mentor of Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), offers a series of meditations on the life of Christ in a similar vein to the Popes Jesus of Nazareth series.
111 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1959
3 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Romano Guardini
381 books163 followersRomano Guardini was a Catholic priest, author, and academic. He was one of the most important figures in Catholic intellectual life in the 20th century.
Guardini was born in Verona, Italy in 1885. His family moved to Mainz when he was one year old and he lived in Germany for the rest of his life. After studying chemistry in Tübingen for two semesters, and economics in Munich and Berlin for three, he decided to become a priest. After studying Theology in Freiburg im Breisgau and Tübingen, he was ordained in Mainz in 1910. He briefly worked in a pastoral position before returning to Freiburg to work on his doctorate in Theology under Engelbert Krebs. He received his doctorate in 1915 for a dissertation on Bonaventure. He completed his “Habilitation” in Dogmatic Theology at the University of Bonn in 1922, again with a dissertation on Bonaventure. Throughout this period he also worked as a chaplain to the Catholic youth movement.
In 1923 he was appointed to a chair in Philosophy of Religion at the University of Berlin. In the 1935 essay “Der Heiland” (The Saviour) he criticized Nazi mythologizing of the person of Jesus and emphasized the Jewishness of Jesus. The Nazis forced him to resign from his Berlin position in 1939. From 1943 to 1945 he retired to Mooshausen, where his friend Josef Weiger had been parish priest since 1917.
In 1945 Guardini was appointed professor in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Tübingen and resumed lecturing on the Philosophy of Religion. In 1948, he became professor at the University of Munich, where he remained until retiring for health reasons in 1962.
Guardini died in Munich on 1 October 1968. He was buried in the priests’ cemetery of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Munich. His estate was left to the Catholic Academy in Bavaria that he had co-founded.
Guardini was born in Verona, Italy in 1885. His family moved to Mainz when he was one year old and he lived in Germany for the rest of his life. After studying chemistry in Tübingen for two semesters, and economics in Munich and Berlin for three, he decided to become a priest. After studying Theology in Freiburg im Breisgau and Tübingen, he was ordained in Mainz in 1910. He briefly worked in a pastoral position before returning to Freiburg to work on his doctorate in Theology under Engelbert Krebs. He received his doctorate in 1915 for a dissertation on Bonaventure. He completed his “Habilitation” in Dogmatic Theology at the University of Bonn in 1922, again with a dissertation on Bonaventure. Throughout this period he also worked as a chaplain to the Catholic youth movement.
In 1923 he was appointed to a chair in Philosophy of Religion at the University of Berlin. In the 1935 essay “Der Heiland” (The Saviour) he criticized Nazi mythologizing of the person of Jesus and emphasized the Jewishness of Jesus. The Nazis forced him to resign from his Berlin position in 1939. From 1943 to 1945 he retired to Mooshausen, where his friend Josef Weiger had been parish priest since 1917.
In 1945 Guardini was appointed professor in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Tübingen and resumed lecturing on the Philosophy of Religion. In 1948, he became professor at the University of Munich, where he remained until retiring for health reasons in 1962.
Guardini died in Munich on 1 October 1968. He was buried in the priests’ cemetery of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Munich. His estate was left to the Catholic Academy in Bavaria that he had co-founded.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 15, 2024
These meditations on the person of Christ were profound, moving, and heart-wrenching. Guardini’s descriptions of Jesus, all steeped in Scripture, have helped me contemplate who Our Incarnate Lord is and the type of relationship He invites each of us into.
The first chapter starts with a discussion on His Mother. Upon reading the title, I haughtily assumed it would be another basic commentary on Mary. How dare I underestimate Guardini… I have never heard a reflection like his on Mary and her relationship with her Son—I was literary sobbing as I read the description of her suffering out of love and faith.
Several subsequent chapters (particularly “Passage”) discussed Jesus’ solitude and our non-understanding of Him in a sobering and convicting fashion. Guardini emphasized “He could only have been able to endure it by that mystery which John repeatedly mentions: “The Father is with me always.””
The final chapters on Christ’s death, resurrection, and presence in Heaven were incredible. Thanks to Guardini’s meditation on Jesus’ interaction with Thomas, for the first time in my life, I felt blessed to be counted amongst those who have not seen and yet believe.
Thank you, Reeve for the recommendation and lending me your copy (and the advice to read it slowly)!
The first chapter starts with a discussion on His Mother. Upon reading the title, I haughtily assumed it would be another basic commentary on Mary. How dare I underestimate Guardini… I have never heard a reflection like his on Mary and her relationship with her Son—I was literary sobbing as I read the description of her suffering out of love and faith.
Several subsequent chapters (particularly “Passage”) discussed Jesus’ solitude and our non-understanding of Him in a sobering and convicting fashion. Guardini emphasized “He could only have been able to endure it by that mystery which John repeatedly mentions: “The Father is with me always.””
The final chapters on Christ’s death, resurrection, and presence in Heaven were incredible. Thanks to Guardini’s meditation on Jesus’ interaction with Thomas, for the first time in my life, I felt blessed to be counted amongst those who have not seen and yet believe.
Thank you, Reeve for the recommendation and lending me your copy (and the advice to read it slowly)!
November 20, 2014
Parts of this book are truly stunning. Guardini was a master.
October 20, 2020
An excellent book about the love of God
I have read a number of books by this author and they are all very well written and informative. This book deals especially with the great love of Jesus, true God and true man, for all of God's creation but especially for humankind.
I have read a number of books by this author and they are all very well written and informative. This book deals especially with the great love of Jesus, true God and true man, for all of God's creation but especially for humankind.
June 10, 2012
If you want to understand Jesus better then read this book.
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October 8, 2012Reccommended by Père Wilhelm Schuten
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews