Le soir approche et déjà le jour baisse

by Robert Sarah, Nicolas Diat

«Alla radice del collasso dell’Occidente c’è una crisi culturale e identitaria. L’Occidente non sa più chi è, perché non sa più e non vuole più sapere chi l’ha creato, chi l’ha plasmato, com’era e com’è. Oggi, molti Paesi ignorano la propria storia. Questo soffocarsi conduce naturalmente a una decadenza che apre la strada a nuove civiltà di barbari».
Queste parole del cardinale Robert Sarah costituiscono il fil rouge su cui si dipanano le sue nuove conversazioni con Nicolas Diat.
Il suo giudizio è chiaro: il mondo è sul ciglio di un precipizio. La crisi della fede e della Chiesa, il declino dell’Occidente, il tradimento delle sue élite, il relativismo morale, la globalizzazione senza regole, il capitalismo sfrenato, le nuove ideologie, la politica che arranca, le derive di un totalitarismo islamista… È giunto il tempo di una diagnosi che non conceda attenuanti.
Nell’analisi a tutto tondo dei grandi sconvolgimenti della nostra epoca, il cardinal Sarah ci invita a prendere coscienza della gravità della crisi che stiamo attraversando, mostrandoci come sia ancora possibile evitare l’inferno di un mondo senza Dio, di un mondo senza l’uomo, di un mondo senza speranza.
Una riflessione ambiziosa, potente, ormai ineludibile nella quale il cardinale affronta senza riserve la crisi del mondo contemporaneo, donandoci ancora una volta una preziosa lezione di vita e di spiritualità.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity, Philosophy, Faith

422 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Robert Cardinal Sarah was born in Guinea, West Africa. Made an Archbishop by Pope John Paul II and a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI, he was named the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by Pope Francis in 2014.

Reviews

[Kevin de Ataíde · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would say that Cardinal Sarah is the premier Ratzingerian at the moment and this third in the series of his interviews with Nicolas Diat feels as prophetic as any warning the Church has received from Pope Benedict. The Cardinal admits that he has become a sort-of refuge for various Catholics from around the world who are in a state of confusion about the Faith. This book is his answer, and from the very beginning, and despite his sombre analysis of the cultural crisis in the West, he tells his readers to not fear. There may be a crisis of faith among Catholics, and a crisis in the theology of the priesthood, which is almost regularly portrayed in functional terms, but the Cardinal reminds us that our Christian duty remains - our duty of prayer, silent prayer, a renewed ascetism and the practice of virtue. His constant advice is that we return to the monasteries, which he sees as microcosms of the Church and harbours of peace and tranquility. There, we are able to recover our sense of the sacred and our hope in the future.

The value of this book for me is in the radical nature of the Cardinal's message, radical because unlike anything that could be found in recent Catholic publications. As Nicolas Diat says, Sarah is a man of prayer, spending countless hours before the Blessed Sacrament and in the study of Scripture. He comes from a difficult background, having grown up in a small village in French Guinea, and having survived the ruthless tyranny of the communist dictator, Sekou Touré. His analysis of Western culture seems precise and his solutions are as old as S. Benedict and his monks. Simplicity, poverty and silence as a means of countering various ideologies and false gods.

I had thought, having first seen the title of the book, that it referred to European society nearing its end, its night. Nothing so dreary, however. The title comes from the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. This book is about hope, and we are on that road, expecting any moment the arrival of the Stranger, who will explain everything and restore our faith. In the meantime, there is the tradition of the Church, her school of the virtues and holy worship. We are far from finished.

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just reading the introduction heartened me. (The whole intro is included in the Amazon sample, btw.)

The rest of the book did likewise. Cardinal Sarah critiques Western culture with charity and clarity. Copious quotations from John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and others support his points and provide much food for thought. He also considers how Christians should live in and change the secular culture.

By the end of the book it seemed as if he might have been idealizing Africa, but I really have no experience in that part of the world. Since I felt he hit Western culture on the head, I am accepting his judgements on that too.

Highly recommended.

[Jeff Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful and so much to dwell upon. Not just a diatribe, but a call to holiness - the answer to problem in any age.

My only caveat is that he idealizes Africa a bit, along with Russia. Still much of his critique of the West, I agree with.

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adding this one to the list of prophetic books of the 21st century. Nothing has changed though. Still and always a call to holiness.

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 4 out of 5]

ENGLISH: This book is very interesting. I agree with almost everything it says.

A few quotes from this book, some of them from other authors (quotes of quotes:-):

From chapter 1: Love for sinners and for those who are in error requires that we fight relentlessly against their sins and errors. A few days ago I said something similar in a debate against an atheist who complained of my lack of respect for his vision: People must be respected, not their "vision." Visions or ideas should be defended by reasoning, they do not demand respect.

By T.S. Eliot in "The Family Reunion": In a world of fugitives, the person taking the opposite direction will appear to run away.

From chapter 4: I think that the West is experiencing the radical, deliberately willed solitude of the damned.

By Cardinal Wojtyla: We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, between the Gospel and the anti-Gospel, between Christ and the antichrist. The confrontation lies within the plans of Divine Providence. It is, therefore, in God’s Plan, and it must be a trial which the Church must take up, and face courageously.

By Charles Péguy in chapter 6: The modern world is demeaning. It demeans civilization; it demeans man. It demeans love; it demeans woman. It demeans the human race; it demeans the child. It demeans the nation; it demeans the family. It even demeans, it has managed to demean, what is perhaps the most difficult thing in the world to demean: it demeans death. Written in 1907, these words could have been written today.

From chapter 9: The West seems to hate itself and to be ready to commit suicide.

From chapter 15: The suicide of the West is tragic. Its rejections are leading all humanity to a dead end. It has no more strength, no more children, no more morality, no more hope.

ESPAÑOL: Este libro es muy interesante. Estoy de acuerdo con casi todo lo que dice.

Algunas citas de este libro, algunas de ellas de otros autores (citas de citas:-):

Del capítulo 1: El amor por los pecadores y por los que están en el error, exige que luchemos sin tregua contra sus pecados y sus errores. Hace unos días dije algo similar en un debate con un ateo que se quejaba de mi falta de respeto por su visión: Hay que respetar a las personas, no a su "visión". Las visiones o ideas deben defenderse con razonamientos, no exigen respeto.

De T. S. Eliot en "The Family Reunion": En un mundo de fugitivos, quien se mueve en sentido contrario parece que huye.

Del capítulo 4: Creo que Occidente está experimentando la soledad radical, deliberadamente deseada, de los condenados.

Del Cardenal Wojtyla: Nos enfrentamos a la confrontación final entre la Iglesia y la anti-Iglesia, entre el Evangelio y el anti-Evangelio, entre Cristo y el anticristo. Este enfrentamiento está en los planes de la Divina Providencia. Está, por tanto, en el Plan de Dios, y debe ser una prueba que la Iglesia debe asumir y afrontar con valentía.

De Charles Péguy en el capítulo 6: El mundo moderno es degradante. Degrada la civilización; degrada al hombre. Degrada el amor; degrada a la mujer. Degrada a la raza humana; degrada al niño. Degrada a la nación; degrada a la familia. Incluso degrada, ha logrado degradar, lo que quizás sea lo más difícil de degradar en el mundo: degrada a la muerte. Escritas en 1907, estas palabras podrían haber sido escritas hoy.

Del capítulo 9: Occidente parece odiarse a sí mismo y estar a punto de suicidarse.

Del capítulo 15: El suicidio de Occidente es trágico. Sus rechazos están llevando a toda la humanidad a un callejón sin salida. Ya no tiene fuerza, ni niños, ni moralidad, ni esperanza.

[R. Thomas Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

These days are very dark. The idolatry of Self is gaining poor victim-slaves; the Church is under assault, and many are abandoning her, sadly, not knowing what they are leaving behind. Card. Sarah has a very clear, precise and accurate view of this. Anyone who has received from God the gift of holy Faith, will deeply appreciate this book. The Cardinal points to our simple need: the Church must rediscover her vocation to holiness. Any who see this, who hear the vocation, are invited to a share in His Cross. And then, a share in His resurrection.

Amazon offers the useful option of buying the paperback and additionally getting the Kindle version for very little more. The digital version allows finding things - particular passages - that are very hard to otherwise find in the text. And there are many portions I continue to want to find again, to read again, and cite to others. The Cardinal has much wisdom to share.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is quite an impressive addition to the Cardinal Sarah interviews. I am most impressed by how he was able to take some of the more modern/liberal thinkers and distill the truths or observations they have made in order to work it into a more traditional and Catholic framework. Likewise, I am most impressed with how he was able even to take the words of Pope Francis and work them in the same direction, despite the tension between these prelates. I think it shows his charity. Aside from this, the interviewer asked the right questions and the answers I believe are loaded with insight and wisdom into the times we are living through in the Church and the wider society. The answers are more sincere than ideological and some have the power to disturb while others to give hope and courage. Highly recommended reading!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cardinal Robert Sarah is not only a brilliant theologian, he is a man who is very close to God. He sees what is going on in the world and in the Catholic Church and he can articulate what has happened, why and where we are going. This book is a must read for anyone who cherishes those who can help lead us to greater holiness and a greater understanding of the Lord.

This book is thought provoking and meant to be savored.

[Mariangel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book as much as "God or nothing".
Cardinal Sarah, sounding like a prophet, presents a clear and dismal picture of today's world, but his hope and charity shine through all the book too. My favorite chapter was the one about the priesthood, full of love for priests and a brilliant explanation of the priestly vocation. I also appreciate when he talks about Africa, its culture and relation with the West.

[Jon Beadle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Robert Sarah is a refreshing conversation partner. He speaks with an authority that few Christian conservatives seem to have anymore.

[Mir Bal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have my roots in the secular. The language of the church is not my mother tongue, it is a learned melody. The nuances, the references, the finer tones passes me by. When I try to sing her song myself, the tunes sounds false. Why initiate a review with such a confession? Because the sounds and noise of the secular world about Robert Cardinal Sarah has reached me long before the church. Frédéric Martel's otherwise clear-sighted journalism dismissed him as a misogynistic troglodyte, although one with principles and a strong moral compass. In summary, only auditory fragments about an ultra traditionalist hade reached me.

What I instead encounter in these pages is a deeply personal and humble rebellion against a contemporary world that has completely lost its way. The Cardinal's last book was called "The Power of Silence" and it is a title that very well this book could also carry. Because that the theme I can't let go of, the undercurrent that I've carried with me since I read it for the first time is a recurring phrase, "the tyranny of noise". Sarah depicts a time that sets us apart from God by immersing ourselves in noise. He also offers us a rock to hold on to, tradition. The tradition of the Catholic Church. Rarely have I been met by such a radiant faith in liturgy, whether it be the Lord's Supper or the Church's daily prayer. What Sarah, through a holy anger, manages to make clear, is that the liturgy of the Church is the only thing that can save us from succumbing for a time where the only escape from the tyranny of noise is an immense accumulation of commodities intended to distract us from our meadow despair.

The book is primarily aimed at priests, at least that is the impression one of the Cardinal's tone of voice, even though laymen from time to time are addressed directly. But that it is meant for the priests does not make the few handy tips given less useful for the laymen. Fasting from social media and technology that gradually eats up not only our everyday lives but also colonizes our souls. A liturgical prayer founded in theological alertness and firmness.

It is in the passion of the church and its liturgy that Sarah's light shines brightest. His criticism of our time is also striking in its description. It is a merciless confrontation with commercialism and, to some extent, liberal capitalism that meets us.

Although Sarah clearly places himself to the right in this book, it is not the lukewarm pro-capitalist conservatism of George Weigel's that meets us, instead it is traditionalism that sees communism as a natural reaction to a godless capitalism.

For those who are more than shallowly acquainted with political theory, it is almost comical how the poster boy of the traditionalist wing of the church criticism of the church itself is almost identical to Leon Trotsky's critique of the communism of his time. For Cardinal Sarah, it is the machinery of the church and its academics whom lack contact with the real church that has betrayed both the tradition and the second vatican council. For Trotsky, it was a class of bureaucrats and officials who betrayed the revolution and Marxism. For the betrayed revolution. For the betrayed church!

It's not just there the Cardinal sounds almost like a marxist. When he condemns our hypersexualized culture, how women and young girls' bodies are sexualized and controlled, treated as goods and offered to the lowest bidder at a bazaar, he not only reads like Kate Millett's infamous book sexual politics, it could have been taken verbatim from it. His critique of Europe's colonial and post-colonial treatment of Africa dose more than rime with Frantz Fanon's the wretched of the earth.

These parallels to the radical left are not meant as a criticism. The problem is rather that the Cardinal equates liberalism with the left, silicon valley with cultural Marxism. Phenomenon that stands farther apart than Cardinal Sarah does from James Martin.

The fact that radical Marxism and feminism are actually closer to traditionalism than any of the sides want to acknowledge is something that converts like Leszek Kolakowski and Alasdair MacIntyre have repeatedly shown. That a victim of a totalitarian communist dictator does not want to acknowledge this intellectual alliance with the far left is not strange, nor is it a burden to him. What he can, on the other hand, be blamed for, is the fact that an otherwise excellent book and thinker lacks intellectual charity towards his opponents. Of the four antagonists who are recurring in the book, only one is done justice, namely transhumanism witch is just as incurably stupid and diabolical as Sarah accuses it of being, if not more so.

Think what one wants about the UN human rights agenda or about "gender ideology" or "Islamism" but none of these phenomena are uniform, and all have intellectual roots that go far back in time, to reject them in any paragraph without dealing with them in good faith, with the challenges they pose, not only does the book but also the church, a disservice. But it is probably something more of a generation issue, that the Cardinal is an old man who cannot be expected to know everything about everything can hardly be held against him. the fact that the only serious criticism i have of the book can be put down in a single paragraph, is a trifle that does not detract from the book's greatness.

Sarah's warning cry about a time out of line that drowns us in the noise and into "an immense accumulation of commodities" is something that all people should struggle with. His passionate exhortation to prayer, silence and liturgy is not only necessary for our physical survival, but also for our spirituality. Especially when the day is now far spent.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cardinal Sarah provides a very thoughtful and deep critique of the current state of the culture of America and Western Europe. He argues that the West is committing cultural suicide through its abandonment of its Christian heritage.

Some passages that struck me:

On always wanting more material goods: "We start worrying like someone who always wants to have more and is sad that he does not own enough things. This observation applies both to individuals and to nations. Sadness and anxiety are the poisoned fruits of intemperance. I, in contrast, call for joyous self-limitation." (pg. 306)

On fortitude: "Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth, not the sugar of the earth! ... Christians must reclaim this fine virtue of fortitude that is wedded so well with meekness. They must know that they will always be a sign of contradiction for the world. The Lord did not ask us to have no enemies but to love them. ... Our fortitude is not a kind of stiffening, violence, or rigidity. It is the confident, joyous certainty that made Saint Paul exclaim: 'If God is for us, who is against us?' (Rom 89:31)" (pg. 307-308, emphasis mine)

On being open to life: "On this earth, martyrdom is no longer confined to Muslim countries. It takes a lot of fortitude to be the father or the mother of a family nowadays. It takes true magnanimity, that virtue which drives us to do great things, in order to embark on the adventure of a Christian family. I want to tell all Christian parents that they are the glory of the Church of the twenty-first century: your witness is sometimes a daily martyrdom. You must confront the contempt of the world when you choose to give life." (pg. 309)

On hope: "Hope is a constant combat. In this combat, the only weapons we wield are prayer, silence, the Word of God, and faith." (pg. 315)

[Ann Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying, this book will not be for everyone. Cardinal Sarah is decidedly conservative. But I really enjoyed the question/answer format of this book. I found the discussion of governments very interesting, especially from an African bishop. The elaboration on the virtues in the last third of the book was really beautiful. This man is truly holy. Recommend to my Catholic friends who wish to be inspired and refreshed in these troubling times!

[Justin Greenawalt · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this poignant yet hopeful conversation, Cardinal Sarah details the decline of the West and offers an unapologetic return to the simple tenets of the faith. In the midst of partisan games and misappropriation of labels, Sarah offers a template for true conservatism.

[Michael Cates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Book

Cardinal Sarah lays out the problems facing the west in an easy to read book. His insights are prophetic and profound. A must read.

[Sofia Castellanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Espectacular

Simplemente de lo mejor que he leido. Me regreso a mi primer amor, Robert Sarah me inspiro a continuar fortaleciendo MI fe

[Isabel Keats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Además de el libro, me encanta el título.

[Fr. Wirth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A crucial book for the crucial (end) times we live in.

Cardinal Sarah proclaims the Gospel Truth, nothing more, nothing less. His prophetic voice and courage are a beacon of light that hopefully bears fruit among us the faithful.

This book is not for the faint of heart, yet is a message desperately needed to be received by the Church Universal and all persons in the world.

We are not made for the world; we are made for Heaven, to be with God for all eternity in the fullness of glory among the Communion of Saints in the Halls of Heaven.

[Michal Anne Gillig · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in a series that started in 2013, this final conclusion is a prophetic testimony to the world. Cardinal Sarah and Nicolas Diat dive deep into the problems of the West and its gradual decline. The book opens powerfully with Cardinal Sarah addressing his previous book on silence and how he can no longer actually remain silent when it comes to the state of the West. This book is much less contemplative than the previous book but is filled with similar spiritual insights and commentaries.
The book is organized into four parts each dissecting different issues within the Western Church. Cardinal Sarah's analysis of the Crisis of Faith beginning with the Church and the Priesthood lay the foundation for the collapse of the Western Christianity. These beginning chapters are very convicting and shed light on the power of the Church as well as the dire need for reform from within. Cardinal Sarah does not shy away from addressing the Church scandals and the need for punishment and justice within the Church.
This book covers a multitude of topics ranging from gender identity, priest/vocations crisis, the issues of consumerism, capitalism, fluid atheism, relativism, and bounty of other issues that have all lead to the current state of the Church in the West. Hearing and just reading the table of contents of this book could leave a reader thinking they will be lead to despair, but Cardinal Sarah's unflinching faith and hope in the Lord keep the book in line with Christian virtue and bring hope to the reader.
His emphasis is always turning back to the Sacred and Divine found within the liturgy. His commentary always resolves in speaking the truth of the gospel, striving for virtue, and having a personal relationship with God through prayer and the sacraments. He makes a beautiful point that we must believe in the power of prayer and that it is the most efficacious way for the world to be changed.
He also does a lot of comparison of the West to Rome and the fall of Rome. The West has killed God in many ways and that will lead to its downfall. He however always like mentioned earlier goes back to the virtue of hope. “In methodically detaching itself from God, modern culture can no longer offer a unified vision of the universe. And nevertheless, the dark night of this world is still beautiful, because God exists” The beauty of understanding and trusting the Lord is still sovereign must remain at the forefront of our minds. We must remember that God is all knowing and all loving and has already one the battle in order to remain in hope. We must also remember that we are not made for an earthly kingdom but a for a heavenly kingdom.
This book is a beautiful call to action for Christians living in the West that we must be open to reform and speaking the truth of the gospel. This begins in many ways with a deeper reverence for the liturgy and a foundation of prayer. We have lost the ability to contemplate and be in our own thoughts. This is a theme through out his second book that is brought into this book as well. It is our jobs as Christians to live out our call to share the gospel and share the truth that is due to all human beings which is knowledge of Jesus Christ. Cardinal Sarah calls to mind the modern day martyrs in the Middle East that, “ They are models for us who do experience bloody persecution. They are also a reproach for all our compromises with the power of lying. They questions our middle-class Christianity, which proceeds from one compromise to the next so as to avoid any trouble. They tell us one blinding clarity: if Christianity makes its peace with the decadence of the West the reason is because Christians are not faithful to the essence of their Faith.”
This book overall is a refreshing and beautiful analysis of the crisis of the West. Cardinal Sarah's insights are truly prophetic and should not be taken lightly. He is truly a disciple of Christ and probably a future saint.

[Luke Stamps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monumental. Prophetic. Timely. Moving. Convicting. Challenging. Controversial. Demanding. The adjectives could continue to be piled up. In any event, take up and read this piercing critique of the Western church from the African Cardinal and disciple of the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. For much of the book I mistook the Scripture citation in the introduction. I was assuming Romans 13:12: "The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." This verse makes a lot of sense out of the tenor of the book inasmuch as it is a call to the Western church to awaken from its slumbers. But only near the end did I realize that the reference was actually to Luke 24:29: "but they urged him strongly, saying, 'Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.' So he went in to stay with them." So, in the end, the book turns from jeremiad to exhortation. In the twilight of the Western church, there is still hope to be found in the Risen Christ: "And while, in the distance, the sun seems to fade away behind the mountains, while the shadows lengthen on the road and the cold spreads in our bodies, our courage is revived and we beg him: Our hearts burn within us when you speak to us. Stay with us, Lord, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent."

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, excellent book!

Highly recommended.

[Susan]

Isn't it amazing how God uses us when we're open to Him? After having read the first portion of this book, one day I found myself in the toothpaste aisle of HEB, and, unsolicited, another shopper was advising me on the benefits of electric toothbrushes. I was in a huge hurry and annoyed. However I took the time to speak with her, and just how our conversation went from toothbrushes, to the Catholic faith, I honestly don't remember. But what I do know is she commented on how she hoped the Catholic church would come full circle and allow married priests. I gently smiled while desperately grabbing onto a few of Cardinal Sarah's observations that were swirling around in my brain. In the end, I must have conveyed them with a semblance of clarity and coherence, because this sweet woman responded with, "Well, I can see what you're saying. Yes, I understand that point." I've prayed for her ever since!

[Katie Marquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hope is a constant combat."

I was surprised when I learned what a polarizing figure Cardinal Sarah is. I wonder if his critics have truly taken the time to read his prophetic words. I find the Cardinal to be wonderfully even-handed, refusing to enter into politicized debates - he quite simply, with clarity and conviction, echoes the most fundamental truths of the Catholic faith.

I think even non-Catholics will find this book a powerful reminder that much of media-saturated, commercialized modern-life is hostile to true happiness. Much of this book is underlined; it was truly a delight to see so many of our contemporary problems diagnosed and addressed. While bleak at times, Cardinal Sarah remains optimistic in 'hope fulfilled.' I am fascinated and moved by this simple and quiet man - a voice crying in the wilderness of so much confusion.

[David Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an eloquent defense and exposition of Catholic practice and doctrine! Who would have thought a Catholic cardinal (of all people!) in our antinomian age could produce a defense of truth and doctrine that jumps off the page with the conviction and fire of St. Theresa of Avila. But then again, St. Theresa also wrote in a time of great upheaval, in the midst of the Lutheran revolt.

This is exactly the book that I personally needed to read at this moment. Cardinal Sarah pleads passionately to stay in the barque of St. Peter, and to read the signs of the times with the long view. I know myself by certain experience that, crazy as things seem in the church, outside the church is nothing but chaos and the abyss... Nietzsche was right about this: there is either God and the Church, or the abyss.

[Ei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking my time as I read this. Lots of underlining as my soul says "Yes!" "You got that right!" ... Hubs and my non-Catholic Christian father-in-law are waiting for me to finish so they can read this. God bless the meek and humble leaders amongst us. God bless the remnant who are only concerned with serving God.

[Steven Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cardinal Sarah is passionate, insightful, and a much-needed voice in the Church and the world today.

I came away with a profound respect for both the Cardinal and Benedict XVI, whom Sarah quotes often and extensively.

Excellent book.

[Sasha Wolf · Rating 2 out of 5]

I noped out of this pretty quickly because the style seems to be infused with an emotionalism that grates on me to the point of unreadability. Two stars rather than one because some of this reaction may be down to my autism.

[Mdaly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic, challenging, thoughtful, honest book about the problem of having faith in a faithless world. Erudite, profound and instructive. A must read for Christians waylaid by the cynicism and atheism of modern society.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes it is a must read! Cardinal Sarah challenges the reader. You must think while reading “The Day is now far spent” and it will also lead and inspire you to further readings.

[Jon Wisnieski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard hitting and prophetic. Spot on. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Cardinal Sarah is a great gift to the Church!