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Pedro Arrupe: Witness of the Twentieth Century, Prophet of the Twentieth-First
Pedro Arrupe fue uno de los más carismáticos y señeros protagonistas de la historia contemporánea de la Iglesia católica. Maestro de novicios en Hiroshima durante los terribles días del primer bombardeo atómico, su profunda humanidad y espíritu de servicio harían de él uno de los más destacados Prepósitos Generales de la Compañía de Jesús desde su fundación en el siglo XVI. Hombre de acción y viajero constante a favor de los más necesitados, en este libro se narra con amenidad y rigurosa precisión documental su apasionante experiencia vital y sus no siempre fáciles relaciones con el Vaticano. Para ello el autor recorrió el Extremo Oriente, Italia y el País Vasco tras los testimonio de todos aquellos que conocieron a Pedro Arrupe y que, de una u otra manera, recibieron la beneficiosa influencia de este admirable jesuita.Es ésta, en definitiva, una visión periodística de las peripecias de un hombre que supo ser fiel a sus ideales en un mundo dominado por el egoísmo y la lucha por el poder.
- GenresBiography
509 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
43 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Pedro Miguel Lamet
57 books16 followersPedro Miguel Lamet es un sacerdote religioso jesuita, periodista y escritor español. Ha publicado cerca de 40 libros, tanto de poesía como biografías y novelas, especialmente de temática histórica y religiosa.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 15, 2023
Pedro Arrupe fue uno de los más carismáticos protagonistas de la historia contemporánea de la Iglesia católica. Maestro de novicios en Hiroshima durante los terribles días del primer bombardeo atómico, su profunda humanidad y espíritu de servicio harían de él uno de los más destacados Prepósitos Generales de la Compañía de Jesús desde su fundación en el siglo XVI. Hombre de acción y viajero constante a favor de los más necesitados, en este libro se narra su apasionante experiencia vital y sus no siempre fáciles relaciones con el Vaticano, especialmente con Juan Pablo II que, diera la impresión, no comprendía bien la Compañia.
Es ésta, en definitiva, una visión periodística de las peripecias de un hombre que supo ser fiel a sus ideales en un mundo dominado por el egoísmo y la lucha por el poder.
Al final me quedo con unas de las (muchas) palabras que el autor pone en boca de don Pedro:
«Nada es más práctico que encontrar a Dios; que amarlo de un modo absoluto, y hasta el final. Aquello de lo que estés enamorado, y arrebate tu imaginación, lo afectará todo. Determinará lo que te haga levantar por la mañana y lo que hagas con tus atardeceres; cómo pases los fines de semana, lo que leas y a quien conozcas; lo que te rompa el corazón y lo que te llene de asombro con alegría y agradecimiento. Enamórate, permanece enamorado, y eso lo decidirá todo»/ AE
Es ésta, en definitiva, una visión periodística de las peripecias de un hombre que supo ser fiel a sus ideales en un mundo dominado por el egoísmo y la lucha por el poder.
Al final me quedo con unas de las (muchas) palabras que el autor pone en boca de don Pedro:
«Nada es más práctico que encontrar a Dios; que amarlo de un modo absoluto, y hasta el final. Aquello de lo que estés enamorado, y arrebate tu imaginación, lo afectará todo. Determinará lo que te haga levantar por la mañana y lo que hagas con tus atardeceres; cómo pases los fines de semana, lo que leas y a quien conozcas; lo que te rompa el corazón y lo que te llene de asombro con alegría y agradecimiento. Enamórate, permanece enamorado, y eso lo decidirá todo»/ AE
December 15, 2022
3.5
I had some vague ideas about Pedro Arrupe: I knew his (possibly apocryphal) quote about "being in love" ("What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. ...") I knew he had been the Superior General of the Jesuits, in favor of social justice, and in some sort of controversy involving (Saint) Pope John Paul II. So I was grateful for an opportunity to get to know more about him.
This book is a detailed presentation of Arrupe's life: his childhood in Bilbao, Spain; his years as a medical student (during one of which he beat a future Nobel prize winner for the top honors), which ended when he entered the Jesuits; his Jesuit formation; his apostolates, first briefly with prisoners in Spain, and then for many years in Japan, where he served successively as parish priest, director of the Jesuit novices and superior of the Japan province; his years as Superior General of the Jesuits. There are multiple quotes from Arrupe's writings, interviews with the press, presentations to various groups, and in interviews with the author, as well as quotes from many, largely Jesuits, who knew him and provide first-hand accounts of various events. The description of his final years, after he suffered a very debilitating stroke, is also detailed and heartbreaking.
I truly feel that I have a good grasp both of Arrupe the man (incredibly ascetic, faith-filled, zealous, warm, and disciplined) and of his work. The section on his work treating victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima - setting up a makeshift clinic in the partly-destroyed Jesuit novitiate outside the city and calling on his medical training to administer wound care - for months, in some cases - with the most primitive of supplies - is astounding and worth reading. After finishing the book, my admiration for Arrupe has increased considerably and I look upon him as a saintly man.
Why not five stars?
First, the book, though well-researched and learned, is clearly an act of hero-worship by the author, who always casts Arrupe in the best possible light and is constantly fulsome in his praise. This put me a bit on guard - could the author's account of times of controversy be trusted? And it seems unnecessary, because even the baldest telling of Arrupe's life would present a heroic, admirable picture.
Second, it is just too long. The account of the final ten years of Arrupe's life, just to give one example, is presented in painful detail. Here the author's lack of distance is shown in his inclusion, day by day, of two weeks he spent with Arrupe after his stroke, interviewing him for the book. Did Arrupe smile on a given day? What kind of memento did he give the author, as a present for his aunt? What was the weather like? We really don't need to know.
Third - and this is not a flaw in the book, just in my reading experience - the author, like Arrupe, is a Spaniard, and the book assumes the reader's familiarity with a number of Spanish ecclesiastics and political figures. (Its Eurocentric perspective made it an interesting experience for this very American reader.)
There are a few typo/translation errors, but none that detract significantly from the ability to glean the author's intent.
I had some vague ideas about Pedro Arrupe: I knew his (possibly apocryphal) quote about "being in love" ("What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. ...") I knew he had been the Superior General of the Jesuits, in favor of social justice, and in some sort of controversy involving (Saint) Pope John Paul II. So I was grateful for an opportunity to get to know more about him.
This book is a detailed presentation of Arrupe's life: his childhood in Bilbao, Spain; his years as a medical student (during one of which he beat a future Nobel prize winner for the top honors), which ended when he entered the Jesuits; his Jesuit formation; his apostolates, first briefly with prisoners in Spain, and then for many years in Japan, where he served successively as parish priest, director of the Jesuit novices and superior of the Japan province; his years as Superior General of the Jesuits. There are multiple quotes from Arrupe's writings, interviews with the press, presentations to various groups, and in interviews with the author, as well as quotes from many, largely Jesuits, who knew him and provide first-hand accounts of various events. The description of his final years, after he suffered a very debilitating stroke, is also detailed and heartbreaking.
I truly feel that I have a good grasp both of Arrupe the man (incredibly ascetic, faith-filled, zealous, warm, and disciplined) and of his work. The section on his work treating victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima - setting up a makeshift clinic in the partly-destroyed Jesuit novitiate outside the city and calling on his medical training to administer wound care - for months, in some cases - with the most primitive of supplies - is astounding and worth reading. After finishing the book, my admiration for Arrupe has increased considerably and I look upon him as a saintly man.
Why not five stars?
First, the book, though well-researched and learned, is clearly an act of hero-worship by the author, who always casts Arrupe in the best possible light and is constantly fulsome in his praise. This put me a bit on guard - could the author's account of times of controversy be trusted? And it seems unnecessary, because even the baldest telling of Arrupe's life would present a heroic, admirable picture.
Second, it is just too long. The account of the final ten years of Arrupe's life, just to give one example, is presented in painful detail. Here the author's lack of distance is shown in his inclusion, day by day, of two weeks he spent with Arrupe after his stroke, interviewing him for the book. Did Arrupe smile on a given day? What kind of memento did he give the author, as a present for his aunt? What was the weather like? We really don't need to know.
Third - and this is not a flaw in the book, just in my reading experience - the author, like Arrupe, is a Spaniard, and the book assumes the reader's familiarity with a number of Spanish ecclesiastics and political figures. (Its Eurocentric perspective made it an interesting experience for this very American reader.)
There are a few typo/translation errors, but none that detract significantly from the ability to glean the author's intent.
December 23, 2024
El mejor
June 23, 2018
Demorei algum tempo a ler, o que nem é mau porque me acompanhou ao longo do ano e me foi ensinando pequenas coisas e ajudou a manter um espirito positivo como Pedro Arrupe e muita confiança em Deus. Para chegar a um final desejado, às vezes temos percorrer cominhos que não esperávamos ou não queríamos é que nos parecem afaste desse fim, mas que, normalmente, acabam por nos preparar melhor para ele. Esse fim até se pode alterar ao longo do caminho e, nesse caso, bendito caminho, benditos desvios que nos fizeram conhecer melhor a nós próprios, ao mundo e a como melhor podemos nele deixar a nossa marca.
“Resigno-me a que quando morrer, o mundo continue como se eu não tivesse existido.”-Pedro Arrupe
“Resigno-me a que quando morrer, o mundo continue como se eu não tivesse existido.”-Pedro Arrupe
March 14, 2023
A Saint for the 20th & 21st Centuries
I wish I had been more aware of his presence in the Church. What a Holy and Committed human being not turning his back on any crisis even the atomic bomb in his own backyard in Japan. How could he witness such horrors and serve people in such desperate conditions. His love for the Eucharist is overwhelming and humbling at the same time. So much to reflect on that I had to stop many times just to wonder how he accomplish so much.
I wish I had been more aware of his presence in the Church. What a Holy and Committed human being not turning his back on any crisis even the atomic bomb in his own backyard in Japan. How could he witness such horrors and serve people in such desperate conditions. His love for the Eucharist is overwhelming and humbling at the same time. So much to reflect on that I had to stop many times just to wonder how he accomplish so much.
November 30, 2022
Gostei muito de saber da vida deste grande homem.
A primeira parte do livro , o início e o missionário foram as minhas favoritas .
Na segunda parte , quando tomou posse com dirigente da ordem da companhia de Jesus já achei mais denso e demorei muito a ler essa parte .
E um livro para reflectir e reler ..
A primeira parte do livro , o início e o missionário foram as minhas favoritas .
Na segunda parte , quando tomou posse com dirigente da ordem da companhia de Jesus já achei mais denso e demorei muito a ler essa parte .
E um livro para reflectir e reler ..
March 1, 2020
Impresionante. Hermoso. Inspirador. La vida de un gran santo. No digo más, para que lo leas.
Léelo y saca tus propias conclusiones. Quedarás sorpendido y conmovido. Un libro para ser mejores cristianos y mejores personas. Léelo.
Léelo y saca tus propias conclusiones. Quedarás sorpendido y conmovido. Un libro para ser mejores cristianos y mejores personas. Léelo.
February 22, 2021
Un gran libro
Es un gran libro para cualquier persona de nuestro tiempo porque ofrece un camino de felicidad, haciéndonos ver que la vida es un regalo, incluyendo sus noches oscuras.
Es un gran libro para cualquier persona de nuestro tiempo porque ofrece un camino de felicidad, haciéndonos ver que la vida es un regalo, incluyendo sus noches oscuras.
to-keep-reference
February 3, 2022Citado en Jesús, el buen Pastor de la historia humana pág.468
September 8, 2023
Wonderful
It was a terrific presentation of Arrupe,s life and thought. A great presentation of what makes a modern day saint. A holy and forward looking servant of God I enjoyed it immensely!!
It was a terrific presentation of Arrupe,s life and thought. A great presentation of what makes a modern day saint. A holy and forward looking servant of God I enjoyed it immensely!!
December 24, 2024
Uma vida marcante que é bom conhecer!
Uma vida ao serviço dos outros e que é inspiradora.
Uma vida ao serviço dos outros e que é inspiradora.
April 8, 2012
É impressionante a vida deste homem. Tocante e inspirador!
March 22, 2020
Ya lo leí, es un libro increíble, lleno de historias personales del P. Arrupe que quiero volver a leerlo
February 1, 2021
Simplemente el libro te atrapa... Arrupe es un hombre del que aprendes muchas cosas espirituales, humanas y prácticas.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews