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In the Beginning…': A Catholic Understanding of the Story of Creation and the Fall (Ressourcement: Retrieval and Renewal in Catholic Thought
In four superb homilies and a concluding essay, Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, provides a clear and inspiring exploration of the Genesis creation narratives.While the stories of the world’s creation and the fall of humankind have often been subjected to reductionism of one sort or another — literalists treat the Bible as a science textbook whereas rationalists divorce God from creation — Ratzinger presents a rich, balanced Catholic understanding of these early biblical writings and attests to their enduring vitality.Beginning each homily with a text selected from the first three chapters of Genesis, Ratzinger discusses, in turn, God the creator, the meaning of the biblical creation accounts, the creation of human beings, and sin and salvation; in the appendix he unpacks the beneficial consequences of faith in creation.Expertly translated from German, these reflections set out a reasonable and biblical approach to creation. ‘In the Beginning . . .’ also serves as an excellent homiletic resource for priests and pastors.
113 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 1995
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About the author
Pope Benedict XVI
943 books950 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 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 31, 2023
Creation, Science, and our Modern World
This collection of homilies from the late Pope Benedict XVI tackle creation, free will, and sin with exegesis in a style that is clear and easy to understand. Fr Ratzinger provides us with a beautiful story of creation, one that takes into account both historical context and the advancements made in technology and science that shape our understanding of the modern world. This collection of homilies not only serves as a great resource for Catholics who may be interested in learning more about creation, but also for anyone who is interested in seeing how a modern understanding of the creation story does not have to conflict with modern understanding of science.
This collection of homilies from the late Pope Benedict XVI tackle creation, free will, and sin with exegesis in a style that is clear and easy to understand. Fr Ratzinger provides us with a beautiful story of creation, one that takes into account both historical context and the advancements made in technology and science that shape our understanding of the modern world. This collection of homilies not only serves as a great resource for Catholics who may be interested in learning more about creation, but also for anyone who is interested in seeing how a modern understanding of the creation story does not have to conflict with modern understanding of science.
May 19, 2024
“Humans are dependent. They cannot live except from others and by trust. But there is nothing degrading about dependence when it takes the form of love, for then it is no longer dependence, the diminishing of self through competition with others. Dependence in the form of love precisely constitutes the self as self and sets it free, because love essen-tally takes the form of saying, "I want you to be." It is creativity, the only creative power, which can bring forth the other as other without envy or loss of self. Humans are dependent — that is the primary truth about them.”
January 1, 2026
I loved Pope Benedict. He had so much wisdom, and I never really appreciated that fact until he was gone.
This book is composed of several homilies he gave on Creation from the book of Genesis. I had thought that I would include some of his insights in my review, but it turns out that I'd highlighted the great bulk of it :) He had so many points that I didn't want to forget.
This won't be the last book of his that I'll be reading and I just recently bought three more of his titles for my kindle.
This book is composed of several homilies he gave on Creation from the book of Genesis. I had thought that I would include some of his insights in my review, but it turns out that I'd highlighted the great bulk of it :) He had so many points that I didn't want to forget.
This won't be the last book of his that I'll be reading and I just recently bought three more of his titles for my kindle.
January 13, 2023
I found this book as I was browsing my Pope Benedict library. I wanted to read him focused on a specific topic, and I wasn’t disappointed. Also, it was a fairly short read; deep, but comprehendible.
He really focuses on order, the 7 days of creation, the context of its writing, sin, and the communal aspects of sin.
He really focuses on order, the 7 days of creation, the context of its writing, sin, and the communal aspects of sin.
September 30, 2023
Interesting thoughts, but the appendix seems like a rant against Marx more than a fitting appendix to the rest of the work
August 30, 2024
Thought Provoking
Excellent book by His Holiness. I would recommend this book to the reader looking for some insight to The Story of Creation
Excellent book by His Holiness. I would recommend this book to the reader looking for some insight to The Story of Creation
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews