The Joy of the Gospel

by Pope Francis

Hardcover, 2014

Status

Available

Description

Christian Nonfiction. Religion & Spirituality. Nonfiction. HTML: The perfect gift! A specially priced, beautifully designed hardcover edition of The Joy of the Gospel with a foreword by Robert Barron and an afterword by James Martin, SJ.  â??The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesusâ?¦ In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Churchâ??s journey in years to come.â?ť â?? Pope Francis  This special edition of Pope Francis's popular message of hope explores themes that are important for believers in the 21st century. Examining the many obstacles to faith and what can be done to overcome those hurdles, he emphasizes the importance of service to God and all his creation. Advocating for â??the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned,â?ť the Holy Father shows us how to respond to poverty and current economic challenges that affect us locally and globally. Ultimately, Pope Francis demonstrates how to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ, â??to recognize the traces of Godâ??s Spirit in events great and small.â?ť   Profound in its insight, yet warm and accessible in its tone, The Joy of the Gospel is a call to action to live a life motivated by divine love and, in turn, to experience heaven on earth. Includes a foreword by Robert Barron, author of Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith and James Martin, SJ, author of… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member deusvitae
An overall excellent exhortation toward evangelism and concern for the dispossessed and oppressed in the world.

As a non-Catholic I still found much to appreciate in the Pope's exhortation. His emphasis on evangelism and what it requires was overall excellent. His principles for preaching were also
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quite appropriate. His concerns regarding capitalism and modern day oppression were relevant and appropriately stated. For most of the work, had it not been for the footnotes to all sorts of previous Catholic literature, one could have otherwise not known that it was the Pope who wrote the material.

But there were distinctly Catholic moments. I found the Mariology at the end of the exhortation to be a bit overdone and unnecessary.

Nevertheless, an exhortation worth considering.
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LibraryThing member SheilaDeeth
If Christianity is grounded in “good news,” there should surely be something both joyful and urgent about its message. Instead, all too often leaders of faith seem to turn into political debaters, or puritanical obstructionists. Pope John Paul the 23rd said, “We are not here to guard a
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museum, but to cultivate a flourishing garden of life.” In this small book, Pope Francis introduces readers into the garden, letting life reveal its colors through wise teaching.

I read this book just after celebrating Christmas. When Pope Francis reminds us how consumerism leads to a world with no room for the poor, I’m reminded anew of “no room at the inn.” But this story starts much earlier than the New Testament, and there are ample Old Testament reminders of the joy to come in messianic times.

The book is formatted into chapters with sections and numbered subsections, ending with a well-laid out index covering such topics as social dialogue; the inclusion of the poor; Mary, Mother of Evangelization (since she carried the Word, it seems a logical calling); and the heart of the Gospel. It’s easy to read one piece at once, then ponder. But equally a reader might skim and dive deep, caught by a sudden bright metaphor, singular explanation, or call to action. The Pope deals “extensively” with his topics, “with a detail some may find excessive,” he confesses. But a lay reader, seeking new joy in faith and evangelization, will find in these words a path to “rejoice in the Lord always.” A preacher (whether Catholic or not) will find wise advice on speaking and preparation. A woman will find a generous reminder that the priest’s sacramental power in no way makes him holier than thou. And a pilgrim will find wise advice on ecumenism.

Yes, there are some complicated words, and some ponderous references, but none of it’s onerous. People, politicians, priests, parishes, bishops, and all, will be called to attention here while practical suggestions and measures are offered, from the needs of the poor to the worship of modern-day idols. This isn’t a book of rules and regulations. It doesn’t hammer home Catholic doctrine to the exclusion of human need. And it’s more than just a collection of wise paragraphs. For Catholics, Protestants, Christians, agnostics, priests, lay people, and more; for anyone remotely interested in what the church is meant to be saying, rather than just what they think they’ve heard it say, this book must surely be essential, and truly joyful, reading.

Disclosure: Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member sullijo
Published in the wake of the Synod on the New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith, Evangelii Gaudium calls the faithful to be “missionary disciples” who will proclaim the Gospel across the world, in all places and situations.

The Holy Father isn’t unaware of the
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challenges to the New Evangelization. He lays out the obstacles — both external and internal — and then encourages Christians to work beyond them through inspiring kerygmatic preaching, living in solidarity with the poor, and renewing our own walk with Jesus.

Pope Francis has good advice for parish leaders, urging them (in his memorable phrase) to “smell of the sheep.”

In Evangelii Gaudium Pope Francis offers his “marching orders” to the Church in the 21st century. May it inspire all Catholic leaders to proclaim the Gospel boldly and with joy at all times.
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LibraryThing member Doondeck
Incredibly refreshing after so many years of JP2 and B16.
LibraryThing member rmagahiz
This letter falls into the category of "Apostolic Exhortation" and is directed primarily to Catholics, so I'll review it here in that light, not as though it were intended for a general audience. It seemed remarkable to me as compared to other pastoral letters from the Holy See such as the ones
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written by Pope John Paul II or Pope Paul VI which always seemed to come down much harder on the orthodox expression of the faith and less on the position of the faithful in the modern world. The times when the personality of the Holy Father came through were especially striking. There are those on the left who say that even given some of the refreshing aspects of this papacy, not enough will change when it comes to doctrine and canon law. I think though that given the extreme inertia of the institution, these glimmers of new ways of thinking may well have what amounts to a rapid change of course to the more progressive side. I don't know whether Evangelii Gaudium will be considered as a historically significant document in years to come, but if it plays a role in stemming the tide attempting to wash away the reforms of Vatican II it will be more beneficial than many of the church documents of the past several decades.
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ISBN

1937509869 / 9781937509866

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