Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives

by Pope Benedict XVI

Hardcover, 2012

Barcode

6571

Call number

232.901 BEN

Status

Available

Call number

232.901 BEN

Pages

132

Description

The New York Times bestselling final volume in the Pope's Jesus of Nazareth series, detailing how the stories of Jesus' infancy and childhood are as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.   In 2007, Joseph Ratzinger published his first book as Pope Benedict XVI in order "to make known the figure and message of Jesus." Now, the Pope focuses exclusively on the Gospel accounts of Jesus' life as a child. The root of these stories is the experience of hope found in the birth of Jesus and the affirmations of surrender and service embodied in his parents, Joseph and Mary. This is a story of longing and seeking, as demonstrated by the Magi searching for the redemption offered by the birth of a new king. It is a story of sacrifice and trusting completely in the wisdom of God as seen in the faith of Simeon, the just and devout man of Jerusalem, when he is in the presence of the Christ child. Ultimately, Jesus' life and message is a story for today, one that speaks to the restlessness of the human heart searching for the sole truth which alone leads to profound joy.… (more)

Publication

Image (2012) 132 pages

Original publication date

2012-11-21

ISBN

0385346409 / 9780385346405

Collection

Rating

(63 ratings; 4.1)

User reviews

LibraryThing member jcbrunner
When I read this booklet over Christmas 2012, I thought multiple times that the author was willing to drop the towel. Presenting the numerous inconsistencies in the accounts about Jesus' birth and youth, Benedict XVI at multiple times has to opt for a Deus ex machina. While the inconsistencies
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point towards other interpretations, Benedict has only the weak claim of dogma. It is so because it says so (or has been interpreted so). At the core, theology is not scientific and also only vaguely related to the humanities. A system of belief is at its heart incomprehensible with reason. This realization might have broken Inspecteur Javert's heart and mind. He might no longer have been willing to live with the inconsistency.
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Media reviews

Wall Street Journal
Even to those who think themselves familiar with these texts [the Gospels of Matthew and Luke], every page of Jesus of Nazareth will present some pearl of great value, something that should have been obvious but that has been passed over in haste or inattention.
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There you have it: According to Benedict XVI, humility and joy are core tests for Christian authenticity. Let the conversation begin about whether those two qualities are actually characteristic of Catholic life in the early 21st century.

Language

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