Book Reviews – February 2020

Habits for a Healthy Marriage: A Handbook for Catholic Couples By Richard P. Fitzgibbons. Reviewed by Christopher Siuzdak. (skip to review) Debating Religious Liberty and Discrimination By John Corvino, Ryan Anderson, and Sherif … [Read more...]

Pope Benedict XVI: Theologian of the Bible

The Pastores Dabo Vobis Award in Honor of Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J. (learn more)

The twentieth century was a tumultuous time in the Catholic Church for all concerned with the interpretation of the Bible. For the past few decades, this topic has been a principal concern of one prominent theologian. His interest in the … [Read more...]

Scripture breathes the Holy Spirit

Editorial, June/July 2011

Recently I read a little book on the mystery of God’s word by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M.Cap. (Jesus Began to Preach, Liturgical Press, 2010). The author is the well-known theologian and preacher to the papal household.  He has held th … [Read more...]

Praying with the Bible

Editorial, July 2009

At the Roman Synod on the Bible in October 2008, which I covered for HPR, the most common topic mentioned was the need to recommend “Lectio Divina” as a pious practice among the faithful. You have probably seen the phrase mentioned in rece … [Read more...]

The Meaning of Christian Joy

JOY: THE SPIRIT’S GIGANTIC SECRET BEHIND THE CHURCH’S SURVIVAL By Father John T. Catoir (Alba House, Society of St. Paul, 2187 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, N.Y.10314, 2006; 1-800-343-2522), 190 pp. PB. $14.95.

This is a simple but substantive book on the full meaning and rich sources of Christian joy, “the gigantic secret” that G. K. Chesterton discovered as the essence of Christianity. It recovers an aspect of the Church’s teaching that church fa … [Read more...]

Pastoral Interpretation in Pope Benedict’s Jesus of Nazareth

As a pastoral rather than an academic work, Jesus of Nazareth preaches a Gospel that is centered in the person of Christ.

Much has been said both in praise and in criticism of Benedict XVI’s Jesus of Nazareth. Fergus Kerr, a theologian writing in the The Tablet, calls it Joseph Ratzinger’s best book. Peter Steinfels, a journalist writing in Commonweal, finds it … [Read more...]

A Priest Forever

MEDITATIONS ON THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD. By Charles P. Connor (St. Pauls/Alba House, 2187 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, N.Y. 10314, 2005), xvi + 141 pp. PB $14.95.

Since the close of Vatican II in 1965 there have been some strange and disturbing things written about the Catholic priesthood. Many articles and books on the subject have wandered far from Catholic teaching and the tradition of the … [Read more...]

Time Tested Truths

THE ROYAL ROAD TO JOY: THE BEATITUDES AND THE EUCHARIST. By David Bird, O.S.B. (Hilldebrand Books, University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary, 1000 East Maple, Mundelein, IL 60060, 249 pp. PB. $24.00.

A series of informed reflections, Father Bird’s insightful meditations on the seven beatitudes examine these teachings from the Sermon on the Mount not as abstract principles or theoretical ideas but as practical wisdom and time-tested t … [Read more...]