Favorite Ratzinger Book

[zunshynn]

I'm mostly thinking books he wrote before he became pope (I realize Jesus of Nazareth came out afterward, but included it because he had started it before his election)... Besides your favorite one, what order would you put them in, and why?

Edited April 13, 2010 by zunshynn

[Laudate_Dominum]

I refuse to speculate.

[tinytherese]

I recently got his "What it means to be a Christian." It's a small book consisting of a few homilies of his regarding the subject.

I don't know about the other books mentioned, but I do plan on reading at least some of them. Are any of them just too above someone without a theology degree? There's also one that I want to get to where he discusses how the world was created.

Edited April 13, 2010 by tinytherese

[zunshynn]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' date='12 April 2010 - 06:25 PM' timestamp='1271118343' post='2092051']
I refuse to speculate.
[/quote]

this makes me very sad.

[zunshynn]

[quote name='tinytherese' date='12 April 2010 - 06:29 PM' timestamp='1271118578' post='2092057']
I don't know about the other books mentioned, but I do plan on reading at least some of them. Are any of them just too above someone without a theology degree? There's also one that I want to get to where he discusses how the world was created.
[/quote]

I think the ones I listed are probably readable for anyone, although some may take some more time.

I have always been surprised, for example, that I could understand Introduction to Christianity (although actually, I haven't ever finished it!) It is weighty subject matter, but he is very good at making it understandable for the average person, I think, without watering it down.

I loved God is Near Us, personally... It's a very beautiful little book.

Jesus of Nazareth is awesome too... and I also liked Salt of the Earth but I wouldn't say it's a favorite.

I tried to read Behold the Pierced One and couldn't really get into it... and I haven't read the others listed, although I have God and the World and Spirit of the Liturgy on my wishlist...

[Apotheoun]

I refuse to speculate.

[zunshynn]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='12 April 2010 - 06:42 PM' timestamp='1271119372' post='2092071']
I refuse to speculate.
[/quote]

[zunshynn]

What about with the modified title?

[laetitia crucis]

I really liked [i]Spirit of the Liturgy[/i], but I have been told that I am somewhat of a "liturgy nazi" amongst my friends.

And even though I remember you had said that you don't often read biographies, I would also highly recommend his memoirs, [i]Milestones[/i].

[zunshynn]

[quote name='laetitia crucis' date='12 April 2010 - 07:04 PM' timestamp='1271120658' post='2092102']
I really liked [i]Spirit of the Liturgy[/i], but I have been told that I am somewhat of a "liturgy nazi" amongst my friends. [/quote]

Me too! (Maybe it's because we've both been sacristans before?)

Actually, it's a little surprising that I've never been all that motivated to read Spirit of the Liturgy precisely because I am... well... we'll just say passionate about the subject. Maybe because I have already read so many quotations from it from various articles and things like that that I already feel somewhat familiar with it.

[quote]And even though I remember you had said that you don't often read biographies, I would also highly recommend his memoirs, [i]Milestones[/i].
[/quote]

I will have to consider that, since you have such good taste in biographies!

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='zunshynn' date='12 April 2010 - 10:12 PM' timestamp='1271121171' post='2092115']
Me too! (Maybe it's because we've both been sacristans before?)[/quote]

And community liturgist!

[quote name='zunshynn'] Actually, it's a little surprising that I've never been all that motivated to read Spirit of the Liturgy precisely because I am... well... we'll just say passionate about the subject. Maybe because I have already read so many quotations from it from various articles and things like that that I already feel somewhat familiar with it.[/quote]

I think once one becomes somewhat entrenched in the "liturgy world" so to say, then I think it does become less appealing to read books on the subject, especially if you've already read so many things about those very books. (I hope that made sense. )

[quote name='zunshynn']I will have to consider that, since you have such good taste in biographies!
[/quote]

If you do end up reading it, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I found it particularly helpful in understanding his friendship and work with Karl Rahner which was something I was curious about, though I thoroughly enjoyed learning about his childhood and young life and early priesthood much more. Such a nice way to "get to know" someone that you greatly admire when more than likely, you know you'll never have the chance to chat over tea and find these things out in person.

[aalpha1989]

Spirit of the Liturgy was the first one of his I read and I was really tempted to vote for it. Jesus of Nazareth won out, though. It's more useful for meditation.

[Nihil Obstat]

I've only read Spirit of the Liturgy and Jesus of Nazareth, but I preferred the former. Obviously they were both great, but Spirit of the Liturgy just seemed brilliant.

[Formosus]

I personally liked [i]Called to Communion[/i] a lot.

[truthfinder]

I know it's not quite his book, but I like the [i]Ratzinger Report[/i]. Call me lame, but, yeah, I liked it.