Product Description

The volume consists of two fundamental texts by Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, on the ecclesial movements and new communities within the Church since the Second Vatican Council. These writings are particularly meaningful with regard to the intense spiritual journey which the ecclesial movements and the new communities are experiencing in view of their meeting with Pope Benedict XVI on Pentecost 2006.

These writings are a precious guide for the entire Church, leaders and laity alike, who are invited to welcome the new "outpourings of the Spirit". The first part of the book presents in an articulate and exhaustive way the theological vision of the Pope on these ecclesial movements and the new communities. It is his talk titled Church Movements and their Place in Theology which he gave at the beginning of the World Congress of the Ecclesial Movements in Rome in Ma, 1998. It combines extraordinary theological depth with a warm pastoral tone.

The second part of the book is very different from the first, but complements the first part. It contains the dialogue of Cardinal Ratzinger with a large group of Bishops from all continents, convened together for a seminar on the topic, The Ecclesial Movements in the Pastoral Concern of the Bishops held in Rome in 1999.This dialogue format was very favorably received by the Bishops, and it is quite wide-ranging, touching on topics such as the relation between the old and the new charisms, the institutional dimension and the charismatic dimension of the Church, and the Church's mission in a non-Christian society and more.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #594098 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 140 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781586171810
• Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
• Notes:
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Customer Reviews

Excellent Insight into Charismatic Dimension of the Church
Cardinal Ratzinger (of course, now Pope Benedict XVI) gives us an insightful view of the charismatic dimension of the Church. What I found most striking was his faith in the ongoing activity of the Holy Spirit and in how the Holy Spirit constantly surprises us and has surprises up his sleeve, so to speak (cf. p.54). Ratzinger thus warns against excessive bureaucratic planning in the Church that can quench the activity of the Holy Spirit (cf. pp. 20, 59, 73). As a conservative charismatic Catholic, I am also happy to see the future pope, in 1999, speaking quite warmly and favorably about the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (p. 68). Some other Catholic conservatives who consider themselves strong Ratzinger fans do not share the future pope's positive and irenic view of the charismatic renewal. They should take note in order to appreciate the whole of Ratzinger's thinking, without picking and choosing cafeteria style. It is also quite interesting to see how Ratzinger links the ecclesial movements and their emphasis on the universal Church with the primacy of the Pope. For Ratzinger, the movements aided and guided by the Pope constantly call the Church to be faithful to her universal apostolic and evangelistic mission in the world (cf. pp. 52-53).