Catholic Book Club

This is the fourth of five volumes—an undertaking of massive proportions and impeccable scholarship. The first volume in the series, The Roots of the Problem and the Person, set Jesus within his times and cultural context, reconstructed what can be surmised about his “hidden life” and concluded with Jesus approaching adulthood. The second volume, Mentor, Message and Miracle, focused on John the Baptist, the meaning of Jesus’ message of the coming kingdom of God, and God’s kingly power already manifest in Jesus’ exorcisms, healings and miracles. The third volume, Companions and Competitors, explored the relations of Jesus with those around him and provides inspiration for those involved in the ministry of the word.   

The Rev. John P. Meier—who is William K. Warren Chair Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, and past president of the Catholic Biblical Association—continues his quest for the historical Jesus in this new volume, which deals with the Mosaic Law, parables, Jesus’ self-designation and his crucifixion. Written with the same rigor, attention to detail, thoroughness and grounded argumentation, Law and Love is written for a broad readership. Meier speaks of the enigma in Jesus’ teaching as follows:

Throughout history Mary has inspired, perplexed and fascinated people the world over—of every culture and tradition. In this magisterial work, medieval historian Miri Rubin traces Mary’s rise to global prominence from the time of the early Christian empire to the 16th century. Rubin, who has spent years working on the book, sees the figure of Mary as “one of contradiction, a creative state that challenged poets and theologians and composers who tried to express this quality.”

This is a well-researched thorough and eminently readable account of the history of an institution that has survived for nearly two thousand years worthy to stand along with Eamon Duffy rsquo s critically acclaimed history of the papacy Saints and Sinners Roger Collins a distinguished religion s

The author of 18 previous books—notably the “Joshua” series—Rev. Joseph E. Girzone is a highly regarded spiritual writer and guide. We’ve chosen his brand new book as February’s pick because it is ideally suited for Lenten reading. It consists of 44 chapter-meditations on a particular Scriptural passage, including many familiar parables, following the life (and ministry) of Jesus chronologically.

Girzone is a graceful writer whose words seem to flow effortlessly from his pen. That is likely due to his having spent many years speaking about, contemplating and writing about a Jesus to whom people easily gravitate, a “partner” who is with us throughout all life’s events. His book brings the teachings of Jesus into our world today: the boardroom, the classroom, the courtroom and so on. It covers a wide range of themes: compassion, forgiveness, humility, love, authority, success and failure, and pride, among them. And the chapter titles are enticing. Here is a sampling: “A Young Jesus Comes of Age”; “Want to Please God? Be a Child”; “Would You Hug a Leper?”; “The Excommunicated Holy Man”; “Violence…Breeds Nightmares”; “Seeing Is not Believing.” What is constant about Jesus’ love for his creatures, as the author’s reflections make abundantly clear (to anyone in need of reminding), is an unfailing concern, a reaching out to all in pain. He never gives up on the sinner; he wants to heal. The Wisdom of His Compassion is an insightful, engaging and provocative book. Girzone writes:

Based on the author rsquo s extensive interviews with hundreds of Catholics of every stripe from various parishes in the San Francisco Bay area this book paints a clear and sometimes complex portrait of what it is like to be Catholic in America today Baggett an associate professor of religion an

An extraordinary publishing event 180 hand-colored photographs of the Holy Land taken by the Matson Photo Agency at the turn of the last century Ms Speelman rsquo s grandfather had commissioned the coloring of 1200 photographs on glass plates mdash a project so exacting we are told ldquo that

Over the course of history great world faiths have at times been reduced to a handful of adherents notes religion scholar Philip Jenkins in his new book ldquo Christianity too has on several occasions been destroyed in regions where it once flourished rdquo And its decline in such a large sw

The pre-eminent church historian John W O rsquo Malley is well known to Catholic Book Club members and readers everywhere for his scholarship insight clear writing and detailed reliable analysis His many books–The First Jesuits Trent and All That and Four Cultures of the West among them–were

Just published is a new and remarkable memoir by the gifted spiritual writer and poet Kathleen Norris For many years she underwent her own ldquo dark night rdquo of the soul In a letter to the reader she tells of her study and investigation into this state of spiritual dryness a sense of not ca

One of the most extraordinary and influential Catholics in the modern church Dorothy Day mdash co-founder with Peter Maurin of the Catholic Worker movement mdash was a genuine servant of the poor and an ardent peace activist whose life embodied the radical Gospel in action Throughout her decade