Pope Benedict XVI Book Collection Giveaway

Fathers of the Church Pope Benedict

“Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.” – St. Augustine

Since I’ve built up a large collection of extra books and resources, every week I give some away absolutely free, no strings attached.

Each giveaway lasts seven days with a new one beginning every Friday. You can enter any time during the week. Check out my past giveaways here.


 
Pope Benedict XVI Collection Giveaway
 
One of the toughest parts about my Lenten blogging break was that I didn’t get to reflect on the pontificate of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the only Pope I’ve known as a Catholic. There’s just so much to say. Pope Benedict was a magnificent theologian, perhaps the greatest papal-theologian ever outside of Gregory the Great. He was remarkably prolific as a writer and preacher. People will still be unpacking his work hundreds of years from now.

Thanks to the good people at Eerdmans, this week’s book giveaway will celebrate Pope Benedict’s legacy. One reader will receive SIX books written by Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI including:

 

The Fathers of the Church: From Clement of Rome to Augustine of Hippo

by Pope Benedict XVI

Eerdmans, 192 pages, paperback
Released on September 15, 2009

Fathers of the Church Pope BenedictAt his Wednesday audiences during 2007 and 2008 Pope Benedict XVI gave a series of short talks on the Fathers of the Church. He devoted himself not only to such famous and influential Fathers as Augustine and John Chrysostom but also to figures not venerated as saints; one subject, Tertullian, even died outside the Catholic communion. This volume contains thirty-six of these inspirational teachings.

In these catecheses the Pope is not delivering academic lectures or preaching sermons. Rather, he is instructing Christian believers who want to have their faith confirmed and strengthened. Pope Benedict firmly believes that the Fathers of the Church still speak powerfully today, and his accessible presentations will make many readers eager to look further into the writings of these great early Christians.

 

‘In the Beginning…’: A Catholic Understanding of the Story of Creation and the Fall

by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

Eerdmans, 112 pages, paperback
Released on November 2, 1995

In the BeginningIn four superb homilies and a concluding essay, Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, provides a clear and inspiring exploration of the Genesis creation narratives.

While the stories of the world’s creation and the fall of humankind have often been subjected to reductionism of one sort or another — literalists treat the Bible as a science textbook whereas rationalists divorce God from creation — Ratzinger presents a rich, balanced Catholic understanding of these early biblical writings and attests to their enduring vitality.

Beginning each homily with a text selected from the first three chapters of Genesis, Ratzinger discusses, in turn, God the creator, the meaning of the biblical creation accounts, the creation of human beings, and sin and salvation; in the appendix he unpacks the beneficial consequences of faith in creation.

Expertly translated from German, these reflections set out a reasonable and biblical approach to creation. ‘In the Beginning…’ also serves as an excellent homiletic resource for priests and pastors.

 

Holy Days: Meditations on the Feasts, Fasts, and Other Solemnities of the Church

by Pope Benedict XVI

Eerdmans, 94 pages, paperback
Released on November 17, 2012

Holy DaysAccording to Pope Benedict XVI, “the liturgical year is a great voyage of faith on which the Church sets us out.” The feast days in the Church’s liturgical calendar follow the major events of Jesus’ life as recounted in the Gospels. This cycle gives a rhythm to the life of the Church and helps Christians better understand the divine mystery. Especially in our secularized society, liturgical practices guide and deepen our path, centering our focus on Christ and teaching us how to live.

Beginning with Advent and concluding with the feast of Christ the King, Pope Benedict’s Holy Days presents excerpts from selected homilies that he has given over the course of the liturgical year in Rome. The book is organized by season and feast days, with brief introductions. This short devotional volume will be a welcome resource for priests and parishioners seeking to focus their minds in preparation for worship.

 

Joseph Ratzinger in Communio: Vol. 1, The Unity of the Church

by Pope Bendict XVI

Eerdmans, 224 pages, paperback
Released on February 22, 2010

Joseph Ratzinger in Communio - Volume 1The Unity of the Church brings together a captivating collection of articles—previously published in Communio—by Pope Benedict XVI. The essays deal with various issues facing the church in the world today, including what divides and unites denominations, the growing crisis facing peace and justice, technological security, and the necessity of ecumenism in the growth of the church.

“Pope Benedict XVI rarely writes on any churchly matter that does not manifest its implications for man and culture, and vice versa,” notes David Schindler in the introduction. This collection is a brilliant expression of that tendency toward interconnectivity.

 

Joseph Ratzinger in Communio: Vol. 2, Anthropology and Culture

by Pope Bendict XVI

Eerdmans, 207 pages, paperback
Released on January 30, 2013

Joseph Ratzinger in Communio - Volume 2In this second volume of Joseph Ratzinger in Communio, Pope Benedict XVI speaks to various issues relating to humanity today — conscience, technological security, the origin of human life, the meaning of Sunday, Christian hope, and more.

As editor David L. Schindler notes, “Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) rarely writes on any churchly matter that does not manifest its implications for man and culture, and vice versa. Indeed, this indissoluble linking is one of the main distinguishing features of his theology.” This is the second of three volumes; the first deals with themes relating to the Church, and the third volume is to focus on theological renewal.

 

The Pontificate of Benedict XVI: Its Premises and Promises

Edited by William G. Rusch

Eerdmans, 173 pages, paperback
Released on March 15, 2009

Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVIFew persons of the theological stature of Joseph Ratzinger and with such a developed corpus of theological works have been elected Pope. There is no question that his pontificate will be extremely influential for the Roman Catholic Church and the world. But the question is In what ways?

This volume, published on the fourth anniversary of Benedict’s election as Pope, offers considered insights into that key question. William Rusch has pulled together an ecumenical gathering of viewpoints Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Reformed, and Roman Catholic. Coming from this spectrum of Christian traditions, the authors examine how the life experiences and theological reflections of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger will likely influence the pontificate of Benedict XVI.

 

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Pope Benedict XVI Collection Giveaway
 


 
The winner will be randomly selected next Friday and the books will be sent out, free of charge, shortly thereafter.

In the future I’ll be giving away more books and resources, sometimes multiple items per giveaway! So subscribe via feed reader or email to ensure you never miss your chance to win.

(Since I’m covering the shipping costs, only residents within the continental United States are eligible to win.)