The best book about the institution founded by St. Escrivà de Balaguer. Messori, a well know italian journalist, explores with no subtilities the world of the first Prelature of the Catholic Church. The book discloses all the so called secrets of Opus Dei and presents a scenario that can be understood only from the perspective of the faith. Reading these pages one can approach both the goals and the structure of Opus Dei from the catholic perspective. A perception that can change everybody attitude towards this institution and its members.
Messori guides the readers into the daily life of both the governement and the common people of this institution. Rich of episodes and stories, the book is very easy to read and amusing. A perfect purchaise.

Finally..someone who openly explores the upoholders of orthodoxy in the Catholic Church today. A good book to bury the false assaults on Opus Dei.

I found this to be a fascinating book simply because it manages to circumvent, while yet explaining, much of the the hysteria often associated with writings critical of Opus Dei. The author is a highly respected Italian journalist who is NOT a member of "the Work". He looks at the roots of the movement in the 1920's and shows how its theology of the laity both pre-dated and clearly influenced the Second Vatican Council's "universal call to holiness." One is struck by the inspired founder and his vision of a lay-spirituality that is as fresh as it is ancient. Further, one is reminded of the zealous excesses of the early Jesuits or Franciscans and how a movement of this type reaches a maturation only after several decades. If you want to know why Opus Dei's membership continued to grow while that of almost all religious orders was declining during the turbulent 60's and 70's, read this book. Clearly, a chord has been struck in the hearts of tens of thousands of Catholics on every continent who are seeking a deeper life in Christ.

This excellent review by Messori analyzes several distortions about the Church story. He reveals how different groups have created not only extraordinary but defamatory plans against the Roman Catholic Church and Its mission. I encourage to all people that want to know how the Church have resisted the most cruel and violent philosophical and political currents of the human history, but also to discover how the Holy Spirit have been keeping His Church throughout the years... and He will do always.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE CATHOLICS OR LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE TRUTH OF SOME CHAPTERS OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. THE AUTHOR ANALYZES CLERALY SOME ASPECTS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH POINTING OUT A WIDE VARIETY OF INJUSTICES COMMITED AGAINST THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SPECIFIES SOME LIES THAT HAVE BEEN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH TROUGH THE CENTURIES. IT'S A BOOK THAT ALL CATHOLICS MUST READ

Who looks to death as a gift? The Hollywood movies? The commercials on TV? The music we hear everywhere in the globe? Today's mentality makes men flee from the thought of death. This book helps us to open our eyes to the "Dies Natalis" (the day of birth) as Christians call death

In questo libro, Vittorio Messori racconta la vita del beato Francesco Faà di Bruno, il quale visse in Piemonte nell'epoca risorgimentale, combatté durante la prima guerra d'indipendenza, si occupò di attività religiose e caritative, e fu un famoso matematico. La storia è ben scritta, ed è ricca d'informazioni sulla figura di Faà di Bruno e sull'ambiente in cui egli visse e operò. Messori mette in luce il fatto che il beato Francesco fu un uomo capace di vita religiosa e vita attiva. Egli visse in modo autentico il cristianesimo, e, quindi, credette che lo scopo della vita umana fosse il raggiungimento del Paradiso; tuttavia, il beato fu anche consapevole che gli uomini devono guadagnarsi il Paradiso vivendo sulla Terra, e che la Grazia divina assiste gli uomini e le loro opere. Con questa fede viva, Faà di Bruno riuscì ad essere, oltre che un buon cristiano, un uomo ricco d'interessi culturali e capace di portare la carità nella vita sociale del suo Piemonte.

Here is a charming book containing the insights of one of the greatest theologians of the age, an architect of the Second Vatican Council and friend to the current pontiff. Cardinal Ratzinger does not like much of the mischief that has been perpretated since the Council in the name of aggiornamento (I think that means "trendiness" in Italian), and makes it clear that the Council was not a license to go on making frivolous tinkerings with the sacred liturgy, ad nauseam, ad infinitum.

Many Church "progressives" (persons who believe that the editors of Commonweal Magazine have the charism of ex cathedra infallibility) enjoy depicting Cardinal Ratzinger as a fiend from the depths of hell. Don't believe this hyperventilating hype; in the name of "collegiality" and "liberty" and "fraternal collaboration," the leftist jacobins have almost succeeded in destroying the reputation of a fine man and a first-rate thinker.

Ratzinger demonstrates how the current breed of liturgists -- like Ezra Pound, pathologically intent on "making it new" -- often claim to represent the interests of the poor and the unlettered, all the while running roughshod over their wishes. The poor and unlettered are derided by the innovators for their naivete, their unsophistication, and their old-fashioned devotional practices. In fact, Ratzinger cites an instance where the poor parishioners of an Episcopalian church in New York City were instrumental in stopping the drastic "renovation" of a church they loved just the way it was.

"Mark my word," Thomas Merton once wrote to a friend, "there is no uglier species on the face of the earth than progressed Catholics, mean, frivol, ungainly, inarticulate, venomous, and bursting at the seams with progress into the secular cities and the Teilhardian subways." And Thomas Merton was not to be confused with Cardinal Ratzinger, who has been called every name in the book by those who pride themselves on their tolerance. Read the Ratzinger Report and don't believe the hype.

I came to this book--or, rather, interview--as a person feeling the pull to Catholicism. This was probably not the best book to read this early in the journey to Rome, since it presumes something of a knowledge of the Church and its "crisis" in modern times, particularly after Vatican II--unlike, say, an introduction to Catholic theology or liturgy. In that respect, then, not being a Catholic, I was probably limited in what I could take from the book.

Nevertheless, I found it extremely fascinating and worthwhile. For starters, Ratzinger's understanding of the Church speaks directly to why I was drawn to it in the first place. He conveys a sense of the Church's community of believers, the communion of saints, emphasizing the very important communal aspects of the Catholic faith and suggesting that theology is not just a matter for individuals and academicians and "theologians"--it is pursued as a community. He describes this community, this unity quite wonderfully, I think: "harmonic wholeness."

His description as the Church going up against the powerful cultural forces of our time was also quite convincing and appealing. Indeed, the Church stands virtually alone against the tide of permissivity. Ratzinger discusses the difficulties the Church was facing in the mid-1980s, from feminism and liberation theology to the dangers of extreme individualism. His proposed solutions are probably not surprising to those familiar--among others: not an abandonment of Vatican II but a discovery of its true spirit; a re-affirmation of traditional doctrines (such as the Virgin Mary); a recognition that the Church is not democratic but sacramental and hierarchical instead; and a restoration of the virtues of motherhood and virginity.

All in all, a great survey of the Catholic Church's position in the modern world, which deals with problems as well as possible answers. Moreover, Ratzinger speaks, either directly or indirectly, to the problems facing the world in general, and his solutions could just as easily be applied in that broader context. This book, then, in many ways, transcends its intended Catholic audience--a true achievement.

In this interview, Cardinal Ratzinger, perhaps the second most influential person in the Catholic church, shows everyone to be wrong about him. He is less conservative than the conservatives think and progressives fear. Ratzinger is an example of how the Catholic church is something entirely different, such that you cannot fit it's mission into a 'progressive' or 'conservative' form. Rather, there is simply Catholicism. Ratzinger's main goal is to make us, progressives and conservatives, understand that Vatican II cannot be ignored, but must exert its full affect upon the Church.

I was most interested in what the Pope had to say about other religions, especially Buddhism (being a Buddhist, I suppose this is natural). Since I am not Catholic I will leave aside any evaluation of the rest of the material--Catholics, and many Christians, will no doubt be inspired and educated by what the Pope says, and that is all well and fine. But I think it is interesting that people (in this case Catholics/Christians) turn to a member of their own religion to get information and explanation of some other religion. Would you, after all, go to a biologist to get an explanation of physics, or to a chess player for an explanation of black jack? As irrational (and, indeed, absurd) as it seems, this is rather a popular past time among Christian writers, and now the Pope has joined the fray. Since I would contend that I know and understand Buddhism considerably better than the Pope (I have been a student of the subject for almost 20 years) I can only say this: a criticism or critique of something, a subject or whatever, is only meaningful if the person doing the critiquing has both knowledge and understanding of his/her subject. Yet the Pope's knowledge is obviously second hand. Has he, for example, ever gone on a vipassana retreat, or read--with proper guidance--any Buddhist scriptures? I would guess not. Consequently, his understanding is at best, misguided, and at worst quite distorted. If it were not, I should--as someone knowledgeable of the subject of Buddhism--be able to concur with his statements as both factual and meaningful descriptions of the Buddha's Teaching. But I cannot, and therefore must dismiss the Pope's writing on Buddhism as inane babble. In fact, so obviously prejudiced is the Pope on the subject, that (and here I am going to step out on a limb) he reveals himself as not only a deeply prejudiced individual lacking in sound judgement, but as also a rather shallow intellect. The Pope, far from being infallible as some of his followers like to claim, is quite human and quite fallible and--dare I say it--has more than just a bit of hatred for things he does not even understand. I would expect better from someone who is the spiritual leader of more than a billion people, but then, truth (fortunately) is not a democracy.

This is the best little book on theology one could ever hope to read- Catholic or Protestant. Vittorio Messori (think of him as the Larry King of Italian television) poses the questions and the Pope responds in his own script! It was supposed to be a television interview. The theme is pure and simple and so right-BE NOT AFRAID. From Christmas mystery to Good Friday tragedy to Easter joy, be not afraid- God is there- with us. The first chapter is almost humorous. Vittorio says to the Pope, 'Some people are nervous about you calling yourself the 'Vicar of Christ''. Says the Pope,in so many words, 'Don't worry about it-be not afraid- look at the big picture- trust God- He will see you through'. The whole thing is done with humility and compassion.

Crossing the Threshold is a very interesting treatise from the Holy See written in the form of an interview, where the Pope explains his views of various Christian beliefs - including his belief in God, his views of non-Christian and non-Catholic faiths, and Mariology. His views appear to negate the claims put forth by anti-Catholics and tend to look to the new millennium with hope instead of fear.

An important message in this book is reiterated strongly by JPII's pontificate: Be not afraid. Great advice from probably the greatest Pope we've had in a long time.