For a Christian, the way to reach perfection is to strive for holiness. What is true perfection? Christ's words are clear, sublime and disconcerting: "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." To have God as our model is a dizzying thought! Yet the Church reminds us that, "All the faithful, whatever their condition or state in life, are called by the Lord to that perfect holiness."
The Church teaches us that holiness is not the concern of a privileged few, nor does it only pertain to Christians of the past. Holiness is always a call to every Christian of every age, a challenge for anyone who wants to follow in the footsteps of Christ.
Pope Benedict XVI says: "Holiness never goes out of fashion; on the contrary, with the passage of time it shines out ever more brightly, expressing man's perennial effort to reach God." Mother Teresa of Calcutta wrote: "Holiness is not something for the extraordinary; it is not a luxury of the few. Holiness is the simple duty for each one of us."
The saints are our models and teachers in the ways of holiness. They show us that holiness is possible for us, since they experienced the same difficulties and weaknesses we do, yet persevered in achieving sanctity. The world of saints is a world of wonders, and in this book Pope Benedict XVI helps us to enter into that world.
This inspiring volume presents the Pope's numerous reflections on many saints arranged according to the calendar year. He shows how the life of each saint has something unique to teach us about virtue, faith, courage and love of Christ. Dozens of saints are covered in this wonderful spiritual book. The Pope exhorts us through their lives, "Be holy! Be saints!"
Notes
Originally published in Italian as: La santita non passa mai di moda. Citta del Vaticano: Libreria editrice vaticana, 2009.;This volume presents the Pope's reflections on many saints arranged according to the calendar year. He shows how the life of each saint has something unique to teach us about virtue, faith, courage and love of Christ--P. [2] of jacket.
About the Author
Pope Benedict XVI (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) is widely recognized as one of the most brilliant theologians and spiritual leaders of our age. As Pope he authored the best-selling Jesus of Nazareth; and prior to his pontificate, he wrote many influential books that continue to remain important for the contemporary Church, such as Introduction to Christianity and The Spirit of the Liturgy.
Table of Contents
Introduction -- p9 -- The Garden of the Saints -- p13 -- January -- 2 Saint Basil -- p17 -- 2 Saint Gregory Nazianzen -- p21 -- 5 Charles of Saint Andrew Houben -- p25 -- 10 Saint Gregory of Nyssa -- p26 -- 13 Saint Hilary of Poitiers -- p31 -- 17 Saint Anthony, Abbot -- p36 -- 26 Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops -- p37 -- 28 Saint Thomas Aquinas -- p41 -- 29 Saint Aphraates -- p43 -- February -- 2 The Presentation of the Lord -- p47 -- 14 Saints Cyril and Methodius -- p51 -- 22 Saint Peter Damian -- p57 -- 22 The Chair of Saint Peter -- p65 -- March -- 10 Saint Marie Eugenie Milleret -- p68 -- 18 Saint Cyril of Jerusalem -- p69 -- 19 Saint Joseph -- p73 -- 23 Saint Turibius of Mongrovejo -- p75 -- 25 The Annunciation of the Lord -- p76 -- April -- 2 Saint Francis of Paola -- p80 -- 4 Saint Isidore -- p82 -- May -- 1 Saint Joseph the Worker -- p87 -- 2 Saint Athanasius -- p88 -- 3 Saint Philip, Apostle -- p93 -- 3 Saint James, Apostle -- p97 -- 14 Saint Matthias, Apostle -- p101 -- 19 Saint Maria Bernarda Butler -- p102 -- 25 Saint Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi -- p104 -- 31 The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary -- p108 -- June -- 1 Saint Justin Martyr -- p110 -- 9 Saint Ephrem -- p114 -- 11 Saint Barnabas, Apostle -- p119 -- 22 Saint Paulinus of Nola -- p122 -- 24 The Birth of Saint John the Baptist -- p127 -- 25 Saint Maximus of Turin -- p129 -- 27 Saint Cyril of Alexandria -- p134 -- 28 Saint Irenaeus -- p139 -- 29 Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles -- p145 -- * The Friday of the Third Week after Pentecost: The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus -- p150 -- * The Saturday after the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: The Immaculate Heart of Mary -- p152 -- July -- 3 Saint Thomas, Apostle -- p153 -- 8 Saints Aquila and Priscilla -- p157 -- 11 Saint Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe -- p162 -- 16 Our Lady of Mount Carmel -- p169 -- 18 Saint Simon of Lipnica -- p171 -- 22 Saint Mary Magdalene -- p172 -- 23 Saint Bridget, Patroness of Europe -- p173 -- 25 Saint James, Apostle -- p174 -- 26 Saint George Preca -- p178 -- 28 Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception (Anna Muttathupadathu) -- p179 -- 31 Saint Ignatius of Loyola -- p180 -- August -- 2 Saint Eusebius of Vercelli -- p181 -- 4 Saint John Mary Vianney -- p186 -- 6 The Transfiguration of the Lord -- p187 -- 10 Saint Lawrence, Martyr -- p190 -- 13 Saint Maximus the Confessor -- p192 -- 15 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary -- p198 -- 20 Saint Bernard, Abbot -- p200 -- 24 Saint Bartholomew, Apostle -- p208 -- 27 Saint Monica -- p212 -- 28 Saint Augustine -- p214 -- September -- 3 Saint Gregory the Great -- p220 -- 13 Saint John Chrysostom -- p227 -- 14 The Exaltation of the Holy Cross -- p233 -- 15 Our Lady of Sorrows -- p235 -- 16 Saint Cyprian -- p237 -- 21 Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist -- p242 -- 23 Saint Pio of Pietrelcina -- p246 -- 30 Saint Gregory the Illuminator -- p247 -- 30 Saint Jerome -- p248 -- October -- 17 Saint Ignatius of Antioch -- p253 -- 23 Saint Severinus Boethius -- p258 -- 28 Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles -- p262 -- 29 Saint Gaetano Errico -- p266 -- November -- 1 All Saints' Day -- p267 -- 2 All Souls' Day -- p273 -- 4 Saint Charles Borromeo -- p277 -- 7 Saint Willibrord -- p279 -- 10 Saint Leo the Great -- p280 -- 17 Saint Elizabeth of Hungary -- p285 -- 21 The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary -- p286 -- 23 Saint Columban -- p288 -- 23 Pope Saint Clement I -- p293 -- 30 Saint Andrew, Apostle -- p298 -- * Thanksgiving Day -- p303 -- December -- 2 Saint Chromatius of Aquileia -- p305 -- 3 Saint Francis Xavier -- p310 -- 7 Saint Ambrose of Milan -- p311 -- 8 The Immaculate Conception -- p316 -- 8 Narcisa de Jesus Martillo Moran -- p317 -- 23 Saint Antonio de Sant'ana Galvao -- p318 -- 26 Saint Stephen -- p321 -- 27 Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist -- p327 -- 31 Praise and Thanksgiving -- p331."
Dimensions
3.30 cms H x 20.83 cms L x 14.22 cms W
