LENTEN READING
The new book on the Priesthood by Benedict XVI and Cardinal Sarah, From the Depths of Our Hearts, has been published by Ignatius Press, HERE, or HERE, and arrived today. It give a wonderful and reflective understanding of the Catholic priesthood, and serves as a helpful guide to a correct understanding of the Holy Father's Apostolic Exhortation "Querida Amazonia" HERE, written following the Amazon Synod last October in Rome, which caused much heated debate, as we have reported previously on these pages. Cardinal Sarah is Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship since 2014.
This short work, from two of our age's most tangible theological writers, would form a most excellent subject for Lenten reading, offering a clear and incisive glimpse of the centrality of a doctrine of our Faith - the nature of the priest at the altar.
As the authors write, "As bishops we are responsible for the care of all the Churches. In our great desire for peace and unity, we therefore offer to all our brother bishops, priests, and the lay faithful throughout the world the benefit of our exchanges. We do this in a spirit of love for the Church's unity. Although ideology divides, truth unites hearts. Scrutinising the doctrine of salvation can only unite the Church around her Divine Master. We do this in a spirit of charity. To us it appeared useful and necessary to publish this work at a time when minds seem to have calmed down." "Therefore we fraternally offer these reflections to the people of God, and, of course, in a spirit of filial obedience, to Pope Francis."
Holy Mother Church is very blessed to have the benefit of these two great teachers, few of us expected to read new teaching from the pen of Joseph Ratzinger. Use them wisely. As Nicholas Diat, the editor, writes, "Two bishops decide to reflect. Two bishops decide to make public the fruits of their eminent research. The text by Benedict XVI is of high theological order. The one by Cardinal Sarah has formidable catechetical strength. Their arguments intersect, their words complement each other, their intellects are mutually stimulating."