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December 13, 2006
No chance against the big boyz
Benedict's book on Jesus will be published by Doubleday:
Pope Benedict XVI’s next book, Jesus of Nazareth, has been acquired by Random House imprint Doubleday. The first book from Benedict since he became pope, the title is scheduled for publication in spring 2007. Bill Barry, v-p and publisher of Doubleday’s religious division, acquired world English, first serial, audio and exclusive Spanish-language rights in North America from Italian publisher Rizzoli. Started in the summer of 2003, the book is, according to a statement from Doubleday, “the culmination of Pope Benedict’s lifelong quest to defend historical Christianity in the modern world.” Quoting the book’s preface, the statement goes on to summarize the book as “an expression of [Pope Benedict’s] personal search for the face of the Lord.”
Posted by Amy Welborn | Permalink
Comments
I look forward to this book because too many people think most Christian clergy are sort of doctrinal robots or church functionaries without a personal relationship to the God and Saviour they preach while trying to serve and emulate Him. Hopefully, the pope's willingness to reveal some of the aspects of his personal faith (accoring to early publicity) will be as great an evangelical tool as St. Augustine's "Confessions" has been for many centuries.
Posted by: Deacon John M. Bresnahan at Dec 13, 2006 5:15:58 PM
I've been reading quite a lot of our holy father's work this past year and his personal faith is extremely evident. I would not be surprised to find that those who miss it in the work he has already published will miss it in his next book as well.
Posted by: Drusilla at Dec 13, 2006 5:29:11 PM
His "Introduction to Christianity", changed my relationship with Jesus completely. When I read him describe Pilate's "Ecce Homo" moment as a request for us to look in the mirror, my jaw dropped.
This man truly truly gets it and can EXPLAIN it in the language of the heart, which is a gift to us all.
Posted by: caine thomas at Dec 13, 2006 5:55:51 PM
too many people think most Christian clergy are sort of doctrinal robots
I think this has been because so may liberal theologians have characterized them that way. Benedict is differant. He responds to theologians in nuanced way that does not just dismiss their thought yet he respects tradition and remains orthodox. That is a rare combination. A conservative that really listens with an open mind.
Posted by: Randy at Dec 13, 2006 6:05:49 PM
Clear something up for me?
Why does Amazon already have the book listed for purchase in April 2007 with Ignatius Press. Is that a different book?
Posted by: Fletch F. Fletch at Dec 13, 2006 6:07:31 PM
It is very interesting to me that the Pope is not going with Ignatius. Doubleday is the publisher of The Davinci Code. It is also the publisher of Scott Hahn's amazing books.
Posted by: Michael_Barber at Dec 13, 2006 6:39:33 PM
Amazon must have assumed that Ignatius Press would be doing it, because it's coming out under the name Ratzinger. But I guess Ignatius only gets American distribution rights for pre-B16 books, ones by Father and Bishop and Cardinal Ratzinger.
They would have had to make a deal with a big book publisher anyway, to get the kind of distribution and publicity this book will need. I don't think they'd want to get into it.
Posted by: Maureen at Dec 13, 2006 6:45:18 PM
Sign me up.
Posted by: Christopher Johnson at Dec 13, 2006 6:45:24 PM
By the way, for tons of more information on this book and the historical Jesus arena which the Pope is venturing into, see the posts here:
http://singinginthereign.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html
Posted by: Michael_Barber at Dec 13, 2006 7:53:30 PM
Time to request your libraries order this book, people. Even if you're buying it for yourself. :-)
Posted by: Eileen R at Dec 13, 2006 8:51:38 PM
