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Ignatius Press, 2013
While Pope Benedict XVI was and is not the media darling of either his predecessor or his successor, there’s little question his theological prowess surpasses theirs, as it does most of the other popes. Benedict is rightly revered as one of the church’s greatest theological minds. As such, it should come as no surprise that his 2013 book, The Transforming Power of Faith, is a dynamo packed with indispensable and foundational teaching on God and faith in Him.The chapters of The Transforming Power of Faith are actually taken from the Pope’s General Audiences during the dates of October, 2012, through February 6, 2013. Though he officially resigned the papacy effective February 28, Benedict wasn’t just going through the motions those final weeks. The Transforming Power of Faith shows the opposite to be true – Benedict was teaching brilliantly to the very end.
Lest we forget, long before becoming Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger was first a theology professor for 20 years. That background was apparent in all his endeavors that followed, as it is in this book. While many a learned professor has struggled to share his knowledge in a manner accessible to the masses, Benedict XVI has no such issue in The Transforming Power of Faith. The truths he imparts are framed in easily understood, non-academic terms, yet his discourse retains an intellectual richness and depth.
The format is very logically arranged. A brief introduction is followed by several chapters relating to faith: what faith is, the Church’s faith, the desire for God, discovering knowledge of God, and the reasonableness of faith in God. These chapters are followed by seven chapters expounding upon the God Christians actually put their faith in as He is revealed by the Creed, which Catholics know is also called the Profession of Faith.
Unlike most other pope’s whose terms came to an end, Benedict XVI is still with us, though that won’t always be the case. Fortunately, however, he’s produced a rich and extensive treasury of writing that will preserve his teaching forever. The Transforming Power of Faith is most definitely a valuable part of that cache.
