Firstly, a very Happy New Year to all our readers. If, at the start of a new year we are sad at the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict, we should rejoice at his wonderful legacy, the books, homilies, Encyclicals and Apostolic Exhortations he wrote, and the extraordinary life he lived from the days of his youth in Nazi Germany, as a priest, academic, bishop, in his days working with Pope St John Paul, to his eight years as Pope and finally to his “quiet” years as Pope Emeritus.
It won’t come as a surprise that we devoted a large portion of this issue to this great man. In his column, Michael Kirke predicts that future generations will marvel that the Holy Spirit gave us the great gift that was Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict. Extraordinary too that during one of the most evil regimes that ever reigned on this earth and a most calamitous war that one who was then a teenager could grow to become one of the greatest intellects of the twentieth century, and live a most exemplary life, centred above all on Jesus Christ.
Fr. Pat Gorevan reviews Fr Vincent Twomey’s book The Dynamics of Liturgy: Joseph Ratzinger’s Theology of Liturgy: An Interpretation which shows just how wonderful was the late Pope’s understanding of the liturgy and how the great richness built over two millennia of worship needed to be developed not discarded.
Many saw only a distorted image of Pope Benedict. Few knew him better than George Weigel who writes eloquently and clearly about The True Joseph Ratzinger. He contrasts the many caricatures with the real person. Unfortunately a lot of the media commentary in Ireland since his death suggests that prejudices built up over decades are alive and well. By contrast, the British media coverage including that of BBC TV and SKY News was more informed and more positive.
Many will receive an impetus to read Pope Benedict’s writing in the days, weeks and months ahead. It is important that anyone new to his writings chooses the most appropriate starting point as some of his books are very deep and demanding. Fr. Gavan Jennings offers an outline of a dozen of his best known works (he wrote sixty six books in total) with suggestions of the best ones to start with, based on the previous experience of the reader. Wherever they start, the journey will be well worth while. Fr Gavan finishes by suggesting that the most ideal biography is Peter Seewald’s double volume Benedict XVI: A Life. As Michael Kirke suggests, this man will stand out in the history of Christianity as one of the most exceptional human beings ever chosen by God to fulfil the mandate to teach all nations.
Some reviews originally intended for the January 2023 edition have been deferred to February but we do include James Bradshaw’s review of Cormac McCarthy’s best selling companion novels The Passenger and Stella Maris, both of which were very visible to any reader in the bookshops over Christmas, and Margaret Hickey’s review of Simon Baron-Cohen’s 2004 book The Essential Difference: Male And Female Brains And The Truth About Autism. The latter book is the fruit of twenty years of research in the field and while it predates current controversy on gender issues is a worthwhile discussion to debates on such matters.
Finally we round off with Michael Cook’s list of the best films of 2022 – like any such list it is, of course subjective. There’s no mention of An Cailín Ciúin, being an Aussie, Michael can be forgiven that omission. In fact there’s no mention of Elvis either, but it’s a useful and interesting list nonetheless.
About the Author: Pat Hanratty
Pat Hanratty taught Science/Chemistry in Tallaght Community School from its inception in 1972 until he retired in 2010. He was the school’s first Transition Year Co-ordinator and for four years he had the role of home School Community Liaison Officer.