THE WRITINGS OF
JOSEPH RATZINGER
(POPE BENEDICT XVI)
This course will explore some of key themes in a selection of important writings of Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)
Joseph Ratzinger – Benedict XVI was one of the most important theological and spiritual writers of the last 100 years. A theological expert at the Second Vatican Council, and longtime coworker of Pope John Paul II, Joseph Ratzinger became pope in 2005 and resigned—the first pope do to so in over half a millennium—in 2013. His writings range from deep theology to pastoral guidance on prayer, from a trilogy of books on the life and teaching of Jesus to a masterful work on Christian worship called “The Spirit of the Liturgy”. He engaged in conversation with great thinkers of our age, sifting the bad from the good in their ideas, and courageously, lovingly, and intelligently presenting Christ and Catholicism. This six-week course will explore key insights and themes from a selection of his writings. The aim is to deepen one’s Catholic faith and spiritual life through an understanding of some of the ideas and works of the man many regard as a modern Church Father.
SESSIONS
It is important that the assigned readings are completed before each session. Participants should feel free to bring questions about the readings to the corresponding sessions for discussion.
January 7, 2025 (7pm – 8:30pm)
Introduction to Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI
Readings: The Ratzinger Report, pp. 9-53; “The Hermeneutics of Reform”, an excerpt from “The Address of Pope Benedict to the Roman Curia, December 22, 2005”: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict- xvi/en/speeches/2005/december/documents/hf_ben_xvi_spe_20051222_roman-curia.html
January 14, 2025 (7pm – 8:30pm)
Faith, Reason, and Understanding
Readings: Introduction to Christianity, “Belief in the World of Today”, pp. 39-81. The Regensburg Lecture: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-
xvi/en/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university- regensburg.html
January 21, 2025 (7pm – 8:30pm)
Jesus and Joseph Ratzinger
Readings: Jesus of Nazareth, “The Temptations of Jesus”, pp. 25-45.
Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week, “The Crucifixion and Burial of Jesus”, pp. 202-240.
January 28, 2025 (7pm – 8:30pm)
The Church of Christ
Readings: “Some Aspects of the Church Understood as Communion”, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_2 8051992_communionis-notio_en.html
Called to Communion, Chapter 1 (“The Origin and Essence of the Church”), pp. 13-45.
February 04, 2025 (7pm – 8:30pm):
The Spirit of the Liturgy
Readings: The Spirit of the Liturgy, Preface, pp. 7-9; “Liturgy and Life: The Place of the Liturgy in Reality”, pp 13-23; “From Old Testament to New: The Fundamental Form of the Christian Liturgy—Its Determination by Biblical Faith”, pp. 35-50.
February 11, 2025 (7pm – 8:30pm)
The Spirit of the Liturgy (concluded); Love and Hope; and “Father Benedict”
Readings: The Spirit of the Liturgy, “The Altar and Direction of Liturgical Prayers, pp 74-84; “The Body and the Liturgy”, pp. 171-224.
God is Love (Deus Caritas Est): https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict- xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est.html
Saved in Hope (Spe Salvi): https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict- xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi.html
SELECT ONLINE RESOURCES
Formed Book Club:
The Spirit of the Liturgy Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8gMEpS0FChffOt4q4n2Ubr1uNlm5R3DC
The Legacy of Joseph Ratzinger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iykK11TDO4
TEXTS FOR THE COURSE
Some texts are available online—church documents, including papal encyclicals. Links are given below. Other books are available in bookstores and online at a variety of sites, including at www.ignatius.com
Called to Communion: Understanding the Church Today. Joseph Ratzinger. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1996.
God is Love (Deus Caritas Est), Benedict XVI’s first encyclical letter.
Online here: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben- xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est.html
“The Hermeneutics of Reform”, an excerpt from “The Address of Pope Benedict to the Roman Curia, December 22, 2005”
Online here: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict- xvi/en/speeches/2005/december/documents/hf_ben_xvi_spe_20051222_roman-curia.html.
Introduction to Christianity. Joseph Ratzinger. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. Revised edition, 2004.
Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration (Volume 1 of the Jesus of Nazareth trilogy). Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2007.
Jesus of Nazareth Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection (Volume 2 of the Jesus of Nazareth trilogy). Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2011.
The Ratzinger Report. Joseph Ratzinger with Vittorio Messori. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1985
The Regensburg Lecture. Benedict XVI.
Online here: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict- xvi/en/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university- regensburg.html
The Spirit of the Liturgy. Joseph Ratzinger. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2000.
Saved in Hope (Spe Salvi), second encyclical letter.
Online here: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben- xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi.html
“Some Aspects of the Church Understood as Communion”, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Online here: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_2805 1992_communionis-notio_en.html
A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Benedict XVI: A Guide for the Perplexed. Tracey Rowland. New York: T & T Clark International. 2010.
- Benedict XVI: A Life Volume 1: Youth in Nazi Germany to the Second Vatican Council 1927 – 1965. Peter Seewald. New York: Bloomsbury. 2020.
- Benedict XVI: A Life Volume 2: Professor and Prefect to Pope and Pope Emeritus 1966 – The Present. Peter Seewald. New York: Bloomsbury. 2021.
- Benedict XVI: His Life and Thought. Elio Guerriero. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2018.
Covenant and Communion: The Biblical Theology of Pope Benedict XVI. Scott W. Hahn. Grand Rapids. MI. Brazos. 2009. - Christ Our Joy: The Theological Vision of Pope Benedict XVI. Joseph Murphy. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2008.
- Daughter Zion. Joseph Ratzinger. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 1983.
The Divine Project: Reflections on Creation and the Church. Joseph Ratzinger. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2022. - Faith and the Future. Joseph Ratzinger. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2009.
- God and the World. Joseph Ratzinger with Peter Seewald. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2002.
- God is Ever New. Pope Benedict XVI. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2023.
- In the Beginning. Joseph Ratzinger. Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI. 1995.
- Joseph Ratzinger Collected Works Volume 11: Theology of the Liturgy. Jospeh Ratzinger/Benedict XVI. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2014.
- Last Testament. Benedict XVI with Peter Seewald. New York: Bloomsbury Continuum. 2016.
- Light of the World. Benedict XVI with Peter Seewald. San Francisco: Ignatius Press.
- Milestones: Memoirs: 1927-1977. Joseph Ratzinger. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 1998.
The Mind of Benedict XVI. Richard DeClue. Word on Fire. 2024. - The Nature and Mission of Theology. Joseph Ratzinger. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 1995.
Pilgrim Fellowship of Faith: The Church as Communion. Joseph Ratzinger. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2005. - Pope Benedict XVI: The Conscience of Our Age. D. Vinent Twomey, S.V.D. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2007.
- Principles of Catholic Theology. Joseph Ratzinger. San Francisco: Ignatius Press.1987.
- Salt of the Earth. Joseph Ratzinger with Peter Seewald. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 1997.
- A Study Guide for Joseph Ratzinger’s (Benedict XVI) Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2008.
- A Study Guide for Joseph Ratzinger’s (Benedict XVI) Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2011.
- The Thought of Pope Benedict XVI: An Introduction to the Theology of Joseph Ratzinger. Aidan Nichols, OP. 3rd edition. Bloomsbury. 2024.
- Theological Highlights of Vatican II. Joseph Ratzinger. New York/Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press. 2009.
- What is Christianity? The Last Writings. Benedict XVI. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2023.
Mark Brumley
President of Ignatius Press
Mark Brumley is an editor, writer, and a teacher. He is President of Ignatius Press, a leading Catholic publishing company in the U.S. Author of several works, including The Seven Deadly Sins of Apologetics. He is a trustee of the University of St Thomas, Houston, and President of the Board of Kolbe Academy Homeschool.
Mark Brumley holds a Master’s degree in theology from the University of Dallas and is a regular guest on television and radio, discussing the Catholic faith. His articles have appeared in such places as Catholic World Report.com, the National Catholic Register, This Rock, The Catholic Answer, and National Review Online. He lives with his wife in Napa and attends St Apollinaris Catholic Church.
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