Indeed, the communion
of Saints consists not only of the great men and women who went
before us and whose names we know. All of us belong to the communion
of Saints, we who have been baptized in the name of the Father, and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we who draw life from the gift of
Christ's Body and Blood, through which he transforms us and makes us
like himself. Yes, the Church is alive - this is the wonderful
experience of these days. . . . The Church is
alive and we are seeing it: we are experiencing the joy that the
Risen Lord promised his followers. The Church is alive - she is
alive because Christ is alive, because he is truly risen. In the
suffering that we saw on the Holy Father's face in those days of
Easter, we contemplated the mystery of Christ's Passion and we
touched his wounds. But throughout these days we have also been
able, in a profound sense, to touch the Risen One. We have
been able to experience the joy that he promised, after a brief
period of darkness, as the fruit of his resurrection. - Benedict XVI's Inaugural Mass Homily April 24,
2005. None of us can ever
forget how in that last Easter Sunday of his life, the Holy Father,
marked by suffering, came once more to the window of the Apostolic
Palace and one last time gave his blessing "urbi et orbi." We can be
sure that our beloved Pope is standing today at the window of the
Father's house, that he sees us and blesses us. Yes, bless us, Holy
Father. We entrust your dear soul to the Mother of God, your Mother,
who guided you each day and who will guide you now to the eternal
glory of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. - Funeral Homily for Pope John Paul II.
Way of the Cross at the Coliseum Meditations and
Prayers by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger on the Vatican website. Good
Friday, 2005. Truth and Tolerance: Christian Belief and World
Religions (Ignatius Press, Oct. 2004)
Cardinal Ratzinger engages the problem of truth, tolerance,
religion and culture in the modern world, meeting diverse
understandings of spiritual truth while defending the Catholic
teaching of salvation through Jesus Christ. "But what if it is
true?" is the question posed to cultures that decry the Christian
position on man's redemption. Upholding the notion of religious
truth while asserting the right of religious freedom, Cardinal
Ratzinger outlines the timeless teaching of the Magisterium in
language that resonates with our embattled culture. A work of
extreme sensitivity, understanding, and spiritual maturity, this
book is an invaluable asset to those who struggle hear the voice of
truth in the modern religious world.
Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger signs autographs after attending a cardinals meeting at
the Vatican , Friday, Oct. 17, 2003. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri) Recommended
Reading for Inquiring Catholics, a list of introductory
texts on Catholic theology, Catholic apologetics, and studies of key
issues -- compiled by special request of Ratzinger Fan Club
Members
This
webring features a broad spectrum of websites, not all of
which reflect the teachings of the
Church.
Preach the word, be urgent in season and out
of season, convince, rebuke and exhort, be unfailing in patience and
in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure
sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for
themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away
from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you,
always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill your ministry.
St. Paul, 2 Tim 4:2-5
This verse was cited by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as one of his
favorite in the book, Salt of the Earth: "I don't want to
overreach myself, but I would say that this expresses the essence of
what I consider to be my standard at this time." (p. 114).
From 1981 - 2005, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was appointed head of
the Catholic Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, whose
mission is to "to promote and safeguard the doctrine on the faith
and morals throughout the Catholic world" (John Paul II).
As "Grand Inquisitor" for Mother Rome, Ratzinger kept himself
busy in service to the Truth: correcting theological error,
silencing dissenting theologians, and stomping down heresy wherever
it may rear its ugly head -- and, consequently, had received
somewhat of a notorious reputation among the liberal media and
'enlightened' intellegensia of pseudo-Catholic universities.
However, there are those among us who have delved beyond the
polemics of his critics, who in familiarizing ourselves with his
works have come to admire him both as brilliant Catholic theologian
but also as a man whose faith, honesty, integrity, and unswerving
devotion to the Truth is readily apparent.
On April 19, 2005, Cardinal Ratzinger was elected by his fellow
Cardinals to the throne of St. Peter, Bishop of Rome, Shepherd of
the Holy Catholic Church. The Cardinal Ratzinger Fan Club remains as
a tribute to Joseph, now Benedict, for his service to the Church --
an online resource for his writings and addresses as priest, prefect
and theologian prior to his election. We hope you enjoy it!
For online resources and documentation of Pope Benedict XVI,
please see our new website, a work very much in progress: The Pope
Benedict XVI Fan Club.
FAN CLUB
MERCHANDISE! - T-Shirts & Hats! Lend a voice to the
REAL faithful with our fan club t-shirts, bearing Ratzinger
quotes selected by popular vote from the fan club's inner sanctum!
The
Ratzinger Fan Club T-Shirt! - "Putting the smackdown on heresy
since 1981".
Indeed, the communion
of Saints consists not only of the great men and women who went
before us and whose names we know. All of us belong to the communion
of Saints, we who have been baptized in the name of the Father, and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we who draw life from the gift of
Christ's Body and Blood, through which he transforms us and makes us
like himself. Yes, the Church is alive - this is the wonderful
experience of these days. . . . The Church is
alive and we are seeing it: we are experiencing the joy that the
Risen Lord promised his followers. The Church is alive - she is
alive because Christ is alive, because he is truly risen. In the
suffering that we saw on the Holy Father's face in those days of
Easter, we contemplated the mystery of Christ's Passion and we
touched his wounds. But throughout these days we have also been
able, in a profound sense, to touch the Risen One. We have
been able to experience the joy that he promised, after a brief
period of darkness, as the fruit of his resurrection. - 
None of us can ever
forget how in that last Easter Sunday of his life, the Holy Father,
marked by suffering, came once more to the window of the Apostolic
Palace and one last time gave his blessing "urbi et orbi." We can be
sure that our beloved Pope is standing today at the window of the
Father's house, that he sees us and blesses us. Yes, bless us, Holy
Father. We entrust your dear soul to the Mother of God, your Mother,
who guided you each day and who will guide you now to the eternal
glory of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. - 
Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger signs autographs after attending a cardinals meeting at
the Vatican , Friday, Oct. 17, 2003. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)
