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The New York Times bestselling final volume in the Pope’s Jesus of Nazareth series, detailing how the stories of Jesus’ infancy and childhood are as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.
 
In 2007, Joseph Ratzinger published his first book as Pope Benedict XVI in order “to make known the figure and message of Jesus.” Now, the Pope focuses exclusively on the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life as a child. The root of these stories is the experience of hope found in the birth of Jesus and the affirmations of surrender and service embodied in his parents, Joseph and Mary.

This is a story of longing and seeking, as demonstrated by the Magi searching for the redemption offered by the birth of a new king. It is a story of sacrifice and trusting completely in the wisdom of God as seen in the faith of Simeon, the just and devout man of Jerusalem, when he is in the presence of the Christ child. Ultimately, Jesus’ life and message is a story for today, one that speaks to the restlessness of the human heart searching for the sole truth which alone leads to profound joy.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Image (November 21, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385346409
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385346405
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.3 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.18 x 0.62 x 7.76 inches
Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Simply beautiful
Review: Benedict has all the intelligence of John Paul, and is so much more readable. Highly recommended for all Christians, a special read for the Advent and Christmas Seasons.

Reviewer: Fr. John Boyle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Another great book by Papa Ratzinger
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Pope's reflections on the Infancy Narratives. Perfect, as I was preparing for the Christmas homilies. Many great insights, e.g.:on the dream of Joseph:"Once again Joseph is presented to us, in quite practical terms, as a “just” man: his inner watchfulness for God, which enables him to receive and understand the message, leads quite spontaneously to obedience. Even if hitherto he had puzzled over his various options, now he knows what the right course of action is. Being a just man he follows God’s commands, as Psalm 1 says."Or on Caesar Augustus:"Luke intends to say that what Caesar Augustus claimed for himself is realized in a loftier way in the defenseless and powerless child born in a Bethlehem cave and visited by poor shepherds. Reiser rightly emphasizes that at the heart of both messages is peace, and that the Pax Christi is not necessarily opposed to the Pax Augusti. Yet the peace of Christ surpasses the peace of Augustus as heaven surpasses earth (cf. Wie wahr, p. 460). Hence the juxtaposition of these two forms of peace need not be seen in a one-sidedly polemical way. Augustus truly brought “peace, security of law and prosperity for 250 years, which many countries of the former Roman Empire can only dream of today” (ibid., p. 458). Politics retains its own sphere of competence and responsibility. And yet when Caesar claims divine status and divine attributes, politics oversteps its boundaries and makes promises that it cannot deliver."The kingdom that Jesus proclaimed, the kingdom of God, is of another kind. It applies not just to the Mediterranean region and not just to a particular era. It applies to man in the depths of his being, and it opens him toward the true God. The peace of Jesus is a peace that the world cannot give (cf. Jn 14: 27). Ultimately, the question here is what redemption, liberation and salvation actually mean. One thing is clear, though: Augustus belongs to the past, Jesus Christ on the other hand is the present and the future— he is “the same yesterday and today and for ever” (Heb 13: 8)."And on Christ as a sign of contradiction:"We are not talking about the past here. We all know to what extent Christ remains a sign of contradiction today, a contradiction that in the final analysis is directed at God. God himself is constantly regarded as a limitation placed on our freedom, that must be set aside if man is ever to be completely himself. God, with his truth, stands in opposition to man’s manifold lies, his self-seeking and his pride. God is love. But love can also be hated when it challenges us to transcend ourselves."

Reviewer: Michael B. Dipietro
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: In the beginning
Review: How sad that the prior reviewer wishes to put his bigotry on display for all to see in this season of love for all creation. Loving our enemies was of course one of the great teachings that Jesus brought into the world 2000 years ago. His birth and teachings have transformed humanity and given us the chance for a new a beginning even though it's not always easy to discern the positive results. But given the eyes to see we can discern real results in the world stemming from the birth of Christ as witnessed in the gospel. Helping to give us these eyes is what the pope's series of three books on Jesus is about, especially this latest one on the infancy narratives. It is a powerful analysis full of profound insights made all the more effective by its brevity. It takes a penetrating mind to say so much in so short a space. It makes the message and meaning of the work all the more clear and concise. This is a book worth savoring for the way in which it helps us understand so much about who we are and where we come from in both the secular and sacred realms of history. This alone makes the book worth reading and contemplating whether we are believers or not. It certainly is not a book to dismiss without reading unless you are someone who takes delight in making a point of your own bigotry. But if you do Jesus loves you anyway. Shedding some light on this greatest of all mysteries is what the book is about and it does the job as effectively as anything I have ever heard or read.

Reviewer: Joseph P. Tevington
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Jesus of Nazareth [Vol I]: The Infancy Narratives
Review: In what amounts to Vol I of a three volume work (though NOT the first written), Benedict XVI continues to debunk not-so-scholarly scholars who would attempt to use biblical criticism to debunk the Faith!The four chapters of this work cover "WHERE ARE YOU FROM", THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE BIRTH OF JESUS IN BETHLEHEM, and THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST AND THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. The Epilogue covers THE TWELVE YEAR OLD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.I found this volume to be deceptively thin. It is NOT quick, easy beach reading. Benedict evidences profound insights in each paragraph.After "Volume II"'S intro, AN INITIAL REFLECTION ON THE MYSTERY OF JESUS, Benedict XVI follows with chapters on THE BAPTISM OF JESUS and THE TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS. Specifically discussing Jesus' temptation by the devil in the latter, he notes in a seemingly wry manner: "The devil proves to be a Bible expert who can quote the Psalm exactly. The whole conversation of the second temptation takes the form of a dispute between two Bible scholars. Remarking on this passage, Jonathan Gnilka says that the devil presents himself here as a theologian....The alleged findings of scholarly exegesis have been used to put together the most dreadful books that destroy the figure of Jesus and dismantle the faith" (p. 35). Wow!The third chapter focuses on THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, while the fourth Chapter is dedicated to THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, the fifth to THE LORD'S PRAYER, the sixth to THE DISCIPLES, the seventh to THE MESSAGE OF THE PARABLES, the eighth to THE PRINCIPAL IMAGES OF JOHN'S GOSPEL, the ninth to TWO MILESTONES ON JESUS' WAY: PETER'S CONFESSION AND THE TRANSFIGURATION, and the final chapter to JESUS DECLARES HIS IDENTITY.

Reviewer: F. Davison
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: An excellent book. It is accessible enough to engage anyone wishing to learn about Jesus's birth and childhood, yet in-depth enough to keep the interest of those already familiar with scripture and conventional church teaching (not just Catholics). An overview of the infancy gospels that can be read as it stands but rewards re-reading, and cross referencing to the texts. Also short enough to comfortably read during Advent should you wish.I would ask though - why is the audiobook available in the US but not the UK? The other two volumes in the series (also highly recommended) are available on Audible, but frustrating and weirdly, this one is not.

Reviewer: Haley
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: If you want to get to know Jesus more intimately you should of course start with the gospels etc but here the late Pope emeritus offers an exegesis of the infancy of ChristThe print itself is very good its a large print and is easy to readAnd the book itself is easy to understand it isn't to complicated but it is very rich with knowledgeI highly recommend this book ( note it's one in a trilogy )

Reviewer: Ryan Sales
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A wonderful exploration of Pope Emeritus Benedict's search for the "face of Jesus". It will undoubtedly change your view of this retired Pontiff. He uses his own exegetical technique to bring you closer to Christ. As one of the top theologians of his era and often portrayed by the media as rigid and uncompromising, this book is surprisingly gentle and personal.

Reviewer: issl_92
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This is my first Pope Benedict book and it won't be my last. I might wait for a bit before the next one though as it is very deep and theological and I found myself needing to read this slowly.

Reviewer: Meera
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Layman's guide to understanding Jesus written by the authorized scholar Pope Benedict XVI. Must read & must collect entire Jesus of Nazareth series.