Wisdom and Sirach: Ignatius Catholic Study Bible

Homilies on the Church's Sacraments

by: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

At life's many crossroads, the sacraments of the Church-Baptism, Confirmation, Confession, Holy Eucharist, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick-bring people into contact with the saving work of God. In this collection of homilies, Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) explains these celebrations of the Church and shows how they always offer an opportunity to announce our faith in Christ and to deepen our understanding of it.

Ratzinger endeavored as a theologian to develop an understanding of the sacraments that would help to make participation in them, and in the Paschal Mystery, more fruitful. Many of these homilies connect the sacraments with a profound interpretation of Scripture. The scriptural passages interpreted in each homily are listed at the beginning of the chapter, so that this volume can also be used for scriptural meditation.

Since the Church herself is both a sacrament-that is, a sign of God's saving action in the world-and the place where the sacraments take place, two of the chapters are about the Church, the body of believers where God dwells.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) is widely recognized as one of the most brilliant theologians and spiritual leaders of our age. As pope he authored the best-selling Jesus of Nazareth; and prior to his pontificate, he wrote many influential books that continue to remain important for the contemporary Church, such as Introduction to Christianity and The Spirit of the Liturgy.

Ignatius Catholic Study Bible

Edited by: Scott Hahn Commentary by: Curtis Mitch

This next volume in the popular Ignatius Catholic Study Bible series leads readers through a penetrating study of the Old Testament books Wisdom and Sirach, using the biblical text itself and the Church's own guidelines for understanding the Bible.

Ample notes accompany each page, providing fresh insights by renowned Bible teachers Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch as well as time-tested interpretations from the Fathers of the Church. These helpful study notes provide rich historical, cultural, geographical, and theological information pertinent to the Old Testament book-information that bridges the distance between the biblical world and our own.

The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible also includes Topical Essays, Word Studies, and Charts. The Topical Essays explore the major themes of Wisdom and Sirach, often relating them to the teachings of the Church. The Word Studies explain the background of important biblical terms, while the Charts summarize crucial biblical information "at a glance".

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Scott Hahn, Ph.D., an internationally renowned speaker, author, and scholar. He teaches theology and Scripture at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and has published several best-selling books, including Rome Sweet Home, The Lamb's Supper, and the Catholic Bible Dictionary. He is also the founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, which promotes biblical literacy among Catholic laity and biblical fluency among Catholic clergy. Hahn is the General Editor of the Ignatius Study Bible series.

Curtis Mitch, M.A., is principal annotator and Associate Editor of the Ignatius Study Bible series. He is also a research fellow of the St Paul Center for Biblical Theology and a biblical commentator.