Having my own personal Sunday Missal is one of the best purchases I have ever made! I feel very satisfied with it. I know I am more organized and better prepared for Mass. I can read the commentary ahead of time and reflect on the Readings/Gospel if I choose. It has also helped me select songs for choir practice that fit the theme for each Sunday.

Overall, it is a great bargain! The Millennium Edition lasts until at least 2021. Very inexpensive when you think how long it lasts. Most importantly, and the main reason I purchased it, is that I am the only person to handle it. Just think about how many hundreds of people (with colds and flu) handle the paper copy in the pew....

I purchased the Vatican II Sunday Missal several years ago and was very satisfied with my purchase. Recently, when I decided to go to Mass everyday, I decided to buy the Weekday Missal as well. I purchased it for the same reasons that I bought the Sunday Missal: I wanted to have my own personal copy to study at home. I didn't like handling the pew copy since so many people (with colds, flu) handle it. It is a great bargain since it lasts for years!

Being someone not of the catholic faith, at first i was driven from anything with the word "Pope" on it, but those religious inhibitions were shortly erased when I saw thise book! i had no idea the vatican contained such spectacular works of art, and from periods which i adore such as the Boroque! The collection is not just a few alter pieces from Byzantium, but rather is a study of art itself and a study in the masterpieces of the periods in its history. This book is incredibly inspirational, i would recomend it to anyone! even someone who doesnt like art! this fabulous volume is worth every penny one pays for it, and is one of the great finds of my endless book collecting

Written in the 15th Century and directed towards monks, this is a devotional for Christian living and Monastic life. While noting the time period helps give depth to the historical backdrop of when Thomas was writing this book, it is perhaps more important to know the audience. The intended audience for The Imitation of Christ was monks. This is obvious in the text and it should be kept in mind while reading this work.

This highly influential work has a very simple message: live like Christ. Presented in this book, it is a very strict message. Thomas takes a very strict interpretation of following Christ and the message is very much rooted in the idea of works. It is the actions that one must perform, and not so much the inner state (though he does stress that the inner state is important). This would be a difficult message to take or to give, but again, we must consider the audience: monks living in a monastery. They must live a harsher life and because of their vows, this devotional makes perfect sense.

This can be read as a historical document in Christianity or as a devotional. Either way, one can find great value and and some illumination of the words of Christ through this volume.

Thomas a Kempis was medival monk and priest (1380-1471) who served as chronicler of the monastery at Mt. St. Agnes. During his long life of scholarship, he wrote several biographies of church fathers and a number of devotional works. The "Imitation of Christ" remains his most famous work and the one that has best stood the test of time. Indeed, one of the wonderful things about this work is that it reminds us that the life of the mind is not a creature of the Enlightenment. Even during the so-called Dark Ages there were brilliant scholars with a wide knowledge of both scripture and philosophy. Reflecting its vibrant insight into the human condition, the "Imitation of Christ" remains influential on both sides of the Reformation divide. It reportedly was, for example, one of John Wesley's favorite devotionals.

The "Imitation of Christ" is divided into 4 books, each undertaking a basic theme for development. They are, respectively, the Spiritual Life, the Inner Life, Inward Consolation, and the Blessed Sacrament (i.e., the Eucharist). In turn, each book is sub-divided into numerous chapters, each a page or two long. All of which makes the "Imitation of Christ" a useful book for daily devotionals. One can skip around freely within the book, dipping in as the mood strikes. Yet, I think one is well-served by reading it through at least once. Only then does one see Thomas' thought in its fully-developed form. Do be sure to get a good translation. I am fond of the one by Leo Sherley-Price.

Thomas a Kempis was medival monk and priest (1380-1471) who served as chronicler of the monastery at Mt. St. Agnes. During his long life of scholarship, he wrote several biographies of church fathers and a number of devotional works. The "Imitation of Christ" remains his most famous work and the one that has best stood the test of time. Indeed, one of the wonderful things about this work is that it reminds us that the life of the mind is not a creature of the Enlightenment. Even during the so-called Dark Ages there were brilliant scholars with a wide knowledge of both scripture and philosophy. Reflecting its vibrant insight into the human condition, the "Imitation of Christ" remains influential on both sides of the Reformation divide. It reportedly was, for example, one of John Wesley's favorite devotionals.

The "Imitation of Christ" is divided into 4 books, each undertaking a basic theme for development. They are, respectively, the Spiritual Life, the Inner Life, Inward Consolation, and the Blessed Sacrament (i.e., the Eucharist). In turn, each book is sub-divided into numerous chapters, each a page or two long. All of which makes the "Imitation of Christ" a useful book for daily devotionals. One can skip around freely within the book, dipping in as the mood strikes. Yet, I think one is well-served by reading it through at least once. Only then does one see Thomas' thought in its fully-developed form. Do be sure to get a good translation. I am fond of the one by Leo Sherley-Price.

This is it. Usually, the Roman Catholic church relies on local or regional definitions of the complete Faith. Every several hundred years, she pulls it together into something universal. We happen to have lived in a time when the world can enjoy a contemporary text that distills and elucidates Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition within the context of the Magesterium (teaching authority of the church via the bishops). Every Roman Catholic should have this book. Everyone else who wonders what Roman Catholicism is about should get a copy. I finally got through my first reading of this Catechism, and am getting the first dark glimpse of the Big Catholic Picture. I'm looking forward to going through it again and again. The cross-referencing to Sacred Scripture, Councils, etc. is phenomenal.

Being a Christian who recently chose to be a member of the Catholic Church, I found this book to be most helpful. This book contains scriptures to support the faith and worship of the Church. The Catholic Church is a valid Christian and Biblical church. Consider the following verses from the Bible:"...make disciples of all nations...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you"(Matthew 28:19,20) "the Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.(John 14:26), "...the Spirit of truth will guide you to all truth.(John 16:13), "There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written."(John 21:25) "stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or a letter of ours."(2nd Thessalonians 2:15) From what the Bible says it is clear that in addition to the written Scriptures of the Bible the Church has an oral tradition that has continually been passed on from Jesus and the early Christians and bishops to the Church today. This Catechism gives testimony to those truths stated in the Scriptures. This is an excellent book.

....especially for Catholics (at least those who support Her teachings). This book will help anyone understand what the Church teaches and why She teaches it. The writing is clear and concise. The thought behind each paragraph draws upon 2000 years of Christian truth. I would, however, recommend the second edition, the one with the green cover. It contains "The INDEX OF CITATIONS", which unfortunately, this version does not. This allows one to reference scripture, verse by verse, with a corresponding paragraph in the catechism. This will prove valuable when studying sctipture. I that recommend this book accompany every Catholic to any Bible study or faith group he or she plans to attend. It never ceases to amaze me just how little people (especially Catholics!) know what the Church teaches.

This is a page-turner. I couldn't put it down. In a way,it resembles the Cardinal, a pre-Vatican II look at an Irish American priest who rises to the highest levels of the American Church. Timothy Mulrennan, however, lives in a different era and experiences some of the pivotal issues of the second half of 20th century America and the post-Vatican II Church. He is a totally sympathetic character and his humanity and compassion shine through. It is not a far-fetched account. The present pope experienced the traumas of Europe during an earlier period and reacted with similar courage. This book has two moving encounters involving Karol Wojtyla and Tim Mulrennan. If you follow Church affairs, this is a must read. As a Catholic, I would want the next pope to be someone like Tim Mulrennan. He is a moderate liberal who has a great affection for the present pontiff. Not an intellectual, but a man of action, he grapples with difficult issues and follows his conscience. Yet he is Catholic to the core and loyal to his vows. There are characters in the Church who pale in comparison with him and who he ultimately confronts. The book presents a series of flashbacks while Cardinal Mulrennan is in the conclave to elect a successor to the late pontiff. Mulrennan has enemies; people who lack his love and faith. But he also has friends, who are well-positioned and who share his vision of the church. This book is inspiring and beautiful and one terrific read.

I only take the time to write about a book if I hate it or love it. I loved this one. Conclave is one of those 'It's way past time to go to sleep but I can't put this down' books. I loved getting to peek behind the doors of the Vatican to see the inner workings of the church. I also cared about these characters, even the villians. It was a bit like the television series 'West Wing' only with priests rather than politicians. The main character, an American Cardinal, was especially engaging. Intensely spiritual but with feet of clay, a leader but reticent to lead, possessed of both great pride and great humility, he was a complex and surprising character. I was sorry to part company with him at the end of the book, but if any story deserves a sequel, it's this one. When the next real-life conclave occurs (in the not so distant future I expect) I'm going to feel like I have an insider's track. And perhaps life will end up imitating art. Treat yourself to this book - it's excellent.

Once I picked up the book, I could not put it down. I cannot wait for the sequel. I have been trying to come up with the just the right things to say about this book, but it has been hard to put into words all the emotions I experienced while reading it. By page 33 I had cried twice. I guess that growing up in the same enviornment as characters of the book and experiencing many of the same things in life, I identified so much with their joys, pain and sorrows. Mr. Tobin has given us a wonderful and soulfull trip into both the past and the present life within the higherarchy of the Catholic Church. The timeing of the release of this book is right on the money. I am one who questions many things and prays that the future of our church will respond to all people of the world. The selection of our next Pope will be the single most important decission of the new millenium. Having read this book I feel that I will have a greater knowledge and feeling of participation in the process. I will pray for those in the Conclave.

If you can get this book used for under $10 dollars

AND...

You are interested in the whole workings of the Vatican National Geographic sytle, buy it it, is a great book from that perspective.

It is not an over $20 dollar art book because a large number of pages which could have been used for images are wasted on oversize text. Five pages of the books text could have fit on one page.

The photographs are great, but they are of everything including wasted full page close ups of guards. If you want a general book on the vatican this book delivers......but if you thought that "Inside the Vatican" meant a lot of art you might not see otherwise this is not the right book for the price.
It is not an Art book like one thinks of with Konemann books, there are some good photos and enough for a general book like this but it does not have enough art to warrant the price, then again I guess no one really said it was supposed to be art book.
I have written this review just as a warning for some people who might think that there is a lot of art here.....it is not an art book. This fact is kind of a shame because after 65% of the book is finished and it finally does get to the "Treasures section" the photographs are decent, however it makes you wonder why did we need a whole page close up of a guards face and only a quarter page on some of the art.
The Wonderful frescoes of the Vatican are very few and most are the usual 4 token shots of the Sistine chapel.
The wonderful Hall of Constantine isnt covered at all. I agree with all the other reviewers, if you are a National Geographic format fan, this is one of their best efforts.

But....The wrong pictures are too big, the right pictures are too small, the really wonderful pictures never made it into the book, and way, way, too much space is dedicated to oversize text.

I bought it used, do the same, it is not a new full price book,
there is enough for under $10 even if your main interest is art but you will not get as "Inside the Vatican" as you might with other books about the Vatican Art.

Good Pope pictures, Pope-Mobile pictures, and that sort of thing
and good "Quick read history".

I was proud to be a Catholic anyway, but gee the wonderful stories, history and people behind this book makes it a must own for Catholics!

Jim Stanfield is one of the most accomplished photographers to work for National Geographic. I met Jim several years ago, and he's a fine gentleman as well as an outstanding photographer. He won one of the top photojournalism awards in the world, in 1986, based partly on this body of work as well as an essay on Isreal. Bob Gilka, who was Jim's boss at National Geographic, told me he thought Jim was the most technically accomplished photographer working for the magazine. When there was an especially difficult job to do, it was given to him. And Jim's technical expertise shows through, but there's more here than technically superior images. These are stunningly gorgeous photographs in their own right. But they are more than that, they give you an insight into life at the Vatican that will never be repeated. Buy it. I can't wait for more books by Jim Stanfield to hit the shelves.

Cornwell, ten years after the death of Pope John Paul I, looks into what many have termed a "cover-up" of the true facts.

He is very thorough in his efforts, taking all of the "murder/conspiracy" theories, and basically knocking them all out of contention. What he does is investigate each lead and scrap of information he receives the best he can, and is able to debunk the "murder/conspiracy" theories by providing explanations, ruling out many of the wild and conflicting theories that have been expounded over the years. This Pope was the victim of poor health, and neglect; a man not suited for the calling, who knew it, wished he headn't been chosen, and one that suffered from ill health (and prayed to die) which was not communicated to the proper people at the Vatican who could have monitored him more closely.

In the end, Cornwell shows us a tragic figure, ill when chosen, overwhelmed by the responsibilities of his position, who in all probability died from the stress of it. Alas, we will never know the truth, but Cornwell makes a very strong case, and is convincing.

The vatican has been dominated by John Paul II for more the 20 years. What of the man before him? Little is known of John Paul I. This book delves deep into the mystery of his death after a brief 33 days in office. The smiling pope. A humble man, sourounded by the viscious politics of rome. This quick rad is an insight into the workings of the vatican and a journey through papal politics.

Cornwell admirably and intensely approaches the task some ten years after the event, of sorting out the rumors and innuendos surrounding the sudden death of the 33-day pope, John Paul 1.

All of his extensive look into this quagmire called the Vatican can be summarized by his words: "The whisperings, the rumors, the theories--farfetched, sensational, fantastic--all serve a purpose: they deflect attention from the most obvious and shameful fact of all; that John Paul I died scorned and neglected by the institution that existed to sustain him." (pg. 336)

This well capsulizes what his peering into the event surfaced. Amazing inner look at this huge, off-limits to most of us, major religious institution.

His analysis his thorough, he wants evidence that is credible. He sifts out things well, and strings them together to make sense, or breaks up strings which won't hold together.

The stuff with the Vatican Bank and its director is shameful, and Cornwell discloses this with dignity, yet allows real inner struggles to be seen.

Worth the read. His hypothesis of what occurred from his investigation is fascinating, and has all the signs and tastes of close to the truth.

After reading the speculative and often fanciful calumnies of "Hitler's Pope" it is natural for a reader to hope that this work will provide a sweeping response. It does not.

This book is factual -- but not analytical, historical, or contextual. As a result, a reader bogs down in detail. The book does a good job of showing the tiny details that made up the Vatican's work against Hitler and for peace. The book lacks a critical overview.

Given that it is clear and demonstrable that the Vatican was for peace in World War II, the next question is one of effectiveness. Pius was a diplomat. This book does not explore whether a diplomat was the proper and best Church leader during this troubled time.

It is sad that there is any need for this debate, over whether the Vatican helped Jews "to the best of it's ability". The answer is of course, yes and no! No human organization is perfect.

A better question is, did Pius do his best as a man -- and the answer is yes, as this book proves -- and did he do his best as a Pope -- and the answer is no, because his skills and talents were not those of a moral leader, or a symbolically attuned leader. When the Church needed a John Paul II, they instead had a quiet force for good. Sometimes that is enough; here it might have been, barely, for many hundreds of thousands saved by the Church. But it was not enough for millions of others, who were not saved, and probably could not have been short of American armored divisions. That is an unsatisfying answer, but a true one.

This book builds details, in layers, like a bird building a nest. It is a frustrating book to read. The facts accrete, and in the end one is left seeing the disgusting and weak job of character assassination done in "Hitler's Pope". But the reader also wishes for a better story telling style. The reader also wishes for more cogently stated ammunition against the Pope haters, such as they are.

The real word on the Pope, World War II, and the moral obligations of the Papacy -- that story has yet to be told, as a story. This book will be a good resource to some future writer who wants honesty, facts, and can use them to tell the story.

What the Vatican Archives Really Say About Pope Pius XII

This is adapted from my review published in the New Oxford Review (February 2000).

The author working with three other Jesuit scholars conducted research in the Vatican archives and helped produce 11 volumes of documents with the French title, Actes et documents du Saint Siege relatifs a la Seconde Guerre Mondiale (Actes). In the introduction to his book, Father Blet observes that these 11 volumes have often "escaped the attention of many who speak and write about the Holy See during the war." Indeed, of 677 citations in John Cornwell's Hitler's Pope, only 21 cite the Actes. Blet's near-exclusive use of primary sources is very impressive, and it gives his arguments substantial credibility. The Actes along with published collections of diplomatic documents from the United States, Great Britain, Germany, and Italy provide a clear and balanced portrait of Pope Pius XII during World War II. Blet shows that the Vatican consistently opposed the persecutions and deportations of Jews in many Nazi-occupied and Axis countries. In Slovakia, which was headed by an anti-Semitic Catholic priest, the Vatican officially protested the anti-Jewish laws and deportations. Vatican Secretary of State Luigi Cardinal Maglione frequently instructed the Vatican's diplomatic representatives in Slovakia, Romania, Croatia, Italy, and even Germany to intervene on behalf of endangered Jews. On October 30, 1941, Cardinal Maglione encouraged the papal nuncio in France to intervene with the Vichy regime in order to soften the application of the anti-Semitic laws. The nuncio's protest against the deportations of French Jews in August 1942 received international attention. Blet also refutes the myth that the Vatican did nothing to stop the arrests of Roman Jews in October 1943. As soon as Pius XII heard of the arrests, he had Cardinal Maglione make a strong protest with the German Ambassador. The Pope also ordered Bishop Alois Hudal, the rector of the German Catholic Church in Rome, to protest the arrests with the German Military Governor of Rome. Along with these protests, thousands of Jews found shelter in Catholic convents, monasteries, and the Vatican itself. In response to the deportations of Hungarian Jews in June 1944, the Pope personally addressed an open telegram to Hungarian Regent Nicholas Horthy, and urged him to spare "so many unfortunate people" from "further afflictions and sorrows." The Holy Father's intervention along with those of the Red Cross, the King of Sweden, and President Franklin Roosevelt brought a temporary halt to the deportations. When the deportations resumed in October, the papal nuncio in Hungary, acting on orders from Rome, continued to make protests.(Unfortunately, Blet omits other Vatican interventions on behalf of Jews in Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Poland, Lithuania, and even Japan.) Important Jewish leaders and organizations such as Chief Rabbi Miroslav Freiberger of Zagreb, Croatia, Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog of Jerusalem, Chief Rabbi Alexander Shafran of Bucharest Romania, Chaim Barlas of the Jewish Agency, the World Jewish Congress, and the American Jewish Committee often expressed their gratitude to Pius XII. If the Pope did little or nothing to help the Jews and sympathized with the Nazis, then why did so many Jews in nearly every part of the world praise him on so many occasions? Along with helping Jews, the Vatican assisted prisoners of war and other civilians. In 1941 and 1942, the Vatican helped alleviate the famine in Greece during the Nazi occupation. As Father Blet writes, "The very mass of documents by itself stands as an eloquent testimony of the intensity of the care that the pope showed on behalf of the human problems that the war brought throughout the world." As for which side the Pope favored, Blet notes that in the early months of 1940, the Pope acted as an intermediary between a group of German generals who wanted to overthrow Adolf Hitler and the British government. Unfortunately, the conspiracy never went forward. Vatican critics such as Saul Friedlander and Guenther Lewy often explain the Pope's "silence" by suggesting that he saw the Nazis as a "bulwark" against the Soviet Union. In fact, Pius XII indirectly assisted the Soviet Union during the war. In response to diplomatic appeals made by President Franklin Roosevelt in the fall of 1941, Pius XII agreed that American Catholics could support the extension of the Lend-Lease program to the Soviets. While the Vatican always condemned Communism, the Pope had nothing but paternal sentiments for the Russian people. Along these lines, the extension of Lend-Lease to the Soviets could be morally justified because it helped the Russian people, who were the innocent victims of Nazi aggression. The Pope also rebuffed Fascist demands to publicly bless the invasion of the Soviet Union. Instead of embracing the Nazis, Pius XII strongly opposed their persecution of his Church in Germany and the occupied countries. In January 1940, he ordered Vatican Radio to broadcast Polish Cardinal August Hlond's reports on the persecution of the Catholic Church in Poland. These reports gave independent confirmation to media reports about Nazi atrocities, which were previously dismissed as Allied propaganda. Blet neglects to mention that these broadcasts also described atrocities against Jews. Unlike many historians and journalists, Blet discusses what Pius XII actually said in public, and how his statements were greeted by both sides. Throughout the war, the Pope insisted that an important condition for a "just and honorable peace " was the protection of all "ethnic minorities." In speech after speech, he also warned the occupying powers that they would face God's wrath if they failed to treat all civilians with justice, charity, and humanity. In his 1942 Christmas message, Pope Pius XII spoke of the "hundreds of thousands of people who, without any fault of their own and sometimes because of their nationality or race alone, have been doomed to death or to progressive extermination." Unlike most critics, who dismiss these words as vague, the Reich Central Security Office (R.H.S.A.) concluded that the Pope "virtually accuses the German people of injustice toward the Jews. . ." On June 2, 1943, Pius XII once again spoke of persons "because of their nationality or their race . . . destined, even without fault on their part, to the threat of extermination." Blet successfully demolishes the allegations against Pope Pius XII, showing that he did a lot to help the Jews, did speak out and opposed the Nazis in every possible way. At a time when attempts to derail Pope's forthcoming beatification are intensifying, both Catholics and non-Catholics can finally educate themselves about this controversy by consulting Father Blet's extraordinary book. When asked about his predecessor in 1998, Pope John Paul II referred reporters to Father Blet's work.

Meticulous presentation of the thousands of efforts undertaken by Pius XII to save the lives of Jews and Christians during World War II. Rather than engaging in armchair psychology (a la Cornwell), Blet overwhelms the reader with bald evidence of the Pope's exhastive efforts to help the persecuted. The work should lay to the rest the calumny concerning Pope Pius XII in World War II, but this calumny never had anything to do with the facts.

Reese has written a book that can be daunting to someone who may be looking for quick answers. The Vatican is such an arcane institution that it is impossible to give a short, comprehensive answer on the operation of the Curia. As a researcher, I found Reese's work immensely informative; it also provides some balance to the more sensational allegations of Luigi Marinelli, although I doubt that his work is to be discounted either. It shows an institution that is prone to the same errors of judgement and behaviour in its denizens as any other, but with a higher degree of moral rectitude expected from it. It is a fascinating excursion into one of the world's oldest surviving bureaucracies.

A must buy in order to understand the Roman Curia!

One young girl wrote in a book report "This book tells me more about hippopotamuses than I wanted to know." Unless you have a special interest in the Vatican inside story, this book may also tell you too much. But since the Roman Curia of the Catholic Church is one of the three most efficient corporate structures in the world, and since its work touches the lives of a billion Roman Catholics (and much of the rest of the world as well), and since its failings have been at the center of controversy in the Catholic world, the book is important. It is a well written and exhaustive summary of how the central Catholic government is structured and makes its decisions. The author, who has written on church governance at all levels, is a recognized expert in the field. Despite the controversial nature of the topic Reese treats the Curia fairly and objectively. Those who complain about the Curia should read this book, for while many of their complaints may be justified, they might be surprised at the amount and complexity of the work the Vatican does, the care and dedication with which they try to do it, and the problems and difficulties they labor under. The section on the internal culture of the Curia is particularly enlightening, and the author's concrete and professional suggestions for reform are valuable.