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Pope Benedict XVI
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God Is Love: Deus Caritas Est Kindle Edition

by Pope Benedict XVI (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 194 ratings
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Everyone needs love. Everyone desires love. But not everyone understands love. In fact, love is probably the most misunderstood subject in history.

In his first Encyclical, Pope Benedict helps to clarify the meaning of love. He examines the nature of various kinds of love — human love and divine love, eros, friendship, and charity. He writes beautifully and inspirationally of how man was made for love by the God who is love, the God who became one of us out of love — Jesus Christ.

In the second part of the Encyclical, Benedict addresses the Church's practice of love. He examines the relationship between justice and charity, as well as the call of every Catholic to serve others in love. The Pope's "love letter" to mankind is remarkably accessible and timely.

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  1. Print length
    124 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Ignatius Press
  5. Publication date
    September 3, 2009
  6. File size
    140 KB
  7. Page Flip
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  8. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Most Catholics who read 'God Is Love' will find the text challenging, provocative and insightful, offering reflections on topics they might not expect to find in an encyclical, the highest form of papal teaching." (John Thavis CNS 20060127)

About the Author

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) 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.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002FSTJCU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ignatius Press; 1st edition (September 3, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 3, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 140 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 124 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 194 ratings

About the author

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Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Born in 1927 in Germany as Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI has been head of the Roman Catholic Church since April 2005. A prolific author, theologian and university professor, Ratzinger served as an "expert" at the Second Vatican Council, and was tapped in 1977 by Pope Paul VI to lead the German Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. In 1981, Pope John Paul II called him to Rome to head the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he served until his papal election.

Photo by Kancelaria Prezydenta RP (prezydent.pl) [GFDL 1.2 (https://gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html) or GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
194 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

R Lentz
5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth about Christian Love
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2020
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This book is easy to read and helps you to understand what it means to love God and neighbor. Every Christian and anyone who desires to treat all people with dignity and respect should read this book.
One person found this helpful
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Mark Schmittle
5.0 out of 5 stars Incarnational salvation
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2006
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In this encyclical, Pope Benedict alludes to the prevalence in our world of the abuse, even hatred shown to the body which results from the dichotomy established between the body and spirit by modern culture and philosophical systems. He also mentions the hatred expressed by certain religious groups as being a result of a failure to realize the relationship established between God and man in Jesus and the expression of this relationship in physical terms. He shows that as embodied spirits we cannot have a mere spiritual love of God and neighbor, but it must become enfleshed through our physical care for Christ present in our neighbor. On the other hand, any concept of love that reduces it to physical sexual expression devoids the human person of its image of God in which it was created - the image of God manifested perfectly in Jesus and that gave its life completely in the flesh.

Pope Benedict relates well the relationship between manifestation of Christian love and the Eucharist. Since we are all united in the one bread in Christ, then each individual is in a sense owed the same love as we owe to Christ. In effect, we cannot love God without a true kinosis or outpouring of ourselves for our neighbor manifested in a concrete form. In this way the dichotomy between eros and agape that is an effect of the worlds worship of the flesh is eliminated and true incarnational salvation is brought about.
40 people found this helpful
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Eugene S.
5.0 out of 5 stars The first and most beautiful Encyclical letter of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2013
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This is surely the most beautiful encyclical written during the Pontificate of Benedict XVI. It explores the nature of God as love, and the different levels or depths of human and divine love. The view of God expressed in this volume provides a valuable key to the theological worldview of the retired Pontiff. His writings are rich with some of the timeless insights that will surely be remembered as hallmarks of his Pontificate. Highly recommended.
3 people found this helpful
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Phillip C. Spurgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2013
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This small book (Benedict's first Encyclical) is a wonderful example of Benedict's vocation as a scholar. It is both a pleasure to read and to understand. I recommend it for all people of faith, not just Roman Catholics. In these troubled times, it is especially important to understand that God is indeed LOVE.
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Elizabeth
4.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2022
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Good for the price as it was purchased for school.
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IB
5.0 out of 5 stars Very inspirational
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2020
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Very inspirational book
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Jason McMahon
5.0 out of 5 stars The first part is perhaps the best discussion on love I have read in a long ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2016
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The first part is perhaps the best discussion on love I have read in a long time. The second part I did not find as enlightening. But I recommend it if you really want a good understanding of what love is all about.
2 people found this helpful
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McKeever
5.0 out of 5 stars Deus Caritas Est
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2012
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Not since 1968 in the theology classes at Villanova Universiaty have I read a work dealing with, analyzing and synthesizing the aspects of "love". The writing of the Good Pope Benedict and Father Marie Louis, (Thomas Merton) have led me to an appreciation of the Zen of God and His creation.
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Top reviews from other countries

Abiding in the fields
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Grace
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2007
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This is a wonderful work full of God's and Pope Benedict's love for humanity. Not the sort of thing one would expect from a pope. He reveals the closest human love comes to God's love for humanity is the love both physical and spiritual as between a happily married couple. He also writes very well.

P.S. I am a protestant
28 people found this helpful
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Anna
5.0 out of 5 stars Good condition.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2018
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Good condition and as expected.
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Fiona
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2014
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Excellent
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