La Iglesia De La Misericordia: The Church Of Mercy (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
3.75 starsI received this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads giveaways, in exchange for an honest review.I am so personally impressed with Pope Francis that I was thrilled to win this giveaway. I only wish time had allowed me to read it sooner.My only wish for this book is that the excerpts were pulled more from his homilies to the common folk, & less from his addresses to other priests, bishops, & other religious leaders. While, as a Catholic, it is interesting to hear him speak of loftier ideas, it can lose the reader quickly. Some of this would have been fine; but it's my opinion that there is too much of it.Make no mistake: while Pope Francis is calling for what seems like a less-stringent, less-dogmatic way forward for the Catholic Church, nothing about it is easy. He is challenging in every one of these excerpts: challenging both the clergy & the congregation to be better, to be more Christian, to be more responsible for themselves & to each other, to have faith & trust in God. There is nothing easy about what he's asking of us all. But it's also nothing new. It's what we're called to do & be by Jesus, the Apostles, & other early Christian leaders. It's clear that Pope Francis's moves to move past issues like divorced Catholics, gay Catholics, & other wedge issues that have politicized the Church are his way of saying, "Don't sweat the small stuff." There are bigger things at play: people freezing & starving to death right outside the Vatican walls, for instance. He calls on us to work to end injustices like this, & he's not kidding, or taking it lightly. This is a man who knows his theology, knows his role, & knows he has limited time to make an impact. I hope he's able to make the changes necessary in the time he has with us. Pope Francis has a great deal to say to the modern world about faith, the church, the role of the gospel and the ministry of Christians everywhere.Love him or hate him, the new Pope is a game changer for the Roman Catholic Church. This collection of sermons demonstrates the Pope's passions and he articulates himself very well.Whether or not you are Catholic, you may want to consider reading this book. He has some deep insights into the nature of man, the problems we all face and how faith can help. Many people will have trouble the nature of these sermons. The Pope focuses more on outreach to the poor and the oppressed than on the articles of faith. This might leave some believers with more questions than answers but that is ok, as these are not meant to be a comprehensive theology, but rather short outtakes. The writing is very clear and lucid. I recommend this book to all Christians who may want to have their faith challenged a bit.Grade: B+
What do You think about La Iglesia De La Misericordia: The Church Of Mercy (2014)?
Pope Francis clear writing gives insight to living our faith fully and freely
—shambhavi
I love his humanity and emphasis on the poor
—snark
