Pope Benedict XVI was a superb homilist in addition to being a marvelous theologian, with evidence of both well represented in this book. As the first volume in a planned two-volume set, this collection of homilies comes from the years 2005-2012. Those presented in this collection were selected from public masses, and the texts of the homilies are available on the Vatican website. As indicated by the title, this first volume includes 2-7 homilies each on Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday: Chrism Mass, Holy Thursday: Last Supper, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Ascension, Pentecost, Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Christ the King, 45 homilies in all.

The editor of the volume, Fr. Rossotti, helpfully uses the introduction to point out four themes characteristically found in Benedict’s preaching (p. xiv). First, homilies start with an awareness of God’s communication with us in history. Second, homilies must arise out of prayer and silence. Third, an increase of love for the Church should be a fruit of the second theme. Fourth, homilies should be oriented towards the missionary work of the Church. These themes are indeed easy to find throughout the volume, though the primary ideas of each homily tend to be most directly determined by the particular solemnity being celebrated. Focusing on those primary ideas is the easiest way to engage with the book.

The homilies in each section are ordered chronologically, regardless of how many there are. However, the inclusion of the date for each would have been useful in the contents section as well, since they are only found in the information section at the start of each. Putting this information in the contents would more easily enable readers to look for homilies in the same year and use the book in a slightly different way than for which it is otherwise laid out. It could be used more easily, for example, to look for developments in ideas by year or by the progression of the pope’s thinking over time.

Benedict consistently presents specific historical, biblical, and theological information in an accessible way. He also always uses such information to draw people towards several themes typical of his papacy and his theological work as a whole, the primary one being love. God’s love, our love for God, and God’s transforming love for us to be returned to God and shared with all others stand out. Other themes, like our worship being given and directed by God as found in his longer works (such as The Spirit of the Liturgy), can be seen subtly referred to or briefly developed in these homilies.

Another important theme advanced in at least several of these homilies, especially those given with a high clergy presence, relates to the clergy’s role in the Church. One passage representative of Benedict’s teaching is the following: “The priest is removed from worldly bonds and given over to God, and precisely in this way, starting with God, he must be available for others” (p. 62). From here, Benedict offers an inspirational understanding of ecclesiology that ties into other themes found in other homilies, such as his challenge to the all-too-human conception that service to God is somehow a loss of human freedom rather than the blossoming of it. All of the themes noted above are presented by Benedict in a way that encourages deep reflection which will be experienced well beyond the time spent reading the homilies. That is perhaps the greatest gift Benedict offers us through this text.

As noted already, these homilies are all readily available online. For many of us, the convenience of reading in a physical form is enough justification to purchase the book. It is also helpful that they have been selected for both scope and thematic continuity by the editor. However, there are a few areas of improvement which could have been easily made for an even better product. First, the information section preceding each homily gives the place, solemnity, and the date. It would have been extremely helpful to have the readings for the mass listed right here in this section. Only rarely is it made clear what the specific readings are for a given homily, and that can lead to a little confusion. So, we get passages such as on p. 131 where Benedict states: “the passage of the Letter to the Romans which we have just read...” It is not usually convenient for a reader to pause and go to look up the readings for that date in that year.

Second, more informational and explanatory footnotes would be helpful throughout. Even educated Catholics will need to look up some elements in the homilies, knowledge about which was assumed by Benedict seemingly because of the context or attendance at a particular mass. For example, Benedict refers several times in a mass at the opening of the year of priests in 2009 to the Curé of Ars. Some readers would no doubt benefit from a short note indicating that this is the nickname of St. John Vianney (Patron of Parish Priests). With total footnotes not equaling much more than about 50 throughout the volume and largely being composed of brief references or citations, some explanatory notes from the editor would be of great service to enhancing the experience with this excellent book.