Romano Guardini

All worship is, in the first place, an act of justice in which the creature renders to the Creator that which is due Him. The human task is to do this act worthily, in accord with the Divine Will, and as we do it, to remember always that it is not we who shape the liturgy, but the liturgy that shapes us. This process of being shaped is the work of a lifetime. As Goethe says, we "begin by taking delight in externals, until we have the good fortune to grasp the substance." All Christians-especially children who are making their first steps in the faith-should try to acquire a fruitful understanding of those visible signs which believers have received down through the ages as means for expressing invisible grace. For this to happen, education is necessary, says Msgr. Romano Guardini: "We need to be shown how, or by some means be incited, to see and feel and make the sacred signs ourselves." The first step is to look with fresh eyes at the "elements out of which the higher liturgical forms have been constructed" the human person, and then the objects, movements, and awarenesses of time and space that pervade everyday life.There is no better primer for this double task-delighting in the externals and grasping the substance-than Guardini's Sacred Signs. Its combination of piercing insight, radiant piety, and almost fairy-tale-like language makes it unique in the annals of liturgical writing. Os Justi Press is pleased to make this classic available in a new edition graced with the original illustrations and a pedagogically rich introduction by Fr. Samuel F. Weber, OSB.

Follow the spiritual wisdom of one of the twentieth century's great theologians, Romano Guardini, as you prepare your mind, body, and heart for Mass. Guardini's sacramental imagination influenced the liturgical renewal that took shape in the Second Vatican Council, and has been highly praised by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. Romano Guardini's Meditations before Mass and Sacred Signs collects two seminal works from Guardini that are both filled with brief meditations on the fundamental elements and actions of the liturgy. Taken together, these two classics provide readers with a treasure-trove of reflections on the source and summit of Christian life--The Eucharist. Romano Guardini's Meditations before Mass is a set of thirty-two reflections on what the Mass asks of us, and how we might properly respond. The book is divided into two parts: Part one focuses on cultivating the appropriate dispositions we need to bring to Mass. Part two delves into the various dimensions of the Mass and the movements that demand our attention. Sacred Signs goes on to explore in twenty-six short meditations the actual things of the Mass as they are used sacramentally--water and wine, kneeling and standing, altar and linens--and the ways that they make spiritual and eternal realities visible. Likened to a mother who teaches her child to do the sign of the Cross, and a teacher who instructs his student as to the meaning of the act, Guardini hoped that he "could bring the sacred signs to life" for the reader. Together, these works reorient our attention and understanding so that, in Guardini's words, "the gaze lifted to the altar (can) grow inwardly quiet and receptive to holiness." Though both works were written before Vatican II, their relevance has only grown over the years. They are a spiritual feast for the mind and heart, and a guide for modern people who wish to make sense of the Church's feasts and liturgies. Romano Guardini's Meditations before Mass and Sacred Signs are wise, pastoral, and timeless classics on preparing for and savoring the Mass from a theological giant at his very best, yet relatable and meaningful to everyday Catholics who want to deepen their worship through the Mass.

In einer Zeit, in der die Grenzen des Machbaren immer deutlicher werden, fragen viele Menschen nach den Wurzeln des Daseins. Fragen nach Ursprung und Grund des Lebens rucken wieder mehr in den Mittelpunkt des Nachdenkens. Romano Guardini hat versucht, in zwei klassischen, immer aktuellen Texten dazu eine Antwort aufzuzeigen, die Suchenden Orientierung im Fragen und Beten bietet. In Der Anfang aller Dinge fuhrt er die Leserinnen und Leser zu den drei ersten Kapiteln der Genesis: eine Existenzlehre auf wenigen Seiten, die glaubig Fragenden Antwort geben, wie sie sich selbst und ihren ratselhaften Weg verstehen konnen. Eine wichtige Quelle der christlichen Spiritualitat erschliesst er in der Meditation Weisheit der Psalmen. In den sehr verschiedenartigen Psalmen kann alles Lob, alle Leidenschaft und alle Wut vor Gott getragen werden. Dabei wird seine Freiheit nicht angetastet, immer ist er der Herr und Richter. In diesem Gegenuber liegt fur Guardini der Grund der menschlichen Befreiung.

Two monumental works on the nature of the modern age by Romano Guardini, one of the most important Catholic figures of the 20th century.This expanded edition of The End of the Modern World: A Search for Orientation includes its sequel, Power and Responsibility: A Course of Action for the New Age. In both, Guardini analyzes modern man's conception of himself in the world, and examines the nature and use of power. It is the principle of individual responsibility that weaves both works into a seamless, comprehensive, and compelling moral statement. Guardini tirelessly argues that human beings are responsible moral agents, possessed of free will, and answerable to God and their fellow man.On The End of the Modern World: "This book will cauterize the spirit of any man who reads it; it will burn away that sentimentality with which so many today view the advent of the new order, imagining – as they do – that a fully technologized universe can retain every significant cultural and traditional value sustained by the past." – Frederick D. Wilhelmsen, founding editor of Triumph magazine and professor at the University of DallasOn Power and Responsibility: "If the characteristic of Hellenic civilization is to be summed up in the word logos, the characteristic of our own is more exactly summed up in the word power. The fact itself is a challenge to the wisdom of man. One is grateful that Romano Guardini has taken up the challenge... I highly recommend the book to all who are wise enough to know today's need to wisdom. That is, I recommend the book to every thoughtful mind." – John Courtney Murray, S.J., architect of the Vatican II "Declaration on Religious Liberty" and author of We Hold These Truths

No Catholic library is complete without these five landmark works by Romano Guardini, one of the most important Catholic figures of the 20th century.This treasury brings back into print Regnery's classic translations by Stella Lange with a new introduction by Robert Royal: The World and the Person, The Church of the Lord: On the Nature and Mission of the Church, The Word of God: On Faith, Hope, and Charity, The Virtues: On Forms of Moral Life, and The Wisdom of the Psalms.From the Introduction by Robert Royal: The present collection is a highly valuable retrieval of texts that supplement Guardini's greatest and best-known books, such as The End of the Modern World, The Spirit of the Liturgy, and The Lord, which have remained in print and have influenced generations. He makes a point of calling the works in this collection "reflections," not systematic treatments. But in truth they "reflect" the author's deep and internally consistent theological, philosophical, and—unusual among religious writers—literary culture. His books on Dante and Rilke, along with his frequent references to Augustine, Pascal, Dostoyevsky, Heidegger, and even Nietzsche, present an eclectic but deep and coherent vision of the Church and the world. Varying approaches to fundamental questions, of course, have their advantages and disadvantages. But as these texts make abundantly clear, Guardini had the kind of mind—the living virtue, as he puts it in his book on the virtues, included here—that can move flexibly but faithfully through whatever questions it encounters. Which is why these books are less like academic treatises and more like living dialogues with a wise and experienced and learned friend.

Aus drei Quellen schopft der vorliegende Band: Als Guardini in den letzten beiden Kriegsjahren nicht mehr offentlich wirken konnte, nahm er das zum Anlass, ruckblickend uber seine bisherige Tatigkeit als Lehrer und Seelsorger Rechenschaft zu geben. Diese Aufzeichnungen wurden spater unter dem Titel "Berichte uber mein Leben" veroffentlicht. Dazu kommen die Tagebuchaufzeichnungen von 1945-1964, unter dem Titel "Wahrheit des Denkens und Wahrheit des Tuns" veroffentlicht, und schliealich das kleine Bandchen "Stationen und Ruckblicke" gegen Ende seines Lebens geschrieben. Ein ausfuhrliches Orts- und Namensverzeichnis bietet eine wertvolle zusatzliche Orientierung. Die in diesem Band vereinigten autobiographischen Aufzeichnungen Guardinis sind ein hervorragender Zugang zu Mensch und Werk.

Vad andningen är för livet, det är bönen för det andliga livet. Först i samtalet med Gud blir människan det hon är ämnad till. Först inför Guds ansikte får människan sitt riktiga ansikte. Först i relationen till Guds Du blir människan sitt sanna Jag. I bönen formas, utvecklas och bekräftas hennes sanna identitet. Bönen är en gåva och ett privilegium, men också en uppgift. Den kan inte bara bero på den tillfälliga känslan, den är också något som måste läras in och upprätthållas dag efter dag. I denna koncentrerade böneskola sammanfattar Romano Guardini det väsentliga i bönens konst: Jesu undervisning i evangelierna, kyrkans samlade böneskatt i liturgin, helgonens erfarenheter av bönens stadier, svårigheter och ljuvligheter. Boken bygger på kyrkans samlade erfarenhet genom tiderna och är djupt förankrad i den klassiska teologiska traditionen: hur bönen är en delaktighet i Treenighetens inre liv och hur den praktiseras för att bära frukt i det konkreta livet. ROMANO GUARDINI (1885–1968), präst och professor i religionsfilosofi i Berlin, Tübingen och München, var en av 1900-talets främsta katolska intellektuella. Han lyckades framställa trons och teologins, men också den stora västerländska litteraturens och filosofins, teman så att de svarade på dagens frågor och utmaningar. Hans inflytande blev omfattande, och till hans lärjungar räknas Joseph Ratzinger och Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

This book is not just a history. To be sure, it offers an historical account of the life of Romano Guardini (1885-1968), as recounted by Guardini himself. However, it is not simply about the past. Precisely because it deals with the life of a faithful and thoughtful person, the book is also about the present and projects itself into the future. For, as Guardini always insisted, leading a thoughtful and faithful life means being oriented toward the 'good life', that is, toward the vision of a just and loving community. This orientation does not just happen by itself, nor can it be imposed or dictated from above, but has to be nurtured steadily by hearts open to the voice of the Spirit and the call of truth. Seen in this way, Romano Guardini occupies a crucial place in the world-in his world, in ours, and in the world to come. As he emphasizes beautifully at the end of his memoir-Narratives of My Life: Autobiographical Notes-he never considered himself as an isolated individual, nor as the spokesman of a dominant ideology or doctrine. Rather, his work was always energised by and in dialogue with a broader context-a context which one of his mentors, Max Scheler, aptly called the 'life world'.

This book is not just a history. To be sure, it offers an historical account of the life of Romano Guardini (1885-1968), as recounted by Guardini himself. However, it is not simply about the past. Precisely because it deals with the life of a faithful and thoughtful person, the book is also about the present and projects itself into the future. For, as Guardini always insisted, leading a thoughtful and faithful life means being oriented toward the 'good life', that is, toward the vision of a just and loving community. This orientation does not just happen by itself, nor can it be imposed or dictated from above, but has to be nurtured steadily by hearts open to the voice of the Spirit and the call of truth. Seen in this way, Romano Guardini occupies a crucial place in the world-in his world, in ours, and in the world to come. As he emphasizes beautifully at the end of his memoir-Narratives of My Life: Autobiographical Notes-he never considered himself as an isolated individual, nor as the spokesman of a dominant ideology or doctrine. Rather, his work was always energised by and in dialogue with a broader context-a context which one of his mentors, Max Scheler, aptly called the 'life world'.

Romano Guardini spricht als einer der ersten seiner Generation vom Ende der Neuzeit. In seinem Essay setzt er sich mit einem neuen, von der damaligen Geschichtsschreibung noch unbenannten Zeitalter auseinander. Der Glaube an Fortschritt und Machbarkeit ist in einen tiefen Kulturpessimismus umgeschlagen. Der Mensch wird auf seine Grenzen verwiesen, bekommt dadurch aber die Chance, im Ruf Gottes neu zu leben. Der zweite Beitrag dieses Bandes 'Die Macht' knupft hier an. Nach der Erfahrung des Nationalsozialismus stellt sich die Frage nach dem Umgang mit Macht und deren Missbrauch in aller Scharfe. Durfen wir alles, was wir konnen? Wo sind Grenzen? Dies sind auch heute hochaktuelle Fragen. Guardini geht es um Einordnung und Bandigung der Macht, damit der Mensch in ihrem Gebrauch als Mensch bestehen kann.

Viele Menschen suchen heute eine neue Religiositat, und Religionen wie der Buddhismus und Hinduismus gewinnen Anhanger in den westlichen Industrienationen. Verliert die Offenbarung des Alten und Neuen Testaments dagegen an Uberzeugungskraft? Fur Romano Guardini sind die vor- und ausserchristlichen Religionen und die naturliche Religiositat nicht nur Vorspiele der Offenbarung, sondern sie haben Bedeutung in sich selbst, sie enthalten einen grossen Reichtum an Erfahrungen, Mythen und Symbolen, welche die Offenbarungsreligion mit Dankbarkeit entgegennehmen kann. Guardini beschreibt die ganze Vielfalt des religiosen Lebens, er erinnert an die Gottesbilder der Heiligen Bucher und der geistlichen Dichtung der Menschheit. Dennoch, so zeigt er eindrucksvoll und uberzeugend, wird nach christlichem Verstandnis der Sinn naturlicher Religiositat in der Offenbarung Gottes erschlossen

In unseren Tagen verliert der Rationalismus uberall an Ansehen; Irrationalitat und Intuition beherrschen immer offener die geistige Lage. So ist es wichtig, scharfer zu unterscheiden. So beschreibt Romano Guardini 1932 im Nachwort zu diesem Buch das damalige Klima: eine Diagnose, die bis heute nichts an Aktualitat eingebusst hat. Im Gegensatz zu den Entwurfen der grossen klassischen Dichtungen, die das Dasein als durchschaubaren Kosmos aufbauen, spiegeln die Gestalten in den Werken des russischen Dramatikers Dostojewskij Ordnung und Chaos, sind in standigem Werden und Sich-Wandeln begriffen. Dadurch kommen auch die Schattenseiten des menschlichen Daseins und der Welt zum Tragen, ein Aspekt, der in der abendlandischen Kulturtradition oft vernachlassigt und so zu einem tiefen Verhangnis wurde. Romano Guardini fuhrt in diesem Band in meisterhafter Weise in die Gestalten Dostojewskijs und in das Gesamtwerk des Dichters ein.

Bleibend gultig und inspirierend fur die eigene Orientierung. Beeindruckendes personliches Zeugnis Romano Guardinis bibliophile Neuausgabe Plotzlich bricht etwas ins Leben ein, mit dem wir nie gerechnet hatten: ein freudiges Ereignis, eine inspirierende Begegnung, eine unverhoffte Einsicht, aber auch erschutternde Erfahrungen wie Krankheit oder Tod. Von solchen plotzlichen Erfahrungen und sich anschliessenden Einsichten handeln die hier versammelten Briefe Romano Guardinis. Eine lange Erkrankung fuhrt Guardini selbst an die Grenzen des Lebens. Er nimmt dies zum Anlass, uber das Leben, uber Gott und Endlichkeit, uber Freiheit und Verantwortung, Vertrauen und Hoffnung nachzudenken. Ein inspirierendes Zeugnis und eine Ermutigung fur das eigene Leben.