Called to communion : understanding the Church today / Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger ; translated by Adrian Walker

This is a book of wisdom and insight that explains how providential are the trials through which the Catholic Church is now passing. The need of the Papal Primacy to ensure Christian unity; the true meaning of the Priesthood as a sacrament and not a mere ministry; the necessity of the Eucharist as the Sacrifice of the Savior now offering Himself on our altars; the role of the Bishops as successors of the Apostles, united with the successor of St. Peter, the Bishop of Rome; the value of suffering in union with Christ crucified; the indispensable service of the laity in the apostolate - all these themes receive from Cardinal Ratzinger new clarity and depth. The Origin And Essence Of The Church -- The Primacy Of Peter And The Unity Of The Church -- The Universal Church And The Particular Church : The Task Of The Bishop -- On The Essence Of The Priesthood -- A Company In Constant Renewal. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger ; Translated By Adrian Walker. Includes Bibliographical References. The questions that occupy today's discussion of the Church are mostly of a practical nature: What is the responsibility of the bishop?