In 2009 a distinguished Roman theologian, Mgr Brunero Gherardini, published a book called Concilio Ecumenico Vaticano II: Un discorso da fare. An English translation, The Ecumenical Vatican Council II: A much needed discussion, appeared soon after.
The book contains flaws, and the English translation is unidiomatic. But it is a most important contribution to the on-going debate about Vatican II. Naturally, it was not much welcomed in some circles.
Both the Italian and the English versions were made available by Casa Mariana Editrice, a publishing house associated with the Franciscans of the Immaculate (which has produced other of his books).
I wrote several posts about this book; they can be accessed through the Search Engine in the top left hand corner of this blog by tapping in GHERARDINI. The book carries commendations by Bishop Mario Olivieri and by Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.
These are both clergymen who are in good standing with the Holy See.
I gather that restrictions have now been placed upon the publishing house Casa Mariana Editrice.
Are copies of this book still freely available?
If they are, I commend the book (as I did three years ago). If you have not read it, get a copy.
A READER SUGGESTS: HTTP://WWW.BIBLIO.COM/
If they are not as freely available, then it would be interesting if those responsible could perhaps explain why.
How interesting Father, I just pulled that book of the shelf two days back.
ReplyDeleteIt is a vital contribution to the whole Vatican II debate and should be on sale in every Catholic bookshop.
Also important is the associated petition to the Holy Father of 14/10/11 by Msgr. Gherardini and some 50 Catholic thinkers and a book by Prof. de Matteo, the History of Vatican II.
There are others of course who should be read, Martin Mosebach and Msgr. Wadsworth for instance but personally I think the “Proposals for a Correct Reading of the Second Vatican Council” by Bishop Athanasius Schneider ORC, 12/10, a key contribution in this debate, which will have to hold sooner or later.
It just won’t go away!
Happy and holy Christmas to all.
p.s. I agree, the translation is awful, but then nothing is perfect!
I can find no trace of Mgr Gherardini's book on the publisher's website, nor does it appear to be available from major retailers such as Amazon.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is still possible to locate booksellers claiming to have it in stock by searching on the ISBN numbers - 9788890177040 for the Italian edition and 9788890177064 for the English.
For instance, at deastore.com both editions are listed as "available", each for £12.52.
One wonders just how much, if any, this book contributed to the desire to suppress the Franciscans.
ReplyDeleteI just ordered one of the three copies left at this venue:
ReplyDeleteto order the book, please go to: www.biblio.com and enter the author's name (Brunero Gherardini) or the title (The Ecumenical Vatican Council II. A Much Needed Discussion) in the search box. You'll find the book description, including a list of contents, and all details (major credit cards accepted).
One word of caution: I just updated the listing and it may not show on your screen for a couple of hours. So, if you don't see the book listed, please try again later. Thank you very much for your interest,
Luciana Cuppo
@IANS, I raised this very possibility in a post in the comboxes of Fr. Z's blog and received the reply by "anonymous" types who claim inside knowledge that this indeed was a very significant factor in the (atrocious) action against the FIs. And you will recall that Msgr Gherardini had joined with Prof. de Mattei (whose book on Vatican II is must reading: after reading page after page of accounts of the arguments there, you will never again be tempted to buy into the facile "ordinary and universal magisterium" claim bandied about by those, like Msgr Ocariz, I regret to say, who seem to want to sweep the whole thing under the rug) and 50 others in the petition to HH Benedict XVI for clarification, for crying out loud, of the difficult VII texts. And for this, their allies in religion are squashed in what can only be described as Stalinist rigor. So much for the ballyhooed mercy and compassion of this pontificate.
ReplyDeleteDear Woody. I read Prof Mattei's great book and an excellent review of it was produced by Brother Boniface at Unam, Sanctum, Catholicism.
ReplyDeleteAs for Our Holy Father, I see reactions to him on the basis of the right thing to do - What Sem and Japeth did in cloaking Noe - vs the wrong thing to do, expose his putative nekkidness as Cham did.
Sem was Blessed, Cham Cursed.
Said otherwise, it is about Cloak and Daggers; use of the Cloak will bring Blessings, use of the Dagger of condemnation will bring a Curse.