Faithful Witness: On Reconciliation and Peace in the Holy Land
Patriarch Michel Sabbah
Edited and with an Introduction by Drew Christianson SJ & Saliba Sarsar
GoodBookStall Review:
From 1988 to 2008, His Beatitude Michel Sabbah was Latin Patriarch (the leader of the Catholic Church) in the Holy Land. His qualities of patience, integrity, diplomacy, justice, love and many others, were used as he supported and represented the rights of Catholics, other Christians and their Jewish and Muslim neighbours to governments in the area and to the wider World.
After a 'Foreword' and an 'Introduction' there is a selection of twenty of his speeches, homilies, pastoral letters and other thoughts and writings. There are three Appendices on the significance of Jerusalem, 'Notes' and sources to accompany the text, ending with biographies of the editors and a description of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, which sponsored the book. There are many tributes to the Patriarch from religious leaders.
He is firm in his belief that 'Religious leaders have a role to play, a reconciliatory role, not the role of exclusivist extremism.' (p. 107). Also that, '...every divine grace surpasses limits and draws people to each other in the sincerity of hearts and goodwill. It fosters frank and objective dialogue, mutual knowledge, and recognition.' (p. 123). It is this living hope and confidence that informs all that he said and wrote, despite the terror, war and oppression which was - and is - the experience of so many in Christ's own country. For those who want to be encouraged, and for those who are close to despair, this book is a gift from God.
Reviewer: J.Nicholas Latham (22/02/10)
From 1988 to 2008, His Beatitude Michel Sabbah was Latin Patriarch (the leader of the Catholic Church) in the Holy Land. His qualities of patience, integrity, diplomacy, justice, love and many others, were used as he supported and represented the rights of Catholics, other Christians and their Jewish and Muslim neighbours to governments in the area and to the wider World.
After a 'Foreword' and an 'Introduction' there is a selection of twenty of his speeches, homilies, pastoral letters and other thoughts and writings. There are three Appendices on the significance of Jerusalem, 'Notes' and sources to accompany the text, ending with biographies of the editors and a description of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, which sponsored the book. There are many tributes to the Patriarch from religious leaders.
He is firm in his belief that 'Religious leaders have a role to play, a reconciliatory role, not the role of exclusivist extremism.' (p. 107). Also that, '...every divine grace surpasses limits and draws people to each other in the sincerity of hearts and goodwill. It fosters frank and objective dialogue, mutual knowledge, and recognition.' (p. 123). It is this living hope and confidence that informs all that he said and wrote, despite the terror, war and oppression which was - and is - the experience of so many in Christ's own country. For those who want to be encouraged, and for those who are close to despair, this book is a gift from God.
Reviewer: J.Nicholas Latham (22/02/10)
