God Is Ever New: Meditations on Life, Love, and Freedom by Pope Benedict XVI

Michelle Nott shares her thoughts on a collection of Pope Benedict XVI’s writings, noting that busy moms shouldn't hesitate to read this book.

God Is Ever New: Meditations on Life, Love, and Freedom

by Pope Benedict XVI
Ignatius Press

I have always wanted to read works by previous popes, but admittedly have been hesitant to pick one up. While I enjoy reading and have a thirst for knowledge, reading comprehension is not one of my strengths, and I know that the popes are all high intellectuals and theologians.  

However, when I saw that a collection of Pope Benedict XVI’s writings, God is Ever New, was available for review, I decided to go ahead and request it. I read the reviews by those who had already read the book (particularly Jen Fulwiler’s review, saying it was meant for those of us who are busy) that persuaded me to give it a try. And I am happy that I did. 

What's in this book?

This book is comprised of short excerpts from homilies Pope Benedict gave throughout his papacy, which are divided into different sections by topic, such as “Meditations on God and Jesus,” and “Meditations on Love,” or “Meditations on Truth and Freedom,” to name a few. The table of contents in the beginning of the book shares the titles of the excerpts under each meditation as well as the page number each can be found on, making it easy to navigate the book if you are looking for a particular topic to read about.  

This organization method makes it a great book for those of us who tend to stay busy or get interrupted often (definitely mom-friendly). You can read a short excerpt when you get a free moment. It does not have to be a book that you read cover to cover, but one where you can flip through and read a certain meditation one day, and switch to a different topic the next time you read, which I like.  

God Is Ever New is also a perfect book for those who, like me, have a little more trouble reading very intellectual works. Each of the excerpts are short and taken from Pope Benedict XVI’s homilies throughout his papacy where he was addressing a lot of different age groups. He spoke in such a way that many would be able to understand the message he was giving, and because they are presented in short excerpts in his book, it makes it even easier for a busy mom like me to read his words and meditate on his homily.  

My thoughts on the actual physical copy of the book 

I really appreciate the physical aspects of the book as well. It’s small enough to bring with you on the go, or to keep on your bedside table without taking up a lot of room. The pages are thicker and of such a nice quality, so I don’t have to worry about little hands immediately ripping up pages if they get to the book before I do.  

Thoughts on the Introduction 

I love that Pope Francis wrote the introduction for this book. It is a great way to honor and respect the Pope who came before him. Pope Benedict XVI had a lot of wonderful messages in this work, and having Pope Francis acknowledge the importance of what his predecessor was saying is a great way to validate the message shared in these homilies with the rest of the Church.  

Bringing the pope's homilies to life 

I was fortunate enough to see Pope Benedict XVI when he came to say Mass in Washington, DC in April of 2008. I will always remember it because he came on my birthday and my parents surprised me with tickets to attend the Mass to see the pope. While I remember that day, I do not remember the specific details such as his homily message (though I wish I could!). 

I love that this book brings Pope Benedict's homilies to life for those of us who were not able to attend them in person or were too young to remember his message at the time. I really appreciate the time and dedication taken in organizing the messages in his homilies and putting them together in this book for everyone to read. I highly recommend this book for those who want to get to know Pope Benedict better, and also those who are looking for short meditations to focus on each day. 

Is this a book you'd like to read? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2024 Michelle Nott
Images: (top) detail from book cover; (bottom) Canva