Harvesting the Fruits: Basic Aspects of Christian Faith in Ecumenical Dialogue

Description

The Second Vatican Council declared the restoration of unity among Christians to be one of its principal concerns. Division among the Churches scandalises the world and damages that most holy cause, the preaching of The Gospel to every creature. A key figure to have worked tirelessly at these aims is Cardinal Walter Kasper, one of the most experienced, authoritative, and respected members of the Vatican hierarchy. Here Cardinal Kasper summarises the results of the Catholic Church's official dialogues with Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican and Methodist Churches over forty years, sets out a blueprint for 'consensus and convergence', and sets out a map for the way forward for ecumenism. From such a source, this document is therefore of crucial importance. The book focuses on the major issues in ecumenical dialogue - Jesus Christ, The Holy Trinity, Justification, The Church and The Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. Cardinal Kasper explains the key issues at stake and offers signposts for the way forward so that the wish of Jesus may be fulfilled: That They May All Be One.

Cardinal Walter Kasper was President of The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. A German by birth, he spends much time lecturing and giving conferences in the English-speaking world. Cardinal Walter Kasper was President of The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. A German by birth, he spends much time lecturing and giving conferences in the English-speaking world.

This book should be required reading. -- Revd Dr Keith Clements, Baptist Times, January 2010. Ecumenical experts now have their own Catechism in this book by Cardinal Walter Kasper. It is a summary of progress so far of the four ecumenical dialogues into which the Catholic Church has entered: with the Methodists and Lutherans, (both since 1967) and the Anglicans and the Reformed Church (both since 1970). * One In Christ, Volume 43, No. 2, December 2009 * La Recolte est bonne, mais tous ne sont pas prets a savourer ces bon fruits. Esperons la publication rapide d'une traduction francaise de ce livre. * Unite de Chretiens, Janvier 2010. * mentioned in The Tablet 13 February, 2010. Contain[s] very positive indicators of where the Cardinal and his deparment stand. * Church Times, March 2010 * Review in Churches Together in Sussex, Summer 2010 Review and description of book in Theology, 1st July 2010 A timely and helpful book. * Expository Times, August 2010 * Well structured and interesting; the reader is treated to a whistle-stop historic overview of preaching practice through the ages. * Church of Ireland Gazette, 23rd July 2010 * Offers a valuable and accurate portrayal of the major work prepared by the first generation of ecumenists, a work that has borne truly immense fruit. In many ways, Harvesting the Fruits reads as a kind of legacy project, the swan song of an illustrious theologian and ecumenist (representing an illustrious generation of ecumenists), and perhaps a parting gift to a Church that has not always shown sufficient appreciation for its high-calibre ecumenical leadership (to say nothing of its partners). * The Ecumenist * This is an invaluable resource, particularly for seminarians and others concerned with the wider vision of God for his people. The story it tells of growing mutual understanding, appreciation and affection is one that all Church leaders, lay and ordained, should embrace and make their own in whatever circumstances they serve. * The Living Church *