This unique book offers a Catholic view of the Holy Land in the debate that rages among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Alain Marchadour and David Neuhaus, two biblical scholars and priests living in Jerusalem, clearly analyze the Promised Land--as concept, history, and contested terrain--in Catholic teaching and doctrine. They offer an analytical reading of the entire Christian Bible (Old and New Testaments) with reference to the idea of the Land promised by God. They explore early and medieval attitudes, especially with regard to the Holy Places and the Jewish people. Moving carefully to the present day, they focus on anti-Semitism, the tragedy ofthe Shoah, Western colonialism in the Middle East, the creation of the State of Israel, and the birth of the Palestinian refugee problem as they examine Catholic reactions to the tumultuous events of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, particularly the renewal of Catholic thought in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council. Studying the most recent Church documents, Marchadour and Neuhaus confront the ongoing struggle for peace, justice, and reconciliation in the Middle East.This illuminating book is an essential tool for all those struggling to understand the links between the Bible, the Church, and contemporary Middle Eastern realities, especially in Israel and Palestine.

This unique book offers a Catholic view of the Holy Land in the debate that rages among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Alain Marchadour and David Neuhaus, two biblical scholars and priests living in Jerusalem, clearly analyze the Promised Landaas concept, history, and contested terrainain Catholic teaching and doctrine. They offer an analytical reading of the entire Christian Bible (Old and New Testaments) with reference to the idea of the Land promised by God. They explore early and medieval attitudes, especially with regard to the Holy Places and the Jewish people. Moving carefully to the present day, they focus on anti-Semitism, the tragedy ofthe Shoah, Western colonialism in the Middle East, the creation of the State of Israel, and the birth of the Palestinian refugee problem as they examine Catholic reactions to the tumultuous events of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, particularly the renewal of Catholic thought in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council. Studying the most recent Church documents, Marchadour and Neuhaus confront the ongoing struggle for peace, justice, and reconciliation in the Middle East. This illuminating book is an essential tool for all those struggling to understand the links between the Bible, the Church, and contemporary Middle Eastern realities, especially in Israel and Palestine.

Christian life, like life generally, is marked by trials. For this reason, the author has chosen the Book of Job as a primary text for reflection, although other passages of the Old and New Testaments are also offered for meditation.

The story of Job spoke to the Jewish people exiled in Babylonia, even as it speaks to us today. It inspires questions such as, Does suffering have meaning? Can human beings ask God to account for that suffering? It counters those questions by asking for belief in God's ultimate justice and (humanly) incomprehensible wisdom.

In comments marked by spiritual and pastoral depth, Cardinal Martini, Archbishop of Milan, dwells on certain passages of Job that help shed light on the meaning of the mystery of the human person and the mystery of God. The reflections are gathered from retreat lectures given by the cardinal. When read in an atmosphere of prayer, these pages become a source of light, nourishment, strength, incentive, and consolation.

Cardinal Martini infuses the joy of the gospel in these reflections that urge young people (and all Christians) to turn to sacred reading (lectio divina) and to devotion to Mary as a means to follow Christ.

This volume contains two collections of meditations on the Word of God. The first consists of spiritual exercises developed around the Cana wedding story, with Mary as our instructor in discipleship. The stories of crisis and conversion from the Gospel of St. Mark form the basis of the second collection and mirror our lives as followers of Christ.

The young people of Milan know Cardinal Martini, their archbishop, as an understanding, comforting, and challenging witness to the gospel. With each word Cardinal Martini draws all young people who partake of these reflections nearer to the "joy" of the cross, our salvation.