From 21 to 24 September 2021, the IV International Theological Congress of the Passionists took place in Rome, at the Pontifical Lateran University on the theme: The Wisdom of the Cross in a Pluralistic World". It took place in the context of the Jubilee Celebrations for the Third Centenary of the Foundation of the Passionist Congregation and aims to deepen the topicality of the Cross in the context of the many contemporary areopagi. During the four days, more than 100 speakers, scholars and specialists from many academic and cultural circles with an international reach, from Roman universities as well as from many nations of the various continents, took turns. The rich scientific, cultural and spiritual experience of the Congress is collected in three volumes (over 1,100 pages), the first of which has also been translated from Italian into four languages ​​(English, French, Spanish and Portuguese).

Covering such timely issues as witness in a multifaith society and political engagement in a pluralistic world, this compelling book highlights things Christians can do to serve the common good. Now in paperback. Praise for the cloth edition Named one of the "Top 100 Books" and one of the "Top 10 Religion Books" of 2011 by Publishers Weekly "Accessible, wise guidance for people of all faiths."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Highly original. . . . The book deserves a wide audience and is one that will affect its readers well after they have turned the final page."--Christianity Today (5-star review)

INSPIRATIONAL

The Wisdom of the Cross by Fr Anthony C. Mbanefo, MSP, is a refreshing reflection of the power of the Cross. The authors generous use of Sacred Scripture gives a perspective from before and after. Fr Mbanefo stresses the liberation of the Cross and how it is shared in our baptism and in the moment of our redemption. Like his other works, Fr. Mbanefo challenges the reader to use the Cross as a benchmark for our own commitment to discipleship. Ultimately, The Wisdom of the Cross leads to the love that God has for each of us. + Most Reverend Gregory J Hartmayer, OFM. Conv. Bishop of Savannah, GA This book is an invitation for all Christian believers to confront the challenges of life with profound faith and docility to Gods will. Gods love for mankind is made visible in the suffering and death of Christ. Fr Mbanefo demonstrates how the passion and death of Christ makes the day to day sufferings of our human condition full of meaning and purpose. I recommend this book to all those who believing in Christ as their hope want to discover from him, the strength that will aid them in confronting the difficulties of life. +Most Reverend Kevin J. Boland, Bishop Emeritus of Savannah GA

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." These inspiring words of wisdom that had been spoken by Jesus to believers in days past have stirred a response from many readers down through the ages to follow in His footsteps. Have you picked up your cross today? How do you know with certainty what your cross is? Theologically the cross that every disciple picks up is the same; experientially it will be expressed differently. The essential facets of cross-bearing that define discipleship are identified in the wisdom of the cross enabling Christians to live to their full potential in Christ. To simplify the reading of this book, footnotes are not used. A bibliography of references is included. Darlene E. Buchholtz is the founder and president of Crosswind, Inc. She received her Masters Degree in Theology from International Seminary. As a bi-vocational minister, she has been involved in multiple facets of ministry for over twenty-five years, including a thirteen-year pastorate. Devoted to the ministry of the Gospel, she currently teaches at Crosswind Teaching & Training Center, in Toledo, Ohio.

In this small gem of theological reflection, North America's foremost "theologian of the cross" offers a profound and compelling contemplation on the relevance of the church's most fundamental confession. Hall ponders what confessing Jesus as crucified means in today's context, one that is postmodern, pluralistic, multicultural, and in some respects post-Christian. A digest of his monumental trilogy, this book lays out in brief compass the heart of Hall's theology of the cross, contrasting it sharply with the theology of established Christianity, showing how it reframes classical Christology and soteriology, and drawing the implications for what it means to be human, for Christian ethics, and for the church.

The first installment in a wide and deep constructive theology for our time In Christ and Reconciliation Veli-Matti Karkkainen develops a constructive Christology and theology of salvation in dialogue with the best of Christian tradition, with contemporary theology in its global and contextual diversity, and with other major living faiths. Karkkainen's Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World is a five-volume project that aims to develop a new approach to and method of doing Christian theology in our pluralistic world at the beginning of the third millennium. Topics such as diversity, inclusivity, violence, power, cultural hybridity, and justice are part of the constructive theological discussion along with classical topics such as the messianic consciousness, incarnation, atonement, and the person of Christ. With the metaphor of hospitality serving as the framework for his discussion, Karkkainen engages Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism in sympathetic and critical mutual dialogue while remaining robustly Christian in his convictions. Never before has a full-scale doctrinal theology been attempted in such a wide and deep dialogical mode.