Books

My Dear Young Friends: Pope John Paul II Speaks to Teens on Life, Love, Courage

Reviewed by Mary-Jane Donnellan

Contents - Nov 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Synod of Oceania document imminent - 'Ecclesia in Oceania' - Peter Westmore Tenth Synod of Bishops: Bishops called to courageous witness to the Faith - AD2000 News: The Church Around the World A young Catholic's views on the state of the Church in Australia - James Connolly Brisbane liturgy director calls Vatican document "a betrayal" - Michael Gilchrist Pastoral letter: Taking up John Paul II's concerns about the Sacrament of Penance - Archbishop Barry J. Hickey Cardinal Ratzinger's latest book-interview - 'God and the World' - Zenit News Service Winter school: Evangelising in a "post-pagan" culture - Fr Anthony Mastroeni Opinion: Catholics before and after Vatican II: separating fact from myth - John Young Letters: Forgotten teachings - Fr John Speekman Letters: Catholic women - Errol P. Duke Letters: Immigration policy - George F. Simpson Letters: Classification Guidelines - Mrs Carol V. Phillips Letters: A response on the Creation of Man - Gerry Keane Letters: Catholic teaching - John Schmid Letters: St Thomas Aquinas - Valentine Gallagher Obituary: Lew Bennett R.I.P. Books: 'The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Jewish Origins of Christianity', Carsten Theide - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) 'Those Terrible Middle Ages', by Règine Pernoud - Christopher Quinn (reviewer) Books: My Dear Young Friends: Pope John Paul II Speaks to Teens on Life, Love, Courage - Mary-Jane Donnellan (reviewer) Books: 'Pardon And Peace: A Sinner's Guide to Confession', by Fr Francis Randolph - Christopher Quinn (reviewer) Tapes: Thomas More Center Brisbane Winter School, July 2001 Books: 'The Glenstal Book Of Prayer: A Benedictine Prayer Book - Mary-Jane Donnellan (reviewer) Books: 'STICKY THE DOG', by Robert Wheeler - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Bookstore: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: All Souls Day and a Christian response to bereavement - Fr Dennis W. Byrnes PP

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS:
Pope John Paul II Speaks to Teens on Life, Love, and Courage
edited by John Vitek
(St Mary's Press, 2001, 126pp, $16.95. Available from AD Books)

Dilecti Amici (Dear Friends) is the title of Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter issued on the occasion of the International Youth Year in 1985. Since then, he has written a succession of messages to young people to coincide with each World Youth Day, up to and including the year 2001. Quotes from these, as well as from other messages and addresses directed to young people, are included in My Dear Young Friends. His words make inspiring and challenging reading - and not just for young people.

It is obvious the Holy Father has a particular concern for the youth of today's world and an appreciation of their potential to achieve good. He writes: "Draw close to Christ, so that you may participate, with the whole community of believers, in the great task of transforming the world according to God's design, of creating a world where the love of God directs all things!".

My Dear Young Friends is structured conveniently around 52 weekly reflections, each consisting of a quote from John Paul II, followed by "Think About That", "Take Action" and "Say a Prayer" segments.

At a time when chaos seems to surround us, the Holy Father's words are a source of hope, truth and reassurance. Today's Catholics - young and not-so-young - are fortunate to have such a leader, one who has lived his life for God and suffered in so many ways, yet can bring the essentials of Faith clearly into focus.

As Scripture says: "We are ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20). The present book offers a host of ideas on how we can make this a reality in our lives.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 10 (November 2001), p. 17