Romano Guardini – författare

This book is not just a history. To be sure, it offers an historical account of the life of Romano Guardini (1885–1968), as recounted by Guardini himself. However, it is not simply about the past. Precisely because it deals with the life of a faithful and thoughtful person, the book is also about the present and projects itself into the future. For, as Guardini always insisted, leading a thoughtful and faithful life means being oriented toward the ‘good life’, that is, toward the vision of a just and loving community. This orientation does not just happen by itself, nor can it be imposed or dictated from above, but has to be nurtured steadily by hearts open to the voice of the Spirit and the call of truth.

Seen in this way, Romano Guardini occupies a crucial place in the world— in his world, in ours, and in the world to come. As he emphasizes beautifully at the end of his memoir—Narratives of My Life: Autobiographical Notes—he never considered himself as an isolated individual, nor as the spokesman of a dominant ideology or doctrine. Rather, his work was always energised by and in dialogue with a broader context—a context which one of his mentors, Max Scheler, aptly called the 'life world'.

Follow the spiritual wisdom of one of the twentieth century’s great theologians, Romano Guardini, as you prepare your mind, body, and heart for Mass. Guardini’s sacramental imagination influenced the liturgical renewal that took shape in the Second Vatican Council, and has been highly praised by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Romano Guardini’s Meditations before Mass and Sacred Signs collects two seminal works from Guardini that are both filled with brief meditations on the fundamental elements and actions of the liturgy. Taken together, these two classics provide readers with a treasure-trove of reflections on the source and summit of Christian life—The Eucharist.

Romano Guardini’s Meditations before Mass is a set of thirty-two reflections on what the Mass asks of us, and how we might properly respond. The book is divided into two parts:

Sacred Signs goes on to explore in twenty-six short meditations the actual things of the Mass as they are used sacramentally—water and wine, kneeling and standing, altar and linens—and the ways that they make spiritual and eternal realities visible. Likened to a mother who teaches her child to do the sign of the Cross, and a teacher who instructs his student as to the meaning of the act, Guardini hoped that he “could bring the sacred signs to life” for the reader. Together, these works reorient our attention and understanding so that, in Guardini’s words, “the gaze lifted to the altar (can) grow inwardly quiet and receptive to holiness.”

Though both works were written before Vatican II, their relevance has only grown over the years. They are a spiritual feast for the mind and heart, and a guide for modern people who wish to make sense of the Church’s feasts and liturgies. Romano Guardini’s Meditations before Mass and Sacred Signs are wise, pastoral, and timeless classics on preparing for and savoring the Mass from a theological giant at his very best, yet relatable and meaningful to everyday Catholics who want to deepen their worship through the Mass.

This book is not just a history. To be sure, it offers an historical account of the life of Romano Guardini (1885–1968), as recounted by Guardini himself. However, it is not simply about the past. Precisely because it deals with the life of a faithful and thoughtful person, the book is also about the present and projects itself into the future. For, as Guardini always insisted, leading a thoughtful and faithful life means being oriented toward the ‘good life’, that is, toward the vision of a just and loving community. This orientation does not just happen by itself, nor can it be imposed or dictated from above, but has to be nurtured steadily by hearts open to the voice of the Spirit and the call of truth.

Seen in this way, Romano Guardini occupies a crucial place in the world— in his world, in ours, and in the world to come. As he emphasizes beautifully at the end of his memoir—Narratives of My Life: Autobiographical Notes—he never considered himself as an isolated individual, nor as the spokesman of a dominant ideology or doctrine. Rather, his work was always energised by and in dialogue with a broader context—a context which one of his mentors, Max Scheler, aptly called the ‘life world’.