Saverio Gaeta – författare

Available in English for the first time, this engaging and enlightening biography of John Paul II argues the case that the late pope’s life and deeds make him a worthy saint.A number-one best seller in Italy, Why He Is a Saint is an account of the late pope’s life, highlighting his deep Christian faith, his dedication to the Church, and his role in bringing down communism. This book delves deeply into Pope John Paul’s spiritual essence, through the unprecedented light of the investigation into whether he merits sainthood. Why He Is a Saint reveals the pope’s life through vivid, intimate anecdotes. Among the book’s startling revelations are his thoughts of retirement as his health declined, and the fact that he practiced the ancient ritual of daily self-flagellation. The book includes both unpublished as well as public correspondence, such as the “open letter” of forgiveness to Ali Agka, his attempted assassin. It also examines the pope’s severe acts of penitence and documents his miracles. This impassioned plea in favor of canonizing the pope as a saint has proven to be of profound interest to Catholics worldwide, as well as to anyone interested in faith and spirituality.

Pope Francis has declared the Jubilee Year 2025 a celebration of both mercy and hope, merging his own favorite theme with John Paul II's call in 2000 for all mankind to enter the new millennium with the light of Christian hope. The motto of the Holy Year 2025 centers on the image "pilgrims of hope." Visits to sacred places––especially in Rome––is a principal expectation and much has been organized in the Eternal City to welcome visitors. Pilgrims are encouraged to rekindle their light by returning to some of the most important churches for the Christian faith, which have served as sanctuaries of worship for centuries. The way of the pilgrim is a search for God, and places that belong to shared Christian faith feature prominently in this pursuit. The only way to realize a peaceful future is to advance in the conviction that what awaits us is full of life because the God of the past and present awaits us there.Saverio Gaeta provides a concise and insightful history of Jubilee celebrations, tracing the custom to biblical norms and following developments up to present day. Jubilees are joyous remembrances of God's consistent paternal intervention in human life, and a time to acknowledge a common orientation toward the encounter with his Son, Jesus Christ, who brings salvation and life in the Trinity. Living the Jubilee is indispensable for the reader who wishes to embark on a journey of faith, to live as a pilgrim and not tourist in this life. Gaeta inspires everyone to partake of the Jubilee celebrations. He also provides everything a traveler to Rome needs to know to make this trip––public transportation routes, event schedules, how one acquires the Vatican-issued pilgrim card and tickets needed to attend many of these events, plus much more. Even if readers do not make the voyage to Rome, Gaeta's account of the Jubilee in the Catholic Church is a wondrous display of thousands of years of tradition and history that has never lost a sense of joy and gratitude for the God who remains among us. It is a remarkable keepsake and helpful even for Jubilee celebrations in parishes and local communities.

In the spirit of the Jubilee Year 2025, this book does for Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, what Living the Jubilee does for Rome, Italy. Pope John Paul II called Medjugorje "the spiritual center of the world," and the Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has recently stated that what is happening in Medjugorje is at the very least authentic "by its fruits." This is the highest form of official approval for a claims regarding supernatural phenomena.What is happening in Medjugorje and why do hundreds of thousands of people visit each year? In June of 1981, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, began appearing to six young people with messages above all of peace and conversion. She calls herself the "Queen of Peace," and these apparitions have continued to this day. First coming to the children in the rocky hills outside the small city ravaged by war and Communism, throngs of pilgrims walk the unfriendly trails to the original spot every day of the year and often with bare feet. The miracles and spiritual experiences attributed to this place are impossible to count. The pilgrimage to Rome is historical and deeply woven into the custom of piety and devotion in the Catholic Church. But for the post-modern world, Medjugorje is the pre-eminent 'destination' for all people seeking to encounter God, especially those who have fallen away or have no religious affiliation. The Jubilee Year will bring many more to Medjugorje and Saverio Gaeta's guidebook provides a necessary service of how to do it and what to do while one is there. The introduction to the English edition is provided by the official chaplain to English-speaking pilgrims, Leon Pereira.There are over 200 color photographs and graphs.