Mark Brumley, President of Ignatius Press, talks to ZENIT about Pope Benedict XVI's Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem To The Resurrection:
ZENIT: In what way should this text be read? As a meditational companion for Lent? A scholarly presentation?
Brumley: There is something for everyone in this book. 
Certainly, this is a great book for anyone to read for Lent, especially for Holy Week.
Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians will find a presentation of the final week of the Lord's earthly life from which all can benefit and grow closer to Christ.
Believers who meditate on what Benedict says about the key moments in Holy Week will find their reading of the Gospel accounts transformed and deepened.
Unbelievers will be challenged to reassess their assumptions about Jesus of Nazareth.
Scholars can benefit from reading the book because the Pope has some profound interpretations of the Gospels and his basic method -- integrating faith and historical reason -- is the next step in the development of fruitful study of the Bible. It's the direction scholarship needs to move if it intends to remain relevant.
ZENIT: Benedict XVI likens his work to St. Thomas Aquinas' theological treatise on the mysteries of the life of Christ. What are the relevant points of comparison that can help us understand the Pope's purpose in writing this book?
Brumley: Just to be clear: Jesus of Nazareth, Part Two isn't really a theological treatise.
The Holy Father likens his book to St. Thomas' treatment of the mysteries of the Lord's life, but the style and mode of presentation are very different. The goal of both treatments is to help the reader understand the meaning of the various mysteries of the Lord's life.
In Benedict's case, though, his purpose is to make it easier for the reader to have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ through reflection on the biblical message.
St. Thomas is trying systematically to reflect on the mysteries of the life of Christ to provide an overall synthesis of theology. That goal presupposes that the reader already has personal knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Read the entire interview at ZENIT.org. For more by Mark about the book, listen to my hour-long interview with him:
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