Rise, Let Us Be on Our Way

The late pontiff continues the story of his pilgrimage, as begun in GIFT IN MEMORY, which covered his life up to his election as bishop in 1958. This work, which takes its title from Mark 14:42, begins with Karol's acceptance of the call to bishop and ends with his election as pope some twenty years later. Describing his life in this period, the late pope uses incidents and discussion of fellow members of Church hierarchy to illustrate his views of Christian vocation and how leadership is to be exercised in the Catholic Church. Kristoffer Tabori narrates with great skill. An Audie Award winner, he adroitly displays his talents here. His voice is deep, and his delivery is stately and dignified, yet expressive. His reading of the Polish names seems to be perfect. This is a superb match of reader and text. M.T.F. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

September 1, 2004
Pope John Paul II leads over one billion Catholics worldwide, but he thinks of himself as a loving father figure. In this meditative book, he invokes the titular phrase (words that Jesus Christ used in the Garden of Gethsemane to call his disciples to him) to urge readers to "go forth full of trust in Christ." The Pope describes how he himself has done so and starts this book where Gift and Mystery (1996) left off--with his ordination as a bishop in Poland in 1958. The first chapters are the most strictly autobiographical, but he quickly turns to matters of faith, discussing everything from the spiritual meaning of a bishop's miter and crosier to the need for clergy to talk with scientists and other intellectuals. Naturally, since he has served as a bishop (of Krakow, of Rome) for almost 50 years, the Pope devotes a lot of space to a bishop's duties. His discussion of these duties provides openings for him to remember important occasions in his past, such as his pastoral visit to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. Later chapters deal with the Second Vatican Council, which he participated in as a young bishop. The prose style is that of a many-faceted sermon, with Biblical quotations woven throughout and themes such as the importance of telling the truth, staying celibate and giving to charity heavily reinforced. Although the book occasionally feels like a guide to the Episcopal ministry, it's sure to gratify those hungry for his instruction and inspiring faith, as well as non-Catholics interested in his philosophy.