Folia Theologica et Canonica 4. 26/18 (2015)
RECENSIONS
RECENSIONS 283 Angelo Card. Sodano writes in his preface to this volume about the situation of the contemporary real faith and faithful attitude, expressing the importance to be authentic witness of these values (pp. 5-8). Fulfilling this purpose - based on his stand point - is necessary the profound knowledge of the Church’s teaching, because this is the key to give an authentic — preserving the Church’s own identity - answers for the arising current questions. The Dean of the College of Cardinals emphasizes such a character of the Hungarian Cardinal. Robert Moynihan summarizes in his brief introduction how he has come to know Card. Peter Erdő and the particular circumstances of issuing the inter- view-volume. Within his description Mr. Moynihan convincingly introduces the Hungarian Archbishop who - by his impression - is one of the leader Christian thinkers of our time (pp. 9-15). Mr. Moynihan underlines that light style which is peculiarity of Peter Erdö’s answers even about the most comprehensive philosophical, social, political, economic, legal, and indeed theological question. Obviously, the co-author speaks about the extraordinary- (2014) and the ordinary (2015) synod of family too, and about that important role what has been played by the Hungarian cardinal during the preparation of these events, moreover about that well balanced, clear and stable stand point of him which based on the solid basis of the revelation was intend to solve always the different opinions of bishops and experts. This volume is divided into three chapters. Within the first one we can find questions and answers on Card. Peter Erdö’s life and vocation (pp. 19-75). The second chapter deals with the Christian faith and its basic - recurrent - questions through the dialogue with the Cardinal (pp. 77—148). Finally, the third focuses on the contemporary - frequented arising - problems: that social background and questions which define the day-to-day life of the worldwide activity of the Catholic Church (pp. 151-259). In the personal life of Card. Peter Erdő are the most significant elements the family, the transmitted pure faith, the attention to the confessor, reading the Bible and meditating on that, the priestly vocation and that optimistic attitude which springs from that, the happiness which is based on celebration of the Holy Eucharist. These elements together improve the authentic service of those who are entrusted to him (pp. 19-36, 41-47). The Cardinal crystal clearly summarizes those historical facts which had influenced the “Ostpolitik” of the Holy See from the fifties to the seventies. His answers lay basically on the exemplary life of Card. Mindszenty and Blessed Zoltán Meszlényi (pp. 57-62). Regarding the fundamental questions of the Christian faith we can find among the themes an essential summary of Jesus’s life and his teaching; the authentic interpretation of the existence and goal of the Catholic Church; the unique importance of the sacraments and sacramental in the Church's mission for the salvation of souls; moreover, particular emphasizes about the importance of the faithful participation in the life and sacred liturgy of the Church.