Folia Theologica et Canonica 10. 32/24 (2021)
Recensions
306 RECENSIONS were recorded over a year and were greatly influenced by the prolonged isolation of the faithful from personal presence at daily Holy Mass and even from meeting family and friends due to the pandemic. It is important, however, to distinguish between the different genres of faith transmission, which can include conversation, teaching speech, homily, catechesis, reflection and pastoral guidance. Therefore, in terms of genre, although the published volume follows the two above mentioned Diary Notes, in both its appearance and its editing, the present work differs from the previous ones in that it retains the interview format of Radio Maria, rather than the daily “expository notes”, it is a composition of reflection and discourse, aimed at providing the faithful, in their forced confinement due to the viral situation, with comprehensible and authentic theological explanations on the essential elements of the Catholic faith, on topics related to their daily religious life. We could also say that: through written culture, using the reflections to the classical authors, priests and theologians, it offers - according to the Holy Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium - such a summary so as to be able to express the faith in the language of the present day, preserving it for eternity. The structure of the work is clearly defined by the two areas in the title: prayer and sacraments. Both of these are themes from which faithful actions are constantly flowing, and are closely linked to the Christian way of life which is particularly affected by the sealedness. Consider, on the one hand, the increasing role of personal prayer or participation in prayers mediated through electronic media and, on the other, the difficulty of regular participation in the sacraments and, consequently, the increased demand for them. The author has placed different emphases in the volume, according to the elements of genre and structure, which makes it easier to understand the facts and ideas summarized and to read the chapters independently of each other. It is noticeable that the questions posed are thoughtful, and the given answers reveal the substance of the testimony of a prepared, courageous, up-to-date, empathetic pastor, who is sensitive to the problems of others. The first section is dedicated to prayer (pp. 9-43), which is a presentation of Jesus’ prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, divided into two chapters: an introductory discussion of the Lord’s Prayer (pp. 11-27); and a reflection on the Lord’s Prayer (pp. 28-43). While the former discusses the nature of the Lord’s Prayer as a genre of prayer in general, drawing references from the Holy Scripture and the patristic sources; the latter is a systematic commentary in which we read not merely facts and their authoritative interpretation, but the personal faithful convictions of the author of this volume, reflected in the series of considerations. It is clear that he not only understands but also believes what he says. This makes the claims of the commentary even more credible. The whole of Part I is marked by biblical correctness, outstanding patristic and scholastic knowledge, exceptional familiarity with the so-called intertestamental sources,
