New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan delivers the invocation before U.S. President Donald Trump’s swearing-in as the country’s 45th president at the U.S. Capitol in Washington in this Jan. 20, 2017 file photo. (Carlos Barria/CNS, via Reuters)
Anyone
who has ever heard Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan — in personal conversation,
interviewed on TV, giving a homily or addressing a conference — knows the
archbishop of New York is not at a loss for words.
Nor
is he at a loss for words in his new book, “Who Do You Say I Am?”
‘Who Do You Say I Am?’
Author: Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan Publisher: Image (New York) Release Date: Oct. 29, 2019 Length: 369 pp. Cost: $26
He
provides a reflection for each day of the year on a variety of topics and about
a diverse group of people. One will not know what to expect from page to page,
which is why this will not become a “thought for the day” book that collects
dust on a shelf. Readers will be curious about the topic of his latest
reflection.
At
times it is a retreatlike examination of conscience, e.g., on Jan. 25, the
feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, he asks: “Am I living up to what I
profess? Where do I fall short, and what about my life needs changing?”
He
employs the same approach Oct. 11 when he writes about the threefold mission of
the Church — to sanctify, serve and teach. It’s instructive, not preachy.
Some
pages have an advice columnist tone. On June 9, he offers three steps for
someone wishing to return to the Church: Prayer, celebrating Sunday Mass and
making a good confession. He does so in a voice that is not demanding but
reassuring and welcoming.
Reading
page after page, one realizes there isn’t a topic about which Cardinal Dolan
can’t write. Among his reflection subjects are gratitude, freedom, the Ven.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, patience, friendship, Stan Musial and pasta (He
begins one reflection with, “I love to eat”).
He
provides catechesis on Advent, Lent and Easter, as well as about numerous
saints, e.g., St. John the Evangelist, St. Irenaeus, St. Damien of Moloka’i,
St. Katharine Drexel and others. He also makes references to the lives of St.
Paul VI, St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
Lest
a lesson get by the reader, the cardinal writes about some of them multiple
times, including children and family. Each page includes a quotation from
Scripture to set the tone for what he writes.
All
of the writing is good, but some parts are better than others. The strongest material
is when he writes about personal experiences. One reflection involves his
8-year-old niece being diagnosed with bone cancer. Another is about his mother
living in an assisted living facility and her concern that she’s a burden on
her children.
One
of the most poignant is his story about visiting a prison and being presented a
sketch of Jesus on the cross that was done by an inmate who had sketched
himself on the cross next to Jesus. The onlookers in the artwork were several
of his fellow inmates. The artist told the cardinal, “We’re all right there
with Christ on the cross.”
“Who
Do You Say I Am?” is a worthwhile investment for those who want daily spiritual
nourishment. Cardinal Dolan provides much about which to think and pray — and
smile — and he delivers it in a manner readers will enjoy.
—
By Brian T. Olszewski, Catholic News Service. Olszewski is the editor of The
Catholic Virginian, biweekly publication of the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia.