On the Left Bank of the Tiber
Gerald O'Collins SJ
ISBN: 9781922168689
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 320 pages
Price: $29.95
Praise for A Midlife Journey, the life of Gerald O’Collins SJ up to 1974.
‘One of the merits of the book is the vivid
picture it presents of the hopes and turmoils in the church and in society at
large that took off especially in 1968. O’Collins is frank about how the
situation affected his own life as a priest and a Jesuit…We can look forward to
an insider’s assessment of the Roman scene during the long and controversial
pontificate of John Paul II.’
-- John O’Malley, SJ, Theological Studies
‘This is a direct and honest account of the
theological formation of a sincere and eminent theologian who also clearly
possesses a great heart. Fr O’Collins has woven the first half of his tapestry;
we await the second half with keen interest.’
-- Peter Tyler, The Pastoral Review
‘I found the book compelling reading…This
book will interest many readers…Above all, it will reveal a wonderful man.’
-- Frank Mobbs, AD2000
‘…a very honest and inspiring account of a
man who wrestled personally with what it means to be a Christian, a friend of
Jesus, and a member of the Church in our times... I and many others keenly look
forward to a further volume of Fr O’Collins’s autobiography.’
-- Kevin Mark, Kairos
On the Left Bank of the Tiber covers thirty-two
years teaching at the Gregorian University in Rome (1974-2006)—a story peopled
with students, professors, visitors, Italian friends and, of course, popes.
O’Collins was there for the last years of Paul VI, experienced at first hand
the cruelly short pontificate of John Paul I (‘the smiling pope’), and
constantly appeared on world television for the final sickness and death of
John Paul II. He was on the BBC platform for the election of Benedict XVI. This
book records the happiness and challenge of professorial life at an ancient and
thoroughly international university, situated on the left bank of the Tiber and
looking across the river to the offices of the Vatican. It presents the
excitement, achievements and shadow side of the long pontificate of John Paul
II—including an insider’s account of the prosecution of Jacques Dupuis. Dean of
the theology faculty at the Gregorian (1985–91), O’Collins taught thousands of
students, including many who later became bishops and some who have been
created cardinals. The book also describes his own theological development
(with 61 books that he authored or coauthored now published).
Price: $29.95
