At the Heart of the Gospel (paperback)

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The sexual revolution brought a terribly distorted vision of the body and sex into the mainstream.

How should Christians respond?

Confronting both the libertinism in the culture and the puritanism that often creeps into the minds and hearts of Christians, West demonstrates the critical importance of the Theology of the Body in addressing the crisis of our times and in proclaiming the Gospel to our sexually confused and broken world.

Praise for At the Heart of the Gospel:

The beatification of Pope John Paul II is more than the Church’s official recognition of his sanctity. John Paul II’s teaching is now bequeathed to the Church in a new way — not only by his authority as Pope, but also by his personal experience of sanctity. Christopher West is an authentic witness to the transformative power of John Paul II’s teaching and this book accurately captures the meaning of his Theology of the Body and its critical importance for the new evangelization.

 — Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete, Theologian, Author, and Founding Professor of the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, Washington, D.C.

Why should you read this book? Because Christopher West is the “translator” of Pope John Paul the Great’s Theology of the Body into clear, simple, popular language; and the Theology of the Body is the Church’s answer to the great heresy of our time, the “Sexual Revolution”; and the Sexual Revolution is the main cause of the corruption and decline of marriage and the family; and the family is the primary key to the health of any civilization; and our civilization is already halfway to “Brave New World.” At the Heart of the Gospel provides the alternative.

— Peter Kreeft, Professor of Philosophy, Boston College

If complacency in the Church is a sleeping lion, then one can expect many swipes of the paw at the work of Christopher West. At the Heart of the Gospel compellingly demonstrates the truth of the matter: West is bringing fresh grace to both the Church and the wider culture. With the wisdom born of trial and the humble acceptance of his own poverty, West targets our aching need and directs us to healing with surgical precision. His proclamation of the Gospel is joyous, contemporary, and contagious! Onward Christopher, we are listening!

— Anne, a lay apostle, Direction for Our Times; Author, Lessons in Love

West’s highly anticipated work At the Heart of the Gospel is in keeping with the man I have come to know and respect since our close collaboration on the new English translation of TOB. In short, this balanced and judicious work demonstrates what I have long understood: West knows John Paul II’s TOB as few others do and he shows great theological skill in presenting, explaining, and upholding the late pope’s teaching. He grasps its letter with remarkable completeness and is led faithfully by its spirit. He is to be commended for his courage in defending John Paul II’s teaching (and the theological tradition upon which it’s based) in the face of strong opposition.

— Michael Waldstein, Max Seckler Professor of Theology, Ave Maria University

Inspiring, compelling, faithful and compassionate — At the Heart of the Gospel invites us to follow in the footsteps of Blessed John Paul II as authentic witnesses of the truth and beauty of the Gospel amid the many challenges of contemporary culture. A must-read for everyone involved in the new evangelization!

— Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of Fort Wayne–South Bend, Chairman, USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth

Christopher West has gone to the desert . . . and come back stronger than ever. Those who may previously have thought his work was one-sided in its celebration of the body and sexuality will find here, brought out more clearly than ever, the deep balance and integration that has always been the foundation of his work.

— Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of Saint Louis, Chairman, USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations