Cardinal Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith, is also highly regarded for his profound spiritual and theological writings. Sister Irene Grassl, a friend of Cardinal Ratzinger's, has pondered all of his works and, with his permission, selected passages and arranged themes as meditations for each day of the year. The themes from Scripture and the various liturgical seasons provide a wonderful source of inspiration for prayer.

The Cardinal picked the title of this book from the passage in the third letter of Saint John, verse 8, which he also adapted for his coat of arms: "Co-Workers of the Truth." Just as these words signify for St. John the participation of all the faithful in the service of the Gospel, which includes the faithful extending hospitality to all who come as messengers of faith, so too Ratzinger shows the importance of our uniting charity with truth to make possible the proclamation of the Gospel. Through his meditations here, he hopes to help awaken in each reader the courage and generosity to become co-workers with the Gospel, which is the truth of Jesus Christ.

"When one thinks of the lengthy academic career of Cardinal Ratzinger, his immense contributions to theological scholarship, his background as a peritus at Vatican Council II and later as Archbishop of Munich, and his present responsibility as Prefect of the Congregation of the Faith, the present compendium of excerpts of his writings is a welcome publication inded. Here, for the first time, we have one of the Church's greatest contemporary theologians offering meditations for every day of the calendar year. I recommend it with the greatest enthusiasm. Everyone who wishes to think with the Church will be well guided by Joseph Ratzinger."
Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua
Archbishop of Philadelphia

"The breadth and depth of the theological contributions of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger are not well enough known in the United States. Now the general public will have some of his rich thought available to them in this compendium of excerpts from his writings. I recommend this book for daily meditation on the mysteries of our faith. I hope it will lead many to delve even more deeply into his spirit-filled, pastoral theology."
Cardinal Bernard Law
Archbishop of Boston