To Live on Earth as One Lives in Heaven (Launch Price)

In a postmodern and neopagan culture, the voice of God never ceases to inspire the prophets of our time, who, with courage, wisdom and faith in Christ, try to enlighten and guide a society that is increasingly secularized and distant from God. Because there are many difficulties and setbacks that, given the context, prevent us from catching a glimpse of that piece of heaven here on earth. Thus, for the author, we are living a “crisis” that affects the experience of the human and the divine: the radicalization of the break between postmodern culture and Christianity is increasing, where “believing” must become a new form of current of love and joy from which the life of each person derives. This goal is reaffirmed by the great observation that we find already in the first pages of the book: “The gospel is made to measure for what is most authentically human.” Thus, the image of education as a “very fertile leaven” for this century is a clear example of this. The XXI century is a true source of inspiration and motivation to achieve human-spiritual development, especially in times as uncertain as those we live in. The author says: “the educational institutions of this new millennium need to nourish, build, renew and spread a true humanist and evangelical mysticism, to humbly and positively influence the future of society, culture and history itself. It is the challenge of the hour to which they are called.” The great affirmation of Pope Francis is the title of one of the chapters of the book: “You cannot change the world if you do not change education.” Through his human, Christian, Marianist and educational identity, Arnaiz raises the need for an openness to change, as well as an indispensable audacity and lucidity. For him, “taking risks with meaning” means having the humility to admit the errors of the past and the wisdom to learn from them. Because only in this way is it possible to reach the fullness of “the divine” to the extent that we strive to achieve the fullness of “the human.” We can only become more divine by becoming more human. Furthermore, he ratifies and reaffirms this idea by pointing out that in order to find “the divine” we must master and overcome “the human.” In this way, the author proposes a process with which he hopes to reach many hearts and provoke his interlocutors. His book is an inspiration and motivation to help put the people of God on their feet and live heaven on earth. Therefore, in his capacity as educator and anthropologist, ?as a good Marianist?, he seeks to achieve, in educators, a meaningful innovation and a differential, significant, sustainable transformation to generate happy, faithful and fruitful human beings. In the words of the author, “There is no doubt that we live on earth walking towards heaven…” Indeed, that is the goal of his life. But first we must walk and be on earth as we want to be and be in heaven. Because heaven is the place we will arrive at “in the afternoon after having examined ourselves in love” (Saint John of the Cross).

JOSÉ MARÍA ARNAIZ TEMA

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