Description
Book SynopsisThis is a personal and insightful portrait of Pope Pius XII, the memories of Sister M. Pascalina Lehnert, who served as his housekeeper for forty years. Her book, most of it written just a few months after the Pope’s death, shares insights into the person, the life, and the thinking of Pius XII, from his time as Nuncio in Munich until his death. Much of Sister’s motivation in writing this work was to correct the many distortions of fact and interpretation regarding this great pope.
This book was a best seller in the original German, as well as in the Italian and French translations. This is the first edition in English.
These reminiscences were written down at the instructions of Sister’s Superior General, but were not made known to the public until 1982, when it was published in German at the express wishes of Pope John Paul II to publish the work without any changes. So the work remained a lively, flowing account of memories and anecdotes in a simple, spontaneous style. It is a powerful and insightful account of Pius’s daily life, his treatment of those around him, and his concern for the upholding of the traditional teaching of the Church in the face of his awesome burden to lead the Church during World War II.
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations
Preface: Sister Pascalina Lehnert
Translator’s foreword: Susan Johnson
Prologue: From the diary of a fifteen-year-old
Chapter 1. An envoy of peace to the world
Chapter 2. Happy times at “Stella MarisHN and in Munich
Chapter 3. Farewell to Munich and the move to Berlin
Chapter 4. Cardinal Secretary of State
Chapter 5. Pastor Angelicus
Chapter 6. The tiara as a crown of thorns: the Second World War
Chapter 7. Preparing for the 1950 Holy Year
Chapter 8. A feast as a symbol: St. Joseph the Workman
Chapter 9. Creation of cardinals and first illness
Chapter 10. The Marian Year and a further illness
Chapter 11. Anima Christi . . . and testament
Chapter 12. Eightieth birthday and fortieth episcopal jubilee
Chapter 13. Serviendo consumer
Chapter 14. Consummatum est
Index
