Shepherds and Fishermen

Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap, preacher to the papal household for over forty years, graciously accepted Pope Francis’s invitation to lead a six-day retreat for the bishops of the United States in January 2019. Shepherds and Fishermen contains the reflections and meditations that guided this gathering, presented in an accessible format for groups and individuals seeking spiritual and ministerial inspiration.

Shepherds and Fishermen lifts up the words of Mark 3:14: “He appointed twelve . . . that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach.” Reflections and meditations offered in lectio divina, homilies, and liturgies focus on what it means to “be with Jesus” while also “going forth to preach.” Retreatants will reflect upon the ways their ministry is dependent upon both personal sanctification and pastoral activity.

The twenty-six scripturally based and culturally relevant meditations make Shepherds and Fishermen ideal companion for a self-directed retreat or a prolonged spiritual exercise. As Jesus’s call to be shepherds of sheep and fishers of men is addressed to every baptized person, the wisdom shared in this book will be treasured by bishops, priests, deacons, religious, candidates, and seminarians, as well as laity who wish to deepen their spiritual lives.

Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap, taught the history of Christian origins at the Catholic University of Milan and served on the International Theological Commission. He devotes his ministry to preaching and writing, and from 1980-2024 served as the Preacher to the Papal Household. Cantalamessa is author of Shepherds and Fishermen; Jesus Began to Preach; The Mystery of God's Word; Come, Creator Spirit; Mary: Mirror of the Church; The Eucharist: Our Sanctification; The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus; The Mystery of Easter; The Mystery of Pentecost; and Life in Christ; (all published by Liturgical Press).