Christ and the Pharisees

A prolific author of about fifty books and a thousand articles, Leonardo Castellani (1899-1981) is widely revered as one of the greatest modern Argentine writers. Yet until now, English-speaking audiences have had almost no access to his remarkable body of work-a lacuna decisively changed by the present anthology. A student of Cardinal Billot's, a pugilist for orthodoxy at a time of progressive disarray, and a faithful old-school Jesuit who fell afoul of his superiors and suffered years of marginalization, Castellani was at the same time unafraid to poke holes in conventional pieties and complained about unhealthy trends in the Church years before the Vatican II debacle brought many latent weaknesses to light. Above all, Castellani was a supremely observant reader of Scripture and one of its finest modern commentators, capable of breathtaking insights into familiar texts. All these characteristics are on full display in this entertaining and enlightening little volume, an ideal introduction to the wide scope of Castellani's genius.

PRAISE FOR THIS AUTHOR

"In my life as a reader, I have savored many moments of wonder; but none as immense and enduring as the one provided by the Argentine Leonardo Castellani. A passionate polemicist, a relentless critic of modernity and all its ideological filth, Castellani is above all a champion of orthodoxy, which, as we already know, is the only form of heterodoxy that our age repudiates. Castellani reveals himself to be a consummate apologist and a formidable polemicist, endowed with a vibrant style and a sardonic humor in the tradition of Cervantes that allows him to tear down the thick walls of lies as if they were made of sculpted sugar. In all his works, Castellani displays intellectual depth and an admirable ability to stir in the mind a response of joyful acceptance (or of scathing rejection, if the mind is infested with politically correct nonsense). The fact is, our author was what the French call a maître à penser-someone who not only spurs our intellect but also nourishes it, fortifies it, provides it with a sturdy framework, and, at the same time, propels it down paths never before traveled. No wonder such a dangerous writer has been equally reviled by the godless, the snobs, and the self-righteous, both in life and in death." -Juan Manuel de Prada

"Castellani was the man sent by Divine Providence to my homeland and to everyone who can access his legacy to shed light on the purpose of the Christian life: the Parousia. Castellani's books are full of good humor, and this makes them very human, free of ethereal theological jargon. He knows how to laugh at the ridiculous. His work has no set progression; you can dive in from any angle, much like a Pampas-style barbecue." -Daniel Francisco Giaquinta

"Castellani is undoubtedly a rich, multifaceted, and transcultural figure." -Javier Navascué