Sign of Contradiction.

New York: A Crossroad Book, The Seabury Press, (1979). First U.S. Edition. Octavo, red cloth (hardcover), gilt letters and decoration to upper cover, xiv, 206 pp. Fine, in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight tanning to edges. From dust jacket: This is the first full-length book to be published in English by the new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. It is a book of rare spirituality by an extraordinary human being. Based on a series of spiritual exercises presented to Pope Paul VI, the papal household, and the cardinals and bishops of the Roman Curia, Sign of Contradiction is as clear as the spoken word and as profound as the truths to which those words point. It is a penetrating look at the mysteries of faith through the eyes and heart of a man who is not only deeply acquainted with contemporary philosophy but who is also intimately identified with the struggles of his people for human freedom and religious liberty. The theme is the human encounter with God in a world that seems to contradict the reality of divine power and love. Written in a language that is at once straightforward and poetic, the book will appeal to a wide audience because of its biblical spirituality, its rich humanism, and its informed use of references to writers and philosophers from Shakespeare to Saint-Exupery.