11.08.2026, ITI News
We are pleased to share news of a recent book publication by our ITI alumnus Fr. Liju Porathur CMI: “Faith and Love: Two Wings of the Sacrament of Marriage and Family – Ratzinger vis-à-vis Benedict XVI,” published in 2024 by Dharmaram Publications, Bangalore (ISBN 978-93-92996-68-9, 318 pages).
About the Book
The book examines the theology of marriage and family in the thought of Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI, bringing his dogmatic and pastoral insights into dialogue with one another – the “two wings” of faith and love that underlie the sacrament of marriage. The author pays particular attention to the pastoral application of this theology to the Syro-Malabar Community in India, lending the study an international and intercultural dimension alongside its engagement with Benedict XVI’s theological legacy.
About the Author
Fr. Liju Porathur CMI is a Catholic priest belonging to the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). He holds a Licentiate in Theology from Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (DVK), Bangalore, India, and earned his Doctorate in Pastoral Theology at our own institution, the Catholic University ITI in Trumau, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. theol. habil. Michaela Hastetter. He currently serves as Assistant Professor and resident staff member at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, the Pontifical Athenaeum for Philosophy, Theology and Vinayasādana in Bangalore.
The book comes recommended by KR Prof. Dr. theol. habil. Josef Spindelböck and by our own Prof. Mag. Dr. habil. Michael Wladika, who praises the study as a valuable contribution to understanding marriage and family in the work of Joseph Ratzinger / Benedict XVI.
We warmly congratulate Fr. Liju Porathur on this publication, which is a fine example of how research undertaken at our institution continues to bear fruit internationally.
Bibliographic reference: Porathur, Liju. Faith and Love: Two Wings of the Sacrament of Marriage and Family – Ratzinger vis-à-vis Benedict XVI. Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 2024. ISBN 978-93-92996-68-9.