This book is not just a history. To be sure, it offers an historical account of the life of Romano Guardini (1885–1968), as recounted by Guardini himself. However, it is not simply about the past. Precisely because it deals with the life of a faithful and thoughtful person, the book is also about the present and projects itself into the future. For, as Guardini always insisted, leading a thoughtful and faithful life means being oriented toward the ‘good life’, that is, toward the vision of a just and loving community. This orientation does not just happen by itself, nor can it be imposed or dictated from above, but has to be nurtured steadily by hearts open to the voice of the Spirit and the call of truth.
Seen in this way, Romano Guardini occupies a crucial place in the world— in his world, in ours, and in the world to come. As he emphasizes beautifully at the end of his memoir—Narratives of My Life: Autobiographical Notes—he never considered himself as an isolated individual, nor as the spokesman of a dominant ideology or doctrine. Rather, his work was always energised by and in dialogue with a broader context—a context which one of his mentors, Max Scheler, aptly called the ‘life world’.