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<DIV>Bartolom&eacute; de las Casas is the most polemical figure in the great event that was the discovery and conquest of America. To some, because of his devotion to the defense of the rights of the natives, he is the apostle of the Indians; to others, because of his passionate denunciation of the excesses of the conquest, he is responsible for the black legend that Spain has had to bear for four centuries.In this novel, Jos&eacute; Luis Olaizola brings to light some of the key aspects of this singular figure, including the least known period of his life. His youth, as a prospector for gold in Hispaniola, his life as a rich landowner in Cuba, the owner of many Indian slaves, his love affairs with Indian women, his&#160;ordination as a cleric in order to get ahead in life, until his conversion and profession as a Dominican friar and staunch defender of the dignity and equality of all men, including the Indians, are told in this epic work.All the colorful characteristics of the sixteenth century vividly unfold in this book, which is narrated in the form of an autobiography, including the tropical beauty of the islands--Santo Domingo, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica--in which, according to de las Casas, the Earthly Paradise was located. The greed and lechery of the Spanish conquistadors and bureaucrats who held the Indians in bondage are mixed with the courage and nobility of those who risk their lives to bring the message of God&rsquo;s love to those lands.Courtiers, functionaries, adventurers, kings, and friars make a striking mosaic within the rigorous frame of history which we are accustomed to be given by Jos&eacute; Luis Olaizola.</DIV>

Bartolomé de las Casas: Chronicle of a Dream

How does a city boy who only lived to the age of fifteen &quot;go viral&quot; more than a decade after he died? Discover the story of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial to be beatified by the Catholic Church. Born in 1991, the same year as the launch of the World Wide Web, Carlo has been hailed by the pope as an example of love and holiness in our complex digital age. This tech-savvy Italian teen has shown the world that computer coding and video games are no obstacle to sainthood. From a young age, Carlo&#39;s enthusiasm for Jesus was contagious. His witness brought his own family back to faith and even helped convert his Hindu au pair to Catholicism. Carlo called the Eucharist &quot;my highway to heaven&quot; and was eager to tell everyone about the incredible reality of Christ&#39;s true presence in the world. To this end, he used his computer to help design an exhibition dedicated to eucharistic miracles that has traversed the globe. Vatican journalist Courtney Mares has traveled in the footsteps of Acutis across Italy to tell his story in depth, interviewing many whose lives he helped transform. This book paints a portrait of him as seen through the eyes of his friends, family, teachers, priests, doctors, classmates, and followers. Features an eight-page color photo insert and an account of the miracles attributed to Acutis&#39; intercession, including one certified by the Vatican. Carlo sought no attention for himself while alive, yet in the years after his death, he has become a global &quot;influencer for God&quot;.

Carlo Acutis: A Saint in Sneakers

Opening Credits

Prologue

1. The End of His Life

2.  Back to Normal

3. Do You Really See Us

4. Citizen of the Month

5. A Really Boring Guy

6. A Voice in the Night

7. The Safety of the Cage

8. A Triad of Sages

9. Ganymede and the Eagle

10. Neuron Paths in the World-Brain

11. The Winter World

12. The Hollow Men

13. Cabins and Palaces

14. Surely We Have Met Before

15. Around the Great Wheel

16. In the Underground

17. The Vault of Degradation

18. Millenium Angel

19. Scenes of Historical Importance

20. On the Little-Little Ob

21. Petropavlovskaya Poustyn

22. The Well in the Desert

23. Clerks and Ballerinas

24. A Bad Day at Listvyanks

25. The Clinic at Ozero Baikal

26. A Voice from the Past

27. I Give You Everything

28. The Enchantress

29. Snake and Crocodile

30. The Snowhouse

31. The Icon in the Fire

32. The War of the Winter-Born

33. A Cadre of One

34. Strength and Weakness

35. The Bell Tower

36. A Message in the Ark

37. To Another Country

38. We Know Everything

39. The Realm of the Dispossessed

40. The Silence

41. Upstairs and Downstairs

42. Integrated into a Mission

43. Does Simply No One Believe Me?

44. One May Circle the World

45. Will He Want Me?

46. Kingfishers Catch Fire

Acknowledgements

Author's Note

Closing Credits

<div>
"A modern retelling of the parables The Good Shepherd and The Prodigal Son." - Michael O'Brien Canadian bookseller Alex Graham is a middle-age widower whose quiet life is turned upside down when his college-age son disappears without any explanation or trace of where he has gone. With minimal resources, the father begins a long journey that takes him for the first time away from his safe and orderly world. As he stumbles across the merest thread of a trail, he follows it in blind desperation, and is led step by step on an odyssey that takes him to fascinating places and sometimes to frightening people and perils. Through the uncertainty and the anguish, the loss and the longing, Graham is pulled into conflicts between nations, as well as the eternal conflict between good and evil. Stretched nearly to the breaking point by the inexplicable suffering he witnesses and experiences, he discovers unexpected sources of strength as he presses onward in the hope of recovering his son--and himself.
</div>

The Father's Tale: A Novel (Audiobook)

Few fictional characters have proved as popular as Sherlock Holmes. By retelling Arthur Conan Doyle&#39;s beloved stories in film adaptations, each generation re-creates Baker Street&#39;s most famous detective in its own image. To date, Holmes has been played on screen by Basil Rathbone, Jeremy Brett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey, Jr., and many others. This book contains the twelve stories identified by Conan Doyle himself as being the quintessential Holmes adventures.

The Best of Sherlock Holmes

<DIV>"Francis, rebuild my Church!" That is how St. Francis of Assisi heard the call of Christ. It is also how Jorge Mario Bergoglio, at the age of 76, and a Jesuit, seems to have accepted his election to the papacy with the choice of a name that no other pope has ever chosen.Who is Pope Francis, elected in one of the shortest conclaves in history? Who is the man chosen to be the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope?How does he see the world and his ministry? How does he understand his call to serve Christ, his Church, and the world? In short, what is the mind and heart of this new pope of a new world--of the Americas and the rest of the world of the 21st Century?In the words, the ideas, and the personal recollections of Pope Francis--including material up to the final hours before his election--the most highly regarded Vatican observer on the international scene reveals the personality of this man of God, gentle and humble. The son of Italian immigrants to Argentina, he made radically following Christ and the way of non-violence the pillars of his pastoral ministry in a country, continually tormented by social and economic inequities. This complete biography offers the keys to understanding the man who was a surprise choice, even a kind of revolutionary choice, for pope. It is the story of the humble pastor of one of the world's largest archdioceses; a cardinal who takes the bus, talks with common folk, and lives simply. It is the story of why the cardinal electors of the Catholic Church set aside political and diplomatic calculations to elect a pope to lead the renewal and purification of the worldwide Church of our time.</DIV>

Francis: Pope of a New World

<DIV>G. K. Chesterton was one of the most well-known and beloved writers of his time. Yet he has been strangely neglected today. This book is the perfect introduction to Chesterton. Ahlquist is an able guide who takes the reader through twelve of Chesterton?s most important books as well as the famous Father Brown stories. One of the problems with approaching Chesterton is that he was so prolific that the reader is simply overwhelmed. But Ahlquist makes the literary giant accessible, highlighting Chesterton?s amazing reach, keen insight, and marvelous wit. Each chapter is liberally spiced with Chesterton?s striking quotations. There is something special that runs throughout Chesterton?s books that sets him apart from the confusing philosophies of the modern world. That common thread in Chesterton?s writings is common sense. It is instantly recognizable and utterly refreshing. </DIV>

The Apostle of Common Sense

<DIV>The Treasury of Catholic Wisdom is a Catholic library in miniature, a one-volume microcosm of what the Church's great minds have thought and said since the apostolic age. Indeed, in The Treasury of Catholic Wisdom, noted theologian Fr. John A. Hardon has compiled the works of thirty-three of the greatest Catholic thinkers and writers, representing every period of the Church's passage through time, from the beginnings of Christianity to the present day. Here are men and women, bishops and priests, religious and the laity "whose native talents were elevated by the supernatural light that God reserves for those who are most submissive to His will." Included in this extraordinary and fascinating anthology are the works of the early saints, such as Gregory, Basil, Augustine, John Chrysostom, Patrick, Bernard Francis, and Thomas Aquinas. Here, too, are the writings of the great reformers Ignatius, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa of Avila; the mystic John of the Cross; the practical wisdom of Francis de Sales, Louis de Montfort, and Peter Julian Eymard; and the modern-day reflections of Gerard Manley Hopkins, Francis Thompson, Therese of Lisieux, G.K. Chesterton, and Fulton J. Sheen. The Treasury of Catholic Wisdom is a comprehensive anthology of the outstanding Catholic literature from the first century to modern times. Mystics and martyrs, philosophers and theologians, poets and prose writers are quoted at length and in depth. They are truly representative of the spirit and substance of Catholicism in its paradox of phenomenal stability and versatility over the centuries. Fr. Hardon has selected those writings which are representative of the thought and philosophy of each contributor, and has carefully chosen excerpts which are not always the most familiar. Thus, his volume provides not only a fresh collection of the best of Catholic wisdom, but also a uniquely comprehensive work which offers enlightenment and faith for generations of readers. John A. Hardon, S.J., holds a master's degree in philosophy from Loyola University and a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome. He is the author of The Catholic Catechism and many other books. Fr. Hardon is also a founder of the Catholic Home Study Institute, a correspondence school which operates under pontifical approval. </DIV>

The Treasury of Catholic Wisdom

<DIV>Contemporary mystic, physician, wife, cofounder of a secular institute, Adrienne von Speyr also provided us with a series of extraordinary Scripture commentaries. Here she brings her fresh, prayerful insights to bear upon immensely important themes of the Letter to the Colossians: the primacy of Christ in the cosmos as well as his centrality and abiding presence in the Church and in the life of each individual Christian; the meaning of reconciliation; the service of the apostle and his relationship to the community of believers; genuine and false knowledge; love as the binding force of social ethics and Christian morality-themes that only continue to increase in relevance in today's Church and world. With a sure touch and a distinctively feminine sensitivity, von Speyr explores, examines, and reflects-and in the process leaves us with food for thought and prayer, guidelines for discernment and action, and encouragement for our daily lives as disciples of Jesus Christ.</DIV>

The Letter to the Colossians

<DIV>Richard Dawkins, biologist and best-selling author, claims that belief in God is a "delusion" and that "religion" harms society. Dawkins contends that he has reason and evidence on his side, and he dismisses faith as unfounded, even irrational. Dominican Thomas Crean tackles Dawkins' claims head-on. He presents straightforward arguments for God's existence, and he uses reason and evidence to defend such things as miracles and the authority of the Bible. He also shows how God is important for a coherent understanding of morality, and why Dawkins' approach winds up reducing morality to the individual's subjective likes and dislikes. By demonstrating how Dawkins' criticisms rest on misunderstandings, superficial readings, poor argumentation, a lack of historical awareness, and not a little prejudice, Crean reveals Dawkins to be out of his philosophical and theological depth, and his case against God to be fundamentally flawed. </DIV>

God Is No Delusion: A Refutation of Richard Dawkins

<DIV>Von Speyr addresses the perennial and ultimate human question--the question of death. This book is not only a synthesis of the Christian view of death. It is also an antidote to the insipid sociological sentimentalism of so many books written about death and dying today. Death is not just the last stage of growth or something we must cope with or accept, nor something we must help people do without any fear or feeling of guilt. None of the merely human answers can satisfy because death is a mystery that only God and his Revelation can begin to explain. "If God had not instituted death, man could have imagined that, each time he offended God, he could subsequently make it good, supply what he had failed to do, obliterate his turning away from God by turning toward Him. He would have felt that guilt and atonement were within his own power, that he could choose a punishment, a penance that would reconcile him with God if he persisted in it long enough. In other words he would have imagined that he was basically able to redeem himself. But by death and the finite time which leads up to it, God has shown man that his turning-away is far more serious than he thought, so grave that of himself he cannot make it good." - Adrienne von Speyr </DIV>

The Mystery of Death

<DIV>In this introduction to the life and thought of Dorothy Day, one of the most important lay Catholics of the twentieth century, Terrence Wright presents her radical response to God's mercy. After a period of darkness and sin, which included an abortion and a suicide attempt, Day had a profound awakening to God's unlimited love and mercy through the birth of her daughter.After her conversion, Day answered the calling to bring God's mercy to others. With Peter Maurin, she founded the Catholic Worker Movement in 1933. Dedicated to both the spiritual and the corporal works of mercy, they established Houses of Hospitality, Catholic Worker Farms, and the Catholic Worker newspaper.Drawing heavily from Day's own writings, this book reveals her love for Scripture, the sacraments, and the magisterial teaching of the Church. The author explores her philosophy and spirituality, including her devotion to Saints Francis, Benedict, and Th&eacute;r&egrave;se. He also shows how her understanding of the Mystical Body of Christ led to some of her more controversial positions such as pacifism.Since her death in 1980, Day continues to serve as a model of Christian love and commitment. She recognized Christ in the less fortunate and understood that to be a servant of these least among us is to be a servant of God.</DIV>

Dorothy Day: An Introduction to Her Life and Thought

By the Rivers of Babylon presents the early life of the prophet Ezekiel, from his childhood to his service in the Temple to the Babylonian Captivity, where he was enslaved among the exiles along the River Chebar.Ezekiel, a bricklayer, is simple and timid. He is not yet a priest, and his visions have not yet begun. He stands in the midst of the Jewish exiles as they struggle to build a town of their own, to remain faithful to God&#39;s covenant without the Temple, and to discern the various forces that threaten to divide them and erode their faith. All of these experiences flow like streams into Ezekiel&#39;s later mission to rally his people from inner destruction.What makes a prophet? Why was this man chosen? Michael O&#39;Brien offers an intimate glimpse into the mind and heart of a visionary.

By the Rivers of Babylon: A Novel

Theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988) was one of the most important Catholic voices of the twentieth century. In his view, a priest is called to imitate the Eucharistic Christ, who gives himself with abandon for the life of the world. He should aspire to be as common and as humble as bread, available to be blessed, broken, and distributed. Through his availability, God Himself becomes present to the world and the world becomes present to God.This concise book presents Balthasar’s theology of discernment and vocation in a way that responds to current questions regarding the viability of the priestly and religious vocations today. Balthasar offers indispensable resources for understanding the relationship between personal freedom and vocation, showing how one becomes a person precisely through the reception of a definitive mission, a mission that makes a person truly ecclesial and thus open to both God and to others.While the book is particularly focused on the priesthood, it will be of interest to priests, religious, and all those discerning God’s call. A short epilogue looks at Balthasar as a model for the theological vocation.

Distributed Like Bread: Hans Urs von Balthasar on Discernment, Vocation, and the Priesthood

This unparalleled, scholarly introduction to St. John Henry Newman—mind, heart, soul, and personality—brings the great cardinal to life before our eyes, and with him the charged air of nineteenth-century England. Drawing from his letters, writings, and journal entries with precision and poetic flair, the book is one of Ida Friederike Görres' masterworks.While famous for his brilliance, Cardinal Newman did not hide in an ivory tower. His life was one of risk, sacrifice, and immense charity. His sharp turn to Catholicism rocked the University of Oxford, costing him his friendships, his livelihood, and his identity. Through failures and disappointments, over and over again, Newman let himself be recreated by God.This work, in Görres' words, is a portrait of "the boy, puzzled, who was startled and overwhelmed by God; the active, creative young prophet of his church in crisis; the hermit, who he was and wanted to be all his life; and the fighter, who he was with and against his will: the saint of the Church and the saint of humility, the one perfected in sacrifice".With an in-depth introduction by Ratzinger Prize winner Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz, an extensive commentary by translator Jennifer S. Bryson, and a detailed index, the book introduces readers not only to St. John Henry Newman, but to Görres, one of the greatest hagiographers of the twentieth century, whose spiritual writings have only recently been discovered by the English-speaking world.

John Henry Newman: A Life Sacrificed

Opening credits

Introductory Message

Part I꞉ Chapter I꞉ How the Great Wind Came to Beacon House

Part I꞉ Chapter II꞉ The Luggage of an Optimist

Part I꞉ Chapter III꞉ The Banner of Beacon

Part I꞉ Chapter IV꞉ The Garden of God

Part I꞉ Chapter V꞉ The Allegorical Practical Joker

Part II꞉ Chapter I꞉ The Eye of Death; or, The Murder Charge

Part II꞉ Chapter II꞉ The Two Curates; or, The Burglary Charge

Part II꞉ Chapter III꞉ The Round Road; or, The Desertion Charge

Part II꞉ Chapter IV꞉ The Wild Weddings; or, The Polygamy Charge

Part II꞉ Chapter V꞉ How the Great Wind Went from Beacon House

Closing credits

<div>
This classic novel by Chesterton tells the rollicking tale of Innocent Smith, a man who may be crazy&mdash;or he may be the most sane man of all. Arriving at a London boarding house accompanied by a windstorm, Innocent is soon accused of attempted murder, burglary, polygamy, and desertion of his wife. As the residents of Beacon House try to piece together what this madman is up to, a detective is called upon to unravel the accusations against Smith. Actor Kevin O&rsquo;Brien of the Theater of the Word gives a dramatic reading of the text.
</div>

Manalive: A Novel by G.K. Chesterton (Audiobook)

<DIV>Shaw, widely known Catholic writer, speaker and former communications director for the U S Bishops, discusses the abuse of secrecy in the Church, the scandals it has caused and the serious problem of mistrust that exists in the credibility of the Church. Not concerned with the legitimate secrecy that is necessary to protect confidentiality and people's reputations, Shaw is rather concerned here with the stifling, deadening misuse of secrecy that has done immense harm to communion and community in the Church in America. Shaw shows the secrecy issue is a theological as well as practical problem that raises such questions as: What kind of Church do we want our Church to be, open or closed? What kind of Church should it be? And how much secrecy is compatible with having such a Church? As Pope Benedict XVI has stated, "The consequence is clear: we cannot communicate with the Lord if we do not communicate with one another." The Church is a communion, not a political democracy, and thus openness and accountability are even more crucial for the life of the Church than they are in a democracy. In a talk he gave many years before he became the current Pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had this to say about the reality of ecclesial communion: "Fellowship in the Body of Christ and receiving the Body of Christ means fellowship with one another. This of its very nature includes mutual acceptance, giving and receiving on both sides, and readiness to share one's goods. In this sense, the social question is given quite a central place in the theological heart of the concept of communion." This is a beautiful vision of the Church. Shaw's aim in his book is to make a contribution to realizing this vision in the concrete circumstances of the present day, by helping to end the culture of secrecy, especially within American Catholicism, and replacing the destructive culture with an open, accountable community of faith. </DIV>

Nothing to Hide: Secrecy, Communication and Communion in the Catholic Church

<DIV>How do we make sense of life? How should we treat others? How should we reasonably be expected to be treated by others? When human life is at stake, are there reasonable principles we can rely on to guide our actions? How should our laws be framed to protect human life? What kind of society should be built? Many people rely on their religious beliefs to answer these questions. But not everyone accepts the same religious premises or recognizes the same spiritual authorities. Are there "public arguments"-reasons that can be given that do not presuppose agreement on religious grounds or common religious commitments-that can guide our thoughts and actions, as well as our laws and public policies? In Ten Universal Principles: A Brief Philosophy of the Life Issues, Jesuit Father Robert Spitzer sets out, in a brief, yet highly-readable and lucid style, ten basic principles that must govern the reasonable person's thinking and acting about life issues. A highly-regarded philosopher, Father Spitzer provides an intelligent outline for thinking and talking about human life. This book is a powerful tool for persuasively articulating and effectively inculturating a prolife philosophy. </DIV>

Ten Universal Principles: A Brief Philosophy of the Life Issues

<DIV>This comprehensive and illustrated volume is both a rich history of the Catholic Church in Alaska, and the autobiography of Fr. Louis Renner, S.J., who was a dedicated missionary in Alaska for 40 years. He tells here a compelling story of a full and fascinating life in service of the people and the Church of Alaska amid the incredible natural beauties, challenging elements and vast regions of the Great Land. Beautifully interweaving the history of the people and Church in Alaska, Fr. Renner tells his story of a dedicated missionary priest who loved the people he served. A scholar, a teacher, and always a Jesuit priest, he taught German and Latin at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, edited the Catholic newsletter The Alaskan Shepherd, and ran missions at two different Indian villages on the Yukon River. This pastoral priest became a friend to people in all sectors of Alaskan society. Tony Knows, the governor of Alaska, even presented him with the "Governor's Award for Friend of the Humanities". The outline of Fr. Renner's life is fleshed-out richly in A Kindly Providence. One reviewer writes that "all is there, a clear picture of his life. Renner is a very good writer- technically competent and very interesting. He kept this reader's interest throughout the 500-plus page book. I really wanted to see how it ended." Another writes: "Once I started to read it, I couldn't put it down. I had to finish it." Rich in detail, this book is a wonderful testimony to a model life of a happy priest in the twentieth century. The book is based, not only on Fr. Renner's remarkable memory, but also on his personal diaries and correspondence, on official documents, and on accounts written by him of his unusual adventures during over forty years in Alaska. Substantial quotes from diaries, letters, and official documents give readers a feeling of being actually present at those events in far-off places. The many photographs illustrating the narrative lend an air of immediacy and give us a vicarious experience of the author's personal life. </DIV>

A Kindly Providence: An Alaskan Missionary's Story

<DIV>A Drama of Reform is the story of the new order founded by Fr. Benedict Groeschel and seven other Capuchin friars, and of the first two decades of a reform in religious life begun in 1987. United in the desire to be authentic disciples of Jesus Christ and following in the footsteps of Saint Francis, they want to encourage the army of Christians of all denominations who are discouraged by the erosion of Gospel values in our culture. This inspirational volume combines more than 100 dramatic photos from the interesting and varied aspects of their daily lives. Along with the wonderful photos, members of the two independent communities of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal provide short essays on their life, which will enable others to experience the earnestness and enthusiasm of this young and fervent group. More than one hundred sisters and friars from a dozen countries have come together with the common desire to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ after the example of Saint Francis and the tradition of the Capuchin reform. Well-known for their work with the poor and homeless in the South Bronx and other deprived areas, these Franciscans communicate a deep sense of the joy and love of those trying to be totally committed to living the Gospel in an increasingly de-Christianized world. </DIV>

The Drama of the Reform

<DIV>The Death of a Pope is a powerful new novel by the acclaimed British writer Piers Paul Read. Juan Uriarte, a handsome and outspoken Spanish ex-priest, seems to be the model of nonviolence and compassion for the poor and downtrodden. So why is he on trial, accused of terrorist activities? His worldwide Catholic charitable outreach program is suspected of being a front for radicals. The trial is covered by Kate Ramsay, a young British reporter, who sets out to undercover the truth about Uriarte and his work. She travels with him to Africa to see his work first hand but soon finds herself attracted to him. Meanwhile an international conspiracy is growing, one that reaches into the Vatican itself. When the death of Pope John Paul II brings the conclave that will elect Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI, a terrorist plot involving blackmail, subterfuge, and mass murder begins to fall into place... a plot that could spell disaster for the Catholic Church and the world. Piers Paul Read's powerful tale combines vivid characters, high drama, love, betrayal, faith, and redemption in a story of intrigue, of church espionage, and an attempt to destroy the longest continuous government in the world - the Papacy. The Death of a Pope races toward an unexpected and unforgettable conclusion. </DIV>

The Death of a Pope: A Novel

<DIV>IllustratedThis volume in the Vision Books series of saints for youth combines a world famous Catholic novelist, Louis de Wohl, with one of the most thrilling and dramatic saint's lives in history, St. Joan of Arc. De Wohl uses his famed narrative skill to tell young people about the brave teenage French girl who had visions and led armies in battle, but also about how her entire life testifies to the amazing power of God's grace. It's all here: how Joan, a humble maiden in an insignificant town, was told by St. Michael the Archangel, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret to lead the French in battle against the English; how she finally succeeded in convincing the French of the truth of her mission; how she met with fantastic success but was betrayed, captured, and imprisoned; and finally, how she suffered through a politically motivated trial for heresy and was burned at the stake. Best of all, de Wohl is not interested solely in the external details of Joan's life, but in Joan's all-encompassing love for God, which informed all her courageous actions from beginning to end. You'll not only thrill to Joan's heroism; your heart will delight in her example of loving surrender to God's will. Every detail of her life will ring out to you as a joyful witness to the grace of God. This book is now part of Renaissance Learning&#x2019;s Accelerated Reader program. Quizzes are currently available. </DIV>

Saint Joan: The Girl Soldier

<DIV>Contributors to this volume: Anthony J. Berret, S.J. William F. Byrne John Francis Devanny Jr. Mary R. Reichardt Thomas W. Stanford III Aaron Urbanczyk Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is, according to many critics and fond readers, the great American novel. Full of vibrant American characters, intriguing regional dialects and folkways, and down-home good humor, it also hits Americans in one of their greatest and on-going sore spots: the fraught issue of racism. As Huck and Jim float down the Mississippi and encounter all manner of people and situations, and as Huck struggles mightily with his conscience concerning Jim, the novel strongly invites a moral and religious perspective. In this new edition, Mary R. Reichardt's introduction places the book in its historical and biographical context, and several critical articles examine such issues as the book's moral implications, religious contexts, and status as an American epic. Mary R. Reichardt, the editor of this edition, is a professor of literature in the Catholic Studies department at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul MN. The Ignatius Critical Editions represent a tradition-oriented alternative to popular textbook series such as the Norton Critical Editions or Oxford World Classics, and are designed to concentrate on traditional readings of the Classics of world literature. While many modern critical editions have succumbed to the fads of modernism and post-modernism, this series will concentrate on tradition-oriented criticism of these great works. Edited by acclaimed literary biographer, Joseph Pearce, the Ignatius Critical Editions will ensure that traditional moral readings of the works are given prominence, instead of the feminist, or deconstructionist readings that often proliferate in other series of 'critical editions'. As such, they represent a genuine extension of consumer-choice, enabling educators, students and lovers of good literature to buy editions of classic literary works without having to 'buy into' the ideologies of secular fundamentalism. The series is ideal for anyone wishing to understand great works of western civilization, enabling the modern reader to enjoy these classics in the company of some of the finest literature professors alive today. </DIV>

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

<DIV>The second volume of Fr. Baker's series on the Catholic Faith focuses on God, the Trinity, Creation, Christ, and Mary. Before we can love God, we must know God, and this book illustrates the many ways we can come to intimately know God through His works and revelations in Scripture, and through the teachings and traditions of His Church.</DIV>

Fundamentals of Catholicism: God, Trinity, Creation, Christ, Mary

Foreword

Chapter 1 Chapter 2꞉ Capernaum꞉ Village of Coming Consolation

Chapter 3꞉ Faith Not Fear꞉ Walking in Trust

Chapter 4꞉ Peter the Rock꞉ The Primacy of Jesus

Chapter 5꞉ Peter and the Keys꞉ The Primacy of the Church

Chapter 6꞉ In the Shadow of the Galilean꞉ Peter's Rising Leadership

Chapter 7꞉ Discipleship at a Distance꞉ Peter and the Passion of Christ

Chapter 8꞉ Peter and Pentecost꞉ The Transforming Power of the Holy Spirit

Chapter 9꞉ Peter Bar-Jonah꞉ How Peter Came to Rome

Chapter 10꞉ Quo Vadis꞉ Peter's Way of the Cross

<div>
Renowned scholar Dr. Tim Gray masterfully guides you through the tumultuous and inspiring life of Peter--from his call to discipleship to his eventual martyrdom in Rome. Using Sacred Scripture and tradition, Dr. Gray highlights these important lessons from Peter's life, including:
<ul>
<li>How to become a trusting disciple and "cast into the deep"</li>
<li>The pitfalls of living discipleship at a distance and the eventual denial that will come</li>
<li>How to recover from sin and accept God's mercy</li>
<li>How to become a bold witness to others of the love of Jesus</li>
</ul>
Come to better know, love, and follow Jesus through the Rock on whom he built his Church.
</div>

Peter: Keys to Following Jesus (Audiobook)

<DIV>Are Catholics biblical illiterates? ; So goes the frequent ; question, proving that myths die hard. But Catholics ought ; to be able to answer the charge made by many non-Catholics ; in this regard. This book is a response to Fundamentalist ; critics and an explanation of the Catholic biblical ; tradition. The Catholic Church and the ; Bible is a significant scriptural study ; guide, published from a Catholic perspective and ; particularly keyed to the new Catechism of the Catholic ; Church. The well-planned, straight-forward text is ; clearly outlined to make information easy to find and ; understand. Main topics include: <ul><li>The Catholic ; understanding of the Bible </li><li>God's Word and its ; purpose in the Church </li><li>A biblical theology of the ; Mass, the place of the Bible in the Sacred Liturgy ; </li><li>A question-and-answer section that deals with ; pertinent and popular inquiries made by Catholics and ; non-Catholics alike </li></ul>This work should be ; heartily welcomed by both clergy and laity, for Father ; Stravinskas sheds new light on Catholic Bible study by ; writing with candor, clarity and scriptural backing. This ; is ideal for high schools and RCIA programs. "An ; excellent tool for the Catholic apologist. The reader has ; everything in one place: pithy answers plus biblical and ; magisterial citations. Fr. Stravinskas is the best ; priest-apologist in the country." -Karl ; Keating, Author, Catholicism and ; FundamentalismFr. Peter M.J. ; Stravinskas is the well-known editor of the ; The Catholic Answer magazine, a contributing ; editor to National Catholic Register, and has ; written over 500 articles for numerous Catholic ; publications. </DIV>

The Catholic Church and the Bible

&quot;Let me be with you!&quot; Homeless, living for years in a state of demonic insanity, Ithamar one day spots a mysterious man on the shore, runs to him, and finds himself wholly cured. But when he begs this healer to take him as a disciple, he is rejected and ordered to go home. Jesus and his entourage sail off toward the horizon without him. Why was he turned away&mdash;and how can he begin a new life?Eight-time Nobel Prize nominee Riccardo Bacchelli imagines the life of the Gerasene demoniac after his exorcism: his inner battles, his return to the family and the first-century Jewish community, his quest for love and meaning. The healer&#39;s gaze has been branded into his mind, but he cannot grasp who this man really is. As he gathers secondhand news of the Galilean miracle worker, he is determined to piece together the puzzle.Elegantly translated and introduced by Anthony Esolen, The Gaze of Jesus is a gripping psychological, historical, and theological investigation into what it takes for the &quot;uncalled&quot; to follow Christ, to seek the face of Jesus from a distance. Bacchelli offers a vivid and visceral experience of the world of the New Testament, including some elaborate character studies of the Bible&#39;s darkest figures: Herod, Herodias, and Judas.

The Gaze of Jesus: A Novel

<DIV>Following his best selling book, Jesus of Nazareth, and his talks published in Jesus, the Apostles, and the Early Church, Pope Benedict?s Church Fathers presents these important figures of early Christianity in all their evangelical vitality, spiritual profundity, and uncompromising love of God. Benedict tells the true story of Christianity?s against-all-odds triumph in the face of fierce Roman hostility and persecution. He does this by exploring the lives and the ideas of the early Christian writers, pastors, and martyrs, men so important to the spread of Christianity that history remembers them as ?the Fathers of the Church?. This rich and engrossing survey of the early Church includes those churchmen who immediately succeeded the Apostles, the ?Apostolic Fathers?: Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus of Lyon. Benedict also discusses such great Christian figures as Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian of Carthage, the Cappadocian Fathers, as well as the giants John Chrysostom, Jerome, and Augustine. This book is a wonderful way to get to know the Church Fathers and the tremendous spiritually rich patrimony they have bequeathed to us. </DIV>

Church Fathers: From Clement of Rome to Augustine

Title Page

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

In this unusual book on the Gospel of Mark, the brilliant and prolific Peter Kreeft presents 252 contemporary questions that modern man asks about every aspect of the meaning of life, faith, love, suffering, friendship, death, eternity, God, Jesus and more.He then gives an answer to each question taken directly from Mark&#39;s Gospel, which are always pointed and often suprising, and makes us ponder more deeply about the meaning of the Scripture passage in relation to our own lives. Kreeft says that Mark&#39;s Gospel&#160; is &quot;the quickest and &#39;busiest&#39; of the four &ndash; the Gospel for Americans.&quot; He describes the book as &quot;a series of sudden shocks and surprises because that is how Jesus appeared to Mark and others who followed him &ndash; full of shocks and surprises.&quot;Kreeft&#39;s goal of this book is for us to allow Jesus to speak more directly to us, to answer our questions in a personal and profound way, so that we will learn more about ourselves, and about Him. And thus how to know, love and follow Him more closely in our lives.

The Man Who Left His Mark: How Mark's Gospel Answers Modern Questions

<DIV>While the story of the apparitions of Our Lady to Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes in 1858 are well known, relatively few people are familiar with the saint's own spiritual insights and profound holiness. For the first time in English, this book presents a wide selection of St. Bernadette's thoughts, advice, sayings, and prayers through the touching words of her spiritual diary, notes, and letters to friends and family. After receiving the visions of Our Lady at the grotto in Lourdes, Bernadette eventually became a religious sister as a member of the Sisters of Charity. She lived a life of simplicity, charity, suffering and deep holiness, dying at the age of 35. When she was canonized a saint, her body was found to be incorrupt. In these beautiful writings of St. Bernadette, we learn the secrets of her holiness and happiness. Though she suffered greatly throughout her life, the heroic response of this humble, self-effacing nun transformed excruciating suffering into spiritual fruitfulness. Her letters and writings serve as a model for others passing through their own trials. Her writings reveal and intimate and profound love for God and neighbor. Anyone pursuing a deeper spiritual life will appreciate knowing Bernadette as she truly was, and the inspiring spiritual works of wisdom she offers to us all. </DIV>

A Holy Life: The Writings of St. Bernadette

<DIV>The Founding of the American Republic is on trial. Critics say it was a poison pill with a time-release formula; we are its victims. Its principles are responsible for the country's moral and social disintegration because they were based on the Enlightenment falsehood of radical individual autonomy.In this well-researched book, Robert Reilly declares: not guilty. To prove his case, he traces the lineage of the ideas that made the United States, and its ordered liberty, possible. These concepts were extraordinary when they first burst upon the ancient world: the Judaic oneness of God, who creates ex nihilo and imprints his image on man; the Greek rational order of the world based upon the Reason behind it; and the Christian arrival of that Reason (Logos) incarnate in Christ. These may seem a long way from the American Founding, but Reilly argues that they are, in fact, its bedrock. Combined, they mandated the exercise of both freedom and reason.</DIV>

America on Trial, Expanded Edition: A Defense of the Founding

<DIV>This is no ordinary book. It is a set of probing questions (1,450 in fact) designed to help individuals or groups, especially groups, to dive deeply into Saint John&rsquo;s Gospel. No answers are provided, but the questions are phrased in such a way as to set a person in a reliable direction for finding the answers.The questions correspond to the verses of the Gospel and require active and personal interaction. Some of the questions are easy, some difficult, and they are marked accordingly. Some questions include background information or&#160;hints that help the reader along. Some were written with a fair bit of humor. Any person or group using these questions to explore John will find themselves entertained as well as informed and inspired.</DIV>

Probes: Deep Sea Diving into Saint John's Gospel: Questions for Individual or Group Study

Father Gabriel spends a few days of relaxation at his old Cambridge College, the guest of friend Arthur Kingsley from his student days. Kingsley is now a respected scientist and a Fellow of St Stephen&#39;s College, but after an enjoyable evening dining at High Table, Gabriel receives the shattering news that Daphne Silverton, Kingsley&#39;s brilliant young prot&eacute;g&eacute;e, has been found dead in her laboratory after what appears to have been a tragic accident. Daphne was universally loved, but Gabriel&#39;s instincts tell him that her death was a little too perfectly staged to have been an accident.After an emotional reunion with the parents of his late wife, Gabriel seeks the truth about Daphne&#39;s demise. His investigations lead him to the Peace Union and its Ban the Bomb campaign, another member of Daphne&#39;s laboratory is found dead. Gabriel struggles to lay aside his personal loyalties and confront the possibility that there are dark secrets lurking behind both deaths.This fourth book in the popular Father Gabriel series examines the moral minefield of the complicity of scientists in the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction. It also reveals more about Gabriel&#39;s past.

Death of a Scholar: A Father Gabriel Mystery

<DIV>These meditations on the famous prayer of St. Ignatius by a Poor Clare nun and well-regarded spiritual writer will help every reader deepen his prayer life and draw closer to the Person of Christ. Popes, saints, and common folk have made this their daily prayer for centuries. Let the Abbess of cloistered nuns help you reflect deeper on the profound thoughts of this prayer that are needed to shape a devout life in Christ. Beneath the surface verbal expressions of this familiar prayer lie depths of meaning for which each unfolding petition prepares the next until arrival at the final all-comprehensive plea that God should call us to Himself and admit us into the eternal choir singing His praises. The unending joyous cry of the blessed taught by the ageless cry of the angels: Holy! Holy! Holy! is rehearsed on earth in the haunting reaches of this so simple and so profound prayer: "Anima Christi".</DIV>

Anima Christi: Soul of Christ

<DIV>The Didache Bible presents extensive commentaries, based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, for each of the books of the Holy Bible. It also includes numerous apologetical inserts to assist the reader in understanding the Church's teachings on current issues.It uses the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition translation of the complete text of Sacred Scriptures, Old and New Testaments. This Bible version is considered by many Catholic leaders and authors, including Peter Kreeft and Scott Hahn, as the most beautiful English translation of the Bible today.The Didache Bible is a valuable resource for students and those participating in Scripture studies. Ideal for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and intended to be accessible by all Catholics in its level of scriptural scholarship.SPECIAL FEATURES:<ul><li>Twenty-seven full-color biblical maps, including the journeys of Jesus Christ.</li><li>More than 100 apologetical explanations that help to answer common questions about the faith</li><li>Comprehensive, forty-three page glossary and a topical index.</li><li>imprimatur and nihil obstat</li></ul></DIV>

The Didache Bible with Commentaries Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Chur: Ignatius Edition

This&#160;diary of a young American Jesuit&rsquo;s vocation and first six years of seminary training in the early 1960s before being assigned as a missionary to Taiwan is full of youthful optimism. It is the positive, personal story of a vocation told in a relaxed, often humorous voice. It reveals the longing of a heart that finds fulfillment in giving up everything to follow Christ and serve others as a Jesuit.&#160; At the Jesuit seminary in Los Gatos, Calif., the novice learns both the skill of harvesting grapes in the novitiate vineyard and the art of meditating on the life of Christ in prayer. As he contemplates Jesus&ndash;&ndash;walking from village to village, preaching, healing the sick, and announcing good news to the poor&ndash;&ndash; he wants to do the same in the foreign missions. He is encouraged in his hopes to be a missionary by a saintly Jesuit who left the Chinese missions for health reasons and became his spiritual father. Gifted in art, music, and writing, the novice learns how to use his talents for the benefit of others. During his long years of study, he discovers happiness through sharing his life with the less fortunate, working in the fields with migrant laborers. This ever-growing desire not only to serve the poor but also to be one of them is a recurring theme in Fr. Martinson&rsquo;s diary. As a gateway for anyone discerning his vocation, or as manna for those already in religious life, this diary reveals the secret garden of a Jesuit&rsquo;s formative years, sharing many personal, joyful, and inspiring experiences, which, as the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote, are rife with &ldquo;beauty blooming&rdquo;.

Diary of a Young Jesuit: All This Beauty Blooming

<DIV>Saint Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, espoused the ideal of becoming "contemplatives in action." He was convinced that contemplation (the deep awareness and appropriation of the unconditional love of God) should affect our actions, and that our actions need to be brought back to contemplation. These five dimensions of the spiritual life: (1) the Holy Eucharist, (2) spontaneous prayer, (3) the Beatitudes, (4) partnership with the Holy Spirit, and (5) the contemplative life itself, generally do not develop simultaneously or even in parallel ways. Some develop very quickly, but do not achieve significant depth; while others develop quite slowly, but seem to be almost unending in the depth of wisdom, trust, hope, virtue, and love they engender. The best way of explaining this is to look at each of the pillars individually.Before doing this, however, it is indispensable for each of us to acknowledge (at least intellectually) the fundamental basis for Christian contemplation, namely, the unconditional Love of God. Jesus taught us to address God as Abba. If God really is Abba; if His love is like the father of the prodigal son; if Jesus' passion and Eucharist are confirmations of that unconditional Love; if God really did so love the world that He sent His only begotten Son into the world not to condemn us, but to save us and bring us to eternal life (Jn 3:16-19); if nothing really can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Rm 8:31-39); and if God really has prepared us "to grasp fully, with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love, and experience this love which surpasses all understanding, so that we may attain to the fullness of God Himself" (Eph 3:18-20), then God's love is unconditional, and it is, therefore, the foundation for unconditional trust and unconditional hope. There can be nothing more important than contemplating, affirming, appropriating, and living in this Unconditional Love. This is the purpose of contemplation; indeed, the purpose of the spiritual life itself. </DIV>

Five Pillars of the Spiritual Life: A Practical Guide to Prayer for Active People

<DIV>Ulf and Birgitta Ekman are no strangers to controversy. As a Lutheran priest at Uppsala University in the 1980s, Ulf was a leader of a student revival that resulted in his very public separation from the Church of Sweden. With his wife, Birgitta, he founded Word of Life, a large Pentecostal church that attracted thousands of members and planted churches and Bible schools around the world. Word of Life became the first "mega-church" in the country, and Ulf Ekman became Sweden's most prominent Christian leader.Being well-known Christian leaders in one of the world's most secular countries brings many challenges. The Ekmans were constantly in the crosshairs of the media, who were critical of what they dubbed a "prosperity gospel". But the biggest criticisms would come from within the Christian church when the Ekmans answered the persistent call to join the Catholic Church. The news of their leaving Word of Life Church to become Catholics was a bombshell in Sweden.In The Great Discovery the Ekmans tell the amazing, inspirational story of their road to Rome, from their own intense opposition to Catholicism to meeting with Pope Francis. The result is an instant classic of Christian autobiography.</DIV>

The Great Discovery: Our Journey to the Catholic Church

Opening Quote and Dedication

Chapter 1: The Visit

Chapter 2: The Beginning

Chapter 3: Darkness

Chapter 4: Moving Nowhere

Chapter 5: The Hermitage in the Desert

Chapter 6: Light Blinks On

Chapter 7: The Meeting

Chapter 8: Home and Far Afield

Chapter 9: Velocity

Chapter 10: Pressing Down

Chapter 11: The Chariot That Carried Us Away

Chapter 12: Tethering Man to God

Chapter 13: The Priest Who Stayed

Chapter 14: Darkness and Light

Afterword

Acknowledgments

<div>
Island of the World is the story of a child born in 1933 into the turbulent world of the Balkans and tracing his life into the third millennium. The central character is Josip Lasta, the son of an impoverished school teacher in a remote village high in the mountains of the Bosnian interior. As the novel begins, World War II is underway and the entire region of Yugoslavia is torn by conflicting factions: German and Italian occupying armies, and the rebel forces that resist them-the fascist Ustashe, Serb nationalist Chetniks, and Communist Partisans. As events gather momentum, hell breaks loose, and the young and the innocent are caught in the path of great evils. Their only remaining strength is their religious faith and their families.
For more than a century, the confused and highly inflammatory history of former Yugoslavia has been the subject of numerous books, many of them rife with revisionist history and propaganda. The peoples of the Balkans live on the border of three worlds: the Islamic, the orthodox Slavic East, and Catholic Europe, and as such they stand in the path of major world conflicts that are not only geo-political but fundamentally spiritual. This novel cuts to the core question: how does a person retain his identity, indeed his humanity, in absolutely dehumanizing situations?
In the life of the central character, the author demonstrates that this will demand suffering and sacrifice, heroism and even holiness. When he is twelve years old, his entire world is destroyed, and so begins a lifelong Odyssey to find again the faith which the blows of evil have shattered. The plot takes the reader through Josip's youth, his young manhood, life under the Communist regime, hope and loss and unexpected blessings, the growth of his creative powers as a poet, and the ultimate test of his life. Ultimately this novel is about the crucifixion of a soul-and resurrection.
</div>

Island of the World: A Novel (Audiobook)

<DIV>Pope Saint John Paul II declared that the great challenge for Christians today is to become&#160;&ldquo;the home and school of communion.&rdquo;St. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein) is a sure guide to attaining the communion for which every human heart longs. This work considers St. Teresa&rsquo;s life and writings in the context of the &ldquo;spirituality of communion&rdquo;. As a philosopher she was directed towards attaining communion with the Truth, and she discovered that Truth was a Person, Jesus Christ. As a Carmelite nun she gave up everything for communion with him.Dr. Alice von Hildebrand, in the foreword, says Edith Stein's message &ldquo;is above her time&rdquo; and that the author, Sister M. Regina van den Berg, F.S.G.M. &ldquo;is well qualified to write such a book.&rdquo; Sister Regina explores in detail Edith Stein's theory of empathy as developed in her doctoral dissertation, as well as her later theory of community. Sister Regina has also used a number of Edith Stein's writings that, until this work, have not yet been available in English translation.Each chapter explores an aspect of &ldquo;communion&rdquo;, richly revealing the wisdom of Edith Stein, &ldquo;a Jew who became a philosopher . . . a convert to Catholicism who became a Carmelite nun and crowned her life with martyrdom&rdquo;. Stein&rsquo;s work &ldquo;provides insights that can help us to grow in the spirituality of communion, first by presenting to us the truth about the human person's nature and vocation and then by showing us how we can arrive at a spirituality of communion in the various aspects of life.&rdquo;</DIV>

Communion with Christ: According to Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

<DIV>Foreword by Mother TeresaThis moving collection of intimate, poignant, and heart-warming letters was written by Karen Santorum to her unborn child, Gabriel Michael. During her pregnancy, Karen wrote letters to her son, never expecting that the letters would someday be published. Though her pregnancy began as normal, Karen ended up experiencing serious difficulties with her pregnancy at the same time that her husband Rick Santorum, the Republican Senator for Pennsylvania, was leading the charge against partial birth abortions in the U.S. Senate.Letters to Gabriel is the story of Gabriel Michael's short, but meaningful life, and a tribute to the sanctity of life, the deep faith of the Santorums, and strong family values. The intimate bond between mother and child is expressed by Karen with great tenderness and love. This is a deeply moving book that will touch the heart of its readers with the beauty of the gift of life, and inspire them to share it with others.</DIV>

Letters to Gabriel: The True Story of Gabriel Michael Santorum

<DIV>Is truth knowable? If we know the truth, must we hide it in the name of tolerance? Cardinal Ratzinger engages the problem of truth, tolerance, religion and culture in the modern world. Describing the vast array of world religions, Ratzinger embraces the difficult challenge of meeting diverse understandings of spiritual truth while defending the Catholic teaching of salvation through Jesus Christ. But what if it is true? is the question that he poses to cultures that decry the Christian position on man's redemption. Upholding the notion of religious truth while asserting the right of religious freedom, Cardinal Ratzinger outlines the timeless teaching of the Magisterium in language that resonates with our embattled culture. A work of extreme sensitivity, understanding, and spiritual maturity, this book is an invaluable asset to those who struggle to hear the voice of truth in the modern religious world. "Beyond all particular questions, the real problem lies in the question about truth. Can truth be recognized? Or, is the question about truth simply inappropriate in the realm of religion and belief? But what meaning does belief then have, what positive meaning does religion have, if it cannot be connected with truth?" —Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger From the Preface</DIV>

Truth and Tolerance: Christian Belief and World Religions

This definitive biography of the heroic life of Servant of God Cardinal Thuan is told by his sister &Eacute;lisabeth, with Father Stefaan Lecleir, in the context of his family life, priesthood, and prison life, and the very challenging times in which he lived. It focuses especially on his profound spiritual life, his great suffering during a thirteen-year imprisonment by the Communists, his strong capacity for friendship with his enemies, and his deep veneration for Christ in the Eucharist. &Eacute;lisabeth also reveals moving miraculous events that she witnessed in his life. This inspirational account tells about the cardinal&rsquo;s family and how it played a central role in Vietnam&rsquo;s history, including his grandfather, who was minister to the emperor, and his mother, who was a special assistant to his uncle Ngo Dinh Diem, president of Vietnam. The assassinated Diem is much better understood as the book discusses his deep Catholic faith and strong devotion to his country in extremely difficult circumstances. The rich family history shows how Cardinal Thuan came from a lineage of courageous Vietnamese Christians, martyrs of the past and present. This is a thorough, well-documented biography of a towering modern spiritual figure. It includes numerous testimonies of those who knew him personally and provides unprecedented material on the life of Cardinal Thuan.

Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan: Man of Joy and Hope

<DIV>Since the end of Vatican II, in 1965, more active involvement of the laity has led many people to wonder about the priestಙs place in the Church.In this masterful work, theologian Jean Galot, S.J., clarifies the nature of the priesthood. He explains how the Jewish priesthood, the perfect priestly ministry of Jesus, and the role of the Twelve help us understand the ministerial priesthood. He considers how the ಜpriesthood of the faithfulಝ and the ministerial priesthood relate to each other, and how the latter is, by Godಙs design, necessary for the former.Theology of the Priesthood carefully examines the priestಙs role as minister of sacrifice and the sacraments, prophet of the Word, and leader of the Church. These and other aspects are summed up, according to Galot, in the priestಙs ministry as shepherd. This ministery is itself a sharing in Jesusಙ role as Shepherd:ಜThe priest does not draw the inspiration for his pastoral zeal from his own feelings, from his own personal resolve to create a better worldಝ, Fr. Galot writes. ಜHe is shepherd on the strength of Godಙs pastoral intention and represents specifically Christ the shepherd. Consequently, he is called upon to fulfill his pastoral mission not according to ideas of his own and his own personal ambitions, but in keeping with Godಙs own dispensation and the design of salvation devised by the Father and carried out by Christ. Like Jesus himself, the priest is at the service of the Father.ಝThe book also explores the spiritual life of priests, including the role of celibacy. It concludes with a discussion demonstrating that the male character of the ministerial priesthood is based on the will of Jesus and is not contrary to womenಙs dignity on their role in the Church.</DIV>

Theology of the Priesthood

The question of gender&mdash;who we are as men and women&mdash;has never been more pressing, or more misunderstood.Weaving personal experience with expert knowledge, Dr. Abigail Favale provides an in-depth yet accessible account of the gender paradigm: a framework for understanding reality and identity that has recently risen to prominence. Favale traces the genealogy of gender to its origins in feminism and postmodern thought, describing how gender has come to eclipse sex, and how that shift is reshaping language, law, medicine, sexuality, and our own self-perceptions.With substance, clarity, and compassion, Favale teases out the hidden assumptions of the gender paradigm and exposes its effects. Yet this book is not merely an expos&eacute;&mdash;it is also a powerful, moving articulation of a Christian understanding of reality: a holistic paradigm that proclaims the dignity of the body, the sacramental meaning of sexual difference, and the interconnectedness of all creation. The Genesis of Gender is a vital, timely resource for anyone seeking to better understand the gender paradigm&mdash;and how to live beyond it.

The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory

<DIV>In 1849 Emmeline Erle and her widowed mother move from sunny southern Europe to cold and grimy Birmingham, England. The town is one of great contrasts: progress and poverty, industrial expansion and murky slums, new villas and filthy streets. Darkness and light battle in the minds of its people: principles of freedom and tolerance struggle with ignorance and prejudice; deep doubt of religious truth coexists with fanaticism.Emmeline quickly makes friends in her new home— Lizzie, the hardworking servant, and Daniel, the schoolboy living next door. For both Emmeline and Daniel, Father John Henry Newman, who runs a chapel in one of the worst sections town, becomes the most important person in Birmingham.Daniel and Emmeline come to know and admire Father Newman as he tries to help poor factory workers and to enlighten citizens blinded by suspicion and bigotry. With him they experience the anxieties of a cholera outbreak and the dangers of anti-Catholic riots. Caught up in one excitement or trouble after another, the young people finally arrive at happier times, while the walls of Father Newman's new church, a symbol of light in a dark town, rise into the smoggy Birmingham sky.This colorful and dramatic story for youth brilliantly unfolds the panorama of Victorian England—the Industrial Revolution, the Oxford movement, the Crystal Palace, and Prince Albert opening a new railway. But above all, this book portrays the character and wisdom of John Henry Newman.</DIV>

Lights in a Dark Town: A Story about John Henry Newman

<DIV>In this engaging fictional conversation, Peter Kreeft gives credible voices to C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Billy Graham as they discuss one of the most contentious questions in the history of Christianity: Is Jesus symbolically or substantially present in the Eucharist?These widely respected modern Christian witnesses represent three important Western theological traditions. Graham, an ordained Southern Baptist minister who traversed the world and the airwaves to spread the good news of salvation, represents evangelical Protestantism. Lewis, an Oxford professor, a prolific Christian apologist, and the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, was a member of the Church of England. Also an Oxford don, Tolkien was a friend of Lewis, the author of The Lord of the Rings, and a Roman Catholic.While Lewis and Tolkien likely discussed the Eucharist during their long friendship, the conversation in this book never took place&mdash;but it could have, says Kreeft, who faithfully presents the views of these three impressive men.</DIV>