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Joy: we look for it, long for it, and spend our lives chasing it. Yet do we really know what it is? Is it a feeling, a state of mind, or a reward for success? Do we know where to find it? The more we seek it, the more it eludes us. Yet joy is real. &ldquo;Joy&rdquo;, writes philosopher Peter Kreeft, &ldquo;is a mystery. It is bigger than we are.&rdquo; Joy&rsquo;s secret, however, is that it cannot be reached or found but only given. True joy is God Himself, who, giving Himself, takes us outside ourselves, across valleys of loss and mountains of triumph. This lucid, witty reflection on the true nature of joy convinces us, page after page, that while sorrow is inevitable, joy is very, very near at hand. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s scandalously simple,&rdquo; Kreeft reveals. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no method; you just do it.&rdquo; To &ldquo;do&rdquo; joy, we must let go of all fake happiness, all false gods. We must return, over and over, to the one true Joy, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Drawing from the wisdom of C.&thinsp;S. Lewis and Saint Thomas Aquinas, this instant classic by self-proclaimed curmudgeon Peter Kreeft walks us through the long, beautiful task of surrendering to deep joy, the chief work of any life worth living.

The Mystery of Joy

Discover

<DIV>Revised Edition One of Cardinal Ratzinger's most important and widely read books, this volume is a revised second edition with an improved translation and an in-depth 20 page preface by the Cardinal. As he states in the preface, since this book was first published over 30 years ago, many changes and significant events have occurred in the world, and in the Church. But even so, he says he is firmly convinced that his fundamental approach in this book is still very timely and crucial for the spiritual needs of modern man. That approach puts the question of God and the question about Christ in the very center, which leads to a "narrative Christology" and demonstrates that the place for faith is in the Church. Thus, this remarkable elucidation of the Apostle's Creed gives an excellent, modern interpretation of the foundations of Christianity. Ratzinger's profound treatment of Christianity's basic truths combines a spiritual outlook with a deep knowledge of Scripture and the history of theology. </DIV>

Introduction to Christianity

Social Issues

Opening credits

Introductory Message

Dedication

Foreword, by Raymond Cardinal Burke

Preface

Chapter 1꞉ Mary

Chapter 2꞉ Fatima, Portugal

Chapter 3꞉ The First and Second Angel Apparitions

Chapter 4꞉ The Third Angel Apparition

Chapter 5꞉ The May and June Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima

Chapter 6꞉ The July Apparition - Part I

Chapter 7꞉ The July Apparition - Part II

Chapter 8꞉ The July Apparition - Part III

Chapter 9꞉ The August Apparition

Chapter 10꞉ The September Apparition

Chapter 11꞉ The October Apparition

Chapter 12꞉ Jacinta and Francisco

Chapter 13꞉ The Apparitions at Pontevedra, Spain

Chapter 14꞉ The Apparition at Tuy, Spain

Chapter 15꞉ Pope John Paul II and the Consecration of Russia

Chapter 16꞉ Sister Lucia - Her Life and Writings

Chapter 17꞉ The Importance of the Fatima Message Today

Chapter 18꞉ "In the End, My Immaculate Heart Will Triumph!"

Appendix A꞉ Fatima Prayers

Appendix B꞉ The Five First Saturdays Explained

Appendix C꞉ The Controversy over the Consecration

Appendix D꞉ The Controversy over the Third Secret

Appendix E꞉ Theological Commentary by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

Closing credits

<DIV>Though the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima took place almost a hundred years ago, Our Lady's call to prayer and penance for the salvation of souls and peace in the world is as relevant now as when first delivered to three Portuguese peasant children in 1917. At the peak of the First World War, our Lady warned of another worldwide conflict, the rise and spread of Communism, and a terrible persecution of the Church unless people repented of their sins and returned to God. She also requested devotion to her Immaculate Heart and a special consecration of Russia. Much of what Our Lady of Fatima said was revealed soon after her appearances, but the third and final &#34;secret&#34;, which was not a message but a prophetic vision seen by the children, was not unveiled by the Vatican until 2000. Pope John Paul II, who read the third secret while recovering from the attempt upon his life in 1981, believed the vision signified the sufferings the Church had endured in the twentieth century. Because of the prophetic nature of her messages, Our Lady of Fatima has been the subject of much controversy and speculation. In this book, Father Andrew Apostoli carefully analyzes the events that took place in Fatima and clears up lingering questions and doubts about their meaning. He also challenges the reader to hear anew the call of Our Lady to prayer and sacrifice, for the world is ever in need of generous hearts willing to make reparation for those in danger of losing their way to God. </DIV>

Fatima For Today: The Urgent Marian Message of Hope

<DIV>In an age of theological fragmentation, Hans Urs von Balthasar urges a reintegration of theology. The increasing specialization and compartmentalization to which theology has been subjected leads to confusion and disunity.Convergences: To the Source of Christian Mystery begins by showing the unity between Christian thought (theology) and Christian living (spirituality). Then Balthasar turns to the specializations and divisions of theology, and shows how the unity of dogma governs and directs the specializations. Next, he examines &#34;the dreadful multiplicity of churches and its pseudo-justfication through the alleged variety of theologies&#34; in the New Testament&#34;. Finally, Balthasar has the reader focus on himself, challenging him to consider where &#34;the integrated simplicity of his own existence might lie&#34;.Balthasar argues against an imprudent simplification of theology which seeks to return to the &#x201C;simplicity&#x201D; of ancient Christian thought by throwing away allegedly useless accretions. &#x201C;It is thought,&#x201D; says Balthasar in the Foreword, &#x201C;that liberating unity is achieved by ridding oneself of superfluous amassed goods.&#x201D; One cannot remain true to theology, argues Balthasar, by throwing parts of the tradition overboard in an attempt to find a lost, longed-for theological unity. A prior experience of the unity of theology is required to make sound judgments about what is useless and what is helpful.</DIV>

Convergences: To the Source of Christian Mystery

This New Year’s, make a commitment to grow in virtue and get your copy of “The Willpower Advantage” here: <a href='https://ignatius.com/the-willpower-advantage-wpap/'>https://ignatius.com/the-willpower-advantage-wpap/</a>
 
We all know that we need to be more virtuous, but it is not always clear how to get there. But thankfully, Dr. Ryan Hanning and Tom Peterson spell out the practical steps we can take to become more virtuous in their book “The Willpower Advantage.”
Today, Andrew Peteprin sits down with Dr. Hanning to discuss how virtue can lead us to happiness. Dr. Hanning aptly argues that virtue is not about a list of rules and things to avoid; rather, virtue frees us and opens us up to be who God created us to be. While the path to virtue is difficult, it will not only lead us to live happy lives here on earth but also bring us to eternal salvation in Heaven.
 
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Music from Pexels, THE4MHZ. <a href='https://pixabay.com/users/the4mhz-25136829/'>https://pixabay.com/users/the4mhz-25136829/</a>

Grow in Virtue This New Year w/ Dr. Ryan Hanning

Chapter 1

This film broke box office records when it opened up in London in 1978. Kenneth More narrates what became the most successful film ever made on the subject, winning a British Academy Award and many other international prizes. This film greatly expanded interest in the Shroud worldwide.

The Silent Witness

We live in an age where treasures are frequently rediscovered and brought back into the light for further examination and appreciation. Such is the work of Ida Friederike Görres’s <a href='https://ignatius.com/john-henry-newman-jhnp/'>John Henry Newman: A Life Sacrificed</a> which gives us a compelling and detailed introduction to the life and personage of Saint John Henry Newman. This work is perfect for those who are unfamiliar with John Henry Newman and for those who are avid Newman devotees and wish to gain a deeper knowledge and appreciation of this modern-day saint.
In this episode, Andrew Petiprin talks with Jennifer Bryson about her translation of Ida Friederike Görres’s John Henry Newman. This wide-ranging and engaging conversation touches not only on Jennifer’s own conversion from Marxism to Christianity but also on the importance of rediscovering Ida Görres and what insights this work can offer into the life of John Henry Newman.
Find <a href='https://ignatius.com/john-henry-newman-jhnp/'>John Henry Newman: A Life Sacrificed</a> at Ignatius.com.

Jennifer Bryson: Rediscovering Saint John Henry Newman and Ida Görres

Drawing on the Fathers of the Church, Fr. Fessio outlines what it means to have “faith in God.”

76: Faith in God

Saint Paul CHEERS when he sees virtues in other people.

36: An Antidote for Jealousy (Colossians Up Close, pt. 1)

<DIV>The fruit of much pastoral experience, this book addresses both perennial and current challenges facing Catholics, giving reasons for hope and joy. Touching on a wide range of topics, from prayer to evangelization, it offers insights into living the Catholic faith with humility and heroism as it focuses on the person of Jesus Christ&mdash;his identity, mission, and presence in our lives.Having been a pastor of souls in a variety of settings&mdash;the suburbs, the inner city, the mission field, and the seminary&mdash;Bishop Hying has interacted with all kinds of people, and he has learned much about God&rsquo;s purpose and action among us. In Love Never Fails, he provides readable and practical reflections to feed the Christian mind and heart with inspiration.</DIV>

Love Never Fails: Living the Catholic Faith in Our Daily Lives

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

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Although she died at nineteen in 1431, her legend and legacy is stronger than ever five hundred years later. Leelee Sobieski shines as the legendary warrior and saint, Joan of Arc, who, at seventeen, led one of the greatest military campaigns for freedom the world has ever witnessed. Supported by an all-star cast with glorious cinematography, music score, and stunning scenery, Joan of Arc is a riveting epic film of faith, inspiration, triumph, and tears.
Born to a peasant French family, Joan hears the voices of saints calling out to her to unite her besieged nation. Gaining an audience with the young French king, Joan convinces him that God is calling her to command an army into battle to save France. It becomes an incredible adventure that leads to thrilling victories and heartbreaking betrayals&mdash;as Joan of Arc defies all odds and marches into history.&nbsp;
This movie is not rated, but was created with an adult audience in mind. It may contain violence indicative of the life and times of the saint or character portrayed. We would recommend Parental Guidance and that parents preview it before watching with children.

Joan of Arc - Film

This movie captures the Capuchin friar&rsquo;s intense faith, devotion, and deep spiritual concern for others, as well as his great compassion for the sick and suffering. It reveals the amazing details and events in Padre Pio&rsquo;s life as a boy and throughout his fifty years as a friar, dramatizing the frequent attacks from the devil, as well as the persecution he suffered at the hands of people, including those in the Church.
This movie is not rated, but was created with an adult audience in mind. It may contain violence indicative of the life and times of the saint or character portrayed. We would recommend Parental Guidance and that parents preview it before watching with children.

Padre Pio: Miracle Man

Dr. Cuddeback believes that friendship is the heart of human happiness, and yet only the virtuous share in true friendship.
Get Your Copy of His Book “True Friendship: Where Virtue Becomes Happiness” <a href='https://ignatius.com/true-friendship-tfp/'>https://ignatius.com/true-friendship-tfp/</a>
Everybody wants to have better relationships, whether it is with their friends, the person they are dating, their spouse, or God Himself. Today, Dr. John Cuddeback joins Ben Eriksen to discuss these types of friendships, as well as virtue, happiness, and even dating. Their conversation draws on the wisdom of Aristotle as well as a relatively unknown Saint Aelred.
Dr. Cuddeback’s practical wisdom is extremely helpful for all ages, but most especially the young as they develop new friendships and consider dating and the vocation to marriage.
 
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Music from Pexels, Gregor Quendel. <a href='https://www.classicals.de/legal'>https://www.classicals.de/legal</a>

Dr. Cuddeback: True Friendship is Where Virtue Becomes Happiness

<DIV>Some Christians claim to reject Tradition in preference to a supposedly "Bible only" Christianity. Catholics, on the other hand, venerate Tradition, yet often without adequately understanding it. In this masterful book, the great theologian Yves Congar explains why Tradition is an inescapable aspect of a fully biblical Christian faith. He explores the various forms of Tradition and discusses the relationship between Scripture and Tradition, as well as the role of the Magisterium of the Church. The Meaning of Tradition clears up misconceptions held by many Evangelical Christians and even some Catholics on this important subject. Congar's study of Tradition greatly contributed to the teaching of Vatican II and to a deeper appreciation of the Church Fathers.</DIV>

The Meaning of Tradition

<DIV>Pope Benedict's third encyclical, Charity in Truth (Caritas in Veritate), applies the themes of his first two encyclicals —love and hope (God Is Love, Saved in Hope) — to the world's major social issues. Drawing on moral truths open, in principle, to everyone (the natural law) as well as on the teachings of the gospel (revelation), Pope Benedict addresses Catholics and non-Catholics alike, challenging us all to recognize and then to confront the social evils of our day. The first part of the encyclical examines the dynamic teaching of Benedict's predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. Both men contributed greatly to the body of doctrine known as "Catholic social teaching". Both men challenged the simplistic division of political perspectives into conservative and "liberal", and "right" and "left". Both men were convinced that the natural moral law and the teaching of the Gospel were indispensable for a world in desperate search of hope and meaning. In the second part Benedict surveys the social issues that confront the human race today—assaults on the dignity of the human person such as the attack on human life, poverty, issues of war and peace, terrorism, globalization, and environmental concerns. Benedict provides sound moral principles to address these social and economic problems, and to promote a culture of life and genuine peace. In this outstanding work, Pope Benedict shows us why so many observers regard him as the world's leading moral voice, as well as one of the most insightful and profound social/political thinkers of our day.</DIV>

Charity In Truth

Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro begin the second section of Chesterton’s Everlasting Man and reflect on his words about the mystery of the Incarnation. They reflect on how we can become too familiar with the infancy narrative in which the God of cosmic creation now comes to us as a little, local infant. With Chesterton, they remark on the significance of Christ being born into a cave and the importance of myth.
 

SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press: Off the Shelf. You can also listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Stay up-to-date with past, current, and future books we will discuss on our website: <a href='https://offtheshelf.ignatius.com/'>https://offtheshelf.ignatius.com/ </a>
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The Everlasting Man – Episode 6

This powerful film, inspiring audiobook, and encouraging eBooks are among our all-time favorites. That&rsquo;s why we&rsquo;ve decided to give them to you completely free this month! Please sign in or create your free account to access this content for free.
Looking at Heaven, God is Near Us, and Father Elijah are our featured content items for June and will be available for free through June 30, 2026. As a bonus, we're also making The Joyful Beggar eBook by Louis de Wohl available to you.
We hope you enjoy!

Free Catholic Classics

<DIV>YOUCAT is short for Youth ; Catechism of the Catholic Church, which was launched ; on World Youth Day, 2011. Developed with the help of young ; Catholics and written for high-school age people and young ; adults, YOUCAT is an accessible, ; contemporary expression of the Catholic Faith. The ; appealing graphic format includes Questions-and-Answers, ; highly-readable commentary, summary definitions of key ; terms, Bible citations and inspiring and thought-provoking ; quotes from Saints and others in the margins. What's more, ; YOUCAT is keyed to the Catechism of the ; Catholic Church, so people can go deeper. It explains: ; <ul><li> What Catholics believe and why (doctrine) ; </li><li> How Catholics celebrate the mysteries of the ; faith (sacraments) </li><li> How Catholics are to live ; (moral life) </li><li> How they should pray (prayer and ; spirituality) </li></ul>The questions are direct and ; honest, even at times tough; the answers straightforward, ; relevant, and compelling. YOUCAT will likely become the ; "go-to" place for young people to learn the truth ; about the Catholic faith. Illustrated. ; </DIV>

YOUCAT English: Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church

<DIV>This is perhaps the best and most comprehensive book on prayer ever written. From the persons of the Trinity through the Incarnation to the Church and the very structure of the human person, this book is a powerful synthesis of what prayer is and how to pray. The testament of a great theologian on something which is most personal and interior, contemplative prayer.In this modern classic, von Balthasar illumines the nature and practice of contemplative prayer in explicit and vital connection with the mysteries of Christian revelation. His extraordinary flair for drawing spiritual implications from the most profound theological insights is brilliantly displayed on so many of its pages. This is a book on prayer that stimulates our yearning for God as it points us toward ever-deepening and authentic encounters with Him. - Margaret M. Turek, S.T.D., Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, St. Patrick's Seminary and University </DIV>

Prayer

The Good News of Jesus Christ is known as the kerygma, based on the Greek word kerysso, meaning &quot;to herald&quot; or &quot;to proclaim&quot;. It is the core message of Christ that each of the Apostles, the original heralds of the Gospel, proclaimed to the world. It is Christ&#39;s answer to his own penetrating question, &quot;What do you seek?&quot; This is why the Catholic Church emphasizes the importance of what it calls the &quot;First&#160; Proclamation&quot;: the core Gospel of God&#39;s love and the person and mission of Jesus Christ, which ideally we surrender ourselves to, so that a more in-depth, systematic presentation of the Faith can take deeper root in our soul.&#160; Unfortunately, many Catholics today might know facts about Jesus and the Gospel, but they do not know him and this story of his love in a way that shapes their entire lives. How about you? In What Do You Seek?, Scripture scholar Dr. Edward Sri helps us enter more deeply into the Gospel, to ponder the mysteries of God&#39;s love for us&#160; and his work of salvation, so that we can be transformed, and join in Christ&#39;s work of saving the world.

What Do You Seek?: Encountering the Heart of the Gospel

Since the beginnings of the Church, much has been written about the Trinity in the Creator. In this accessible book for ordinary Christians, Peter Kreeft reflects on a different topic: the Trinity in the creation. Because, as G. K. Chesterton put it, in creating us, God &quot;broke His own law, and made a graven image of Himself&quot;, it comes as no surprise that we find a Trinitarian structure embedded in our lives&mdash;not to mention the universe itself. While the fact that so many things come in threes does not prove the dogma of the Trinity, it does give powerful clues to this truth about the nature of ultimate reality. Join the journey with Peter Kreeft and explore the threefold structure of everything.

Why Does Everything Come in Threes?: A Short Book about Everything

Continuing with part three of the Wedding of Magdeburg, Fr. Fessio, Vivian, and Joseph comment on General Tilly’s reflection on the sword of the soldier which God has entrusted to him. Willigis then returns to Magdeburg with the banner of Mary which strengthens him to go to the city’s elders to convince them to surrender.
 
SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press: Off the Shelf. You can also listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Stay up-to-date with past, current, and future books we will discuss on our website: <a href='https://offtheshelf.ignatius.com/'>https://offtheshelf.ignatius.com/ </a>
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The Wedding of Magdeburg – Episode 9

<DIV>In this profound book on the mystery of Mary, Adrienne von Speyr reflects on the life, attitude, and prayer of the Mother of God. She shows how Mary's assent to God's will—her Fiat: "Let it be done to me according to thy word"—is what defines and sanctifies every aspect of her life. She gives new insights into Mary's holiness, suffering, prayer, and role of spiritual motherhood for all mankind.Handmaid of the Lord is not a biography detailing the daily life of the Mother of Jesus, filled with the sights and the sounds found in the holy imagination of a saintly visionary. Rather, it responds to our desire to know Mary in a penetrating and personal way, opening us to the mystery of her inner life, which can be revealed only by the Word himself and pondered in the heart, just as Our Lady herself did.Humility, obedience, availability, joy, suffering, and transparency before God are some of the key spiritual attributes of Our Lady found in this timeless work. As with her other books, von Speyr helps us to savor and to appreciate each word of Sacred Scripture as self-revelation from the Father through the heart of the Church, the Bride of the Son, in a loving exchange of the Spirit. In this way, the Word may be absorbed into the very core of our being, as it was for Mary, the Mother of God.</DIV>

Handmaid of the Lord

<DIV>“Test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from evil.’’ 1 Thessalonians 5:21The renowned Cardinal George Pell, formerly Archbishop of Sydney and recently appointed by Pope Francis as Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy at the Vatican, challenges readers with the admonition of Saint Paul to “test everything”. These powerful reflections consider some of the ultimate questions that confront us all: Why are we here? What is the purpose of life? What is the good we should do and the evil we should avoid?Reaching out to youth, as well as to people of all ages, faiths, and experiences, Cardinal Pell uses an engaging style mixed with a keen Aussie wit. He writes as a seasoned story-teller, an expert historian, an insightful scholar, a patriot par excellence, and an outstanding Churchman.His advice to all is credible, practical, and helpful: Search for genuine love. Do not follow the crowd. Remember to pray. He reminds Christians, “Every lover must be a fighter. . . . We know that evil will triumph if good people do nothing.” To those harboring doubts or tempted to disbelief he brings steadfast encouragement. “The Christian vision does not deceive,” he writes, “if it comes slowly, wait, for it will come without fail.”Among the many interesting topics he discusses are the Trinity, the meaning of suffering, the relationship between faith and science, the role of Christians in public life, and the enduring wisdom of Humanae Vitae.Cardinal Pell’s overall message points us to the Cross of Christ as the unique and final measure of what it means to be human, and thus holy. Cardinal Pell, modern man of faith, vision and action, inspires readers to go deeper and to “test everything”.</DIV>

Test Everything: Hold Fast to What Is Good

I. Introduction

II. Transcendent God

III. The Sinner Invited to Repentance

IV. Penance

V. The Faith of the Priest in Jesus Christ

VI. Jesus, the Only Savior and the Center of Preaching

VII. The Priest Meets Jesus in Holy Scripture

VIII. The Priest Meets and Follows Jesus in the Church

IX. The Priest Meets Jesus in Other Persons in the Church

X. The Priest Evangelizing with Zeal

XI. The Priest Prays

XII. The Eucharistic Faith of the Priest

XIII. The Divine Office and Sacramentals

XIV. Kingdom of Justice, Love, and Peace

XV. The Voice of the Church

XVI. The Mother in Whom We Trust

XVII. At the Evening of Life

Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Roman Curia at the Conclusion of the Week of Spiritual Exercises

To Our Venerable Brother Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

<DIV>Drawn from his retreat talks given to Pope Benedict and his associates at the papal household, Cardinal Arinze offers inspiring spiritual exercises focusing on the meaning of the priestly life. &#34;The red thread which will run through all these meditations,&#34; writes Cardinal Arinze, &#34;is the image of the priest who, called by Jesus, meets him, follows him and seeks each day to become a better disciple.&#34; Although the Cardinal refers to &#34;priests&#34;, he insists that much of what he says applies to anyone in ordained ministry - deacons, priests and bishops. In fact, even lay people and religious can greatly benefit from prayerfully reading his reflections on being a disciple of the Lord. &#34;For every human being, for every Christian, and even more for every priest, Jesus Christ gives meaning to life&#34;, writes Cardinal Arinze. &#34;He gives a sense of unity to all the things in which we are engaged. Jesus indicates the correct direction for our life because he is the way, the truth and the life (cf Jn 14:6). In these meditations we shall have in front of us the priest who meets Jesus and follows him.&#34; </DIV>

Meeting Jesus and Following Him: A Retreat Given to Pope Benedict XVI and the Papal Household

<DIV>In His saints, God is manifest as goodness, power and truth. The variety of saints reflects the infinite beauty and love of the God whose image they most perfectly reflect. This collection of portraits of the lives of twelve saints, many less well-known, focuses on how each of these particular men and women have a specific message that is significant for those living in our challenging times.Though they lived in other times, these twelve saints faced problems similar in many ways to those of our present day. Among the twelve featured here are Paschal Baylon, saint of the Eucharist; Margaret Clitherow, a mother and martyr; Isidore, a farmer; Margaret of Castello, an outcast; Gemma Galgani, a lay stigmatist; Robert Southwell, a poet, and six more. Ivan Innerst presents a true and lifelike picture of each saint whose life has more inspiration to offer today's Christian than has previously been widely known. Each saint has something to share on a range of topical questions for today to help us better live the Gospel message.</DIV>

Saints For Today: Reflections on Lesser Saints

Introduction

Chapter 1꞉ "The Very Worst Scandal of Our Times"

Chapter 2꞉ "Monstrous Doctrines and Prodigious Errors"

Chapter 3꞉ Media Matters

Chapter 4꞉ All in the Family?

Chapter 5꞉ A Case for Openness

Chapter 6꞉ The Church with Nothing to Hide

<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&#x2019;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, &#x201C;The consequence is clear: we cannot communicate with the Lord if we do not communicate with one another.&#x201D; 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: &#x201C;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&#x2019;s goods . . . In this sense, the social question is given quite a central place in the theological heart of the concept of communion.&#x201D; This is a beautiful vision of the Church. Shaw&#x2019;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. &#34;Throughout his career, Russell Shaw has served admirably Mother Church through his balanced, reasonable, informed, accessible, and forthright writings. Understanding that there are legitimate applications for the use of secrecy in both everyday religious life and secular society, he now addresses the unfortunate and long standing consequences of unnecessary secrecy and the lack of open and effective communication within the Catholic Church. Inhibiting the promotion of truth, knowledge, and accountability and increasing the chances of corruption, the author notes how unnecessary secrecy in the Church also weakens community/&#34;communio;&#34; maintains a second class status for the laity, furthers its &#34;clericalization&#34; and lessens its influence in worldly affairs; creates suspicion both internally and in the outside world; and impedes the speedy and effective just resolution of any number of crises affecting the religious institution today, most conspicuously, the recent sexual scandal. Let's hope the Bishops and other Church insiders recognize this important message of reform on the part of someone so committed to the Catholic faith. - Joseph A. Varacalli, author, The Catholic Experience in AmericaRussell Shaw has long been a unique -- and uniquely valuable -- voice in American Catholicism. He was for many years the US Bishops' official spokesman, and he has the perspective and insights of an &#34;insider&#34;. But Shaw is not an apologist for the hierarchy. He is at once a devout and loyal (and orthodox) member of the faithful, and a sharp critic of the cult of secrecy which so many bishops have cultivated. In this sobering but much-needed book, Shaw shows how some shepherds abused secrecy, and in doing so compounded the sex misconduct crisis with a broader crisis of trust in clerical leadership. But this is not a book about sex-abuse. I</DIV>

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

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

"We," "us," is distinctly, uniquely Christian.

49: OUR Father—Not Just "My" Father

After a terrible misjudgment in the delivery room, Dr. John Bruchalski realized that with every pregnant woman he attends, there are two patients&mdash;the mother and her unborn child. In addition to this discovery, two remarkable spiritual experiences deepened his understanding of the kind of man he had become and the one he was called to be.Two Patients is the story of how a physician who practiced abortion came to question the medical status quo and to pioneer an approach to reproductive medicine that respects female fertility, honors the dignity of unborn children, and o&shy; ers care to patients regardless of their financial situation. Such health care, writes Dr. John Bruchalski, is merciful medicine, and his memoir gives a glimpse of just how merciful the relationship between a doctor and his two patients&mdash;mother and child&mdash; can be.

Two Patients: My Conversion from Abortion to Life-Affirming Medicine

<DIV> Written in the 1950s, this book defines and anticipates, in a prophetic way, the role of the laity in the Church, and the intimate relationship between the Church and the world. These two themes were recognized by the Second Vatican Council especially in the two constitutions "On the Church" and "The Church in the Modern World." Von Balthasar's "bastions" are barriers erected over the centuries which separated the laity from the clergy and the Church from the world. He pleads for a Church that interprets "the signs of the age," grasps them and answers them, allowing herself to be awakened by the Holy Spirit and by the age "from the bed of historical sleep for the dead of today." The new function of the Church is to be the "yeast of the world"--she must understand herself as the "instrument of the mediation of salvation to the world." Stressing that the hour of the laity is sounding in the Church, von Balthasar makes it clear that the "true program of the Church for today is: the most powerful radiance into the world through the most immediate imitation of Christ."  </DIV>

Razing the Bastions: On the Church in this Age

<DIV>The beginning of a specifically Anglican liturgy and culture within the Roman Catholic Church was established in the United Sates by Pope John Paul II. Since then, Anglican Use parishes have been worshipping in a distinctively Anglican style within several American dioceses. Thanks to Pope Benedict XVI, these communities are now able to form into personal ordinariates led by bishops who were previously Anglican clergy. As a result, even more Anglicans seeking full communion with Rome can find a home within the Catholic Church. The twelve essays in this book discuss the reasons Anglicans have sought reconciliation with the Holy See, while retaining elements of their own liturgy and traditions. They explore the history and scope of Pope John Paul II's Pastoral Provision and Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Constitution and examine the needs of the new ordinariates if they are to flourish. Also considered are the changes to the Roman liturgy since the Second Vatican Council and the specific patrimony that Anglicans bring to Catholic worship. Many of these essays have been written by erstwhile Anglican clergymen who have been ordained into the Catholic priesthood (and one into the episcopate). A few are by Catholic experts on this topic. There is also a contribution from a woman who had been an ordained Episcopal priest before becoming a Catholic. Here is a wealth of information for anyone interested in the Anglican communities within the Catholic Church, the "reform of the reform" of the Roman liturgy or the testimonies of Anglicans who have become Roman Catholics.</DIV>

Anglicans and the Roman Catholic Church: Reflections on Recent Developments

Saint John Henry Newman will be the first English speaker to be declared a Doctor of the Church.
Get Your Copy of his works here:
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It was recently announced that St. John Henry Newman will be the 38th person to be declared a Doctor of the Church. And today, we are blessed to be joined by two guests. First is Bishop Lopes, ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, which is a community within the Catholic Church who celebrate according to the Anglican use. And second is Dr. Jennifer Martin, professor of theology at Notre Dame, who was one of twenty people to personally advocate for John Henry Newman to be declared a Doctor of the Church.
In this conversation, Bishop Lopes and Dr. Martin outline the process of becoming a Doctor of the Church and articulate why Saint John Henry Newman’s teachings make him worthy of such a title.
 
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Saint John Henry Newman: A Protestant to a Doctor of the Catholic Church w/ Bishop Lopes and Dr. Jennifer Martin

<DIV>In Beyond Modernity, Father Rutler shows the emptiness and vanity of modern man's attempts to deify progress and look at modernity as a goal in itself. Written in a style reminiscent of Chesterton, this book is a theological and sociological commentary on the bankruptcy of progressivism."The modern age is becoming outmoded, the thing it thought most unlikely. This poses a problem overwhelming to set minds: what happens when the age which was supposed to be the end of all the ages ends itself? The stark reply is, modern man is the least equipped to know. While posturing as the breath of things to come, he was insinuating the first civilized denial of the future. Modernity is worse than a rejection of the past; it is a defiant avoidance of that which is next, probably the first school of discourse to cancel tomorrow as a thing as vapid as part of yesterday." — George W. Rutler, from the Foreword</DIV>

Beyond Modernity: Reflections of a Post-Modern Catholic

In all of God&rsquo;s creation, we see such splendor, beauty, mystery, and wonder. Within this creation there are beings with intellect and free will: humans and angels.
From the creation of the world, the realm of the angels and the world of men have interacted. This interaction is not always a positive one.
This film explores the spiritual world, that very real but unseen realm: God, the human soul, angels, demons (fallen angels), spiritual warfare, the reality of demonic possession and exorcism, the dangers of the new age movement and the occult, and much more. Featuring well-known speakers and authors Steve Ray, Fr. Andrew Pinsent, Fr. Marcus Holden, Joanna Bogle, Fr. Jeremy Davies, and Fr. Behruz Rafat, this film offers an insightful and sobering presentation about the reality of the powers and dominions of the spiritual world. Inspirational music, beautiful artwork, and imagery are used throughout the film.

Powers and Dominions: Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare

<DIV>"Rooted in the lessons of history and the saints and woven together with prayer, Archbishop Emeritus Hughes calls present and future ministers of the Church back to the transformative basics of the priesthood." &mdash;From the foreword by Bishop Robert BarronClerical sexual abuse, COVID-19, declining parishes, and racial unrest&mdash;these are some of the many challenges facing Catholic priests and bishops today. Where can they find the wisdom they need to address these and other daunting difficulties?Archbishop Emeritus Hughes draws on the some of the greatest spiritual guides the Church has ever known to offer a vision for contemporary priestly life&mdash;Ignatius of Antioch, Augustine, Gregory the Great, and beyond. He also turns to the timeless advice found in great conciliar documents. What emerges from his survey of the past is the understanding that the Catholic priesthood has overcome many trials throughout its history and the confidence that it will do so in our own day by rediscovering the timeless sources of renewal.This book is intended to serve a double purpose. It can be used as a text for seminarians, together with a reader drawn from the cited classics, or as a rich source of spiritual reading for priests and bishops.</DIV>

Priests in Love with God and Eager to Witness to the Gospel

Spanning nearly 500 miles across the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Trail is an epic, arduous route through some of America&rsquo;s most breathtaking natural grandeur. In the summer of 2022, Fr. John Nepil, priest-theologian and mountaineer, set out to traverse the entire trail as a &ldquo;thru-hike&rdquo; with a trio of companions, accompanied along the way by an eclectic rotating cast of priests and young people. This memoir, which is simultaneously a theological reflection on life, Christianity, and the mountains themselves, is the fruit of that pilgrimage. Drawing on great thinkers of the past century, including Luigi Giussani, Dietrich von Hildebrand, and Hans Urs von Balthasar, Fr. Nepil offers a &ldquo;first ascent&rdquo;: a new route where Catholic theology meets alpine adventure. In his telling, the Catholic worldview offers the fullest spiritual vision of the backcountry, and the backcountry, in turn, reveals itself as a privileged setting for Catholic formation. Seen from the trail, the Catholic faith comes alive as an Incarnational worldview where we rediscover humanity, creation, and God. This is a rich theological guidebook for all Catholic lovers of the great outdoors&mdash;particularly the mountains&mdash;and for all who see and seek God in the stark majesty of the natural world.

To Heights and unto Depths: Letters from the Colorado Trail

<DIV>In his typical lucid and original style, the popular spiritual writer Peter Kreeft explores many aspects and questions about prayer, the center of our spiritual lives. In a series of imaginative dialogues (like prayer itself), Kreeft shows how prayer can be an exciting adventure, an inexhaustible joy, a conversation with God--the source of wisdom and strength. Written in a practical, yet inspirational manner, this book addresses important areas like: finding the time to pray, praying when you don't "feel like it," using the prayer book God wrote, how to overcome sin through contemplation, and how to see God everywhere. Kreeft communicates a vision for prayer that becomes a profound conversation with the God who created, redeemed and sustains us--a conversation that is the most important experience in human life. Prayer: The Great Conversation will benefit anyone who finds it hard to pray or to read books about prayer. Kreeft's stimulating insights and ecumenical, "mere Christianity" approach make this a unique book about prayer that should appeal to Christians of all denominations. </DIV>

Prayer: The Great Conversation

<DIV>Preface by Vittorio MessoriOn June 14, 1921, a priest knocks at the convent in San Giovanni Rotondo. He is in his early forties and wears a simple cassock, but he is no ordinary priest. He is Bishop Raffaello Carlo Rossi, future cardinal and the Apostolic Visitor sent by the Holy Office to investigate secretly Padre Pio. The Bishop Inquisitor remains with the Capuchin Brothers for eight days, interrogating and recording depositions. He also interviews Padre Pio himself and examins the mysterious wounds of Christ that he bears on his body. After gathering all the evidence, the Inquisitor sketches his own evaluation of Padre Pio, which includes his reasons for believing that the stigmata are of divine origin. He sends his report and the depositions to Rome, where they stay buried for nearly a century. Now, forty years after the saint's death, these exceptional documents are published in their entirety, thanks to the skillful research of Father Francesco Castelli. The documents in this book reveal every aspect of Padre Pio's life from his amazing supernatural gifts to his health. In his depositions, he admits, under oath, to the phenomenon of bi-location and to other supernatural charisms, and for the first time tells the detailed story of his stigmatization. Also included are letters from his spiritual father and a chronology of his life. Illustrated with black and white photos.</DIV>

Padre Pio Under Investigation: The Secret Vatican Files

<DIV>How has the Liturgy of the Roman rite developed and changed in history before and after the Council of Trent? What principles have determined the boundaries of legitimate liturgical reform over the centuries? What was the Liturgical Movement? Did Guéranger, Beauduin, Guardini, Parsch, Casel, Bugnini, Jungmann, Bouyer and the Movement's other leaders know and respect these principles? And what is to be said of the not insignificant liturgical reforms carried out by Saint Pius X, Popes Pius IX and Pius XII and Blessed John XXIII in the course of the twentieth century?In The Organic Development of the Liturgy, Dom Alcuin Reid examines these questions systematically, incisively and in depth, identifying both the content and context of the principle of "organic development"-a fundamental principle of liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium-making a significant contribution to the understanding of the nature of the Liturgical Movement and to the ongoing re-assessment of the reforms enacted following the Council. </DIV>

The Organic Development of the Liturgy

Chapter 1꞉ Protestant and Evangelical꞉ Understanding Ourselves

Chapter 2꞉ Spirit and Flesh꞉ Sundered Forever or Reunited?

Chapter 3꞉ Christian Worship꞉ Act or Experience?

Chapter 4꞉ Prayer꞉ Random or Disciplined?

Chapter 5꞉ Hail, Blessed Virgin Mary꞉ What Did the Angel Mean?

Chapter 6꞉ Ritual and Ceremony꞉ A Dead Hand or the Liberty of the Spirit?

Chapter 7꞉ Table and Altar꞉ Supper and Sacrament

Chapter 8꞉ The Eucharistic Liturgy꞉ Diagram and Drama

Chapter 9꞉ The Liturgical Year꞉ Redeeming the Time

Chapter 10꞉ Envoi

Postscript

For Further Reading

<DIV>In this deeply moving narrative, Thomas Howard describes his pilgrimage from Evangelicalism (which he loves and reveres as the religion of his youth) to liturgical Christianity. He soon afterward became a Roman Catholic. He describes Evangelicalism with great sympathy and then examines more formal, liturgical worship with the freshness of someone discovering for the first time what his soul had always hungered for. This is a book of apologetics without polemics. Non-Catholics will gain an appreciation of the formal and liturgical side of Catholicism. Catholics will see with fresh eyes the beauty of their tradition. Worship, prayer, the Blessed Virgin, the Mass, and the liturgical year are taken one after the other, and what may have seemed routine and repetitive suddenly comes to life under the enchanting wand of Howard's beautiful prose. Howard unfolds for us just what occurs in the vision and imagination of a Christian who, nurtured in the earnestness of Protestant Evangelicalism, finds himself yearning for &#34;whatever-it-is&#34; that has been there in the Church for 2000 years. It traces Howard's soul-searching and shows why he believes the practices of the liturgical Church are an invaluable aid for any Christian's spiritual life. Reminiscent of the style and scope of Newman, Lewis and Knox, this book is destined to be a classic. &#34;The question, What is the Church? becomes, finally, intractable; and one finds oneself unable to offer any very telling reasons why the phrase 'one, holy, catholic, and apostolic', is to be understood in any other than the way in which it was understood for 1500 years.&#34; -- Thomas Howard </DIV>

Evangelical Is Not Enough: Worship of God in Liturgy and Sacrament

Chapter One꞉ The Heart of Spiritual Conversion꞉ The Catholic Church

Chapter One꞉ The Heart of Spiritual Conversion꞉ The Catholic Church [Continued]

Chapter Two꞉ Spiritual Conversion and the “Outer Church”—the Sacramental Life [Part 1]

Chapter Two꞉ Spiritual Conversion and the “Outer Church”—the Sacramental Life [Part 2]

Chapter Two꞉ Spiritual Conversion and the “Outer Church”—the Sacramental Life [Part 3]

Chapter Three꞉ Spiritual Conversion and the Inner Church—the Life of Prayer [Part 1]

Chapter Three꞉ Spiritual Conversion and the Inner Church—the Life of Prayer [Part 2]

Chapter Three꞉ Spiritual Conversion and the Inner Church—the Life of Prayer [Part 3]

Chapter Four꞉ Virtue Versus the Deadly Sins [Part 1]

Chapter Four꞉ Virtue Versus the Deadly Sins [Part 2]

<DIV>In this second volume of the Called Out of Darkness trilogy, Father Robert Spitzer, S.J., draws together some of the best advice given by Catholic spiritual masters across the ages and brings it into harmony with modern scientific research, offering practical ways to live out the gospel in our busy days. It is a roadmap to a deeper relationship with the Lord and to authentic transformation through the imitation of Christ.Giving evidence that Jesus established just one Church, with Peter as its head, Spitzer shows that the Catholic Church&mdash;with its rich array of sacraments, teachings, prayer traditions, and lived examples of holiness&mdash;continues to be fertile ground for profound Christian conversion.But no true conversion is purely spiritual; it must bear fruit in our daily lives. Father Spitzer guides readers through the workings of moral transformation, with detailed sketches of all the cardinal and theological virtues, especially love. Using insights from Saint Ignatius of Loyola, as well as from modern psychology, Escape from Evil's Darkness concludes with an in-depth study of the sacrament of confession and the staggering power of God's loving mercy.</DIV>