Religion Catholicism

Inspired by real-life characters and events, Willa Cather’s historical novel follows the committed efforts of two friends, Bishop Jean Marie Latour and Father Joseph Vaillant, to establish a diocese in the newly acquired US territory of New Mexico. Their arduous and picaresque journey is set against a gorgeous landscape of mesas, canyons, and arroyos inhabited by the Pueblo, Hopi, and Navajo people, the place becoming almost another character itself.

Being a Catholic hipster is all about an attitude - an attitude grounded in being part of a countercultural community of believers dedicated to something bigger than themselves in a world dominated by self-centeredness. It’s about yearning to learn more about the faith by seeking out “Catholic cool” - overlooked saints, forgotten prayers and feast days, and traditional practices long set aside by mainstream believers. The Catholic Hipster Handbook will help listeners realize the only way to go against what’s normal and accepted in the culture is to be authentically Catholic.

Although there are numerous books on St. Paul and his letters, none "knock over" the average person. In Understanding St. Paul, Deacon Bob Evans breaks open the wealth of St. Paul's wisdom in brief, understandable chapters through the lens of fascinating findings. You will learn about St. Paul's tempestuous times and heroic life which reveal the mystery of his message.

Heather Fleming is a homeschool mom that lives in the Charlotte area of North Carolina. When she is not homeschooling her children, she’s busy playing the role of administrator/secretary for her husband’s home improvement company, and being a mentor for her older children in whom she is thankful still seek her guidance. In her down time, she loves to create religious crafts and prayer helpers, learn more about her faith by praying, diving into the bible, listening to podcasts, and participating in a good bible study.

The talks on which this book was based were given at the John Main Seminar in 1998, the annual international event of the World Community for Christian Meditation. Previous presenters have included the Dalai Lama, Jean Vanier, Bede Griffiths, and William Johnston. A monk reflects on Scripture in the light of experience. He or she utters a word that startles his listeners into realizing that tradition is not a matter of second-hand experience but the living and human self-transmission of Christ to his disciples.

Two monumental works on the nature of the modern age by Romano Guardini, one of the most important Catholic figures of the 20th century. This expanded edition of The End of the Modern World: A Search for Orientation includes its sequel, Power and Responsibility: A Course of Action for the New Age. In both, Guardini analyzes modern man's conception of himself in the world, and examines the nature and use of power.

What are the true circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ? What was Bethlehem like at the time of Jesus' birth? How did Joseph and Mary meet, and why did they travel to Bethlehem? Who were the shepherds, and why were they so important? After completing The Mystery of the Magi—his study of the wise men—Fr. Dwight Longenecker took a sabbatical in Jerusalem to study the ancient texts and the geography, history, politics, and culture.

Sohrab Ahmari was a teenager living under the Iranian ayatollahs when he decided that there is no God. Nearly two decades later, he would be received into the Roman Catholic Church. In From Fire, by Water, he recounts this unlikely passage, from the strident Marxism and atheism of a youth misspent on both sides of the Atlantic to a moral and spiritual awakening prompted by the Mass.

The Mass may seem routine, and it may be the common property of millions of Catholics, but much lies beneath. Mike Aquilina not only answers practical questions about this central act of Catholic worship, but also walks you through the Mass, explaining the meaning behind the prayers and practices.

The resurrection from death is a strong component of the Christian faith, which the Nicene Creed, affirms stating: "We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come." The early Christian writers Irenaeus and Justin Martyr, in the second century, wrote against the widespread idea of their time that only the soul survived. In like manner, we have this later writing of St. Gregory of Nyssa (335-395 AD) which clearly articulates the position that a person is both soul and body and that Christ has promised to raise them both.

The Beggar's Banquet is a feast of reflections to savor while meditating on the astounding mystery of God's love for His people. Dr. Regis Martin infuses these discourses on Christ, His Mother, the spiritual life, and the saints with a wide breadth of influences - the writings of popes, mystics, and theologians, great works of literature, and even poetry. The author rekindles the familiar Gospel message with ever deepening wonder, whetting the appetite for that which alone truly satisfies: the Bread of Life.

Over twenty years ago, in the tiny mountain village of Medjugorje, Bosnia, six young people began to report seeing visions of the Virgin Mary. Since then, the beauty of Heaven and the importance of prayer, conversion, and reconciliation have been revealed to them through Mary´s appearances. Queen of the Cosmos provides an opportunity to hear the messages of the mother of Christ through in-depth interviews with the six visionaries of Medjugorje. Their experiences have changed the lives of thousands of people who have found truth, encouragement, and solace in the words of the Blessed Mother.

St. Bridget of Sweden (1303 - 1373) was a mystic and saint, and founder of the Bridgettines nuns and monks after the death of her husband Ulf. She is famous for her saintly life, the many miracles she worked, and her influence on various popes and European leaders. She is also well-known for the revelations she received, which are composed in eight books. St. Bridget is one of the six patron saints of Europe.

It’s never too late to grow. The secret to living a meaningful life is to strip away everything that is meaningless. Strip away anything that is trivial or unnecessary, and everything left will be meaningful. You’re not done growing yet, either!

Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas, offers a challenge to his Church. Can he bring about significant change? Should he? Garry Wills argues that changes have been the evidence of life in the Catholic Church. It has often changed, sometimes with bad consequences, more often with good - good enough to make it perdure. In this brilliant and incisive study, he gives seven examples of deep and serious changes that have taken place within the last century.

With heart-warming reassurance, Friar Jack reminds us that God's goodness is reflected in the whole family of creation. We can be confident that our beloved animal companions will be waiting for us at the pearly gates with wagging tails, soft purrs, and enthusiastic welcomes.

After 2,000 years of flawed history, here at last is a biography of Mary Magdalene that draws her out of the shadows of history and restores her to her rightful place of importance within Christianity. Throughout history, she has been both revered and reviled, a woman who has taken on many forms - witch, whore, the incarnation of the eternal feminine, and the devoted companion (and perhaps even wife) of Jesus. In this brilliant new biography, Bruce Chilton, a renowned biblical scholar, offers the first complete and authoritative portrait of this fascinating woman. His descriptions of who Mary was and what she did challenge the male-dominated history of Christianity familiar to most listeners.

Wake up and deepen your spiritual life with Mary, all the angels and saints as your aides. Call on these holy men and women to intercede for you with the Father, through his son, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And rediscover the unique power of prayer, with Thirty Favorite Novenas.

From the man who became Pope Francis: Jorge Mario Bergoglio shares his thoughts on religion, reason, and the challenges the world faces in the 21st century with Abraham Skorka, a rabbi and biophysicist. This book brings together a series of these conversations, in which both men talked about various theological and worldly issues, including God, fundamentalism, atheism, abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, and globalization.

While many Catholics are aware of great female saints such as Catherine of Siena and Thérèse of Lisieux, a view persists that, over the centuries, women played a limited role in the development of Catholic traditions and institutions. In this innovative survey of Church history, Bronwen McShea demonstrates instead that faithful women have always been at the heart of the Church's common life, shaping it and the course of entire civilizations.