Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church Books

Book SynopsisConsoling the Heart of Jesus by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC, is a do-it-yourself retreat combining the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius with the teachings of Sts. Therese of Lisieux, Faustina Kowalska, and Louis de Montfort.

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Book SynopsisPresents an account of the most feared and the most mysterious of medieval heretics. A crusade was launched to uproot them in the south of France, the Inquisition was developed to suppress them, and St Dominic founded his friars to preach against them. This book studies the rise and fall of the heresy from the 12th-century to 15th-century.Trade Review"Catharism was the most radical of medieval heresies. Since it touched most areas of Europe in some degree, research on its character and fortunes makes formidable demands on the learning and linguistic ability of any scholar who tackles it, not to mention demands also on his judgement. Malcolm Lambert, well known for his lucid and authoritative writings on medieval heresy, is a match for this challenging task. His new book, The Cathars, is to be welcomed as the most comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of the subject now available in English." Alexander Murray, University College, London "Lambert's command of the literature and his ability to integrate it into a coherent narrative are unmatched. His book deserves to become the standard account of medieval Catharism." Medieval Review "This is the first comprehensive study in English of the most mysterious and radical of medieval heresies. Malcolm Lambert ... 'combines scholarly investigation with lucid narrative.'" TD Book Survey "Malcolm Lambert, with deep erudition allied to pristine sensitive prose, masterfully narrates [the] distinctive history [of] the cathars ... The Cathars ... is, quite simply, indispensible." Catholic Historical ReviewTable of ContentsList of Illustrations. List of Maps. Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1. The Little Foxes. 2. The First Cathars. 3. The Wise Man from the East. 4. The Growth of Catharism. 5. Innocent III, Heresy and Reform. 6. The First Inquisitors. 7. The Cathars of Languedoc. 8. The Battle for Souls in Italy. 9. The Suffocating of Catharism in Languedoc. 10. The Last Missionary. 11. The Decline of Italian Catharism. 12. Inertia and Survival: the Bosnian Church. Epilogue: The Legacy of Catharism. List of Abbreviations. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe One and the Many presents metaphysics as an integrated whole, drawing on on Aquinas' themes, structure, and insight.Trade Review“Both students and teacher will benefit from a highly readable account of major themes in Aquinas’ metaphysics. The material is presented in a way accessible to those unfamiliar with the formidable Aristotelian apparatus usually presumed in textbook presentations of Aquinas. Clarke divides his book into short, easily digestible chapters.” —Theological Studies“This is the book that many of us have long been waiting for: the systematic exposition of the Thomistically inspired but creative metaphysical system of one of the foremost philosophers in the Thomistic tradition. The work is not a recapitulation of standard Thomistic metaphysics so much as a re-creation, on Thomistic principles, of a contemporary metaphysical view that pushes Thomas’ principles to new developments and applications. Clarke stresses participation in the act of existence, substance as dynamic, system as a new metaphysical category, philosophic ramifications of evolution and relativity, and the great circle of being embodied in the universe. The book is well suited to both as a text in a course in metaphysics and as an historically conscious source of insights for the professional philosopher.” —James W. Felt, S.J., John Nobili Professor of Philosophy, Santa Clara University“This book is rich in metaphysical insight and suggestiveness. At the same time it manages to be a rigorous presentation of Thomistic metaphysics suitable to contemporary life.” —Encounter"Clarke has written a very interesting and provocative book, one that is likely to inspire future students to study metaphysics in the Thomistic tradition. We are especially indebted to Clarke for his willingness to engage modern science and his contribution to the revival of metaphysics as a systematic study." —The Thomist“W. Norris Clarke is one of the giants of North American Thomism. For over fifty years he has been a learned and illuminating interpreter of the metaphysics of Aquinas . . . in this book he provides the most comprehensive presentation to date of his distinctive philosophical and metaphysical thinking. Overall, Clarke had produced a most stimulating and thought-provoking book on the subject of metaphysics. It is replete with insights and written with a rare generosity of spirit which is most uplifting to read.” —The Heythrop Journal“[A] masterly account of the metaphysical system which he has worked out over a lifetime of historical research, teaching, and writing. Those who have been waiting for this account will not be disappointed. The One and The Manyis a very important book and its contribution to speculative metaphysics and to the Thomistic tradition is outstanding.” —Maritain Notebook“...crisp, clear and easy to understand metaphysical arguments. It presents a well-justified Thomistic metaphysical theory. The importance of this book goes far beyond that of a good Thomistic textbook. Its ahistorical approach should enable The One and the Many to become a voice in contemporary discussions of metaphysical issues.” —The Review of Metaphysics“After a lifetime in the study and teaching of philosophy, especially to undergraduates at Fordham University, Norris Clarke has produced a valuable textbook of metaphysics, inspired by St. Thomas, and adapted to issues of the present day. It does not just repeat what St. Thomas said, but retrieves it, completes it, appropriates it, and systematises it.” —Australasian Catholic Record“Norris Clarke is a master of metaphysics, and one to whom others can well appretice themselves, since he is himself so astute an apprentice of classical figures in philosophy. This intended advanced text for systematic metaphysics is just that: advanced yet pedagogically planned; systematic yet suffused with heart. A sterling example from an exemplary oeuvre.” — David Burrell, C.S.C.

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Book SynopsisWhat you are doing I cannot do, what I’m doing you cannot do, but together we are doing something beautiful for God, and this is the greatness of God’s love for us.” —Mother Teresa, from Where There Is Love, There Is God In this book, Mother Teresa’s relationship with God and her commitment to those she served—the poorest of the poor—is powerfully explored in her own words. Taken largely from her private lessons to her sisters, published here for the first time, Where There Is Love, There Is God unveils her extraordinary faith in, and surrender to, God’s will.Love is perhaps the word that best summarizes Mother Teresa’s life and message. She sought to be an extension of God’s heart and hands in today’s world. She was called to be a missionary of charity, a carrier of God’s love to each person she met, especially those most in need. Yet she did not think that t

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Book SynopsisA revelatory exploration of the Jewish roots of the Last Supper that seeks to understand exactly what happened at Jesus’ final Passover.   “Clear, profound and practical—you do not want to miss this book.”—Dr. Scott Hahn, author of The Lamb’s Supper and The Fourth Cup    Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes. Using his in-depth knowledge of the Bible and ancient Judaism, Dr. Brant Pitre answers questions such as: What was the Passover like at the time of Jesus? What were the Jewish hopes for the Messiah? What was Jesus’ purpose in instituting the Eucharist during the feast of Passover? And, most important of all, what did Jesus mean when he said, “This is my body… This is my blood”? To answer these questions, Pitre explores ancient Jewish beliefs about the

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Book SynopsisThe reign of Mary Tudor has been remembered as an era of sterile repression, when a reactionary monarch launched a doomed attempt to reimpose Catholicism on an unwilling nation. This title argues that Mary's regime was neither inept nor backward looking.Trade Review"'Fires of Faith is a dazzling exercise in historical reappraisal, after which the reign of Mary Tudor will never look quite the same again.' Peter Marshall, Times Literary Supplement 'In this powerful, punchy book he argues that the Marian restoration of English Catholicism was much more than the rather low-profile and sometimes timid attempt to return to the past which even the recent revisionists have portrayed. No, says Duffy (and I must now agree), it was a full-blooded attempt to introduce into England the 'new' Catholicism of the fledgling Counter-Reformation... Once again, Eamon Duffy has changed the landscape of English Reformation history.' J.J. Scarisbridge, The Weekly Standard"

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Book SynopsisThis Catholic Bible presents the classic text of the Revised Standard Version, 2nd Catholic Edition in a clear and readable large print.

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Book SynopsisThere was an eerie silence in the packed courtroom as everyone looked towards the foreman of the jury. 'Guilty' he pronounced five times.The third most senior Catholic cleric in the world had been found guilty of sex crimes against children, bringing shame to the Church on a scale never seen before in its history.Investigative journalist Lucie Morris-Marr was the first to break the story that Cardinal George Pell was being investigated by the police. In this riveting dispatch, she recounts how the cleric was trailed by a cloud of scandal as he rose to the most senior ranks of the church in Australia, all the way to his appointment by Pope Francis to the position of treasurer in the Vatican.Despite anger and accusations, it seemed nothing could stop George Pell. Yet in 2017 he was charged by detectives, returning to Australia to face trial.Take a front row seat in court with the author as she reveals the many intriguing developments in the secret legal proceedings which the media could not report at the time. Fallen reveals the full story of the brutal battle waged by the prince of the church as he fought to clear his name, including a ferocious bid to be freed from jail. The author also shares her own compelling personal journey investigating the biggest story of her career and the frequent attacks she endured from powerful Pell supporters. This book also charts how Pell's shocking conviction plunged the Vatican into an unprecedented global crisis after decades of clergy abuse cases.It is a vitally important story that will fascinate anyone interested in the failure of the Catholic Church to address the canker in its heart.Trade ReviewUtterly absorbing -- Peter Donoughue * Booknotes *Gripping and insightful -- Chrissie Foster * AM *Table of ContentsForeword by Chrissie Foster AMPrologue: The secret wait1. A whisper in the dark2. Big George from Ballarat3. Silencing the lambs4. Winter Gail5. Wake up the cardinal6. Courting controversy7. Belinda's burden8. The Cathedral trial9. War cry from Rome10. Play it again, Kid11. Beyond reasonable doubt12. The world's worst kept secret13. Friends in high places14. Solitary retreatNotes

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Book SynopsisFrom speculative theology to the exegesis of Aquinas, to contemporary North American philosophy and Catholic social and ethical thought, to the thought of Benedict XVI, this book argues the crucial importance of the proportionate natural end within the context of grace and supernatural beatitude.Trade Review"No one is more insightfully aware of the issues that arise where philosophy and theology interact than Steven Long. No set of such issues is more important than those concerning the natural end of human beings and our knowledge of that end. Long has written the book that we most need." -- -Alasdair MacIntyre University of Notre Dame "Marks the beginning of a new era in Thomistic studies." -- -Ralph McInerny University of Notre Dame "An argument engaging some of the most interesting interlocutors of both the tradition and the modern academy." -- -John F. Boyle University of St. Thomas "Long makes a significant contribution to contemporary Thomist scholarship by examining closely Aquinas' account of the relation between nature and grace... Recommended." -Choice "In these essays Steven Long always finds what is profound, elegant, and most of all what is surprising in St. Thomas doctrine on nature and grace." -- -Russell Hittinger Pontifical Academy of Social Science

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: What Do Catholics Believe? 5 Chapter 1: What It Means to Be Catholic 7 Chapter 2: Having Faith in God’s Revealed Word 19 Chapter 3: In the Beginning: Catholic Teachings on Creation and Original Sin 37 Chapter 4: Believing in Jesus 49 Chapter 5: Defining “The Church” and What Membership Means 69 Chapter 6: Organizing the Church 79 Part 2: Celebrating the Mysteries of Faith 103 Chapter 7: Body and Soul: Worshipping Catholic Style 105 Chapter 8: Entering the Church: Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation 117 Chapter 9: The Sacraments of Service and Healing 135 Chapter 10: Celebrating the Catholic Mass 157 Part 3: Living a Saintly Life 187 Chapter 11: Obeying the Rules: Catholic Law 189 Chapter 12: Loving and Honoring: The Ten Commandments 205 Chapter 13: Being Good When Sinning Is So Easy 221 Chapter 14: Standing Firm: The Church’s Stance on Some Sticky Issues 239 Part 4: Praying and Using Devotions 269 Chapter 15: Growing in the Faith 271 Chapter 16: Showing Your Love for God 285 Chapter 17: Expressing Affection for Mary 301 Chapter 18: Honoring the Catholic Saints 319 Chapter 19: Practicing Catholic Traditions 341 Part 5: The Part of Tens 359 Chapter 20: Ten Famous Catholics 361 Chapter 21: Ten Popular Catholic Saints 371 Chapter 22: Ten Popular Catholic Places 383 Chapter 23: Ten Recent Beatifications and Canonizations by Pope Francis 395 Chapter 24: Ten Famous Papal Encyclicals 407 Part 6: Appendixes 417 Appendix A: A Brief History of Catholicism 419 Appendix B: Popular Catholic Prayers 449 Appendix C: Directory of Patron Saints 469 Index 483

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Book Synopsis“As Alasdair MacIntyre notes in the preface, the work of Pinckaers attracted strongand fully justified notice in this country with the publication in English of his TheSources of Christian Ethics. As Pinckaers himself notes in the text, excellently translatedby Michael Sherwin, the interest should in no way be limited to RomanCatholics. Morality recasts the earlier book in an argument that is both lower andupper case ‘catholic,’ and is accessible to readers and teachers outside the limitedcircle of moral theologians and academic ethicists. Pinckaers contends thatChristian morality is not first of all about obligations but about happiness, understandingthat the happiness of union with God is our natural destiny made possibleby grace. The Sermon on the Mount is at the center of an approach to moralitythat turns on the distinction between ‘freedom for excellence’ and ‘freedom ofindifference,’ the former understood as human flourishing and the latter as a ‘neutral’capacity to choose between controversies. The proposal of Morality is thoroughlyChrist-centered, humanistic, and faithful to the magisterial teaching of theChurch. Warmly recommended.”First Things “If you want to have the experience of reflecting on Catholic morality as thoughyou were reading about it for the first time, treat yourself to Father ServaisPinckaers’ Morality: The Catholic View. He has recovered the classical view of themoral life as the quest for happiness and has presented it with disarming simplicity.Bringing us back to the Sermon on the Mount and Romans 12–15, the writingsof Augustine and Aquinas, and the theme of natural law, he has freed those textsfrom the layers of legalism which has hidden their liberating, spiritual powers formoral living. By distinguishing freedom of indifference from freedom for excellence,he has restored a wise vision of freedom. No one has shown better the roleof virtues as building blocks for morality. Catechists need to read this book.”Rev. Alfred McBride, O.Praem., Professor of Homilectics and Catechetics at BlessedPope John XXIII Seminary, Weston, Massachusetts “Father Pinckaers has given us a masterful exposition of Christian living. The clarityand brevity of his presentation – captured well by the translator – make this bookideal for classroom and parish use. “Readers will find the historical and systematic observations very informative.”Romanus Cessario, St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, Massachusetts

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Book SynopsisThis is not merely the only complete summary of Christian doctrine that St. Thomas has written, but also a creative and even revolutionary work of Christian apologetics composed at the precise moment when Christian thought needed to be intellectually creative in order to master and assimilate the intelligence and wisdom of the Greeks and the Arabs.

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Book SynopsisIn the 16th century, European missionaries brought a foreign religion to China. Converts transformed this religion into a local one. Focusing on the still-active Catholic communities of Fuan county in Fujian, this project's implications extend to the fields of religious and social history and early modern history of global intercultural relations.Trade ReviewIn this rich reconstruction of the Dominican mission to Fujian, Menegon exposes the delicate maneuverings by which ordinary people managed a major cultural divide. His intimate portrait shows us how, in one community, Christianity became an indigenous, and resilient, Chinese religion four centuries ago. -- Timothy Brook, University of British ColumbiaCombining a thorough mastery of Spanish missionary records and profound knowledge of Chinese sites and their sources, this book sets a new standard for the study of Catholic missions and cultural encounter in Late Imperial China. -- R. Po-chia Hsia, Pennsylvania State UniversityIn this elegant and erudite book, Menegon uncovers the lost history of a four-hundred-year-old Catholic community in China, showing brilliantly how Christianity has become localized, how it has become Chinese, how it has become part of local life. The book convincingly undermines the widespread notion that what is most important about Christianity in China is its foreignness. It needs to be read not only by scholars of Christianity but also by all scholars of late imperial China, who ignore Christianity at the expense of a full understanding of religious life. As the number of Christians grows explosively in China today, this book offers an invaluable account of the past and useful material for reflecting on the future. -- Michael Szonyi, Harvard UniversityTable of ContentsMaps and Figures Abbreviations and Acronyms Introduction: "Truly Unfathomable"? 1. Fuan Literati, Jesuits, and Spanish Friars 2. Becoming Local: Conflict with Gods and Ancestors, 1634-1645 3. The Golden Age of Opportunity, 1645-1723 4. Suppression and Persistence, 1723-1840s 5. The Christians of Fuan 6. Christian Religious Fellowship in Mindong: Priests, Rituals, and Lay Institutions 7. Filial Piety, Ancestral Rituals, and Salvation 8. Virginity, Chastity, and Sex Conclusion-Ruptures: Fuan After the Opium Wars Notes on Sources Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn Glory of the Logos in the Flesh, Michael Waldstein helps readers of Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body enter this masterwork with clearer understanding. Part One, designed for entry-level readers, is a map of John Paul’s text, a summary of each paragraph with an explanation of the order of the argument. Part Two reflects on the breadth of reason (logos) in Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s Physics, and the Gospel of John, in contrast to the narrowing of reason in Luther, Bacon, and Descartes. Part Three shows how this breadth of reason is at work in John Paul’s dialogue with Thomas Aquinas, John of the Cross, Kant, and Scheler.

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Book SynopsisIt is impossible to understand the late Middle Ages without grasping the importance of The Golden Legend, the most popular medieval collection of saints' lives. Assembled for clerical use in the thirteenth century by Genoese archbishop Jacobus de Voragine, the book became the medieval equivalent of a best seller. This title deals with this book.Trade Review"Generally arranged in order of the church year, beginning with Advent, the saints' lives appear chronologically, thus representing liturgical time, calendar time, sanctoral time, and divine time--the latter organizing sacred history into four periods from creation to consummation... This interpretive book by a master will complement the original text for medievalists and their students."--Choice "A testament to Le Goff's deep understanding of and passion for the Middle Ages. He breathes new life into a frequently studied subject... In Search of Sacred Time offers both an innovative look into the past and the work of a historian whose research continues to influence successive generations of scholars. The vitality and spirit of ingenuity with which Le Goff describes the Golden Legend and its author is a reminder of the overall message of his scholarship."--Kristina Markman, Comitatus Praise for the French edition:"We too often forget that Christianity is not merely a belief or value system, but a conception of time sanctified by the coming of Christ... To understand this, there is nothing better than reading this new book by Jacques Le Goff."--Paul Francois Paoli, Le Figaro Litteraire Praise for the French edition:"Astonishing erudition and familiarity... With Jacques Le Goff there is one thing that we are sure not to waste. Our time."--Laurent Lemire, Le Nouvel ObservateurTable of ContentsPreface ix Acknowledgments xv 1. Jacobus de Voragine in His Time 1 2. The Major Inspirations for Jacobus de Voragine 9 3. The Prologue and the Temporale 14 * The Prologue 14 * The Temporale 19 4. The Sanctorale 22 * Saintliness and Christianity 22 * Saints in the Golden Legend 24 * All Saints Day 26 5. The Time of Renewal 33 * Advent 33 * The Saints of Advent 35 * Saint Andrew, Apostle 36 * Saint Nicholas 39 * Saint Lucy, Virgin 45 * Saint Thomas, Apostle 47 6. The Time of Reconciliation and Pilgrimage 51 * The Birth of Our Lord: Jesus According to the Flesh 52 * Saint Anastasia 55 * Saint Stephen 56 * Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist 59 * The Holy Innocents 62 * Saint Thomas of Canterbury 63 * Saint Sylvester 65 * The Circumcision of the Lord and the Epiphany of the Lord 68 * Saint Paul, Hermit, and Saint Anthony 73 * Saint Paul 76 * Saint John the Almsgiver 81 7. The Time of Deviation 84 * From Septuagesima to Quadragesima 86 * The Ember Day Fasts 89 * The Passion of the Lord 90 * The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary 92 * The Annunciation of the Lord 95 * Saint Gregory, Saint Benedict, and Saint Patrick 96 8. The Time of Reconciliation 100 * The Ascension of the Lord 103 * The Holy Spirit 106 * The Finding of the Holy Cross 108 * The Greater and Lesser Litanies 111 * Saint Ambrose 113 * Saint George 115 * Saint Mark, Evangelist 117 * Saint Peter Martyr 118 9. The Time of Pilgrimage 121 * The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary 122 * The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 126 * The Exaltation of the Holy Cross 128 * The Finding of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr, and the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist 130 * Multiple Saints 132 * Saint Maurice and His Companions 133 * Saints Dionysius, Rusticus, and Eleutherius 135 * The Eleven Thousand Virgins 137 * The Four Crowned Martyrs 138 * Saint John the Baptist 139 * Saint Peter, Apostle 141 * Saint Paul, Apostle 142 * Saint Christopher 143 * Saint Dominic 144 * Saint Bernard 145 * Saint Augustine 148 * Saint Michael, Archangel 152 * Saint Jerome 154 * Saint Francis 156 * Saint Martin, Bishop 157 * Saint Elizabeth of Hungary 161 * Saint Catherine 164 * All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls 165 * Saint Pelagius, Pope: The History of the Lombards 170 * The Dedication of a Church 176 Conclusion 181 Afterword 183 Notes 185 Bibliography 197 *1. Jacobus de Voragine and the Golden Legend 197 *2. Genoa in the Time of Jacobus de Voragine 199 *3. The "Beautiful" Thirteenth Century 200 *4. The Latin Legendaries 200 *5. The Dominicans in the Thirteenth Century 201 *6. Liturgy and Christian Time in the Middle Ages 201 *7. Christian Time in the Middle Ages 202 *8. Saints and Sanctity under Christianity 202 *9. Various Studies on Time 203 *10. Time and History 205 Index 207

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Book SynopsisFrom its beginnings, the Church has presented itself as a human phenomenon that carries the divine within it. This book is the final volume in McGill-Queen's University Press's trilogy of Luigi Giussani's writings, and explores the Church's definition of itself as both human and divine and evaluates the truth of this claim.

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Book Synopsis?This book will prove to be a most effective weapon… against the debunking and skeptical attitudes toward the Gospels that are so prevalent, not only in academe, but also on the street, among young people who, sadly, are leaving the Churches in droves.? ? Robert Barron, author of Catholicism For well over a hundred years now, many scholars have questioned the historical truth of the Gospels, claiming that they were originally anonymous. Others have even argued that Jesus of Nazareth did not think he was God and never claimed to be divine.In The Case for Jesus, Dr. Brant Pitre, the bestselling author of Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, goes back to the sources?the biblical and historical evidence for Christ?in order to answer several key questions, including: ?Were the four Gospels really anonymous? ?Are the Gospels folklore? Or are they biographies? ?Were the four Gospels written too late to be reliable? ?What about the so-called ?Lost Gospels,? such as ?Q? and the Gospel of Thomas? ?Did Jesus claim to be God? ?Is Jesus divine in all four Gospels? Or only in John? ?Did Jesus fulfill the Jewish prophecies of the Messiah? ?Why was Jesus crucified? ?What is the evidence for the Resurrection? As The Case for Jesus will show, recent discoveries in New Testament scholarship, as well as neglected evidence from ancient manuscripts and the early church fathers, together have the potential to pull the rug out from under a century of skepticism toward the traditional Gospels. Above all, Pitre shows how the divine claims of Jesus of Nazareth can only be understood by putting them in their ancient Jewish context.

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Book SynopsisFull of wisdom, hope, and opportunities for contemplation, this elegant little book features more than 75 classic Christian prayers paired with beautiful illustrations taken from vintage missals and prayer books. Gorgeous representations of holy figures are accompanied by beloved litanies—including the Lord''s Prayer, Gloria, Prayer of Saint Francis, and the Apostle''s Creed—to recite in moments of celebration or times of need. Presented in an attractive package with gilded edges, a padded cover, and a lovely ribbon marker, this is a keepsake to be treasured by the newly confirmed or baptized and a timeless collection to turn to in all of life''s important moments.

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Book SynopsisA theologian and church historian walks readers through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, winsomely evaluating Roman Catholic doctrine and practice from the perspective of both Scripture and evangelical theology.

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Book SynopsisA sustained and systematic theological reflection on the idea that being a Christian is, first and last, a matter of the flesh, Christian Flesh shows us what being a Christian means for fleshly existence. Depicting and analyzing what the Christian tradition has to say about the flesh of Christians in relation to that of Christ, the book shows that some kinds of fleshly activity conform well to being a Christian, while others are in tension with it. But to lead a Christian life is to be unconstrained by ordinary ethical norms. Arguing that no particular case of fleshly activity is forbidden, Paul J. Griffiths illustrates his message through extended case studies of what it is for Christians to eat, to clothe themselves, and to engage in physical intimacy. Trade Review"Paul Griffiths, one of the few truly creative theologians of our time, has produced another brilliant and provocative work of speculative theology, demonstrating the centrality of the flesh to the mysteries and doctrines of the Christian faith and examining questions of the greatest significance today and always." -- Carol Zaleski * Smith College *"In this trenchant and careful theological treatment of our embodiment, Paul Griffiths puts the stress exactly where it should be put––on the possibility of transfigured touch. In doing so he does not shy away from the violence involved in all fallen caresses, nor the degree of caress that survives even in our violent touches. By focusing on the varieties of touch, he is able to untangle several unfortunate arguments between liberals and conservatives in a most refreshing way. One does not have to agree with all his conclusions to be immensely assisted by this book and grateful to him for writing it." -- John Milbank * University of Nottingham *"As ever, Paul Griffiths is almost alarming in his lucidity and intelligence. Very few theologians can boast a comparable combination of profound questioning and precise reasoning. This is a book worthy of the most serious reflection, debate, and admiration." -- David Bentley Hart * Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study *"Readers familiar with Paul J. Griffiths's work know they must be prepared to encounter provocation in his new book, Christian Flesh, for Griffiths is a provocateur in the best sense, someone who intends to leave the reader uncomfortable and thereby provoke conversation. Griffiths enjoys a good scrap of the clarifying kind, and in this book I think he has invited readers of various stripes to a variety of good scraps....This book has prompted me to ponder the issues it raises more deeply, for which I have its provocative author to thank." -- John Cavadini * Commonweal Magazine *"Christian Flesh can help Christians of all persuasions to think deeply and theologically about the body, and what it means to live as a faithful body cleaved to Jesus in the sacraments. Griffiths is driven by theology, not by the latest arguments from the political, legal, and scientific sphere, and in that, his work is both enriching and refreshing." -- Aaron Klink * Anglican Theological Review *"Christian Flesh possesses an integrity and exhaustiveness that evades condensed representation. There is much to recommend its reading, and I would struggle to find any reservations for recommending it. The writing is approachable, even when dense, and its honesty and transparency are commendable." -- Jonathan M. Platter * Reading Religion *"Christian Flesh is supremely lucid and beautifully austere....[In this review,] I have covered only a sample of the provocative, inventive, and profound speculations that make up Christian Flesh. I suspect its influence will be felt for many years as scholars work through its implications and pursue its many fascinating leads." -- Evan Sandsmark * Modern Theology *"[T]hose provocative proposals which linger with and even agitate the reader long after the turn of the last page – are among the cardinal reasons why [Griffiths's] books deserve close, careful attention. He has given us much to ponder in Christian Flesh, and in doing so has provided a model of well-reasoned, stimulating and enduring theology." -- R. David Nelson * International Journal of Systematic Theology *Table of ContentsContents and Abstracts1Flesh Devastated chapter abstractThis chapter distinguishes body from flesh and shows the latter to be, first, haptic, which is to say constituted and maintained as flesh by touch in its many varieties; second, self-contiguous and bounded, separated in fact and experience from other bodies of flesh, while also located in time and space; third, a gift received from the caresses of others, without which flesh can neither come to be as such, nor continue in being; and fourth, fragile and mortal, located in a world in which fleshly pain is a constant threat and a frequent companion, and in which death, the end of flesh, is always close at hand. 2Flesh Transfigured chapter abstractThis chapter shows what human flesh would be like were it not damaged, and does so from a Christian point of view, by describing the flesh of Jesus Christ during the period from his conception to his death on the cross (natal flesh), from his resurrection to his ascension (resurrected flesh), and from his ascension onwards (ascended flesh). As natal flesh, the book argues, his flesh was exempt from the ordinary damage of pain and mortality except as these served particular purposes. The chapter shows, in its analysis of this and its engagement with counterviews, that human flesh's ordinary subjection to these things isn't essential to it, and begins to sketch what flesh would be like were it not so subject. 3Flesh Cleaved chapter abstractThis chapter shows what it means for human flesh to cleave to—to be made intimate with, incorporated into—the flesh of Christ through baptism. Baptism is depicted as a matter of the flesh and as an act that newly relates the flesh of the baptized to Christ's flesh. Paul's discussion of these matters in the Corinthian correspondence is interpreted, with special attention to what it means to say that the Christian's bodily members are, analogically and participatorily, Christ's. Being intimate with one kind of flesh—namely Christ's—means that some other kinds of fleshly intimacy are ruled inappropriate; the scriptural language of fornication and idolatry is presented and discussed as a way of clarifying this, and the chapter argues that appropriate Christian fleshly conduct is better presented by way of hagiography—writing the lives of those who exhibit it—than by way of argument or codification. 4Clothes chapter abstractThis chapter shows what it is to be clothed, and what functions the wearing of clothes serve in human life. It shows the importance of nakedness in baptism and argues that there is no distinctively or properly Christian clothing: no clothes intrinsically proper to, or improper for, Christian flesh. Local sartorial conventions, however, may be observed by Christians, and should be unless they carry with them a signal that they are more than conventional by being rooted in the order of being. If they carry that signal—as locally gender-specific modes of dress, for example, often do—then they can become both fornicatory and idolatrous. The chapter argues that Christians have a radical freedom with respect to dress because of their cleaving to the flesh of Christ. 5Food chapter abstractThis chapter shows what it is to eat and drink and asks what is appropriate in that sphere for Christian flesh. There are, for Christians, no forbidden foods, and none required. All are on a par at least in that all eating is intimate with slaughter (whether of plants or animals). The sole exception is eucharistic eating, and this shows that all non-eucharistic eating ought to be accompanied by lament as well as by delight. Fasting is analyzed, depicted as a proper Christian response to this situation, and articulated with both eschatology and eucharistic theology. Gluttony and other forms of scandalous eating are treated, and the mistakes evident in them shown. 6Caresses chapter abstractThis chapter analyzes the varieties of human fleshly exchange as these appear to Christians. Fleshly contacts fall on a spectrum from the life-giving caress to the life-taking wound. Fleshly wounding is concupiscent: it seeks domination and control, and caresses of this kind are inappropriate, it is argued, for Christian flesh, while celibacy and virginity are depicted as characteristically Christian modes of responding to the connection between copulation and death. But there are no caresses whose form specifically forbids them to Christians, and this is argued with respect to three examples: masturbation, cunnilingus, and sodomy. The topics treated in this chapter are framed by and aimed at a depiction of caressing the flesh of Jesus, with which the chapter concludes.

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller Suzanne suffered five heart attacks and made it through open heart surgery. But even that pales in comparison to the horrors she faced as a young girl. Her childhood became the ‘stuff of nightmares’ after her father passed away and her mother, unable to get a job in Ireland, had to seek work in London. So ‘Mammy’ was forced into the heartbreaking decision to put Suzanne and her five siblings into church-run orphanages in Dublin while she worked away. It was just meant to be temporary. Her life soon became a daily struggle to avoid beatings with canes and rosary beads. Suzanne and the other children worked from dawn until midnight, living on disgusting scraps of food, while the nuns dined on fresh fruit, meat and cakes that the ‘orphans’ had cooked for them. Suzanne tried her best to shield her younger sisters from the terror of these hateful ‘women of God’. But it was only the beginning of their troubles… Eventually, their mother returned from London, after four years, with enough money to take her children out and the family was reunited. However, too scared to speak out, the children vowed to take the horrors they had experienced at the orphanages to their graves. What really happened behind those church doors? This is Suzanne's heartbreaking and touching story.Trade Review'A deeply powerful and harrowing memoir that will remain with you long after the final page.' * John Marrs, author of The One *'This heart wrenching story kept me riveted from start to finish.' * Kristin Chenoweth, Actress *'A riveting story told through the eyes of an innocent young girl who was still dealing with the repercussions of her grief and anger 50 years later. Suzanne’s bravery in speaking out against the evil she faced, is so powerful it will help many other victims.' * Molly Shannon, Actress *'Suzanne Walsh’s Vow of Silence is a beautifully written memoir of her and her siblings childhood experiences. From their early start as a loving family unit, through the heartache of grief, and trauma from abuse by those trusted to care for them. Suzanne’s story is one of courage, strength resilience and love. Honest, compelling, heartbreaking and inspiring, her words stay with you.' * Joanne Froggatt, Actress. *"Melissa should be so proud of her mum for standing up to the child abuse, to speak out and tell her heart-wrenching story. Suzanne’s bravery in speaking out against the evil she faced, will help so many other victims." * Molly Shannon, Actress *"This is wild. It’s almost hard to imagine places like this exist. I definitely appreciate the research that went into this and the exploration of such a dark topic." * Netgalley *"An honest and heartbreaking account of a loving Irish family separated by events beyond their control. Walsh writes about her youth with her loving family, especially her dear father, who has leukemia, leaving his wife and six children. Walsh's mother is forced to place her children in orphanages in Dublin, Ireland, and moves to London to find work to support her family. Walsh tells what she, her sisters, and brothers go through as they do their best to survive the conditions of hunger, malnutrition, beatings, and humiliation by the nuns. Somewhat repetitive at times, Walsh begins her story recounting her disdain and naming the nuns who were particularly brutal to the children in their care. She feels concerned and anguished when she thinks of how those children fared as adults after being traumatized in the orphanages. Walsh's accounts of her four years subjected to the ill-treatment of the nuns are historical and eye-opening. A sad piece of Irish history." * Netgalley *"Have faith in yourself A sad story of a family torn apart by the death of their father, and the financial inability of their mom to care for them, they spent years in an orphanage. The boys were sent to one orphanage with the brothers and the girls to an orphanage with the nuns. They were abused physically and mentally in these orphanages. I had to admire their love for each other, and how they not only looked out for each other, but helped look after the other orphans that needed help. They became very good at surviving. Because of the abuse and malnutrition they suffered under their care in the orphanage they suffered many problems later in life. It was sad that in a religious institution they were treated so badly. No child should ever be treated as these children were. I enjoyed reading their story and the ending was good. I would recommend this book." * Netgalley *"Emotional and moving account. This was a good, quick read. It has fairly brief chapters which moves it along nicely. It's the 1950s, and Suzy and her family live in Ireland. This is a balanced account, as the author first talks of her lovely childhood memories. Then very hard circumstances are to hit the family. Their mammy has no alternative but to look for work in London, to make some money so the family could be together again. For the time being, she leaves them to be looked after at an orphanage. Suzy was only 10 at the time. This is the second book of this type I have read, and I find it shocking that nuns; people who you would suppose to be pure and good, would treat children so terribly. An emotional, tragic story, well told." * Netgalley *"This is a heartbreaking story. This poor family went through a lot, the worst of it being the 4 years these children were in the care of orphanages. Through no fault of their own, after losing their father, their mother had a lot on her plate and no choice but to place them in these orphanages which she went to London for work. Mom was just sure these nuns would take very good care of her children. Unfortunately, there is a lot of hypocrisy in the world of religion and these children ended up suffering from abuse and neglect. For these 6 children to keep quiet about it so as to not put more worry on their mother, is such a tough thing to imagine." * Netgalley *"Suzanne Walsh is a genius story teller. The book was an effortless, emotional journey through the Walsh’s family history; I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it all in a day. The Walsh’s live in a working class suburb near Dublin, Ireland in the early 1950’s. The six close siblings are living a idyllic childhood until tragedy strikes and their beloved father dies. Their Mother does everything she can to keep the family together but nobody wants to employ a single mother of six, so has to leave the children in the care of the Catholic Church’s orphanages whilst she goes to find work in London. The neglect and abuse they suffered at the hands of the nuns is horrifying. The fact that so many of these children had no family made them perfect victims for the sadistic abusers as well as free labour for the church. The book will send you on a rollercoaster of emotions but it’s definitely a ride worth taking." * Netgalley *"A heartbreaking story of child abuse at the hands of people the children had been in the care of by a mother very much down on her luck. Suzanne and her 5 siblings went into the ' care ' of a Catholic orphanage , and as we have sadly learnt from the media this often , too often , does not lead into having a good childhood. This a touching , sad and horrific account of the terrible life she endured whilst there.. Due to the subject of the story I don't think you can say you enjoyed it , but I can say it was an insight into the life of a child that should never be allowed to happen again . I wish you well Suzanne." * Netgalley *"What a gut wrenching, very emotional read. Suzanne and her siblings had a good childhood. Until their entire world shattered with the passing of their dad. Her mammy, which is the best she could do with 6 kids. But them in an orphanage, where unbeknownst to her they were several abused. Some years later she’s saved enough to move her kids away. These poor babies having to keep secret the pain they each with through." * Netgalley *

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Book SynopsisThe 264-page memoir of a Catholic priest and theologian who has spent a lifetime advocating for the reform of outdated policies and practices of the Church. A prolific writer of Christian literature and film scripts, he was the founder and director of a center for faith formation in London, which continues today as the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research. This book reveals his "Ten Commandments" for Church reform - ranging from the inclusion of women in the priesthood to the appointment of open-minded, pastoral bishops rather than hard-line traditionalists.Table of ContentsPrologue; Preface; What?! Me trying to reform the Catholic Church?; Part 1 Learning to think for myself; Into the gaping jaws of war; From the pincers of death; Rescuing my self-respect; Pledging utter dedication; Learning to think independently; What kind of priest?; Training for academic war at university; Part 2 On the Front Line; Subversive tactics at the heart of the Church; Joining the battle at Vatican Council II; Teaching future priests in India; Establishing a Catholic Information Centre; Funding Church projects at the grass roots; Creative endeavors in book & film; Coordinating mission worldwide; The future of Missionary Societies; Bishops appointed by Rome to block Church renewal; Part 3 Fighting the "Anti-Sex Bug" in the Church; The octopus of sexual repression; Screwed up sex guru; Lightning strikes from Rome; The ordination of women; Creating a training institute for religious sisters; Finding God in a loving partner?; Part 4 Helping Catholics become Adult Believers; Teaching on three fronts; Bringing priests down to earth; Treating the faithful as adults; Wielding my pen; Counselling victims of sects and cults; Walking on Water; How to make sense of God; 5 The Clash and Renewed Resolve; Inner turmoil leading to action; Stepping down from my official position; No sympathy from the Vatican; My marriage to Jackie Clackson; Academic research to update the Church; Glossary; Appendix 1 - Ten Commandments for Church Reform; Appendix 2 Timeline; Appendix 3 - My resignation from priestly ministry; Index; Photo & Art credits; About the Author; Publications

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Book SynopsisPeter's story of Jesus—that's what the Gospel of Mark truly is. Now in a new translation, a brilliant scholar brings to life St. Peter's eye witness experience of the life of Christ and the miracle that transformed the world."A fresh, vigorous new translation of the Gospel of Mark."—The American Conservative "Professor Pakaluk provides not only a thrilling new rendering of the ancient Greek text but also provides lively scholarship in the commentary that follows his translation of Mark's sixteen chapters."—The Catholic Thing "This is a very rewarding version of Mark, and even those who have made long study of the text will find a wise and sensitive guide in Michael Pakaluk."—National Catholic Register "Pakaluk's translation and commentary offers us a wonderful way to immerse ourselves anew..."—The B.C. Catholic "Like his translation, Pakaluk's notes do a lot to bring St. Mark and his gospel alive for us."—Aleteia The Gospel as You Have Never Heard It Before... At a distance of twenty centuries, the figure of Jesus of Nazareth can seem impossibly obscure—indeed, some skeptics even question whether he existed. And yet we have an eyewitness account of his life, death, and resurrection from one of his closest companions, the Simon Bar-Jona, better known as the Apostle Peter. Writers from the earliest days of the Church tell us that Peter’s disciple Mark wrote down the apostle’s account of the life of Jesus as he told it to the first Christians in Rome. The vivid, detailed, unadorned prose of the Gospel of Mark conveys the unmistakable immediacy of a first-hand account. For most readers, however, this immediacy is hidden behind a veil of Greek, the language of the New Testament writers. Four centuries of English translations have achieved nobility of cadence or, more recently, idiomatic accessibility, but the voice of Peter himself has never fully emerged. Until now. In this strikingly original translation, atten- tive to Peter’s concern to show what it was like to be there, Michael Pakaluk captures the tone and texture of the sherman’s evocative account, leading the reader to a bracing new encounter with Jesus. The accompanying verse-by-verse commentary—less theological than historical—will equip you to experience Mark’s Gospel as the narrative of an eyewitness, drawing you into its scenes, where you will come to know Jesus of Nazareth with new intimacy. A stunning work of scholarship readily accessible to the layman, The Memoirs of St. Peter belongs on the bookshelf of every serious Christian.

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Book SynopsisAt the end of the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth I forced the Irish Franciscans into exile. Of the four continental provinces to which the Irish Franciscans fled, the Prague Franciscan College of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was the largest in its time. This monograph documents this intense point of contact between two small European lands, Ireland and Bohemia. The Irish exiles changed the course of Bohemian history in significant ways, both positive - the Irish students and teachers of medicine who contributed to Bohemia's culture and sciences - and negative - the Irish officers who participated in the murder of Albrecht of Valdstejn and their successors who served in the Imperial forces. Dealing with a hitherto largely neglected theme, Parez and Kucharova attempt to place the Franciscan College within Bohemian history and to document the activities of its members. This wealth of historical material from the Czech archives, presented in English for the first time, will be of great aid for international researchers, particularly those interested in Bohemia or the Irish diaspora.Trade Review"An important contribution to a fuller understanding of the Irish Franciscans during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Prague has been the major piece that has been missing." (Joseph McMahon, Franciscan Friary, Dublin)

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisOn the heels of an extremely lively U.S. presidential election campaign, this book examines the unusually serene relationship between the chief global superpower and the world's most ancient and renowned institution. The "Catholicization" of the United States is a recent phenomenon: some believe it began during the Reagan administration; others feel it emerged under George W. Bush's presidency. What is certain is that the Catholic presence in the American political ruling class was particularly prominent in the Obama administration: over one-third of cabinet members, the Vice President, the White House Chief of Staff, the heads of Homeland Security and the CIA, the director and deputy director of the FBI, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other top military officers were all Roman Catholic. Challenging received wisdom that the American Catholic Church is in crisis and that the political religion in the United States is Evangelicalism, Manlio Graziano provides an engaging account of the tendency of Catholics to play an increasingly significant role in American politics, as well as the rising role of American prelates in the Roman Catholic Church.Trade Review"Graziano provocatively analyzes the Catholic Church as a political institution, drawing attention to the surprisingly robust presence of Catholics at the top of the American political structure while noting the powerful role that US citizens have played in shaping the contours of Catholic approaches to freighted issues at the transnational level. His convincing conclusions with regard to the current mutually influential relationship between United States and Rome make for fascinating reading." -- Timothy Byrnes * Colgate University *"This fascinating and astonishingly neglected subject is of immense importance, and I can think of no one better positioned than Manlio Graziano to treat it in all its complexity." -- Stanislao G. Pugliese * Hofstra University *"[Graziano's] book deserves attention both from scholars interested in religion and politics, broadly understood, and from intelligent citizens searching for new possibilities for civic life." -- David J. O'Brien * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *"[Graziano] devotes much of In Rome We Trust to a tightly written, dispassionate and unsentimental account of American Catholic political history, one backed by substantial research." -- Jason K. Duncan * The Review of Politics *"[A]s the volume ably documents, Catholics have moved into the mainstream of national-level political life in America....The analysis is at its best in tracing the complex relationship between American and Vatican interests in international affairs. Graziano demythologizes the U.S.-Vatican relationship in the post-World War II era, particularly the cooperation between President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II." -- David T. Buckley * Political Science Quarterly *"Manlio Graziano's In Rome We Trust is much more than an erudite and well documented analysis of the relations between the Vatican and the United States, between Catholicism and the ultimate superpower. It is a priceless interpretation of the geopolitics that the Roman Church, appearing here in its worldly role, and America, the leader of the West, have recently practiced and will continue to practice in the post-Cold War era." -- Corriere della SeraTable of ContentsContents and Abstracts1Catholics in the United States: The Greek in the Midst of Troy chapter abstractThis chapter describes the essentially anti-Catholic nature of the 13 colonies and of the early years of the United States, as well as the specific role of the Catholics at that time. 2The Catholic Church and the United States: The Discovery of America chapter abstractThis chapter recounts the early stages of the relationship between the universal Catholic Church and the United States, and the long-term fundamental incomprehension of the nature of the United States by a Catholic Church still exclusively Eurocentric 3The Catholic Church and the United States: Parallel Empires chapter abstractThis chapter treats the relationship between the universal Catholic Church and the United States in the twentieth century before the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the global competition over moral values 4Catholics and American Politics: The Rise and Fall of the New Deal Coalition chapter abstractThis chapter describes the evolution of the political role of American Catholics from the World War I to the Reagan administration, with particular attention to Roosevelt's New Deal Coalition 5Politics and Religion in the United States: The Evangelical Meteorite chapter abstractThis chapter covers the political role of Evangelicalism in the United States, and shows how the Catholic Church was able to learn from this experience as well 6Catholicization of the United States: Shift of Power and Catholicization chapter abstractThis Chapter shows how American Catholics became more and more present at the top of the political power in the United States and puts this trend in relation with the general geopolitical frame of global power shifts and the relative decline of the US 7The Americanization of the Catholic Church: In America We Trust chapter abstractThis chapter presents the real condition of the American Catholic Church today, providing data and considerations that contradict commonplaces about the crisis of Catholicism. It also recounts the stages of the process of "Americanization" of the universal Catholic Church, not only in financial terms nor by the growing numbers of American cardinals, but essentially in terms of adoption of the American model of free competition on the market of faith: from social doctrine to freedom of religion, through to the condemnation of anti-Semitism. The election of an "American Pope" is the last stage of this process.

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