Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church Books

Book SynopsisInternational bestselling author Scott Hahn guides readers through the Catholic Church's rites, customs and traditional prayers. The book is divided into forty reflections each examining a traditional Catholic devotion or custom, including the Rosary, holy water, sign of the cross, guardian angels.The chapters are not simply a definition or explanation, but the author's reflections, borrowed from saints and popes and combined in his own inimitable style into a lucid and enlightening examination of each custom and its grounding in scripture and tradition.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Bible with the full Catholic text that’s just the right size to take with you wherever you go.The go-anywhere NRSV Thinline Catholic Bible, lightweight and portable, now with our easy-to-read Comfort Print and with a variety of unique and traditional cover designs available, is beautiful inside and out. Fitting most purses, laptop bags, and glove boxes, the NRSV Thinline Bible is a great choice to take with you on the go. Complete Catholic Bible including the Deuterocanonical books for a better understanding of the historical and political climate in the years before Jesus’ birth Durable Smyth-sewn binding lays flat in your hand or on your desk Two satin ribbon markers so you can easily navigate and keep track of where you were reading Reading plan guiding you through various portions of Scripture to help read God’s Word co

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Catholic commentary on Luke interprets Scripture from within the living tradition of the Church for pastoral ministers, lay readers, and students.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Bible with a beautiful cover and includes the full catholic text, perfect to take with you anywhere you go.Enjoy the beautiful and sacred Holy Scriptures. This edition includes the complete Catholic canon, as well as resources, book introductions, and maps to help you discover the treasures in its pages.Features include: Complete Catholic Bible in a compact easy-to-carry size Anglicized text Presentation page allows you to personalize this special gift by recording a memory or note Articles providing an understanding of fundamental Catholic beliefs and practices Bible book introductions provide a concise overview of the background and historical context of the book about to be read Concordance for finding key verses Bible Maps are a visual

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Number One BestsellerShortlisted for the Irish Book Awards 2021'A great achievement . . . Brilliant, engaging and essential' Colm Tóibín'At once intimate and epic, this is a landmark book' Fintan O'TooleWhen Dubliner Derek Scally goes to Christmas Eve Mass on a visit home from Berlin, he finds more memories than congregants in the church where he was once an altar boy. Not for the first time, the collapse of the Catholic Church in Ireland brings to mind the fall of another powerful ideology - East German communism. While Germans are engaging earnestly with their past, Scally sees nothing comparable going on in his native land. So he embarks on a quest to unravel the tight hold the Church had on the Irish.He travels the length and breadth of Ireland and across Europe, going to Masses, novenas, shrines and seminaries, talking to those who have abandoned the Church and those who have held on, to survivors and campaigners, to writers, historians, psychologists and many more. And he has probing and revealing encounters with Vatican officials, priests and religious along the way.The Best Catholics in the World is the remarkable result of his three-year journey. With wit, wisdom and compassion Scally gives voice and definition to the murky and difficult questions that face a society coming to terms with its troubling past. It is both a lively personal odyssey and a resonant and gripping work of reporting that is a major contribution to the story of Ireland.'Reflective, textured, insightful and original ... rich with history, interrogation and emotional intelligence' Diarmaid Ferriter, Irish Times'An unblinking look at the collapse of the Church and Catholic deference in Ireland. Excellent and timely' John Banville, The Sunday Times'Engaging and incisive' Caelainn Hogan, author of Republic of Shame'Remarkable ... Essential reading for anyone concerned about history and forgetting' Michael Harding'Fair-minded ... thoughtful' Melanie McDonagh, The Times'Very pacey and entertaining ... and it changed how I regard Ireland and our history for good. Fantastic' Oliver Callan'Original, thought-provoking and very engaging' Marie Collins'A provocative insight into a time that many would rather forget' John Boyne'Challenging' Mary McAleese'Explores this subject in a way that I've never seen before' Hugh Linehan, Irish TimesTrade ReviewAn extraordinary story ... At once intimate and epic, this is a landmark book -- Fintan O'TooleA great achievement ... brilliant, engaging and essential -- Colm TóibínAn engaging and incisive book that asks what keeping the faith cost us, how it shaped us and what it means now -- Caelainn Hogan * author of Republic of Shame *Remarkable ... [Scally] examines the past with disarming honesty and a sense of compassion. His book is essential reading for anyone concerned about history and forgetting -- Michael HardingOffers some challenging end-of-an-era reflections on being Catholic in the scandal-ridden church of contemporary Ireland -- Mary McAleeseAbsolutely thrilling. A wonderful blend of personal story, journalism and history - it goes to unexpected places and asks questions we don't usually consider -- Oliver CallanAccessible, original, thought-provoking and very engaging -- Marie CollinsA wonderful book -- Catriona CroweReflective, textured, insightful and original ... rich with history, interrogation and emotional intelligence -- Diarmaid Ferriter * Irish Times *A highly intelligent, patriotic work * Business Post *Compelling * Irish Examiner *Excellent and timely * Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe writings of a major Christian thinkerOne of the key figures in Christian history, St. Ignatius of Loyola (c. 1491-1556) was a passionate and unique spiritual thinker and visionary. The works gathered here provide a first-hand, personal introduction to this remarkable character: a man who turned away from the Spanish nobility to create the revolutionary Jesuit Order, inspired by the desire to help people follow Christ. His Reminiscences describe his early life, his religious conversion following near-paralysis in battle, and his spiritual and physical ordeals as he struggled to assist those in need, including plague, persecution and imprisonment. The Spiritual Exercises offer guidelines to those seeking the will of God, and the Spiritual Diary shows Ignatius in daily mystical contact with God during a personal struggle. The Letters collected here provide an insight into Ignatius' ceaseless campaign to assist those seeking enlightenment and to direTable of ContentsPrefaceChronologyGlossaryBibliographyReminiscences (Autobiography)Introduction1. Loyola2. To Manresa via Montserrat3. The Pilgrimage to Jerusalem4. Studies and Conflicts in Spain5. Paris6. Interlude at Home7. ItalyEpilogue by Gonçalves da CâmaraThe Spiritual DiaryIntroductionPros and Cons in an election on povertyThe Spiritual Diary:Part IPart IISelect LettersIntroduction1 [1]* Advice to a good woman (Inés Pascual 1524)2 [3] Dealings with brother and nephew (1532)3 [4] Comfort among calamities (Isabel Roser 1532)4 [7] Steps in discernment (Teresa Rejadell 1536)5 [8] Prayer made easy (Teresa Rejadell 1536)6 [10] In praise of The Spiritual Exercises (Fr Miona 1536)7 [11] Blueprint for a religious order (Mgr Carafa 1536)8 [XII, app.] Early years in Italy (1536-37)9 [17] Thanks for support (Mgr Contarini 1538)10 [18] Roman trials and tribulations (1538)11 [52] Benighted obedience (Fr Viola 1542)12 [79] Vocation doubts ofa young man (1544)13 [101] Borgia's early steps (1545)14 [123] Conduct at Trent (1546)15 [149] Refusing episcopal dignities (1546)16 [169] Ideals for newcomers (Coimbra 1547)17 [182] Need for structures of government (Gandia 1547)18 [186] Experience of poverty (Padua 1547)19 [234] En route to the Constitutions (Louvain 1547)20 [243] Defining obedience as an ideal (Coimbra 1548)21 [466] Developments in the spiritual life (Borgia 1548)22 [790] Dealing with a radical crisis (Borgia 1549)23 [XII, app.] On prophecies and revelations (Gandia 1549)24 [XII, app.] Spreading God's word in a German university (1549)25 [958] Placating a parent over a son's vocation (1549)26 [1554] Letter of resignation (1551)27 [1587] Consoling a sister on her brother's death (1551)28 [2652] Refusing a Cardinal's hat (Borgia 1552)29 [3107] Students experiencing poverty (1552)30 [3220] Agreeing to be royal confessors (1553)31 [3304] The final word on obedience (1553)32 [3305] The last call to Francis Xavier (Japan 1553)33 [4184] Criteria in the choice of parish work (1554)34 [5256] Financial worries (1555)35 [5400] Norms for dealing with Superiors (1555)36 [5471] The Society and the Inquisition (1555)37 [XII, app.] Catechizing the sign of the cross38 [6087] Consoling the mother of a student (1556)39 [6454] Norms for food in Louvain (1556)40 [6677] Reacting to obstacles in Zaragoza (1556)The Spiritual ExercisesIntroductionAnnotationsFirst Week:Principle and FoundationParticular Daily ExamenGeneral ExamenFirst-Fourth Exercise: on sinsFifth Exercise: on hellAdditionsSecond Week:The call of the kingFirst Day:First Contemplation: on the IncarnationSecond Contemplation: on the NativityFifth Contemplation: use of the sensesNotesFourth Day:Meditation on Two StandardsMeditation on three classes of personsThree kinds of humilityElectionsPreamblesThree Times, and Two Ways in the Third TimeFor amendment and reform of one's personal lifeThird Week:Rules as regards eatingFourth Week:NotesAdditional Material:Contemplation for attaining loveThree Ways of prayingThe Mysteries of the life of Christ Our LordRules to understand movements in the soul: First Week; Second WeekRules for alms-givingNotes for the understanding of scruplesRules for a true attitude of mind within the ChurchAppendix: Text of Prayers mentioned in The Spiritual ExercisesNotesIndex*Numbers in square brackets are those of the letters in the MHSI edition.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA treasury of Catholic worship from ancient times to the present day.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the prize-winning screenwriter of The Theory of Everything and Darkest Hour, The Two Popes is a fascinating, revealing and gripping tale of two very different men whose destinies converge with each other - they both live in the Vatican - and the wider world.On 28 February 2013, a 600-year-old tradition was shattered: the conservative Pope Benedict XVI made a startling announcement. He would resign. Reeling from the news, the College of Cardinals rushed to Rome to congregate in the Sistine Chapel to pick his successor. Their unlikely choice? Francis, the first non-European pope in 1,200 years, a one time tango club bouncer, a passionate football fan and a man with the common touch.How did these two men become two of the most powerful people on Earth?What''s it like to be the Pope?What does the future hold for the Catholic Church and its 1 billion followers?The Two Popes is a dual biography that masterfully combines these two popes'' lives into one gripping narrative. From Benedict and Francis'' experiences of war in their homelands - when they were still Joseph and Jorge - and the sexual abuse scandal that continues to rock the Church to its foundations, to the intrigue and the occasional comedy of life in the Vatican, The Pope glitters with the darker and the lighter details of life inside one of the world''s most opaque but significant institutions.Trade ReviewA cracking read . . . With due respect to those talented thesps, they will have to go some to convey all the nuances and contradictions, ambiguities and embarrassments, dark secrets and outright skulduggeries that McCarten crams into his 200-odd pages . . . engrossing -- Richard Morrison * The Times *I learned things from the script I didn't know. I just thought, "Can that be right? Were we that perilously close?" And so it just grabbed me.Provides a compelling look at life and politics in the Vatican today * Vanity Fair, This Winter’s Best Nonfiction Reads *Anthony McCarten has an astonishing knack of transforming a familiar story into a new tale, and one that is revealing and sometimes challenging. Now he has done so once again with The Pope, a beguiling tale of ecclesiastical plotting and intrigue that resembles a sort of bloodless Borgias. It may be a book about how two men reached the holiest pinnacle of the Roman Catholic Church, but when the clouds of incense clear we are left with an awful lot of sinning. The papacy is supposed to be infallible, but thanks to McCarten's deft lifting of the Vatican's scarlet curtains what we see is the breeding ground for one of the greatest scandals of our times in which conspiracy and vanity are on display to a terrifying extent[On the play version] Why did he do it? Why did Pope Benedict XVI, that most traditional of pontiffs, break with tradition and resign in 2013, ceding the way to his reformist rival, Cardinal Bergoglio? That's the problem at the heart of this compelling new problem play by Anthony McCarten - and, sensibly, the playwright leaves it more or less unsolved. He presents us with two contrasting and eternal characters, both at breaking point: the wavering conservative and the reluctant liberal. The playwright's own sympathies seem to be with Bergoglio, yet, despite the relatable ordinariness Nicholas Woodeson brings to that role, it is Anton Lesser's shy, candyfloss-haired Benedict who, against the odds, emerges as the more fascinating presence: the one who can play Mozart, however imperfectly, the one who attempts little jokes, far less polished than his rival's hail-fellow shtick, yet more amusing for their faults. McCarten, who wrote the screenplay for Darkest Hour, has a gift for creating intimate dramas from public biographical property. Here the theatre becomes a confessional, with the audience asked to grant absolution to two flawed but pious priests. * The Times, ???? *[On the film screenplay] Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins deliver a sit-back-and-marvel double-act masterclass that will be spoken of in the same breath as De Niro and Pacino in Heat . . . the triple-whammy impact of McCarten's script, Meirelles's direction and, mostly, the two lead performances creates a completely credible reality, at times indecently moving . . . there are big ideas in here too * The Times, ***** *[On the film] Essentially a papal buddy movie, a mesmerising two-hander, and one of the finest films of either performer's career -- Kevin Maher * The Times *[On the film screenplay] If I like the script, that's the reason I'm doing it -- Jonathan PryceAnthony McCarten . . . after The Theory of Everything, Darkest Hour and Bohemian Rhapsody, has rather cornered the market in glossy biographical dramas * Guardian *This engrossing double biography of the chalk-and-cheese pontiffs Francis (the "slum bishop") and Benedict ("God's rottweiler") is full of drama, dark secrets and Vatican skulduggery. * The Times *[On the film] Oh my word. I just loved #thetwopopes. Such a mesmerising film. And so delighted they didn't traduce Benedict. The chemistry between him and Francis was so moving. It's on Netflix now. And it is definitely worth watching -- Giles Fraser

Read more less

Book SynopsisImaginative Apologetics draws on much that is most vibrant in contemporary theology to develop Christian apologetics for the present day. The contributors are leaders in their fields. They represent a confident approach to theology, grounded in a deep respect for the theological tradition of the Church. They display a perceptive interest in philosophy, and unlike many works of apologetics their interest is in the philosophy of the present day, not only that of previous centuries. Drawing on the theology of the imagination they show the centrality of the imagination to apologetics; from the significant of virtue in Christian ethics they show that Christian ethics is part of the Good News; from developments in the theology of knowledge they show that apologetics must be communal and must learn to tell stories. Dealing with history, the arts and the nature of atheism, with the natural sciences and social theory, Imaginative Apologetics presents a theological account of apologetics for theTrade Review'This is a stunning book. In simple and vibrant prose, the authors explain our failing attempts to communicate God through colourless, proof style arguments that are all but emptied of mystery and the language of desire. They call, instead, for a healthy tension between clarity and estrangement, logic and wonder. They invite us towards socially and culturally sensitive presentations of the Gospel, rooted in Church tradition and embodied in our own lives. Imaginative Apologetics delivers a prophetic and uplifting message for all Christians.'Alan Ramsey, St Aldates, Oxford 'Rowan Williams memorably said, as he took up office, that the Church needed to recapture the imagination of the nationA". Many theologians have responded to the challenge: we continue to see in the Church of England a confident and intelligent engagement with contemporary culture and a firm critique of the ways in which secular humanism and New Atheism diminish what it means to be a human person. This book is a tremendous collection of essays that explore how the Christian faith is both reasonable and imaginative: it should be read by all who wonder what culture loses when Christianity is eclipsed.'Frances Ward, Dean of St Edmundsbury Cathedral. 'This attractive volume of essays encourages us to invite others into Christ's way of seeing the world and to step into the life of a community where his new way of living and loving can be found. It is an original and inspiring contribution to the apologetic task of the Church.'Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBringing the wisdom of the ages to the palm of your handThe Great Quotes Catholic Bible features an array of beautiful quotes from saints, artists, and popes, allowing you to study God’s Word with the leaders of our faith each time you open the Bible. The text of this beautiful edition is presented in two-columns on each page for easy reading, with a beautiful stained-glass motif throughout. It comes complete with full-color maps and two elegant ribbon markers to keep your place during study or prayer. Includes quotes from: St. Augustine, St. Ignatius, St. John Chrysostom, St. Joan of Arc, Blessed Pope Pius IX, Mother Teresa, St. Francis of Assisi, Pope John Paul II, Pope St. Gregory the Great, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis and so many more.Features Include: Complete Catholic Bible with the official imprimatur of the Roman Catholic Church 120 beautiful, artistically rendered quotation pages

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis title has received an Imprimatur and has been endorsed by the Catholic Education Service for the new RED.Encourage students to engage with Catholic Religious Education at Key Stage 3 and enable them to understand, discern and respond to key concepts and ideas.This accessible Student Book has been written by experienced teachers and diocesan advisors to support the new Religious Education Directory (RED). - Easily deliver engaging lessons with in-depth content and ready-made tasks for each branch of learning within the new curriculum- Teach with confidence, whatever your level of expertise, with comprehensive and reliable guidance to support both specialists and non-specialists- Build students'' knowledge with clear content coverage, including topic overviews, annotated extracts from scripture and clear explanations of key terms- Deepen understanding and help students to engage critically with the content by working through the

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is Pope Francis'' story for you today: the departure point for your birth or rebirth, whatever form that may take. It is the glowing centre that sustains life, whatever your age. You are a wonder of creation.Even when your face is lined with worries or fatigue, remember that you are always a light that shines through the night. This is the greatest gift you''ve ever received, and no one can take it away from you. Dream on! Never stop dreaming. Believe! Believe in even greater and more beautiful truths. Let yourself be surprised by love. This is what it means to Live Well. This is the greatest and most beautiful wish we can extend to each other. Always.Joy - the wholesome and concrete kind, the joy we have all been searching for since birth - will be the natural outcome. It won''t be an easy path; life''s difficulties and the pervasive pessimism and cynicism of our era will periodically make it difficult to recognize and welcome grace into our life. But t

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow would your life change if you were certain of your identity? If you could know that Someone loves you, sees you, and wants to be close to you—just as you are? In this beautifully designed weekly devotional for women, you''re invited to soak in God''s Word to embrace your identity as a beloved woman made in God''s image.Authored by Blessed Is She, a popular online community for Catholic women, Made New walks you through rich reflections of the Gospels, substantive Scripture for prayer through Lectio Divina, and prompts for spiritual growth. Over the course of 52 weeks, you''ll uncover: how deeply God knows who you are and loves who you''re becoming. why you belong to God''s family. what it means that your true identity is as God''s beloved. how your belief in God''s love affects your identity. how

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe story of Catholic Emancipation begins with the violent Anti-Catholic Gordon Riots in 1780, fuelled by the reduction in Penal Laws against the Roman Catholics harking back to the sixteenth century. Some fifty years later, the passing of the Emancipation Bill was hailed as a 'bloodless revolution'. Had the Irish Catholics been a 'millstone', as described by an English aristocrat, or were they the prime movers? While the English Catholic aristocracy and the Irish peasants and merchants approached the Catholic Question in very different ways, they manifestly shared the same objective. Antonia Fraser brings colour and humour to the vivid drama with its huge cast of characters: George III, who opposed Emancipation on the basis of the Coronation Oath; his son, the indulgent Prince of Wales, who was enamoured with the Catholic Maria Fitzherbert before the voluptuous Lady Conyngham; Wellington and the 'born Tory' Peel vying for leadership; 'roaring' Lord Winchilsea; the heroic Daniel O'ConnTrade ReviewFraser knows better than anybody how to make political and religious history fun. And as the mob besieges the Palace of Westminster, red-faced politicians rant and rave and George IV tucks in to yet another banquet, her tale flows with such elegance and enthusiasm that you barely stop to notice just how skilfully she does it. -- Dominic Sandbrook * SUNDAY TIMES *Fascinating ... Fraser approaches the subject not as one of arid doctrinal debate, but rather as a story, told by an extraordinary cast of characters. William Pitt, George Canning, the Duke of Wellington, Robert Peel, Percy Bysshe Shelley, [Daniel] O'Connell and two kings named George all played idiosyncratic parts in this drama. Supporting actors included some of Fraser's ancestors, who were active in the opposition to emancipation. The people make this story -- Gerard DeGroot * THE TIMES *Fraser, a convert to Catholicism, as well as a descendant of the Anglo-Irish Protestant Longfords, tells the story with erudition, sprezzatura and a tremendous sense of fun. Every page is shot through with humour and humanity. Columns of bloated, bewhiskered bigots fall to Fraser's skewer, but the many Georgians with rent consciences are handled with great sensitivity. She is excellent on Ireland. She writes beautifully and she includes just the right amount of smut -- Jessie Childs * GUARDIAN *This is a complicated tale with a large cast of characters, making it harder still to maintain the tension that is essential to good, readable history. But Antonia Fraser does it triumphantly. The result is not simply a book that will remind now thoroughly integrated British Catholics of how far we have travelled from being a harassed and despised minority. It also explains, without ever obviously seeming to do so, how implacable prejudices and intractable issues can be tackled and overcome. In other words, it is that rarest of things: a good news story -- Peter Stanford * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *The author, now 85, has not lost her skill in writing history principally through the stories of particular people - and for the success of Catholic emancipation the decisions of a few people were essential: the Duke of Wellington and Robert Peel, ideologically and temperamentally anti-Catholic, who changed their minds; George IV, who wavered; and Daniel O'Connell, who resisted the allure of leading violent insurrection in Ireland and instead offered to keep his nation quiet in return for religious tolerance. Fraser's prose is a pleasure to read -- Christopher Howse * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Writing with a historian's skill and a novelist's heart, Fraser shows how O'Connell was able to bring the British government to the point where it felt it had no alternative but to concede emancipation...In many ways this is a book for our Brexit times, a cautionary tale of how a spirit of courage and compromise is necessary when dealing with the political challenge of a generation...Elegant, timely and thought-provoking -- Patrick Geoghegan * IRISH TIMES *Utterly gripping and consistently witty -- Damian Thompson * LITERARY REVIEW *Ripples with colour and is full of contrasting characters, from "roaring" Tory Lord Winchelsea to voluptuous Lady Conyngham and heroic "King Dan" O'Connell. Indeed, it's like an exhilarating literary point to point, with falls at the fences, but the favourite winning by a neck. -- John Martin Robinson * COUNTRY LIFE *Fraser succeeds triumphantly in bringing to life the struggle for Catholic rights. A superb narrative historian, like a modern-day Macaulay, she enlivens her story with vivid character sketches, verve and wit. This is a marvellous book -- Jane Ridley * THE TABLET *This is an absolutely splendid book. With the brio and narrative skill which has been in evidence since her first book - the irreplaceable classic biography of Mary Queen of Scots - Fraser gives us a vivid account of Catholic Emancipation. Some of the most dramatic scenes in our parliamentary history are here brought to life with unmatched verve. -- A. N. Wilson * THE SPECTATOR *Masterly -- Daniel Johnson * STANDPOINT *The widespread violence, excited by a modest Catholic relief Bill, is the start of Fraser's superb account of how British Catholics, over the next 50 years, managed to get their rights back - and how Britain narrowly avoided another civil war * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Meticulously researched and thoroughly engrossing -- Simon Griffith * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Fraser's narrative skilfully interweaves the progress of activism in Ireland - painting a deeply sympathetic picture of the great Daniel O'Connell, "the Liberator" - and pragmatism in England, as emancipation gradually came to appear as the only outcome that offered justice and stability...This book has all the liveliness and clarity of Antonia Fraser's other historical writing. -- Rowan Williams * NEW STATESMAN *Lady Antonia's interest is in the politics of religion, to which she brings all of her remarkable gifts. -- Michael Wheeler * CHURCH TIMES *The fight for Catholic Emancipation in 1829, explored with great skill and elan by a historian who knows how to tell a good story. * SUNDAY TIMES *Expertly written and deftly argued, The King and the Catholics is also a distant mirror of our times, reflecting the political issues arising from religious intolerance. * CATHOLIC TIMES *This is a very fine book indeed. Fraser is an excellent historian. Her research is thorough, her use of it discriminating. The has a dramatic story to tell here, and tells it compellingly, never forgetting that events now in the past were once in the future, and that what now seems inevitable often appeared otherwise at the time...There is no reason why good history should not entertain as well as enlighten. This thoroughly enjoyable book does both. -- Allan Massie * CATHOLIC HERALD *Fraser's book is the first full length history of the emancipation struggle for nearly 20 years and she writes with informed sympathy for both sides, drawing on the experiences of her own Irish Protestant Packenham family history: one ancestor opposed reform and another came to support it. -- Stephen Bates * BBC HISTORY *In The King and the Catholics, Antonia Fraser recounts the saga of the emancipation of British Catholics, who finally achieved equal civil rights in 1829. Hitherto Catholicism had, since the Reformation, been considered 'a form of national treachery', with Catholics blamed for the Great Fire of London -- Simon Heffer * DAILY TELEGRAPH History Books of the Year *[An] intelligent, wide-ranging, elegantly written account -- Peter Stanford * THE TABLET Books of the Year *Proving there's no retirement age for writers, Antonia Fraser brings 50 years of accumulated skill in the writing of gripping history to a book it is impossible to imagine anyone else writing with such liveliness and insight. The King and the Catholics also offers unobtrusive contemporary parallels on issues including xenophobia, terrorism and the long tendency of English politicians to underestimate the complicating issue of Ireland -- Mark Lawson * THE TABLET Books of the Year *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIreland in the aftermath of Cromwell during this period Catholicism and nationalism became linked and priests were outlawed.The Priest Huntersshines a light on four of the men who hunted them:Sean na Sagart, Edward Tyrrell, Barry Lowe and John Garzia, the most hated men in Ireland.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPrayer is a word we take for granted. Ought we to do so? What do we mean by prayer? What does the word mean in the Christian context? This book addresses such questions.Trade Review...a genuine attempt to introduce the theory and practice of prayer to the uninitiated, in language that is accessible to all men and women. * Mount Carmel *The book has been written by one who clearly lives every word she writes...Ruth Burrows...writes with authority - and it shows! I especially appreciate how in this volume great care has been taken with the use of language, which is inclusive both as regards God and ourselves. -- Elizabeth Ruth Obbard * Mount Carmel *...a valuable contribution to the vast array of books offering advice and encouragement to Christians on the subject of prayer. This book is full of insights...Ruth Burrows...reflections are thought-provoking and described with encouragement and simplicity. -- John Mann * Church of Ireland Gazette *Here is a major contribution from the pen of a well-known writer on spiritual themes...An impressive offering...different from her earlier works, and well worth a little study. -- Elizabeth CSF * Franciscan *It is useful as spiritual reading that will help the prayer and Christian lives of men and women living in the world. For that, it can be recommended. -- Prebendary John Gaskell * Church Times *Essence of Prayer is a good introduction to the chief labour of Carmel. * The Daily Telegraph *The person who has most clearly written about this area in our own times is Ruth Burrows in books such as Essence of Prayer. -- Christopher Howse * The Tablet *Ruth Burrows, the experienced Carmelite writer: hard-headed, warm-hearted, helpful and positive about God's universal invitation to prayer. -- Christopher Howse * The Tablet *This is a book that should change lives. Its central message is that everyone can pray....Essence of Prayer is a collection of short essays on prayer...this structure works better than a book hammered out to a continuous shape, because there is a chance to avoid misunderstanding by coming at a subject from a difference angle. -- Christopher Howse * The Tablet *Table of Contents1. Growth in Prayer; 2. Prayer that is Jesus; 3. The Human response to God; 4. The Way to perfection; 5. Doctor of the Dark Night; 6. Sustained Passion; 7. Alone with Him Alone; 8. A Stark Encounter with the Human Condition; 9. Consecrated Life.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIntrigue, double-dealing and conspiracy in the Eternal City. 'A fascinating narrative of the intermingling of secular and religious power' New Statesman 'A highly enjoyable and thrilling read... Hollingsworth has peeled back the veil of secrecy surrounding papal conclaves' History Today 'Full of lively detail and colour' Literary Review August 1559. As the long hot Italian summer draws to its close, so does the life of a rigidly orthodox and profoundly unpopular pope. The papacy of Paul IV has seen the establishing of the Roman Inquisition and the Index of Prohibited Books, an unbending refusal to open dialogue with Protestants, and the ghettoization of Rome's Jews. On 5 September 1559, as the great doors of the Vatican's Sala Regia are ceremonially locked, the future of the Catholic Church hangs in the balance. Mary Hollingsworth offers a compelling and sedulously crafted reconstruction of the longest and most taxing of sixteenth-century papal elections. Its crisscrossing fault lines divided not only moderates from conservatives, but also the adherents of three national 'factions' with mutually incompatible interests. France and Spain were both looking to extend their power in Italy and beyond and had very different ideas of who the new pope should be – as did the Italian cardinals. Drawing on the detailed account books left by Ippolito d'Este, one of the participating cardinals, Conclave 1559 provides remarkable insights into the daily lives and concerns of the forty-seven men locked up for some four months in the Vatican.Trade Review[A] rich, full history of the politicking and personalities of the conclave... A fascinating narrative of the intermingling of secular and religious power' -- Michael Prodger, New StatesmanMary Hollingsworth is an entertaining guide... Brings to life not only the political dimension, but the fascinating material detail' -- Catherine Fletcher, BBC History MagazineA highly enjoyable and thrilling read... Hollingsworth has peeled back the veil of secrecy surrounding papal conclaves' * History Today *Full of lively detail and colour... Readers of history who are both passionate and patient will enjoy it' * Literary Review *PRAISE FOR MARY HOLLINGSWORTH: 'Exceptionally sumptuous... This vivid history brings to life the vices and virtues of the feuding ruling families of Italy' The Times, on Princes of the Renaissance. 'A chance to visit a glittering, at times rather gory, world that is different and yet dreamily familiar to our own' BBC History Revealed, on Princes of the Renaissance. 'Dense politics relieved by dazzling art' Kirkus, on Princes of the Renaissance. 'This forensic study of the Renaissance banking dynasty conjures up a world of art, literature, philosophy – and brutality' Telegraph, on The Medici. 'Lavishly illustrated, clearly written and meticulously edited' * TLS, on The Medici *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA survey of the Spanish Inquisition, that sets the notorious Christian tribunal into the broader context of Islamic and Jewish culture in the Mediterranean, reassesses its consequences for Jewish culture, measures its impact on Spain's intellectual life, and rebuts the myths and exaggerations that have distorted understandings of the Inquisition.Trade Review"Kamen’s 1965 The Spanish Inquisition set a standard of clarity and objectivity in a traditionally contentious field. This new edition, the fruit of 50 years of scholarship and meditation, corrects with hard facts and penetrating analysis many entrenched myths about Spain and her 350-year-long Inquisition. It will set the agenda for the next generation of Spanish intellectual historians."—David Gitlitz, author of Secrecy and Deceit: The Religion of the Crypto-Jews"Kamen's work remains the most accessible, comprehensive, and substantively argued English-language introduction to the Spanish Inquisition."—Kimberly Lynn, Western Washington University

Read more less

Book SynopsisA response of Timothy Radcliffe, a spiritual leader whose talks and broadcasts surprise. Shot through with humour, friendship and wisdom, the pages of this book outline a manner of living which is at once faithful to the teachings of Jesus and rooted in the tradition of the church simultaneously responsive to the turbulence of the modern world.Trade ReviewThis book deserves to be, and indeed must be read ... Radcliffe writes with the essential humility of a man who has lived the Christian life in many different cultures. -- James Kelly * Catholic Times *I cannot imagine this book going out of date because it is based on solid theological and spiritual principles... Radcliffe speaks with authority, reflecting his deep faith, long experience and profound understanding of human nature. * RENEW *...an exploration of what it means to hope...[a] courageous and hopeful book. He points us beyond the words, beyond the comfort zone - can we risk taking up the challenge? * The Furrow *[Radcliffe's] chapters progress through certain characteristics that Christian faith should bring: freedom, happiness, courage, comfortableness in our bodies. Drawing on literature, wide theological knowledge and pastoral experience, he lays out how many people are struggling through the complex issues of today's world and stresses the importance of listening to others with whose opinions we may not agree. * National Catholic Reporter *Spiritual writer is at his captivating best....Timothy Radcliffe is in demand the world over with bishops, priests, lay people and above all the young. This new book is his response ... He is a prophet for our times. -- James HickeyFull of wisdom and insightful apercus... Radcliffe's book leavens its philosophy with good jokes (''Tesco ergo sum - I shop therefore I am''), references to contemporary novels and films and the timeless, universal pleasures of wine. * The Times *Timothy Radcliffe has written a wholly admirable statement of what it means to be a thoughtful, receptive, faithful, and generous Christian in the West today....Radcliffe displays the Christian life and tradition as being deeply enriching, and does so in language the world can understand. -- Revd Dr Sam Wells * Church Times *He is deeply spiritual, extremely cultured, and a clear, compelling writer. He possesses a certain fearlessness and optimism about the world without being insensitive to the terrible burdens of our times....Radcliffe's book reflects the omnivorous reading; his long meditation on Scripture, liturgy, and the Catholic theological tradition; and his wide knowledge of the world. -- Lawrence S. Cunningham * Commonweal *For me, finding Dr. Bourke as one of many chosen arrows in the Radcliffe quiver brought my awe closer to joy. There is surely much soaring and trenchant truth here for me and a great many more, but less might have seemed more, or been sharper, or flown higher, or felt cozier and less like and overlong homily. * Review For Religious *Timothy Radcliffe is a charismatic, spiritual leader and a rare bird, his talks and broadcasts always surprise....he shows himself in this new book to be passionately concerned with issues relating to environment, globalisation and the pastoral care of the marginalised and the dispossessed. * The Universe *Shot through with humour, friendship and wisdom, the pages of this book outline a manner of living which is at once faithful to the teachings of Jesus and rooted in the tradition of the church. * The Universe *We are offered something altogether more stimulating... This book opens new horizons... Major subjects are handled with insight. -- Edmund Newey * Theology *...eloquent and moving -- Douglas Hedley * Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsMission; Christian Engagement; Singing God's Praise.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe official new Weekday Missal in a classically beautiful red imitation leather binding.Collins Missal is currently the authorised Missal for the Irish Catholic Church and the Australian Catholic Church. It is no longer the authorised Missal for the Catholic Church in England and Wales.The Collins Weekday Missal is fully updated with the new, approved Order of Mass, perfect for anyone wishing to prepare for Weekday Mass and take an active part in its celebration.With a closer and more direct translation of the original liturgy, more detailed and explanatory commentary and additional readings to help prepare and collect after Mass, The Weekday Missal will aid a closer, more transcendent experience during Weekday worship. It includes the official new Order of Mass, The Proper of Seasons, Ordinary Time, The Proper of Saints, Occasional Masses, as well as Masses for the Dead.New illustrations in the Romanesque tradition, four firmly stitched in ribbons, clear design, and quality printing, make Collins' Weekday Missal a durable, beautiful book from which to worship.

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe inspirational work that has been guiding Benedictine monks for fifteen centuries Founder of a monastery at Monte Cassino, between Rome and Naples, in the sixth century, St Benedict intended his Rule to be a practical guide to Christian monastic life. Based on the key precepts of humility, obedience and love, its aim is to create a harmonious and efficient religious community in which individuals can make progress in the Christian virtues and gain eternal life. Here, Benedict sets out ideal monastery routines and regulations, from the qualities of a good abbot, the twelve steps to humility and the value of silence to such every day matters as kitchen duties, care of the sick and the suitable punishment for lateness at mealtimes. Benedict's legacy is still strong - his Rule remains a source of inspiration and a key work in the history of the Christian church. Carolinne White's accessible translation is accompanied by an introduction discussing Benedict's teachings, w

Read more less

Book SynopsisBringing the wisdom of the ages to the palm of your handThe Great Quotes Catholic Bible features an array of beautiful quotes from saints, artists, and popes, allowing you to study God’s Word with the leaders of our faith each time you open the Bible. The text of this beautiful edition is presented in two-columns on each page for easy reading, with a beautiful stained-glass motif throughout. It comes complete with full-color maps and two elegant ribbon markers to keep your place during study or prayer. Includes quotes from: St. Augustine, St. Ignatius, St. John Chrysostom, St. Joan of Arc, Blessed Pope Pius IX, Mother Teresa, St. Francis of Assisi, Pope John Paul II, Pope St. Gregory the Great, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis and so many more.Features Include: Complete Catholic Bible with the official imprimatur of the Roman Catholic Church 120 beautiful, artistically rendered quotation pages

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Catholic commentary on Hebrews interprets Scripture from within the living tradition of the Church for pastoral ministers, lay readers, and students.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this addition to the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, two well-respected New Testament scholars interpret the Gospel of John in its historical and literary setting as well as in light of the Church''s doctrinal, liturgical, and spiritual tradition. They unpack the wisdom of the Fourth Gospel for the intellectual and spiritual transformation of its readers and connect the Gospel with a range of witnesses throughout the whole history of Catholicism. This volume, like each in the series, is supplemented by features designed to help readers understand the Bible more deeply and use it more effectively in teaching, preaching, evangelization, and other forms of ministry.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first of a series of volumes on the Hospitaller Knights of Saint John, this volume covers the period 13061522.The Hospitaller Knights had developed during the Crusades from a monastic order providing hostels for Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. The need to provide armed escorts to these pilgrims brought about their evolution into a Military Order. An elite component of Crusader armies, Hospitallers were involved in most large-scale Christian-Saracen engagements following the First Crusade. Taking to the sea, the Hospitallers became a major naval power in the Mediterranean.The author draws on the work of the Order's official historians, Giacomo Bosio and his successor Bartolomeo dal Pozzo. He transcribes their writings for the modern reader, while also presenting new information revealed in the 400 years of scholarship since Bosio's death in 1627. This volume opens with Hospitaller relocation from Cyprus to Rhodes during the years 1306 to 1309 while introducing other entit

Read more less

Book SynopsisWe live in an unprecedented time that has threatened to upend our daily rhythms, our work, our homes - even our faith. More than ever, we need books like Reflections on the Sunday Gospel to stir us to hope, to comfort, to peace. We need to remember what we live for and how good God is. These reflections - published in English for the first time, drawn both from homilies given by Pope Francis and readings from the Fathers of the Church, including Saint Augustine, Saint Jerome, and Saint Ambrose - do more than offer a way to enter into the liturgical year with weekly readings to enrich your devotional time. They offer Christ, and the power of his resurrection. They offer his words of assurance: ''I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world''.Ultimately, as Pope Francis guides us through these timeless words, we will glean how even the giants of the fa

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Bible with a beautiful cover and includes the full catholic text, perfect to take with you anywhere you go.Enjoy the beautiful and sacred Holy Scriptures. This edition includes the complete Catholic canon, as well as resources, book introductions, and maps to help you discover the treasures in its pages.Features include: Complete Catholic Bible in a compact easy-to-carry size Anglicized text Presentation page allows you to personalize this special gift by recording a memory or note Articles providing an understanding of fundamental Catholic beliefs and practices Bible book introductions provide a concise overview of the background and historical context of the book about to be read Concordance for finding key verses Bible Maps are a visual

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe seventeen New Testament volumes in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture (CCSS) series have been widely acclaimed. Now the series editors offer readable Old Testament commentaries that integrate the best of contemporary biblical scholarship with the traditional understanding of the Old Testament as prophesying and prefiguring Christ.Wisdom of Solomon, by Mark Giszczak, is the first Old Testament volume in the CCSS. The commentary offers a robust introduction to the historical and theological background of this often-overlooked book, the RSV-2CE translation of the biblical text, cross-references, Catechism and Lectionary references, and a detailed interpretation of each passage. It also includes helpful sidebars on biblical background and important references to the living tradition of the Church. The commentary guides readers in a thorough and faithful study of the Wisdom of Solomon.Written from a standpoint of faith in the Holy Spirit''s inspiratio

Read more less

Book SynopsisOne happy day, in the midst of writing to her fiancee, her hand stopped writing unbidden; then it continued by itself, etching the words which would change her life forever: '...but there's no point now, as I am going to be a nun.'That bolt from the blue set events in motion that caused Shirley to lose her mother and sisters, her husband to be, her horses, her parties and life of ease. Within months, Shirley had become Sister Agatha. But her faith in her choice never faltered, despite years of great difficulty when her Convent was close to bankruptcy. Her belief took her to London to knock on Sir Paul Getty's door to secure the money to ensure her community would not lose their home...and getting it. Now eighty-five, she looks back on an incredible life of love, loss and belief. This is at once a deeply poignant tale of doomed romance, and a heart-warming story of taking a leap of faith and finding a meaning in life beyond the wealth and comfort she was born into.Whether a believer or not, Sister Agatha's momentous life will touch and inspire, whilst reminding us that it is perhaps better to accept that not everything in the world is yet explained.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMany people are open to spirituality but closed to religion. Biblical wisdom reminds us that we are persons-in-relationship. We relate to ourselves, others, the planet and God. Rejecting the wisdom of the biblical lodestar can facilitate a rejection of our identity. The effects are only too prevalent. If we are unaware that we are in a relationship of stewardship with the planet, we will continue to destroy it. If we forget that we are in solidarity with others, social injustice will continue. If we forget that we are living in graced dependence we will exploit others. Our world has reached a critical stage and we stand at a crossroads where huge decisions need to be urgently made. This book attempts to highlight the value of spirituality and religion and how they complement one another. It tries to promote biblical and eucharistic literacy in a more contemporary idiom. But most of all, this book discusses the four Jesuit priorities as the way to redress the implosion of our world and in reimagining Christianity in a modern guise, as it’s clear that the ways we always did things is no longer an option. There is no place for passive bystanders when our world is falling apart. The Jesuit priorities urge us to be reflective, paying attention to our experience of life and learning from it. They stress the urgency of social and climate justice. They challenge us to promote a hope-filled world for our children. There is an urgency in the air that the four Jesuit priorities address.Trade Review‘Across the spectrum of ages and viewpoints [this book] will help to bring a sense of togetherness and community.’ * The Irish Catholic *‘[the author] highlights the value of spirituality and religion, how they complement each other and their role in providing purpose and meaning in life’ * The Catholic Post *‘Jim Maher invites young readers and the rest of us to engage with a grown-up version of God. Any group or individual working through this book will not escape untransformed.’ * Methodist Recorder *‘identifies and interrogates operative images of God, church and society while offering a vision for the future of these in terms of key Jesuit values, spiritual and social, ecological and generational.’ * The Furrow *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn less than a decade the notion of ?synodality? has emerged as a central theme in Catholic life and thought, especially in Catholics? self-reflection on who they are as the People of God: ecclesiology. The notion of the Church as ?synodal? has early roots in the many councils and synods of the early churches, east and west, but now this notion has emerged from the history of canon law to become one that portrays a whole new image of the church. The church, Pope Francis has said, is called to be synodal as it changes its self-perception from being a power pyramid seeking to impose its vision to being a pilgrim people at the service of humanity. But what are the implications of synodality? The synod on synodality in Rome 2023/24 is grappling with this question, but if the notion has any meaning it will require steady examination over a much longer period, it will need to be owned, and it will call for engagement from all parts of the Catholic Church. One can only have a synodal coming together when people from every corner of the church set out on the journey to that meeting place (synodos) of many roads. As part of this synodal engagement the Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain invited its members ? and some friends of the association ? to offer their reflections on the importance of synodality, what it means, how it can build on the work of the Second Vatican Council, and how we can engage with it today. These essays ? deliberately kept short and to the point ? are offered to our sisters and brothers in baptism in order to help us all on our journey of renewal as a pilgrim people.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fascinating illustrated history of the Church, its art and architecture, its doctrines and beliefs.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Vulgate Bible was used from the early Middle Ages through the 12th century in the Western European Christian (and, later, Catholic) tradition. This volume elegantly and affordably presents the text of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. It is the first volume of the projected six-volume set of the complete Vulgate Bible.Trade ReviewThe goal of the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, of which this volume is a part, is to make selected foreign-language works easily accessible to English-speaking readers. That goal is admirably achieved in this volume, which is the first in a projected five-part series. -- L. J. Greenspoon * Choice *

Read more less