Apologetics
Here, Dr. Kevin Vost provides you with 12 essential life lessons, culled from the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. Together these lessons will elevate your mind, enrich your spirit, and teach you how to participate fully in the universal vocation to holiness and happiness.
Distilling Thomas's timeless and unparalleled spiritual wisdom, Vost shows you:
These 12 Life Lessons from St. Thomas Aquinas will help you cultivate a rich, robust faith life that will bring you into closer communion with God and beckon others to follow. With the help of Vost and Thomas, you'll soon find yourself confidently and happily living in imitation of Our Lord, the Way, the Truth, and the Life for all men.
Good luck getting through an entire day without experiencing the impact of Catholicism. Woken up by an alarm or checked the time? The mechanical clock was invented in the tenth century by a monk who became pope. A bowl of cereal for breakfast? Your milk is safe thanks to Louis Pasteur, a devout Catholic whose research was driven by a love of God and humanity. Knock on wood? It's actually an ancient Catholic practice invoking the power of the Cross when facing trouble or danger.
Each entry in 150 People, Places, and Things You Never Knew Were Catholic is rich with detail and nuance. Here are Catholic stories full of drama, decisions, and inspiration.
The fruits of our Catholic Faith are all around us, and the ways in which the Church has shaped history and the secular world can be found in science, art, pop culture, sports, and more. Our most enduring (and endearing) customs, pastimes, practices, and institutions often can be traced back to an inventive, resourceful Catholic. You'll discover things you never knew -- and come away with inspiration for how you, too, can impact the world.
The First Apology was an early work of Christian apologetics addressed by Justin Martyr to the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. In addition to arguing against the persecution of individuals solely for being Christian, Justin also provides the Emperor with a defense of the philosophy of Christianity and a detailed explanation of contemporary Christian practices and rituals. This work, along with the Second Apology, has been cited as one of the earliest examples of Christian apology, and many scholars attribute this work to creating a new genre of apology out of what was a typical Roman administrative procedure.
In arguments both lucid and thorough, Benedictine Abbott Basil Christopher Butler shows why the Bible can never be the sole criterion of faith nor serve as a sufficient foundation for the full Christian life to which Jesus calls us.
Butler reminds us that Jesus did not reveal himself to us by means of any written documents whatsoever (the first inspired written texts -- all the books of the New Testament -- were penned decades after Jesus died).
For in His divine person, Jesus Himself was the final word of God's revelation: the living Jesus who walked among men and spoke to them -- the Jesus who, before He returned to the Father, established His Church, endowed it with authority, and implemented the Sacraments as the continuation of His living presence among men . . . a living presence that He has sustained down through the ages even unto today.
Butler affirms that the books of the Old and New Testament are inspired -- inspired but incomplete. A
Questions about the Catholic faith deserve serious answers""especially when they are posed by children. In Ask the Bishop, Bishop Jeffrey Monforton thoughtfully responds to important questions asked by kindergarteners through high schoolers.
Bishop Monforton gives compelling answers that all curious Catholics will learn from. Ask the Bishop answers questions on
Catholic teaching
Friendship with Jesus
Prayer
Scripture
Sacraments
And so much more
Written in the welcoming style of a skilled teacher, Ask the Bishop proves that no one is too young to encounter the life-giving message of Jesus Christ.
Follow author Melanie Frei as she talks about her conversion story and helps answer some of the misconceptions many protestants have about the Catholic church.
In this newly updated, expanded version of his popular work of apologetics, Shea presents a lively and entertaining look at his conversion to Catholicism from Evangelicalism and his discovery of Christian tradition. As an Evangelical, Shea accepted the principle of "sola scriptura" (Scripture alone) as the basis of faith. Now as a Catholic convert, he skillfully explains how and why Sacred Tradition occupies a central role in Divine Revelation.
Tracing his own journey of intellectual and spiritual awakening, Shea begins by looking for a rejoinder to those modern-day false prophets who would claim that Scripture itself is not to be trusted, and ends with his conviction that tradition, as explained by the Catholic Church, is the only sure guarantee of the truth of the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Finally, here is a book that provides brief teachings on the basics of the Faith for everyone. Quickly find answers you need to questions on faith, reason, Church governance, Christology, ecclesiology, Apostolic Succession, the Communion of Saints, the precepts of the Church, and much more.
You will learn--and be able to share--the meaning of the sacraments and the Sacred Liturgy, including the importance of Latin in the Mass, and aspects of the awesome mystery that is occurring. You will grow in reverence for the Holy Eucharist through the writings of saints such as Thomas Aquinas and the early Church Fathers.
Fr. Wade describes God's mercy in a relational way, noting that He manifests His mercy as a gift throughout our lifetime before the inevitability of His justice at our judgment. In addition, Fr. Wade addresses a wide variety of contemporary issues, including:
Which Church teachings apply to the many unhealthy beliefs promoted in our culture today
Points of confusion surrounding vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life
The definition of marriage and the vocation of parents
What the Church teaches about private revelation, the afterlife, and the Antichrist
Cultivating personal spirituality and virtues--regardless of your vocation
Modern dilemmas in moral theology, and much more!
The Shroud of Turin is celebrated as one of the holiest and most important relics of Christianity, with millions of pilgrims traveling to see the precious cloth in Italy on the rare occasions it has been displayed. Yet despite its enormous global popularity, the Shroud's authenticity is not without question.
To address lingering uncertainties head-on, celebrated Catholic scientist Dr. Gerard Verschuuren explores and synthesizes the various scientific studies conducted on the Shroud --including those analyzing DNA, blood, carbon, pollen, textile, and anatomical issues -- as well as its storied history.
He then scrutinizes the motives of the individual scientists performing these studies, the assumptions they employed to arrive at their conclusions, and the instances in which they veered into areas outside the competence of the sciences.
After this exhaustive and highly satisfying analysis, Dr. Verschuuren reveals the reasons why he believes the Shroud of T
Modernity, academia, and the media perceive and relentlessly advance a dichotomous, contradictory relationship between faith and science. However, from the time of Aristotle, it has been demonstrated that man is a rational being who reasons intellectually in a way that animals and technology cannot. Man is also a religious being, correlating himself to what is above and seeking answers to the ultimate questions of transcendence.
In his definitive book A Catholic Scientist Harmonizes Science and Faith, Dr. Gerard Verschuuren draws from the reflections of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Dr. Peter Kreeft, and numerous scientists, such as Albert Einstein and Gregor Mendel, who reveal the essential connection between reason and religion.
Dr. Verschuuren confirms the necessity of reasoning in scientific theory. Relying on true stories from scie
Challenging today's accepted "wisdom," Catholic scientist Gerard Verschuuren, Ph.D., here demonstrates that the question of whether God exists is not one science can answer. Indeed, that would be like expecting a microscope to reveal the square root of sixteen!
Verschuuren begins by explaining the five famous medieval proofs for the existence of God -- based on reason alone -- that have survived despite nearly a thousand years of efforts to refute them. With his wise help, you'll come to see that just as reason gives us access to the existence of numbers, so it is reason that gives us access to the existence of God. In fact, when we use our reason to investigate the existence of God, we encounter proofs that are more powerful, by far, than any that science could ever provide.
Yes, Verschuuren is a Catholic; but he's also a long-standing scientist, schooled in using reason alone to draw forth from evidence the proofs to which it nec
The Catholic Source Book is a comprehensive collection of information gathered to help people of faith learn, renew, teach, and live the risen life of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church.
The ten chapters include:
Catholics & Fundamentalists clearly and concisely explains:
The origins of modern fundamentalism Fundamentalist interpretations of sacred texts Catholic and fundamentalist understandings of salvation Advice for how to respond to fundamentalism What to do when a loved one becomes a fundamentalist
Fr. Charles Connor writes insightful and wonderfully readable stories of a rich variety of converts who struggled greatly with many challenges as they embraced Catholicism, including rejection by loved ones, persecution from strangers, and misunderstanding by peers. But, once they responded to God's call, they experienced great inner peace, contentment and joy. Among the famous converts whose stories are told here include John Henry Newman, Edith Stein, Jacques Maritain, Dorothy Day, G.K. Chesterton, Elizabeth Seton, Karl Stern, Ronald Knox and many more.
This work analyzes how the three key elements of a democratic society--freedom, equality, and fraternity--have been misconstrued by intellectuals and policy makers who do not respect the limitations of the human condition. Their lack of common sense has resulted in social and cultural problems rather than solutions to them. By contrast, the social teachings of the Catholic Church mesh nicely with the demands of human nature, and as such they offer the right remedy to our cultural crisis.
Freedom defined as radical individualism has eclipsed the understanding that real rights are tethered to responsibilities. Equality defined as radical egalitarianism yields little in the way of equality and much in the way of state-sponsored social discord. And fraternity without the foundation of familial bonds and religious communities leaves people isolated and disoriented.
Catholic teaching offers much wisdom to remedy our insufficient understanding of the elements needed for a free and flourishing society. Its common sense is greatly needed to help modern Americans rediscover the true meaning of their highest ideals.
One day, philosopher Peter Kreeft reads an open letter published by a friend, Nat Whilk. He's Catholic, but he sees the Church as unsteady, outdated, obsessive. As a challenge to the "True Believers", Nat pens a twenty-point manifesto for "cafeteria Catholics", who pass up certain Church teachings and scoop up others like a diner in a buffet line."I find in [Catholicism] both much to accept and even love and also much to refuse and even despise", he asserts. "If you insist on tying God to the Church, you will make me an atheist."
Kreeft has an answer for Nat--one that spans over a hundred pages. The result is this book: a sharp, friendly, and funny debate between two honest thinkers trying to understand the Christian life. Nat "is the'cafeteria Catholic', "writes Kreeft,"and I am the 'eat all the food Mommy puts on your plate' Catholic." Taking on Nat's manifesto point by point, the Boston College philosopher builds his case for a full-package Catholicism, addressing the themes of authority, love, freedom, conscience, sex, abortion, social justice, science, and more. "Our hopes differ", he points out to his friend."Your hope is in man; mine is in God."
If, like Nat Whilk, you find yourself wondering why the Church asks for so much commitment, Confessions of a Cafeteria Catholic could be the book for you. This debate serves as a fun and accessible introduction to some of the knottiest aspects of Catholic doctrine. Readers of Peter Kreeft's apologetic works and his Socrates Meets dialogues will enjoy the latest venture by one of the most celebrated contemporary Catholic writers.
hile social norms and political movements are rapidly changing, the truth of the Catholic faith stands firm. In Cross-Examined: Catholic Responses to the World's Questions, readers are equipped to address even the most sensitive topics, from the existence of God to the existence of hell, from women's ordination to Marian devotion, from assisted suicide to transgenderism.
In Cross-Examined, Fr. Carter Griffin begins each discussion not with Catholic teaching but rather with its most common objections. Articulating these objections serves several purposes. First, it helps Catholics to respect those who do not share their beliefs by identifying intelligent grounds for disagreement. Pointing out objections also helps believers respond more persuasively in discussions with non-Catholic friends. Perhaps most importantly, knowing the common objects instills confidence that the Church is committed to the truth and unafraid to engage with those who dispute her teaching.
After identifying principal objections, each discussion continues with a brief summary of relevant Catholic teaching and then responds to each objection in turn.
In our shrill age that seems ever less capable of rational discourse, the method used in Cross-Examined can offer a way to remain faithful to our beliefs while acknowledging, respecting, and responding to alternative points of view.
2021
Because the Ten Commandments seem harsh and unyielding to modern ears, few today realize that they embody the most perfect expression of human freedom. Only by abiding by the Commandments can you have a fully human life and achieve union with God.
But you need more than a tenth-grade understanding of them to unleash their remarkable spiritual power in your daily life...which is why Fr. Brian Mullady has written this remarkable book that reveals the many often-overlooked, soul-nourishing elements and implications of each of the Commandments.
Here you'll come to understand how the Commandments are not just ten individual rules; they are an entire plan of life that draws you ever more into God and brings you enduring peace with others--and with yourself.
With the help of the wise Fr. Mullady, you'll soon come to see how the Commandments not only distill the teachings of Christ in the Beatitudes but are themselves fulfilled when you live in accordance with those B
This invaluable book for those who want a topical summary of "what it means to be Catholic," is now even more useful. This expanded edition includes a new Introduction, the current list of holy days of obligation observed in the United States, the Prayer for Vocations preferred by Pope John Paul II, a new section on how to prepare for a sick call, an index, and much more.
An important reference work for any interested Catholic, especially those involved in church ministry. Includes a glossary of key terms and cross-referenced to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
304 pages; Paperback - 5-1/8 x 7-3/8
Do you want to share your faith with others but think you might not know enough? Are you worried that conflicts will arise as you openly talk about and share the love of Christ?
In Everyday Witness, Sr. Theresa Rickard, O.P., president of RENEW International, offers seven simple habits to help fellow Catholics more comfortably talk about and model Christian faith in our everyday lives.
Most often people come to Christ because they've admired the words and actions of believers they respect. But talking about God and witnessing by our actions can be very difficult. In this primer for evangelizing witness, Sr. Theresa Rickard, O.P., presents inspirational stories and biblical reflections along with spiritual coaching and practical advice for Catholics who want to get better at sharing what they believe and how they came to believe it.
Rickard encourages us to adopt seven habits that will help us confidently share our faith in word and deed:
Each chapter includes Rickard's reflection on witnessing the faith in her own life, a brief survey of what the Bible says on the topic, and the story of an ordinary person who gives witness to their faith in an extraordinary way. Each chapter also offers self-reflection questions, simple ideas about how to grow the habit, and a closing prayer that gives us not only food for thought but also practical help for becoming better witnesses to our Catholic faith.
Converts often bring to the Catholic Church an evangelical zeal that can renew and energize even the most tired and battle weary among us.
The Church is hurting for enthusiastic voices to proclaim her teachings on truth and morals. In these pages, Shaun McAfee, a convert from Evangelical Protestantism shows how we can take the best tools of evangelization and use them to reach countless souls with the fullness of the Christian Faith.
With Shaun's help, you'll learn simple ways you can make the visitor in your parish more at home, how to speak compellingly about the Faith, simple ways to integrate daily Scripture reading into your life, why small groups are important for spiritual enrichment, and how to communicate with souls who have never considered joining the Catholic Church.
The simple steps Shaun outlines in these pages will also show priests and lay leaders how to more effectively engage modern society with our Catholic Faith.
Our society is awash in se
Tired of being stumped when false claims are made about the Catholic Church? Want to be armed with knowledge that puts these mistruths to rest?
In these pages, veteran apologist Gerard Verschuuren provides thorough yet concise answers to forty of the most common -- and absurd -- lies about the Catholic Church.
With precision and charity, you'll soon be able to defend the Church when you're told that Catholics . . .
My title explains itself.
But it's misleading.
There are more than 40 reasons.
In fact, there are at least ten to the 82nd power, which, I am told, is the number of atoms in the universe. And that's just in ordinary matter, which makes up only 4.9% of the universe, the rest being dark matter and dark energy.
Each of my reasons is an independent point, so I have not organized this book by a succession of chapters or headings. After all, most readers only remember a few big ideas or separate points after reading a book. (I've never heard anyone say "Oh, that was a good continuous-process-of-logically-ordered-argumentation" but I've often heard people say, "Oh, that was a good point."
Which takes me back to my main point: "Why are you a Catholic?" is a good question.
A good question deserves a good answer.
Here are forty of mine.
NINE CONVERTS EXPLAIN THEIR JOURNEY HOME. This collection of testimonies by former atheists who've found new life in the Catholic Church is one of the most potent weapons for the Faith ever crafted! These authors don't just tell their stories--they also give you an insider's look into the fatal weaknesses of atheist thinking that lead people to deny the existence of God. Dramatic and thought-provoking, these personal stories explain virtually every objection that atheists have to God, as well as arguments that eventually led them into the Catholic Church. Paperback. 134 pages.
Have you ever been unable to explain the why of Catholic beliefs? Have you ever wondered why the Old Testament sounds so different from the New Testament? In the Old Testament, God began building a plan and laying a foundation for the beautiful traditions of the Catholic Faith. That plan was fulfilled by Jesus in the New Testament.
Fulfilled explores the biblical roots of the Catholic Faith. It uncovers God's consistent design for our worship of him and his relationship with us. Learn how the Old Testament Tabernacle can be used as a blueprint for the Catholic Faith and how Jesus fulfilled it in the New Testament.
This book is needed for two studies: Fulfilled: Part One and Fulfilled: Part Two. It may also be purchased separately.
This book will help you:
An expanded, Catholic edition of the popular book Handbook of Christian Apologetics, Handbook of Catholic Apologetics is full of the wisdom and wit, clarity and insight of philosophers Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli. This is an informative and valuable guidebook for anyone looking for answers to questions of faith and reason. Whether you are asking the questions yourself or want to respond to others who are, here is the resource you have been waiting for.
In Hope to Die: The Christian Meaning of Death and the Resurrection of the Body, Scott Hahn explores the significance of death and burial from a Catholic perspective. The promise of the bodily resurrection brings into focus the need for the dignified care of our bodies at the hour of death. Unpacking both Scripture and Catholic teaching, Hope to Die reminds us that we are destined for glorification on the last day.
Our bodies have been made by a God who loves us. Even in death, those bodies point to the mystery of our salvation.
We are told that science and religion are wholly incompatible and that those of us who profess faith in God are unwilling to bend our wills to the truth.
In this highly gratifying book, scientist Dr. Gerard Verschuuren flips this assertion around, showing time and time again how it is not the Christians, but rather the scientists, who are unwilling to incline their wills to the truth when it presents itself.
Dr. Verschuuren helps us to recognize science's limited scope, how it is restricted to what can be dissected, measured, and counted. It is not the only pathway to knowledge.
Science operates within the realm of nature. It cannot, therefore, make aesthetic judgments or moral judgments or draw conclusions about the supernatural, which is, by definition, beyond the realm of nature. Science is likewise ill-equipped to explore ethereal concepts such as beauty anAbout St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope John XXII said: "A man can derive more profit in a year from his books than from pondering all his life the teaching of others."
And Pope Pius XI added: "We now say to all who are desirous of the truth: 'Go to St. Thomas.' " But when we do go to Thomas - when we open his massive Summa Theologica or another of his works - we're quickly overwhelmed, even lost. If we find him hard to read, how can we even begin to "think like Aquinas?" Now comes Kevin Vost -- the best-selling author of The One-Minute Aquinas -- armed with a recently rediscovered letter St. Thomas himself wrote - a brief letter to young novice monk giving practical, sage advice about how to study, how to think, and even how to live. In this letter written almost 800 years ago, St. Thomas reveals his unique powers of intellect and will, and explains how anyone can fathom and explain even the loftiest truths. Vost and St. Thomas will teach you how to dissect logical fallacies, heresies, and half-truths that continue to pollute our world with muddy thinking. Best of all, you'll find a fully-illustrated set of exercises to improve your intellectual powers of memory, understanding, logical reasoning, shrewdness, foresight, circumspection, and practical wisdom. You'll also learn:Pius XI called St. Thomas Aquinas the "model" for those who want to "pursue their studies to the best advantage and with the greatest profit to themselves." Leo XIII urged us all to "follow the example of St. Thomas." Over the centuries, dozens of other popes have praised him.
Surely it is time to listen to these good men, time to "go to Thomas," to learn to think like him, and, yes, even to live like him.How do you strike up conversations with people so that you can share the gospel message? As a seminarian, Fr. Thomas Cavanaugh felt called to learn how to evangelize, so he and his professor at Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Dr. John Love, organized a "New Evangelization Club." Its purpose was to learn how to engage students on college campuses. The mission trips were so successful that other seminaries have organized similar endeavors.This book tells their story and offers practical "how-to" guidelines on how to win friends for Christ. Lively and engaging!
Are you a curious Catholic? Are you fascinated by trivia and fun facts? Then we’ve got the book for you, courtesy of author, Catholic apologist, speaker, and host of The Patrick Madrid Show, Patrick Madrid.
This factual and fascinating (and sometimes very funny!) book offers Catholics everywhere a new way to test their knowledge on a myriad of topics including Catholic doctrine, pop culture, saints, and even sports!
Who was the first American citizen to be canonized a saint?
Who was the first pope to fly in an airplane?
What animals (and nuts!) are named in the Bible?
InQUIZition is filled with fun, factual, and faith-focused information because the more you know, the more you grow! It’s Q&A for the curious Catholic and the Catholic curious!
Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches
Paperbound
108 pages