by Louise Kirk
Yesterday I received an email from a lovely teacher with whom I am working. She said that her latest prayer of offering had been to forgive three boys in her Year 9 class who had stuck her head on the body of a porn star and circulated it among their pals. It had been shared 139 times before she had managed to get it taken down.
I don’t tell you this to shock you, but to show you how important the virtue of Holy Purity is, the topic of this talk, and why we need to spread it to others.
Holy Purity was one of the virtues especially loved by St Josemaría Escrivá, Founder of Opus Dei. He used to call it the Little Sister of charity. The two go together, and he would insist that without charity purity itself is barren.
“Charity is the seed that will grow and yield rich fruit under the fertile rain of purity.” (The Way, no. 119)
Put it the other way around, and charity without purity becomes sterile.
How does this virtue fit in? We are composite beings, made of body and soul. It follows that if we are to love God in a fully human way we need to love him completely, through our souls and bodies operating in unison.
The sad effect of original sin which lives in us is that our bodies revolt against the dominion of our spirits.
The Ninth Commandment addresses this: “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife”. In Catholic catechetical tradition, this forbids carnal concupiscence, or, as the Catechism puts it:
“The movement of the sensitive appetite contrary to the operation of the human reason.”
This is not sin in itself, but inclines us towards sin.
The Catechism goes on to say that the heart is the seat of moral personality. Out of the heart comes love, but also evil thoughts: murder, adultery, fornication.
The struggle against carnal covetousness entails purifying the heart, and practising temperance.
(You know how direct St Josemaría could be: he says of the latter, bluntly, “Overeating is the forerunner of impurity.” (The Way, 126))
It is, as we know, the pure in heart who shall see God. That is what we are aiming at. The “pure in heart” are those who have attuned their intellects and wills to the demands of God’s holiness chiefly in three areas:
- Charity
- Chastity
- Love of truth and orthodoxy of faith.
This last one may surprise you. I will be coming back to it later.
The three interplay with each other:
- Charity without chastity swiftly becomes self-love.
- Chastity without charity: pride.
- Chastity and charity without truth: we cut ourselves loose from God Himself, who is Truth.
By contrast, those who are both loving and chaste have their eyes opened to believe, and to understand what they believe. Part of this is seeing the human body as the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and respecting it accordingly.
There is another important point to take in: we don’t acquire Holy Purity just by our own efforts. Purity is a gift “which God will give us if we ask for it with humility” (The Way, 118). We do the groundwork, and God does the giving.
I have given you the rich background to the gift of Holy Purity in the hope that you will be tempted to read the Catechism for yourselves (2514-2533). We need to understand this gift well if we are to spread it to others.
Purity is a gift which grows. We don’t just “have it”. Sometimes we will fall down, because it will be a struggle for the rest of our lives, and we can expect the devil to attack us, and our families. He hates purity. If this should happen, we say sorry to God, mention it in Confession, and start again. Thoughts of an unruly nature can also come unbidden. The more we try to push them away, the more they can come. These are not sinful, but it can be helpful to get rid of them by mentioning them to the priest.
Turning specifically to chastity, I like this definition, which I picked up from Dawn Eden’s book The Thrill of the Chaste:
“Chastity is the virtue that enables us to love fully and completely in every relationship, in the manner that is appropriate to that relationship.”
I love the positive approach. You’ll notice that we’re not talking about “not doing things” but about ensuring that the way we treat other people is consonant with truth. This is a logic which anyone can understand. Body language is important. It can be even more important than the words we say.
Women have a special temptation against chastity which is different from a man’s. While a man has a stronger sensual drive, a woman has a thirst for male affirmation and emotional fulfilment, often driven by loneliness. Outside marriage, this can weaken her resistance to a man’s sexual advances and demolish her role as gatekeeper to the relationship. It can also encourage her to tempt a man, by the way she behaves and dresses, giving her a sense of control. Now often people today, especially the young, behave like this just because they are following fashion or the crowd. They aren’t consciously doing these things, but it doesn’t stop their behaviour being damaging both to themselves and the men they taunt.
Inside marriage, the problem can reverse itself, with the woman losing interest in sex, and failing to make the effort to court her husband. An obvious ingredient of this can be the way she looks. Does she still make the effort to please him? Now men vary. Not every husband takes full notice of the way we dress – my own doesn’t like me in trousers, but it means nothing to him if I put on makeup or not. What is important is that we discover what it is that makes our man feel drawn to us, and what makes him feel loved. Just as important is that we appreciate his ways of loving us. This is more complicated than it sounds because everybody feels loved in different ways – for one, it may be the gift of flowers, for another, mending the tap, for another being listened to. Women on average talk about twice as much as men, and that can be a source of love, or of friction. It’s so easy to judge our marriages by the little things that make us happy, rather than taking the effort to perceive our spouse.
Nicky and Sila Lee in their Marriage Course have a whole page of possible desires that we may each have and suggest that husbands and wives go through it together every so often to pick out their priorities. The list includes things like: affirmation, approval, companionship, conversation, physical affection, practical help, presents, time together, undivided attention.
But the gift of purity is for everybody, regardless of position in life. I have already mentioned Dawn Eden. In her book The Thrill of the Chaste Dawn recounts how she lived a life of Riley before discovering the attractions of chastity. It’s God’s gift for anybody, for those with same-sex attractions, single parents, the divorced, the separated, the widowed. Otherwise, we could be in danger of saying, with the Irishman: “If I were you, I wouldn’t start from here.”
In more complicated situations it can be easiest to start with the third category of purity mentioned in the Catechism: Love of truth and orthodoxy of faith.
Here we can help our friends and the people we meet see the beauty of the Church’s teaching so that they live it themselves and pass it on to their children.
I shall end by citing an email I opened not yesterday, but today. It comes from Pat Fagan, whom you may remember is going to be giving a talk in Manchester in June. I hope that it will tempt you to want to come to hear him.
He has sent me a piece of his research which isn’t yet published. I’m going to read it to you:
“Adolescents who worshipped weekly performed best academically. (We’re talking about things like their Maths and English.) Those who worshipped a few times per month did next best, followed by those who worshipped a couple of times a year. The worst were those who never worshipped. This is a snapshot of American teenagers! The more that social scientists analyse the data on religious practice the more powerful it reveals itself to be.
It can be seriously contended from review of the literature that religious practice has more impact for good than anything else in the social sciences. Some parents have no choice about being a non-intact family, but every parent can choose to worship God weekly. Single, black, inner-city welfare mothers who bring their children to church each week give them much of the same benefits as if they moved into a middle-class neighbourhood and sent them to middle-class schools.
Weekly worship improves virtually every outcome measured in the US federal survey system. The only interesting question for the social scientist is not “if” but “how much“ benefit weekly worship delivers. Thus, every newly-conceived child can say to his parents:
‘To reach my potential I need your worship of God, for without it I will not become the person I am capable of becoming. The choice is yours. The result is mine.’”
Not every parent can alter the situation they may find themselves in with regard to marital condition, but every parent can bring a child to church. When we hear so much about the difficulties faced by children living without both father and mother at home, it is worth remembering that just taking them to church could make such a difference.
As I said at the beginning of this talk, charity and chastity belong together. May the Lord give us the grace of Holy Purity and help us to spread it to others with joy.
St Anthony Communications is proud to present these pages of free content offering articles, podcasts and videos about all aspects of the Catholic faith. Making these resources available involves a large amount of time, effort, and commitment. If you are able to support this initiative financially, your help would be greatly appreciated. Click on the ‘donate’ button to the right.
The Apostles and Their Times
Archeology, History, and Scripture unveil what life was really like during the Apostolic Age
Mike Aquilina Mike Aquilina takes you on a journey through the Apostolic Age, bringing to life the dusty streets and crowded marketplaces through which Mary and the Apostles journeyed as they build a Church that lasts even to our day.
AUTHOR: Mike Aquilina
DETAILS: 160 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622824601
-
£12.50Add to cart
The Apostles and Their Times
Archeology, History, and Scripture unveil what life was really like during the Apostolic Age
Mike Aquilina Mike Aquilina takes you on a journey through the Apostolic Age, bringing to life the dusty streets and crowded marketplaces through which Mary and the Apostles journeyed as they build a Church that lasts even to our day.
AUTHOR: Mike Aquilina
DETAILS: 160 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622824601
£12.50Add to cart
The Radiance of Her Face
These meditations on the Immaculate Conception will teach you to look at and love Our Lady as God sees and loves her. Alive to the role of material beauty in strengthening our perception of the invisible, Dom Perrin uses the visual language of the “Triptych” to assist us in our understanding of Mary’s role in the divine plan. Those who already rejoice in fervent devotion to Mary will find their love for her here nourished, stirred, refreshed, confirmed, given new impetus. For those who have lacked the confidence to turn to Mary, who feel they do not really understand how we can pray to her, or relate to her, these pages may prove truly liberating, inviting entry into a prayer life that is deeper, more confident, and more effective. A contemplative gaze at Mary Immaculate has the power to change us, to convert us, to soften our hard hearts, to open us up to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Here then is a book to be savoured, to be read slowly and repeatedly, to be passed on to others. May it be a blessing for all who encounter it.
AUTHOR: Dom Xavier Perrin, OSB
DETAILS: 106 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621383062
-
£10.50Add to cart
The Radiance of Her Face
These meditations on the Immaculate Conception will teach you to look at and love Our Lady as God sees and loves her. Alive to the role of material beauty in strengthening our perception of the invisible, Dom Perrin uses the visual language of the “Triptych” to assist us in our understanding of Mary’s role in the divine plan. Those who already rejoice in fervent devotion to Mary will find their love for her here nourished, stirred, refreshed, confirmed, given new impetus. For those who have lacked the confidence to turn to Mary, who feel they do not really understand how we can pray to her, or relate to her, these pages may prove truly liberating, inviting entry into a prayer life that is deeper, more confident, and more effective. A contemplative gaze at Mary Immaculate has the power to change us, to convert us, to soften our hard hearts, to open us up to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Here then is a book to be savoured, to be read slowly and repeatedly, to be passed on to others. May it be a blessing for all who encounter it.
AUTHOR: Dom Xavier Perrin, OSB
DETAILS: 106 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621383062
£10.50Add to cart
Lost Art of Sacrifice
A Spiritual Guide for Denying Yourself, Embracing the Cross, and Finding Joy
In these powerful pages, author Vicki Burbach contrasts – as Jesus did – our selfish worldly culture with the way Christians are called to live, illuminating the essential role that sacrifice must play in every worthy human life. Not content with explaining the importance of sacrifice and singing its praises, Burbach ends each chapter with practical, down-to-earth suggestions to help readers cultivate the art of sacrifice in their lives, so that each may find a way to follow Christ as He commands us. She shows that not only is it critical that we each undertake ever more sacrifices, large and small, as we go about our daily lives but that doing so is the path to joy: great joy today and immeasurably greater joy hereafter.
AUTHOR: Vicki Burbach
DETAILS: 224 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622826360
-
£15.50Add to cart
Lost Art of Sacrifice
A Spiritual Guide for Denying Yourself, Embracing the Cross, and Finding Joy
In these powerful pages, author Vicki Burbach contrasts – as Jesus did – our selfish worldly culture with the way Christians are called to live, illuminating the essential role that sacrifice must play in every worthy human life. Not content with explaining the importance of sacrifice and singing its praises, Burbach ends each chapter with practical, down-to-earth suggestions to help readers cultivate the art of sacrifice in their lives, so that each may find a way to follow Christ as He commands us. She shows that not only is it critical that we each undertake ever more sacrifices, large and small, as we go about our daily lives but that doing so is the path to joy: great joy today and immeasurably greater joy hereafter.
AUTHOR: Vicki Burbach
DETAILS: 224 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622826360
£15.50Add to cart
Canon Law Explained
A Handbook for Laymen
Fr Spiteri offers brief, but lucid explanations of the origins and meanings of the fascinating canons that lay out the Church’s official principles and procedures governing matters as various as abbots and annulments, scandals and Sacraments, homeschoolers, Councils, impotence, imprimaturs, and, even marriages to the person who murdered your spouse! If you want to know the Church for who She is – and to love Her more – Canon Law Explained is the book for you.
AUTHOR: Mgr Laurence J Spiteri
DETAILS: 293 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622821785
-
£16.50Add to cart
Canon Law Explained
A Handbook for Laymen
Fr Spiteri offers brief, but lucid explanations of the origins and meanings of the fascinating canons that lay out the Church’s official principles and procedures governing matters as various as abbots and annulments, scandals and Sacraments, homeschoolers, Councils, impotence, imprimaturs, and, even marriages to the person who murdered your spouse! If you want to know the Church for who She is – and to love Her more – Canon Law Explained is the book for you.
AUTHOR: Mgr Laurence J Spiteri
DETAILS: 293 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622821785
£16.50Add to cart
Salvation
What Every Catholic Should Know
At every Sunday Mass, Catholics confess that Jesus came down from heaven “for us men and for our salvation.” But what does “salvation” mean? In this robust and accessible book, Scripture scholar and theologian Michael Patrick Barber provides a thorough, deeply Catholic, and deeply biblical, answer. He deftly tackles this complex topic, unpacking what the New Testament teaches about salvation in Christ, detailing what exactly salvation is, and what it is not. In easy and readable prose, he explains what the Cross, the Church, and the Trinity have to do with salvation. While intellectually stimulating, Salvation: What Every Catholic Should Know is deeply spiritual, and at its core is the salvific message that God is love, and his love is one of transformation and redemption.
AUTHOR: Michael Patrick Barber
DETAILS: 189 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1733522182
-
£13.95Add to cart
Salvation
What Every Catholic Should Know
At every Sunday Mass, Catholics confess that Jesus came down from heaven “for us men and for our salvation.” But what does “salvation” mean? In this robust and accessible book, Scripture scholar and theologian Michael Patrick Barber provides a thorough, deeply Catholic, and deeply biblical, answer. He deftly tackles this complex topic, unpacking what the New Testament teaches about salvation in Christ, detailing what exactly salvation is, and what it is not. In easy and readable prose, he explains what the Cross, the Church, and the Trinity have to do with salvation. While intellectually stimulating, Salvation: What Every Catholic Should Know is deeply spiritual, and at its core is the salvific message that God is love, and his love is one of transformation and redemption.
AUTHOR: Michael Patrick Barber
DETAILS: 189 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1733522182
£13.95Add to cart
In Sinu Jesu
When Heart Speaks to Heart
A Benedictine Monk In 2007, Our Lord and Our Lady began to speak to the heart of a monk in the silence of adoration. He was prompted to write down what he received, In Sinu Jesu, whose pages shine with an intense luminosity and heart-warming fervour that speaks directly to the inner and outer needs of our time with a unique power to console and challenge.
AUTHOR: A Benedictine Monk
DETAILS: 313 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621382195
-
£16.50Add to cart
In Sinu Jesu
When Heart Speaks to Heart
A Benedictine Monk In 2007, Our Lord and Our Lady began to speak to the heart of a monk in the silence of adoration. He was prompted to write down what he received, In Sinu Jesu, whose pages shine with an intense luminosity and heart-warming fervour that speaks directly to the inner and outer needs of our time with a unique power to console and challenge.
AUTHOR: A Benedictine Monk
DETAILS: 313 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621382195
£16.50Add to cart
Ignatius Bible (hardcover)
RSV Catholic Edition
A completely new design and typeset edition of the popular Ignatius Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition Bible, with minor revisions to some of the archaic language used in the first edition. This revised version is a contemporary English translation without dumbing-down the text. This second edition of the RSV doesn’t put the biblical text through a filter to make it acceptable to current tastes and prejudices, and it retains the beauty of the RSV language that has made it such a joy to read and reflect on the Word of God.
DETAILS: 1096 pages, hardcover
ISBN: 978-0898708332
-
£24.95Add to cart
Ignatius Bible (hardcover)
RSV Catholic Edition
A completely new design and typeset edition of the popular Ignatius Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition Bible, with minor revisions to some of the archaic language used in the first edition. This revised version is a contemporary English translation without dumbing-down the text. This second edition of the RSV doesn’t put the biblical text through a filter to make it acceptable to current tastes and prejudices, and it retains the beauty of the RSV language that has made it such a joy to read and reflect on the Word of God.
DETAILS: 1096 pages, hardcover
ISBN: 978-0898708332
£24.95Add to cart
Fatima for Today
The Urgent Message of Marian Hope
Fr. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R. One hundred years ago, at the peak of World War I, Our Lady appeared to three young children in the small town of Fatima, Portugal. In this recent work, Fr Andrew Apostoli, carefully analyses the events and messages at Fatima and clears up lingering questions and doubts about their meaning.
AUTHOR: Fr. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R.
DETAILS: 310 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1586174910
-
£14.95Add to cart
Fatima for Today
The Urgent Message of Marian Hope
Fr. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R. One hundred years ago, at the peak of World War I, Our Lady appeared to three young children in the small town of Fatima, Portugal. In this recent work, Fr Andrew Apostoli, carefully analyses the events and messages at Fatima and clears up lingering questions and doubts about their meaning.
AUTHOR: Fr. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R.
DETAILS: 310 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1586174910
£14.95Add to cart
Memorise the Faith!
Memorising the Faith is no substitute for living a holy life, but even devout people can’t live by truths they can’t remember. That’s why, over 700 years ago, St. Thomas Aquinas perfected an easy method for his students to memorise most any information, but especially the truths taught by Christ and His Church. Refining techniques taught by the ancient philosophers, St Thomas created a mental “memory mansion” and a way to store information in “rooms,” where it remains, fresh and accessible, until you return to retrieve it.
Dr Vost remains faithful to St Thomas’ vision, showing how you can use this system to recall hundreds of key Church teachings, Bible verses, theological terms, and other elements of the Faith every Catholic needs to know by heart.
AUTHOR: Kevin Vost
DETAILS: 250 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1933184173
-
£16.50Add to cart
Memorise the Faith!
Memorising the Faith is no substitute for living a holy life, but even devout people can’t live by truths they can’t remember. That’s why, over 700 years ago, St. Thomas Aquinas perfected an easy method for his students to memorise most any information, but especially the truths taught by Christ and His Church. Refining techniques taught by the ancient philosophers, St Thomas created a mental “memory mansion” and a way to store information in “rooms,” where it remains, fresh and accessible, until you return to retrieve it.
Dr Vost remains faithful to St Thomas’ vision, showing how you can use this system to recall hundreds of key Church teachings, Bible verses, theological terms, and other elements of the Faith every Catholic needs to know by heart.
AUTHOR: Kevin Vost
DETAILS: 250 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1933184173
£16.50Add to cart
Fruits of Fatima
A Century of Signs and Wonders
This riveting account of true-life Fatima events of the past hundred years demonstrates that Our Lady’s messages are more vital today than ever before. Here, author Joseph Pronechen reports on scores of post-Fatima incidents that reveal the wide-reaching influence the apparitions have had throughout this past century on the lives of ordinary people, popes, saints — and even unbelievers! You’ll learn of many amazing but little-known Fatima-related occurrences through the past century.
AUTHOR: Joseph Pronechan
DETAILS: 256 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622828142
-
£12.50Add to cart
Fruits of Fatima
A Century of Signs and Wonders
This riveting account of true-life Fatima events of the past hundred years demonstrates that Our Lady’s messages are more vital today than ever before. Here, author Joseph Pronechen reports on scores of post-Fatima incidents that reveal the wide-reaching influence the apparitions have had throughout this past century on the lives of ordinary people, popes, saints — and even unbelievers! You’ll learn of many amazing but little-known Fatima-related occurrences through the past century.
AUTHOR: Joseph Pronechan
DETAILS: 256 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622828142
£12.50Add to cart
Spiritual Warfare
And the Discernment of Spirits
An indispensable, practical field guide for engaging in daily battle with the Adversary – combat that is both inevitable and winnable. Burke will help you recognise the ebbs and flows of consolation and desolation, and distinguish between the voices of God and of Satan.
The battle for our souls is unavoidable. The saints won theirs by learning how to be spiritual warriors and by recognising that we become stronger through battle and grow weaker from avoidance.
AUTHOR: Dan Burke
DETAILS: 120 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1644132579
-
£12.50Add to cart
Spiritual Warfare
And the Discernment of Spirits
An indispensable, practical field guide for engaging in daily battle with the Adversary – combat that is both inevitable and winnable. Burke will help you recognise the ebbs and flows of consolation and desolation, and distinguish between the voices of God and of Satan.
The battle for our souls is unavoidable. The saints won theirs by learning how to be spiritual warriors and by recognising that we become stronger through battle and grow weaker from avoidance.
AUTHOR: Dan Burke
DETAILS: 120 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1644132579
£12.50Add to cart
Epic Saints
Wild, Wonderful & Weird Stories of God’s Heroes
The saints are not myths or legends, they were people just like us who lived lives of epic virtue. If the saints have never made you laugh or drop your jaw, they will in this book. Best selling author Shaun McAfee and guest writers illustrate how the saints were not just stone-faced old men. Some of them had quirky habits, outrageous personalities, and did breathtaking deeds… but they all had epic faith. Their lives were filled with events that push our understanding of charity with intrepid virtue, but at certain points, they lacked common sense and were uproariously funny, too.
AUTHOR: Shaun McAfee
DETAILS: 220 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1505115123
-
£17.95Add to cart
Epic Saints
Wild, Wonderful & Weird Stories of God’s Heroes
The saints are not myths or legends, they were people just like us who lived lives of epic virtue. If the saints have never made you laugh or drop your jaw, they will in this book. Best selling author Shaun McAfee and guest writers illustrate how the saints were not just stone-faced old men. Some of them had quirky habits, outrageous personalities, and did breathtaking deeds… but they all had epic faith. Their lives were filled with events that push our understanding of charity with intrepid virtue, but at certain points, they lacked common sense and were uproariously funny, too.
AUTHOR: Shaun McAfee
DETAILS: 220 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1505115123
£17.95Add to cart
Credo
The Catholic Faith Explained
For anyone looking for a convenient and easy-to-use explanation of the Catholic Faith, Credo offers a succinct and reliable introduction into the fullness of the Faith. Acting as a pocket catechism Credo draws on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, presenting Church teaching in the same fourfold way: Creed, Sacraments, Morals and Prayer. From the authors of the Evangelium course, Credo can be used either as a tool of evangelisation for those not familiar with the Faith, for RCIA, or as a refresher for Catholics wanting to remind themselves of what they believe. Accompanied by beautiful traditional art, Credo aims to convey a rich experience of the Catholic Faith in a brief, concise manner.
AUTHOR: Fr Marcus Holden & Fr Andrew Pinsent
DETAILS: 112 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1860824708
Credo
The Catholic Faith Explained
For anyone looking for a convenient and easy-to-use explanation of the Catholic Faith, Credo offers a succinct and reliable introduction into the fullness of the Faith. Acting as a pocket catechism Credo draws on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, presenting Church teaching in the same fourfold way: Creed, Sacraments, Morals and Prayer. From the authors of the Evangelium course, Credo can be used either as a tool of evangelisation for those not familiar with the Faith, for RCIA, or as a refresher for Catholics wanting to remind themselves of what they believe. Accompanied by beautiful traditional art, Credo aims to convey a rich experience of the Catholic Faith in a brief, concise manner.
AUTHOR: Fr Marcus Holden & Fr Andrew Pinsent
DETAILS: 112 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1860824708
£7.95Add to cart
An Exorcist Explains How to Heal the Possessed
Leaning heavily on Scripture and the teachings of the Church, as well as on his own extensive experiences as an exorcist, Fr Paolo Carlin here unveils Satan’s plan of attack while giving you the telltale signs that the Evil One is at work in your life or in the life of others. You’ll learn the special conditions that facilitate the work of the devil – particularly ones that appeal to the youngest and most defenceless among us.
Armed with knowledge of the antics of Satan, Fr. Carlin also enumerates the many spiritual weapons that Our Lord has placed at our disposal. Best of all, you’ll learn to employ each one effectively to keep the devil and his army of fallen angels at bay.
Finally, Father will show you how to distinguish between mental illnesses and diabolical attacks, as well as how to determine when you must turn away from amateur efforts and urgently seek the expert help of an official exorcist.
AUTHOR: Fr Paolo Carlin
DETAILS: 160 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622825202
-
£12.50Add to cart
An Exorcist Explains How to Heal the Possessed
Leaning heavily on Scripture and the teachings of the Church, as well as on his own extensive experiences as an exorcist, Fr Paolo Carlin here unveils Satan’s plan of attack while giving you the telltale signs that the Evil One is at work in your life or in the life of others. You’ll learn the special conditions that facilitate the work of the devil – particularly ones that appeal to the youngest and most defenceless among us.
Armed with knowledge of the antics of Satan, Fr. Carlin also enumerates the many spiritual weapons that Our Lord has placed at our disposal. Best of all, you’ll learn to employ each one effectively to keep the devil and his army of fallen angels at bay.
Finally, Father will show you how to distinguish between mental illnesses and diabolical attacks, as well as how to determine when you must turn away from amateur efforts and urgently seek the expert help of an official exorcist.
AUTHOR: Fr Paolo Carlin
DETAILS: 160 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622825202
£12.50Add to cart
The Power of Silence
Against the Dictatorship of Noise
Robert Cardinal Sarah In a time when technology penetrates our lives in so many ways and materialism exerts such a powerful influence over us, it can be difficult to escape the ‘dictatorship of noise’. In this bold book, Cardinal Robert Sarah seeks to restore silence to its place of honour and importance.
AUTHOR: Robert Cardinal Sarah
DETAILS: 248 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621641919
-
£16.50Add to cart
The Power of Silence
Against the Dictatorship of Noise
Robert Cardinal Sarah In a time when technology penetrates our lives in so many ways and materialism exerts such a powerful influence over us, it can be difficult to escape the ‘dictatorship of noise’. In this bold book, Cardinal Robert Sarah seeks to restore silence to its place of honour and importance.
AUTHOR: Robert Cardinal Sarah
DETAILS: 248 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621641919
£16.50Add to cart
Ignatius Bible (compact edition with zip)
RSV Catholic Edition
A completely new design and typeset edition of the popular Ignatius Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition Bible, with minor revisions to some of the archaic language used in the first edition. This revised version is a contemporary English translation without dumbing-down the text. This second edition of the RSV doesn’t put the biblical text through a filter to make it acceptable to current tastes and prejudices, and it retains the beauty of the RSV language that has made it such a joy to read and reflect on the Word of God.
DETAILS: 1263 pages, leatherbound
ISBN: 978-1586171018
-
£32.50Add to cart
Ignatius Bible (compact edition with zip)
RSV Catholic Edition
A completely new design and typeset edition of the popular Ignatius Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition Bible, with minor revisions to some of the archaic language used in the first edition. This revised version is a contemporary English translation without dumbing-down the text. This second edition of the RSV doesn’t put the biblical text through a filter to make it acceptable to current tastes and prejudices, and it retains the beauty of the RSV language that has made it such a joy to read and reflect on the Word of God.
DETAILS: 1263 pages, leatherbound
ISBN: 978-1586171018
£32.50Add to cart
The Vulnerary of Christ
The Mysterious Emblems of the Wounds in the Body and Heart of Jesus Christ
Finally published for the first time more than 70 years after its author’s death, this book contains exceptional findings by French Catholic archaeologist and symbologist Louis Charbonneau-Lassay (1871–1946) on the five wounds of Christ: their symbolism, representations, and meaning in Christian art. From 1903 to 1925, he published articles on prehistory, Celtic and Gallo-Roman archaeology. When contributing to the Catholic periodical Regnabit, he refocused his research on wide-ranging aspects of the Sacred Heart, with the purpose of showing its universal dimension.
AUTHOR: Louis Charbonneau-Lassay
DETAILS: 554 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621386766
-
£22.00Add to cart
The Vulnerary of Christ
The Mysterious Emblems of the Wounds in the Body and Heart of Jesus Christ
Finally published for the first time more than 70 years after its author’s death, this book contains exceptional findings by French Catholic archaeologist and symbologist Louis Charbonneau-Lassay (1871–1946) on the five wounds of Christ: their symbolism, representations, and meaning in Christian art. From 1903 to 1925, he published articles on prehistory, Celtic and Gallo-Roman archaeology. When contributing to the Catholic periodical Regnabit, he refocused his research on wide-ranging aspects of the Sacred Heart, with the purpose of showing its universal dimension.
AUTHOR: Louis Charbonneau-Lassay
DETAILS: 554 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621386766
£22.00Add to cart
I Want Holy God
Life-story of Little Nellie of Holy God
When the nuns of the Good Shepherd Convent in Cork, Ireland, welcomed the little three-year-old invalid Nellie Organ on May 11, 1907, little did they think that the great Pope Saint Pius X would say of her a few short years later: “She’s a little angel. Her patience was admirable, her resignation in suffering was so perfect. And then, she understood supernatural things in a superior manner”. Father Bernard des Ronces bases his account of Little Nellie’s life on the most reliable sources. The result is possibly the most complete biography of the child who was chosen by God to encourage Pope Pius X to allow little children to receive Holy Communion.
AUTHOR: Fr Bernard des Ronces
DETAILS: 288 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1838348588
-
£13.50Add to cart
I Want Holy God
Life-story of Little Nellie of Holy God
When the nuns of the Good Shepherd Convent in Cork, Ireland, welcomed the little three-year-old invalid Nellie Organ on May 11, 1907, little did they think that the great Pope Saint Pius X would say of her a few short years later: “She’s a little angel. Her patience was admirable, her resignation in suffering was so perfect. And then, she understood supernatural things in a superior manner”. Father Bernard des Ronces bases his account of Little Nellie’s life on the most reliable sources. The result is possibly the most complete biography of the child who was chosen by God to encourage Pope Pius X to allow little children to receive Holy Communion.
AUTHOR: Fr Bernard des Ronces
DETAILS: 288 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1838348588
£13.50Add to cart
Crucifix on Mecca’s Front Porch
A Christian’s Companion for the study of Islam
David Pinault This book on Islam has an unusual perspective. It argues that a critically minded examination of Islam can help Christians achieve a deeper appreciation of the unique truths of their own faith. It draws on the author’s personal experiences living in Islamic countries and his fieldwork with persecuted Christian-minority communities…
AUTHOR: David Pinault
DETAILS: 439 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621642329
-
£17.95Add to cart
Crucifix on Mecca’s Front Porch
A Christian’s Companion for the study of Islam
David Pinault This book on Islam has an unusual perspective. It argues that a critically minded examination of Islam can help Christians achieve a deeper appreciation of the unique truths of their own faith. It draws on the author’s personal experiences living in Islamic countries and his fieldwork with persecuted Christian-minority communities…
AUTHOR: David Pinault
DETAILS: 439 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621642329
£17.95Add to cart
Heroes of the Catholic Reformation
Saints who Renewed the Church
Joseph Pearce Heroes of the Catholic Reformation is a scholarly and cultured celebration of the saints who responded to the fierce oppositions of their time with courage and an authentic and lasting Catholic Reformation. Author Joseph Pearce invites us to look to these heroes for inspiration as we seek to live the fullness of Faith in our fallen world.
AUTHOR: Joseph Pearce
DETAILS: 176 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1612783895
-
£13.95Add to cart
Heroes of the Catholic Reformation
Saints who Renewed the Church
Joseph Pearce Heroes of the Catholic Reformation is a scholarly and cultured celebration of the saints who responded to the fierce oppositions of their time with courage and an authentic and lasting Catholic Reformation. Author Joseph Pearce invites us to look to these heroes for inspiration as we seek to live the fullness of Faith in our fallen world.
AUTHOR: Joseph Pearce
DETAILS: 176 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1612783895
£13.95Add to cart
The Curé D’Ars Today
Saint John Vianney
George William Rutler In this unique biography, Father Rutler does more than give the facts about the life of the Cure of Ars. With bold strokes, he captures the spirit of the age in which he lived, unveils the sanctity of a humble parish priest, and gets to the heart of what it means to be a priest, showing that the Curé of Ars is a priest for all seasons.
AUTHOR: George William Rutler
DETAILS: 273 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-0898701807
-
£12.50Add to cart
The Curé D’Ars Today
Saint John Vianney
George William Rutler In this unique biography, Father Rutler does more than give the facts about the life of the Cure of Ars. With bold strokes, he captures the spirit of the age in which he lived, unveils the sanctity of a humble parish priest, and gets to the heart of what it means to be a priest, showing that the Curé of Ars is a priest for all seasons.
AUTHOR: George William Rutler
DETAILS: 273 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-0898701807
£12.50Add to cart
How to Do Apologetics
Making the Case for Our Faith
Patrick Madrid Veteran apologist Patrick Madrid presents his latest book on apologetics. Drawing on his own extensive experience, Madrid explains how you can use arguments and evidence to engage with other viewpoints, including atheism and Protestantism, and how you can defend the Faith effectively.
AUTHOR: Patrick Madrid
DETAILS: 208 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1612785837
-
£13.95Add to cart
How to Do Apologetics
Making the Case for Our Faith
Patrick Madrid Veteran apologist Patrick Madrid presents his latest book on apologetics. Drawing on his own extensive experience, Madrid explains how you can use arguments and evidence to engage with other viewpoints, including atheism and Protestantism, and how you can defend the Faith effectively.
AUTHOR: Patrick Madrid
DETAILS: 208 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1612785837
£13.95Add to cart
How to Think Like Aquinas
From the New York Times bestseller comes an inspirational true story. Successful art dealer Ron Hall and his wife Debbie seemingly have the perfect life. But when their faith and family are tested, an unlikely bond with a homeless drifter leads them on a remarkable journey
that forges an everlasting friendship. Same Kind of Different As Me shows how a simple act of kindness can change everything.
-
£15.50Add to cart
How to Think Like Aquinas
From the New York Times bestseller comes an inspirational true story. Successful art dealer Ron Hall and his wife Debbie seemingly have the perfect life. But when their faith and family are tested, an unlikely bond with a homeless drifter leads them on a remarkable journey
that forges an everlasting friendship. Same Kind of Different As Me shows how a simple act of kindness can change everything.
£15.50Add to cart
Padre Pio
Stories and Memories of My Mentor and Friend
This colourful memoir offers a rare, up-close glimpse of the life and personality of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, the beloved Italian monk who was blessed with extraordinary gifts. The late Fr. Amorth – well-known as an exorcist – enjoyed over two decades of a close friendship with the holy Padre Pio, whom he considered his spiritual father. Adding his own personal experience to a foundation of biographical research, Amorth gives an entertaining and illuminating account of perhaps one of the best-known saints of the twentieth century.
AUTHOR: Fr Gabriele Amorth
DETAILS: 157 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621644408
-
£13.95Add to cart
Padre Pio
Stories and Memories of My Mentor and Friend
This colourful memoir offers a rare, up-close glimpse of the life and personality of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, the beloved Italian monk who was blessed with extraordinary gifts. The late Fr. Amorth – well-known as an exorcist – enjoyed over two decades of a close friendship with the holy Padre Pio, whom he considered his spiritual father. Adding his own personal experience to a foundation of biographical research, Amorth gives an entertaining and illuminating account of perhaps one of the best-known saints of the twentieth century.
AUTHOR: Fr Gabriele Amorth
DETAILS: 157 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621644408
£13.95Add to cart
Deathbed Conversions
Finding Faith at the Finish Line
Karen Edmisten Far from being the “easy way out,” a deathbed conversion is almost always the culmination of years spent resisting God’s patient call. Each of these journeys to redemption will deepen your faith as you see the Father’s gentle, persistent, loving grace.
AUTHOR: Karen Edmisten
DETAILS: 144 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1612786124
-
£12.50Add to cart
Deathbed Conversions
Finding Faith at the Finish Line
Karen Edmisten Far from being the “easy way out,” a deathbed conversion is almost always the culmination of years spent resisting God’s patient call. Each of these journeys to redemption will deepen your faith as you see the Father’s gentle, persistent, loving grace.
AUTHOR: Karen Edmisten
DETAILS: 144 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1612786124
£12.50Add to cart
The Catholic Guide to Loneliness
Kevin Vost Rooted in ancient philosophical and biblical wisdom, and buttressed by modern theory and research, these pages bring you to an understanding of the causes of loneliness and teach you the remedies – secular and religious – that are most apt to cure this ever more prevalent problem.
AUTHOR: Kevin Vost
DETAILS: 161 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622824144
-
£13.95Add to cart
The Catholic Guide to Loneliness
Kevin Vost Rooted in ancient philosophical and biblical wisdom, and buttressed by modern theory and research, these pages bring you to an understanding of the causes of loneliness and teach you the remedies – secular and religious – that are most apt to cure this ever more prevalent problem.
AUTHOR: Kevin Vost
DETAILS: 161 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622824144
£13.95Add to cart
A Devotional Journey into the Mass
A church destroyed. A congregation silenced. A relationship shattered. Yet even in life’s darkest valleys, a small flame can light the way toward healing and hope. A deadly fire rips through St. James Church, devastating the congregation and Pastor Dave. Adjoining Hadleigh University uses the tragedy to kick the congregation off campus. The escalating controversy creates a dilemma for the small church – can Christians fight for their rights and be the light for Christ at the same time? Facing a court case and his own struggle to see Christ’s light in heartbreak, Dave asks for help from Pearce, his estranged brother – a big-city lawyer and an atheist – to fight for the church’s right to exist.
-
£12.50Add to cart
A Devotional Journey into the Mass
A church destroyed. A congregation silenced. A relationship shattered. Yet even in life’s darkest valleys, a small flame can light the way toward healing and hope. A deadly fire rips through St. James Church, devastating the congregation and Pastor Dave. Adjoining Hadleigh University uses the tragedy to kick the congregation off campus. The escalating controversy creates a dilemma for the small church – can Christians fight for their rights and be the light for Christ at the same time? Facing a court case and his own struggle to see Christ’s light in heartbreak, Dave asks for help from Pearce, his estranged brother – a big-city lawyer and an atheist – to fight for the church’s right to exist.
£12.50Add to cart
A Brief Life of Christ
Fulton J. Sheen turned his voice and pen to many subjects during the course of a long and remarkable apostolate. But nothing came closer to the core of his message than bringing the life and saving words of Jesus to the problems of modern life and the modern world. In A Brief Life of Christ, Sheen employs the twin pillars of faith and reason to draw out the meaning of the life of Jesus for our times. He pointedly shows how Christ issues His challenge alike to nations, peoples, and individual souls. The final chapters on Christ’s public life, and Passion, Death, and Resurrection contain tremendous insights and provide material for a lifetime of reflection.
AUTHOR: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
DETAILS: 87 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1887593946
A Brief Life of Christ
Fulton J. Sheen turned his voice and pen to many subjects during the course of a long and remarkable apostolate. But nothing came closer to the core of his message than bringing the life and saving words of Jesus to the problems of modern life and the modern world. In A Brief Life of Christ, Sheen employs the twin pillars of faith and reason to draw out the meaning of the life of Jesus for our times. He pointedly shows how Christ issues His challenge alike to nations, peoples, and individual souls. The final chapters on Christ’s public life, and Passion, Death, and Resurrection contain tremendous insights and provide material for a lifetime of reflection.
AUTHOR: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
DETAILS: 87 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1887593946
£4.95Add to cart
Christus Vincit
Christ’s Triumph Over the Darkness of the Age
Bishop Athanasius Schneider offers a candid, incisive examination of controversies raging in the Church and the most pressing issues of our times, providing clarity and hope for beleaguered Catholics. He addresses such topics as widespread doctrinal confusion, the limits of papal authority, the documents of Vatican II, the Society of St. Pius X, anti-Christian ideologies and political threats, the third secret of Fatima, the traditional Roman rite, and the Amazon Synod, among many others. Bishop Schneider says things that others won’t, fearlessly following St. Paul’s advice: “Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching” (2 Tim 4:2). His insights into the challenges facing Christ’s flock today are essential reading for those who are, or wish to be, alert to the signs of the times. Reminiscent of The Ratzinger Report of 1985, Christus Vincit will be a key point of reference for years to come.
AUTHOR: Bishop Athanasius Schneider
DETAILS: 338 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621384892
-
£16.95Add to cart
Christus Vincit
Christ’s Triumph Over the Darkness of the Age
Bishop Athanasius Schneider offers a candid, incisive examination of controversies raging in the Church and the most pressing issues of our times, providing clarity and hope for beleaguered Catholics. He addresses such topics as widespread doctrinal confusion, the limits of papal authority, the documents of Vatican II, the Society of St. Pius X, anti-Christian ideologies and political threats, the third secret of Fatima, the traditional Roman rite, and the Amazon Synod, among many others. Bishop Schneider says things that others won’t, fearlessly following St. Paul’s advice: “Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching” (2 Tim 4:2). His insights into the challenges facing Christ’s flock today are essential reading for those who are, or wish to be, alert to the signs of the times. Reminiscent of The Ratzinger Report of 1985, Christus Vincit will be a key point of reference for years to come.
AUTHOR: Bishop Athanasius Schneider
DETAILS: 338 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621384892
£16.95Add to cart
Catholics and Protestants
What can we Learn from Each Other?
Peter Kreeft Popular author and philosopher Peter Kreeft presents a unique book about the important beliefs that Catholics and Protestants share in common. Whilst he acknowledges that there are still significant differences, he emphasizes that they agree on the single most important issue: justification.
AUTHOR: Dr Peter Kreeft
DETAILS: 204 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621641018
-
£13.95Add to cart
Catholics and Protestants
What can we Learn from Each Other?
Peter Kreeft Popular author and philosopher Peter Kreeft presents a unique book about the important beliefs that Catholics and Protestants share in common. Whilst he acknowledges that there are still significant differences, he emphasizes that they agree on the single most important issue: justification.
AUTHOR: Dr Peter Kreeft
DETAILS: 204 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621641018
£13.95Add to cart
God or Nothing
The Cokeville Miracle is an astounding true story about survival in the face of unimaginable terror. On May 16th, 1986, in the small town of Cokeville, Wyoming, David and Doris Young entered the local elementary school with a bomb and held the entire school hostage in one room. In the mayhem that followed the bomb was detonated, but not one hostage was killed and the parents must put their skepticism aside as children start to tell stories of how they survived. How is it possible for a packed building to explode yet leave no casualties?
-
£15.50Add to cart
God or Nothing
The Cokeville Miracle is an astounding true story about survival in the face of unimaginable terror. On May 16th, 1986, in the small town of Cokeville, Wyoming, David and Doris Young entered the local elementary school with a bomb and held the entire school hostage in one room. In the mayhem that followed the bomb was detonated, but not one hostage was killed and the parents must put their skepticism aside as children start to tell stories of how they survived. How is it possible for a packed building to explode yet leave no casualties?
£15.50Add to cart
Into His Likeness
Be Transformed as a Disciple of Christ
Edward Sri In Into His Likeness, Dr Edward Sri provides an approachable but in-depth exploration of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. He offers for consideration the four habits of a disciple: prayer, the breaking of bread, fellowship and the teaching of the Apostles.
AUTHOR: Edward Sri
DETAILS: 150 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-0999375655
-
£13.95Add to cart
Into His Likeness
Be Transformed as a Disciple of Christ
Edward Sri In Into His Likeness, Dr Edward Sri provides an approachable but in-depth exploration of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. He offers for consideration the four habits of a disciple: prayer, the breaking of bread, fellowship and the teaching of the Apostles.
AUTHOR: Edward Sri
DETAILS: 150 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-0999375655
£13.95Add to cart
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a unique treasure intended for all the faithful. This edition incorporates the latest translations of key texts such as the Apostles’ Creed and prayers of the Mass. The text is further enhanced with a new, clearer and more attractive layout providing a lasting, accessible resource to educate and support readers in the faith. This indispensable reference book should be placed in the hands of every Catholic, giving them confidence in their faith and the ability to pass it on to future generations. For catechists, students, parents, teachers, young people, families and those involved in ministry. An invaluable resource for anyone, anywhere, who wants to explore and understand the richness and breadth of Catholic belief, teaching and practice.
DETAILS: 732 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1784691066
-
£15.95Read more
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a unique treasure intended for all the faithful. This edition incorporates the latest translations of key texts such as the Apostles’ Creed and prayers of the Mass. The text is further enhanced with a new, clearer and more attractive layout providing a lasting, accessible resource to educate and support readers in the faith. This indispensable reference book should be placed in the hands of every Catholic, giving them confidence in their faith and the ability to pass it on to future generations. For catechists, students, parents, teachers, young people, families and those involved in ministry. An invaluable resource for anyone, anywhere, who wants to explore and understand the richness and breadth of Catholic belief, teaching and practice.
DETAILS: 732 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1784691066
£15.95Read more