by Joanna Bogle
(This feature first appeared on the Catholic World Report website 10 April 2017)
We are sitting, the three of us, around the table in the classroom, surrounded by posters encouraging literacy and offering opportunities for taking up new skills. Father S. has been explaining about the Rosary, and the young man has eagerly produced his—bright yellow and white plastic beads, given to him at last week’s session. As we say the Hail Mary, his eyes carefully follow my fingers as I lightly indicate the words on the printed page.
“Hail Mary,
full of grace,
The Lord is with thee…”
We are praying the Sorrowful Mysteries, as it’s a Friday. The prayer gives us a sense of order and peace, even though there is a clatter of background noise—in the corridor a noisy air conditioner is roaring incessantly. Slowly, the thought comes into my mind: this is one of the most sincere Rosaries I have ever heard prayed.
Jim—not his real name—is a prisoner at a big modern jail. It’s one of Britain’s better prisons, purpose built, and with good sporting and educational facilities. The Catholic chaplain is dedicated and hard-working. He is on good terms with the Church of England chaplain and with the imam who serves the Muslim prisoners; they share a chaplaincy facility, which includes a large prayer-room. The Islamic Friday prayers are over and it has been converted into a Catholic chapel with full altar, crucifix, statues, candles, and all the trimmings, ready for the weekend.
Jim was baptized as a baby. “It was my Nan that wanted it, and my Mum was happy,” he says. “And I went to Mass a bit with my Nan. She went a lot—every week. I went with her, at Christmas and that.” His pregnant girlfriend is a Catholic, and he wants to know more about the Faith, and to be confirmed.
As a volunteer catechist I’m often told by friends that people in prison convert to the Faith because “it brings them privileges.” It doesn’t. There are no special rules for Catholics: they are allowed attend talks or Mass in just the same way that any other prisoner is allowed to take part in specific activities for which he requests permission. Being a Catholic does perhaps give a sense of identity—marks you out as belonging to something. It can be a sort of badge. Non-Catholics like bits of Catholic imagery too—wearing a rosary round the neck is very popular. (I wondered at one stage if it was perhaps done as a sort of code: maybe a secret way of indicating information about drugs or something—but there’s no evidence that this is so).
A typical Catholic prisoner will be, like many Catholics today, poorly instructed in the Faith. He will have a mixture of folklore, half-remembered childhood experiences, superstition, and longing. Many people in prison are also semi-literate: they are not used to reading and have spent large parts of their lives barely reading anything at all. They respond well to religious imagery, but often like to put their own interpretation on it, and may or may not find it easy to retain structured information.
Repetition of familiar prayers can form a useful part of catechesis. Jim liked learning the Hail Mary, he already had some familiarity with the Lord’s Prayer, and he took satisfaction in getting the Sign of the Cross right. Another prisoner told me he liked making the Sign of the Cross when he was frightened (same here, I told him) and when tempted to do something wrong (ditto).
I’ve been using Faith Inside, a useful book of Catholic prayers and instruction produced by an experienced prison chaplain. It has good, basic explanations of the signs and symbols of our Faith—very important in a prison—and answers to the most common questions posed by non-Catholics, including Muslims (“Do Catholics believe in three gods?” “How could Jesus be both a man and God?”). It has practical, readable material on confession, the Mass, Holy Communion, and more—and some testimonies from prisoners who have reconnected with the Church while in prison, including some rather moving ones.
Having a good chaplain—a man, a priest—is of course central to effective prison ministry. I think that a woman like me (well-intentioned, volunteer, late-middle-aged) can only be of limited use: probably my main value is in showing that Church life in prison is part of the whole Church. We’re all in this. I am a reminder that the Church “outside” and the Church inside the prison are one and the same. The sacred oil that the bishop will use in confirming Jim has been blessed at the Chrism Mass along with the oil used in all the parishes in the diocese. As a catechist, I help with instruction—I’m part of the Church and so is Jim, and so is Father S., leading us both in prayer. My job is to help with some teaching—they like something structured, something concrete, with a sense of achievement at the end of it—and, privately, to pray for the prisoners. And to encourage others to do so, and to give other help where they can. Which is why I am writing this.
We need more help in prisons. One of the best helpers the chaplain has is a layman who is active with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Without even realizing it, he is being a model to the young prisoners of what a Catholic man should be like—showing kindness, chivalry, courage, generosity, in a spirit of manly piety which is the more effective for simply appearing normal.
There is scope for good catechesis in prison. There are good—great—opportunities for restoring hope and offering a real message about what life is really all about. If the Church fails to be a living and active presence, other messages, other belief-systems, other religions, will fill the gap. It’s a gap that does not need to exist: Christ calls us to be there in the prison and to bring the truth, the good news.
I trained as a catechist with the School of the Annunciation, based at Buckfast Abbey in Devon. We were shown how to teach the Faith in its fullness, and offered a rich and structured systematic program. Armed with a clear understanding of doctrine, reinforced with the message of prayer that was central to the course, I found I could teach with confidence, recognizing the need to adapt language and approach to the needs of those being taught.
In a prison, you can’t afford to feel smug. There is—obviously—a sense of separation between prisoners and everyone else. I am a visitor and will go out, free, at the end of the visit. And I am the catechist, not the chum: there is a natural distance between us, and I don’t talk about my personal life or even reveal basic information about myself—that’s not why I am there. But what emerges in prison work is the raw reality of humans before God—a recognition that we are all sinners.
You can’t have a sense of conceited achievement—“Oooh, look how many we’ve converted!”—because prison isn’t like that. You can’t advertise about how clever you or your system has been. You can only communicate the truths of the Faith and the love of God, within the household of the Faith, and try to show that you live it too.
Pray for prisoners. Pray for the Church’s work in prisons.
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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
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£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
“Calls”
From the Message of Fatima
Finding herself inundated with constantly repeated questions concerning the apparitions, the visionaries, and the message they received, Sr Lucia asked the Holy See for permission to write this text. This work is, in effect, a long letter, written entirely by Sr Lucia to address all those who had written to her concerning their questions, doubts, and difficulties, and their desire for greater fidelity in living up to what was asked for from Our Lady when she appeared at Fatima.
AUTHOR: Sister Lucia
DETAILS: 300 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-9728524234
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£14.95Add to cart
“Calls”
From the Message of Fatima
Finding herself inundated with constantly repeated questions concerning the apparitions, the visionaries, and the message they received, Sr Lucia asked the Holy See for permission to write this text. This work is, in effect, a long letter, written entirely by Sr Lucia to address all those who had written to her concerning their questions, doubts, and difficulties, and their desire for greater fidelity in living up to what was asked for from Our Lady when she appeared at Fatima.
AUTHOR: Sister Lucia
DETAILS: 300 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-9728524234
£14.95Add to cart
Evangelical Exodus
Douglas M. Beaumont Evangelical Exodus is a collection of extraordinary stories relating how, over the course of a single decade, dozens of students and professors from a conservative Evangelical seminary in the United States converted to Catholicism. A Catholic bestseller and an excellent read.
AUTHOR: Douglas M. Beaumont
DETAILS: 286 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621640424
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£14.95Add to cart
Evangelical Exodus
Douglas M. Beaumont Evangelical Exodus is a collection of extraordinary stories relating how, over the course of a single decade, dozens of students and professors from a conservative Evangelical seminary in the United States converted to Catholicism. A Catholic bestseller and an excellent read.
AUTHOR: Douglas M. Beaumont
DETAILS: 286 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621640424
£14.95Add to cart
Scripture Wars
About a century after Jesus died, a battle began for the Old Testament. Large numbers of faithful Christians fought about its contents and even about its right to be called a Christian book! This book chronicles the Scripture Wars that ensued and introduces readers to one of early Christianity’s greatest defenders: St. Justin Martyr.
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£15.50Add to cart
Scripture Wars
About a century after Jesus died, a battle began for the Old Testament. Large numbers of faithful Christians fought about its contents and even about its right to be called a Christian book! This book chronicles the Scripture Wars that ensued and introduces readers to one of early Christianity’s greatest defenders: St. Justin Martyr.
£15.50Add 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
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.
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£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
Fathers of the Church
An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers
We hear the voices of the early Church Fathers even today. Their teachings, their guidance, their insights, and their sacrifice shaped the Catholic Church. They defined the canon of Scripture. They developed our creeds and forms of worship. They defined Christianity’s distinctive moral sense. But who were they? What can we learn from their ancient teachings? What can the Fathers teach the 21st century – about holiness, culture, faith, and the Gospel?
AUTHOR: Mike Aquilina
DETAILS: 352 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1612785615
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£16.50Add to cart
Fathers of the Church
An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers
We hear the voices of the early Church Fathers even today. Their teachings, their guidance, their insights, and their sacrifice shaped the Catholic Church. They defined the canon of Scripture. They developed our creeds and forms of worship. They defined Christianity’s distinctive moral sense. But who were they? What can we learn from their ancient teachings? What can the Fathers teach the 21st century – about holiness, culture, faith, and the Gospel?
AUTHOR: Mike Aquilina
DETAILS: 352 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1612785615
£16.50Add 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
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£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
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.
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£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
Hope for the World
To Unite All Things in Christ
Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke An expert in canon law and a priest with extensive pastoral experience, Cardinal Burke is uniquely placed to speak on uniting all things in Christ. This hard-hitting dialogue offers a unique glimpse into his life and thought, and his insightful answers help the reader to understand the moral and spiritual challenges of today.
AUTHOR: Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke
DETAILS: 172 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621641162
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£12.50Add to cart
Hope for the World
To Unite All Things in Christ
Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke An expert in canon law and a priest with extensive pastoral experience, Cardinal Burke is uniquely placed to speak on uniting all things in Christ. This hard-hitting dialogue offers a unique glimpse into his life and thought, and his insightful answers help the reader to understand the moral and spiritual challenges of today.
AUTHOR: Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke
DETAILS: 172 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621641162
£12.50Add to cart
Stronger Than Steel
Soldiers of the Great War Write to Therese of Lisieux
In the seventeen years between her death in 1897 and the outbreak of World War I, the fame of Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face had spread widely: her autobiography ‘The Story of a Soul’ was hugely popular, and soldiers carried around holy cards, medals, and relics. This remarkable collection of letters from (mostly French) soldiers fighting in the Great War and enduring its abysmal horrors are astonishing and moving testimonies of how Thérèse appeared to them or spoke to them when invoked – how she miraculously protected them from “showers of iron and fire,” delivered them from precipitous danger, healed them when doctors despaired, and encouraged them in the trials of battle.
DETAILS: 159 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621387183
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£13.50Add to cart
Stronger Than Steel
Soldiers of the Great War Write to Therese of Lisieux
In the seventeen years between her death in 1897 and the outbreak of World War I, the fame of Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face had spread widely: her autobiography ‘The Story of a Soul’ was hugely popular, and soldiers carried around holy cards, medals, and relics. This remarkable collection of letters from (mostly French) soldiers fighting in the Great War and enduring its abysmal horrors are astonishing and moving testimonies of how Thérèse appeared to them or spoke to them when invoked – how she miraculously protected them from “showers of iron and fire,” delivered them from precipitous danger, healed them when doctors despaired, and encouraged them in the trials of battle.
DETAILS: 159 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621387183
£13.50Add to cart
Blessed Carlo Acutis
5 Steps to Being a Saint
Carlo Acutis may have only been 15 when he died, but already he had learned how to live for Jesus. In this biography, discover the life of the computer geek who became the first millennial to be beatified by the Catholic Church. Throughout his life, Blessed Carlo Acutis used five simple practices to increase in holiness – practices which every Catholic can imitate in their own lives today. Unpack how this young man learned to live for God in this biography, which also features colour photos of Carlo and a selection of his most inspiring quotes.
AUTHOR: Mgr Anthony Figueiredo
DETAILS: 85 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1784696528
Blessed Carlo Acutis
5 Steps to Being a Saint
Carlo Acutis may have only been 15 when he died, but already he had learned how to live for Jesus. In this biography, discover the life of the computer geek who became the first millennial to be beatified by the Catholic Church. Throughout his life, Blessed Carlo Acutis used five simple practices to increase in holiness – practices which every Catholic can imitate in their own lives today. Unpack how this young man learned to live for God in this biography, which also features colour photos of Carlo and a selection of his most inspiring quotes.
AUTHOR: Mgr Anthony Figueiredo
DETAILS: 85 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1784696528
£6.95Add to cart
The Catholic Gentleman
Living Authentic Manhood Today
The world today is changing rapidly. What was once settled is now questioned, and old traditions are discarded with reckless abandon. What does it mean to be an authentic man in such confusing times? What, if anything, does the Catholic Church have to offer to men
today about living a life of true manhood and virtue? The Catholic Gentleman is a solid and practical guide to manhood and holiness in the modern world. It offers the timeless wisdom of the Catholic Church to the many questions of men today on this important issue.
AUTHOR: Sam Guzman
DETAILS: 177 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621640684
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£13.95Add to cart
The Catholic Gentleman
Living Authentic Manhood Today
The world today is changing rapidly. What was once settled is now questioned, and old traditions are discarded with reckless abandon. What does it mean to be an authentic man in such confusing times? What, if anything, does the Catholic Church have to offer to men
today about living a life of true manhood and virtue? The Catholic Gentleman is a solid and practical guide to manhood and holiness in the modern world. It offers the timeless wisdom of the Catholic Church to the many questions of men today on this important issue.
AUTHOR: Sam Guzman
DETAILS: 177 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621640684
£13.95Add to cart
Mysteries Made Visible
Praying the Rosary with Sacred Art
Fr Lawrence Lew’s photographs of sacred art inspire his contemplations of each Mystery of the Rosary. Beginning with a foreword by the Master of the Order, Fr Gerard Francisco Timoner III, O.P., the words and images in this book make the Mysteries we contemplate vivid and real, helping all of us – those who pray the Rosary faithfully and those who struggle with the devotion – to pray with deeper reverence and greater understanding. Fr Lawrence Lew, OP is a Dominican friar, the Promoter General of the Rosary for the Order of Preachers, and the rector of the Rosary Shrine at Haverstock Hill, London. He is also a well-known photographer.
AUTHOR: Fr Lawrence Lew, OP
DETAILS: 88 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1784697334
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£12.95Add to cart
Mysteries Made Visible
Praying the Rosary with Sacred Art
Fr Lawrence Lew’s photographs of sacred art inspire his contemplations of each Mystery of the Rosary. Beginning with a foreword by the Master of the Order, Fr Gerard Francisco Timoner III, O.P., the words and images in this book make the Mysteries we contemplate vivid and real, helping all of us – those who pray the Rosary faithfully and those who struggle with the devotion – to pray with deeper reverence and greater understanding. Fr Lawrence Lew, OP is a Dominican friar, the Promoter General of the Rosary for the Order of Preachers, and the rector of the Rosary Shrine at Haverstock Hill, London. He is also a well-known photographer.
AUTHOR: Fr Lawrence Lew, OP
DETAILS: 88 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1784697334
£12.95Add to cart
The Day is Now Far Spent
Robert Cardinal Sarah calls The Day Is Now Far Spent his most important book. He analyses the spiritual, moral, and political collapse of the Western world and concludes that “the decadence of our time has all the faces of mortal peril”.
A cultural identity crisis, he writes, is at the root of the problems facing Western societies. “The West no longer knows who it is, because it no longer knows and does not want to know who made it, who established it, as it was and as it is. Many countries today ignore their own history. This self-suffocation naturally leads to a decadence that opens the path to new, barbaric civilizations.”
While making clear the gravity of the present situation, the cardinal demonstrates that it is possible to avoid the hell of a world without God, a world without hope. He calls for a renewal of devotion to Christ through prayer and the practice of virtue.
AUTHOR: Robert Cardinal Sarah
DETAILS: 349 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621643241
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£16.50Add to cart
The Day is Now Far Spent
Robert Cardinal Sarah calls The Day Is Now Far Spent his most important book. He analyses the spiritual, moral, and political collapse of the Western world and concludes that “the decadence of our time has all the faces of mortal peril”.
A cultural identity crisis, he writes, is at the root of the problems facing Western societies. “The West no longer knows who it is, because it no longer knows and does not want to know who made it, who established it, as it was and as it is. Many countries today ignore their own history. This self-suffocation naturally leads to a decadence that opens the path to new, barbaric civilizations.”
While making clear the gravity of the present situation, the cardinal demonstrates that it is possible to avoid the hell of a world without God, a world without hope. He calls for a renewal of devotion to Christ through prayer and the practice of virtue.
AUTHOR: Robert Cardinal Sarah
DETAILS: 349 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621643241
£16.50Add 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
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£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
Saint John Bosco
A Giant of Charity
Father Auffray gives a detailed and gripping account of Saint John Bosco’s life and work, clearly showing how this “father of orphans”, educator, founder of congregations, builder of churches, tireless apostle, opponent of heresy and error, miracle-worker and servant of the Papacy was truly a giant of Charity, a living image of the eternal love of God for men. Fr Auffray interviewed many of those who had known the Saint when he was alive. It has been described as being “without contest the best biography of this saint”.
AUTHOR: Fr Augustin Auffray
DETAILS: 544 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1838348502
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£23.00Add to cart
Saint John Bosco
A Giant of Charity
Father Auffray gives a detailed and gripping account of Saint John Bosco’s life and work, clearly showing how this “father of orphans”, educator, founder of congregations, builder of churches, tireless apostle, opponent of heresy and error, miracle-worker and servant of the Papacy was truly a giant of Charity, a living image of the eternal love of God for men. Fr Auffray interviewed many of those who had known the Saint when he was alive. It has been described as being “without contest the best biography of this saint”.
AUTHOR: Fr Augustin Auffray
DETAILS: 544 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1838348502
£23.00Add to cart
Saints Who Battled Satan
Paul Thigpen In Saints Who Battled Satan, Paul Thigpen details the heroic combat of 17 Saints who fought and defeated the Enemy. In these pages you will read the stories of spiritual champions, learn how they withstood everyday temptations as well as extraordinary assaults – and discover how they were ultimately victorious.
AUTHOR: Paul Thigpen
DETAILS: 252 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1618907189
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£13.95Add to cart
Saints Who Battled Satan
Paul Thigpen In Saints Who Battled Satan, Paul Thigpen details the heroic combat of 17 Saints who fought and defeated the Enemy. In these pages you will read the stories of spiritual champions, learn how they withstood everyday temptations as well as extraordinary assaults – and discover how they were ultimately victorious.
AUTHOR: Paul Thigpen
DETAILS: 252 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1618907189
£13.95Add to cart
From Islam to Christ
One Woman’s Path Through the Riddles of God
Born and raised in Muslim Turkey, Derya Little wandered far and wide in search of her true home. After her parent’s divorce, she rejected her family’s Islamic faith and became an atheist. She tried to convince a Christian missionary that there is no God, but was converted to Christ instead.
AUTHOR: Derya Little
DETAILS: 210 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621641124
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£14.95Add to cart
From Islam to Christ
One Woman’s Path Through the Riddles of God
Born and raised in Muslim Turkey, Derya Little wandered far and wide in search of her true home. After her parent’s divorce, she rejected her family’s Islamic faith and became an atheist. She tried to convince a Christian missionary that there is no God, but was converted to Christ instead.
AUTHOR: Derya Little
DETAILS: 210 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621641124
£14.95Add to cart
The Cries of Jesus from the Cross
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen For the first time ever, Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s complete writings and reflections on Christ’s last words have been compiled on the spiritual life. From them, you’ll learn the secrets to living the Beatitudes, ways to avoid deadly vices of anger, envy, lust, and pride, and how to cultivate the heavenly virtues of fortitude, prudence, justice, and charity.
AUTHOR: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
DETAILS: 400 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622826209
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£15.50Add to cart
The Cries of Jesus from the Cross
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen For the first time ever, Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s complete writings and reflections on Christ’s last words have been compiled on the spiritual life. From them, you’ll learn the secrets to living the Beatitudes, ways to avoid deadly vices of anger, envy, lust, and pride, and how to cultivate the heavenly virtues of fortitude, prudence, justice, and charity.
AUTHOR: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
DETAILS: 400 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1622826209
£15.50Add to cart
Popes, Emperors and Elephants
The First Thousand Years of Christian Culture
Roy Peachey takes us on a wide-ranging and sometimes surprising journey through the first thousand years of Christian culture. Starting in Athens, Rome, and Jerusalem, we travel as far as China, Ethiopia, and Iraq, meeting saints, sailors, popes, emperors, and the occasional elephant as we go. Written in an accessible style, this book can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. It is a book that tells familiar stories in an unfamiliar way, introduces us to many forgotten aspects of Christian civilization, and brings some of the historical greats to life. It is a book that explores intriguing questions such as “What did the past sound like?” “When did the Roman Empire really end?” and “Were the barbarians barbarians?”
AUTHOR: Roy Peachey
DETAILS: 224 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621386995
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£14.50Add to cart
Popes, Emperors and Elephants
The First Thousand Years of Christian Culture
Roy Peachey takes us on a wide-ranging and sometimes surprising journey through the first thousand years of Christian culture. Starting in Athens, Rome, and Jerusalem, we travel as far as China, Ethiopia, and Iraq, meeting saints, sailors, popes, emperors, and the occasional elephant as we go. Written in an accessible style, this book can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. It is a book that tells familiar stories in an unfamiliar way, introduces us to many forgotten aspects of Christian civilization, and brings some of the historical greats to life. It is a book that explores intriguing questions such as “What did the past sound like?” “When did the Roman Empire really end?” and “Were the barbarians barbarians?”
AUTHOR: Roy Peachey
DETAILS: 224 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621386995
£14.50Add to cart
The Beauty of Holiness
And the Holiness of Beauty
“Beauty will save the world,” said Dostoyevsky. In this book, Fr John Saward presents a study of two ways in which the saving beauty of Christ shines upon the world: in the lives of His saints, and in the works of Christian art – “the beauty of holiness and the holiness of beauty.” This unique and unprecedented theological meditation centres on several works of art of the Dominican blessed, Fra Angelico. Drawing on the wisdom of the Church’s Fathers and Doctors, Saward has written a book not on art history, but on the attractive radiance of Catholic truth. Its goal is to help Christians grow in wonder at the glory of Divine Revelation.
AUTHOR: Fr John Saward
DETAILS: 200 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621387381
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£13.50Add to cart
The Beauty of Holiness
And the Holiness of Beauty
“Beauty will save the world,” said Dostoyevsky. In this book, Fr John Saward presents a study of two ways in which the saving beauty of Christ shines upon the world: in the lives of His saints, and in the works of Christian art – “the beauty of holiness and the holiness of beauty.” This unique and unprecedented theological meditation centres on several works of art of the Dominican blessed, Fra Angelico. Drawing on the wisdom of the Church’s Fathers and Doctors, Saward has written a book not on art history, but on the attractive radiance of Catholic truth. Its goal is to help Christians grow in wonder at the glory of Divine Revelation.
AUTHOR: Fr John Saward
DETAILS: 200 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621387381
£13.50Add to cart
The Twelve
The Lives of the Apostles After Calvary
C. Bernard Ruffin Who were the Apostles really? What happened to them after the end of the Gospel story? You’ll be surprised by the wealth of detail Ruffin has dug up for each apostle – even Judas Iscariot. Weaving together Scripture, Tradition, and historical accounts, Ruffin re-creates and outlines the lives of each of the Apostles.
AUTHOR: C. Bernard Ruffin
DETAILS: 192 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-0879739263
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£10.95Add to cart
The Twelve
The Lives of the Apostles After Calvary
C. Bernard Ruffin Who were the Apostles really? What happened to them after the end of the Gospel story? You’ll be surprised by the wealth of detail Ruffin has dug up for each apostle – even Judas Iscariot. Weaving together Scripture, Tradition, and historical accounts, Ruffin re-creates and outlines the lives of each of the Apostles.
AUTHOR: C. Bernard Ruffin
DETAILS: 192 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-0879739263
£10.95Add 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?
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£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
A Time to Die
Behind monastery walls, men of God spend their lives preparing for the passage of death. Best-selling French author Nicolas Diat sets out to find what their deaths can reveal about the greatest mystery faced by everyone – the end of life.
How to die? How to respond to our fear of death? To answer these and other questions, Diat travelled to eight European monasteries. Through extraordinary interviews with monks, he learned that their death experiences are varied and unique, with elements of peace, pain, humility, sorrow, and joy. These monks have the same fears, torments, and sorrows as everyone else, Diat discovered. What is exemplary about them is their humility and simplicity. When death approaches, and its hand reveals its strength, they are like happy and naïve children who wait with impatience to open a gift. They have complete confidence in the mercy of God.
AUTHOR: Nicolas Diat
DETAILS: 180 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621642749
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£14.95Add to cart
A Time to Die
Behind monastery walls, men of God spend their lives preparing for the passage of death. Best-selling French author Nicolas Diat sets out to find what their deaths can reveal about the greatest mystery faced by everyone – the end of life.
How to die? How to respond to our fear of death? To answer these and other questions, Diat travelled to eight European monasteries. Through extraordinary interviews with monks, he learned that their death experiences are varied and unique, with elements of peace, pain, humility, sorrow, and joy. These monks have the same fears, torments, and sorrows as everyone else, Diat discovered. What is exemplary about them is their humility and simplicity. When death approaches, and its hand reveals its strength, they are like happy and naïve children who wait with impatience to open a gift. They have complete confidence in the mercy of God.
AUTHOR: Nicolas Diat
DETAILS: 180 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621642749
£14.95Add to cart
Heroism and Genius
How Catholic Priests help to build – and can help rebuild – Western Civilisation
William J Slattery The Catholic Church built a new and original civilization, embodying the Christian vision of God and man. During this period, Catholic priests, became the pioneers and irreplaceable builders of Christian culture. Heroism and Genius presents some of these formidable men…
AUTHOR: William J Slattery
DETAILS: 300 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621640141
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£19.95Add to cart
Heroism and Genius
How Catholic Priests help to build – and can help rebuild – Western Civilisation
William J Slattery The Catholic Church built a new and original civilization, embodying the Christian vision of God and man. During this period, Catholic priests, became the pioneers and irreplaceable builders of Christian culture. Heroism and Genius presents some of these formidable men…
AUTHOR: William J Slattery
DETAILS: 300 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1621640141
£19.95Add to cart
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible is an English translation of the Latin Vulgate Bible, a version universally used in the Church for over 1500 years, itself meticulously translated from the original Hebrew and Greek by St. Jerome (A.D. 340-420). Since it was translated quite literally and with great reverence for each individual word from the Vulgate, which in turn reflects the structure of the original languages very clearly, the Douay-Rheims Bible can give great insight into the minds of the sacred authors. For over 300 years, the Douay Rheims Bible was the only Catholic English translation of Scripture used. It continues to be used officially in Catholic churches today.
DETAILS: 1512 pages, leatherbound
ISBN: 978-0954563110
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£54.45Add to cart
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible is an English translation of the Latin Vulgate Bible, a version universally used in the Church for over 1500 years, itself meticulously translated from the original Hebrew and Greek by St. Jerome (A.D. 340-420). Since it was translated quite literally and with great reverence for each individual word from the Vulgate, which in turn reflects the structure of the original languages very clearly, the Douay-Rheims Bible can give great insight into the minds of the sacred authors. For over 300 years, the Douay Rheims Bible was the only Catholic English translation of Scripture used. It continues to be used officially in Catholic churches today.
DETAILS: 1512 pages, leatherbound
ISBN: 978-0954563110
£54.45Add to cart
Doors in the Walls of the World
*Spanish with English Subtitles. This beautiful film charts the beginnings of the Servants of Mary, a religious institution founded in Madrid in 1851 by inspiration of the priest Father Miguel Martinez and that Saint Soledad Torres Acosta guided in its development and expansion until her death in 1887. These religious Sisters became well known for their work in caring for the sick through the night in their homes. Mother Soledad and her order faced revolutions, epidemics and religious persecutions.
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£12.95Add to cart
Doors in the Walls of the World
*Spanish with English Subtitles. This beautiful film charts the beginnings of the Servants of Mary, a religious institution founded in Madrid in 1851 by inspiration of the priest Father Miguel Martinez and that Saint Soledad Torres Acosta guided in its development and expansion until her death in 1887. These religious Sisters became well known for their work in caring for the sick through the night in their homes. Mother Soledad and her order faced revolutions, epidemics and religious persecutions.
£12.95Add to cart
Ignatius Bible (paperback)
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, paperback
ISBN: 978-1586177706
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£19.95Add to cart
Ignatius Bible (paperback)
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, paperback
ISBN: 978-1586177706
£19.95Add to cart
The Saint Monica Club
In these pages, author Maggie Green provides wise, compassionate guidance for members of what she calls “The Saint Monica Club”: good Catholics suffering like Monica the rejection of the Faith by persons they love dearly. Herself a longtime and long-suffering member of the club, Green shows how persevering as Monica did in devoted love for straying souls – loving them as God does – will not only quiet the lingering, aching cry of our hearts, but will draw our lost loved ones back to the Faith and into the arms of Jesus again.
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£12.50Add to cart
The Saint Monica Club
In these pages, author Maggie Green provides wise, compassionate guidance for members of what she calls “The Saint Monica Club”: good Catholics suffering like Monica the rejection of the Faith by persons they love dearly. Herself a longtime and long-suffering member of the club, Green shows how persevering as Monica did in devoted love for straying souls – loving them as God does – will not only quiet the lingering, aching cry of our hearts, but will draw our lost loved ones back to the Faith and into the arms of Jesus again.
£12.50Add 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
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£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