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We Look For a Kingdom: The Everyday Lives of the Early Christians
Carl J. Sommers Carl Sommer presents a popular study of the faith and life of the early Christians in the first two centuries after Christ. Using documentary evidence and archaeological records, Sommers reconstructs the lives of the early Christians in order to "introduce the treasures of early Christianity to a large number of modern readers". By studying how the early Christians believed and lived, we can learn many valuable lessons on what to avoid and what to strive for today. The Roman world had many facets that are strikingly similar to elements of modern life. Sommer's aim is to help the reader learn how to transform modern culture with the power of the Gospel as was first done in the centuries of the early Church. Besides providing the inspiring practical example of the lives of the early Christians, the author also emphasizes the importance of being able to trace clearly the development of Christians' understanding of many key concepts and beliefs. The main focus, however, is on the lives of the early Christians and how many of them achieved a great level of spiritual grandeur. Carl J. Sommer holds a Master's Degree in Historical Theology. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife and two children. 
The Night Is Far Spent: A Treasury of Thomas Howard
Selected by Vivian W. Dudro In his books and articles, Thomas Howard has never been one to shy away from controversy. While attending the Evangelical Church of his parents and teaching English at an Evangelical college, Howard wrote his provocative best seller Evangelical is Not Enough. Soon after entering the Anglican Communion, Howard began asking the kinds of questions that would eventually lead him into the Roman Catholic Church. Throughout his pilgrimage of faith, Howard wrote numerous thought-provoking yet respectful articles on a wide range of topics for both Protestant and Catholic publications, gaining him a wide and loyal following. Known for his wit and charm, Howard also was a sought after speaker for conferences and college graduations. Due to a request made by one of his faithful readers, this collection of Howard's best material has now been published. Liturgical reform and sacred architecture, women's ordination and hierarchical authority, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien--these and many other topics of interest to Protestants and Catholics alike are tackled by Howard with his characteristic thoughtfulness in these articles and speeches that span more than twenty years of his prolific career. Thomas Howard was a highly regarded Professor of English and Literature for over 30 years. He is the popular author of numerous books including Dove Descending: T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets", Evangelical Is Not Enough, Chance Or The Dance, Lead Kindly Light, On Being Catholic and many other fine works. Read more about him and his work on his IgnatiusInsight.com author page. 
Suffering of Love: Christ's Descent into the Hell of Human Hopelessness
Regis Martin Making sense of human suffering is a challenge in every age, and many a person confronted with man's inhumanity to his fellow man has lost his faith in a good God. The Holocaust, in particular, because of the scope of its ruthlessness, has raised the question for modern man: "What kind of God allows the horrible and systematic murder of so many innocent people?" Quoting widely from Christian, Jewish and secular sources, Regis Martin makes an unflinching examination of this universal question on the meaning of suffering. By meditating on Christ's passion, death and descent into Hell, he asks us to consider anew the God who overcomes evil by plunging himself into the depths of human misery. The author presents the arguments of those who say that because of the Holocaust, and other such numerous horrors in history, all human discourse is suspended, including that which presumes the existence of a good and all-powerful God. He responds with a penetrating discussion of the deeper meaning of Christ's life, passion, death and resurrection in relation to human suffering, and then uses the examples of modern martyrs of the Holocaust such as Edith Stein and Maximilian Kolbe to show the meaning of the sacrifice of their lives and so many others in the larger context of Christ's self-emptying for the sake of others. Regis Martin is a Professor of Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and the author of several books on spirituality and theology. His other works include The Last Things, Garlands of Grace, and Flannery O'Connor: Unmasking the Devil. 
For the Love of Wisdom: Essays On the Nature of Philosophy
Josef Pieper In these elegant and engaging essays, the internationally acclaimed Thomist, Josef Pieper, defines and defends philosophy as the search for and love of wisdom. True philosophy is not the work of joyless academics pondering over esoteric writings that have no relation to real life. Rather, the philosophical act, in which all reasonable men can participate, begins in wonder at what is, and gratitude for what is given, and ends in love. In his encyclical letter Fides et Ratio (On the Relationship between Faith and Reason), Pope John Paul II called for a revitalization of true philosophy, for man can find fulfillment "only in choosing to enter the truth, to make a home under the shade of Wisdom and dwell there." Pieper's essays make the same ardent and convincing plea. Josef Pieper is renowned for having popularized the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, a brilliant student of St. Thomas who, in his own voluminous works, has made the deep thought of the "Angelic Doctor" more accessible and understandable to the modern reader. "Pieper's profound insights are impressive and even formidable" - New York Times "Pieper has subjects involved in everyone's life; he has theses that are so counter to the prevailing trends as to be sensational; and he has a style that is memorably clear and direct." - Chicago Tribune 
On Conscience
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger Prepared and co-published by the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, this book is a combination of two lengthy essays written by Cardinal Ratzinger and delivered in talks when he was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Both talks deal with the importance of conscience and its exercise in particular circumstances. Ratzinger's reflections show that contemporary debates over the nature of conscience have deep historical and philosophical roots. He says that a person is bound to act in accord with his conscience, but he makes it clear that there must be reliable, proven sources for the judgment of conscience in moral issues, other than the subjective reflections of each individual. The always unique and profound insights that the new Pope Benedict XVI brings to perennial problems reminds the reader of his strong warning before the recent Papal conclave of the great dangers today of the "dictatorship of relativism." 
The Dialectics of Secularization: On Reason and Religion
Joseph Ratzinger and Jürgen Habermas Two of the worlds great contemporary thinkers--theologian and churchman Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, and Jürgen Habermas, philosopher and Neo-Marxist social critic--discuss and debate aspects of secularization, and the role of reason and religion in a free society. These insightful essays are the result of a remarkable dialogue between the two men, sponsored by the Catholic Academy of Bavaria, a little over a year before Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope. Jürgen Habermas has surprised many observers with his call for "the secular society to acquire a new understanding of religious convictions", as Florian Schuller, director of the Catholic Academy of Bavaria, describes it his foreword. Habermas discusses whether secular reason provides sufficient grounds for a democratic constitutional state. Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI argues for the necessity of certain moral principles for maintaining a free state, and for the importance of genuine reason and authentic religion, rather than what he calls "pathologies of reason and religion", in order to uphold the states moral foundations. Both men insist that proponents of secular reason and religious conviction should learn from each other, even as they differ over the particular ways that mutual learning should occur. 
By Their Works: Profiles of Men of Faith
Stephen Singular This coffee-table sized book, profiling 65 Knights of Columbus whose lives span the entire 124-year history of the Order, is a lively, lavishly-illustrated look at the lives of men whose lives and faith were powerfully influenced by their membership in the Knights of Columbus. By Their Works includes chapters on many well-known Knights including Babe Ruth, Vince Lombardi, Joyce Kilmer, Gov. Al Smith and others, but it also includes many extraordinary but less well known Knights, such as Father Thomas Mulcrone and James Connolly, the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in modern times; Lt. Daniel O'Callaghan, a New York City fireman who lost his life trying to rescue others at the World Trade Center on 9/11; and Sgt. Maj. Dan Daily, a two-time Medal of Honor winner once described by the commandant of the Marine Corps as "the outstanding Marine of all time." Others profiled include six priests, Knights of Columbus and saints of the Catholic Church, who were martyred in Mexico during the Cristeros rebellion of the 1920s. Large trim size of 11 x 11. Includes dozens of photographs and other illustrations. 
The Miracles of John Paul II
Pawel Zuchniewicz An instant best-seller when released in Europe in January, this powerful book describes the life and impact of Pope John Paul II as told by individuals from all over the world who give moving personal testimonies how they experienced healings through the intercession of Pope John Paul II during his lifetime. From little children to old age adults, including Cardinals, well-known lay people and many others, these detailed testimonies reveal amazing healings and answers to prayers through the direct intervention of John Paul II while still alive. This book also takes us behind the scenes of the May 13, 1981 assassination attempt on the Pope in St. Peter's Square, shedding new light on this event by presenting it in the context of the Third Secret of Fatima. World Youth Days are also examined, revealing the incredible spiritual impact the Pope had on the young people as testified by many of the youth at WYD events all over the globe. 200 pages. Sewn hardcover. Lavishly illustrated with photographs. 
Benedictus: Day by Day with Pope Benedict XVI
Edited by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P. With this new book you can start every day with a meditation from Pope Benedict XVI! Edited by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P., (the editor of Magnificat), Benedictus is compiled from books, talks, and homilies by the Pope. In the same richly decorated and beautifully typeset style of the Magnificat missal, this volume gives 366 meditations for the entire year, from January 1st to December 31st. Each meditation is accompanied by two masterpieces of sacred art, helping you with your prayer and reflection. A hardcover volume with an elegant ribbon marker in papal colors, Benedictus is the perfect gift for any Catholic seeking to know our Holy Father or to deepen their spiritual life. Sewn hardcover. 416 pages. 732 pieces of sacred art. "The Benedictus refers to the advent of the incarnate God in our midst. Christ's eucharistic coming makes a present occurrence out of a promise, and brings the future into the here and now." - Pope Benedict XVI 
The Way of Love: Reflections on Pope Benedict XVI's Encyclical Deus Caritas Est
Edited by Livio Melina and Carl Anderson In response to Benedict XVI's first encyclical, the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies and Marriage and Family reflects, together with the Holy Father, on love. From the very beginning, the fundamental work of the Institute has been pursuing a deeper understanding of God's plan for marriage and family. In these twenty-five years various generations of students and professors, following the legacy of John Paul II, have been able to discover and communicate the beauty of the vocation for which all men have been created: the call to love. Twenty-six professors from the Institute's various sessions express what in their understanding are the main themes of the document, approaching the topics raised by the Holy Father with different theological and philosophical perspectives; by so doing they have highlighted the significance and fecundity of the lines of thought suggested by the Pope. This book is offered as a path towards a fuller understanding of the profundity and richness of the love with which God fills us and wants us to communicate in our turn. Sewn hardcover. 375 pages. 
Advent of the Heart: Seasonal Sermons and Prison Writings: 1941-1944
Alfred Delp Fr. Alfred Delp was a German Jesuit priest who was imprisoned in Berlin. At the time of his arrest, he was the Rector of St. Georg Church in Munich, and had a reputation for being a gripping, dynamic preacher, and one who was an outspoken critic of the Nazi regime. He was an important figure in the Resistance movement against Nazism. Accused of conspiring against the Nazi government, he was arrested in 1944, tortured, imprisoned, and executed on Feb 2, 1945. While in prison, Fr. Delp was able to write a few meditations found in this book, which also includes his powerful reflections from prison during the Advent season about the profound spiritual meaning and lessons of Advent, as well as his sermons he gave on the season of Advent at his parish in Munich. These meditations were smuggled out of Berlin and read by friends and parishioners of St. Georg in Munich. His approach to Advent, the season that prepares us for Christmas, is what Fr. Delp called an "Advent of the heart." More than just preparing us for Christmas, it is a spiritual program, a way of life. He proclaimed that our personal, social and historical circumstances, even suffering, offer us entry into the true Advent, our personal journey toward a meeting and dialogue with God. Indeed, his own life, and great sufferings, illustrated the true Advent he preached and wrote about. From his very prison cell he presented a timeless spiritual message, and in an extreme situation, his deep faith gave him the courage to draw closer to God, and to witness to the truth even at the cost of his own life. These meditations will challenge and inspire all Christians to embark upon that same spiritual journey toward union with God, a journey that will transform our lives. 
In the Light of Christ: Writings in the Western Tradition
Lucy Beckett The good, the true and the beautiful--it is for these that our souls long. Though they reside in unity and perfection in God alone, the written word is one place we can discover glimmers of divine light. The writings of great souls can turn our gaze toward God as he is revealed in Jesus Christ. Even authors who do not know Christ or who reject Christ can still point to him, for anyone who seeks the truth finds it; and any one who turns his back on the truth turns away from a someone whose presence can often be more keenly felt in his absence. In this volume, Lucy Beckett illuminates some of the finest writings in the Western tradition and trains our eye to discover in them the Christian vision of God. She masterfully guides us through Sophocles, Plato, Augustine, Dante, Shakespeare, Dostoyevsky and many others, deftly demonstrating each author's worth as a bearer of truth. 
The Song of Bernadette: A Novel
Franz Werfel (Foreword by George Weigel) This is the classic work that tells the true story surrounding the miraculous visions of St. Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, France in 1858. Werfel, a highly respected anti-Nazi writer from Vienna, became a Jewish refugee who barely escaped death in 1940, and wrote this moving story to fulfill a promise he made to God. While hiding in the little village of Lourdes, Werfel felt the Nazi noose tightening, and realizing that he and his wife might well be caught and executed, he made a promise to God to write about the "song of Bernadette" that he had been inspired by during his clandestine stay in Lourdes. Though Werfel was Jewish, he was so deeply impressed by both Bernadette and the happenings at Lourdes, that his writing has a profound sense of Catholic understanding. "On re-reading the Song, what struck me most about Werfel's craft was how deeply this Jewish writer, who had long been interested in Catholicism but who had never converted, had entered into Catholicism's sacramental imagination. For all its unsparing depiction of the poverty of the French Pyrenees, the pettiness of local officialdom, the skepticism and institutional-mindededness of local churchmen, The Song of Bernadette is shot through with a sense of the extraordinary that lies on the far side of the ordinary, revealing itself through the simplest things." - George Weigel, from the Foreword 
But I Have Called You Friends: Reflections on the Art of Christian Friendship
Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C. In these gentle, simple, yet profound conferences, Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C., explores both the necessity and the difficulty of Christian friendship. Friendship is the basis of all fruitful love, she wrote. Whether we are single or married, priest or religious, the Lord himself called us his friends and commanded us to be the friends of one another. Mother explained the reason this command is so difficult: knowing, understanding, and respecting another person are necessary for loving him, and these things take time. We must be friends if we are to love. With this small volume, Mother Mary Francis inspires us and helps us to be patient by revealing both the demands and the rewards of our vocation to love and be loved. Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C., was abbess of the Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Roswell, New Mexico. Her thoughtful letters, essays, poems and books have spread her spiritual wisdom far beyond the walls of her cloister. Other Ignatius Press books by Mother Mary Francis include A Right to Be Merry, Forth and Abroad, and Anima Christi: Soul of Christ. 
Saint Francis: A Biography
Ivan Gobry He has inspired countless films, paintings, poems and novels. But who was Francesco Bernadone, now known as Saint Francis of Assisi? Despite the wealth of writing on the life of this great saint, many still don't know the man. They know the legend: a Francis made palatable to modern sensibilities--the happy friar who carols to the birds and writes poems to the sun and moon. This is the image of the saint that is usually presented, even though it fails to encompass the true personality of Francis. Ivan Gobry, Ph.D., takes on the task of revealing the real man, the man who abandoned wealth and chose to live a beggar's life. Saint Francis lived a life that was full of danger and adventure, ministering to lepers and even traveling to Egypt in an attempt to convert the Muslims. Disciples flocked to him, drawn by the radical challenge of living the Gospel in a world that had become attracted to decadence. Francis rejoiced in nature and animals, but also fought spiritual battles against temptation and vice. Dr. Gobry restores a profoundly human dimension to the Little Poor Man of Assisi: a far cry from the image that has become conventional. Ivan Gobry, Ph.D., a specialist in the medieval period and professor emeritus at the University of Rheims, is the author of a great number of studies on the Middle Ages and philosophy. He is considered to be one of the foremost experts on Francis of Assisi. 
Canticle of the Sun
Saint Francis of Assisi | Artwork by Fiona French The beloved hymn of Saint Francis of Assisi, The Canticle of the Sun, is one of the greatest songs of Christendom. In it he praises the Creator for all the glories of creation, especially "Brother Sun" and "Sister Moon". Inspired by Byzantine art, acclaimed artist Fiona French presents twelve mosaic tableaux that light up a sparkling translation of the canticle. The hymn is a beautiful poem, and a profound prayer, touching on the incredible beauty of God's creation, but also the profound meaning and importance of how we give praise to God when we forgive. These original mosaic illustrations by French are a dazzling celebration of God's gift of life and all creation. Her splendid art combined with the beauty of the the hymn of St. Francis present a book that will be deeply inspiring for all ages. Illustrated in full color with gold accents. Fiona French is the celebrated, award-winning artist of numerous art books, including her two Ignatius titles designed in classic stained-glass style, Easter and Bethlehem. 
The Grunt Padre: The Servant of God, Fr. Vincent Capodanno
Fr. Daniel L. Mode This is the definitive biography of Fr. Vincent Robert Capodanno, a chaplain for the Marine Corps during the Vietnam war. Greatly beloved by so many who served under his spiritual care, Fr. Capodanno died on the field of battle giving the last rites to the US soldiers he served so well. He was just declared a "Servant of God" by the Vatican, which is is the first major step toward the canonization of a saint. Fr. Mode recounts the story of Capodanno's life growing up in America, and shows how he prepared himself so well to serve God and his fellow man with such deep love and courage. He truly embodied the ideal of "dying to yourself" in the service of others, and inspired that ideal in all those around him. Fr. Mode includes moving first-hand testimonies by those who knew and served with Fr. Capodanno. Illustrated. 
Hammer & Fire
Fr. Raphael Simon, O.C.S.O., M.D. There is a way to happiness that is meant for all, but the path is known by few. It is a tradition that has existed in Judeo-Christianity from the beginning, founded on the Scriptures, and nurtured by the Church. It is the way of prayer and contemplation, and its goal is to become fully human and alive, integrated and mature, through a transforming union with Jesus Christ through which we become truly ourselves. This book is about that transforming union--God's plan for our happiness. "This eminently practical guide is an invaluable resource for the man or woman of today who is seeking to find the one true happiness in this life--union with God." - Roy Schoeman, author Salvation is from the Jews 
Year of the Black Pony
Walt Morey It's the early 1900's, and the Fellows family has decided to make a go of homesteading in the Oregon high desert. But the venture has been disastrous. Inexperienced Mr. Fellows resents any advice from his wife, who grew up on a farm. Ma is not only troubled about that, but 7-year-old Ellie's chronic illness is a source of worry and expense. 12-year-old Chris eases his own misery by stealing away from work to watch a neighbor's wild black pony, only to get into trouble. Then, when it seems things could not get worse, Fellows gets drunk and dies. Not willing to give up, Ma stubbornly--and creatively--seeks a way for the family to stay in Oregon. Frank Chase, an unintentional element in the death of Chris's father, is added to the mix and challenged by Ma to keep his word to help the family. The dramatic and sometimes humorous contest of wills comes to a satisfying culmination when, after Frank's purchase of the wild black pony for Chris, Ma is reluctantly forced to once again use her "backbone of steel" for the good of all. A great family read-aloud! 
The Wind Blows Free
Loula Grace Erdman Forced to give up his store in East Texas, Mr. Pierce introduces his family to the daunting challenge of life in a sod hut on the windswept plain of the Texas Panhandle. While the move offers a prospect of something new to little Carolyn and adventure to the lively twins, Bert and Dick, it promises to be an ordeal of labor and isolation for Mama, Melinda and timid Katie. 14-year-old Melinda Pierce, the oldest, is especially dismayed. She has given up her friends and happy town life, for this? She clings tightly to her grandmother's promise that when Melinda is 16 she may return to East Texas and join her friends at school. Before long, however, Melinda is caught up in the compelling beauty of this land of wind and wide horizons, with its adventures and with its gift of new friendship. This is the first of three stories about the Texas Panhandle of the 1890's, each highlighting one of the Pierce family daughters. NEW IGNATIUS PRESS BOOKS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 Request a FREE Ignatius Press catalog If you'd like to receive the FREE IgnatiusInsight.com e-letter (about every 1 to 2 weeks), which includes regular updates about IgnatiusInsight.com articles, reviews, excerpts, and author appearances, please click here to sign-up today! |
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