IGNATIUSINSIGHT.COM ARCHIVES for JUNE - OCTOBER 2004


OCTOBER 2004:

• Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, husband and father of four, writes about "The Meaning and Necessity of Spiritual Fatherhood".

• "Male and Female He Created Them": On Marriage and the Family by Jorge Cardinal Medina Estévez is an explanation, reflection, and defense of marriage that is theologically rich, accessible, and frank. This is a powerful work that is all the more important because of the many attacks being made in our day on the sacred institution of marriage. Read an excerpt from the book here

• Michael O'Brien is the author of several books, notably his seven volume series of novels, Children of the Last Days. Michael talks with IgnatiusInsight.com about his new novel, A Cry of Stone, the work of the novelist, and the role of the arts in the Catholic Church and in the world. Read part one of the interview here and part two here.

• Apologist, professor, and philosopher Peter Kreeft, one of the most prolific and beloved Catholic writers of the last two decades, shares his thoughts about his journey to the Catholic Church as a young adult, his writing, and the current state of Catholic apologetics.

• The Father Fessio Files for early August can be read here.

• Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J., Editor, Homiletic & Pastoral Review reflects on the identity of the priest, in his column "Priest, Man of Mystery.

• George Weigel, the best-selling author of The Courage to be Catholic, The Truth of Catholicism, and Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II, talks about his most recent book, Letters To A Young Catholic.

• Twenty years ago Joseph Pearce was a radical activist, a skinhead, and the editor of two hate-filled, extremist magazines. Today, he is the author of several critically acclaimed, best-selling biographies of great nineteenth- and twentieth-century Christian authors. He talks to IgnatiusInsight.com about his most recent book for Ignatius Press, The Unmasking of Oscar Wilde, the challenge of writing biographies, and his dramatic converstion in an English prison.

• Carl E. Olson, editor of IgnatiusInsight.com, reflects on T.S. Eliot’s haunting poem "Ash Wednesday" some twenty years after he first read it. Read "Assumed into Mother's Arms" here.

SEPTEMBER 2004:

• The story of the Jewish Carmelite Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, known in the world as Edith Stein, presents us with one of the more brilliant converts to come to the Faith in the twentieth century. Read more about Edith Stein's life and martyrdom here.

• The African slave trade left a lasting stain on the Western Hemisphere but its cruel challenge was met by St. Peter Claver (1580-1654), "slave of black slaves for all time." Sandra Miesel writes about this saint's unfailing charity and dogged persistence in the face of overwhelming odds.

• Fr. Gabriele Amorth is the Chief Exorcist of Rome and he has performed thousands of exorcisms over many years. He is also the author of the best-selling books An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories. Read an exclusive excerpt, "The Power of Satan," from An Exorcist Tells His Story and learn more about the very real spiritual battle that rages around us and how Satan and evil spirits are seeking to destroy souls.

• In an exclusive interview with IgnatiusInsight.com, Bishop Michael J. Sheridan of the Diocese of Colorado Springs discusses his recent pastoral letter directing pro-abortion politicians to not receive Eucharist, the reaction to his stance, and what Catholics should always keep in mind when voting. Read entire interview here.

• Carl E. Olson, editor of IgnatiusInsight.com, reflects on T.S. Eliot’s haunting poem "Ash Wednesday" some twenty years after he first read it. Read "Assumed into Mother's Arms" here.

• Thomas J. Nash’s new book, Worthy Is The Lamb: The Biblical Roots of the Mass, illustrates how the biblical roots of the Mass go much deeper than the Last Supper and Christ’s Passion. Old Testament sacrifices like Abel’s, Abraham’s and the Passover all prefigure and are fulfilled by Christ’s Sacrifice. Indeed, Nash shows how Christ’s Sacrifice has two distinct, yet inseparable phases: What began on the Cross culminated in everlasting glory when Jesus entered once for all into the heavenly holy of holies. Read Part One and Part Two of an exclusive interview with Thomas J. Nash.

• "Male and Female He Created Them": On Marriage and the Family by Jorge Cardinal Medina Estévez is an explanation, reflection, and defense of marriage that is theologically rich, accessible, and frank. This is a powerful work that is all the more important because of the many attacks being made in our day on the sacred institution of marriage. Read an excerpt from the book here

AUGUST 2004:

• Sissel’s music is that rare gift to believers, beautiful recordings about love, life, and God. A classic/pop crossover soprano, Sissel’s albums have sold 8 million in Europe. Find out what critics and the legendary Placido Domingo have to say about Sissel's otherwordly voice.

• Apologist, professor, and philosopher Peter Kreeft has been one of the most prolific and beloved Catholic writers of the last two decades. In this recent interview Dr. Kreeft shares his thoughts about his journey to the Catholic Church as a young adult, his writing, and the current state of Catholic apologetics.

• Round two of the Father Fessio Files, from early August, can be read here.

• Twenty years ago Joseph Pearce was a radical activist, a skinhead, and the editor of two hate-filled, extremist magazines. Today, he is the author of several critically acclaimed, best-selling biographies of great nineteenth- and twentieth-century Christian authors. He talks to IgnatiusInsight.com about his most recent book for Ignatius Press, The Unmasking of Oscar Wilde, the challenge of writing biographies, and his dramatic converstion in an English prison.

• Cardinal Ratzinger's God Is Near Us is a collection of essays, homilies, and reflections on the Eucharist, the Heart of Life. " Throughout this compelling book the Cardinal reveals the biblical, historical, and theological dimensions of the Eucharist. The excerpt, "The Lord Is Near Us in Our Conscience, in His Word,in His Personal Presence in the Eucharist" is a homily on Deuteronomy 4:7.

• A two-part Interview with Donald De Marco & Benjamin Wiker about The Architects of the Culture of Death. DeMarco and Wiker have dug down to the foundations of the Culture of Death in their fascinating examination of its “architects, " including Ayn Rand, Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Jean-Paul Sartre, Alfred Kinsey, Margaret Sanger, Jack Kevorkian, and Peter Singer. Find out what they have uncovered and how it has shaped today's world. View the Table of Contents of Architects of the Culture of Death here.

JULY 2004:

• "Judaism Fulfilled": Roy H. Schoeman's Salvation is From the Jews traces the role of Judaism and the Jewish people in God's plan for the salvation of mankind, from Abraham through the Second Coming, as revealed by the Catholic faith and by a thoughtful examination of history. Part one of an interview with Schoeman. Part two of the interview.

• "One Kreeft, Three Approaches": Few can rival Peter Kreeft when it comes to incisive analysis of controversial topics such as abortion. Three Approaches to Abortion is "a slender book that hits like a stiff punch" says the National Catholic Register. Find out more about this unique guide to one of the most important issues of our time.

• Read the introduction to Three Approaches to Abortion here.

• "Holy Cloud!: Saints Who Brought Me Home" by Carl E. Olson, editor of IgnatiusInsight.com. "This year marks seven years that my wife and I have been Catholic. Here is a look at seven (well, eight) saints who helped us come home, including parents, a novelist, a journalist, a poet, and a theologian."

• Part 2 of interview with Dr. Donald De Marco and Dr. Benjamin Wiker, authors of The Architects of the Culture of Death.

• Part 2 of "Judaism Fulfilled," an interview with Roy H. Schoeman, author of Salvation Is From the Jews.

• The debut of The Father Fessio Files featuring questions answered by Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J., founder of Ignatius Press. In the column's debut, Fr. Fessio talks about what he has been doing for the past couple of years.

• Part 1 of interview with Dr. Donald De Marco and Dr. Benjamin Wiker, authors of The Architects of the Culture of Death.

• Part 1 of "Judaism Fulfilled," an interview with Roy H. Schoeman, author of Salvation Is From the Jews.

• "Christianity In the Twenty-First Century" by Dr. Glenn W. Olsen, author of Beginning at Jerusalem.

• "The Perfect Post-Modern Novel?" by Carl E. Olson & Sandra Miesel, authors of The Da Vinci Hoax.

• "Clueless 'Code' Craze Goes On", a review by Carl E. Olson of Secrets of the Code: An Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code.

• "One Kreeft, Three Approaches", a review of Peter Kreeft's Three Approaches to Abortion.

• Excerpt from Philip Trower's Turmoil & Truth: The Historical Roots of the Modern Crisis in the Catholic Church. Chapter 17: "Enter Modernism".

• "Personally Opposed—To What?" by Dr. James Hitchcock.

• A review of Ronald Knox's The Belief of Catholics and "A Lesson Learned From Msgr. Ronald A. Knox".

• An introduction to the life and work of theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar.

JUNE 2004:

• ZENIT interview with Joseph Pearce, author of The Unmasking of Oscar Wilde (June 17, 2004).

• "Fact or Fiction?": Carl Olson and Sandra Miesel, authors of The Da Vinci Hoax, on Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code.

• "G.K. Chesterton: Common Sense Apostle & Cigar Smoking Mystic" by Dale Ahlquist, author of G.K. Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense.

• Excerpts from Charles Cardinal Journet's classic Theology of the Church.

• "A Short History of Ignatius Press"