Faith Magazine

Good luck getting through an entire day without experiencing the impact of Catholicism. Woken up by an alarm or checked the time? The mechanical clock was invented in the tenth century by a monk who became pope. A bowl of cereal for breakfast? Your milk is safe thanks to Louis Pasteur, a devout Catholic whose research was driven by a love of God and humanity. Knock on wood? It's actually an ancient Catholic practice invoking the power of the Cross when facing trouble or danger.

Each entry in 150 People, Places, and Things You Never Knew Were Catholic is rich with detail and nuance. Here are Catholic stories full of drama, decisions, and inspiration.

The fruits of our Catholic Faith are all around us, and the ways in which the Church has shaped history and the secular world can be found in science, art, pop culture, sports, and more. Our most enduring (and endearing) customs, pastimes, practices, and institutions often can be traced back to an inventive, resourceful Catholic. You'll discover things you never knew -- and come away with inspiration for how you, too, can impact the world.

"A spiritual classic of the first order... a book for all those who truly seek God." --Dom David Knowles

"Father de Caussade has a wonderful way of encouraging the doubtful, of nurturing the personal surrender that is so much a part of the development of faith. The book is a mystery of its own -- and is definitely not for Christians only." --Rabbi Joshua Chasan

"Abandonment to Divine Providence is a classic perhaps more necessary now than ever before. It's a little book that rightly rejects the spirituality of fear and trembling (and the modern preoccupation with dreary self-absorption) in favor of an abiding trust in God's active benevolence. This is a work one reads again and again, always with gratitude and astonishment." --Donald Spoto, Author of Blue Angel and The Dark Side of Genius

Augustine's Confessions is one of the most influential and most innovative works of Latin literature. Written in the author's early forties in the last years of the fourth century A.D. and during his first years as a bishop, they reflect on his life and on the activity of remembering and interpreting a life. Books I-IV are concerned with infancy and learning to talk, schooldays, sexual desire and adolescent rebellion, intense friendships and intellectual exploration. Augustine evolves and analyses his past with all the resources of the reading which shaped his mind: Virgil and Cicero, Neoplatonism and the Bible. This volume, which aims to be usable by students who are new to Augustine, alerts readers to the verbal echoes and allusions of Augustine's brilliant and varied Latin, and explains his theological and philosophical questioning of what God is and what it is to be human. The edition is intended for use by students and scholars of Latin literature, theology and Church history.

Every day we have another opportunity to pray for the holy souls in purgatory - author, speaker, and purgatory expert Susan Tassone gives you a unique tool to do just that.

Day by Day for the Holy Souls includes prayers, teachings about purgatory, real-life stories, Susan's own wisdom, meditations, quotes from the saints, and more. You can use this book however you like - as a daily devotional, as a year round novena, to follow the liturgical seasons - or, just pick it up and read as the Spirit leads you.

God has given us the duty, power and privilege of praying for the release of the holy souls. Now Susan Tassone has given you a powerful way to accomplish that mission.

OTHER TRANSLATIONS

Slovak version

Our Catholic churches are filled with an abundance of signs and symbols, some of which you may have never noticed or understood. The sacred art, architecture, and artifacts of a church building proclaim the Real Presence of Christ, God dwelling among us in the Blessed Sacrament. The saints portrayed within a church are witnesses to Eucharistic living, and we can identify them through various symbols that tell us about their lives, their works, and their witness to the living presence of God.

In Entering Heaven on Earth, Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP, shows you how to decode the signs and symbols found in our churches and to identify the saints depicted in them. This richly illustrated book filled with photographs the author has taken in churches from around the world will help you to see the churches you worship in or visit from a fresh perspective and to remember the true purpose of a church building.

A church is a visible expression of heaven come down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. It is always, first of all, a place for the Christian people to assemble for the sacred liturgy and celebrate the Eucharist. The beauty of nature, the creativity and craft of mankind, the good works of the virtuous and the just are all brought together in a church building to remind us of the graced activity of God, who is present to make us holy and draw us into a deeper union with him.

How can we transmit a living, personal Catholic faith to future generations? By coming to know Jesus Christ, and following him as his disciples.

As we emerge from a pandemic into a post-Christian world, these are times of immense challenge and enormous opportunity for the Catholic Church in the United States. Consider these statistics:

If the Church is to reverse these trends, the evangelizers must first be evangelized. In other words, Catholics in the pew must make a conscious choice to know and follow Jesus before they can draw others to him.

Ten years after it was first published, Forming Intentional Disciples is still helping scores of Church leaders, parish staff, and all Catholics transform parish life from within. World-renowned author and speaker Sherry Weddell leads you through the steps that will help Catholics enter more deeply into a relationship with God and the river of apostolic creativity, charisms, and vocation that flow from that relationship for the sake of the Church and the world.

In this spiritual powerhouse of a book, Eric Sammons organizes the wisdom of St. Josemaria Escriva into an action plan for living out holiness in your everyday life. The goal: to foster God's grace within you so that you can be transformed into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Declared "the saint of ordinary life" by Pope John Paul II, St. Josemaria Escriva - a twentieth-century Spanish saint and founder of Opus Dei - did more than anyone to convey that holiness isn't reserved for those in religious life but is a universal call for all of us, whatever our vocation. St. Josemaria's riches-to-rags story is an inspiration for anyone who seeks to answer Jesus' call to "be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

In these pages, you'll discover details about his mystical experiences as well as the nitty-gritty of his daily living. What's more, you'll find out how to implement a plan based on his everyday spirituality. Specifically, you will learn:

In page after page, Eric Sammons unpacks St. Josemaria's spirituality and offers you practical reflections and suggestions for meditation, oral prayer, and contemplation. With this book as your guide, you'll soon make a habit of powerful spiritual exercises that will assist you in advancing in holiness and keeping Christ at "the pinnacle of all activities."

Welcome to the Catholic Church!

Now that you're officially a Catholic, you might be wondering, "Now what?"

Shaun McAfee has been where you are. As a convert, he worried that he might not be a "good Catholic." He wanted to take part in the sacraments, really prepare for Mass, learn how to defend and even share his faith, and understand certain Catholic devotions. Yet he wasn't sure how to do any of this, or where to look for answers once RCIA was finished.

If you feel the same way, I'm Catholic. Now What? Is the perfect resource for you!

In ten meaty sections, you'll learn about:

Dip into the sections as you have questions, or dive deeper as you are moved to learn about a particular topic or theme. Use it as a reference when people ask you questions about your new faith.

This resource is also ideal for people considering converting, and even for "cradle Catholics" who are interested in learning more about our Catholic Faith.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shaun McAfee is the author of Reform Yourself! and several other books. He is the founder and editor of EpicPew.com and contributes to many Catholic resources, including Catholic Answers Magazine and his weekly blog at the National Catholic Register. He holds a master's degree in dogmatic theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary, is a lay Dominican, and lives with his wife and four children in Vicenza, Italy.

"Clear, profound and practical--you do not want to miss this book."--Dr. Scott Hahn, author of The Lamb's Supper and The Fourth Cup

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes. Using his in-depth knowledge of the Bible and ancient Judaism, Dr. Brant Pitre answers questions such as: What was the Passover like at the time of Jesus? What were the Jewish hopes for the Messiah? What was Jesus' purpose in instituting the Eucharist during the feast of Passover? And, most important of all, what did Jesus mean when he said, "This is my body... This is my blood"?

To answer these questions, Pitre explores ancient Jewish beliefs about the Passover of the Messiah, the miraculous Manna from heaven, and the mysterious Bread of the Presence. As he shows, these three keys--the Passover, the Manna, and the Bread of the Presence--have the power to unlock the original meaning of the Eucharistic words of Jesus. Along the way, Pitre also explains how Jesus united the Last Supper to his death on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Inspiring and informative, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist is a groundbreaking work that is sure to illuminate one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith: the mystery of Jesus' presence in "the breaking of the bread."

The smoke clears. The world watches. A name is announced. A man steps forward and the earth's gaze falls upon him.

We have a Pope! And his name is Leo XIV.

But who is this 266th successor to St. Peter? What is the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost's vision for the Church, and what impact will his papacy have on Catholics and on the world?

Veteran Catholic journalist and historian Matthew Bunson offers the first authoritative portrait of the new Holy Father. With unmatched access, deep sources in Rome, and a reputation for integrity and insight, Bunson delivers a compelling, richly textured narrative of the new pope's life, beliefs, and improbable journey to the Chair of St. Peter.

In this comprehensive and deeply satisfying account, you will discover:

Accessible, informative, and rooted in journalistic rigor and an intimate understanding of the Church, Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the man inside the white cassock--and the moment in which he will reign.

Discouraged by his affluent parents from his religious involvement and deep spiritual life, Pier Giorgio secretly ministered to the poor and marginalized, and was a leader of youth whose love of God transformed the lives of all those around him. He died of the polio virus at the age of 24, and the story of his life and death spread throughout Europe, influencing the young Karol Wojtyla, who as Pope John Paul II described Frassati as "a man of the eight beatitudes, a modern youth and great mountaineer who was keenly interested in the problems of culture, sports and social questions, as well as the true values of life." Pier Giorgio is a patron saint of World Youth Days. Illustrated.

At some point everyone needs a miracle.

It might involve your health, your finances, your family, or feelings of anxiety or hopelessness. But there comes a time when all of us experience the need for supernatural help, whether we have faith or not.

Numerous books have been written on miracles, but few explain in clear, practical, theologically sound language how to ask for one.

So many people in the world are suffering but don't know how to receive help. Some beg and plead with God. Some negotiate, promising that they will change their ways if only He will grant them this one request. But then, if their request is not answered in the way they desire, they lose faith or get angry or sink into despair.

There is a better way.

There is a method of praying for a miracle that guarantees the best possible chance of getting a yes from God -- or at least alleviation of our stress and satisfaction for our souls.

Bestselling author Anthony DeStefano explains this powerful new approach and, in the process, relates exactly how to overcome your fears and to experience "the peace that transcends all understanding."

Through his conversational style, compelling real-life stories, and wisdom, DeStefano explains:

If you need a miracle right now, this is the book for you. Included inside these covers is the Miracle Prayer, inspirational verses on miracles and hope, and a list of key intercessors for various needs.

Mirjana Soldo was only sixteen years old when she and five other children saw a mysterious woman on a hillside near the village of Medjugorje, ex-Yugoslavia. The woman--who possessed an extraordinary beauty and grace--identified herself as the Virgin Mary. The events that began on that summer afternoon in 1981 dramatically changed Mirjana's life and brought intense suffering at the hands of the communist authorities. After more than 35 years of apparitions, people still flock to Medjugorje in search of answers to life's big questions. Stories of miracles abound, and, according to Mirjana, more are yet to come--the Virgin entrusted her with ten prophetic secrets concerning the future of the world.

In her new auto-biography, My Heart Will Triumph, Mirjana tells the story of Medjugorje through her own eyes--the same eyes that, according to her testimony, gaze upon the most revered woman in history.