In this book St. Patrick testifies to us of his conversion, trials, and tribulations in seeking, surrendering, and suffering for Christ. Even though most of us do not dare attempt to aspire to reach the heights of St. Patrick, it is important to realize that God made each and every person an individual - not to be like another - but rather to be like Christ. He made each person unique and endows each of us with different gifts and graces. This is why we study and admire other followers of Christ but we are not to try to be exactly like another. In growing in virtue - yes. But God has a very specific wills and assignments for each of us. Nevertheless it is helpful to study and reflect on the virtues of others like St. Patrick.
When Sr. Miriam James Heidland’s life as a successful college athlete proved unfulfilling, she went searching for something deeper and ended up falling in love with Jesus. By charting her own journey toward wholeness, Heidland invites young Catholics to pursue their own relationship with Jesus. Although originally full of athletic ambition and goals for a career in sports news, Heidland was transformed in a very slow but deep way during her undergraduate years, moving from party girl to bride of Christ. In Loved as I Am: An Invitation to Conversion, Healing, and Freedom through Jesus, Heidland helps readers learn from her experience of seeking love in the wrong places and instead finding it in Christ. She shares her struggles—learning she was adopted, battling alcoholism, and healing from childhood sexual abuse—as signs of hope that anyone who desires to know Christ can find him and be loved intimately by him in return. By bringing readers into Heidland’s healing process, Loved as I Am provides a gentle and subtle template for finding peace and freedom in Jesus.
In this warmhearted memoir, the author revisits growing up the youngest of six in an Irish Catholic family in post–World War II Cleveland. You’ve heard of Murphy’s Law and even the Peter Principle, but here’s a new one: Patrick’s Law. Patrick’s Law, which deserves at least equal space in the index of life, states that in large families, the youngest gets the shortest end of the stick. The youngest has certain traits that can last to adulthood: “His clothing will mark him and his position in the family strata. His socks will droop because of a lack of elasticity brought on by age and the larger ankles of his brothers. The youngest will generally never hold an original opinion for fear of being informed he is a klutz by at least one of his brothers. He will always be referred to as So-and-So’s little brother and will NEVER (a) get the Sunday funnies first, (b) go anywhere without telling at least two persons where he is going, or (c) be able to read a comic while seated on the family’s only commode.” Patrick’s Corner is a collection of stories about growing up after World War II in a world where family life, neighborhood interdependence, and nurturing environments were the norm. The author describes how one family’s steadfast devotion to each other, and their foundation of moral values helped them surmount the challenges of poverty. Told with the sensitivity of the “baby of the family,” this memoir is full of warmth, love, growing pains, and the struggles for survival. The author writes about his “comin’ up” as the youngest of six sons in an Irish Catholic family headed by a widowed mother. Like most brothers, the Patrick boys fought, but more often they were friends who talked, laughed, and shared their growing pains with each other. Even if you have never had to wear hand-me-down clothes or been referred to as So-and-So’s little brother or sister, these stories are sure to touch your heart. Praise for Patrick’s Corner “A bred-in-the-bone storyteller, the author makes this memoir a dramatic, moving and irrepressibly witty delight.” —Publishers Weekly “A nostalgic tribute from the baby of a family—life-affirming.” —Kirkus Reviews
The Shroud of Turin is celebrated as one of the holiest and most important relics of Christianity, with millions of pilgrims traveling to see the precious cloth in Italy on the rare occasions it has been displayed. Yet despite its enormous global popularity, the Shroud's authenticity is not without question. To address lingering uncertainties head-on, celebrated Catholic scientist Dr. Gerard Verschuuren explores and synthesizes the various scientific studies conducted on the Shroud —including those analyzing DNA, blood, carbon, pollen, textile, and anatomical issues — as well as its storied history. He then scrutinizes the motives of the individual scientists performing these studies, the assumptions they employed to arrive at their conclusions, and the instances in which they veered into areas outside the competence of the sciences. After this exhaustive and highly satisfying analysis, Dr. Verschuuren reveals the reasons why he believes the Shroud of T
As Catholics, the Mass is the center of our Faith. We celebrate it every day. We know all the responses. We know all the gestures. But do we know what it all means? In A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, Dr. Edward Sri takes us on a unique tour of the Liturgy. Based on the revised translation of the Mass, this book explores the biblical roots of the words and gestures we experience in the Liturgy and explains their profound significance. This intriguing look at the Mass is sure to renew your faith and deepen your devotion to the Eucharist. This book is used as the text for A Biblical Walk Through the Mass Study Program, but it may also be purchased separately at steep bulk discounts. For those not able to attend a study, this is a perfect resource for catechesis on the deep riches of the Mass.
Make lessons come alive! Share the faith by telling powerful, compelling, unforgettable stories! Reach young people "inside," where your message can change their hearts and make a difference. In an age when storytelling has become a lost art, Stories with a Purpose provides lessons for both the spirit and the heart. Thought-provoking narratives--poignant, humorous, and best of all, real--help make challenging, abstract concepts more memorable. Each story comes with tips to enrich the telling, discussion questions, follow-up activities, and prayer experiences to increase the story's impact and learning potential.
In this surprising adventure catechism, between lessons taught by Abraham, St. Patrick, St. Cecilia, and, of course, Eve, the mother of all mankind, two children travel back in time to witness exciting scenes from the history of creation.
