While pontiff, Saint John Paul II brought forth an abundance of documents which will continue to be a permanent source of enrichment for the Church and society. This volume of summaries of the Pope’s major documents, with questions for study, makes these invaluable writings more accessible to each of us, and emphasizes the aspects of his teachings of most interest and application to the lives of the laity. For personal, small group, or class enrichment, John Fagan’s summaries help expose and illuminate the heart and mind of one of the Church’s greatest figures in history. John E. Fagan is an attorney who lives and works in Northern Virginia. He was born in Philadelphia and was raised in Colorado Springs. He has degrees from the University of Notre Dame (BA), Northwestern University (JD), and New York University (LLM).
Former-Swiss Guard, CEO and business leader, Andreas Widmer gives a behind-the-scenes look into Pope John Paul ll, "the most authentically human person I've ever met," and reveals how those memories shaped and forged his success as a corporate executive.
St. John Paul II propelled the Church into a new era of fruitful contemplation about the dignity and value of women, often reiterating how women — specifically as women — reveal the image of God in the world. But his final contribution to that topic may be his most profound. Just months before he passed into eternity, he summed up his decades of teaching on the topic: “To you, women, falls the task of being sentinels of the Invisible!” In these eye-opening pages, author Melissa Maleski shows how this final bold admonition succinctly embodies the Catholic Church's entire, consistent vision of women as powerful, vital agents for good. Drawing not only on the works of John Paul II and on those of the Church Fathers but also on the example of scores of holy women in the Bible plus the Blessed Virgin Mary and the many female saints of the Church, these pages offer profound and practical insights into the fundamental strengths and habits that distinguish womanhood as a particular way of being human, while giving authentic witness to the divine image of our Creator. Be warned: here you'll encounter no outdated, sentimental ode to “feminine genius.” On the contrary, reaching across time and space, Maleski's straightforward, engaging prose introduces you to the bracing, universal truths of the Church about the inherent strength and supreme vocation of womanhood, equipping you to counter forcefully our secular culture's distorted views of personhood, the human body, gender, sexuality, and the profound, God-ordained complementarity of men and women. Along the way, you'll come to learn: How women, specifically as women, reveal the image of God in the world The full truth about the vital place of womanhood in the Church and in the world “Sentinels of the Invisible”: what the phrase means and why it's so important How womanhood as a “supreme vocation” is part of every personal vocation Why the devil has a special fear of womanhood and a particular hatred of women Why the devil always seeks to promote an imbalance of power between the sexes How modern notions of sexuality and gender pervert God's image and His plan for creation How marriage and religious life empower women rather than oppress them Why St. John Paul II called women “Guardians of the Gospel Message” And much more, in our confused times, to show forth for you “the supreme vocation of women”!
The bestselling author, speaker, and teacher of John Paul II's Theology of the Body explores the yearning we all have for God and each other. Fill These Hearts is a book about desire. Not trivial wants or superficial cravings, but the most vital powers of body and soul, sexuality and spirituality, that haunt us and compel us on our search for something. Weaving life-altering lessons together from classical and contemporary art, pop music, movies, and the Christian mystical tradition, popular theologian Christopher West explores the ancient but largely forgotten idea that the restless, erotic yearnings we feel in both our bodies and our spirits reveal the cry of our hearts for God. Along the way, West blows the lid off the idea of Christianity as a repressive, anti-sex religion by demonstrating that Christ came to stretch and inflame our desire for love and union to the point of infinity.
“Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” —Luke 10:8-9 When Jesus sent seventy disciples on ahead of him, part of their mission was to heal the sick. In fact, they were supposed to heal the sick before they preached the Gospel. Best-selling author Mike Aquilina calls this command the healing imperative. And it’s an imperative that ushered in the world of modern medicine. The Healing Imperative: The Early Church and the Invention of Medicine as We Know It reconstructs the fascinating history of a uniquely Christian institution: the hospital. Underlining how the virtues of charity and hospitality motivated the first generations of Christians, along with Jesus’ explicit command to heal the sick, Aquilina shows just how revolutionary the actions of Christian doctors and nurses were and how they transformed society in ways that still reverberate today. The radical developments in health care spearheaded by Christians influenced culture, society, and civilization. As The Healing Imperative proves, now more than ever, the compassion of Christians is needed to guide the world of medicine. Jesus’ command still resonates, and Aquilina urges us to respond.
From a preeminent authority on the Catholic Church and papal biographer, "an intimate understanding of John Paul II" (Weekly Standard) In Lessons in Hope, George Weigel tells the story of his unique friendship with St. John Paul II. As Weigel learns the pope "from inside," he also offers a firsthand account of the tumult of post-Vatican II Catholicism and the Cold War's endgame, introducing readers to the heroes who brought down European communism. Later, he shows us the aging pope grappling with the post-9/11 world order and teaching new lessons in dignity through his own suffering. A deeply humane portrait of an eminent scholar learning a saint, Lessons in Hope is essential reading for anyone seeking a fuller understanding of a world-changing pope.
If you are confused by the array of conflicting teachings that claim to be Catholic, or have found the Catechism too difficult to read, then this book will give you clear, concise, and readable explanations of the foundational truths for living the Catholic faith. Organized by topic, Dr. LaBarbara has pulled from countless Church documents to present a timely and compelling synthesis of not only what the Church teaches, but how those teachings fit together perfectly in a true unity of faith and truth. Read these pages, and you’ll learn so much more about who God is and who you are, and how fully embracing the Church’s teachings will lead you to truly live the glorious freedom of the children of God.
The National Catholic Reporter editors have selected the most significant of Peter Hebblewaite's articles on the life and times and church of Pope John Paul II. They were stirring years of world change and papal trips and not a little controversy.
"There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us." Pope Saint John Paul II embodied these words throughout his life. Born May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, Karol Józef Wojtyła lived in times of political turmoil. As a young man during the Nazi occupation of Poland, he studied in an underground seminary. As pope, he was instrumental in the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. Through it all, he maintained an unwavering hope in the ultimate triumph of love, truth, and beauty. He remains a hero to millions of people for his unflinching defense of the Church and her teachings. John Paul II changed the world in many ways; this book describes 100 of the most important. Each of the 100 accomplishments, teachings, or stories about John Paul II is fascinating, providing a glimpse into the astounding life and impact of this great and beloved saint. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Patrick Novecosky is one of America's most accomplished Catholic communicators. The winner of more than two dozen awards from the Catholic Press Association, he has edited and written for some of America's top Catholic publications. Patrick is managing partner at NovaMedia, a marketing firm specializing in the Catholic space. He met Pope Saint John Paul II five times, and he has made Pope Francis laugh out loud. Most importantly, he is a husband and father of five beautiful children.
