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Mother Angelica revolutionized Catholic media and popularized the universal call to holiness, bringing this fundamental Catholic teaching to generations of the faithful. Here is the essence of Mother's thought on this topic, presented in ways that only she can teach.It's Mother Angelica at her best as teacher and mother informing you about holiness while deftly but gently guiding you along the narrow path to sanctity. Imbued with all that Mother learned from her decades in cloistered religious life as well as from her ventures in mass media, these pages will help you grow quickly in love of Christ and His Church.Mother Angelica's Guide to Practical Holiness: essential reading for every Catholic who is seeking holiness in our difficult times.

Widely recognized as one of the most talented and respected journalists in Rome, Paul Badde offers here a unique glimpse into the drama of Pope Benedict's pontificate. He doesn't simply capture the various reasons for which Benedict XVI will go down in history, Badde chronicles the almost superhuman struggle against overwhelming hostilities that formed against this shy and exceedingly kind man. With fascinating vignettes back into history, you'll learn how Pope Benedict's experiences in a totalitarian Germany impacted the papacy and the Church, and how this son of a policeman became the "Thomas Aquinas of our time" one of the most brilliant and accomplished minds on the globe. Leaning on his own personal conversations with Pope Benedict as well as his extensive interviews with those within the Holy Father's inner circle, Badde explains how Pope Benedict dealt with the blows and calumnies that rained down on him during those tempestuous eight years. You'll come to a deeper a deep appreciation of Pope Benedict's goodness and holiness, and you'll understand why only he could can have steered the ship of the Church during the storms of our time. With Paul Badde, you'll have a close-up view of Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate as you learn: Why he removed "Patriarch of the West" from the pope's list of titles What led the pope's valet one the few people who had unfettered access to the pope to betray his secrets Why he included the scallop shell on his coat of arms Why he had such a strong devotion to the Face of Jesus What he was really trying to say in his Regensburg Address that infuriated Muslims throughout the world Why his visit to Turkey, despite threats from Al Qaeda, was so important The bold way in which he reintroduced the Latin Mass His answer to the visible disagreements between books of the Bible Why he chose Benedict XVI as his name

Do you attend Mass out of love rather than obligation? Are you closer to God now than you were a year ago? Are you able to keep a consistent prayer life? If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your spiritual life needs a jump-start. In Humdrum to Holy, popular priest and radio host, Fr. Ed Broom, will stir in you a holy reverence and spiritual joy that'll point your soul to heaven. By following the wise counsel of this experienced spiritual advisor and confessor, you'll first learn how to identify your "kryptonite" those hidden sins in your life that keep God from working in your soul. Fr. Ed will walk you through the simple steps to creating a plan of life your roadmap to the heights of holiness. In a clear, methodical, and practical way, you'll learn how to cultivate virtues like patience and purity virtues that are difficult to attain but essential for happiness in this life and getting into heaven in the next! You'll discover some of the most potent Catholic traditions, such as lectio divina, that have made saints out of countless sinners. And he'll show you how to transform pious practices such as Confession and Eucharistic adoration into a powerhouse of graces flooding into your soul. And finally, you'll learn how to keep your spiritual life strong by forming a healthy conscience, and how the pains of suffering can be transformed into the tears of joy. Scripture tells us that where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. Our world needs saints, and God is offering you the graces needed to become one. Leave behind the humdrum spiritual life and open the door to the road to sainthood. Fr. Broom is ready to show you the way.

When St. Jane Francis de Chantal encouraged St. Francis de Sales to be a bit angrier over the opposition they were facing in starting their religious order, he replied, "Would you have me lose in a quarter hour what has taken me twenty years' hard work to acquire?St. Francis de Sales had quite a temper when he was young. But over time he learned to convert his angry feelings into virtuous action. He knew that anger never leads to happiness. Worse, it causes tremendous harm to our relationship with God.In these pages, the wise Fr. Morrow shows you how to pull the rug out from beneath your anger and reclaim a life of peace and grace. You'll come to understand the root causes of angry behavior, ways to heal painful memories, and how to deal well with your hurts and humiliations. You're not likely to overcome blowups and anxiety through willpower alone. You need tools that help you cultivate the habits that lead to virtuous action. You'll discover here simple ways to influence your behavior, control your impulses, and rebuild tattered relationships.When you follow the simple advice offered in these pages, you'll be surprised at how quickly you're giving up all desire for revenge, forgiving those who hurt you, and finding peace in your life. You'll also learn: The difference between righteous and sinful anger. Why saying "Well, that's just the way I am" could cost you your soul. The three root causes of every angry outburst The five stages of healing hurtful memories. How to discipline an angry child The three actions every Christian MUST take to overcome sinful anger.

In this brief yet penetrating book, Dr. James Papandrea cuts through the confusion by revealing what the early Church Fathers actually taught and believed about the Holy Scripture as well as how they read, understood, and interpreted the Word of God.

Ancient Rome's brutal culture exploited the weak and considered human life expendable. Women were used as property; unwanted children were left on the streets to die.Four centuries later, even ordinary men and women prospered in what had become a vigorous new Christian society; a society that served the vulnerable, exalted women, treasured virtue, and loved peace. Faith had triumphed. Truth was proclaimed. And on this rock-solid foundation, Christian society flourished in the West for the next 1500 years.These eye-opening pages document the many ways in which Christians penetrated and civilized that debased Roman empire, introducing then-radical notions such as the equal dignity of women, respect for life, protection of the weak and vulnerable, and the obligation of rulers to serve those they rule and maximize their freedom.Here you'll learn about the seven specific areas where any paganism, ancient or modern, is particularly vulnerable. They provide a roadmap for modern Christians to reclaim for the Faith our own neo-pagan modern culture.Facing an overwhelmingly dark and hostile culture, Rome's early Christians took the steps necessary to transform it. Their struggles and the hard lessons they learned - documented here - afford us hope that, by imitating their example, we may do the same for our culture today.

In his definitive book A Catholic Scientist Harmonzies Science and Faith, Dr. Gerard Verschuuren draws from the reflections of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Dr. Peter Kreeft, and numerous scientists, such as Albert Einstein and Gregor Mendel, who reveal the essential connection between reason and religion.

In The Catholic Guide to Loneliness, Dr. Kevin Vost-- prolific author, lecturer, and veteran Catholic psychologist-- offers a comprehensive guide to loneliness affording men and women the deepest possible answers to the pain of loneliness.Rooted in ancient philosophical and Biblical wisdom, and buttressed by modern theory and research, these pages bring you to an understanding of the root causes of loneliness and teach you remedies-- secular and religious.The Catholic Guide to Loneliness includes scores of lessons about loneliness from solitary monks, modern psychologists, saints like Thomas More and Thomas Aquinas, and Christ Himself.This resource does not promise a universal cure to the pain of loneliness. It does, however, provide the wisdom-- old and new-- to unveil how our loneliness may be aggravated by our sins and shortcomings, and how if our loneliness is indeed unavoidable, we may bear it gracefully, indeed, even joyfully and with much fruit for the salvation of neighbor and ourselves.

Hymns are more than beautiful musical compositions; they provide us with a heightened language for praising and speaking to God, all while teaching us theology that reflects both the depth and complexity of Our Lord. Sacred hymns in our day have given way to "fifth-rate poetry set to fourth-rate music," as C.S. Lewis once remarked. At times, the music used in worship can make us feel as though the culture is usurping the Church rather than being transfigured by it. There is a clear and present need to resurrect those distinctively different songs with a distinctively different vocabulary for people who want to live distinctive lives as followers of Christ. In these pages, Fr. George William Rutler introduces and reflects upon dozens of the greatest hymns written from the earliest years of the Church through the Twentieth Century. The text and composition of each hymn is included, as well as inspiring accounts of their authors and composers, fascinating stories and historical events connected with them, and notes on the significant contributions each one made to theology and music. Fr. Rutler has recovered here a rich musical legacy that will help us to give glory to our God who is Lord of all.

How the saints, the sacraments, and psychiatry can help you break depression's grip and find happiness again Countless Christians including scores of saints have suffered profound, pervasive sorrow that modern psychiatrists call "depression." Then, as now, great faith and even fervent spiritual practices have generally failed to ease this wearying desolation of soul. In these pages, Catholic psychiatrist Aaron Kheriaty reviews the effective ways that have recently been devised to deal with this grave and sometimes deadly affliction ways that are not only consistent with the teachings of the Church, but even rooted in many of those teachings. Extensive clinical experience treating patients with depression has shown Dr. Kheriaty that the confessional can't cure neuroses, nor can the couch forgive sin. Healing comes only when we integrate the legitimate discoveries of modern psychology and pharmacology with spiritual direction and the Sacraments, giving particular attention to the wisdom of the Church Fathers and the saints. Here, with the expert help of Dr. Kheriaty, you'll learn how to distinguish depression from similarlooking but fundamentally different mental states such as guilt, sloth, the darkness of sin, and the sublime desolation called "dark night of the soul" that is, in fact, a privileged spiritual trial sent to good souls as a special gift from God. You'll come to know how to identify the various types of depression and come to understand the interplay of their often manifold causes, biological, psychological, behavioral, cultural, and, yes, moral. Then you'll learn about exciting breakthroughs in pharmacological and other medical treatments, the benefits and limitations of psychotherapy, the critical place that spiritual direction must have in your healing, and the vital role that hope Christian hope can play in driving out depression.

Rather than turning away from death, great saints such as Robert Bellarmine, the author of this book, use it as a lens through which to view life from the right perspective - God's perspective.

As musicians, we routinely witness - and personally experience - the powerful influence music has over our bodies, emotions, and minds. As parish musicians, our task is to wield this power in service of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus on the altar. Indeed, your music, by speaking to humanity in a language deeper than words, can save our world by drawing souls to Christ where He most longs to encounter them - in the Eucharist. Nothing can spark and fan the flames of desire - of longing, love, awe, and reverence - quite like music can when it is skillfully directed to the task. That's why I've written Music and Meaning in the Mass,to guide you carefully through the principles that help draw congregants into active participation in the Mass. Rather than advocating any particular musical style in the liturgy, I offer this book as a means of enlivening your Eucharistic devotion and elevating your awareness of the theological realities of the Mass, particularly with regard to the function of the musical responses. Some of the topics I cover in these pages include: Why music is capable of conveying meaning - even without lyrics The three principles that will ensure that your musical choices accord with the truth of the sacred texts you sing The four keys to choosing an entrance hymn that draws congregants into active participation A three-step miniature "examination of conscience" for musicians How the musical choices we make impact a congregation's willingness to sing together in church How an instrument's ability to sustain multiple notes directly impacts the participation of the faithful As a parish musician, you possess the match that can be struck to ignite hearts in a unique and potent way. With this book as your guide, you can use your music as never before to awaken in others a desire to welcome, receive, and console Jesus on the altar with a new and vibrant love.

How to make good "€" and Godly "€" decisionsShould you take that job?Pursue that relationship?Buy that house?What Does God Want? gives you the tools you need to overcome your doubts and make wise choices . . . all in accordance with God's will.Here Fr. Michael Scanlan, former president of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, lays out for you the five critical questions you must answer as you wrestle with important "€" but naggingly difficult "€" decisions that keep you up at night.Should you have that risky operation?Move mom into a nursing home?Report your son's marijuana to the police?Over the decades, Fr. Scanlan's five simple questions have helped generations of his colleagues, students, and friends penetrate to the very heart of countless hard problems like these, leading them to wise solutions . . . and welcome peace.From Father Scanlan you'll learn: How you must pray before making serious decisions.How to discover your real motives for preferring certain solutions.The role that intuition should "€" and should not "€" play in your decisions.How to determine if that still, small voice is God speaking to you . . . or the Devil!"Signs" confirming your choices: are they really from God or just wishful thinking? Learn here how to tell.And much more to help you grow in love for God's holy will and make good "€" and Godly "€" decisions!

This collection of testimonies by nine former atheists who found new life in the Catholic Church is one of the most helpful tools for cultivating the faith ever crafted! Here you'll meet: The atheistic Jew who sparked the conversion of a fellow atheist, and led him into the priesthood. The Nietzsche-loving bodybuilder whose atheism was upended by St. Thomas Aquinas. The hardened, anti-Catholic, neo-Nazi convict who shed his vices and became a celebrated Catholic author. The commune-dwelling hippie socialist who is now a happy Catholic husband and father. The once militant, gay atheist who is now "Christ's willing captive." And other prominent members of our Church who, in our generation, have escaped the swamp of atheistic relativism and embraced Holy Mother Church! Dramatic and thought-provoking, these intensely personal stories refute virtually every atheistic objection to God while explaining the arguments and events that eventually led them into the Catholic Church. Here you'll encounter proofs for the faith that will confirm your own faith and help you explain it to others, including to atheists. Read and learn: The irrefutable testimony of conscience. Proof that faith is not blind. The facts that baffle evolutionists. The overwhelming failures of materialism. Proof that the Church herself is a miracle. Why consideration of the Big Bang leads to the conversion of so many souls. How both Mary and the male priesthood are not arguments against the Church, but evidence of her holiness. How in all critical areas, the Catholic position is logical, historical, and definitive. Plus scores of other arguments to pry even stubborn souls away from their atheism and show them the beauty of our Faith. Along the way, you will come to learn about proven convert-makers

Martinez shows you how to live in the obscurity of faith, detached both from consolations and desolations, and why this is best for your soul.

With simplicity and grace, these pages illuminate for you the wisdom in Saint Therese's Little Way, showing how it can enable you, too, to abide in the serenity of the children of God. Led here by the wise Father Joel Guibert, you'll soon come to realize how easy - and how good - it is to surrender yourself to God's providence (as Therese did): in your prayers, in your dealings with others, in your concerns about your loved ones, in your sufferings, and yes, even in your joys. Saint Therese's way of abandonment lightens every burden of day-to-day life. Lighten your own burdens by learning from Father Guibert how to make it your way, placing every worldly care confidently in the hands of the Almighty. You'll grow quickly closer to God and, even in life's darkest moments, come to share in the peace and joy He promises. In these pages, you'll learn from Saint Therese: -How to trust God despite evils that beset you -How to overcome your fear of abandoning yourself -How to abandon yourself to God fully, without holding anything back -How abandonment to God will diminish your sufferings -How even your weaknesses can benefit you -What to expect when you abandon yourself to God -And much more!

In this candid and vulnerable memoir, Kim Zember exposes details of her life that many wouldn't dare to admit, let alone publish. Her desires for women, money, and comfort lead her down a path far from that of her Christian upbringing. Her impulsive lifestyle, coupled with an underlying fear of being alone, constantly drive her to drown out the small whisper of God she hears in moments of silence and stillness. Torn by her desires, she lives a double life, jumping back and forth from husband to girlfriends, drunken nights to morning church, Southern California real estate to nonprofit work in Ethiopia. These pages of conflict, questioning, and seeking embody the struggle of a human soul. Yet even out of the darkest moments, love breaks through in radical ways and carries her into her God-given purpose, into serving others, into joy. Kim's transparency about her life offers encouragement to those seeking peace and joy for their own restless hearts. In the end, love wins.

Joseph is the most hidden of the saints a simple, retiring, and humble man of Nazareth. His exterior life reveals nothing extraordinary or striking. Yet he is exalted by the Church as, next to Mary herself, the greatest of all the saints and even Patron of the Universal Church. Do you know why? Apparently, the Church knows more about St. Joseph than most of us do. This remarkable book finally breaks the silence. Drawing not on private revelations or pious legends, this beautiful and edifying work unearths many truths about St. Joseph hidden in the Gospel, to bring them to light and make use of them in Joseph's honor. Here you'll encounter surprising details about the life Joseph led on Earth in the most intimate companionship of Christ as well as the role he is playing even today in the life of the Universal Church.

About St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope John XXII said: "A man can derive more profit in a year from his books than from pondering all his life the teaching of others." And Pope Pius XI added: "We now say to all who are desirous of the truth: 'Go to St. Thomas.' " But when we do go to Thomas - when we open his massive Summa Theologica or another of his works - we're quickly overwhelmed, even lost. If we find him hard to read, how can we even begin to "think like Aquinas?" Now comes Kevin Vost -- the best-selling author of > -- armed with a recently rediscovered letter St. Thomas himself wrote - a brief letter to young novice monk giving practical, sage advice about how to study, how to think, and even how to live. In this letter written almost 800 years ago, St. Thomas reveals his unique powers of intellect and will, and explains how anyone can fathom and explain even the loftiest truths. Vost and St. Thomas will teach you how to dissect logical fallacies, heresies, and half-truths that continue to pollute our world with muddy thinking. Best of all, you'll find a fully-illustrated set of exercises to improve your intellectual powers of memory, understanding, logical reasoning, shrewdness, foresight, circumspection, and practical wisdom.

The fear of growing old is a universal burden. Here's the book you need to ensure that you move into and through old age with grit and grace. Fr. John LaFarge shows you how to conquer any fear of aging - and how to make your golden years the best years of your life.

Heresies, schisms, culture of death, persecutions, excommunications ... While reflective of headlines from today, these difficulties roiled Christians of the early Church as well.

Archbishop Gänswein's stunning reflections on the Stations of the Cross will give life to your own Stations of the Cross devotions and awaken in you a love and sympathy for our Lord greater than any you have felt before.

This reprint of the 1952 classic contains prayers for each topic from the traditional Roman Missal that help you foster the proper spirit of mind and unction of heart for fruitful meditation.

"The Catholic Church saved my marriage and, quite possibly, my life." So begins David Anders in this remarkably forthright book. In it, David reports that by the early 2000s, his marriage was so painful that he and his wife had just one thing in common: contempt for each other. Today, he and his wife are extremely happy together "š€š" not because of marriage therapy, but because they came to know and fully embraced the Catholic Church's teachings on marriage. Many people who encounter the Church's teachings are shocked by their rigor. Yet the Church offers much more than rules about sexual restraint; she offers a way to make marriage into something supernatural, even mystical. Here Dr. Anders shares his personal discovery and offers a robust defense of the Church's teaching on marriage "š€š" even the most controversial topics of divorce, remarriage, gay marriage, and contraception. With the Church's teachings and the writings of the saints as his guide, he also offers practical, time-tested ways to live in peace despite an unhappy marriage, the value of suffering, and ways to overcome reluctance to forgive grave offenses. In a culture that breaks apart marriages and undermines human dignity, Dr. David Anders offers a hope-filled alternative for those who live moral and spiritual lives in union with Christ and His Church.

Millions love St. Therese of Lisieux, not only for her wisdom, but for her unwavering passion to serve God in life and in death. Listen with your heart as this most popular of saints speaks with simple charm about her life. These 120 readings excerpted from the writings of St. Therese of Lisieux will help you get to know first hand the pure, simple girl whom Pope Pius X called "the greatest saint of modern times.