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St. Joseph obtains favors of any kind, but particularly in family problems, financial needs, purity, dangers, work, housing and a happy death. He is the universal patron---whatever our petition is, you can pray to St. Joseph with confidence. He was the foster father of Jesus Christ on earth, and Jesus still obeys his requests in heaven! God chose St. Joseph over all other men to represent the fatherhood of God Himself in the Holy Family. This book contains all the famous prayers: Novena for a Special Favor, Litany, 30 Days' Prayer, Memorare, for Purity, Conversion, a Happy Death, etc. Priced for wide distribution! Impr. 86 pgs, PB Also available in Large Print edition.

"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." > Understanding the book of Isaiah is fundamental to attaining a deeper knowledge of our Faith. In Father Mitch Pacwa's new book, Commentary on the Book of Isaiah, the prolific scripture scholar unpacks the mysteries contained in this prophetic book to guide Catholics on the path of sanctity. Isaiah is undoubtedly the greatest prophet in the Old Testament. The name Isaiah means "God is Salvation," which points to the main theme throughout the book. God has come to save His people, and this message is what makes Isaiah a necessary book for every Catholic to read, understand, and meditate upon. While reading the book of Isaiah is not always clear and straightforward, this commentary organizes the events and prophecies in chronological history to help the reader grasp all the grace and messages this beautiful book has to offer. This book can help us in our understanding of our faith as it traces the themes of the oneness of God, His perfections reflected in creation, God's punishment, the remnant, and the sending of the Messiah. Commentary on the Book of Isaiah will be an invaluable aid to your spiritual life as you come to know God through scripture.

Many people today desire a simple life that is closely connected to land, whether it be gardening, farming, or ranching. There is a spiritual draw to a non-consumeristic lifestyle that places God, the family, and the home at the center of all activity. This "agrarian conversion" has led many families to seek out rural communities and leave behind the suburban life. Over ten years ago two Catholic friends, Jason M. Craig and Thomas D Van Horn, experienced a similar agrarian conversion inspired by past Catholic land-movements and a growing desire to work with their wives and children, going deeper than just "supporting" them financially. Both began a journey, perhaps with a tad too much romanticism, toward land-based life on farms. All these years later, the two have been tempered by the unyielding realities of land and limitations, and have gained significant insights into the reasons, challenges, and possibilities of homesteading and farming. In The Liturgy of the Land: Cultivating a Catholic Homestead, Craig and Van Horn present the practicalities and theological aspects behind the desire for a productive, holy home. Our current culture understands economy in efficient consumeristic terms, but our Catholic Faith tells us different. The productive homestead is the center of economic life and the family is at the center of the homestead. This book aims at bringing the stories from their experience into a presentation and proposal of homesteading as a way of life, considering the principles (why?) and the practicalities (how?).

As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said, "Within the philosophical system of Marx and Lenin, and at the heart of their psychology, hatred of God is the principal driving force, more fundamental than all their political and economic pretensions." This is certainly true of the leaders of the Communist "dynasty" that currently rules China. Chairman Mao, the founder of the Red Dynasty, proudly referred to himself as wu fa wu tian--a Chinese phrase meaning that he was both Godless and lawless. His hatred of God was matched only by his rejection of all authority other than his own. The current occupant of the Dragon Throne, Xi Jinping, has a thriving personality cult, including a Xi Jinping app that everyone must have on their phones, which downloads daily readings from Xi's speeches and writings. Churches are being turned into "Civilization Practice Stations for the New Era," their Bibles confiscated and replaced with Xi's collected works, sermons replaced with political indoctrination of the "Thou shalt have no other gods before you than the CCP" kind. Pictures of Jesus Christ are taken down and 2replaced with pictures of Chairman Mao and Secretary Xi. In The Devil and Communist China, Steven W. Mosher lays out in great detail the diabolical self-aggrandizement rooted in Chinese ancient political theory, called Legalism, which established the prototype for the totalitarian rule that the Chinese people suffer under today. It is perhaps no accident that the red dragon has been China's archetypal symbol since the nation's unification in 220 BC. The Devil's false promise has always been "You shall be as Gods," and China's leaders down to the present day continue to make this Faustian bargain, to the detriment of the Chinese people and--ultimately--their own souls.

In The Synodal Pope: The True Story of the Theology and Politics of Pope Francis, Jean-Pierre Moreau traces the history and theological development of Pope Francis from his upbringing in Argentina and formation by the liberationist Jesuits. Moreau, a keen observer of liberation theology, many of whose leading figures he personally met when he was a special correspondent for the Figaro-Magazine in the 1980s, has made a close study of the personal and intellectual itinerary of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, described by his closest supporters as professing the "theology of the people." This particular focus on "the people" has theological and political underpinnings that many modern commentators do not grasp fully. It lies at the heart of understanding the Synod on Synodality. This is why Pope Francis puts so much emphasis on the "signs of the times" and on history. These are the new tools at the service of a doctrine that is inherently evolutionary. This book sheds light on the "real Bergoglio" and the real influences behind him. It is anything but a catalogue of trivia about Pope Francis's "governance" rather, it shows his deep-rooted coherence and true affiliations (which go back further than is generally imagined), and more importantly, it reveals the truly revolutionary nature of his idea of "synodality." If you want to understand this term from its genesis, this book is a must-read.

"Could there be anyone who does not realize just how perilous it is to give one's loyalty to this passing and inconstant world--which, sooner or later, casts down all those whom it raises up, and eventually takes away all that it gives?" --Cardinal Richelieu For many people, the name of Cardinal Richelieu will immediately call to mind the ambitious and cynical villain of Alexander Dumas's The Three Musketeers and its many cinematic adaptations. But the real Cardinal Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu (1585-1642), was a very different person than this fictional portrayal. A prelate of great sanctity, learning and wisdom, and an ardent devotee of the Mother of God, he lived in a profoundly turbulent era, when all of Europe (including France) was shaken by religious and political unrest. This man of God and servant of the people labored tirelessly to ensure the flourishing of the Catholic Church and the Kingdom of France, both of which he loved dearly. Cardinal Richelieu, who was a close friend of Pope Urban VIII and a key proponent of the reforms of the Council of Trent, was also an extremely popular spiritual author in his day. His timeless but long-forgotten masterpiece the Treatise on Perfection, presented here in English for the first time, overflows with wise insights and helpful guidance for nourishing a fruitful and sustainable spiritual life, particularly for those who are trying to balance prayer and devotion with complex and demanding secular responsibilities (as he himself did so successfully.) Cardinal Richelieu believed that the humble and diligent fulfillment of one's proper and legitimate duties in society is the single most important moral responsibility of the Christian, and also often the most effective form of prayer. This work also outlines the nine tortures of hell according to Saint Augustine, the joys of heaven, distractions at prayer, twenty spiritual counsels, and much more. Here is a book that will stir your heart to love God above everything by cultivating piety, virtue, and moderation in whatever state of life you are called to. Here is a book that pulls wisdom from some of the greatest saints to help you become a saint.

The Catholic Faith posseses a treasury of devotions, prayers, and rituals to draw us deeper into the spiritual life. Among these gifts, sacramentals hold a unique and vital place in the lives of all who seek God's grace. From rosaries and crucifixes to medals and relics, from bells and candles to salts and scapulars, these seemingly ordinary signs, when woven into our everyday lives, sanctify us and better prepare us to "receive the fruit of the sacraments" (CCC 1677). Compendium of Sacramentals explores this vast and fascinating world, giving us keen insights and a deeper understanding of the power of sacramentals. Readers will discover: The differences between the Church's three groups of sacramentals: blessings, exorcisms, and pious devotions The history, development, and spiritual reality behind each sacramental How sacramentals can become the chief instrument for disposing us to the seven sacraments of the Church Thorough explanations of devotions, including those familiar and unfamiliar Theological foundations for the belief that sacramentals are sources of grace that help Christians achieve sanctification and strengthen them on their journey to heaven Useful tips on defending each sacramental from both longstanding and modern objections In-depth guidance and instruction on using and practicing sacramentals A comprehensive understanding of the scriptural roots of various sacramentals Moving wisdom from the saints, popes, Church Fathers, and theologians on incorporating sacramentals into every aspect of daily life For converts seeking to immerse themselves in their newfound faith, as well as lifelong Catholics wanting to deepen their faith, Compendium of Sacramentals is an invaluable resource on the journey to heaven.

With St. Alphonsus Liguori as your spiritual guide, The Road to Calvary: Daily Meditations for Lent and Easter will take you on the long difficult path Our Lord took to His death and crucifixion. Drawing on the insights of the saints who have gone before him, Liguori adds his own insights into the events of the passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord so that you may truly enter the details of Christ's suffering and ultimate victory over death. By diving into the details daily, The Road to Calvary will quench the spiritual hunger we long for during Lent. He completes the Lenten journey with three magnificent meditations on paradise, for this is the goal of our earthly life. All of the saints have found rest and joy in the wounds Christ. Follow Christ to Calvary this Lent and find the rest and joy of the saints.

"For you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." --Saint Augustine of Hippo Of all the autobiographies ever written by mere mortals, Confessions by Saint Augustine of Hippo is the greatest. In this masterpiece, you will find a doctor of the Church longing for the true Doctor of the soul, Christ. Taking us from Augustine's roots in Africa to his encounters with his spiritual father Saint Ambrose in Milan, from his battle against his concupiscence to his famed conversion, Confessions is itself a veritable pilgrimage to the threshold of the new Jerusalem. Indeed, its end is not a biography but a breathtaking meditation on time and memory, on the human soul and the material world, and on the creative and redemptive power of God himself. In Dr. Anthony Esolen's new translation, the esteemed translator and author seeks to retain and reveal the figurative by hewing as closely as possible to the literal, both in the significance of individual words and in the manner of the author's expression. Confessions is a work of literary art, "one of the most stupendous ever wrought," he says, immensely rich in insights, and intricate in its returning, again and again, to the questions of a soul in search of truth and of answers ready to be found, if we will only seek, and ask, and knock. Confessions is like no other book you will ever read. According to Dr. Esolen, "The Confessions is one continued and coherent prayer, a profound profession of faith, and a plea for more, ever more wisdom, ever more love. It is artistic in its whole conception, in its parts and their arrangement down to the merest sentence. It is closer to the Gothic cathedrals that would grace Europe eight hundred years later than to anything that you or I might write about ourselves and our lives." In Confessions, the reader does more than encounter Augustine, the boy, the promising youth, the sinner, the teacher, the intellectual wanderer, the hesitant catechumen, and the Christian man set free at last. Through this book, the reader enters into his own spiritual journey, as we cry out to the living God in the depths of our hearts, "Let me know you, O Lord, who know me; let me know you even as I am known."

Sister Clare needs your help getting ready for prayer! Open the cover of this book, and you and your child will explore a cloistered monastery together and a day in the life of a Dominican nun. Dance your fingers across the pages, sing, count, move around, and pray; we dare you not to smile. Sister Clare Gets Ready for Prayer is the most creative way to introduce your little one to the joy of vocation and the gift of the religious life!

This beautiful little Latin Mass Children's Missal contains the Mass, Gospel stories for all Sundays and Feastdays, Daily Prayers, Prayers for Confession, Prayers for Holy Communion, The Stations of the Cross, explanation of the Holy Rosary along with all fifteen mysteries--with full color pictures on almost every page! Illustrations of vestments, objects for Mass and diagram of the "Plan of Holy Mass". A missal for use from First Communion to Confirmation.

For centuries, the Catholic Church served the cultural role of the principal patron of the arts. It is a historical fact that many of the world's most admired and treasured artistic masterworks are Christian in theme, origin, and location. There has never been a time in history when artists have not found inspiration and flourishing in the Catholic tradition. From the rustic art of the ancient Christian catacombs to majestic Byzantine basilicas, from the soaring Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages to the creative torrent of the Renaissance, from the mysticism of the Baroque to the present day, the truth and goodness of the Catholic faith has taken the form of the beautiful in masterpieces of sacred art that form an immense, enduring artistic heritage. Sacred Art Every Catholic Should Know is a unique invitation to discover a selection of the world's most renowned artistic masterpieces. From this vast treasury of sacred art, such pieces include: Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper Michelangelo's Pièta and the Sistine Chapel Ceiling Rublev's The Trinity Jan van Eyck's Ghent Altarpiece Fra Angelico's Annunciation Raphael's The Disputation of the Most Holy Sacrament Bernini's Ecstasy of Saint Teresa Caravaggio's The Calling of Saint Matthew El Greco's Pentecost Join in a unique, personal guided tour through these and other artistic masterpieces that evoke the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Catholic faith.

What we cannot see in our Creator, we can see in His creation. It is with the gift of the flower--a powerful representation of the love of God--that we can bridge not only home and garden but also the eternal and the everyday. In this fourth installment of Theology of Home, Emily Malloy explores the vibrancy and life of the garden. With her expertise as a florist, Malloy brings a wealth of practical ideas for incorporating flowers into our homes as we march through both nature's seasons and the Church's liturgical calendar. Yet this edition, like the rest of the series, does not stop at the material level. Remembering mankind's beginnings in the Garden of Eden, Arranging the Seasons highlights our intrinsic need for beauty within the human heart. Explored within this edition of Theology of Home are the deeper questions of life, family, love, and God that animate our efforts to cultivate the earth. In simple and small ways, it will inspire us to layer our lives and homes with the intangibles that turn the stuff of matter into a song.

A very optimistic book showing how an "ordinary" Catholic can become a great saint without ever doing anything "extraordinary"--just by using the many opportunities for holiness that to most people lie hidden in each day. Written with an assurance of success that is totally convincing and infectious. Many easy but infallible means of reaching great sanctity.

"Saint Albert the Great, one of the greatest Doctors of the Church and one of the most brilliant intellects of all time, recognized forty-two distinct virtues. His teachings not only name and define the virtues but also direct and guide us in the fruitful exercise."--Back cover.

In the battle for our children's souls, Catholic parents have a key advantage over the world: our families are destined for heaven. God willed us to exist now--in a world that celebrates sin as virtue and punishes Christians as "haters"--as part of His saving plan. In His abundant generosity, He confers on all His children the power to know, love, and serve Him. But His plan requires our participation. To spend eternity with Him in heaven, we must answer His call, now. Unbreakable is a resource designed to help Catholic parents raise children who are strong enough to resist the soul-endangering temptations to "get along" with and "get ahead" in the world. Recognizing that what occupies our children's imagination is of profound importance, this book tells the stories of four of the Church's most courageous saints--Saint Joan of Arc, Saint José Luis Sánchez del Río, Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko, and Saint Teresa of Calcutta--and the ten saints who inspired them during their lives, including Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Juan Diego, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, among others. Written for modern parents, Unbreakable continues a long tradition of helping families build a Christ-centered culture in their homes that can be passed on for generations.

"The greatest lovers in the history of the world were the saints, those who sought to love God above everything. For those saints called to marriage, it was God's love that led them to pursue their spouse in a most pure and holy courtship."--Provided by publisher.

We know that through Baptism we become children of God and heirs of heaven--that we receive sanctifying grace and have a share in the life of God himself. But what does that mean in our daily lives? The Glories of Divine Grace describes the immense gift of grace won for us by the Savior and the inconceivable power this grace gives to our lives. Among the mysteries of faith, the doctrine of grace occupies a preeminent place. It's at the heart of Christianity because grace is how God comes to us and how we embrace God. To take this gift of divine grace for granted or to let it go to waste is an offense against God. Fr. Matthias J. Scheeben's insights into the glories of divine grace reveal a man who knew this gift intimately and cherished it wisely. Don't let this astonishing gift go unnoticed or unused or misunderstood. Read this masterful and intriguing book on grace.

The Holy Grail: it conjures images of a rich and fantastic world full of magnificent adventures and perilous quests by gallant knights. It whispers of strange mysteries and fabled conspiracies staged by Templars, Cathars, Nazis, and innumerable secret societies. Was it the Cup used by Christ at the Last Supper, or something else? Is there any truth to the wonders and marvels bards and poets associated with it? After years of being co-opted by pop culture and New Agers, what significance can this fairy tale still hold for Catholics? Ah, but this is no fairy tale! As A Catholic Quest for the Holy Grail shows, not only does the Grail exist, its whereabouts are known today! Charles Coulombe examines the fabled vessel's literary and historical connections, but he offers far more than a stuffy history of a dusty old cup. Rather, he shows how the Holy Grail is the key to an entire genre of glorious relics and miraculous phenomena that extend from the time of Christ to the present day. A Catholic Quest for the Holy Grail uncovers the Grail's intrinsic connections to Catholic Monarchy and Chivalry, to the Precious Blood of Christ, the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts devotions, and to the Kingship of Christ and Queenship of Mary, as well as its ties to the Passion of Our Lord and the Blessed Sacrament. Indeed, the Holy Grail is not a myth, but a living reality, a key to a new understanding of the world in which we all live. As far in time and space as the Crucifixion at Golgotha and Medieval deeds of knightly valor, and as close as the next Mass you attend, the Holy Grail is there, a real myth. The Grail is proof that when J.R.R. Tolkien asks: "Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?" it can truly be answered: "A man may do both ... The green earth, say you? That is a mighty matter of legend, though you tread it under the light of day!" In these pages, discover the reality of the legend of the Holy Grail!

Which Gospel are you following?In the United States, the Prosperity Gospel's tenets, spread widely by many Protestant preachers, have crept into the Catholic Church. Where did the "Prosperity" Gospel come from? And how has it embedded itself so deeply in this country?In this book, Thomas Storck demonstrates the deep roots that the unrestrained desire for gain has in this country. He argues that the exclusion of serious religious discourse from American public life has led to the public square being emptied of all transcendence, reducing every aspect of social life to material gain: politics, the economy, education, science, the arts, and even religion itself.How many of we Americans' ordinary activities are undertaken solely for worldly comfort--with no reference to anything beyond this life, or even to our society's common good? How deeply have we ourselves been affected by the allures of riches and wealth?Here is a book that will expose one of the heresies that most vilely distorts the teachings of Christ: the Prosperity Gospel. Our treasure can only be found in heaven, not on earth. We must know the culture we live in that affects our daily living so that we can strive to be children of light and protect ourselves against the temptations of our times so that His will can be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

The Catechism Explained by Fr. Francis Spirago, edited by Fr. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., is such a well-known Catholic classic that it hardly needs any introduction. The book was written for three specific uses--to serve the preacher as a sourcebook for sermons, the catechist as a thorough explanation of the catechism, and parents as a complete statement of the entire Faith, to assist them in instructing their children. Written to achieve these objectives, the book specifically does not contain technical language so that it is not difficult to understand. But it is large, it is thorough, and it is interesting! Plus, there is no other book quite like it. A person has only to think of a Catholic subject he wants information on, look it up in The Catechism Explained, and there he will find a number of pages explaining this or that aspect of the Faith with a thoroughness that is truly enlightening--the more so because the treatment is always supported by pertinent quotations from Scripture and/or the Fathers and Doctors of the Church to reinforce what is being said. Although first published in 1899, the writing style and truths transcend their era so that they are still beneficial to all Catholics now, and the result is an amazing picture of the Catholic Faith, showing its reasonableness, comprehensiveness, beauty, and charm--not to mention the challenge it presents to Catholics to live up to its teachings. To make this 19th century text more accessible to the 21st-century reader, minuscule changes have been made throughout the text, most having to do with style: the titles of the Books of Scripture have been updated to reflect current usage (e.g., 1 Chronicles in place of 1 Paralipomenon) and the spelling of common biblical names were revised to their more familiar Hebrew (e.g., Noah in place of Noe; Joshua in place of Josue). The most important editorial addition to Fr. Spirago's text is the inclusion of footnotes directing readers to the appropriate paragraphs of the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church, where readers will find the most recent, magisterial articulation of the Church's faith. Additional footnotes have also been provided to indicate where, since Fr. Spirago's writing in 1899, the Church has further clarified elements of Divine Revelation, such as the solemn definition of the Blessed Virgin Mary's Assumption into Heaven, or made changes to Church discipline such as the necessity to fast from midnight before receiving Holy Communion or the absolute prohibition of cremation. At all times the editor has sought to maintain the integrity of Fr. Spirago's original text. In a handful of instances, however, substitutions for antiquated terminology were necessary to successfully convey his meaning to today's reader. It is with great pleasure, therefore, that we are reissuing The Catechism Explained and have added footnotes directing readers to the appropriate paragraphs of the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church. We are convinced that every Catholic adult should own a copy--whether he be a priest, for his sermon writing; or a catechist, to help him know and teach the Catechism better; or a parent, to help with the instruction of his or her children; or any other Catholic, simply to enable him to know his faith more fully. This book fulfills a unique role in Catholic literature. It is a book, therefore, that should always be ready at hand in every Catholic home and office, because only through steady use and reference will it achieve the tremendous results it was designed to achieve--and which it most certainly will achieve if used on a continuing basis.

The St. Francis de Sales Signature Set are representative of why St. Francis was so well-received during the Counter-Reformation, and indeed, throughout history. One can easily see why St. Francis de Sales received the title "Doctor of Charity" from the works selected (Introduction to the Devout Life; Consoling Thoughts; Sermons; Catholic Controversies), as his outpouring of it is evident in each of the four works. Introduction to the Devout Life is his efforts to help other souls love God like he did; Consoling Thoughts expresses his love for suffering souls in giving them solace and exhortation to continue; Sermons relay his daily love for his flock, preaching to them about the different aspects God's love; and finally, Catholic Controversies is his apologetical love, exerting effort to win souls back to the Church. Perhaps more than any other saint, St. Francis preached truth with love. His teachings, his works, and his very presence were consoling to those 72,000 lost souls of Switzerland and to millions of more over the centuries. Now, then, it is our hope that they will offer hope, consolation to a new generation of Catholics and spur on greater love of God and neighbor.

Few Catholics have anywhere near an adequate appreciation for the glory and splendors of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass--the central aspect of our Holy Faith. Fr. Michael Mueller's famous masterpiece on this glorious subject will come as a magnificent and direly needed revelation to many Catholic souls. Father Mueller joins a wealth of Catholic traditions, biblical facts, and enthralling true stories from Catholic history and the lives of the saints to show that in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we possess something of infinite value: the only gift we can offer to Almighty God which is not miserably unworthy of Him and through which we can obtain from God every possible favor. The Catholic Church is the only home for our dear Savior. The Catholic Church is the only place on earth that has a true and holy spirit of sacrifice worthy of offering to God. The Catholic Church is the only place where we can receive the full splendors of grace through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Eternity will not be too long for us to regret missing a single Mass, and the reader will be given scores of reasons to convince him that every transient sacrifice pales in comparison with the bounty received from participating just once in the eternal Sacrifice. The reader of The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will soon come to realize that the Mass is an inexhaustible mine of graces, the source of all favors from God, and absolutely the thing of greatest value in the entire universe.

"Christ's greatest gift, His divine flesh and blood in the Eucharist, is the eternal defining legacy of Christendom, the flower of Western Civilization. The Eucharist is not just a doctrine; it is a reality to be lived, and it must shape our entire lives and culture"--

n the face of a world crisis, which is manifestly deeper than one can imagine, many are inclined to ask: "Has Christianity failed?" Fulton Sheen's Thinking Life Through seeks to answer this critical question. The conclusions the author proposes are far-reaching and touch upon subjects as diverse as the truth and meaning of human sexuality, the purpose of life, discordant marriages, angels, alcoholism, the vocation of the soldier, materialism, parenting, and even the question of spanking children. On the critical subject of freedom, Sheen writes, "The true definition of freedom is the right to do whatever one ought, and oughtness implies law, goals, purposes, and perfection. Freedom is a moral power and not a physical one. It revolves around what man is rather than what man does. We are more free within the law than outside of it." Thinking Life Through also addresses the world's political climate, something that in many ways mirrors the present political discourse. Focusing on the tragic decline of post-Christian society, Sheen gives special attention to both the threat of communism and the dangers of socialism. Sheen also gives clarity to the role of the individual and the family while living in a time of moral and political uncertainty. Finally, Sheen addresses good manners and politeness as he states in his quintessential style, "Another effect of materialism is to be seen in the decline of courtesy. There is politeness and decorum and a desire to please others when it is generally recognized that every person bears within himself an image of the Divine." For anyone seeking to grow in wisdom, Thinking Life Through will be your guide.

Saint Joseph stands close to Jesus and Mary at the heart of the gospel story. Yet he remains largely in the background, silent and steady. Not surprisingly, Christians throughout the ages have pondered deeply this mystery that is Joseph. Many have speculated about the unknown details of his life, and several mystics were granted visions that portrayed the hidden days--both the ordinary and the extraordinary--of Our Lord's appointed guardian vividly and profoundly. The Life of Saint Joseph as Seen by the Mystics weaves together into a single narrative numerous episodes from five such visionaries: Saint Bridget of Sweden; Servant of God Marina de Escobar; Venerable Mary of Ágreda; Venerable Maria Cecilia Baij; and Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich. The Church insists that such private revelations cannot be viewed as another Gospel, nor even as accurate historical accounts or theological treatises. Instead, they provide a kind of sacred drama, full of spiritual insight and devotional power. In this fascinating story--which reads more like a novel than a history book--you'll journey alongside Saint Joseph as he: matures from childhood to manhood in preparation for his unique mission, responds with courage and wisdom to the startling revelations he receives in dreams, protects and cares for his Family during their journey to Bethehem and their sojourn in Egypt, labors daily to provide for his household during the "hidden years" in Nazareth, suffers heroically in his final years and dies peacefully in the arms of Jesus and Mary.This work serves as a companion to The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics, compiled by Raphael Brown (TAN Books, 1991). Together, the two books offer a compelling vision of the Holy Family that can deepen and transform your devotion to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.