An unusually polyvalent symbol, fire assumes numerous functions in the Bible. It is a defining feature of theophanies, it serves as an instrument of judgment, and in some instances it cleanses and purifies. Examining a complex of traditions ranging from John the Baptist to Jesus of Nazareth and from the Pauline to the Petrine Epistles, Daniel Frayer-Griggs identifies a recurring motif in the New Testament, arguing that these disparate traditions, which appear in both very early and very la...

A Timeless Tale of Adventure and CourageAcclaimed as one of the greatest literary masterpieces in the world, John Bunyan’s beloved allegory has captivated reader’s attention for centuries while providing insight into the Christian life.Now, a modern-language translation with vivid illustrations brings this epic journey to life. Follow Christian and Christiana, a man and his wife on adventurous odysseys across rough terrain, over sunlit hills, and through da...

Saint Bernard was born in 1090 near Dijon, France. He joined the fifteen-year-old monastery of Cîteaux in 1113. In 1115 he became the founding abbot of Clairvaux Abbey, whence his name, Bernard of Clairvaux. Saint Bernard was a gifted and prolific writer of theological treatises, Scriptural commentaries, letters, and many sermons. The sermons in the collection published here, styled Sermones de diversis (Sermons about Various Topics), lack the specific point of departure that char...

Aelred (1110–1167) served Rievaulx Abbey, the second Cistercian monastery in England, for twenty years as abbot. During his abbacy he wrote thirteen treatises, some offering spiritual guidance and others seeking to advise King Henry II. He also wrote thirty-one sermons as a commentary on Isaiah 13–16 and 182 surviving liturgical sermons, mostly addressed to his monks.This volume contains the first half of Aelred's ninety-eight liturgical sermons from the Reading-Cluny collection, S...

Aelred (1110–1167) served Rievaulx Abbey, the second Cistercian monastery in England, for twenty years as abbot. During his abbacy he wrote thirteen treatises, some offering spiritual guidance and others seeking to advise King Henry II. He also wrote thirty-one sermons as a commentary on Isaiah 13–16 and 182 surviving liturgical sermons, mostly addressed to his monks.This volume contains the second half of Aelred's ninety-eight liturgical sermons from the Reading-Cluny collection, ...

An authoritative priestly guidebook of the hows and whys of the Episcopal liturgy.The definitive reference work that simplifies liturgical officiating and celebrating of the rites of the Episcopal Church. A Priest's Handbook explains the appropriate use of vestments, color, altar preparation, as well as gestures and movements during the various services. It also explores the particular prayer and liturgical options for the Holy Eucharist, Holy Week, Baptis...

“The only way you can really get to know God is through prayer,” says author Christopher L. Webber, “and the Prayer Book sets out a pattern that has been used by saints and sinners for centuries.” This guide will help readers–newcomers and longtime Episcopalians alike–get started on the ancient way of praying found in the Daily Office of the Book of Common Prayer. A User’s Guide illuminates the theology, history, and practical concerns of worshipping God in Morning and Evening Prayer. With...

The Vita Christi of the fourteenth century Carthusian, Ludolph of Saxony, is the most comprehensive series of meditations on the life of Christ of the late Middle Ages. Ludolph assembles a wealth of commentary from the fathers of the church and the great medieval spiritual writers and weaves them into a seamless exposition on the Gospel. This is the first English translation of this classic work, and it also is the first edition in any language to identify the thousands of sources...

Jesus taught us about it, and for centuries the Church has faithfully defined and defended it. Protestants deny it even exists, while many Catholics fundamentally misunderstand it. It is Purgatory: that place of purifying penance where souls saved by Christ are made perfect and acceptable to spend life eternal in heaven. In The Biblical Basis For Purgatory, author and apologist John Salza (Why Catholics Cannot Be Masons) offers the definitive scriptural explanation of this distinctively Ca...

What is the Biblical Gospel? Are you content to call yourself an “Evangelical?” Is the Evangelical Gospel the same Gospel of the Protestant Reformation? Is an Evangelical today the same as an evangelical during the time of Luther, Calvin or the Puritans? If the magisterial Reformers suddenly walked into your church today, would they be pleased with the Gospel that is being preached from its pulpit? These questions are not insignificant. It is of eternal importance to have a sound view of t...

On the anniversary of the dedication of the monastery church at Clairvaux, Saint Bernard spoke to the community to explain the meaning of the feast: “What sanctity can these stones have that we should celebrate their festival? They do indeed have sanctity, but it is because of your bodies. . . . Your bodies are holy because of your souls, and this house is holy because of your bodies.”The thirty-eight sermons in this volume carry forth this theme, revealing the holiness of the mona...

Archibald Alexander was an American Presbyterian theologian who produced this voluminous study of the Bible and the apocrypha that wasn't included in the canon.