In Christian Symbol and Ritual, Bernard Cooke and Gary Macy offer an accessible and engaging introduction to the topic written from a non-denominational perspective. Cooke and Macy demonstrate that celebration, ritual, and symbol are already central to our lives, even though most do not see their actions as symbolic or ritualistic. They connect central Christian symbols to the symbols and rituals already present in everyday life and place Christian theology in a familiar context. ...

The Roman Catholic leadership still refuses to ordain women officially or even to recognize that women are capable of ordination. But is the widely held assumption that women have always been excluded from such roles historically accurate? In the early centuries of Christianity, ordination was the process and the ceremony by which one moved to any new ministry (ordo) in the community. By this definition, women were in fact ordained into several ministries. A radical change in the definitio...

The Roman Catholic leadership still refuses to ordain women officially or even to recognize that women are capable of ordination. But is the widely held assumption that women have always been excluded from such roles historically accurate? In the early centuries of Christianity, ordination was the process and the ceremony by which one moved to any new ministry (ordo) in the community. By this definition, women were in fact ordained into several ministries. A radical change in the definitio...

"A magnificent book, bursting with profound spiritual insights, from a man who has quickly become one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time." --James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A PilgrimageIn the year since he was elected, Pope Francis’s simple message of mercy, service, and renewal has spread to every corner of the world. Through his gentle demeanor, selfless actions, and welcoming call for service to others, Pope Francis has captured the atten...

"[A] celebration of what is beautiful and lasting in the Catholic tradition . . . a kiss of peace to [all] Catholics, whether liberal, conservative, or confused." —Michael Leach, co-editor of I Like Being CatholicWhat makes a Catholic a Catholic? According to Thomas Groome, a professor in theology and religious education at Boston College, Catholics share certain vital features of life and identity. What Makes Us Catholic explains and illuminates t...

A deeply personal introduction to the biblical theology and spirituality of Opus Dei by the bestselling Catholic author Scott Hahn.To conspiracy theorists, Opus Dei is a highly secretive and powerful international organization. To its members, however, Opus Dei is a spiritual path, a way of incorporating the teachings of Jesus into everyday life. In Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace, Scott Hahn, a member of Opus Dei, describes the organization’s founding, its mission, and...

What on earth are you chasing? We are all chasing something, and always for the same reason: we want something or someone to give us the joy we yearn for at the very depths of our being. All too often we are searching for joy in all the wrong places. Pope Francis calls this the feverish pursuit of the frivolous. What brings you joy? We live busy lives and in the midst of all the chasing it is essential that we slow down from time to time, and not just slow down, but pause, to reflect of wh...

In The Catholic Way, Bishop Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington D.C., has offered up an accessible, easy-to-use blueprint to the Catholic Church's most recent catechism, a detailed summary of Catholic thought compiled by a commission of church cardinals and bishops in 1992.

Operating instructions for being a Catholic.The Catechism is an amazing collection of Church teachings and rules that cover everything from the basics, like honoring God, to more unusual subjects, such as paying just wages and respecting animals. Perfect for students, lay teachers, Catholics, and readers of other faiths, this guide is the key to understanding the daily life of Catholics and gives readers an appreciation for what Catholics believe.I...

A Year with John Paul II presents daily devotionals of his most important lessons and inspirational words to deepen readers' reflections and meditations."The reverberations of Pope John Paul II's life and pontificate, the third longest in history, resounded through every nation on earth." — TimeCalled the Pilgrim Pope, a pope of the people, John Paul II connected with his flock from the highest to the lowest. He was one of h...

Maybe you come from a happy family, a healthy family. Or maybe yours is a flawed family, a struggling family, a broken family. Maybe you're scared to get married and have a family. No matter who you are, you are part of a family, and Pope Francis wrote this love letter to you. He addresses all the myriad realities of families today with compassion, hope, and encouragement. Pope Francis sees marriage as a dynamic path to personal development and fulfillment. Instead of wasting energy worryi...

"For many of the nation's 52 million Catholics, Christ Among Us has become an indispensable guide to applying Church teachings to contemporary problems." — TimeSince it was first published in 1967, Anthony Wilhelm's Christ Among Us has become America's most popular guide to modern Catholicism. This classic text presents a clear and accessible picture of Catholicism and its development in a post-Vatican II world. Perfect for both new Cathol...