FEBRUARY 2002

THE CROSS AT GROUND ZERO by Father Benedict Groeschel.  "Where was God on 9/11?  How could this have happened?  Why did God allow such evil?  And then, the daunting thought—Where will God be when I need Him?"  Father Groeschel addresses these questions ... For book review, [click here] [To order book, link]

FOR JANUARY 2002

The Truth of Catholicism: Ten Controversies Explored
By George Weigel.  Theologian George Weigel, best known for his celebrated biography of the Pope, Witness to Hope, has penned a short book treating ten controversies in and about the Catholic Church. Weigel’s stirring words at the end of the book show why these controversies are worth exploring:

The brave new world tells us that we ought to settle for a middling happiness in a life free of trouble. Catholicism tells us not only that we are capable of greatness but that greatness is demanded of us. The brave new world is a world of rationally organized self-indulgence. The world of the saints is a world of radical, extravagant self-giving. The brave new world is flat, painless, essentially carefree. The world of the saints is always craggy and sometimes painful; it includes dark nights of the soul as well as moments of ecstatic love. Which is the more human world? Which is the more liberated world? Which is the world on which you would want to bet your life?(1)

In every moment of our finite lives on earth, we are choosing what we are becoming and what we will be at our unexpected moment of death. These existential choices of the world we choose to inhabit make these ten controversies worth exploring. [click here to read review] [click here to order book]

FOR DECEMBER 2001

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD OF HOPE [On-line] by Pope John Paul II.  Excerpt, Chapter 6: IF GOD EXISTS, WHY IS HE HIDING? ... "God, then - the biblical God - exists. But isn't the objection of many people, yesterday as today, quite understandable? Why doesn't He reveal Himself more clearly? Why doesn't He give everyone more tangible and accessible proof of His existence? Why does His mysterious strategy seem to be that of playing hide-and-seek with His creatures?

Reasons certainly do exist to believe in Him; but-as many have maintained and still maintain-there are also reasons to doubt, or even deny, His existence. Wouldn't it be simpler if His existence were evident? ... [click here to read this chapter] [click here for table of contents of book]

For July 2001

DIVINE INTIMACY ...  Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year.  Written by the late Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magadalen, O.C.D.   (1893 - 1953)   [To order, click here]

... "This book is a mine of inspirational thoughts, an excellent book of meditations which aims at helping us to review and concentrate on the treasures of our Faith, so that an intelligent appreciation thereof will become a significant factor in our thinking and acting.  It should also prompt us to be one with Christ and to bring about the most intimate union that is possible in this life between souls and God.  The author was one of the outstanding Discalced Carmelite authors and lecturers of modern times.  A devout son of St. John of the Cross, he devoted himself generously and tirelessly to the task of promoting that desired union, both in himself and in others.  His book of mediations for each day of the year is an outstanding part of his effort." ...      late Richard Cardinal Cushing, Archbishop of Boston  (1895 - 1970)

... "Father Gabriel was profoundly aware of the spiritual needs of our times, and he also understood the special mission of Carmel in the Church, that of leading souls to a life of intimate union with God by means of the practice of mental prayer.  Thus he conceived the idea of a book which, taking its inspiration from the great teachers of Carmel, would set forth the whole doctrine of the spiritual life in the form of simple, but solid, meditations - a book which would introduce souls to intimate prayer" ...  Fr. Benjamin of the Holy Trinity, O.C.D.

For March 2001

A Spiritual Treasure to behold ... by  Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (click).  View and order audio cassettes available on his greatest works "where his sermons were carried throughout the world" from St. Agnes Church.  Proceeds benefit various works of St. Agnes Church.

For December 2000

IMITATION OF CHRIST (On-Line).   
(Click image to view)  ||  Archives (examples of Chapters)

Nov 2000 - SPEECH

MOTHER THERESA'S ADDRESS AT THE NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST. When she addressed The National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, Mother Teresa's message rocked an audience of powerful politicians, including President Clinton.

For Aug/Sept/Oct 2000:

THE SINNER'S GUIDE: by Venerable Louis of Granada., OP

St. Teresa of Avila stated that this work of Venerable Louis converted over 1,000,000 souls in her day. She, along with St. John of the Cross, St. Francis de Sales, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Rose of Lima, all counted it among their favorite spiritual books. This book can be read on line by clicking on the title.
1. Text:     An Examination of Conscience

For June/July 2000:

FATIMA:  From the Beginning (The Full Story)
by John De Marchi, I.M.C.

"I thought that there was little or nothing further to be said about Fatima.  But here comes a priest, who, by questioning the contemporaries of the apparitions, and interrogating the very air, the stones, the wells, the holmoaks, the goats and even the wolves of the Serra de Aire, by gathering up every sound and giving life to dead leaves fallen on the ground, by linking and binding together all the scattered pieces, gives us the complete panorama of the greatest event of our century.   Fatima is, in the course of history, the beginning of a new era.  And I, for my part, express my thanks to Father De Marchi, congratulating him on being numbered among the greatest Fatima writers."     ... John Evangelist, former Bishop of Aveiro (Portugal)  [To order this book, click here]

For April/May 2000: 

The Spiritual Exercises of the Holy Father, March 20 - March 26, 2000 by Archbishop Nguyen Van Thuan; a preacher who was jailed in Vietnam for 13 years.  These meditations are truly a must read...  The unexpected impact of the papal exercises has resounded around the world.  Our Holy Father, John Paul II, has asked the Archbishop to prepare a book.  For those that cannot wait for the publication: 
http://www.zenit.org/english/archive/documents/exercises.html
Book by the Archbishop is now available ... (11.4)

In a letter to the Archbishop just before our Holy Father left for his spiritual journey to the Holy Land:

"I hoped that during the Great Jubilee special time would be given to the testimony of persons who have suffered because of the faith, paying with courage interminable years in prison and other privations of every kind. You have shared this testimony with us with warmth and feeling, showing that in the life of every man, the merciful love that surpasses all human logic is measureless, especially at times of great anguish.  You have associated us with all those who in different parts of the world continue to pay a heavy price because of their faith in Christ."

"By basing yourself on Scripture and the teaching of the Fathers of the Church, as well as on your personal experience, especially during the years you were in prison for Christ and his Church, you have manifested the power of the Word of God which, for disciples, is firmness in faith, food for the soul, and a pure and perennial springtime of the spiritual life,"       Pope John Paul II

For February/March 2000:

The Lamb's Supper by Dr. Scott Hahn reveals a long-lost secret of the Church: the early Christian's key to understanding the mysteries of the Mass was the New Testament's Book of Revelation.  With its bizarre imagery, its mystic visions of heaven, and its end-of-time prophecies, Revelation mirrors the sacrifice and celebration of the Eucharist.  Of all things Catholic, there is nothing that is so familiar as the Mass.   With its unchanging prayers, the Mass fits Catholics like their favorite clothes.  Yet most Catholics sitting in the pews on Sundays fail to see the powerful supernatural drama that enfolds them.  Pope John Paul II described the Mass as "Heaven on earth," explaining that what "we celebrate on earth is a mysterious participation in the heavenly liturgy."   Beautifully written in clearn, direct language, this new book by Catholic author, Dr. Scott Hahn, will help readers see the Mass with new eyes, pray the liturgy with a renewed heart, and enter into the Mass more fully, enthusiastically, intelligently, and pwerfully than ever before.

About the author:  Dr. Scott Hahn is a former ordained Presbyterian minister with ten years of ministry experience in congregations, and a former Professor of Theology at Chesapeake Theological Seminar.  Dr. Hahn entered the Catholic Church at Easter 1986, while his wife, Kimberly, entered on 1990.  Since 1990, Dr. Hahn has served as Assistant Professor of Theology and Scripture at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Jesus, Peter & the Keys: A Scriptural Handbook on the Papacy
by Scott Butler, Norman Dahlgren and David Hess

Deeply rooted in scripture this book will increase your understanding in an area of faith that still divides many Christians: the role of the Papacy. "The amount of useful and pertinent data in this veritable compendium is simply staggering. Whoever ignores it consigns his own work to irrelevance." -- Scott Hahn

Jesus, Peter and the Keys is an excellent resource for discussion of this most important theological issue.... After gathering rich information, the authors push the data to the logical conclusions about the role of the Papacy. The information is invaluable and the conclusions inevitable.   Fr. Mitchell C. Pacwa, SJ

GIFTS

Blessings' Nun Doll Collection.     Exquisitely detailed, historically accurate and authentically reproduced. From the elegant simplicity of their habits and their beautiful accessories, right down to the tips of their long, delicate and graceful fingers, these Nun Dolls are painstakingly and perfectly crafted.  To view and order, click title.

Personalized Rosaries. To view and order, click title.

Personal Kneelers.  Beautifully handcrafted wood kneelers.  To view and order, click title.