Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices
by Frank Viola
from BarnaBooks
Have you ever wondered why we Christians do what we do for church every Sunday morning? Why do we "dress up" for church? Why does the pastor preach a sermon each week? Why do we have pews, steeples, choirs, and seminaries? This volume reveals the startling truth: most of what Christians do in present-day churches is not rooted in the New Testament, but in pagan culture and rituals developed long after the death of the apostles. Coauthors Frank Viola and George Barna support their thesis with compelling historical evidence in the first-ever book to document the full story of modern Christian church practices.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
by U.S. Catholic Church
from Image
Catechism of the Catholic Church is the first new edition of the catechism in 400 years. Catechism means "instruction," and this text will remain the standard reference for Catholics for many future generations. It is the authoritative summary of Catholic belief regarding the Church creeds, sacraments, commandments, and prayers. To get some idea of the level of detail with which the Catechism engages Catholic doctrine, consider that 17 pages of explanation accompany the opening words of the Apostle's Creed ("I Believe in God the Father"). The book is exceptionally well organized, with line-by-line explanations of every conceivable aspect of orthodox Catholic belief. Extensive cross-referencing, indexing, footnotes, and "In Brief" summaries of each section further ease the project of finding the precise answers to any questions a reader might have. Even the layout of information on the page is easy on the eyes, with wide margins for readers who wish to make notes. Furthermore, the back cover features a true rarity in the annals of world literature: a blurb by the Pope. --Michael Joseph Gross
Four centuries in the making, a monumental undertaking and a magnificent achievement, the first definitive Catholic Catechism since the Council of Trent in 1566 details the doctrine, dogma, and the basic tenets of the Church.
Seven Sacred Pauses: Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day
by Macrina Wiederkehr
from Ave Maria Press
Author and retreat leader Macrina Wiederkehr opens the monastery door and invites readers to come in and learn how the practice of consciously pausing for prayer at the seven sacred moments of each day can make their daily passage through time a more sacred pilgrimage.
Using scripture, poetry, reflections. personal stories, and quotes from a rich array of spiritual teachers, Wiederkehr helps readers become more attuned to living in the present moment and develop a kindred spirit with the rich tradition of the sacred hours. Seven Sacred Pauses is a wonderful gift to those who seek to find balance in their busy days and to bring the practice of the Divine Hours home to their own hearts.
A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
by Karen Armstrong
from Ballantine Books
Armstrong, a British journalist and former nun, guides us along one of the most elusive and fascinating quests of all time--the search for God. Like all beloved historians, Armstrong entertains us with deft storytelling, astounding research, and makes us feel a greater appreciation for the present because we better understand our past. Be warned: A History of God is not a tidy linear history. Rather, we learn that the definition of God is constantly being repeated, altered, discarded, and resurrected through the ages, responding to its followers' practical concerns rather than to mystical mandates. Armstrong also shows us how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have overlapped and influenced one another, gently challenging the secularist history of each of these religions. --Gail Hudson
"An admirable and impressive work of synthesis that will give insight and satisfaction to thousands of lay readers."
THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD
In this stunningly intelligent book, Karen Armstrong, one of Britain's foremost commentators on religious affairs, traces the history of how men and women have perceived and experienced God, from the time of Abraham to the present. From classical philsophy and medieval mysticism to the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the modern age of skepticism, Karen Armstrong performs the near miracle of distilling the intellectual history of monotheism into one superbly readable volume, destined to take its place as a classic.
The How-To Book of the Mass: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You
by Michael Dubruiel
from Our Sunday Visitor
Maybe you are a recent convert, or perhaps you've attended Mass your whole life, but there are still things that puzzle you, like: when you should genuflect and when you should bow; what the different books used at Mass are and what they contain; the meaning of words like "Amen," "Alleluia," or "Hosanna"; what to do during the sign of peace.
You aren't alone.
The How-to Book of the Mass not only provides the who, what, where, when, and why of the most time-honored traditions of the Catholic Church, but also the how. All in an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand format.
In this complete guide to the celebration of the Eucharist you get:
- Step-by-step guidelines to walk you through the Mass
- Biblical background of the prayers of the Mass
- Insights from the Tradition and teaching of the Church
- Practical aid to overcoming distractions
- Concrete ways to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ at every Mass
- A handy study guide for individual or group use
The Weight of Glory
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperOne
Selected from sermons delivered by C. S. Lewis during World War II, these nine addresses offer guidance and inspiration in a time of great doubt.These are ardent and lucid sermons that provide a compassionate vision of Christianity.
Our Sacramental Life: Living and Worshiping in Christ
by Patricia Morrison Driedger
from Ave Maria Press
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church instructs:
Liturgical catechesis aims to initiate people into the mystery of Christ ("It is mystagogy.") by proceeding from the visible to the invisible, from the sign to the thing signified, from the "sacraments" to the "mysteries."
Drawing on the above instruction, the unifying theme of OUR SACRAMENTAL LIFE: Living and Worshiping in Christ is centered in an emphasis on mystery and mystagogy.
In exploring sacramental life, as communicating the mystery of God, the inaccessible and incomprehensible are both made accessible and comprehensible for teenage students.
Using OUR SACRAMENTAL LIFE: Living and Worshiping in Christ, students will gain a greater appreciation that through the sacramental life of the church:
we are given a "language" which enables us to participate in the life of the Trinity
making it possible for us to communicate the mystery of God
and thus to participate in Christ's work of restoring and renewing the world.
Chapters 1 & 2 introduce what the sacraments reveal about God and how the sacraments enable our participation in God's divine plan. Chapters 3 to 9 explore the particulars of each of the seven sacraments and what it means to live the sacraments individually and communally. Chapter 10 offers a comprehensive review of this course.
Student text Table of Contents:
Introduction
1 Drawn to the Mystery
2 Living the Paschal Mystery: The Liturgy of the Church
3 Holding Life's Answers: The Sacrament of Baptism
4 Power of the Spirit: The Sacrament of Confirmation
5 The Source and Summit: The Sacrament of Eucharist
6 Hope in Brokenness: The Sacrament of Penance of Reconciliation
7 Showing a Preferential Love: The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
8 Making God Present: The Sacrament of Holy Orders
9 An Intimate Communion: The Sacrament of Matrimony
10 Participating in the Mystery: A Review of the Sacraments
A Book of Hours
by Thomas Merton
from Sorin Books
Thomas Merton was the most popular proponent of the Christian contemplative tradition in the twentieth century. Now, for the first time, some of his most lyrical and prayerful writings have been arranged into A Book of Hours, a rich resource for daily prayer and contemplation that imitates the increasingly popular ancient monastic practice of "praying the hours". Editor Kathleen Deignan mined Merton's voluminous writings, arranging prayers for Dawn, Day, Dusk, and Dark for each of the days of the week. A Book of Hours allows for a slice of monastic contemplation in the midst of hectic modern life, with psalms, prayers, readings, and reflections.
Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages
by Haddon W. Robinson
from Baker Academic
An updated version of Robinson's best-selling textbook on preaching
En Espanol!: Cuaderno : Mas Practica : Level 1
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