Witnesses to Mystery: Investigations Into Christ's Relics

In this lavishly illustrated large coffee-table volume, writer Gorny and photographer Rosikon embarked on a two year investigative journey to seek the truth behind all the relics associated with the passion of Christ. The authors investigated a rich body of documentary evidence found in various museums, archives and churches surrounding sacred objects believed to have been preserved since Jesus' lifetime, exploring and collaborating with historians and scientists in their attempt to verify the relics' authenticity. They reach their conclusions not so much on the basis of faith as on the evidence supplied by historical sources and expert scientific opinion.

The relics associated with the Passion - the suffering, death and burial of Christ - have long proved something of an enigma for the scientific community. Relics investigated, and photographed, for this glorious volume include: the Cross, nails, crown of thorns, pillar of scourging, Christ's tunic, the Veil of Manoppello, the Sudarium of Oviedo, the famous Shroud of Turin burial cloth and more.

$34.95

Startled by God: Wisdom from Unexpected Places

Startled by God: Wisdom from Unexpected Places offers a different way of seeing God in all things. Reminiscent of the spirituality fostered by Richard Rohr and other contemporary mystics, Joe McHugh writes out a tradition infused with the basics of Jesuit and Trappist theology, yet fully planted in the day-to-day workings of the contemporary world. He does not shy away from the secular culture in seeking God, but incorporates each element of daily life into a contemplative practice.

McHugh makes ample use of stories to show, rather than tell, about our search for the living God. These stories enable us to see and feel, not just understand, allowing us to step into them with our imagination and discover ourselves lurking in the twists and turns of their plots. Building on his work as a consultant and spiritual director, McHugh guides readers on a spiritual journey where they encounter God in the hidden and mundane workings of their lives. He pushes us to go deeper and writes with an edge that keeps us engaged and hungering for more.

This book will challenge readers to look beyond the ordinary earmarks of spirituality and venture into new ways of seeing, new ways of encountering God and others with the eyes of faith. It’s for the seeker in all of us, encouraging a way of life rooted in the divine while being fully immersed in the real world.

$14.99

Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of Atheism

In this updated, expanded edition, starting with Freud's "projection theory" of religion - that belief in God is merely a product of man's desire for security - Professor Vitz argues that psychoanalysis actually provides a more satisfying explanation for atheism. Disappointment in one's earthly father, whether through death, absence, or mistreatment, frequently leads to a rejection of God.

A biographical survey of influential atheists of the past four centuries shows that this "defective father hypothesis" provides a consistent explanation of the "intense atheism" of these thinkers. A survey of the leading defenders of Christianity over the same period confirms the hypothesis, finding few defective fathers. Vitz concludes with an intriguing comparison of male and female atheists and a consideration of other psychological factors that can contribute to atheism.

Professor Vitz does not argue that atheism is psychologically determined. Each man, whatever his experiences, ultimately chooses to accept God or reject him. Yet the cavalier attribution of religious faith to irrational, psychological needs is so prevalent that an exposition of the psychological factors predisposing one to atheism is necessary.

“Vitz offers a radical new thesis about the psychological origins of atheism. By studying the lives of numerous famous atheists, from the old atheists Nietzsche, Sartre, and Freud to the new atheists Hitchens, Dawkins, and Dennet, Vitz discovers a startling common pattern: atheism arises in people with dead, absent, or abusive fathers. By contrast, prominent defenders of religious belief-including Blaise Pascal, John Henry Newman, and G.K. Chesterton-were blessed with attentive, loving and caring fathers. Vitz's provocative book raises important questions about psychology, religious belief, and the importance of fathers. ”
- Christopher Kaczor, Author, The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church

“Quite simply, Paul Vitz's Faith of the Fatherless is a minor classic, a book that should be on the short list of all those who want to understand, in the deepest terms, the ill effects caused by the failures of fatherhood. Faith of the Fatherless should function as a gateway book to research in all fields examining our current, highly-secularized culture, a culture marked deeply by both unbelief and hostility toward the family and especially fatherhood. ”
- Benjamin Wiker, Author, Architects of the Culture of Death

“In deploying Freudian theory against atheism itself, Paul Vitz has proven beyond a doubt what's missing from secular accounts of secularization: namely, actual human beings. His thesis is intellectual jujutsu of the first order, as anyone reading this timely revisiting will appreciate in full. ”
- Mary Eberstadt, Author, The Loser Letters and Adam and Eve after the Pill

$17.95

The Thorny Grace of It: And Other Essays for Imperfect Catholics

Best-selling and award-winning essayist Brian Doyle knows that the heartbeat of Catholicism is found not in papal decrees and pageantry, but in the parish halls, potluck dinners, and the believing community. In this spirited collection of more than 40 essays, Doyle employs his trademark wit, candor, and gusto for life and faith to reignite readers’ excitement for Catholicism as he plumbs some of the stickier and trickier elements of the Catholic character.

From preparing for his first confession with a fake laundry list of sins to his young observations of President Kennedy’s assassination, Doyle’s passionate writing makes for a heartfelt, genuine, and often laugh-out-loud read. The Thorny Grace of It reaffirms that the Catholic faith—imperfect as it is—is wildly aflame in hearts and lives everywhere.

“It is a boon, a blessing, to have Brian Doyle’s vagabond essays now rubbing elbows in a single, handy, and altogether delightful volume."
- Kenneth L. Woodward, author of The Book of Miracles

$14.95

Living By Faith, Dwelling in Doubt: A Story of Belief, Uncertainty, and Boundless Love

It may seem as if the concept of faith has become a line in the sand: you either have it or you don’t; that you are either certain or you are lost. But as author Kyle Cupp has learned, we can have an uncertain faith while still being confident in and committed to our belief in God. He shares the pressing questions and winding path to understanding in Living by Faith, Dwelling in Doubt.

Pushed off a spiritual precipice after the death of his daughter only a few shorts hours after her birth, Cupp shares his ongoing spiritual journey—from the certainty of truth during his college years, through the shaken faith that can come with lived experience, to the burgeoning confidence that it takes to live somewhere in between.

Cupp reconciles his doubts about faith and religion and reaches a place where he is confident that faith and uncertainty can exist side by side. It is the belief in the mystery that is faith and the awesome power of boundless love that makes the winding path of faith passable.

$13.95

Discovering Your Dream: How Ignatian Spirituality Can Guide Your Life

Decisions, decisions, decisions! The world, our lives—every day is full of them. Big or little, major or minor, we are constantly choosing between paths. But have you ever thought about how that happens? More importantly, have you ever impulsively made a decision that turned out not to be in your best moral or spiritual interests? Overall, are you sure that the decisions you’re making are helping you get closer to God’s desire for your life?

In Discovering Your Dream, Gerald Fagin, SJ, uses St. Ignatius’s principles of the Spiritual Exercises, coupled with an Ignatian approach to decision making, to guide us through a discernment process that truly satisfies our deepest desires and brings us closer to God. He shows readers how St. Ignatius’s own decision-making process can be molded to meet the needs of our faith and lead us to our truest selves that God desires for all of us.

When faced with difficult or crippling decisions, it helps to seek wisdom in others. Discovering Your Dream shows us that the path to our truest desires is attainable in our own lives when we are guided by the groundwork laid by St. Ignatius.

$9.95

Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards and Holy Cards

In the tradition of Abrams' successful "Holy Cards and Saints: A Year in Faith and Art", comes "Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards". From the thousands of Catholic Saints, authors Calamari and Di Pasqua have chosen more than 120 who are beautifully portrayed in rare antique holy cards, and whose particular role as patrons is explained by reference to their inspiring lives. The book is divided into five sections: there are patrons of occupations, of nations, of health, of states of life and of nature, animals or natural disasters. Each section includes a list of significant Saints, along with illustrated biographies of the ones selected for the book. Most readers will find here Saints whose patronage is relevant to their own lives.For hundreds of years, holy cards have offered comfort, consolation and encouragement to Catholics, who often carry these portable images of their favourite saints with them and use them in daily religious ritual. Given as remembrances at wakes and funerals, communions and confirmations, holy cards are also a widely popular - and highly collectible - form of folk art.
$27.50

Holy cards offer comfort, consolation, and encour­agement to Catholics, who often carry these portable images with them and use them in daily religious rituals. Given as remembrances at wakes and funerals, Communions, and confirmations, holy cards are also a widely popular—and highly collectible—form of folk art. This handsome volume is both a richly illustrated survey of this devotional art and a gallery of saints organized thematically along with brief biographies, attributes, and powers. Prophets and angels, disciples and evangelists, martyrs and hermits, visionaries and mystics are among the religious figures in Catholicism represented here—in exquisite depictions that are at times dramatic and disturbing, at times moving and comforting. This book explains the often enigmatic symbolism in these cards in a beautiful package that makes an ideal gift for first Communion, confirmation, or graduation.
$19.95

My Best Teachers Were Saints: What Every Educator Can Learn from the Heroes of the Churc

Discipline problems, self-doubt, tense meetings, classroom stress . . . Couldn’t every teacher use some saintly help?

Every teacher can think of at least one mentor who has served as an inspiration over the years. However, many teachers—even those with a Catholic faith—might not have considered that saints can serve as mentors. Author and teacher Susan H. Swetnam believes that saints aren’t only good teachers—they’re the best teachers.

In My Best Teachers Were Saints, Swetnam focuses on fifty-two saints—many of them teachers—who faced challenges similar to those that nearly all educators face today, from indifferent students and recalcitrant colleagues to their own limitations and feelings of isolation. With the examples of saints such as Augustine, Ignatius of Loyola, and Scholastica, Swetnam eagerly shares how their words and deeds helped immensely in her own career as a teacher and how they can aid and inspire other educators as well.
Anyone involved in education—whether teaching religion or mathematics, kindergartners or graduate students—will discover within these pages a treasure trove of saintly help that is sure to prove that the best teachers are in fact saints!

$15.95

Saint Catherine Laboure of the Miraculous Medal

This is the story of the saint through whom we received the Miraculous Medal. No sacramental since the Rosary has had such an impact on the Church, and none has ever been diffused in such incredible numbers, with many millions of people all over the world wearing the Medal within a few years. Since 1933, when it was exhumed and found miraculously preserved, the body of St. Catherine Labouré (1806-1876) has lain incorrupt at 140, rue du Bac, Paris, in the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, venerated by thousands of pilgrims each year.

Who was this St. Catherine Labouré who during her lifetime chose to remain entirely unknown, except to her confessor, as the visionary of the Miraculous Medal? To answer this question, the author spend ten years in research, studying many documents never before available to her biographers and carrying out his investigation in Paris, Rome and Catherine's own village. What he has produced here is a definitive life of the Saint which is at once highly readable and inspiring.

Emerging from his work is the fact that Catherine Labouré was no accidental saint -- that, to launch the Miraculous Medal devotion, Heave chose its seer well. The reader will come to love St. Catherine Labouré  will see in her a woman of incredible strength and character, of unbelievable constancy, of kindness, humility, obedience and self-effacement.

$16.95

Hildegard of Bingen, Doctor of the Church

“Humanity, take a good look at yourself. Inside, you’ve got heaven and earth, and all of creation. You’re a world—everything is hidden in you.” —St. Hildegard of Bingen

She was a Benedictine abbess, artist, composer, dietician, naturalist, poet, traveling preacher, mystic, and political consultant. Meet the incomparable St. Hildegard of Bingen, recently proclaimed a “Doctor of the Church.” Nourishing, challenging, and idea-bursting, her writings will stir and awaken your soul.

This essential reader captures the vibrant spirit and intelligence of Hildegard with selections from her songs, theological texts, liturgical music, and letters. Combined with an introduction to St. Hildegard’s life and era, a map of her Germany, a chronology of her life, and a thorough bibliography/discography, St. Hildegard of Bingen is the ideal doorway into this fascinating medieval mystic.

$16.99

Saint Gianna Molla: Wife, Mother, Doctor

This is the inspiring story of a newly canonized contemporary woman. Gianna Molla (1923-1962) risked her life in order to save her unborn child. Diagnosed with uterine tumors during her fourth pregnancy, she refused a hysterectomy that would have aborted the child, and opted for a riskier surgery in an attempt to save the baby. Herself a medical doctor, Molla did give birth to the child, but succumbed to an infection.

An Italian woman who loved skiing, playing piano, attending concerts at the Milan Conservatory, Molla was a dedicated physician and devoted wife and mother who lived life to the fullest, yet generously risked death by cancer for the sake of her child.

A unique story, co-authored by her own husband, with his deeply moving personal insights of the heroic witness, love, sacrifice and joy of his saintly wife. A woman for all times and walks of life, this moving account of the multi-faceted, selfless St. Gianna Molla, who made the ultimate sacrifice to save her unborn child, will be an inspiration to all readers.

$11.95

Lily of the Mohawks: The Story of St. Kateri

Even before Kateri Tekakwitha’s canonization on October 21, 2012, many had been inspired by the story of the young Native American mystic who lived in the Mohawk Valley during the seventeenth century. With Emily Cavins's skill for weaving together historical facts and a compelling story, readers will discover Kateri’s path to sainthood against the backdrop of her life as a Native American in New York. These pages will reveal:

• What led to Kateri’s desire to become a Christian
• Her piety and self-denial in the face of persecution and illness
• Her impact on the Catholic Mohawk community
• The long road to sainthood, including two miracles attributed to Kateri

More than just a compelling story of Kateri’s short life, readers will also learn how to avail themselves of Kateri’s intercession, why Kateri has become known as the patron saint of the environment, and of her connection to St. Francis of Assisi.

$14.99

St. Rose of Lima : Patroness of the Americas

St. Rose of Lima (1586-1617), Patroness of the Americas, is the first canonized saint of the New World. She was the tenth of thirteen children, and her mother experienced no pain at her birth. Though exquisitely beautiful (hence her nickname, Rose), she refused to marry, and while helping support her family by needlework and growing flowers, she practiced heroic charity and lived as a Dominican Tertiary in her parents home. Rose tenderly cared for the sick, even those with repulsive wounds, and she often obtained miraculous cures for people from the Child Jesus. On other occasions, she worked miracles in order to feed the members of her family, and became known as Mother of the Poor. Rose continually prayed and offered her sufferings for the conversion of the idolatrous Incas. In the year 1615, through her prayers, the Blessed Sacrament and the people of Lima were spared attack by savage pirates. St. Rose was a friend and confidant of St. Martin de Porres, who lived in the same city. Her mystical experiences caused an ecclesiastical inquiry. Though dead at only 31, St. Roses love of God was so intense that she was recognized as a saint in her own time and was canonized by the Church just 54 years later, in 1671. St. Rose of Lima has captured the imagination of the world and stands as one of the most popular saints in the history of the Church.

$19.95

Bakhita: From Slave to Saint

When she was about nine years old, Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped near Darfur, Sudan, by Arab slave traders. For several years she was subjected to brutal and humiliating treatment until she was ransomed and taken to Venice, Italy, where she became a Catholic and a nun.

Joyfully and serenely Bakhita served in a convent, school and infirmary run by Canossian sisters in a small, obscure town in northern Italy until her death in 1947. Then something even more remarkable than her redemption happened.

Hundreds of ordinary people came to see Bakhita lying in state, and along with these visits came stories about how the simple nun had given comfort, advice and encouragement as she went about her tasks as cook, doorkeeper, nurse, etc. Almost immediately graces and miracles attributed to Bakhita's intercession began to be reported.

Ever since, the place where Bakhita died and the wonders began has been a shrine visited by people from all over the world. They come to seek the intercession of one who was no stranger to loss and suffering and yet had given herself with complete confidence to the Lord. It is here, in this sparsely furnished room, where Italian journalist Roberto Italo Zanini begins his story of Bakhita and her journey from slavery to sainthood.

Based on Bakhita's autobiography, which she dictated to a Canossian sister in obedience to her superior, the canonization files and many other sources, Zanini records the life, virtues and miracles of this daughter of Africa who has become a sister to the whole world.

$16.95

The Relevance and Future of the Second Vatican Council

Fifty years after the opening of the Second Vatican Council, Cardinal Marc Ouellet-considered by many to have been a top candidate to succeed Pope Benedict XVI-gives his thoughts on the Council and what the Vatican II means for us today. In interviews with French priest Fr. Geoffroy de la Tousche, Cardinal Ouellet speaks both personally and professionally about the state of the Church since the Council, explaining what went wrong-and right-in the implementation of the Council's teachings.

Ouellet discusses his own life, including his childhood in post-colonial Quebec, the search for meaning leading to his personal encounter with Christ, his vocation to the priesthood, being a professor in Latin America and Rome, and his more recent positions as archbishop of Quebec, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Drawing on his experience as both a formator of priests and a professor at the John Paul II Institute for the Family, Ouellet speaks of the significance of married love, the meaning of consecrated life, and the spousal nature of the priesthood. He illuminates these realities with the teachings of the Council. Among other topics, the Cardinal discusses his acquaintance with popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, his experience on the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, and his admiration for the youth today.

The interview continues with questions about the Council's four Constitutions and the Council in general, leading to a discussion of a wide range of topics including liturgy, ecumenism, evangelization, the work of the laity, new movements and communities, vocations, celibacy, human dignity, war and justice, ecology, sin, and the Eucharist. Moving with clarity and ease between theological realities and personal impressions, Cardinal Ouellet discusses the state of the Church today with points that are challenging, edifying, and full of hope.

$16.95

Saint of the Day (Seventh Edition, Updated and Expended)

This is the 40th anniversary edition of Saint of the Day, first compiled by Leonard Foley, O.F.M., and published in two volumes. Through the years, this popular book has been a go-to source for information on key saints. This seventh revised edition contains the following additions:

• New saints and blesseds such as John of Avila, Hildegard of Bingen, John Henry Newman, and John Paul II.
• An expanded Introduction, with more detail about the current process of canonization.
• Also, background on the evolution of Saint of the Day since the first two volumes, including its recent formats as a daily online resource and as an app.
• A suggested resources section of additional Franciscan Media products with information about saints and blesseds

Saint of the Day has been a trusted guide for forty years, and this latest edition continues the tradition.

$19.99

Walking with Mary: A Biblical Journey from Nazareth to the Cross

Mary appears only a few times in the Bible, but those few passages come at crucial moments. Catholics believe that Mary is the ever-virgin Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven and Earth. But she also was a human being--a woman who made a journey of faith through various trials and uncertainties and endured her share of suffering. Even with her unique graces and vocation, Mary remains a woman we can relate to and from whom we have much to learn.

In Walking with Mary, Edward Sri looks at the crucial passages in the Bible concerning Mary and offers insight about the Blessed Mother's faith and devotion that we can apply in our daily lives. We follow her step-by-step through the New Testament account of her life, reflecting on what the Scriptures tell us about how she responded to the dramatic events unfolding around her.

“This book is the fruit of my personal journey of studying Mary through the Scriptures, from her initial calling in Nazareth to her painful experience at the cross,” writes Edward Sri “It is intended to be a highly readable, accessible work that draws on wisdom from the Catholic tradition, recent popes, and biblical scholars of a variety of perspectives and traditions. With the riches of these insights, we will ponder what her journey of faith may have been like in order to draw out spiritual lessons for our own walk with God.” He add, “It is my hope, therefore, that whether you are of a Catholic, Protestant, or other faith background, this book may help you to know, understand, and love Mary more, and that it may inspire you to walk in her footsteps as a faithful disciple of the Lord in your own pilgrimage of faith.”

$21.00

Just Married: The Catholic Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the First Five Years of Marriage

Nationally syndicated radio hosts and international family life speakers Greg and Lisa Popcak combine decades of counseling, the latest findings in marriage research, twenty-three years of marriage, and the wisdom of Catholic teaching to offer newlyweds a master plan for creating a strong bond in the first five years of marriage.

Recent research shows that now, more than ever, couples doubt their ability to create a marriage that will withstand the test of time. In their newest book, Catholic therapist Greg Popcak and family life coach Lisa Popcak offer their own story and a master plan for creating and sustaining a Catholic marriage that will last a lifetime. Readers will be heartened to see that despite the odds, every couple has the capacity to live happily ever after. They need only commit to learning the critical skills of the first five years of marriage, including: praying together, conflict resolution, stress management, and holy sex.

$15.95

The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage

What’s the next best thing to going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. Mitch Pacwa? Being able to travel with him from the comfort of your home as the holy sites come to life through the pages of this book. With stunning images and thoughtful commentary, The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage is more than your typical travel guide. It also contains:

• A short commentary on each site, explaining its importance in salvation history
• A meditation for you to consider, encouraging questions such as, “What can I learn from this place? Why does it matter to me?”
• Prayers that Fr. Mitch uses on his annual pilgrimages, focusing on a personal faith response to the spiritual events commemorated at each site.

Travel with Fr. Mitch to the sites of all twenty mysteries of the rosary, as well as other significant spots in the history of Israel and in the life of Jesus. Whether you’ve been to the Holy Land, plan to travel there one day, or prefer to stay in your armchair, this classic book will be a beautiful addition to your library.
$24.99

The Didache Series

Written in the first century, the Didache [DID-uh-kay] is the first known Christian catechesis and the earliest known Christian writing outside of Scripture. The name of the work, Didache, is appropriate for such a catechesis because it comes from the Greek word for "teaching" and indicates that this writing contains the teaching of the Apostles and, as such, it is the teaching of the Church.

Today, the most comprehensive catechesis is the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Didache Seriespresents the life and doctrine of the Catholic Church in the context of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the teachings of Vatican II as witnessed by the pontificates of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. The series also draws from Sacred Scripture, the lives of the Saints, and the Doctors and Fathers of the Church.

The Didache Series has been published since 2003 at the invitation of Francis Cardinal George of the Archdiocese of Chicago, who requested a series of "texts that would set out clearly and adequately the teaching of the Catholic Church." Each textbook of the Didache Series has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church by the USCCB.

The Didache Series: Complete Course

The Didache Complete Course is comprised of four books, each designed to be covered in the course of one academic year.

Introduction to Catholicism: 2nd Edition

An introduction to the teachings of the Catholic Church and an in-depth explanation of what it means to be Catholic. The Universal Call to Holiness is the main theme throughout the book. Topics include the Blessed Trinity, the Church, the Creed, Sacred Scripture, the Seven Sacraments, the Ten Commandments, and the lives of the Saints.

The History of the Church

This book presents the story of God's intervention into human history from the Incarnation until the present day. It emphasizes God as the Lord of history and his actions that demonstrate his love for his People. An excellent resource for anyone seeking to know more about the history of the Catholic Church.

Our Moral Life in Christ

A detailed study of the moral life in Christ-based on his teachings in the Gospels, the Ten Commandments, and the Beatitudes-which enable Christians, with God's grace, to imitate the life of Christ in their lives, to make correct moral decisions, and to spread the Kingdom of God on earth in their journey toward eternal salvation. This book presents the life of Christ and his teachings as the basis of moral theology.

Didache Series: Parish Edition

Created in accordance with the USCCB Curriculum Framework for Parish and Youth Ministry Programs, Midwest Theological Forum has adapted its well-known Didache Semester Series textbooks for Catholic High Schools into an easy-to-use format for parishes and home study programs. Each of the Didache Semester titles has been divided into individual weekly lessons intended to be covered over the course of one semester. The full-color, illustrated text provides ample column material, which includes:

• Vocabulary terms, Focus Questions,
• Guided Exercises,
• Discussion,
• Questions,
• and quotes from the YouCat.

Faith And Revelation: Parish Edition

This first book of the Didache Parish Series, authored by Dr. Scott Hahn, presents a basic understanding of Sacred Scripture as the inspired Word of God. It examines both the Old and New Testaments with particular attention focused on the Gospels as the message of Jesus Christ. This text also explains how to read and reference the Bible.

The Blessed Trinity: Parish Edition

This second book of the series examines the mystery of the Blessed Trinity - The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - as revealed in Sacred Scripture. Themes include discussion of the Blessed Trinity as one God in Three Divine Persons, Pentecost, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, the intercessor for mankind.

The Church: Parish Edition

This text, authored by Dr. Scott Hahn, presents how the Church, established by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, continues the salvific ministry of Christ in the world today. Themes include the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, the Universal Call to Holiness, the Marks of the Church, and the teaching authority of the Church.

The Sacraments: Parish Edition

Jesus Christ, through his great love for us, instituted the Sacraments and entrusted them to the Church. This book examines each Sacrament as a primary source of grace and an intimate encounter with Jesus Christ. Each of the Seven Sacraments is presented in its own chapter.

More titles coming soon!

Coloring Books for Children

These Catholic coloring books help to make learning the faith more enjoyable for children as well as help them to engage more with the subject matter. $2.75 each.

"Bible Adventures Coloring Book" from offers 32 illustrations of Old Testament heroes, acts and revelation to color.

"Favorite Catholic Saints Coloring Book" offers 32 illustrations of Saint heroes to help children learn about the heroes of the faith.

"The Life of Mary Coloring Book" from tells Mary's story from a Catholic perspective. With 32 pages of coloring and activities, this book provides children a fun way to learn about the first Christian.

"The Life of Jesus" coloring book from tells the story of Jesus' life, including his miracles and parables.

Books for Children

These books are made to teach children the basics of our faith and are ideal for preparing those who are making their sacraments. All books are hardcover with beautiful illustrations. $4.95 each.

This beautifully illustrated book teaches children about the Eucharist.

Beautifully illustrated book that helps children learn about receiving Communion.

A wonderful, beautifully illustrated book to help children learn the Mysteries of this great prayer that honors Our Lady. 

Helps children understand the meaning of going to Confession. Full-color illustrations.

This beautifully illustrated book teaches children two of the best-known and best-loved prayers of all time.

The Catholic Children's Bible

Until now, there were only two choices in Bibles for children: one created for adults and one that was simply a collection of stories written for children.

Introducing The Catholic Children’s Bible from Saint Mary’s Press!  It’s the first-ever complete children’s Bible that not only inspires, but empowers children to read, live, understand, and love the Word of God. The stories of our Catholic faith come alive with vivid,awe-inspiring artwork, larger text, and many more design features that not only enhance comprehension but create enjoyment as well.

I Can Read It! Intentional design elements such as fonts built for early readers, increased line spacing, bold vocabulary words, colorized text, minimal hyphenation, and simple column dividers help make this a Bible children can read on their own. 

I Can Find It! Unique navigational features such as colorized tabs, large chapter and verse numbers, full Scripture references, and clear and concise story titles, are all designed specifically for early readers and to help children easily locate passages and stories. 

I Can Understand It! Young children will be able to understand and relate to God’s Word through the Understand It! and Tell It! sections, bold vocabulary words and easy-to-understand definitions, the realistic artwork and borders, the introductions to the Old and New Testaments, and the many pictures, maps, and time lines that are included throughout the Bible. 

• Children will know and understand God’s saving plan revealed through 125 featured story spreads highlighting key Bible passages.

 

• Vibrant illustrations and borders immediately engage children and allow them to dive in to Scripture and become immersed in the stories.

 

• Understand It!, Live It!, and Tell It! sections help bring God’s Word to life for the youngest of readers.

 

• Unique navigational features designed specifically for early readers help children easily locate passages and stories.

 

• Intentional design elements such as fonts built for early readers, increased line spacing, bold vocabulary words, colorized text, minimal hyphenation, and simple column dividers help make this a Bible children can read on their own.

Activity Booklet and Leader Guide also availble.

Hardcover $37.95

Paperback $29.95

Books for Men

Men are rediscovering the importance of the spiritual life. And Father Larry Richards is helping them do it. While some writers apply a one-size-fits-all approach to the Christian life, Father Richards draws on his many years of ministry and his own experience as a man to inspire other men as men.

In Be a Man!, he recounts his struggles to learn true manhood, as well as the inspiring stories of others he has served in his decades as a priest. He tells men how to focus on the right goal, how to live as a beloved son of God, of the need to acknowledge one's faults and to live according to the Holy Spirit, to be a man of true love and of wisdom, to appreciate properly the differences between men and women, to pursue holiness, and to make a difference in the world. Not preachy but direct, Father Richards challenges men to be strong, without putting on a mask of false strength or machismo. He calls men to admit their weaknesses and limitations, while urging them to find strength in faith and genuine love to overcome their sins and faults.

Although a celibate priest, he minces no words when it comes to the place of sexuality for the unmarried man as well as for the married man. He shows that true manliness is not opposed to love but thrives on it. Father Richards stresses that a relationship with Christ reveals the meaning of a man's life and his identity as a man. He inspires men to become the true heroes they long to be men of authentic courage, compassion and integrity. This is a highly readable book for men by a man who knows how to talk to men about the things that matter most. $15.95

The Rosary is for old ladies and funerals. Or is it? In David N. Calvillos debut book, he reveals how each week thousands of men of all ages and backgrounds join together each week in the Real Men Pray the Rosary movement and are seeing the fruit of this spiritual discipline in their lives and families. A new centerpiece of Catholic mens spirituality, this dynamic book and movement brings men together, deepening their devotion to Christ through Mary. Often surprising and always inspiring, Calvillo combines storytelling with a profound, inviting guide and convincingly shows how the Rosary is alive and well todayfor men. In a world filled with ubiquitous distractions and technology, Calvillo helps men to unplug from time to time and tap into this simple system of prayer that takes only minutes each day, but whose transformative power is beyond measure. He shares why the Hail Mary is the perfect prayer and concludes with a 33-day Rosary Challenge so readers can experience for themselves how praying several minutes each day for thirty-three days radically changes their lives. $12.95

New Daily Devotionals!

Mother Teresa is known for her radiant smile and the joy of Christ that she brought to all she met, even in the most challenging circumstances. These daily stories and meditations in her own words point to the secret of living in that joy: simplicity, humble surrender to Jesus, thankfulness, and, above all, a heart filled with God s love. These keys will unlock the gift of joy in every thirsting heart. $12.99

For Catholics, the saints are arguably our best role models for holy living. In this page-a-day book for women, Melanie Rigney gives us a wellspring of interesting and diverse female saints who aptly show the way to be better disciples of Christ. Through their lives and experiences, we find examples of how to meet the challenges of daily life, be strengthened in our faith, and, in the process, become the people God created us to be. You ll meet saints who may be familiar to you, such as Teresa of Avila, Elizabeth Ann Seton, Monica, Lucy, Agnes, and Katharine Drexel. With them, there are others less familiar, and many whom you will not have known before: Cunegund, Mechtildis of Edelstetten, Hildegard, Mary Magdalen Postel, Rose of Viterbo, Anna Pak A-gi of Korea, and Mary Faustina Kowalska. $15.99

Books for Women

Pat Gohn draws on decades of women’s ministry experience, her popular Catholic women’s podcast Among Women, and her own story as a wife and mother, proclaiming the Church’s compelling vision of every woman: you have dignity (blessed), you are gifted (beautiful), and you have a mission (bodacious).

The lively and unforgettable Gohn guides readers through moments of her life that have shaped her identity and understanding of womanhood—abiding love and talent for music, breast cancer in her thirties, and coming to understand true feminism in light of Church teaching and Mary’s example. More than a mere memoir, Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious: Celebrating the Gift of Catholic Womanhood offers readers insight into the writings of Blessed John Paul II, which articulate four gifts unique to every woman: generosity, receptivity, sensitivity, and maternity. With humor, faith, and the open-hearted tone of a trusted mentor, Gohn shares how she became empowered to embrace her blessings, beauty, and bodaciousness, and how readers can do the same. $14.95

Wrapped Up: God's Ten Gifts for Women offers a healthy alternative to the false messages women hear today. Each chapter focuses on a different gift a woman is meant to discover and unwrap, ultimately leading to peace and fulfillment. Cheryl draws from her extensive knowledge of Old Testament women to unveil life lessons found in the rich history of our faith, and Teresa uses her media expertise to reveal how to counter the cultural messages that inundate women today. Together, the authors provide a timeless and timely look at God's life-giving gifts. $15.99

Ruth's generosity, Anna's faith, Abigail's pure and upright conscience, the fortitude of the mother of Maccabees: These are some of the virtues and lessons we can learn from the women of the Old Testament and apply to our daily life. Author Pía Septién tells us eleven stories about women of the Old Testament and presents them as material for personal spiritual reflection. Every chapter offers the biblical story narrated in prose, quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and reflection and discussion questions. As a Bible study, this book offers you a new focus that will strengthen your faith and improve your life. Women of the Old Testament include: Ruth Shiphrah and Puah Miriam Abigail Hagar Leah Michal Hannah. $8.95

Author Stacy Mitch's background in college campus evangelization comes through loud and clear in this biblically rich and eminently practical study. Courageous Love takes seriously the fact that everyone is called to holiness, and offers sound, spiritual guidance to women of all ages and backgrounds. $9.95