The prophet Haggai advocated for the rebuilding of the temple, destroyed by Babylon, in the tumultuous period of reconstruction under Persian dominion; so much is evident from a surface reading of the book . John Robert Barker goes further, using rhetorical criticism of the prophet‘s arguments to tease out the probable attitudes and anxieties among the Yehudite community that saw rebuilding as both undesirable and unfeasible. While some in the community accepted the prophet‘s claim that YH...

Spirituality is growing into our life with God. It is letting the breath or Spirit of God live and breathe and work in us. And the fruits of that are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:2223). The Word proclaimed Sunday after Sunday is inspired by God. Jesus, the incarnate Word of God, entered into our history and fully embraced our humanity. In a similar fashion, the Bible is the Word of God, communicated through human authors wi...

Baptism by water is the new birth. Baptism of the Spirit renews that birth and is "a conscious awareness and a powerful experience of its meaning and its potentialities," as Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa explains in this rich discussion of how the Holy Spirit makes all things new. In this followup to the bestselling first volume, Fr. Cantalamessa explores the themes of ongoing conversion, our transformation in faith, and our need to focus always on eternity.

Pope Francis and the Parish begins by reviewing the influences that shaped Jorge Bergoglio’s ecclesial vision that were later implemented in The Joy of the Gospel. Based on the experience of a cathedral parish in Rochester, New York, it details the enfolding of missionary discipleship in the parish as it transitions from blue-collar bastion to a home of stark poverty, of new peripheries with dramatic new needs, including a burgeoning refugee population. Reference is made to the “Field Hosp...

Kyle Haden, OFM, examines the tumultuous and dangerous religious and social landscape of antebellum America and vividly demonstrates the religious and social constructs that helped define "true American identity," as this was understood by the Protestant majority and experienced by the influx of new Catholic immigrants of that time. Haden offers an energizing prescription for today's debates around inclusion and exclusion.

In his thorough, yet concise commentary on Galatians and Romans, Robert Karris, O.F.M. encourages his readers to take a head on approach to reading and interpreting the biblical text. He discusses form and purpose, message, and basic outline to help readers understand Galatians and Romans.With his section-by-section commentary, Karris offers readers of all backgrounds further opportunity to study and reflect on the books of Galatians and Romans.Robert Karris, OFM, ThD, ...

There’s no denying the powerful attraction of evil. Pop culture blockbusters like The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby, and their many recent successors, are but a snapshot of the appeal.What are the biblical facts about evil, demonic possession, the exorcisms by Jesus? Has the modern-day church downplayed the devil, leaving humans in the lurch? How can everyday folks recognize and avoid the snares of Satan?In “Get Thee behind Me, Satan”: Rejecting Evil, Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, a...

It is no accident that among the most frequent expressions Jesus conveys to his followers in the Gospels is “Do not be afraid!” Living out this command from Christ should raise questions for spiritual seekers today: How do we cultivate a faith that does not succumb to fear? What is Christian hope and what does it look like to embrace it in the face of such fearful circumstances? Can we retrieve or develop an understanding of the Holy Spirit that better grounds us in times of crisis and mom...

How do we listen to God speak to our hearts, minds, and wills-especially above the noise and stress of the modern world? What is the process of discerning God"s will? Best-selling author and popular EWTN host Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ, tackles these and other questions in this comprehensive book on discernment. He says that first we need to believe in God and his moral laws and make a commitment to please him in all that we do. Then we need to pray so that we can experience the peace that can co...

Get the most out of your Bible.In clear, simple language, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth helps you accurately understand the different parts of the Bible—their meaning for ancient audiences and their implications for you today—so you can uncover the inexhaustible wealth of God's Word.More than three quarters of a million people have turned to How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth to inform their reading of the Bible. This fourth...

What Would Jesus Do? or WWJD has become ubiquitous on T-shirts, coffee mugs, wristbands and church billboards. But when trying to define the Christian life Jesus intended his followers to live, a more valuable question is What Would Jesus Ask? Readers will find that, according to the Gospels, Jesus posed hundreds of questions that taken together lay a foundation for strong, vibrant, and lasting faith. As individuals or groups wrestle with Jesus' questions, they will find the answe...

This short ebook explores how the Bible came to be, with fascinating chapters on divine inspiration, the Septuagint, the shaping of the canon, translation, and much more.