Is There A God?

StrangeNotions.com is the central place of dialogue between Catholics and atheists. It's built around three things: reason, faith, and dialogue. You'll find articles, videos, and rich comment box discussion concerning life's Big Questions; especially "Is There a God"

Is Jesus God?

The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ is a book written by Dr. Brandt Pitre, an American New Testament scholar and Distinguished Research Professor of Scripture at the Augustine Institute. The book showcases recent discoveries in New Testament scholarship as well as neglected evidence from ancient manuscripts and the early church fathers together have the potential to pull the rug out from under a century of skepticism toward the apostolic authorship and historical truth of the traditional Gospels.

Why Be Christian/Catholic?

Why We're Catholic assembles the clearest, friendliest, most helpful answers that author Trent Horn, an American Catholic apologist and writer, learned to give to all these people and more. Beginning with how we can know reality and ending with our hope of eternal life, it's the perfect way to help skeptics and seekers (or Catholics who want to firm up their faith) understand the evidence that bolsters our belief - and brings us joy.

Into the Deep

Prayer—it's mysterious, challenging, frustrating . . . and life-changing. Discover why growing in prayer, which sometimes can be compared to a battle, is worth every ounce of effort you give it. Using a simple approach to prayer, you'll learn how even ten minutes a day can change your life. Author Dan Burke, Founder and President of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and former President and COO of EWTN’s worldwide news network, explains how to set up your own sacred prayer space, discusses the common obstacles to prayer, and provides practical ways to overcome them. You'll also read stories of others who are seeking to orient themselves to God through prayer.

Lord Teach Us To Pray
Echoing the petition of the disciples, “Lord, teach us to pray,” this book guides the listener through the various stages of prayer and the spiritual life. Fr. Jeffrey Kirby, STL, Catholic priest, moral theologian, writer, and pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Indian Land, South Carolina, lovingly and expertly examines this crucial petition, shedding light on its three parts—Jesus as Lord, Jesus as teacher, and what it means to pray—while laying out a course for prayer and a strengthening of the interior life.

Pray, Decide, Don’t Worry 
This collaborative effort between Bobby & Jackie Angel and Father Mike Schmitz equips Catholics with a clear five-step discernment process for navigating what St. Ignatius of Loyola calls the movements of the soul, the deeper realities that clue Catholics into what God is doing deep within their hearts, and where he is leading them. Drawing from the rich tradition of the church and powerful insights from the saints and the Bible, this invaluable resource teaches Catholics how to recognize God's voice, discern spirits, and know which vocation God is calling them to. It will also show you that it is possible to be in the waiting yet fully joyfully alive at the same time.

Spiritual Warfare & Discernment of Spirits
Satan is always at work breeding sadness and anxiety while providing obstacles that prevent souls from making spiritual progress. In this concise yet powerful book, author Dan Burke presents the venerable, time-tested wisdom of Catholic mystics to help you understand the influence of the Enemy on your mind and heart, and the tactics you need to combat him.

Jesus: The Way, The Truth & the Life
In this book, Catholics walk step by step with Jesus from his infancy to the Ascension. Anchored in the life of Christ as presented in the Gospels, it explores the entirety of Jesus’ life—who he is, what he is really like, what he taught, what he did for our salvation, and what this means for us as Catholics today.  

Intro to the Spiritual Life
The path of following Jesus is an ancient and storied spiritual tradition. Yet many believers are not familiar with the three major forms of prayer and the three stages of spiritual growth that exist to bring them closer to God. In his most personal book yet, Brant Pitre, PhD, draws on the riches of the Bible, the words of Jesus, and the writings of mystics across the centuries to shed light on the mystery - and wonder - of the spiritual life.

Activated Disciple
An activated disciple learns to walk in the ways of the Lord. Discipleship requires such a close relationship with God that every area of your life is transformed. It is about opening yourself to God and inviting him to dwell within you, becoming holy as he is holy, loving as he is loving. By imitating God, disciples become the instruments God employs to transform the world.

Real Religion
According to divine command and simple justice alike, we should give God worship. But how do we know if we're doing it right? After all, the world is hardly in full agreement on this question. Is religion really just about bowing and kneeling in a big church? Maybe we should worship God by communing with nature instead, or by loving our neighbor. Or maybe, since God dwells within us, true worship simply means becoming the best version of ourselves. In Real Religion, How to Avoid False Faith and Worship God in Spirit and Truth, popular preacher and professor Fr. Jeffrey Kirby cuts through misguided modern notions--idols, really--about God and religion and takes you back to the foundation for true worship: God's revelation about himself.

Real Discipleship

Spiritual Reading Plan

Have you ever wanted to have a reading plan but worried about what you should actually read, that is in keeping with the magisterium, and is truly helpful with respect to where you are on your spiritual journey? This  reading plan follows the general path of formation of Apostoli Viae.

Just reading books cannot make you a saint. In fact, when consumed without spiritual direction, gluttonous reading can lead to pride and mere external knowledge that results in more harm than good. Even so, when we read books in concert with our spiritual director and in keeping with our current spiritual state, they can serve as stepping stones to heaven. 

Catechism in a Year
Read the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church in 365 days with Fr. Mike Schmitz. If you have ever wanted to understand what it means to be Catholic and allow those truths to shape your life—this podcast is for you!

Reclaiming Vatican IIWhat It (Really) Said, What It Means, and How It Calls Us to Renew the Church.  
During the past five decades, the Second Vatican Council has been alternately celebrated or maligned for its supposed break with tradition and embrace of the modern world. But what if we've gotten it all wrong? Have Catholics—both those who embrace the spirit of Vatican II and those who regard it with suspicion—misunderstood what the council was really about?

The Catechism Explained
Written by Fr. Francis Spirago, edited by Fr. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., is such a well-known Catholic classic that it hardly needs any introduction. The book was written for three specific uses—to serve the preacher as a source book for sermons, the catechist as a thorough explanation of the catechism, and parents as a complete statement of the entire Faith, to assist them in instructing their children. Written to achieve these objectives, the book specifically does not contain technical language so that it is not difficult to understand. But it is large, it is thorough, and it is interesting! Plus, there is no other book quite like it.

A Father Who Keeps His Promises God's Covenant Love in Scripture (New Edition) 
Hahn explores the "covenant love" God reveals to us through the Scriptures and explains how God patiently reaches out to us—despite our faults and shortcomings—to restore us into relationship with his divine family. Join Hahn as he follows the high adventure of God's plan for the ages, beginning with Adam and Eve and continuing down through the generations to the coming of Christ and the birth of the Church. You'll discover how the patient love of the Father revealed in the Bible is the same persistent love he has for you.

Swear to God The Promise and Power of the Sacraments 
Written by best-selling author Scott Hahn who is a greatly admired Catholic theologian and lecturer as well as the director of the Institute for Applied Biblical Studies. His modern classic, Lamb's Supper, has sold more than 100,000 copies. Written in an accessible style, Swear to God is a testament to the seven sacraments, which Hahn sees not as boring rituals, but as powerful reminders of our covenants with God.

Bored Again Catholic... How the Mass Could Save Your Life
Are you BORED? Not likely, given the endless opportunities today to see, share, post, watch, and like. So are you bored? No way! (Except maybe at Mass.) We want the Mass to entertain, make us laugh, give us foot tapping music and sound-bite theology, and get it done in under an hour. Yet every Sunday many of us tune out. Author Tim O'Malley, in a series of reflections on every part of the Mass, challenges us to turn the idea of boredom on its head, calling boredom the good boredom that opens us to the quiet interior space where we can encounter God a sweet gift. 

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper
In recent years, Christians everywhere are rediscovering the Jewish roots of their faith. Every year at Easter time, many believers now celebrate Passover meals (known as Seders) seeking to understand exactly what happened at Jesus' final Passover, the night before he was crucified. Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes. 

A Devotional Journey into Mass How Mass Can Become a Time of Grace, Nourishment, and Devotion
If you're unhappy because the Mass has become for you routine or even boring and tedious these pages are for you. They teach you eight simple ways to make your every Mass a joyful time of piety and intense devotion.

Principles of Sacred Liturgy​Forming a Sacramental Vision
Jesus saving Paschal work continues today in the liturgy and sacraments. They have the power to sanctify and beatify those who engage the liturgy with proper minds and hearts. In this comprehensive and accessible book, author Christopher Carstens Explains the Church s teaching on the sacred liturgy.

Recommended Study Bible
Uniquely Designed
To Help You Understand the Bible. More than any other study edition of the Bible on the market, the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible is “like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old” (Mt 13:52): it draws insights from the best of modern scholarship as well as the best of the Catholic tradition of interpretation through the ages.

Bible Basics 
From biblical scholar Bergsma, two-time teacher of the year at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, comes this fresh, creative, and authentically Catholic introduction to the big picture of salvation history. 

New Testament Basics
Award-winning author and theology professor John Bergsma follows up his popular Bible Basics for Catholics—which has sold more than 60,000 copies—with a more in-depth look at the New Testament. Using simple illustrations and the same clear, conversational style that characterized his earlier book, Bergsma introduces four of the most important writers in the New Testament: Matthew, Luke, Paul, and John. With humor and simple illustrations, theology professor John Bergsma focuses on Matthew, Luke, Paul, and John, whose writings comprise about 90 percent of the New Testament.

Psalm Basics for Catholics
Seeing Salvation History in a New Way. 
In his third back-to-basics look at the Bible, popular theology professor and bestselling Catholic author and speaker John Bergsma highlights the presence of Jesus in the psalms and helps us understand their meaning in light of the story of salvation. Bergsma employs the same conversational style and simple illustrations found in Bible Basics for Catholics and New Testament Basics for Catholics to help bridge the gap between the world of contemporary Catholics and the ancient world of the Bible.

Love Basics for Catholics
Illustrating God’s Love for Us throughout the Bible. When you begin to see the Bible as a book of love, it will change the way you view love, sex, marriage, family, and your personal relationship with God. Walk with popular scripture scholar John Bergsma from the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to the wedding between the Lamb and the New Jerusalem in the Book of Revelation to learn how marriage in the Bible represents the love between God and his people.

Bible in a Year
In The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz walks you through the entire Bible in 365 episodes, providing commentary, reflection, and prayer along the way.Unlike any other Bible podcast, Ascension’s Bible in a Year podcast follows a reading plan inspired by The Great Adventure Bible Timeline, a ground-breaking approach to understanding salvation history developed by renowned Catholic Bible scholar Jeff Cavins. For each period in the timeline, Jeff will join Fr. Mike for a special episode that will help you understand the context of each reading.

Catholic Introduction 
to The Old Testament
Although many Catholics are familiar with the four Gospels and other writings of the New Testament, for most, reading the Old Testament is like walking into a foreign land. Who wrote these forty-six books? When were they written? Why were they written? What are we to make of their laws, stories, histories, and prophecies? Should the Old Testament be read by itself or in light of the New Testament?

Hard Sayings
A Catholic Approach to Answering Bible Difficulties.
Have you ever read something in the Bible that made you just scratch your head? Has a skeptic ever challenged you to defend a seemingly scandalous verse of Scripture? You re not alone. The Bible contains more than a few hard sayings (John 6:60): ancient idioms, apparent contradictions, myth-like events and figures, and passages that seem to be embarrassingly out of step with modern culture or science. How can a Catholic reconcile such things with his own faith, and with what the Church teaches about the inspiration and inerrancy of Sacred Scripture?

Reclaiming the Sabbath
Article by Fr. Dimitrios J. Antokas written August 31, 2019
"The Sabbath day is a day to see the “deep down in things,” in each of us and in our world. It is a day to let that oozing oil wash over our hearts and minds. How strange and even “outdated” this way of thinking may seem to us today."

Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy
Apostolic Letter "Dies Domini" written by the Holy Father, John Paul II written May 31, 1998
"Therefore, dear Brother Bishops and Priests, I urge you to work tirelessly with the faithful to ensure that the value of this sacred day is understood and lived ever more deeply. This will bear rich fruit in Christian communities, and will not fail to have a positive influence on civil society as a whole."

Restoring the Lord's DayHow Reclaiming Sunday Can Revive Our Human Nature  
Modern society has forgotten that the joie de vivre and the liturgical life are intertwined. Drawing from his experiences growing up in the Catholic culture of New Orleans, author Daniel Fitzpatrick juxtaposes the beauty of taking time to celebrate the Faith with the ongoing cultural drift toward eliminating the Sabbath. The result is a book that will awaken Christians from their spiritual sloth and enable them to appreciate the Lord’s Day more deeply as a means of attaining happiness — in the here and in the hereafter.

Living Beyond SundayMaking Your Home a Holy Place
Our relationship with God is not supposed to stay within the walls of our parish when we leave Sunday Mass. Instead, faith should transform our hearts, our families, and our homes into a welcoming place to encounter Christ.  But this isn’t always easy. Home life can be difficult and busy, and it’s easy to get distracted from the point of it all: raising a family of saints. In Living Beyond Sunday: Making Your Home a Holy Place, two married couples share what has helped them make their homes a place of encounter with God–a place where saints are being made.

Catholic All Year CompendiumLiturgical Living for Real Life 
If you have been wondering how to bring the rich traditions of the Catholic Church's liturgical year into your family life, this is the book for you. If you have no idea what the liturgical year is, but you are looking for ways to bring your faith home from Sunday Mass—in every season, all year long—this is the book for you too.

Festive FaithCatholic Celebrations Through the Year and Around the World
From St. Nicholas shoes, St. Lucy lights, and Simbang Gabi, Wren Day, king cakes, and Candlemas to Easter egg trees, May Crowning, and Dia de los Muertos, Catholic traditions from around the world evoke memories of cherished celebrations that connect us to one another and draw us closer to God. In Festive Faith, Steffani Aquila, founder of Liturgy Culture & Kitchen by His Girl Sunday, brings to life liturgical living as more than simply observing seasons. It’s about joyously celebrating God’s presence in our midst, every day and in every way.

Inclusion Apologetics Investigating the Biblical Origins of Major Catholic Teachings 
Video series to address the concerns, fears, hesitations, and worries about Catholicism. 

Catechism in a Year
The Catechism tackles some big questions right out of the gate. Why did God make us? How can we know him? How do we help others understand him as well? Fr. Mike invites us to discover God’s plan for us and accept the challenge he has placed before us.Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.


Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper
In recent years, Christians everywhere are rediscovering the Jewish roots of their faith. Every year at Easter time, many believers now celebrate Passover meals (known as Seders) seeking to understand exactly what happened at Jesus' final Passover, the night before he was crucified. Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes. 

Jesus and the Old Testament Roots of the Priesthood 
Is there anything in the New Testament about the need for priests in the Church? Many Protestants would argue no. And if you point out that there is a priesthood in the Old Testament, they are likely to say it was a feature of the Old Covenant that was undone by Christ. How should a Catholic respond?

Lord, Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession  
An illuminating, reassuring explanation of the Catholic Church’s teachings on confession and forgiveness by the bestselling author of The Lamb’s Supper and Hail, Holy Queen. Jesus told his first clergy, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” In Lord, Have Mercy, Scott Hahn explores the sacrament of reconciliation and shows why it is the key to spiritual growth, particularly in these times of intense anxiety and uncertainty.

The Fourth CupUnveiling the Mystery of the Last Supper and the Cross
In this brilliant audiobook - part memoir, part detective story, and part biblical study - Scott Hahn opens up new vistas on ancient landscapes while shedding light on his own enduring faith journey. The Fourth Cup not only tracks the author’s gradual conversion along the path of Evangelicalism to the doorsteps of the Catholic faith, but also explores the often obscure and misunderstood rituals of Passover and their importance in foreshadowing salvation in Jesus Christ. 

Into the Breach
An Apostolic Exhortation to Catholic Men, my Spiritual Sons in the Diocese of Phoenix by Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix. 

"I begin this letter with a clarion call and clear charge to you, my sons and brothers in Christ: Men, do not hesitate to engage in the battle that is raging around you, the battle that is wounding our children and families, the battle that is distorting the dignity of both women and men. This battle is often hidden, but the battle is real. It is primarily spiritual, but it is progressively killing the remaining Christian ethos in our society and culture, and even in our own homes."

Video Supplement: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dhS0o-trLjWzcr-cZLIhiIKxdvY7A81&si=2KTTCVjfrT0i3oag

Manual for Men 
Manual for Men is for men who are in the arena, warriors for Christ and His Church. It is for men who battle daily for their souls and for their family. It is often a struggle to shed the sins and vices the world offers men, but it’s a battle we must fight and win. Now, perhaps more than ever, men need to be men. But what it means to be a man has been twisted into a pale and mangled image of true manhood. Manual for Men serves as a field guide and instruction manual for those husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers who would become real men of God - men who protect, physically and spiritually, those entrusted to them; men who sacrifice, pray, fight, love, and live by the example of Christ.

The Mission of the Family
The Mission of the Family is a dynamic new video series that proclaims the truth and beauty of the Catholic vision of marriage and family life in the modern world. It explores the unique roles of men and women in marriage and their responsibility for raising children. The series also examines the significant challenges facing Catholic families in a world where the nature of the family itself has become a battleground.

Holy Grit A Saintly Guide to Becoming a Man of Virtue
Discover what it means to become a man of faith through the lives of ten male saints and their experiences pursuing holiness. In Holy Grit, you'll join Catholic life coach Paul George to consider some of the tough issues facing men today—struggles in marriage, parenting, suffering, and finding purpose—to determine areas for growth and take steps toward living the life for which God created you.

Behold the ManA Catholic Vision of Male Spirituality
Lucid and inspiring, Behold the Man is a unique exploration of Catholic spirituality for men. Much of the literature written for Catholic men focuses on topical issues such as fatherhood and sexuality. While this book does not exclude these subjects, it is the first to present a comprehensive picture of Catholic male spirituality. 

Through the Heart of St. Joseph 
Though he speaks no words in Scripture, St. Joseph's message to us is resounding: he wants to lead us to Jesus. In Through the Heart of St. Joseph, Fr. Boniface Hicks reveals the path St. Joseph has laid. Discover how St. Joseph's vulnerability, littleness, silence, and hiddenness can transform and heal us. Fr. Hicks also looks to the saints who lived the "Joseph Option" to show how we too can embrace a life of humble trust and steadfast courage.

The Meaning and Mystery of Man
The Role and Responsibility of the Christian Man: A Biblical Study of Adam, St. Joseph and Jesus Christ
Equips men with a much-needed, uncompromising, profound, scriptural, and theological vision of what it really means to be a man. A deeper dive, yet accessible, The Meaning and Mystery of Man builds a very strong case for headship, patriarchy, and the essential role and responsibility of the Christian man. Consider this an apologetics book for fatherhood, masculinity, and spiritual leadership.

Consecration to St. JosephThe Wonders of Our Spiritual Father
​In the midst of crisis, confusion, and a world at war with the Church, it's time to come home again to our spiritual father, St. Joseph. In this richly researched and lovingly presented program of consecration to St. Joseph, Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, brings to life the wonders, the power, and the ceaseless love of St. Joseph, Universal Patron of the Church and the Terror of Demons.

Manual for Women  
Now, perhaps more than ever, women need to be women. But what it means to be a woman has been so distorted by the various ideologies that the modern world imposes. Manual for Women serves as a reminder to women that authentic femininity (and, yes, authentic feminism) springs from an embrace, rather than a spurning, of the great and unique gifts God has bestowed on them, whether they be married or single, in religious life or a laywomen, a homemaker or a women who works outside the home, or, as so many women in today’s hectic world are, some combination thereof!  

The Eternal Woman
With penetrating insight Gertrud von le Fort understood the war on womanhood, and consequently on motherhood, that always coincides with an attack on the faith of the Catholic Church, which she embraced at the age of 50 in 1926. In The Eternal Woman, she counters the modern assault on the feminine not with polemical argument but with perhaps the most beautiful meditation on womanhood ever written.

Letter to WomenPope St. John Paul II 
From the Vatican, 29 June 1995, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
"It is thus my hope, dear sisters, that you will reflect carefully on what it means to speak of the "genius of women", not only in order to be able to see in this phrase a specific part of God's plan which needs to be accepted and appreciated, but also in order to let this genius be more fully expressed in the life of society as a whole, as well as in the life of the Church."

The Privilege of Being a Woman
Women historically have been denigrated as lower than men or viewed as privileged. Dr. Alice von Hildebrand characterizes the difference between such views as based on whether man's vision is secularistic or steeped in the supernatural. She shows that feminism's attempts to gain equality with men by imitation of men is unnatural, foolish, destructive, and self-defeating. The Blessed Mother's role in the Incarnation points to the true privilege of being a woman. Both virginity and maternity meet in Mary who exhibits the feminine gifts of purity, receptivity to God's word, and life-giving nurturance at their highest.

Mother to MotherSpiritual and Practical Wisdom from the Cloister to the Home
The unique ability of women to be mothers is a most precious gift. Whether a woman’s vocation is to be a mother in the context of married life or the spiritual motherhood of religious life, both vocations have Our Lady as their source and inspiration. This similar calling to model the motherhood of the Blessed Mother suggests that lay mothers and religious nuns can benefit from each other’s wisdom and experiences. Mother to Mother introduces moms to contemplative nuns who have offered their insight on the common struggles of motherhood.

The Anti-Mary ExposedRescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity
In the late ’60s, a small group of elite American women convinced an overwhelming majority of the country that destroying the most fundamental of relationships - mother and child - was necessary for women to have productive and happy lives.

The decay of the entire family, and almost overnight, our once pro-life culture became pro-lifestyle, embracing everything that felt good. Sixty million abortions later, women aren’t showing signs of health, happiness, and fulfillment. Increased numbers of divorce, depression, anxiety, sexually transmitted disease, and drug abuse all point to the reality that women aren’t happier, just more medicated.

A Mother's Rule of LifeHow to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul
Motherhood and homeschooling had overwhelmed her. The house was dirty, the laundry undone. Holly felt frustrated, discouraged, and alone. She couldn't find time to snuggle and have fun with her five children or to go out with her husband. Yes, she loved Philip and she did love God, but she had come to resent Philip's freedom and she almost never found time for prayer.

Father, Forgive MeFor I am Frustrated:  Growing in Faith When You Don't Find It Easy Being Catholic
Father Pacwa reveals how many Catholics are rediscovering the riches of their faith-despite the spiritual challenges they face. He also offers realistic, practical advice to help you find the sources of support you need to keep growing where you've been planted. A Servant Book.

The Precious Gift of Old AgeHow to Make the Golden Years the Best of Your Life
The fear of growing old is a universal burden. Here's the book you need to ensure that you move into and through old age with grit and grace. Fr. John LaFarge shows you how to conquer any fear of aging — and how to make your golden years the best years of your life.

Being a Grandparent
Some wonder how being a grandparent will differ from being a parent, and want to mature into it with as few wrinkles as possible. Some are a daily presence in their grandchildren’s lives, perhaps even sharing a home with them and wanting their interactions to be as smooth as possible. Others live many miles away and fear yielding to the temptation of bribery to endear their distant grandbabies to them. Some are baffled as to why their own children are raising the grandkids so unlike they were raised—in practice, discipline or morals. Others see their grandchildren as difficult to be around, and ask what, if anything, they can do about it.

Three to Get Married
One of the greatest and best-loved spokesmen for the Catholic Faith here sets out the Church's beautiful understanding of marriage in his trademark clear and entertaining style. Frankly and charitably, Sheen presents the causes of and solutions to common marital crises, and tells touching real-life stories of people whose lives were transformed through marriage. He emphasizes that our Blessed Lord is at the center of every successful and loving marriage. This is a perfect gift for engaged couples, or for married people as a fruitful occasion for self-examination. 

A Sacrament of Service 
The first thing you should notice is that marriage is a Sacrament of Service. That should get your attention. Marriage is to be other-focused, the pouring out of your life for the good of your spouse and any children with which you may be blessed.

The Good, The Messy, and the BeautifulThe Joys and Struggles of Real Married Life
God draws spouses closer to the Heavenly marriage through the sanctifying power of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony  However, that means it is not always easy, and it certainly is not like what newlyweds may imagine.  In The Good, the Messy, and the Beautiful: The Joys and Struggles of Real Married Life, Edward and Beth Sri―national marriage speakers―show readers that the struggles of marriage are to be expected and, even more so, they are purifying us to make us saints.

Men, Women & the Mystery of Love 
Fr. Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II’s name before he became the pontiff in 1978) published Love and Responsibility in 1960. It revealed his fully formed philosophy of marriage and sheds light on the dynamics between men and women. Some consider his analysis of the true meaning of human love as life changing and practical, shedding light on real issues between men and women.
 
God Has No Grandchildren AND Casti Cannubii 
In 1930, Pius XI published a letter to the world to answer a fundamental question - "What is Marriage?" As even Christians began to accept divorce and remarriage, contraception, and abortion, the Pope eloquently and beautifully defended the ancient understanding of marriage as grounded in Scripture and natural law.

"God Has No Grandchildren", a guided reading of the encyclical Casti Connubii will help you, your friends, and your parish understand what the Church teaches and has always taught about this fundamental institution, God's first covenant with man.

Theology of the Body  1 HR 
Today's sexual confusion is not caused because the world glorifies sexuality, but because the world fails to see its glory. Through his Theology of the Body, St. John Paul II unveiled the beauty of God's plan for human love. In 60 minutes, discover how the human body in its masculinity and femininity reveals who we are and how we are called to live.

Allocation to Midwives
A Letter from Pope Pius XXII on October 29. 1951
"When one thinks of this admirable collaboration of the parents, of nature and of God, from which is born a new human being in the image and likeness of God, how can the precious contribution which you give to such a work be not appreciated? The heroic mother of the Machabees admonished her children: "I know not how you were formed in my womb, for I neither gave you breath, nor soul, nor life, neither did I frame the limbs of every one of you. But the Creator of the world that formed the nativity of men . . .."

The First Society The Sacrament of Matrimony and the Restoration of the Social Order
Everyone seems to agree that Western civilization is in trouble. The problem is that no one agrees on what has gone wrong or what to do about it. Some think we have too much government, some not enough; some think we have too much capitalism, some not enough; some think we have too much sexual freedom, some not enough. 

The Little Oratory
With simplicity and holy wisdom, authors David Clayton and Leila Marie Lawler show you how to bring peace to your home by integrating your family into the calm, truly joyful way of Mother Church. Her feasts and seasons, prayers and devotions are gifts that draw us closer to God and unfold before us His marvelous plan of salvation.

Parenting for Eternity
A trillion years from now, your child will be either in heaven or in hell. And this is only the beginning of eternity. In light of this eternal perspective, the time is now, dear parent, to raise your child to live entirely for Christ and his church. The time is now to train your child in the Four Last Things, the spiritual life, the virtues of piety and humility, and the school of Calvary while shielding him from the errors of modernism, Protestantism, and much more.

Forming FamiliesForming Saints
How do we raise children to be saints?  How do we become saints?
From those two questions we draw our mission. As parents, our primary purpose is to raise children fit for eternal life—while we pursue the same for ourselves. If we succeed, it will be our greatest success. If we fail, there is no greater failure imaginable.

Well-Ordered Family
Do you yearn for more order and clarity within your family? Is the chaos and busyness of modern life unsettling the harmony of your household? Conor Gallagher, CEO of multiple businesses and father of fifteen, unveils a transformative system in Well- Ordered Family that will restore peace and joy in your household.
 
Liturgical Living
If you have been wondering how to bring the rich traditions of the Catholic Church's liturgical year into your family life, this is the book for you. If you have no idea what the liturgical year is, but you are looking for ways to bring your faith home from Sunday Mass—in every season, all year long—this is the book for you too.

Made This WayPreparing Kids for Tough Moral Issues  
Related Church DocumentThe Truth & Meaningof Human Sexuality 
Leila Miller and Trent Horn give parents (guardians and teachers, too!) crucial tools and techniques to form children with the understanding they need - appropriate to their age and maturity level - to meet the world’s challenges.  Their secret lies in an approach that begins not with the Bible or church teaching but with the natural law. In kid-friendly ways, Miller (Primal Loss) and Horn (Persuasive Pro-Life) help you communicate how the right way to live is rooted in the way we’re made. God’s design for human nature is a blueprint or owner’s manual for moral living that any child can grasp through reason and apply to modern controversies over sex, marriage, life...and the quest for human fulfillment.

Marian Consecration for Children
At the turn of the 18th century, the French priest, St. Louis de Montfort, became a warrior for his queen. Few preached on the role of the Mother of God better and with more passion than him. St. Louis spread far and wide the practice of Marian consecration, a means by which we give our entire selves to Jesus through the hands of his mother.

Beloved and Blessed
What is the secret to a strong marriage and family? The answer is simple and difficult at once. Proverbs 31 tells us that a wife who loves the Lord with all her heart can fully give herself to her spouse and children. In Beloved and Blessed: Biblical Wisdom for Family Life, Kimberly Hahn provides insight into the most important relationships in a woman’s life.

Discerning Spirits in Marriage
To navigate the inevitable ups and downs of our spiritual lives, countless souls have found comfort and guidance in St. Ignatius of Loyola's Rules for Discernment. For the past 40 years, popular retreat master and author Fr. Timothy Gallagher has been at the forefront of making St. Ignatius's Rules understandable and applicable to hundreds of thousands of Catholics seeking greater sensitivity to the movements of their souls. Now Fr. Gallagher returns with a more focused mission: to help you apply these rules to your role as a husband or a wife.

God’s Plan for Your Marriage
In this thought-provoking and uplifting book, Fr. Robert Altier unpacks the theological significance of the Sacrament of Marriage and brilliantly explains how it has been a part of God’s plan from the beginning ― and will eventually be fulfilled at the Marriage Banquet of the Lamb in Heaven. Teeming with practical wisdom and clear examples, these pages delve into the surpassing dignity of marriage as a covenant and a sacrament ― and a call to holiness.

Be Devoted 
Drawing from his popular healing conferences, forty years of marriage, and decades of clinical work as a couple’s therapist, bestselling author Bob Schuchts presents his first resource for married and engaged couples and those who desire true love in their relationships: Be Devoted. This highly anticipated guide delivers sound Catholic teaching, rich storytelling, and practical tools for healing, along with psychological insights and expertise to help couples create a relationship that is rich in trust, passion, and unity.

Primal LossChildren of Divorce Speak 
In the Divorce Fantasy World, there are only two choices.Unhappy parents stay miserably married and fight for the rest of their lives, or they get divorced and everyone lives happily ever after. Theidea that one or both parents should change their behavior doesn’t register as an option, nor does the idea that the divorce might seriouslywound the kids

Impossible Marriages Redeemed
The message of the culture is clear: When things get really bad in a marriage, the best, and even only, thing to do is to divorce and "move on." The message of the contemporary Church is not much different, although Catholics (both ordained and lay) might advise annulment after the civil divorce and before the "moving  on." The 65 stories in this book tell of a different way: A way of Christlike faithfulness and solemn commitment to one's sacred promises--something that was common (or at least considered honorable and right) in eras past, but which seems forgotten today. 

When Expecting Doesn’t HappenTurning Infertility into a Journey of Hope
With firsthand knowledge, Meaney helps couples navigate the experience of infertility and unpacks Catholic teaching on reproductive technologies. Outlining which licit approaches can be taken and the “dead ends” offered by reproductive technologies which undermine the dignity of the couple and their potential children, When Expecting Doesn’t Happen contains both practical and spiritual wisdom to guide couples toward deep peace and authentic fulfillment

IVF is Not the WayThe False Promises of Artificial Procreation  
In a May 2024 Pew poll, more than two-thirds of Americans indicated they thought that IVF (in vitro fertilization) is good and should be accessible to anyone who wants it. Even among social conservatives — including the current U.S. administration — there is a push for wider accessibility for artificial procreation options. But is IVF truly the gift for infertile couples that it’s perceived to be?

In this thoughtful, eminently readable guide, Stacy Trasancos examines the issues associated with IVF through scientific, philosophical, and theological lenses and traces the history of artificial procreation and the developments of moral teachings to reveal syllogistically why IVF is not the “way of life.”

Discovering Your VocationThe Search for Meaning through the Spiritual Exercises 
Helps readers identify their personal vocation, or special way of being, so that they may reach out more effectively to others. Elaborates on the connection between personal vocation and the Spiritual Exercises. 

Save a Thousand Souls A Guide for Discerning a Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood
In what has been hailed as “a groundbreaking work” Fr. Brett Brannen compiles all the wisdom of a master Vocation Director into one volume.  Using powerful and entertaining stories, the book explains in down-to-earth language how to carefully discover God's call. 

This 10th Anniversary Edition of To Save a Thousand Souls contains useful updates and powerful and entertaining stories. The book explains in down-to-earth language how to discern a vocation to diocesan priesthood. It is the definitive guide for men considering the priesthood.

The Choice of a State of Lifeand the Vocation to the Religious State  
​If, then, in the choice of a state of life, we wish to secure our eternal salvation, we must embrace that to which God calls us, in which only God prepares for us the efficacious means necessary to our salvation. For, as St Cyprian says: “The grace of the Holy Spirit is given according to the order of God, and not according to our own will;” and therefore St. Paul writes, Every one hath his proper gift from God.” That is, as Cornelius a Lapide explains it, God gives to everyone his vocation, and chooses the state in which he wills him to be saved. And this is the order of predestination described by the same apostle: Whom he predestinated, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified, . . . and them he also glorified. We must remark that in the world this doctrine of the vocation is not much studied by some persons. They think it to be all the same, whether they live in the state to which God calls them, or in that which they choose of their own inclination, and therefore so many live a bad life.

Jesus and the                             Jewish Roots of MaryUnveiling the Mother of the Messiah 
Are Catholic teachings on Mary really biblical? Or are they the "traditions of men"? Should she be called the "Mother of God", or just the mother of Jesus? Did she actually remain a virgin her whole life, or do the "brothers of Jesus" refer to her other children? By praying to Mary, are Catholics worshiping her? And what does Mary have to do with the quest to understand Jesus?

In Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary, Dr. Pitre takes listeners step-by-step from the Garden of Eden to the Book of Revelation to reveal how deeply biblical Catholic beliefs about Mary really are. Dr. Pitre uses the Old Testament and ancient Judaism to unlock how the Bible itself teaches that Mary is in fact the new Eve, the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven and Earth, and the new Ark of the Covenant.

Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God
Building on these scriptural and historical foundations, Hahn presents a new look at the Marian doctrines: Her Immaculate Conception, Perpetual Virginity, Assumption, and Coronation. As he guides modern-day readers through passages filled with mysteries and poetry, Hahn helps them rediscover the ancient art and science of reading the Scriptures and gain a more profound understanding of their truthfulness and relevance to faith and the practice of religion in the contemporary world.

Catholic Social Doctrine
We live in a world that has become secularized, marked by ideology and partisanship. In such a world, how are we supposed to know what is right and wrong? As Christians, how are we supposed to approach the social issues of our day? With conflicting voices surrounding us, how can we hear and know the voice of Jesus Christ and receive His teachings?

As Christians, we seek to live the way of the Lord Jesus, but that’s easier said than done. We want to demonstrate the Lord’s love and kindness to all men and women, but we’re faced with issues that cause us to discern what that looks like, and how it’s virtuously expressed. We want to do what is right and good, but trying to determine right and wrong can at times be confusing and unsettling.

We Are the Lord's A Catholic Guide to Difficult End-of-Life Questions
No one likes to think about death and many are not ready for it, either as the patient or a loved one. And yet, the dying process is oftentimes marked by an array of diverse and confusing questions that can catch anyone off guard.

What are we supposed to do? 

We Are the Lord's is a succinct, quick-reference guide to difficult end-of-life questions, framed by divine wisdom and Church teaching. Its easy-to-read chapters and question-and-answer format can be a welcomed help to any person or family who are searching for answers during a difficult and traumatic time.

Manual for Suffering
If God is so good and so powerful, why is there suffering in our world? Why do good people suffer so much? How can we find value and meaning in the midst of the fallenness of the world?

These questions—and many others—call for answers. The responses will determine our worldview and way of life. In the Manual for Suffering, the revealed, time-tested, and holistic answer from the depths of the Catholic faith is presented in all its beauty and power.

Male, Female, Other? 
If you care about someone who identifies as trans and don’t know how to respond, or you experience gender dysphoria and wonder what God’s plan is for you, you’ll find the answers inside.