An incredibly popular and successful book.
Explains the basic tenets of the Catholic Faith and why we hold them. Delves
into the historical background of virtually everything people find hard to
understand about the Catholic faith, such as priestly celibacy, sacred images,
the Church and the Bible, the primacy of Peter, Communion under one kind,
invocation of the Saints, etc. First published in 1876, when there was much
anti-Catholic sentiment in the U.S., it sold 1.4 million copies in 40 years
and has been reprinted many times since. The myths and misunderstanding of
Protestants towards the Catholic Church are well known to Catholics and
incredibly persistent despite a wealth of evidence available to refute them,
but none better than this classic work by James Cardinal Gibbon, former
Archbishop of Baltimore.
Not By Faith Alone: The Biblical
Evidence for the Catholic Doctrine of Justification is recommended because
it is both painstakingly thorough and insightful beyond expectations. Robert
Sungenis has produced an exciting new study of the doctrine of faith alone or sola
fide that launched the Protestant Reformation. Sungenis received his
theological training at Westminister Theological Seminary, where he learned
and used the Calvinist theology taught there to teach the Bible on Protestant
radio. His study of Scripture led him to convert to the Catholic Church in
1992, so he writes from a unique view with great insight on both the
Protestant and Catholic views of this important subject. His extensive
Biblical exegesis ratifies the Catholic concept of justification as a process,
while at the same time showing the development and divergence of Protestant
views from Luther, from one another and from Catholicism. He addresses
questions like what did St. Paul teach about justification and comes to the
conclusion that he did not teach the Lutheran doctrine of "faith
alone." He points out for example that Paul used the word
"faith" or its cognates over 200 times in the New Testament, but
never couples it with the word "alone" or "only." In fact,
the only times the words do appear together is in the epistle of James, which
explicitly says "not by faith alone." He cites the extensive study
by Allister McGrath, an Episcopalian, who concluded that Luther's doctrine was
a brand new theology which was not taught in the previous 1500 years of
Christianity before Luther himself introduced it. But his exegesis and the
thrust of his work is not dependent upon secondary sources. For example, he
has a chapter in which he analyses what Jesus taught about salvation and shows
it was not a simple formula and required obedience to the commandments,
quoting and explaining numerous Scriptural passages to support his contention.
He discusses Christian concepts of free will and predestination and uses
Scripture to explain the Catholic view that "God desires all men to be
saved" (2 Pet 3:8-9). In short, he presents Scriptural, theological,
historical, and anthropological reasons why sola fide cannot work.
Jesus, Peter & the Keys: A Scriptural
Handbook on the Papacy is recommended because the authors, have developed an
exciting and insightful study of the scriptural basis for the Papacy which was
reviewed by 350 Protestant professors over a four year period before its
publication. Did Jesus create an office for Peter? This study shows a
surprising concurrence of Protestant and Catholic scholars on the
understanding that Peter was designated as "the rock." Using
scriptural and patristic sources, as well as expository analysis from
Protestant and Catholic scholars and theologians, they explain the meaning the
delegation of the keys to Peter in Matthew 16: 19. They represent the keys as
a symbol of authority, as revealed by the king's prime minister (Isaiah 22:
22), and show how the scribes at the time of Jesus claimed to possess power to
control access to the heavenly kingdom, which they exercised by
"declaring the will of God in Holy Scripture in the form of preaching,
teaching and judging." They relate this to the power of "binding and
loosing" which Jesus gave to Peter (Matthew 16:19). Jesus is "the
chief holder of the keys of death and Sheol (Revelation 1: 18) and the key of
David (Revelation 3: 7) but as the Chief Shepherd of His Church, He entrusts
the keys to Peter until the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of time.
Although there is evidence that the early Church anticipated an early return
of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4: 15), they argue that the recognition that the
Holy Spirit was active in the Church, made a delayed Second Coming
understandable. The critical question they pose is: if Jesus gave this
authority to Peter, why would it not be intended to be passed on to his
successors? The structure and authority of the Church is reflected in
Scripture in a variety of passages ranging from Matthew 23: 2-3, where Jesus
speaks of the Pharisees sitting on the "seat of Moses" to John
13:20, which notes, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth
whomsoever I send receiveth me . . ." They purposely use scriptural
quotes only from the King James Version to underline their point that their
argument is independent of the differences that exist between Biblical
translations. After concluding their persuasive scriptural arguments for
apostolic succession and infallibility (inability to teach error in matters of
faith and morals only), they turn to the historical record and the writings of
the early Church Fathers over a 700 year period, which provide impressive
testimony of the papal office and its authority.
Not By Bread Alone: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for the Eucharistic
Sacrifice by Robert A. Sungenis. This is an important study which refutes the
claims first voiced in the Protestant Reformation that the Catholic Mass is
"an unbiblical practice [and] that it repudiates the once-for-all
sacrifice of Christ on the cross of Calvary as expressed in the Book of
Hebrews." This is an "careful and complete" look at the
Biblical and historical data supporting the Catholic Mass and Eucharistic
sacrifice which examines the Biblical and patristic sources (writings of the
Early Church Fathers) in great detail. The book is divided into three parts:
1) The Mass as Sacrifice; 2) The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharistic
Sacrifice of the Mass; 3) The Witness of the Early Church Fathers with
Commentary. This book is not just an apologetic, or explanation of Catholic
teaching, but provides a deeper understanding of Catholic Mass, the universal
prayer of the Church for 2000 years. Quoting from St. Augustine, one of the
greatest of the early Church Fathers, "He who devoutly hears Holy Mass
will receive a great vigor to enable him to resist mortal sin, and there shall
be pardoned to him all venial sins which he may have committed up to that
hour."
Eleven lives, eleven different stories of people who traveled very different
roads from Judaism and Protestantism into the Catholic Church. These people
did not want to become Catholics but became convinced of the truth of the
Church's claim, often over a period of years, and made the difficult decision
to convert. In each story the role of Biblical evidence and the often the
writings of the Early Church Fathers is emphasized so that the entire book
makes a convincing argument in favor of the Catholic faith. Among the well
known converts in the book are ex-pastors like Marcus Grodi and Steve Wood and
converts who became Catholic Apologists like Bob Sungenis, James Akin and Tim
Staples (who was also an ex-pastor). The uncertainties and stigma facing the
convert from a Biblical based Protestant Evangelical denomination to the
Catholic faith are well documented as well as the courage and trust of those
who made the life changing decision. What these people learned at great
personal cost is distilled into a fascinating series of life narratives that
produce a tapestry of great beauty. As the late Fulton Sheen put it:
"There are hundreds of people who hate what THEY think the Catholic
Church teaches but less than 10 people hate the Catholic Church for what it
REALLY teaches." This book only proves Sheen's observations.
Surprised by Truth 2 by Patrick
MadridThis inspiring book contains the stories of fifteen men and women who found their way into the Catholic Church after much struggle on their personal journeys. It is full of drama, but more importantly, Scriptural and patristic evidence for the truths of the Catholic faith. Those who have read it say they cannot put it down and want to share it with their Catholic and non-Catholic friends alike. For the honest seeker of truth. As Stephen K. Ray, himself a convert to Catholicism put it, "Whether you're a longtime Catholic. a searching Protestant or a non-believer, you'll be moved by these compelling stories." Among the convert stories featured are Kristine Franklin, Thomas Howard, Steve Clifford, and Tim Drake, to name a few.
Search and Rescue: How to
Bring Your Family and Friend Into, or Back Into, the Catholic Church by
Patrick Madrid
"How do you bring a friend or relative back into the Catholic Church? First you pray. Then you follow Patrick Madrid's advice in Search and Rescue" according to Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York. This is not just another answer book, as valuable as they are, but rather a demonstration of spiritual principles. You do not have to be a biblical scholar or a theologian to be an effective spokesman for the Catholic faith. You do have to employ spiritual principles of faith and no one explains that more clearly and concisely than Patrick. Using his own life experiences he methodically assembles a guide you can use. One reader said, "Prayer, Scripture and Catechism reading, supplemental study and reliance on God permeate the pages of this book. I felt a true spark of motivation and thought of my family and friends who were once Catholic and how earnestly our Lord desires them to be of "one faith" in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. This is a must read for anyone who wants to reach out with the heart and not just their head."
Price $12.95
In this classic apologetic, Fr. Romero gives clear-cut and accurate answers to
the most often asked questions about Catholic doctrine, traditions and
practices, such as the doctrine of purgatory, the immaculate conception, the
Eucharist, etc. He frequently quotes from Scott Hahn, Tim Staples, and many
other top apologists to supplement his own explanations. He establishes why
the contemporary Catholic Church and the Apostolic Church founded by Jesus
Christ are one and the same. Like a courtroom judge deciding between
conflicting interpretations, Fr. Mario examines key passages from Scripture,
looks at historical documentation and presents evidence from first generation
Christians (Early Church Fathers) to show that modern day Catholic beliefs and
practices have solid precedence with those of the early Church. Protestant
objections to central issues are spelled out and systematically addressed.
Explanations are broken into bite-size pieces, excellently cross referenced
and reinforced with visual aids. Each chapter starts with with official
teaching of the Catholic Church as presented in the Catechism. Represents an
invaluable teaching or reference tool.
Ray, a former Evangelical Protestant and Bible teacher, goes through the
Scriptures and the first five centuries of the Church to demonstrate that the
early Christians had a clear understanding of the primacy of Peter in the see
of Rome. He tackles the tough issues in an attempt to expose how the
opposition is misunderstanding the Scriptures and history. He uses many
Protestant scholars and historians to support the Catholic position. This book
contains the most complete compilation of Scriptural and Patristic quotations
(from the early Church Fathers of the first 700 years of Christianity) on the
primacy of Peter and the Papal office of any book available. It has over 500
footnotes with supporting evidence from Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical, and
non-Christian authorities.
This Series consists of 8 small, but packed volumes: 1)Study Guide for
Beginning Apologetics: How to Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith; 2)
Beginning Apologetic 1: which deals with the Eucharist, the Canon of the
Bible, Mary, Confession Purgatory, scandals in the church and other important
objections; 3)Beginning Apologetics 2: How to Answer Jehovah's Witnesses and
Mormons. ; 4)Beginning Apologetics 2.5: Yes! You Should Believe in the
Trinity: How to Answer Jehovah's Witnesses. In their classic booklet Should
You Believe in the Trinity?, Jehovah's Witnesses cleverly present the Trinity
as an apostate doctrine, unfounded in the Bible, resulting from pagan
influences on Christianity. . In well chosen, easy-to-understand language, Fr.
Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham expose faulty JW reasoning, their misuse of
Church Fathers and misinterpretation of Sacred Scripture. 5)Beginning
Apologetics 3: How to Explain and Defend the Real Presence of Christ in the
Eucharist: discusses the historical, Biblical basis, miracles, saints, and
much more. 6)Beginning Apologetics 4: How to Answer Atheists and New Agers:
includes Roots of modern atheism, historical background on the Enlightenment,
materialism, rationalism, scientism and evolutionism plus a look at the
historical roots of the New Age movement, including Gnosticism, Eastern
religions, modern philosophy and psychology and the human potential movement.
7) How to Answer Tough Moral Questions such as abortion, contraception,
euthanasia, test-tube babies, cloning and sexual ethics is the subject and
8)How to Read the Bible:
Provides the basic tools to read and interpret the Bible correctly. Shows
how to effectively refute the errors of some modern biblical scholars.
9) How to Explain and Defend the End Times: What Catholics Believe about the
Second Coming, the Rature, Heaven, Hell, Purgatory and Indulgences. You
also get a truly invaluable Apologetic Concordance which gives you appropriate
Scriptures to answer the question, "where is that in the Bible?" and
explain various aspects of Catholic belief. This series, authored by Fr. Frank
Chacon, Jim Burnham and Steve Wood is a powerful tool yet easy to understand,
read and use in dialogue with friends and family. Try it today!
Catholic For A Reason which is has already sold over 20,000 copies and is very
much in demand. Why? Imagine today's top Catholic authors, apologists, and
theologians. Now imagine 12 of them collaborating on a book that answers
common questions about and challenges to the teachings and doctrines of the
Catholic Church. Imagine no more, it's a reality. Catholic for a Reason
helps Catholics and non-Catholics alike develop a better understanding of the
Church. Each chapter opens up the spiritual depth and beauty of the faith,
whether it is Mary, the Eucharist, Baptism, or Purgatory and in a clear,
concise and insightful way, presents the teachings of the Church. Those
teachings are explained in the light of the relationship of God the Father to
us, his creatures. Peter Kreeft notes, "This is one of the most exciting
books of theology and apologetics I have seen in years. It is not the usual
fare . . . . Its central idea of "the family of God" turns out to be
central to every aspect of the Catholic faith, and no idea is more fundamental
our current crisis and 'culture war' than this one."
Crossing the Tiber by Stephen K.
Ray. An
exhilarating conversion story of a devout Baptist who relates how he overcame
his hostility to the Catholic Church by a combination of serious Bible study
and vast research of the writings of the early Church Fathers. In addition to
a moving account of their conversion that caused Stephen and his wife to
"cross the Tiber" to Rome, he offers an in-depth treatment of
Baptism and the Eucharist in Scripture and the ancient Church. Thoroughly
documented with hundreds of footnotes, this contains perhaps the most complete
compilation of biblical and patristic quotations and commentary available on
Baptism and the Eucharist, as well as a detailed analysis of Sola Scriptura
and Tradition."This is really three books in one that offers not only a compelling conversion story, but documented facts that are likely to cinch many other conversions."
- Karl Keating
"A very moving and astute story. I am enormously impressed with Ray's candor, courage and theological literacy."
- Thomas Howard
In this marvelous, in-depth study, Fr. O'Connor takes us for a grand tour
through the writings of the Early Church Fathers, exploring the Church's
understanding and Oral Tradition as regards the Eucharist. Beginning in
Apostolic times he traces the doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ through
the Reformation and beyond to modern disputes. This is truly a fascinating and
uplifting journey as we explore this beautiful doctrine. His first chapter,
"Peter and the Eucharist" shows how the integrity of this doctrine
was preserved by Peter's successors. He examines the Eucharist as the Real
Presence, the reality of transubstantiation, as a foretaste of heaven, as a
sacrifice and as the sacrament of sacraments. He also writes about the
relationship between the Eucharist and the Church and between the Eucharist
and Our Lady. From Ignatius of Antioch, who refers to the Eucharist as
"the medicine of immortality" about 107 A.D. through Popes John
XXIII and Paul VI, who refers to the Eucharist as "the greatest miracle
of all in its kind," he walks through the great theologians and Saints of
the Church. You will learn about the "disciplina arcane" or the
secret discipline, a self-imposed discipline with regard to the mysteries of
the faith, which hid them even from the catechumens at a time when the Church
was underground and much persecuted. You'll learn of St. Augustine's views,
often misrepresented, and how he believed that both the Jews and Christians
had sacraments, but "the Christian received the Reality in truth and the
Jew only in figure," according to St. Augustine. You will learn of the
challenge of Berengarius in the 13th century and the thought of the Protestant
Reformers with regard to the Eucharist and the Mass. In short, this is a
superb work that should be read by every Christian.