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"The LORD heard my cry. He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp; he set my feet upon a crag; he made firm my steps." Ps. 40

"The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir. Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father's house. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold." Ps. 45

“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” Lk. 12:48.

“Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities!  All things are vanity” Ecc. 1:2.

“[Abraham] begins to see that proper fatherhood must be grounded not on natural love of your own children but on the acquired love of the right and the good.” Kass, Leon R., The Beginning of Wisdom: Reading Genesis

 The most important part of apologetics is the capacity to make Jesus loved. That is why I recommend Spufford’s book. His heart is in it. He said he wrote the book typing at a table in a Cambridge coffee shop. Other apologetic books I have recommended make logical arguments consistent with faith. None that I recommend connect as well emotionally as does this book.

"If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God, and keep his commandments and statutes … No, it is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out." Dt. 30:10-14

Behold, I have given you the power to 'tread upon serpents' and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.  Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven." Lk. 10:20

Ok. Good question. What kind of guy reads Jane Austen? Let me tell you. The kind of guy who reads Jane Austen is the kind of guy who ...

Some classics from a great Catholic apologist, Frank Sheed. "Prudence is the virtue by which the grace-aided soul sees the world as it actually is and our relation to it as it should be.” Frank Sheed. Theology for Beginners

Sometimes attacks on our Faith are only misunderstandings and teaching opportunities in disguise. Dr. Christopher Haczor, Ph.D agrees with some legitimate concerns, but also calls out the extremists who misrepresent the faith, creating a caricature of faith, that is easily dismissed. This is a solid book about cultural apologetics. Fr. John

A great social and economic history of late classical antiquity. How did Medieval Christianity become driven by wealth, patronage and corruption? It really wasn't Constantine. The story is more complex The answer is rooted in the well-meaning bishops and wealthy of the failing Roman Empire, a culture that had lost its way. Fr. John

Dr. Holly Ordway's book on apologetics and the imagination is a good starting place on the fundamentals of evangelization. How do we explain God to the indifferent? First, make sure you are talking about the same thing. An enjoyable read. Fr. John

“Men despise religion”, writes Pascal. “They hate it, and fear it is true.” Dr. Nelson and I certainly believe it is true. First consider the problem as Dr. Nelson describes it. Then, consider the remedy. This book is a very accessible work of apologetics. Please consider reading it. Fr. John

The early Church fathers, that is, the formative figures following the death of the apostles, have had a huge impact on the Church. Stretching roughly from the Second to the Seventh Century, they are our window into how the faith developed, grew and influenced the entire world. Very interesting theological history. Fr. John

"The Mindful Catholic" harnesses psychology's insights into human anxiety and its causes with suggestions about how we can avoid being oppressed by worry and distraction. This is not a book of prayer but is an approach to calming the mind in order to pray or escape unwanted thoughts. Fr. John

Dr. Stephen Barr, Ph.D is a physicist who writes with great insight into the relationship between faith and science. Read my review.Fr. John

"God’s plan is manifested progressively and it is accomplished slowly, in successive stages and despite human resistance. God chose a people and patiently worked to guide and educate them." Verbum Domini, par. 42

Its time to sign up to assist the Catholic workers who manage the Casa Maria soup kitchen on 8/27/19! Casa Maria serves the homeless population, people who need food assistance, sometimes children and, generally, anyone who needs a meal. There is limited space - Sign ups open 7/31/19

N.T. Wright, the great Episcopalian biblical scholar, specializes in the study of St. Paul, his letters and early Christianity. This is a great story about Paul, what he wrote and what he did. This will greatly increase your understanding of the early years of the Church and the New Testament. Fr. John