Apologetics and Catechism
Living My Religion Series Book 7
by Msgr W. R. Kelly, LL.D., Fr Edmund J. Goebel, Ph.D., Sr Mary Imelda, S.L., Fr Daniel M. Dougherty, M.A. and Msgr M. A. Schumacher, M.A.
Explained and correlated with Bible and Church history, this traditional catechism program was reproduced from the 1940's edition with no revisions. Based upon the questions and answers of the Baltimore Catechism, these books provide a complete, integrated, and basic course in religion for grades kindergarten through eight. The purpose is to see to it that the pupil has a clear and adequate knowledge of his holy Faith.
Syllabus and Teacher manual is also available.
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 312 pages.
by Fr Dominic Prümmer, O.P.
First published in 1921, Fr. Prummer's Handbook of Moral Theology was immediately regarded as an international classic. The author's clarity of vision, precision of expression, and humble fidelity to the traditional Catholic moral framework during a period of social upheaval and increasing doctrinal deviation made his manual the standard reference text for generations of clergy, seminarians, and laity. For those seeking answers to moral questions, the Catholic advice was often "Look it up in Prummer!"
At long last, this centenary edition restores the superb English translation of 1956 in a fresh new typesetting, making Fr. Prummer's original text much easier to navigate and more pleasant to read. The many citation errors that plagued earlier editions have been painstakingly corrected, and scores of additional citations have been added from Aquinas's Summa Theologiae, Denzinger's Enchiridion, and the Roman Catechism - three of the author's favorite sources. The topical index has likewise been expanded and now includes technical moral terms of more recent use (such as "double effect") to allow for more rapid contemporary reference.
After a brilliant introduction to the science of moral theology, part 1 explores the end of man and all aspects of human conduct, and part 2 examines the sacraments and sacramentals and their core importance to the Catholic moral life. These packed pages contain the traditional Catholic moral teachings on:
- Law, conscience, sin, and the passions - with their respective types, causes, and effects
- Divine rights and obligations in Christian family life and civil society
- Scandal and moral cooperation in evil
- Right worship, secret societies, private property, capital punishment, sexuality, abortion, war.
- And much more!
In our own time of widespread confusion and decay, Fr. Prümmer’s Handbook is the definitive and complete Catholic source book of the Church’s moral doctrine as it was received and taught before the laxity and innovations of the last century. Far more than a work of mere historical interest, this surprisingly relevant guide to Christian moral perfection is a treasure that will endure as long as there are souls seeking eternal life.
Hardcover, size 9.2" x 6.2", 512 pages
The Aquinas Catechism
A Simple Explanation of the Catholic Faith by the Church's Greatest Theologian
by St Thomas Aquinas
The essentials of the Catholic Faith — clearly & beautifully explained by one of the Church’s greatest thinkers!
Although St. Thomas Aquinas was one of the Church’s most intellectually powerful theologians, few know that he also wrote a great deal that’s well within the reach of ordinary believers.
In fact, as you’ll find in The Aquinas Catechism, St. Thomas had a remarkable ability to communicate the Faith — including both its most complex and its simplest elements — in plain language. Here you’ll find his deeply insightful, straightforward, and clear explanations of the Apostles’ Creed, the Commandments, and the Sacraments — as well as of the Our Father and the Hail Mary.
In other words, this book will give you a basic course in the Catholic Faith, taught by the Church’s greatest theologian.
Let him help you:
- Gain a better grasp of Church doctrine
- Pray with greater fervor and understanding
- Receive the Sacraments more worthily
- Learn what God requires of you and why
- Explain Church teachings to non-Catholic friends
- Discover the scriptural sources of our Catholic Faith
- Find remedies for moral weaknesses that still afflict you
- Glimpse the greatness of the Church’s supernatural mission
- And much more!
Above all, let St. Thomas teach you how to explain, defend, and live your Faith . . . with the clear-sighted wisdom of a saint!
Paperback, size 9" x 6", 336 pages
A First Book on the Apostles' Creed for Little Catholics
by Sister M. Juliana of Maryknoll
The young Catholic learns an important prayer, The Apostles' Creed, with the aid of pictures in color and simple words to inspire.
Age range 2-10
Paperback, size 6.3" x 5.2", 32 pages, Impr 1955
For other titles in this series please click here.
by Rev. Demetrius Manousos. O.F.M.Cap
Teaches young children all about First Holy Communion, what to do before, during, after, what happens to the bread and the wine, and so much more.
Age range: 2-10 years
Paperback, size 6.3" x 5.2", 28 pages, Impr, 1952
For other titles in this series please click here.
A Text and Commentary
by Revs. Bouscaren and Ellis, S.J.
According to the authors, "We have tried to produce, not the most learned commentary, but a practical book for seminaries and priests. The years of teaching experience have led the authors to the conviction that the objective (of learning Canon Law) is best accomplished with a text which combines three features: first the use of the vernacular; second, outline surveys of as much as possible of the Latin text of the code; third, A judicious use of examples, cases, and questions."
This large book is divided into seven parts as follows:
- General Rules;
- Clerics;
- Religious;
- Indulgences and Orders;
- Marriage;
- Sacred Places and Times, Divine Worship, The Teaching Office of the Church; and
- Crimes and Penalties.
This book will be a valuable reference to the laity as well as the clergy.
Paperback, size 8" x 5.5", 956 pages, Impr 1946
Instructional Stories in Religion
by Rev. Wilfrid J. Diamond
Preaching to children is not easy. It is indeed one of the finest of fine arts. The difficulties experienced in the preparation of the instruction for the children’s Mass will be less onerous for those who use Father Diamond’s sermons. How often busy priests go in search of just such a book as this one. We shall have no excuse now if we fail to give our children an interesting and inspiring instruction at their Sunday Mass.
It seems unnecessary to add that this volume will also be useful to religious and lay catechists in parochial schools and other centers of religious instruction.
God will use this little volume for His glory as little children learn to love our Lord from it.
May we suggest the use of this book be strengthened by the frequent repetition of the powerful prayer of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. “O Jesus, I beseech Thee to cast Thy glance upon a vast number of little souls: I entreat Thee to choose in this world a legion of little victims, worthy of Thy love.”
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 112 pages, Impr 1941
by Kevin Vost
Though the controversies and scandals racking the Church today cannot ultimately prevail against it, they have certainly created rifts between believers like never before. Where can we look to rediscover the heart of our Faith so that, as Christ Himself prayed, we might all be one? Almost every pope has declared the answer since 1323 when Pope John XXII named one man the Common Doctor of the Church whose philosophy and approach to truth are to be held in common, cherished, and shared, by all of the Church throughout time St. Thomas Aquinas. Through his unequalled powers of intellect, enhanced by his full embrace of all the Holy Spirits gifts, Thomass writings provide the utterly timeless life lessons we must heed if we, the Church, are to become one in our pursuit of eternal salvation for ourselves and for all men. Here, youll find the twelve essential, eternal life lessons culled from Thomass writings, accompanied by practical ways to implement them in your life.
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 304 pages
Nineteen Stories that Really Happened
by Fr Daniel A Lord, SJ
Truth is often stranger than fiction.
This book is a collection of true tales, sometimes incredible, fantastic tales. Many of them highlight a principle of Catholic life in a way no mere explanation can achieve. All of these stories appeared first in a magazine from many years ago and are collected here in convenient form so that they can be easily enjoyed by the whole family.
Some of the stories are based on incidents which involved the personal experience of the narrator, Father Lord. In other cases the tale was told to Father Lord and he retells it here in his own inimitable fashion.
The fact that these tales are true, that they really did happen, must be emphasized. The lessons they point will help you to enrich Christian living.
Paperback, size 8" x 5", 98 pages, Impr 1947
by Fr. Édouard Hugon, O.P.
How Does God Use Instruments?
"All of these gifts of Fr. Hugon—his supernatural holiness, his deep scholarship, his profound understanding of the mind of St. Thomas, and his aptitude for clear explanations—are on display in Instrumental Causality." - Forward, Fr. Paul Robinson
The contributions of this author to both theology and philosophy cannot be overstated. Instrumental Causality could only have been composed by a master Thomist, because it singles out a particular idea of the Angelic Doctor and then proceeds to find that idea in St. Thomas’s explanations of the supernatural order.
One of the main purposes of the book, is a greater understanding of the Catholic faith. In the tradition of Catholic theology, it has always been the practice to manifest its compatibility with reason. The procedure begins with two fixed points: on the one hand, there is the data of revelation, provided by the Magisterium, Tradition, and Scripture; on the other hand, there is the data of reality. The one is known by the authority of the Church, the other is known by reason, especially in its philosophical exercise.
Fr. Hugon wants to make use of theological explanations as the best means to the end of the contemplation of God. He wants to use the most solid bridge available between reason and faith, he finds it in St. Thomas’s Summa, and he explains a particular aspect of that bridge in this work. The bridge that is being highlighted in this book is that of instrumental causality.
Fr. Hugon gets to the bottom of the way that instruments work. Fr. Hugon believes that, once we have understood from reality what an instrument is and how it works—and understood it deeply by means of philosophical reflection—we can then apply the notion of ‘instrument’ to certain mysteries of our faith. In doing so, we are making an analogy between instrument as we know it and instrument as found in the supernatural order. Insofar as our analogy is successful, it enlightens our mind as to how God works in the supernatural order, and so also as to who God is in Himself.
After explaining the notion of instrument Fr. Hugon spends the rest of the book applying that notion analogically to these mysteries of the supernatural order:
- Scriptural inspiration wherein God inspires a sacred author to write and so uses that author as an instrument
- Our Lord’s humanity, God’s supreme instrument, which He used as a physical cause of miracles during Our Lord’s life, and uses as a physical cause of every grace that is given to souls, up to the present day
- The sacraments and priests which God uses as physical instruments for the conferral of grace
- Miracles, which God sometimes works without using any creature as an instrument, but which He often likes to work using His saints as instruments, in their actions or words, or even inanimate creatures, such as the water of Lourdes
- The Blessed Virgin Mary who, as we know, is the Mediatrix of all graces, and, as such, might very well be used by God as a physical, instrumental cause of those graces, and not merely a moral cause who simply asks for those graces
This way that theology bears its supernatural fruit. It is meant to lead to a contemplation of God Himself. It can only do so by drawing analogies between what we know of the created order through reason and what we know of the supernatural order through revelation. In this book, Fr. Hugon is providing us with an ample and beautiful subject for theological reflection—God’s love for using instruments in the supernatural order.
This book belongs in the home of every aspiring theologian, philosopher, and ardent Catholic looking to grow his Faith through deeper contemplation of the eternal mysteries of God and Causality.
Clothbound hardcover, size 9.25" x 6.25", 168 pages
The Catechism Explained
An Exhaustive Explanation of the Christian Religion
by Fr Francis Spirago
At long last, The Catechism Explained by Fr. Spirago is back in print. This edition is not a facsimile, but a full reprint with increased font size, and very minor updates to antiquated English. Some of the numbering has been redrafted to avoid confusion.
We already have so many catechisms, what do we need of another? We indeed have in abundance catechisms and religious manuals which appeal only to the intellect; books that do not aim at the warmth of expression and the fervent, persuasive eloquence which appeal to the heart, the force and vivifying power which affect the will through the influence of the Holy Spirit.
This Catechism aims at cultivating all the three powers of the soul: the intellect, the emotions, and the will. It does not therefore content itself with mere definitions. The idea in it is not to teach men to philosophize about religion, but to make them good Christians who will delight in their faith. Consequently questions of scholastic theology, doctrines debated among theologians, are either omitted altogether or merely receive a passing mention.
In this catechism, Fr. Spirago has endeavored to divest religious teaching of the appearance of learning, and to present it in a popular and simple form. Technical terms, in which almost all religious manuals abound, even those intended for children, are carefully eliminated from his pages since, while useful and necessary for seminarians and theologians, they are out of place in a book intended for the laity. Popular manuals of religion ought to be couched in plain and simple language, like that used by Our Lord and the apostles, easy to understand. What we need is something that will touch the heart and influence the will, not merely cram the mind with knowledge.
“The Catechism Explained by Spirago embodies the Catechism of the Council of Trent, yet contains fuller discussions for each point in the language that was developed by the Church, saints and theologians throughout time. Rather than being locked into a specific age or decade, this catechism is an explication of the faith in an almost timeless manner. It is a catechism that any subsequent generation could read and learn the essence of the Catholic faith.” -Fr. Chad Ripperger, PhD
Hardcover, size 9.25" x 6.25", 872 pages
Also available in Paperback.
The Catechism Explained by Stories and Examples
Organised according to the questions and answers of the Baltimore Catechism
by Fr Francis Spirago
From the author of The Catechism Explained: An Exhaustive explanation of Christian Doctrine, now comes the Catechism Explained: By Stories and Examples.
This classic work draws from saints, classical antiquity, medieval and early modern figures, and cultural stories to illustrate what the teachings of the Catholic faith are. Fr. Spirago, in his introduction notes:
“The great value of examples and illustrations in teaching children and the uneducated is universally acknowledged. The Romans used to say: Verba movent, exempla trahent (Words influence, examples attract). The reason for this is that examples stimulate the imitative instinct, which is strong in most people, especially in the young; consequently they are a powerful factor in education. In imparting instruction, also, examples are of no slight assistance, for they serve to elucidate the teaching, to render the lesson interesting and attractive, and keep the attention of the scholar from wandering. The teacher need only say: Now, children, I am going to tell you a story, and all eyes are forthwith fixed on him.”
Spirago’s wonderful volume of Catechetical Stories has been arranged around the question and answer format of the Baltimore Catechism. Thus, each question and answer of the Catechism has accompanied by a series of stories illustrating its teaching, drawn from the depths of Catholic Tradition. This new addition has been supplemented by stories from the lives of the saints and historical anecdotes.
Hardcover, size 8.75" x 5.75", 536 pages
Also available in Paperback.
by St Robert Bellarmine
In this work, Bellarmine meets the attack of Protestantism against Catholic teaching on the saints, firstly on their own ground with sound Scriptural Exegesis, backed up by the witness of the Greek and Latin Church.
The great counter-reformation doctor begins the work with a treatise on whether the souls of the saints receive a particular judgment and go to heaven or await for the end of time suspended as it were in some hidden place; then what canonization is, who does it and what is its authority; then lastly, whether the saints may be venerated and invoked.
Paperback, size 9" x 6", 200 pages
by St. Robert Bellarmine
St. Robert Bellarmine was not only the most prolific apologist of the 17th century, but of all time! Yet the loss of Latinity has relegated his valuable work to obscurity.
This is the first ever translation of St. Robert’s, On the Marks of the Church into English, translated by Ryan Grant, the translator of the Canisius Catechism. In this valuable work, Bellarmine lays out no less than 15 Marks of the true Church, which are all developed from the 4 given by the Creed of the Council of Constantinople (second half of what we call the Nicene Creed). Bellarmine contrasts these marks with the marks posed by Protestant teaching, so as to show where the true Church really is. It is a short read, at 135 pages, but is beautiful and hard hitting on every point. A segment describing some miracles and anti-miracles at the end is especially enjoyable.
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 132 pages
Also available in Hardcover with dust jacket upon request (additional cost)
Sacred Images
by St. John Damascene
Translated by Mary H. Allies
“War is toil and trouble,” wrote the poet John Dryden in 1697. Almost a thousand years before, a war in the Byzantine Empire proved no exception to this rule. Yet it was not a war of fire and sword, but of images and words, waged not in the name of domination, but of divine worship. It was the iconomachy—the war of icons—now known as the Iconoclastic Controversy. The Iconoclasts contended, in keeping with the Old Law prohibition of graven images, that depictions of God and his saints had no place in Christian worship; the Iconophiles contested this, distinguishing between worship and veneration to provide a place for sacred imagery in the Christian devotion and liturgy.
Among the Iconophiles, Saint John Damascene was a figure of prime importance. In his writings, he asserted that the Incarnation affirms the goodness of creation and bestows on matter the capability, in the words of Pope Benedict XVI, of “becoming, through faith, a sign and a sacrament, efficacious in the meeting of man with God.” Translated by Mary H. Allies from the Saint’s Apologetic Treatises Against Those Decrying the Holy Images, and supplemented by three of his sermons on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sacred Images is a timeless treatment of a fundamental truth of the Christian faith: that “God saw all that he had made, and found it very good.”
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 160 pages
