Ignatius Press
A Most Dangerous Innocence
by Fiorella de Maria
It is 1940, the time of the Phoney War. Britain stands alone with German invaders waiting across the Channel and an anxious population preparing for the bloody battle ahead. In an isolated girls' boarding school, sixteen-year-old Judy Randall watches the coming of war with a mixture of fascination and fear. She is a misfit in an institution that prizes conformity; a Catholic with Jewish heritage at a time when anti-Semitism is still commonplace. Most inconveniently of all, she is autistic, and her behavior is misunderstood as merely eccentric and insolent.
Bored and frustrated by her inability to help the war effort, Judy becomes obsessed with the idea that her hated headmistress is a Nazi, and she goes to increasingly reckless lengths to prove her theory. In the meantime, the adults of the school busy themselves with planning how best to protect the children in their care if occupying forces overrun the country. For teacher John Peterson, who has seen armed conflict before, his own agonizing history forces him to consider what sacrifices he might have to make if the horrors of the war overtake them all.
A Most Dangerous Innocence offers a glimpse into the early days of the Second World War, seen from a sleepy corner of Britain. It is also a meditation on childhood guilt, innocence, loyalty, and the courage to stand alone.
Paperback, size 8" x 5.25", 214 pages
by Helen Walker Homan
Helen Walker Homan contributes her third volume to the Vision Books series of saints for youth in this story of the life of the greatly beloved St. Anthony of Padua.
Homan covers many of the important and exciting events in Friar Anthony's life including a voyage to the Mohammedan land of Morocco, a shipwreck, and the meeting in Assisi with St. Francis and all of the Friars Minor. From his days as a youth to the dramatic accounts of his powerful preaching and working miracles as a follower of St. Francis, Homan presents a fascinating account of St. Anthony that youth, and all ages, will find enthralling.
Ages: 10+
Paperback, size 8" x 5.2", 174 pages
In the Sadows of Rome Vol 4
by Sophie de Mullenhein
Troubled Waters is the fourth volume of the gripping new series for 10 yr. olds and up titled In the Shadows of Rome (6 books total).
Being a Christian in ancient Rome was very dangerous. To spread the faith and stay alive, you had to live in the shadows . . .
When Maximus discovers that more than half the water piped into Rome is stolen and sold on a black market, he needs proof in order to expose the traffickers, especially when everything seems to be pointing at a Christian conspiracy. With the help of his two friends Titus and Aghiles, Maximus is once again ready to face the most perilous situations without any idea of what truly awaits him.
Follow their adventures as they forge priceless friendships—and discover the many secrets lurking in the shadows of Rome.
Paperback, size 8.25" x 5.5", 220 pages
May Day!
A Father Gabriel Mystery #6
by Fiorella de Maria
Spring has come to the abbey, and the community is busily preparing for the May Day weekend and the arrival of Boy Scouts who will hold their annual camp on the abbey grounds. When a Boy Scout named Antoine is sent home in disgrace, Fr Gabriel accompanies him to his house, which has become the scene of a violent crime. Antoine’s father, Charles, has been found dead, apparently killed during a botched burglary.
Suspecting there was more to the crime than what first meets the eye, Fr Gabriel joins forces with Inspector Applegate to learn about Charles Nicholson, a quiet family man with no obvious enemies. The victim, however, had been married to a fiery French resistance fighter, a union that had caused considerable excitement in the sleepy village.
It doesn’t take long for Gabriel to notice that Brigitte Nicholson’s life – and courageous death in wartime France – has had a dramatic effect upon her surviving family. Gabriel’s quest for the truth leads him into the brutal world of Nazi-occupied France, where resistance fighters like Brigitte were betrayed by their most trusted friends. Could Brigitte’s betrayer and Charles’ killer be one and the same person? And could the shadowy figure menacing Gabriel be the murderer he is trying to hunt down?
This sixth installment of the Father Gabriel series explores the murky world of wartime treason, profiteering, and betrayal. The story also involves the return of some characters from earlier in the series.
Paperback, size 8" x 5.25", 280 pages
In the Sadows of Rome Vol 6
by Sophie de Mullenhein
The Missing Maid is the sixth volume of the gripping new series for 10 yr. olds and up titled In the Shadows of Rome (6 books total).
Being a Christian in ancient Rome was very dangerous. To spread the faith and stay alive, you had to live in the shadows . . .
Titus’ cousin Octavia, a maiden who guards the sacred fire in the Temple of Vesta, is missing! Has she been kidnapped? Has she run away? Titus and his friends Maximus and Aghiles set out to solve the mystery. They encounter puzzling evidence and lurking danger along the way while learning important lessons about freedom, duty, and devotion.
Follow their adventures as Blandula and her new companions forge priceless friendships—and discover the many secrets lurking in the shadows of the Colosseum.
Paperback, size 8.25" x 5.5", 208 pages
The Sinner's Guide to a Righteous Feast
by Michael P. Foley and Rev Leo Patalinghug
Michael Foley’s fans have been devoutly drinking with the saints for years. Now it’s time for dinner! The inimitable theologian and mixologist teams up with the priest and TV chef Leo Patalinghug in a culinary romp through the liturgical year. Want to get closer to the saints while upping your dinner game? Now every meal can be a family feast - with the Saints!
Dining with the Saints brings the Catholic liturgical year to life, pairing over two hundred saints' stories with an irresistible smorgasbord of international recipes.
Craving a breakfast treat? Join St. Benedict and learn to craft Eggs Benedict with Basil Hollandaise in March. Searching for a spicey dinner feast? Uncover the life of St. Catherine of Siena and serve up a delicious Pici Pasta with Pumpkin and Spicy Sausage during the month of April. Tempted by sweets? Honor St. Maria Goretti with Goretti Tiramisu.
Featuring dozens of new and exciting recipes, Dining with the Saints provides an unforgettable feast that sinners and saints will enjoy!
Hardcover, size 9.25" x 7.5", 500 pages
With an Undivided Heart
by Silas Henderson
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (1568-1591) was a prince of the Holy Roman Empire who renounced his titles and wealth to serve God and the Church as a member of the Society of Jesus. While he lived a short life and is honored as the patron saint of youth, Saint Aloysius invites all Christians to reflect on how they are living their unique vocations to be witnesses to Christ.
Using the saint's own letters and spiritual reflections, and other historical documents, this book offers unparalleled insights into his life and personality. Woven together with his biography are also portraits of other Jesuits and Reformation saints. The author explains the history of the Society of Jesus and shows how Aloysius Gonzaga played an important part in developing the Jesuit's educational apostolate.
For those interested in Jesuit history, the Reformation, or simply this appealing saint, this book offers a unique perspective on an important period of Church history and what it means to pursue God's will without counting the cost.
Paperback, size 9.2" x 6.2", 296 pages
Death of a Scholar
A Father Gabriel Mystery #2
by Fiorella De Maria
Father Gabriel spends a few days of relaxation at his old Cambridge College, the guest of friend Arthur Kingsley from his student days. Kingsley is now a respected scientist and a Fellow of St Stephen's College, but after an enjoyable evening dining at High Table, Gabriel receives the shattering news that Daphne Silverton, Kingsley's brilliant young protégée, has been found dead in her laboratory after what appears to have been a tragic accident. Daphne was universally loved, but Gabriel's instincts tell him that her death was a little too perfectly staged to have been an accident.
After an emotional reunion with the parents of his late wife, Gabriel seeks the truth about Daphne's demise. His investigations lead him to the Peace Union and its Ban the Bomb campaign, another member of Daphne's laboratory is found dead. Gabriel struggles to lay aside his personal loyalties and confront the possibility that there are dark secrets lurking behind both deaths.
This fourth book in the popular Father Gabriel series examines the moral minefield of the complicity of scientists in the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction. It also reveals more about Gabriel's past.
Paperback, size 8" x 5.25", 262 pages
by Thomas à Kempis
translation by Ronald Knox and Michael Oakley
The spiritual classic by Thomas à Kempis, the second most widely read spiritual book after the Bible, has had an astonishing impact on the spiritual lives of countless saints, peasants, and popes for centuries. Even today, the soul-searching words of the fifteenth-century cleric Thomas à Kempis continue to resonate, unbounded by time or geography. Drawing on the Bible, the Fathers of the early Church and medieval mysticism, his four-part treatise shrugs off the allure of the material world, blending beauty and bluntness in a supremely spiritual call-to-arms.
This beautiful translation by Ronald Knox and Michael Oakley is considered by many teachers, writers, and readers to be the best English translation ever, and one that greatly enhances the life-changing insights of Thomas à Kempis. Illustrated.
Other versions also available.
Paperback, size 6.5" x 4.5", 272 pages
The Battle for Your Child's Mind
by Michael D. O'Brien
The Harry Potter series of books and movies are wildly popular. Many Christians see the books as largely if not entirely harmless. Others regard them as dangerous and misleading. In his book A Landscape with Dragons, Harry Potter critic Michael O'Brien examines contemporary children's literature and finds it spiritually and morally wanting. His analysis, written before the rise of the popular Potter books and films, anticipates many of the problems Harry Potter critics point to. A Landscape with Dragons is a controversial, yet thoughtful study of what millions of young people are reading and the possible impact such reading may have on them.
In this study of the pagan invasion of children's culture, O'Brien, the father of six, describes his own coming to terms with the effect it has had on his family and on most families in Western society. His analysis of the degeneration of books, films, and videos for the young is incisive and detailed. Yet his approach is not simply critical, for he suggests a number of remedies, including several tools of discernment for parents and teachers in assessing the moral content and spiritual impact of this insidious revolution. In doing so, he points the way to rediscovery of time-tested sources, and to new developments in Christian culture.
If you have ever wondered why a certain children's book or film made you feel uneasy, but you couldn't figure out why, this book is just what you need. This completely revised, much expanded second edition also includes a very substantial recommended reading list of over 1,000 books for kindergarten through highschool.
Paperback, size 8" x 5", 261 pages
by Katherine Sotnik
Presents numerous, beautifully drawn classic images of Our Lady under her many titles from the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Children (and others!) will learn about Our Lady's many beautiful titles and her power of intercession on our behalf while colouring these glorious images.
Paperback, size 11" x 8.5", 72 pages
Not Made by Hands
The Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Shroud of Turin
by Thomas Sennott
This is the only book of its kind on the two most famous and controversial images in existence-the holy image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the tilma of Juan Diego, and the sacred image of the crucified Christ on the holy Shroud of Turin. Written by a scientist-religious, it is a good rebuttal of those who would say either of these images is a fraud. Besides introducing the reader to the story behind these miraculous images of Jesus and Mary, it is an excellent resource book bringing the reader up to date with the latest findings from experts in the field of sindonology. The fraudulent carbon-fourteen test of 1998, which has been rejected by the prestigious scientific journal, Science Today, is answered by hard factual evidence to the contrary. Illustrated with many photos.
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 112 pages
by Katherine Sotnik
This lovely coloring book is filled with many beautifully drawn classic images from the life of Christ from his Birth through his Ascension. Each scene from his life is accompanied by a descriptive phrase from Scripture, including images depicting the Presentation in the Temple, Miracle at Cana, Healing of the Sick, Multiplication of the Loaves & Fishes, Raising of Lazarus, Last Supper, Agony in the Garden, Crucifixion, Resurrection and many more. Children (and others!) will learn a lot about the life of Our Lord while coloring these glorious images.
Booklet, size 11" x 8.5", 72 pages
Its Historical Development and Theological Foundations
by Cardinal Alfons Maria Stickler
In order to arrive at a correct understanding of the much discussed topic of clerical celibacy, it is necessary to clarify the pertinent facts and regulations found within the Church from its beginnings until the present time. Further, itis also necessary to explore the theological reasons for celibacy. This can be done only on the basis of a knowledge of the relevant sources and of current scholarship, especially if this book's presentation is to be accepted as valid and credible. Before tracing the historical development of celibacy in the Western and European Churches, this study begins with an analysis of the actual concept of clerical celibacy, which necessarily lies at the basis of the respective obligations that it imposes.
To give solidity to his conclusions, Cardinal Stickler provides an outline of the method which a proper treatment of this argument demands. The final part of his book is dedicated to the theological presuppositions and foundations of celibacy.
Paperback, size 7.25" x 4.75", 106 pages
The Farm Boy who Became Pope
by Fr. Walter Diethelm, O.S.B.
This is a true story of St. Pius X. Young readers will be inspired by the life of this holy man--from his youthful days of hard work and prayer to receive the eduction he needed to his years as country priest, encouraging his people to holiness.
Age: 9-12
Paperback, size 8" x 5.2", 163 pages
by Fiorella De Maria and K.V. Turley
Hollywood, 1956. Journalist and war widow Evangeline Kilhooley is assigned to write a "star profile" of the fading actor Bela Lugosi, made famous by his role as Count Dracula. During a series of interviews, Lugosi draws Evi into his curious Eastern European background, gradually revealing the link between Old World shadows and the twilight realm of modern horror films.
Along the way, Evi meets another English expatriate, Hugo Radelle, a movie buff who offers to help with her research. As their relationship deepens, Evi begins to suspect that he knows more about her and her soldier husband than he is letting on. Meanwhile, a menacing Darkness stalks all three characters as their histories and destinies mysteriously begin to intertwine.
Paperback, size 8" x 5.25", 280 pages
by G.K. Chesterton
The Ballad of the White Horse is one of the last great epic poems in the English language. On the one hand it describes King Alfred’s battle against the Danes in 878. On the other hand it is a timeless allegory about the ongoing battle between Christianity and the forces of nihilistic heathenism. Filled with colorful characters, thrilling battles and mystical visions, it is as lively as it is profound.
Chesterton incorporates brilliant imagination, atmosphere, moral concern, chronological continuity, wisdom and fancy. He makes his stanzas reverberate with sound, and hurries his readers into the heart of the battle.
This deluxe volume is the definitive edition of the poem. It exactly reproduces the 1928 edition with Robert Austin’s beautiful woodcuts, and includes a thorough introduction and wonderful endnotes by Sister Bernadette Sheridan, from her 60 years researching the poem. Illustrated.
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 280 pages
See No Evil
A Father Gabriel Mystery #4
by Fiorella de Maria
In this third title in the Father Gabriel Mystery series, the detective priest is less than pleased to find himself the reluctant guest at a wealthy local family's Christmas party. Only the excellent – and probably black market – food softens the horror of meeting the odious Victor Gladstone, a veteran reporter, an ardent anti-clerical and the only witness to a wartime massacre no one wishes to hear about. When Victor is found dead on the Martin estate the next morning, the apparent victim of an unfortunate accident, Gabriel is drawn into the mystery of who among the family's chattering guests could have wanted the old man dead.
Gabriel quickly realizes that Victor Gladstone, like any good reporter, had a nose for rotten behavior, but as Gabriel's investigation moves towards its tragic conclusion, he faces the not one but two serious questions: Who is guilty of Gladstone's murder? and Is anyone truly innocent?
This mystery focuses on the issue of indirect involvement in evil, particularly buying and selling property stolen from victims of the Nazis and witnessing Nazi crimes.
Paperback, size 8" x 5.25", 299 pages
by Helen Walker Homan
A story about St. Francis and St. Clare, captures all the excitement and beauty of the lives of these saints from their childhood growing up together in Assisi to their profound conversion and lifelong influence on the whole world.
Paperback, size 8" x 5.25", 190 pages, Illus.
by G.K. Chesterton
Edited by Dale Ahlquist
Hilaire Belloc called “Lepanto” Chesterton’s greatest poem and the greatest poem of his generation. But not only have English classes neglected this masterpiece of rhyme and meter, History classes have neglected the story of the pivotal battle upon which the poem is based.
This book brings together the poem, the historical background of the famous battle, a riveting account of the battle itself, and a discussion of its historical consequences. The poem is fully annotated, and is supplemented with two interesting essays by Chesterton himself. Well-known Chesterton expert, Dale Ahlquist, has gathered together all the insightful commentaries and explanatory notes. Here is the story behind the modern conflict between Christianity and Islam, between Protestant and Catholic Europe, and the origin of the Feast of the Holy Rosary. A fascinating blend of literature, history, religion and romance!
Paperback, size 8" x 5.2", 124 pages