Biography

A Holy Emperor and His Legacy October 3, 2004 saw what appeared to many to be a very strange thing: Emperor-King Charles of Austria-Hungary, last Habsburg to rule in Central Europe and wartime foe of the United States, was raised to the altars of the Church as a Blessed by St. John Paul II. But odd as this appeared, the real story of the “Peace Emperor” and his just as remarkable wife reads like a combination of a suspense thriller, Greek tragedy, and hagiography. The inheritor of a tradition...

This is the classic, fascinating and almost fabulous life of St. Antony of the Desert, the first hermit and the Father of Monasticism, all as recorded in the inimitable style of the great Doctor of the Church, St. Athanasius of Alexandria (c.297-373 A.D.).From St. Antony’s life, for example, we learn that there are swarms of devils everywhere, but that they are powerfulness to harm us if we use the Holy Name of Jesus and the sacramentals of the Church to ward them off. We also see how stalwar...

Very few people know that Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) wrote a major work on Joan of Arc. Still fewer know that he considered it not only his most important but also his best work. He spent twelve years in research and many months in France doing archival work and then made several attempts until he felt he finally had the story he wanted to tell. He reached his conclusion about Joan's unique place in history only after studying in detail accounts written by both sides, the French and the Engl...

Marie-Antoinette, Daughter of the Caesars is about the life, death and legacy of Louis XVI's tragic Queen, based upon the author's thirty years of research. Whenever possible the historical persons speak for themselves out of memoirs and letters. Marie-Antoinette is seen in light of her Imperial heritage as a child of the Habsburg dynasty. Having assumed the crown of the Holy Roman Empire in the 1400’s, the crown which had originated with Charlemagne in the year 800, they were seen as the con...

Dive into the incredible story that is The Autobiography of a Hunted Priest, by John Gerard. This richly detailed tome tells the truth of a Jesuit priest living in England during Elizabethan times a time when England had declared being Catholic as treason and priests were on the run.Read about Fr. Gerard's incredible journey - smuggled into England at night and dumped on a Norfolk beach, he still persists despite all obstacles. Forced to disguise himself as a country gentleman, Fr. Gerard con...

The life and work of Annibale Bugnini have helped shape the evolution of the Catholic Church over the past half-century, and now, Yves Chiron presents a comprehensive look into the man who helped reform its liturgy. In Annibale Bugnini: Reformer of the Liturgy, readers are invited to uncover Bugnini's biography, his intellectual trajectory, and his lasting legacy on the liturgical landscape.From his early academic studies in theology to debates at Vatican II to changes that continue to resona...

Drawing on St Bonaventure’s own account of his life, The Life of St. Francis of Assisi provides readers with an unparalleled insight into the life of this extraordinary saint. This re-edition of the 1260 text is devoted to a complete and accurate text, including detailed footnotes that serve as great resources for Franciscan historians, theologians and lovers of spiritual readings. Told with striking detail, this book captures the story of St Francis' earnest dedication to seeking divine inte...

In this brilliant reflection on the poor friar of Assisi, G.K. Chesterton unfolds the life and times of St. Francis, from his conversion as a young man to his receiving of the Stigmata at the end of his life. While many modern biographers stumble in their effort to grasp the essence of the saint, Chesterton shows that Francis' entire life, his prayer, his poverty, his asceticism, his love of creation, and all his eccentricities, flowed from his profound love for Christ and all men. In Chester...

St. Thomas Aquinas - For Chesterton, Thomas Aquinas is a man of mystery, who though born into a noble Neapolitan family chose the life of a mendicant friar. Shy and lumbering, his classmates dubbed him "the Dumb Ox". However he was to lead a revolution in Christian thought. Chesterton's portrayal will engage, enlighten and sometimes confound. His seminal sketch of the life and thought of this great man is as relevant today as when it was first published in 1933. ...... St Francis of Assisi - ...

Her Life and Work & The People and Places In Her Story The product of twenty years of research and writing, this extraordinary new work is the most comprehensive portrait of Thérèse ever published, and the ultimate reference to her life and spirituality. A Companion to Saint Thérèse will appeal to all devotees of Thérèse, as well as those approaching her for the first time, who will find it a fascinating introduction. There is abundant material concerning her autobiography as well as her ...

The life of St. Edmund Campion comes alive in the pages of Evelyn Waugh’s Edmund Campion. This captivating work traces the journey of a remarkable man—from a celebrated Oxford scholar to professorship in Prague and ultimately to becoming a martyr for his unshakable commitment to the Queen and faith. With its combination of striking prose, perfect historic truth and elements that any novelist would admire, this book is bound to captivate any reader. Tracing the arc of Edmund Campion’s incredib...

Here is a special two-in-one book that is both by G.K. Chesterton and about Chesterton. This volume offers an irresistible opportunity to see who this remarkable man really was. Chesterton was one of the most stimulating and well-loved writers of the 20th century. His 100 books, and hundreds of essays and columns on a great variety of themes have made G.K. Chesterton the most widely quoted writers of modern times. Here is Chesterton in his own words, in a book he preferred not to write, but d...

Salazar and His Work is an indispensable volume that provides an in-depth overview of the life and legacy of one of Portugal's most beloved leaders. António de Oliveira Salazar was a statesman whose strong personal values guided his leadership, making him especially revered among the Portuguese citizens. He was highly intelligent, honest and dedicated to public service, working arduously with deep devotion to ensure a prosperous future for his country. Salazar and His Work is an insightful lo...

"A Heart For Europe" is a riveting book that introduces readers to the heartfelt story of Emperor Charles, the last Hapsburg ruler of the Austrio-Hungarian Empire. Now declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II in 2004, Emperor Charles was married to Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma and inherited the throne in 1916 amidst World War One. Despite facing impossible odds, this devoted sovereign set out on a mission to bring peace to Europe and end the war. His efforts were recognized and he was honored ...

The story of Blessed Anna-Maria Taigi, a woman singled out at the age of twenty-one, to receive revelations from Our Lord and the Blessed Mother, which continued until her death. In her visions she foresaw much of the political turmoil that took place during her life most significantly the French Revolution and subsequent weakening of the Church's temporal authority. She also read the state of souls, both living and dead. Despite these miraculous gifts, she was content to fulfill her station ...

Father Augustus Tolton was a faithful servant of the Lord who faced oppression and adversity, but still proclaimed the Good News of Jesus’ love with determination. In this gripping book, popular author and speaker Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers recounts the powerful story of Tolton’s heroic journey from a humble birth in slavery to becoming the first black American priest. Through every obstacle that came his way - untimely death of his father, abject poverty, and even being denied admission from...

Do you have a longing to draw closer to God? Wanting to connect with something greater, Padre Pio, Andre Bessette, and Solanus Casey made the kind of impact that is still talked about today. Through their lowly beginnings and humble hearts, they helped countless people find physical and inner healing through ministries of faith. With unimaginable power, they understood how to step into the heart of God. Now you can experience what it means to be in a state of holiness with God's Doorkeepers. ...

Travel back to the 15th century and discover the life, legacy and journey of Joan of Arc with Stein and Day’s classic 1966 publication. This authoritative work offers an insight into one of the most iconic figures of all time, providing a thorough exploration of historical accounts written by both allies and enemies. It delves into how she was brought up from relative obscurity through to becoming a revolutionary force in history. With Régine Pernoud's expert historical translation, this book...

Following after brilliant authoritarian Pope Pius XII and good-humored Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI seemed hesitant, anxious, even tormented. Yet the impact of his fifteen-year-long papacy was colossal: not a single aspect of Church life was left untouched in the whirlwind of change unleashed by the Ecumenical Council he guided and sought to implement. Who was this man, Giovanni Battista Montini (1897-1978), who so altered the face, the voice, the bearing of Catholicism? Versatile historian ...

G. K. Chesterton’s patriotism and growing sympathy for the poor had always vied with his appreciation of Jewish family values and his gratitude to the Jewish people for bringing God to the world. Then, with the rise of Nazism, Chesterton once again became their champion. Chesterton and the Jews peels away post-Holocaust assumptions to reveal his complex feelings for “the Jews” — admiration, fascination, and fear — uncovering neglected layers of meaning in stories hitherto seen as anti-Semitic...

For the first time ever, the story of Pope Benedict XVI’s historic resignation is being chronicled in his own words - with Last Testament: In His Own Words. This one-of-a-kind book provides a unique insight into the thoughts and experiences of one of the most influential religious leaders of our time. Drawing from an unprecedented series of interviews with Peter Seewald, Pope Benedict speaks candidly about his life before and during his papacy and gives an intimate look at topics such as corr...

One Woman's Struggle Against Communism and Her Redemption "Step by step, I retreated from God and went forth to meet the world, the flesh, and the devil. . . . I'd join the devil himself. . . . There is no doubt that I traveled with him at my side and that he extorted a great price for his company." This is how Bella Dodd (1904-69) described her long battle with atheistic communism, an ideology her Church calls a "satanic scourge." She later described it as a "school of darkness," a school of...

Every great religious order runs into difficulties, and God provides a saint for those difficulties. Where would the Benedictines be without St. Maurus, the Franciscans without St. Bonaventure, or the Dominicans without Blessed Jordan? Likewise, where would the Poor Clares be without St. Colette? Colette of Corbie was born in one of the most turbulent times in the Church, the 14th century. She moved within the world of the Western Schism, having interacted with many of the great figures of he...

From Fire, by Water is an inspiring and captivating account of one man’s journey to the Catholic faith. This book offers a firsthand look at Sohrab Ahmari’s incredible transformation from an atheist teenager in Iran to a devout Roman Catholic, bridging ancient faith with modern-day life. Through his eyes, readers will gain a unique perspective on the intellectual and spiritual struggles he faced in his search for higher truths.A unique and detailed memoir filled with personal reflections, Fro...

The well-known and very popular Catholic couple, Scott and Kimberly Hahn, have been constantly travelling and speaking all over North America for the last few years about their conversion to the Catholic Church. Now these two outstanding Catholic apologists tell in their own words about the incredible spiritual journey that led them to embrace Catholicism. Scott Hahn was a Presbyterian minister, the top student in his seminary class, a brilliant Scripture scholar, and militantly anti-Catholic...

A Priest in the Prisons of Communist Albania The dissemination of Dom Simon Jubani's testimony of faith, who was a priest in our Archdiocese during his lifetime, offers everyone with good will the possibility to discover or better know the terrible experience under Enver Hoxha's communist dictatorship in Albania. Through the eyes of this priest, who was one of the most affirmed and well-known figures in our country and overseas, the reader will thoroughly understand what these years meant for...