Books Published by Ignatius Press

This definitive biography traces Cardinal George Pell's life from his childhood in Australia to his role as the Vatican treasurer; through his trials, unjust imprisonment, and exoneration to his untimely passing away on January 10, 2023. Richly endowed with intellectual and athletic talent, strong faith in Christ, a solid family, and a great capacity for friendship, the young Pell turned down a professional Australian Rules football contract and instead entered the seminary in 1960. After his...

This 2nd edition of the classic spiritual portrait of Mother Seton, newly edited with introduction by Sister Betty Ann McNeil, D.C., traces the spiritual journey of the 19th-century American wife, mother, educator, and religious leader, who became the first native-born canonized saint of the United States.This work is exceptional and unique because it is the only in-depth exploration and analysis based on the actual archival documents of Seton's life, conversion, spiritual growth and developm...

The fruit of much pastoral experience, this book addresses both perennial and current challenges facing Catholics, giving reasons for hope and joy. Touching on a wide range of topics, from prayer to evangelization, it offers insights into living the Catholic faith with humility and heroism as it focuses on the person of Jesus Christ--his identity, mission, and presence in our lives. Having been a pastor of souls in a variety of settings--the suburbs, the inner city, the mission field, and the...

With the luminous insight that we have come to expect from his writings, Robert Cardinal Sarah helps spouses rediscover the deep source of their love--God Himself--and the means for letting love between them grow.This book presents the essentials of a retreat that the cardinal preached to married couples in Lourdes, France. It is meant for all couples, including those who are struggling. There is a path to renewal for everyone, and couples in every situation can find again the preciousness of...

In this second volume of the Called Out of Darkness trilogy, Father Robert Spitzer, S.J., draws together some of the best advice given by Catholic spiritual masters across the ages and brings it into harmony with modern scientific research, offering practical ways to live out the gospel in our busy days. It is a roadmap to a deeper relationship with the Lord and to authentic transformation through the imitation of Christ.Giving evidence that Jesus established just one Church, with Peter as it...

Karol Wojtyla's book, Love and Responsibility, is a comprehensive and insightful examination of Catholic tradition in the area of family life and sexual morality. Drawing upon his own experience as a priest and bishop, Wojtyla sheds light on the complexities of interpersonal relationships, which can too often be oversimplified by society. He asks us to consider how our understanding of the human person affects our view of marriage and sexual relations. Wojtyla argues that scientific inquiry c...

In collaboration with the Hallow Catholic meditation app, Ignatius Press presents this special edition of A Song for Nagasaki by Paul Glynn. Takashi Nagai's incredible story of conversion and faith will be featured in Hallow's 2025 Lent challenge, entitled Pray40: The Way. Follow Nagai's path from atheism to Catholicism, his resilience as a survivor of the atomic bomb, and his profound journey toward forgiveness. Through his remarkable story of suffering and redemption, readers will be guided...

Saint Benedict's Twelve-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem Saint Benedict's fifth-century guide to humility offers the antidote to the epidemic of stress and depression overwhelming modern young adults. But the language of The Rule by Saint Benedict is medieval, and its most passionate advocates are cloistered monks and nuns. How then does this ancient wisdom translate into advice for ordinary people? With candor, humor, and a unique approach to classical art, Father Augustine, a high school t...

The Eucharist is no mere symbol. It is the key to life. More specifically, it is the key to your very identity.When we look carefully at the Blessed Sacrament, under the signs of bread and wine, we discover that we were made not simply to receive God, to be nourished by his gifts, or to draw close to him. In fact, "we were made to become Him." In Your Eucharistic Identity, Father Gregory Pine shows that Christ, through the Sacrament, divinizes us in our whole being.But the Eucharist is not ma...

Contemplative Provocations, by Father Donald Haggerty, is a must-have resource for any spiritual seeker looking to deepen their faith and devotion. This book will take you on a journey towards a deeper encounter with God, exploring the sometimes difficult obstacles that come with seeking Him out. Utilizing rich examples and insights from men and women of the past, this work encourages the reader to stay focused on the ultimate adventure: discovering the living God beyond our human knowledge.C...

Since the beginnings of the Church, much has been written about the Trinity in the Creator. In this accessible book for ordinary Christians, Peter Kreeft reflects on a different topic: the Trinity in the creation.Because, as G. K. Chesterton put it, in creating us, God "broke His own law, and made a graven image of Himself", it comes as no surprise that we find a Trinitarian structure embedded in our lives--not to mention the universe itself. While the fact that so many things come in threes ...

Ignatius Press is proud to bring you The Shadow of His Wings, the must-have book this season. It is an incredible true story from Father Gereon Goldmann, a young German seminarian drafted into Hitler's dreaded SS during World War II. Despite being surrounded by evil, Father Goldmann persevered without compromising his Christian ideals and values. The Shadow of His Wings details all of Father Goldmann’s harrowing experiences – family life during wartime, the trials of war and his many near-dea...

This is a simple, comprehensive guide for men seeking to grow daily in their relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ. It introduces men to the rhythm of prayer throughout their entire day - from the moment they wake to their last conscious thought. It offers quick insights and prayers for common concerns facing men throughout their day/life. It also introduces men to traditional devotional practices and prayers of the Church. Prayers for Catholic Men supports men in their primary vocations in...

Available for the first time in a comprehensive English translation, this thoroughly annotated but easy-to-use presentation of the classic 1917 Code of Canon Law by canon and civil lawyer Dr. Edward Peters is destined to become the standard reference work on this milestone of Church law. More than just of historical interest, the 1917 Code is an indispensable tool for understanding the current 1983 Code under which the Roman Catholic Church governs itself. Dr. Peters' faithful translation of ...

Italian Carmelite Antonio Maria Sicari''s vibrant biographies of saints--from Augustine to Catherine of Siena to Faustina Kowalska--have been read across Europe for decades. In How Saints Die, Sicari turns to the most difficult challenge in the life of a Christian: the hour of death.What he uncovers in this darkest moment, however, is not desolation, but inexplicable joy. I have recounted the death of many saints, he writes, but all of them have confirmed for me the truth of this ancient Chri...

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...

Ngo Dinh Diem, the first president of the Republic of Vietnam, possessed the Confucian "Mandate of Heaven", a moral and political authority that was widely recognized by all Vietnamese. This devout Roman Catholic leader never lost this mandate in the eyes of his people; rather, he was taken down by a military coup sponsored by the U.S. government, which resulted in his brutal murder.The commonly held view runs contrary to the above assertion by military historian Geoffrey Shaw. According to m...

St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Gospel-On Prayer This book is the fruit of Fr. Dubay's many years of study and experience in spiritual direction and in it he synthesizes the teachings on prayer of the two great doctors of the Church on prayer--St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila--and the teaching of Sacred Scripture. But the teaching that Fr. Dubay synthesized is not collected from Teresa and John for contemplatives alone. It is meant for every Christian and is b...

This inspiring work profiles sixteen heroic Catholic men and women who defied the odds to advance civil and human rights around the world. Spanning from the birth of the United States to World War II Germany to the current Latin American immigration crisis, this book features people whose faith drove them to courageously defend the dignity of the children of God, especially the most vulnerable, transforming many lives and paving the way for a more equitable society. To understand human rights...

Ceremonies Explained for Servers may well be called the "mother of all servers' manuals". This is the most detailed guide available for servers and those who train and supervise them at the altar. In accessible language, Ceremonies covers the roles of servers in a wide range of Catholic liturgical celebrations. These are described in full, such as: the Mass in both the Ordinary and Extraordinary forms, the seven sacraments, the ceremonies of Holy Week, the Liturgy of the Hours, funeral rites,...

The St Gregory's Prayer Book is a beautifully produced leatherette prayer book compiled by the Ordinariates established by Pope Benedict XVI and drawing on the riches of the Anglican liturgical heritage and the exquisite Cranmerian language of the Book of Common Prayer to further enrich the panoply of Catholic liturgy and devotion. The text includes ancient English collects, introits and hymns available together for the first time for the whole Church as approved examples of Catholic liturgy....

This book introduces the reader to thirteen Christian spiritual classics that illustrate the ordinary steps we can take toward living the Gospel life more fully.Drawing on the rich teaching of a particular saint or mystic, each chapter helps us grow in a different aspect of holiness, of intimacy with God. Archbishop Hughes offers an itinerary for becoming a good disciple of the Lord, giving the reader access to an impressive spiritual library that can support and strengthen progress in discip...

In sixth-century Ireland, the memory of the great missionary Saint Patrick was strong, but so was the influence of the old pagan religion. There was still much work to be done to spread the Christian faith.This book tells the story of one of the greatest saints of the Emerald Isle after Patrick, Saint Kevin, whose monastery at Glendalough was a beacon of light for eight hundred years. Saint Kevin worked miracles, communed with animals, and inspired thousands to leave everything to follow Chri...

This book addresses important moral questions people commonly face when they or their loved ones experience life-threatening injuries, end-stage illnesses, or advanced old age. Due to modern medical technology, patients and their family members often confront such questions as: What medical procedures are morally required, and what procedures are optional? Is providing food and water to a patient an optional medical treatment, or is it basic care necessary for all human beings? What roles do ...

Spiritual Direction from St. Thomas Aquinas.  From a lifetime of studying the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, popular author Peter Kreeft says that his amazement has continually increased not only at Aquinas' theoretical, philosophical brilliance and sanity, but also at his personal, practical wisdom, his "existential bite." Yet this second dimension of St. Thomas has usually been eclipsed by the other. Kreeft wrote this book to help bring that sun out from its eclipse. He provides easily dig...

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini crossed oceans to spread the Gospel and serve the poor. She also wrote oceans of letters to her religious sisters as she travelled all over the globe. Frances suffered from health problems all her life. Despite her many limitations, she bravely faced persecution, poverty, and dangerous sea voyages to establish new schools and orphanages for her religious order, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. To keep in contact with her spiritual daughters throughout h...

"Confession of a Catholic Worker: Our Moment of Christian Witness" by Larry Chapp is a profound reflection on the modern crises facing both the Church and the world. Drawing from the lives and teachings of Hans Urs von Balthasar, Dorothy Day, and Peter Maurin, Chapp presents a compelling vision of radical Christian living rooted in the Sermon on the Mount. Through personal narrative and theological exploration, he advocates for a life of radical love and fidelity to Christ, challenging believ...

The Catholic Church invented what we know as the "university," including the cultural tradition of free and open debate on disputed questions. Catholic colleges and universities thus stand poised to help reform institutions of higher learning at a moment of crisis in academic life throughout the western world.In his commencement addresses to colleges and universities large and small, George Weigel challenges graduates to understand an academic degree as a summons to become the trustee of a gr...

From May to October, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared six times to three shepherd children in the tiny village of Fatima, Portugal. What started as a private matter was soon known all over town, throughout the country, and around the world. These apparitions are fascinating, and have gripped the imagination of people all over the world, from simple believers to academic theologians; from skeptics to the curious; from scientists to popes. Fatima: 100 Questions and Answers on the Marian A...

Written by a foremost expert on the life of the beloved St. Thérèse of Lisieux, this work is widely considered as the most definitive and popular presentation of her life. St. Thérèse is the most popular modern saint of our times.Who was this young French Carmelite who died in 1897 of tuberculosis at age twenty-four? At a time when extreme physical penance was widespread in many religious orders, Thérèse would have none of it. Her passionate love of Jesus led her to concentrate entirely on hi...

Spiritual writer, theologian, and philosopher Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D., tackles the topic of recognizing and overcoming spiritual evil. His focus is the human heart. His goal: our spiritual and moral transformation, which leads to true peace and genuine happiness.The book is divided into two main parts: (1) the realities of God's goodness and of spiritual evil, and (2) recognizing and overcoming the diabolical tactics of deception, temptation, and sin. The author synthesizes the best a...

It has been said, quite correctly, that we write as well as we read. It can also be said that we think as well as we read. Since reading well is so important, it is good to get into the habit of reading good books. The better the book, the better will be our ability to think well and write well. In Classic Literature Made Simple, literary expert Joseph Pearce takes the reader on a guided tour of fifty great works of literature. The author of over thirty books, Pearce uses his experience of te...

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...

"Women Mystics" by Louis Bouyer explores the lives and contributions of five women mystics who have significantly influenced Christianity. Through the stories of Hadewijch of Antwerp, Teresa of Avila, Thérèse of Lisieux, Elizabeth of the Trinity, and Edith Stein, Bouyer illustrates the unique and creative spiritual missions of these women, emphasizing their role in shaping and steering Christianity. Highlighting the continuity and individuality of their experiences, Bouyer presents these myst...

Eclipse of the Sun by Michael O'Brien tells the gripping story of a family caught in the grip of a totalitarian government. Set in a near future North American society that is infected with deceit and dysfunctional cultural norms, the Delaney's must grapple with their father's arrest by the Office of Internal Security. The fast-paced plot takes us on an emotional journey as the family struggles to remain faithful to the truth in order to overcome fear and dread. This reflective novel follows ...

If a life of spiritual growth and connection to God is your goal, then Into Your Hands, Father by Carmelite Father Wilfrid Stinissen is the perfect book for you. Drawing from Jesus’ example on Earth, Father Stinissen takes us on a deep journey of surrendering completely to God in order to meet our goals both in life and in faith. This book outlines three distinct stages of abandonee that help to bring clarity and peace to the practice of respect for the will of God. In the first stage, Into Y...

Introducing In Defense of Sanity, a book featuring the best selected essays of G.K. Chesterton, one of the greatest 20th century man of letters! Whether you are exploring GKC's works for the first time, or you are a seasoned student, this book contains an immense variety of timeless truths that will make your reading experience unforgettable. In Defense of Sanity is edited by three world-renowned authorities on Chesterton - Dale Ahlquist, Joseph Pearce, and Aidan Mackey - who have joined forc...

The power of a woman is most concretely observed in the seeds she plants, day after day, in the lives of those around her. Soul Garden is a sizable collection of personal stories, essays, poems, and recipes written to cultivate the motherly role of women by offering inspiration, camaraderie, and encouragement.Contributors from across the country and around the world invite readers to put away their screens and to pick up this lovely, tangible book, in which they can find nourishment for the s...

Peter Kreeft presents a series of brilliant essays about many of the problems that undermine our Western civilization, along with ways to address them. "These essays are not new proposals or solutions to today's problems," he says. "They are old. They have been tried, and have worked. They have made people happy and good. That is what makes them so radical and so unusual today."In his witty, readable style, Kreeft implores us to gather wisdom and preserve it, as the monks did in the Middle Ag...

This volume in the Vision Books series of saints for youth combines a world famous Catholic novelist, Louis de Wohl, with one of the most thrilling and dramatic saint's lives in history, St. Joan of Arc. De Wohl uses his famed narrative skill to tell young people about the brave teenage French girl who had visions and led armies in battle, but also about how her entire life testifies to the amazing power of God's grace. It's all here: how Joan, a humble maiden in an insignificant town, was to...

This book shows from within the damage that the sexual revolution has caused to our bodies, our souls, and our sense of joy. Quoting extensively from testimonies and reports written by the revolution's most outspoken advocates, Nathanael Blake proves that even beyond the question of right and wrong, Christian sexual ethics simply provide a better way to love and live. The sexual revolution offered happiness and great sex--but Americans are increasingly lonely and unhappy, and they even report...

Josef Pieper's timeless classic on the three theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love is now available in a single-volume edition. Spanning the intervals between East and West, Reason and Revelation, and despair and ecstasy, these treatises offer profound insights into the nature of the human condition. Delivered with clarity, elegance, and wit, they provide a unique perspective on the perennial questions of human existence.In his famous work on Faith, Josef Pieper discusses the role of f...

A Noble Treason is a remarkable and riveting true story of Sophie Scholl and her brother Hans, two university students who lived in Germany in 1942. As members of the Hitler Youth, their enthusiasm for National Socialism was tempered when faced with the Nazi’s brutal horror. Although once supporters of the party, they soon formed the White Rose – an underground group of students from different religious backgrounds. Together their mission was to print anti-Nazi leaflets which were then distri...

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 - ...

Father Christopher Hart, a young New York priest and classic film buff, is unwittingly drafted by the mob to hear the confession of a man slated for execution. This was not one of the duties he expected when he became a first-time pastor. Learning how to balance the books and safely navigate parish politics, yes; but playing a key role in the White Death--a mafia ritual in which a person condemned to death is allowed to confess his sins before he's killed--was not included on the Parish Leade...