Books Published by Sophia Institute Press

Here's an unabashedly Catholic history that documents scores of sustained and unprecedented assaults on our Catholic Faith these past five centuries and delineates our Church's brave response to each one. For five hundred years, from Luther to Marx, through Darwin, Hitler, and Rousseau, wave after wave of cynical anti-Catholic men and movements have wrought havoc even worse than that of Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan, leaving our once noble Christendom a ruined city, devastated politically a...

25 popes consider St. Thomas Aquinas the Church's preeminent theologian because he saw truths about God, our Faith, and the Christian life which had never been seen before. But do you have time to read the 3,000 pages in his Summa Theologica? Do you struggle to understand the abstract theological terms he uses in On Being and Essence? Perhaps you, like so many of us, desire to be taught by such a great philosopher as Aquinas, but feel he is well beyond your reach. Not anymore. In The One-Minu...

Living the Catholic Faith in a Post-Christian World A vivid critique of American life today and a guide to how Christians―and particularly Catholics--can live their faith vigorously, and even with hope, in a post-Christian public square. Charles J. Chaput’s Strangers in a Strange Land is a thought-provoking read which expands upon the turbulent landscape of Catholicism and Christianity in our modern America. In this timely treatise, readers will find an authoritative yet accessible exploratio...

Never has there been spiritual reading as powerful as What Jesus Saw from the Cross, the book that will intensify your love of Jesus by burning the events of His Passion into your memory and imagination. Written early in this century by Rev. A. G. Sertillanges, a priest who lived in Jerusalem, this acclaimed devotional classic gives you vivid and dramatic details not included in the Gospel: With Jesus, you'll be jostled by crowds as you enter Jerusalem, choke on the dust of the narrow streets...

How the Lord Looked, Acted, Prayed, and Loved Our Christian faith isn't based on an idea or a philosophy, or on some accumulation of cultural myths and traditions. It's based on a man: Jesus, the God who was born in ancient Nazareth and lived in the flesh and died; Jesus, the Word of the Father who was and is and ever shall be, a man. We also believe that knowing this man is essential to our very salvation. That's why Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, archbishop emeritus of Bologna, Italy, and close fr...

Kindness counts. If you have trouble acting with the consistent kindness our Lord expects, your relationships with God and those you love may be suffering. Probably you just can't find the time and can't ever seem to develop the patience that you need in order to be consistently kind amid the irritations that afflict you daily. That's why this book is such a godsend. There's nothing complicated or magical about learning to be kinder; it just takes greater attention to the things that you do a...

If you're looking for solid Catholic answers to common Protestant challenges, but don't have lots of time, then reach for The One-Minute Apologist. Here renowned Catholic apologist Dave Armstrong (author of A Biblical Defense of Catholicism and The Catholic Verses) has assembled over sixty of the claims and arguments that Protestants (of all stripes) most frequently level against the Church. Drawing on a lifetime of study in Scripture, history, and the works of Catholic and Protestant theolog...

Theology buffs and casual readers alike rejoice - G.K. Chesterton, Theologian is now available for purchase! Boasting the most powerful theological passages from one of the greatest Catholic minds of the twentieth century, this collection offers a comprehensive exploration of everything from God's existence to the nature of man to what Jesus symbolizes. Edited by Fr. Nichols, this book contains concise explanations of these core questions that are drawn from sources such as Chesterton’s plays...

St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most beloved religious figures in history, celebrated for his connection to nature and inspiring devotion to Christian service. Get an exclusive view into the life of this 13th century saint with Michael de la Bedoyere's book 'Francis of Assisi'. Uncovering mystical events such as his legendary Sermon to the Birds and meeting with a leper, you will be taken on a life-changing journey through St. Francis' unparalleled spiritual journey for sainthood, as back...

God has blessed new mothers with a beautiful gift - the ability to nourish and nurture their babies with breast milk. Breastfeeding is a simple way to ensure your baby's good health and proper psychological development, and also an integral part of being a Catholic mother. In Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood, author Sheila Kippley brings together countless pieces of research, advice from priests and popes, and practical tips that will help you become the loving Catholic mother your baby ...

Peter Kreeft's book, Forty Reasons I am a Catholic, invites readers to explore the many reasons why they may feel drawn to Catholic faith. Through concise yet profound individual arguments, Kreeft presents an in-depth look at the core beliefs and principles of Catholicism - from its moral teachings to its liturgy and rituals. By focusing on the independent points that encompass a broad range of Catholic beliefs and practices, Forty Reasons I am a Catholic provides a unique journey for readers...

New converts and cradle Catholics alike are often perplexed by the myriad of devotions, traditions, practices, and beliefs that the Catholic Church has accumulated over the past twenty centuries. Why pray to St. Anthony to find something lost? Why keep a St. Christopher medal in your car? Or why bury a statue of St. Joseph upside down! in your yard when selling your house? In Helen Hoffner's lovingly-illustrated, encyclopedic Catholic Traditions and Treasures, you'll find succinct and sometim...

How to Master Your Emotions and Bring Peace to Your Life When St. Jane Francis de Chantal encouraged St. Francis de Sales to be a bit angrier over the opposition they were facing in starting their religious order, he replied, "Would you have me lose in a quarter hour what has taken me twenty years' hard work to acquire? St. Francis de Sales had quite a temper when he was young. But over time he learned to convert his angry feelings into virtuous action. He knew that anger never leads to happi...

Parents today are constantly looking for helpful advice to raise good Catholic children in a world that often distracts them from their faith. With over 50 years of experience, Mary Reed Newland’s book How to Raise Good Catholic Children is the perfect resource for parents who want to learn proven methods of disciplining and caring for their kids. This timeless book offers practical parenting advice informed by Mrs. Newland’s real-life experience with her seven children. Rather than relying o...

The Shroud of Turin is celebrated as one of the holiest and most important relics of Christianity, with millions of pilgrims traveling to see the precious cloth in Italy on the rare occasions it has been displayed. Yet despite its enormous global popularity, the Shroud’s authenticity is not without question.To address lingering uncertainties head-on, celebrated Catholic scientist Dr. Gerard Verschuuren explores and synthesizes the various scientific studies conducted on the Shroud —including ...

Many of us fail to recognize that obtaining the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to getting to heaven. We often block their reception through our own faults. We fail to see how they are passed on or strengthened in the sacraments. And, sadly, we forget to petition God in prayer to bestow these gifts upon us.In these pages, Dr. Kevin Vost best-selling author of The One-Minute Aquinas provides us with a substantive yet readable introduction to the seven gifts and how we ca...

When He chiseled the Ten Commandments in stone, God did not write "Thou shalt not be an atheist." Instead, He commanded: "Thou shalt not have strange gods before me." Why? Because man is incurably God-centered. He cannot exist without a god, and if he rejects the true God, he will invariably create his own false god. Fr. Vincent Miceli breaks new ground in this fascinating analysis of seventeen Enlightenment theologians and philosophers who contributed to the rise of atheism. He explores thei...

Here is a powerful, life-changing book that will help you understand and conquer the struggles you face in your spiritual life. It's a book for those who love the Lord and desire holiness yet often feel adrift or stagnant in their search for spiritual growth. All of us encounter valleys on our journey with the Lord -- those periods of spiritual desolation that are a painful yet unavoidable feature of our prayer life. Spiritual desolation is as complex as we are, so understanding what is happe...

The Final Campaign Against the Savior As G.K. Chesterton once remarked, the cleverest thing the devil ever did was to induce people to believe that he did not exist. It was truly a masterstroke, enabling him to carry on his nefarious operations, not just with the tolerance of so-called enlightened opinion; but with the active cooperation of well-meaning, charitable people like Eleanor Roosevelt, not to mention a large body of clergy of all denominations. Thus, for instance, the devil has been...

Make no mistake about it: the father of lies is waging a war against your soul. At the end of your life, it will be either he who has won - or you, through God's grace. Here is the book that pulls the curtain back on the devil's strategies and shows you how to safeguard yourself and your family against his deadly methods. In this spiritual classic, Fr. Godfrey Raupert unveils the true aim and character of those dangerous forces seeking to destroy your peace and your way of life. You'll learn ...

An Exploration of Holy Matrimony from Genesis to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb This life is preparation for eternity, and from the beginning, God created marriage to help married couples become saints. Indeed, God has given to married couples the profound gift of being able to fulfill the purpose of their creation through, with, and in each other. Marriage is a foreshadowing of Heaven, and each married couple must work with God if their marriage is to be a foretaste of eternity. In this thoug...

This Advent, lead your family closer to Christ as you prepare for the Lord's coming at Christmas. Engage with the Old Testament patriarchs and prophets who are the branches in Jesus' family tree and come to understand fully how, in Christ, this family history becomes the history of our salvation. As you explore Jesus' fascinating ancestry, you'll see how God's plan of salvation unfolds from Adam and Eve, through the Old Testament prophets, to the birth of Christ, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mas...

Its Place in the Spiritual Life This is the book you need to discover the significant advantages of frequent Confession and the keys to making each Confession more fruitful. Spiritual master Fr. Benedict Baur quells criticisms of frequent Confession and shares why it is more efficacious for vanquishing sin and repairing the damage due to sin. In this exceptional book, Fr. Baur shows you how to develop a well-formed conscience, properly confess your sins, and develop a firm, practical purpose ...

Priestly Holiness on Earth and in Eternity In this powerful retreat-in-a-book for priests, Fr. Ezra Sullivan, a Dominican professor at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, reflects on the inestimable gift and responsibility of the priesthood. Utilizing the examples and teachings of the saints, Fr. Ezra explores how "fathers of souls" should shepherd their flocks with God's self-giving authority and why the Church needs strong, masculine priests to form her children on the ...

To the initial astonishment of Catholic moral theologians a century ago, purging psychology of its amoral and antireligious errors was found to actually confirm age-old Catholic teaching about the nature of man while providing invaluable guidance on the development of personality. In this trail-blazing book, first published in 1958, Fr. G. Emmett Carter has assembled the wisest Christian thought showing how psychology can aid the Christian in achieving maturity, overcoming character defects, ...

What It Is and How to Get There Here is the one book you need to grasp the illimitable joys of Heaven - and to discover how to get there. You will learn here what Scripture unveils and what the Church's greatest saints have written about Heaven and its joys, as well as the reason you'll experience bliss, happiness, delights of every kind, satisfaction of all desires, joy unbounded, and pleasure in Heaven. While any true understanding or appreciation of the joys of Heaven is impossible to us, ...

The devil has always been an alluring figure of mystery, but many question whether he actually exists within today's world. Msgr. Leon Cristiani provides indisputable proof in his book, Evidence of Satan in the Modern World. In this compelling work, Cristiani brings together a wealth of data to demonstrate the presence of diabolical influences throughout modern society. Drawing from famous accounts of possession and exorcism as well as lesser-known cases, this book is one of the best ever wri...

40 Days with the Angelic Doctor There's a multitude of Lenten meditation books but only one that's packed with the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas. Journey through Lent with the Church's greatest philosopher-theologian. This unrivaled spiritual master will guide you in encountering Our Lord and experiencing the type of fruitful Lent that he often experienced. You will relish this magnificent treasury of sixty-three of Aquinas's Scripture-based sermons specially selected for the holy season. From...

Here is the book you need to discover and develop the twelve virtues that St. John Baptist de La Salle (1651-1719) -- patron of teachers, education reformer, and founder of the congregation of the Brothers of the Christian Schools -- determined were most important for teachers. Br. Luke Grande, F.S.C., fleshes out the essence of each virtue as it relates to teaching and how educators can cooperate with God's grace to actualize the potentialities of students in their charge. In page after page...

A Practical Guide for Growing in Holiness If you're hoping to get to Heaven, you'll need a plan to reach your goal. This handy manual not only presents all the elements of a life well lived; it also helps you incorporate those elements into everyday practice. Straight to Heaven is the one guide you need to achieve holiness now and Heaven later -- all while eluding the traps and pains of Hell. Fr. Morrow explains that happiness is attainable now for those who live the gospel because they are b...

Introducing the Sacrament of Confession by Héctor R.G. Pérez – the definitive single volume guidebook to ensure you can make a heartfelt, meaningful confession and set forth on the path to peaceful and rewarding reparation.This essential resource leads readers through all of the steps necessary for making a sincere repentance, from understanding Catholic Church teachings on sin and guilt to reading self-guided prayers and exercises for obtaining God’s grace in challenging times. The book prov...

What Is the Particular Examen, and How Does It Conquer Sin? This step-by-step guide on how to make a Particular Examen is rooted in the five wounds of Jesus and includes prayers, sample format, and predominant faults to avoid in prayer, work, study, and recreation. As most of us struggle with the same assortment of sins, these targeted reflections will assist you in conquering your faults. This reprint of the 1952 classic contains prayers for each topic from the traditional Roman Missal that ...