From the Church’s greatest theologian: The essentials of Catholic doctrine — clearly and succinctly presented  Two years before he died, St. Thomas Aquinas — probably the greatest teacher the Church has ever known — was asked by his assistant, Brother Reginald, to write a simple summary of the Faith of the Catholic Church for those who lacked the time or the stamina to tackle his …

Venerable Louis of Granada Venerable Louis of Granada was the favorite spiritual writer of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Francis de Sales, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Rose of Lima; and The Sinner's Guide (along with The Book of Prayer and Meditation ) is one of his two most famous and most popular books. In fact, the great St. Teresa of Avila credited …

In one series, the original writings of the universally acknowledged teachers of the Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, Islamic and Native American traditions have been critically selected, translated and introduced by internationally recognized scholars and spiritual leaders. I abandoned and forgot myself Laying my face on my beloved; All things ceased; I went out from …

After the Bible, The Imitation of Christ is the all-time favorite book of Catholics throughout the world and during the more than 500 years since its first appearance.  And of all the many translations into English, none can equal for reverence and beauty this inspiring translation of Bishop Richard Challoner.  Fr. John Hardon, S.J. says of The Imitation "Its basic theme is that, …

Francis (c. 1182-1226) and Clare (c. 1193-1254) together shaped the spirituality of early 13th-century Europe.  Here for the first time in English are their complete writings, brought together in one volume.

THE IMITATION OF CHRIST Thomas a Kempis Translated by Ronald Knox & Michael Oakley The spiritual classic by 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 …

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-11530), one of Christianity's greatest mystics and father of what was perhaps the most influencial new monastic order of the Middle Ages - Cistercians - devoted eighteen years of his life to his literary masterpiece, Sermons on the Song of Songs. Although the Song of Songs , a brief book in the Old Testament, contains no explicit mention of God, the passionate love …

Athanasius (c. 295-373), Bishop of Alexandria, spiritual master and theologian, was a major figure of 4th-century Christendom.  The Life of Antony is one of the foremost classics of asceticism.  The Letter to Marcellinus is an introduction to the spiritual sense of the Psalms.

The Blessed Sacrament and The Mass St Thomas Aquinas Translated and Edited by Fr. F. O'Neil A first for the layman: Aquinas on the Holy Eucharist and the Mass Perfect Companion at Adoration Chapels, or in Private Prayer In this concise volume are all the sections of the Summa in which St. Thomas explains the Church’s understanding of the Holy Eucharist and the Mass. For newcomers to …

St. Bernard of Clairvaux Translated and with a foreword by G.R. Evans Born in Fontaines-lès-Dijon in 1090, Bernard had become, by his twenty-fifth birthday, the abbot of a Cistercian monastery which he had founded in the valley of Clairvaux near Aube, France, some four years earlier. There in those isolated and rugged surroundings he became the spokesman for a revival of monastic life in an …

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli The Spiritual Combat is a famous classic on the strategy for achieving spiritual perfection and salvation.  First published in 1589, it was the favorite book of the great St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), Doctor of the Church and master of the spiritual life; he carried a copy in his pocket for 18 years, read from it every day and recommended it to everyone under his …

Cardinal John Henry Newman John Henry Newman, the most seminal of modern Catholic theologians, is often called "the Father of the Second Vatican Council," the teachings of which he anticipated in so many ways, especially in his ecclesiology, with its emphasis on the role of the laity, but also in his theory of the development doctrine, his ecumenism, and his concern for the renewal of …

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), mystic and Doctor of the Church, wrote The Dialogue , her crown9780809122332 ing spiritual work for "the instruction and encouragement of all those whose spiritual welfare was her concern."

St. Francis de Sales St. Jane de Chantal Offered here in fresh translation are the letters of spiritual direction of two seventeenth century mystical writers, Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal. These letters show us the daily attempts of laity, clergy, cloistered religious, bishops, and obscure windows to live in the authentic spirit of Jesus, and will speak not only to the historian of the …

St. Gregory of Nyssa This great spiritual master of the fourth century was born as the general persecution of Christians was ending. One of the Greek Cappadocian Fathers (the other two were Gregory's brother, St. Basil the Great, and their mutual friend, St. Gregory Nazianzen), Gregory has come to be regarded increasingly as the most brilliant and subtle thinker and most profound mystical …

St. Bonaventure - The Soul's Journey into God, The Tree of Life, The Life of St. Francis Translation and introduction by Ewert Cousins, preface by Ignatius Brady, O.F.M. "But if you wish to know how these things come about ask grace not instruction, desire not understanding, the groaning of prayer not diligent reading, the Spouse not the teacher, God not man, darkness not clarity, not light …

St. Catherine of Genoa Translated with notes by Serge Hughes Introduction by Benedict J. Groeschel Catherine, who lived for 60 years and died early in the 16th century, leads the modern reader directly to the more significant issues of the day. In her life she reconciled aspects of spirituality often seen to be either mutually exclusive or in conflict. This married lay woman was both a mystic …

The Imitation of Christ has enjoyed greater popularity down the centuries than any Christian book apart from the Bible. Even today, the soul-searching words of the fifteenth-century monk, Thomas á 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 …

St. Augustine of Hippo: Selected Writings Translated and introduced by Mary T. Clark Augustine of Hippo (354-430), bishop, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church whose thought molded the Western theological tradition, is clearly one of the most influential figures in the history of the Church. At the heart of his brilliant philosophical and theological speculation is his spirituality-a …