Product Description
This rich oral history weaves a tapestry of memories and experience from interviews, roundtable discussions, personal memoirs, and thorough research. In the sixtieth anniversary year of the Catholic Worker, Rosalie Riegle Troester reconfirms the diversity and commitment of a movement that applies basic Christianity to social problems.

Founded in 1933 by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, the Catholic Worker has continued to apply the principles of voluntary poverty and nonviolence to changing social and political realities. Over 200 interviews with Workers from all over the United States reveal how people came to this movement, how they were changed by it, and how they faced contradictions between the Catholic Worker philosophy and the call of contemporary life.

Vivid memoirs of Dorothy Day, Peter Maurin, and Ammon Hennacy are interwoven with accounts of involvement with labor unions, war resistance, and life on Catholic Worker farms. The author also addresses the Worker's relationship with the Catholic Church and with the movement's wrenching debates over abortion, homosexuality, and the role of women. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Intellectual Ferment
The Catholic Worker is "a small band of nuts," according to some; "a community of saints" to others. But in any case, a remarkable network of people.

The intellectual ferment at the Worker comes across in this book, which includes views ranging from those of prominent people to those of children. Catholic Workers are fiercely independent thinkers and take ideas seriously. Their roundtable discussions are not unlike those of the Transcendentalists at Boston and Brook Farm in the 1840s. But they don't live in ivory towers. They are in the front lines of the struggle for social justice. Practicing hands-on Christianity, they live with the broken people they serve, and have stories to tell that most people cannot even imagine! I especially liked the one about the Catholic Worker activist who was sentenced by a judge to do community service. I already do that, she replied, to his dismay.

This provocative book covers the movement from every angle: why people join, why they leave, what they think about war and peace, usury and capitalism, going to jail for justice, community and family life, abortion, homosexuality, feminism, the Catholic church, and many other issues. No evasion of thorny issues here! There are insights from many Worker communities in the U.S. and Canada, plus interesting accounts of the history and personalities of the movement. A very lively and candid discussion!

An Excellent Book
Troester is only the editor of this book. The actual text is taken from interviews of Catholic Workers all over N America. Because of this, it's an all-encompassing book...with voices who are Catholic, Jewish, Athiest, Buddhist, and in-between...people who practice hospitality in different ways, running Shelters, Soup Kitchens, Farms, and also homes for kids...people with all sorts of different opinions and ages...and stories of all different sorts. No one person could possibly have written such an excellent book. Also, if you're hesitating about reading this book because you think it may be too Catholic, or too political, or too do-gooder, too conservative or too radical or what have you...then I suggest that there are so many voices in this book that this need not be a concern. Somewhere in this book there is a story of profound value for everyone.

Learning the Roots-
Four months ago I started volunteering at a fairly new Catholic Worker house in Akron, OH.I knew virtually nothing about The Worker; of course, I'd heard of Dorothy Day and even stayed in a Worker house on a weekendretreat but never thought to inquire into its history and philosophies.Agood friend asked me to help her out at the Casa de la Paz (the AkronHouse), to get me out of the full-time work/college grind.I agreed andfell in love with the folks I came in contact with.Quickly I sank deeperand deeper into the house's struggles and joys (mostly joys) and picked upon the philosophies behind the movement.Aine, one of the housecoordinaters, loaned me her copy of Voices from the Catholic Worker toread.An avid reader herself, she pointed out a couple in the book anddirected my attention to a hand-written script in the first pages. "To Mary and Pat {Murray}, True Catholic Worker"lifers"and an inspiration to me.Love, Rosalie"I delved into the book andlearned of a truly blessed movement through the mouths and lives of thepeople that helped withstain it.Folks like the Murrays, the Zarrellas,and other common people whose lives were transformed forever.Troesterweaves the memories of Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin and other prominentfigures into a cohesive history that reads like a campfire conversation. Strangely intimate and familiar, one feels a friendship with thestorytellers that delves the reader into the book and arrests his/herinterest in the present.(My teapot screamed for minutes before I shookmyself out of my reverie and answered its wail.)One of the best booksI've read this year, it's a necessary read for those searching for a moreintimate recount of the Catholic Worker history.

A Human Connection
It's the small human touches that make connections that make a difference. Riegle has done an inspiring job of recording them in a book that's encouraging to read especially at a time when success is measured inmergers and Web billions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Dorothy was fasinating
Day is a very interesting person, and her intense lifestyle lights up this book, creating a complex mixture of emotions. ... Read more

Product Description
Invites the reader on a pilgrimage to more than 70 of Western Europe's most celebrated shrines and sanctuaries. In these pages you will visit Lourdes, Fatima, Knock, the Vatican, and other holy sites and learn all about Europe's Marian and angelic apparitions, eucharistic miracles, relics, miraculous statues, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Great gift!
I bought this book for my mother in law just before her trip to Italy and she loved it. She said she used it as a resource there and it was very interesting. I gave it 4 stars because it wasn't something I would buy for myself but my mother in law adored it to pieces! Great gift for any Italian or someone planning to visit Italy.

great reference, but...
I'm glad this guide book exists.I have found it helpful and informative.I am currently living in Germany, and I find pilgrimages to be a far more meaningful way of exploring Western Europe than more traditional tours.With this in mind, I would like to respectfully suggest some revisions for future editions.First, I would really appreciate more and better maps.A simple blank map of each country with dots representing the pilgrimage locations would have been extremely helpful--- as would better directions and ideas of distances between major sites.More pictures would also be helpful.I plan on eventually visiting most of these sites, but the book on its own is not enough.

Catholic Shrines of Western Europe
A very good book full of information. The only thing i didnt like is that they talk about certain images of The Blessed Virgin , but dont show her. Only the builing... I think more pictures of the statues at the shrine and less of the outside of them would be better. But i gave it five stars for the information. It great for that reason only.

Excellent Book for a Semester in Europe
I spent two semesters in Europe and this book was immensely helpful in deciding which pilgrimage sights to go to and then finding them!I love the little maps that are shown for the various shrines.At Franciscan University's campus in Austria, this book in particular is very popular, because it tells about the history of the place and how to find it. If you know a Catholic who is going to Europe and wants to visit shrines, then I highly recommend this book.

Easy to Use; Full of good info.
My brother and I both lived in Europe (in different places) and we both used this book extensively.The book unabled us to visit shrines that otherwise we would not have known existed. The book was easy to use and included the history of each shrine, directions on how to get there, where to stay and how to contact the shrine. There is also a picture of each shrine, with made it easy to choose which shrines we wanted to see.Our stay in Europe was greatly enriched by the use of this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Insights and inspiring commentary on the Letters to the Corinthians in this 7th volume of the new Ignatius Study Bible series. Containing Bible study helps and tools, the book includes insights from the Church Fathers, topical essays, word studies and charts, study questions, maps, and a cross-reference section. Author: Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch Grade: 9 and up Format: 125 pages, paperback Publisher: Ignatius Press ISBN: 0-89870-966-0 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

good for personal study
I like all of these books by Scott Hahn and other catholic authors. They are especially good if you don't have time for a bible study and just want to do personal study each night. They have tons and tons of notes and sidebars. I love this series.

Great orthodox Roman Catholic Bible study
Wonderful series/ Helpful footnotes that make reference to the catechsim and church fathers. I can't wait for the series to be completed. ... Read more

Product Description
Besides writing science fiction like The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man, Wells was deeply interested in history and current events. This book was written during World War II, after he had resigned as Minister of Allied Propaganda. While in this position he became privy to information that shocked him concerning the Roman Catholic Church. Much of what he found is in this book. After it was released a loud protest came from the Roman Catholic press accusing Wells, a respected writer, of spreading half-truths, innuendoes, and logical fallacies. He responded by saying that the church routinely engages in a complex, modern boycott of liberal thought that requires us to fight this intolerance with our own intolerance of the Roman Catholic system. For the most part, this book has been swept under the rug of history because Wells offers credibility to an opposing view. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Title of Chapter 1?
The original (Agora 1944 pub) had chapter 1 as Why Do We Not Bomb Rome? As Wells wrote it. In all of the other publications I noted that Chapter 1 was relocated as the last chapter 23. This changes the overall impression ofthe book as Wells originally wrote it.The first time reader should readthe Agora version first to get the authors real meaning. Wells was nevershy and NEVER did he beat around the bush, as this change made it appear.

An emotionally charged scathing indictment of Catholicism
Crux Ansata is a sometimes scholarly, sometimes emotional indictment of the Roman Catholic Church.Drawing on theological history, Wells builds a case against the Church for various reasons, predominantly political.Allof this leads up to a final chapter entitled, "Why Do We Not BombRome?"It is the work of a man passionately crusading against his ownconceptions of ignorance, and while convincing at times, I couldn't helpbut wonder while reading it, "What did the nuns do to him"? Written towards the end of Wells's career when he became exceedingly bitterand critical of modern society. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Awesome spiritual reference
As an adjunct volume to BCP, written with Anglo Catholics in mind, i find this volume to be a treasure in my spiritual life. The prayers and devotions are in the modern, inclusive language used by TEC, yet the adaptations loose none of their majesty. Just about every variation of Anglican use is represented here. I am using this more and more as time goes on for my own devotionals, and for suggestions to the liturgical committee i serve on in my parish. I would recommend this to any Anglo Catholic who is need of deeper devotional resource.

Perfect Anglo Catholic prayer book to date
Just a wonderful and great prayer book for a Anglo Catholic to own. It as, if your in a catholic prayer book and a Catholic could use it, if he or she wanted too. It would be nice in the future, if they could do American verison of it as well over the years to come. I have two copies and i use them alot, but I like use many prayer books to keep my faith open to all Christian tradtions.

It is not Saint Augustine's Prayer Book
Let's hold in abeyance the obvious jokes of "will the last Anglo-Catholic blow out the candles" and pretend anyone will ever read this review.

Andrew Burnham compiled "A Manual of Anglo-Catholic Devotion" with good intentions, as in the old admonition "...the road to H*ll is paved with..." Sadly his efforts ended with a volume that pleases no one.

Embracing the full-watered down "we've-never-heard-of-the-1662-Book-of-Common-Prayer or the English-Missal" version of *English* style Anglo-Catholicism, all the happy-clappy and sentimental devotionals of Vatican II Anglo-Catholicism leaps off the page. This is the worst of English "whatever Rome does" knee-jerk Anglo-Catholicism and anyone who uses only up to the 7th edition of Ritual Notes will find much to wrankle their nerves.

On the flip side, as other reviewers have noted, Burnham makes nods to the theological conclusions of piety of orthodox (or the selectively "orthodox," take your pick) Anglo-Catholics with prayers that could be viewed as partisan (I dunno, I think OLJC asked us to pray for our enemies, not our friends, so maybe Burnham is clever by half when he inserts prayers for Forward-in-Faith).

The contemporary language of the Rite II style has a selective and dying audience: hippies of 1968. Well, here is the tombstone of the "in the spirit of Vatican II" movement in Anglo-Catholicism. This is the language that doesn't transcend and leaves us with the "hangin' out with Jesus" commitment to the language of prayer. If this is what comes out of your soul in fear and trembling then I suggest cutting back on the 12-Step classes. "We updated the language to appeal to young people!" they argued..."ooopss, why is there no one left here except us humourless aging acid casualties? Who is going to bury us?" Well, let the dead bury their own dead, Deadhead.

Ya think maybe ya went a little overboard with the imminence versus the transcendence? Duuuuuhhhhhhh. Kids can get imminence in any smoky café and throwing away the carefully constructed transcendence from centuries of refinement is a genie you can't put back in the bottle, now that we all sing and pray like "London Bridge is Falling Down."

So with the "A Manual of Anglo-Catholic Devotion" we have happy-clappy-cr**p* language on one hand, and the tar brush and stripes of the misogynist missionaries on the other. Burnham can't win.

Kiss Coverdale's incomparable and timeless translation of the Psalms goodbye! The El-crud-O version is on offer here. Scansion? Hellloooooo! If you can breath through this shi.....nola ......you should be singing on rock records. Punk.rock.records.

Folks puke over theological quibbles of the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) (the Bible version most in use here), and in Anglo-Catholic circles Father Peter Toon was the squeakiest wheel. Here's a hint: it is a *protestant* translation and to get past the committee it ended up being lowest common denominator. With obvious results. I don't think anyone is on the highway to H-E-double hockey sticks if they like and use the NRSV, but you needn't go far into theological abstraction to chuck the NRSV out the window. As plain as the rosacea proboscis on your phizog the language of the NRSV is as ugly as a donkey eating briars. No further explanation needed.

You got your speed Rosary here: no Gloria Patri; perfect for the Anglo-Catholic who wants his prayer life to enjoy the efficiency of speed dating.

The good points: this is a beautifully bound book, and I liked the illustrations. This is acid-free paper with an excellent binding, so my great grandchildren will find it in the same pristine unused condition it enjoys today long after my 2nd printing Saint Augustine's Prayer Book has joined me in dust.

Great Devotional for Anglo-Catholics
We use this devotional on Holy Days in my church and we love it!

Overall a Good Source, But Needs Better Indexing
I agree with the previous reviewer that there may be a bit too much modernization in the language, but that does make it easier to do with a family.For personal prayer time, I prefer the Anglican Breviary, but that language is quite archaic, and so I don't use it with the family.

What's also nice with this book is that it has some nice devotions, like the stations of the cross adapted for more of the family environment.It also provides several variants of Morning, Daily, and Evening prayer so that you have choices.

My only complaint is that it isn't indexed very well, and references are made to other sections that are awfully hard to find.For instance, in the non-traditional language Morning Prayer you are instructed to use week1 Psalmody for Passion Week and week2 for Holy Week.Finding the week1 and week2 Psalmody is quite difficult.It turns out its buried in the traditional language Morning Prayer (I think that's what is being referred to). ... Read more

Product Description
A celebration of the treasured traditions, rituals, and stories that run through the bloodstream of American Catholics

For Andrew Greeley, it is the reverence of Christmas night and the exultation of Easter morn. Martin Scorsese, like many others, remains grateful for the nuns who rapped his knuckles but built his self-esteem.Mary Gordon recalls the sense of lightness that follows confession; Vince Lombardi, the strength he derived from Mass; and Christopher Buckley, the role St. Thomas More plays in his writing.

I Like Being Catholic brings together the memories, thought, and hopes of famous Catholics and ordinary parishioners, lapsed and "good-enough" Catholics, and those who have devoted their lives to the faith.It captures their abiding ties to and deep affection for the Church and offers the wide-ranging, sometimes surprising views on the good things that come with being Catholic.

This is not a book of theology. It is about the beauty at the heart of Catholicism. It is about what Teilhard de Chardin called "the chosen part of things." It is about family and community, the value of Catholic education, the significance of sacraments and milestones, and the cultural impact of Catholicism—there are lists of the ten best Catholic novels, the ten best Catholic movies, ten Catholic heroes of the twentieth century, ten good reasons to raise your kids Catholic, fifty things Catholics like best about being Catholic, and much more ...

I Like Being Catholic is a book for all those who have ever called themselves Catholic. It is a book of warmth, affection, humor, and love.


From the Hardcover edition.Amazon.com Review
I Like Being Catholic is sure to rank among the top-10 first Communion gifts in coming years. It's a collection of personal essays, prayers, quotations, and other short writings by everyone from Cokie Roberts to Martin Scorsese to William F. Buckley about the pleasures of practicing Catholicism. As editors Michael Leach and Therese J. Borchard write in their introduction to the volume, the anthology's contributors "may not always agree with the Church's rules but they wouldn't think of being anything else. Catholicism is in their bones." I Like Being Catholic is not concerned with theology; it's out to show the ways that Catholicism enables faithful folk to see the true and beautiful. This approach occasionally lapses into kitsch ("Fifty Things Catholics Like Best About Being Catholic," compiled by Fr. William A. Burke from parishioners in Homewood, Illinois: e.g., "22. Ashes smudged on your forehead."). It also creates some occasions for readers to enjoy the divine presence in unexpected places (as suggested by Doris Kearns Goodwin's "The Brooklyn Dodgers and The Catholic Church"). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

A delightful book in many respects . . .
. . . the only problem being is that some of the contributors could best be described as "Catholic in Name Only".

This collection of thoughts, essays, lists, etc. describes what the contributors love best about their faith tradition. (Individuals who really do come from many different walks of life -- and have varied and divergent opinions on what the Church would consider key issues).

Don't look for doctrine or even spirituality here -- that's not the point of the book.Enjoy the anecdotes, but realize that fidelity to the Magisterium was apparently not required for inclusion!

I Like Being A Catholic
Believe it or not, this is a replacement for one I used to own and lent to a friend.It brings my faith so much closer because of the way in which those quoted share their Catholicism.I highly recommend it and hope it does for others what it has done for me.

I like being Catholic
Wonderful book.It brought back many memories and made me think I am very fortunate to be Catholic.The stories were very inspirational and provided an uplift for me.Also I enjoyed the 10 best books and movies.Will definitely read this book again.

A Wonderful Book About Day-to-Day Catholicism!
This collection of delightful recollections and insights from Catholics anchored by their faith in a world increasing without moorings or reference points at all.Everyday Catholics discuss the favorite rituals (private and public), prayers & Saints who nurture their faith.While this book might not please people who see Catholicism primarily as Papal edicts and endless rules & regulations, I believe that most readers will find the journey refreshing, their faith nenewed.It would also be a good read for non-Catholics who don't understand why their friends and neighbors LIKE being Catholic.

Lost in the Translation
The book should be seen as a last gasp of cultural but non-practicing Catholics.If you like your religion as bland a WASP, this form of catholocism is for you.JFK brought Roman Catholocism into the mainstream and most people now see it as just another place to go on Sunday.Sadly neither of the authors knows any better.It is doubtful theyactually know the faith or what it teaches.Catholicism will always be the "other" religion.Liking being a Catholic and actually being one can be summaries by the North Carolina motto "Esse Quam Videri."translation "To be, rather than to seem." ... Read more

Product Description
The landmark Oxford Catholic Study Bible is available now an upgraded and revised Second Edition.Completely re-written study notes, expanded essays and sidebars make this bible the perfect choice for study and worship.

The heart of this volume remains its extensive Reading Guide that leads the reader through the Scriptures, book by book.References and background information are clearly laid out in the margins of the text, guiding the reader to a fuller understanding of the Bible.

Other outstanding features include: a 15-page glossary of special terms, complete Sunday and weekday lectionary readings for the liturgical years of the Church. 32 beautiful pages of full-color Oxford Bible Maps come with a place-name index for easy reference.

Printed on smooth, durable paper and bound with the highest quality materials, the Oxford Catholic Study Bible is an incredible value.It is an essential resource for both experienced students and first-time readers.

* Articles (Biblical History and Archaeology; Catholic Interpretation of the Bible; Challenges of Biblical Translation; Paul and His Writings)
* Introductory Sectrions (1 & 2 Samuel; 1 & 2 Kings; Major Prophets, Baruch, and Lamentations
* Index to Study Materials ... Read more

Customer Reviews (68)

The Catholic Study Bible
This edition is an excellent source for helping to study the Bible -- it gives a historical background which leads the student to a greater understanding of the events that took place during the time the books were being translated and helps the student follow Christ into a deeper belief of God through the Holy Spirit.

The Catholic Study Bible: New American Bible Second Edition

Great bible
Great condition. No scratches or sticker marks or bent pages. Lots of great study hints and explantions in the book...hence the name 'study bible'

Studious returner
This has more than I had hoped to find in a study bible. It is even better than all those bibles I used in non-Catholic bible studies. I really like the reading guide in the beginning. It would be nice if there were the "cut-outs" in the places where the books change (or some other identifier such as little black edges where the books change.) I am happy.

Incredibly Biased Translation
I picked up my own New American Bible because Michael J. Gorman, a New Testament scholar, wrote in his book on exegesis that the NAB is one of the best translations to use for exegesis. After looking through this translation, however, this has to be the most biased bible translation towards the Catholic faith ever.

I will give two examples. In most modern English Bible translations, the translators translate the Greek word "porneia" in Matthew 19:9 as either "marital unfaithfulness" (NIV), "immorality" (NASB, NET), or "sexual immorality" (ESV, HCSB, NKJV), to give the idea that a marriage bond can be broken if one of the spouses commits ANY TYPE of sexual immorality to desecrate the marriage vow (adultery, homosexuality, incest, bestiality, etc.). Thus, all these translations include the possibility of divorce and remarriage for the victim of porneia within the marriage (the traditional Protestant and biblical view). However, the NAB (updated) translates "porneia" as "unless the marriage is illegal." How the translators came up with that very restrictive interpretation is beyond understanding. They obviously translated the word that way to promote their unbiblical notion that marriage is always unbreakable no matter what the circumstances.

Another one is in 1 Timothy 3 for the qualifications for overseers. In 1 Timothy 3:2, all the major English translations today say the overseer must be a "husband of one wife." Incredibly, the NAB states that the overseer must be "married only once." This again shows how the NAB translates things as if the Catholic view is right. Most commentators argue that the phrase means not that the overseer must have been only married once in his lifetime with no record of divorce (no matter how legitimate the divorce was) but that the overseer must be a "one lady" man (he must not be a cheat or flirt to other women while married). In other words, he must be solely committed to the wife he is married to IN THE PRESENT.

The NAB has even be criticized by many Catholics (usually more traditional or conservative Catholics). Though it doesn't use the gender-inclusivity as much as the NRSV it still uses it in many places. However, my problem with the NAB is not with the inclusive language issue but with its obvious Catholic bias in many places. The language used for this translation is very Catholic sounding. However, it goes beyond that by making it sound like the Catholic way of understanding these issues is the only way.

Would I recommend this translation for ministry, devotion, or scholarly study? No way! I highly recommend the ESV, NASB, HCSB, NIV, and the recently translated ISV for study or devotion. Don't let people tell you that this translation is great for study and won't affect your way of seeing things. There are hidden statements in the translation that promotes Catholic teaching at the expense of genuine honesty to the original Hebrew and Greek texts.

Missing Exodus and part of Genesis
Ordered it while in Iraq, and had it shipped to my home.Return a couple of months ago--eager to begin using it--and found it missing all of Exodus and part of Genesis.According to Amazon, it's too late to return it.Waste of money :-( ... Read more

Product Description
The structure and functioning of the local church by an eminent canon lawyer. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is essential reading for understanding the legacy behind the Catholic Worker Movement.

The founders of the movement, Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin met during the Great Depression in 1932. Their collaboration sparked something in the Church that has been both an inspiration and a reproach to American Catholicism.

Dorothy Day is already a cultural icon. Once maligned, she is now being considered for sainthood. From a bohemian circle that included Eugene O’Neil to her controversial labor politics to the founding of the Catholic Worker Movement, she lived out a civil rights pacifism with a spirituality that took radical message of the Gospel to heart.

Peter Maurin has been less celebrated but was equally important to the movement that embraced and uplifted the poor among us. Dorothy Day said he was, "a genius, a saint, an agitator, a writer, a lecturer, a poor man and a shabby tramp."

Mark and Louise Zwick’s thorough research into the Catholic Worker Movement reveals who influenced Peter Maurin and Dorothy Day and how the influence materialized into much more than good ideas. Dostoevsky, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, Francis of Assisi, Therese of Lisieux, Jacques and Raissa Maritain and many others contributed to fire in the minds of two people that sought to "blow the dynamite of the Church" in 20th-century America.

This fascinating and detailed work will be meaningful to readers interested in American history, social justice, religion and public life. It will also appeal to Catholics wishing to live the Gospel with lives of action, contemplation, and prayer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great subject, unreadable book
I was so excited about this book, being a fan of the Zwicks' newspaper and the authentic philosophy of the Catholic Worker movement. I'm sad to say it read like an undergraduate thesis - an undigested compilation of quotations and bland abstractions. There is great material here and the Zwicks deeply understand and live out the Catholic Worker movement. The book just needs a lot of editing and rewriting to be palatable to this lay reader.

A Wonderful Book on the Catholic Worker Movement
Mark and Louise Zwick, who operate the Catholic Worker Hospitality House in Houston, Texas, have written a wonderful scholarly book about the Catholic Worker movement and Dorothy Day.They convincingly show that Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin were influenced by powerful intellectual and spiritual sources, including St. Teresa of Avila, Jaques and Raissa Maritain, and Emmanuel Mounier. Clearly, Day and Maurin were grounded in more than the emotions of the moment--they drew heavily from the intellectual and spiritual roots of Catholicism, going back as far as St. Francis of Assisi.

Anyone who has read the works of Dorothy Day will be interested in this terrific book by Mark and Louise Zwick, impressive not only for its scholarship but also for the fact that it was written by people who carry on the work of Dorothy day, Peter Maurin and the Catholic Worker movement.

Richard Fossey
University of North Texas

A Case of Truth in Packaging
It is rare nowadays to find a book which is completely faithful to the claims implied by its title.This is one of those rarities.
Catholics in this generation, even those who are reasonably well-informed on most things, often have an erroneous notion as to what the Catholic Workers are all about, and the answer to "what they are all about" must begin with their intellectual and spiritual origins.Those who are ill-informed of the movement will be surprised by the content of these foundational elements.Those who are more at home with the movement will be edified by the summary given in this book.
One caveat: If your motive for reading this book is to reinforce your political views, and if you are a modern American "liberal", you will throw it down in disgust.If you believe that capitalism can do no wrong, you will do the same.But if you want to read about how Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin attempted to follow Christ through the institution of the Movement, then you will find what you want, and be edified in the process.

excellent introduction to the profound roots of this important movement
As someone who has walked with the Catholic Worker movement for many years and now teaches a university course (in Seattle) on the movement, I found the Zwicks' book an essential volume for understanding this powerful and profound movement.

Many books, including those written by Dorothy Day herself, offer anecdotal histories of the movement, placing it in its cultural and historical context. Others (such as Rosemary Riegle's "Voices") offer fascinating collections of memories from those who have been touched by the CW over the decades. But no book previously has grounded the movement so profoundly in the depth and sweep of Catholic and philosophical tradition. Each chapter is like a glass of wine to savor.

Another reason I find this so helpful: many current CW houses understand the need to feed the poor or work for peace, but have little understanding of how centrally Christian Dorothy and Peter were. "Spirituality" is sometimes seen as an option in today's CW houses. But for the founders, there was no movement apart from the witness of saints, intellectuals, mystics and other faith heroes throughout the ages.

This book may well be the inspiration you need to find your nearest CW house and serve a meal or offer an hour in the name of the Prince of Peace.

Know the Seeds of the Movement

In the 1990s, a prominent American Catholic journal pronounced, "the Catholic Worker movement is dead," a decade and a half after the death of the movement's renowned co-founder, Dorothy Day. Such a sweeping declaration not only overlooked the fact that hundreds of Catholic Workers, including authors Mark and Louise Zwick, were active in catholic Worker ministries across the country, but also denied the theological and intellectual contributions the Catholic Worker movement has made, and continues to make, to American Catholicism.

In fact, Day believed that her influence would reach its fullest prominence after her death, prophetically reflecting, "but unless the seed fall into the earth and die, there is no harvest. And why must we see results? Our work is to sow. Another generation will be reaping the harvest."

In The Catholic Worker Movement, Mark and Louise Zwick present the seeds of this Movement, proving that it is still vibrantly alive and allowing for its continued fruitfulness. While dozens of books have been written about Dorothy Day and her movement, the Zwicks are unique in focusing not the history of the movement, nor its works, but its deep, and often overlooked, philosophical roots. It is precisely this philosophy which made the movement effective and influential, and which beyond all else let it withstand the test of time while countless other visionary communes have failed.

Although the book duly discusses the undisputed the basic tenants ofthe Movement, especially the last third of Chapter 25 of Mathew's Gospel-the "corporal works of mercy"- they show that the intellectual roots also go deeper. Chapters are dedicated to separate themes including personalism, non-violence, monastism, and the teachings of the Saints.

The product of over a decade of work, few could have done a better job tracking the movement's philosophical origins than the Zwicks, who received a deep schooling in both Catholic Worker thinking and practice through their 25 years of running a Worker house of hospitality and newspaper out of Houston, TX.In diving into the original sources of the Worker's philosophy, they revive many forgotten, out of print, and unpublished sources.

The book does of good job of reestablishing the intellectual contributions of Peter Maurin, the often forgotten half of the Movement's founders. It displays Peter's gift in his vision of radical Christianity that he painted vividly with Great Catholic thinkers and his immense intellectual grasp of society and the Church. Even those that would dismiss Peter Maurin and his eccentric personality traits had to admit, "He knew his stuff."

As the Zwicks note, co-founders Day and Peter Maurin saw the Worker as an evangelical movement to create a new renaissance in the Church, if not the world. Since 1933, "Catholic Workers" committed to communal living and voluntary poverty in "houses of hospitality" where they practiced "personalism" by feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, protesting against war and injustice, and publishing a Christian newspaper. In doing so they found a full integration of theology and practice.

The problems of the book are also some of its strengths. The meticulous research and explanation of influence on Catholic Worker thought can be long, detailed, and in some rare cases tangential. Yet, in doing so, it provides ample starting points for continued reading. Thus The Catholic Worker Movement is a must read for anybody interested in understanding the roots of this movement and feasting on a harvest of insights into life, justice, and social change.
... Read more

Product Description
"Johnson offers lucid explanations of a dizzying array of customs and beliefs."
--Publishers Weekly
In Expressions of the Catholic Faith, renowned scholar and religion columnist Kevin Orlin Johnson answers the most frequently asked questions on Catholic faith, worship, culture, and customs, including:
* How the Church Makes Laws * The Hard-Fought Genesis of the New Testament * The Cycle of Redemption * A Short Guide to the Meaning and Structure of the Mass * Decoding Symbols of Scripture and the Sacraments * The Calendar as the Image of Christ's Life * The Rosary * The Stations of the Cross * Monks, Nuns, and the Rules That Guide Them * The Pope * The Laity in the Modern World * Saints * Fatima, Lourdes, and the Story of Apparitions * The Vatican: A Holy City * The Sign of the Cross, Christianity's Best-Known Symbol * Candles in Prayer and Liturgy * The Meaning of the Nativity Scene
Blending religious history, a deep appreciation for art and culture, and an enlightened reverence for the traditions of the Church, Expressions of the Catholic Faith is the definitive resource for any one who wants to learn more about the rituals, symbols, and traditions that can strengthen our faith every day.
Amazon.com Review
Why Do Catholics Do That? by Kevin Orlin Johnsonassumes nothing and tells all. As such, it's not only an idealcatechism companion but also a source of infinite wisdom for studentsof art history, politics, literature, philosophy, and pretty much anyother subject connected with Catholic history. In a voice refreshinglyfree of condescension (and full of humor, witnessed in chapter titlessuch as "Saints: How You Get To Be One"), Johnson defines andexpatiates upon hundreds of topics, including the Mass, the rosary,the cross, the eucharist, and the pope. Why Do Catholics DoThat? is destined for the all-time top 20 list of indispensabledesk references. Whether your interest in Catholicism is devoutlyreligious or defiantly secular, you'll be glad Kevin Orlin Johnson hasfulfilled his vocation so faithfully. --Michael Joseph Gross ... Read more

Customer Reviews (86)

Surprised by the scholarship and information in this book
I checked this book out of a local library while gathering material to help prepare me to teach a Catholic confirmation class.For various reasons I was not particularly enthusiastic to read the book at first.However, after reading in I have since changed my mind.

"Why Do Catholics Do That?" is scholarly and informative.This is not a propaganda book filled with rhetoric - instead, the author appears to have really taken the time to delve into the finer points of history.

I found myself taking copious notes throughout the book as the author presented a lot of information.While I have read books about Catholic apologetics before, I still found a lot of new information.After reading Dr. Johnson's book I feel much more confident about my Catholic faith.I would definitely recommend this to Catholics wishing to learn the details (and defense) of the Catholic Church.

good book
I ordered this book for an adult ed class at church. The book was old but in good shape.

Explaining the Truth - It's all Good!
I started this book with a ho-hum heard it all before attitude, but I was pleasantly surprised by the teaching style of the author.It was like I was relaxing with a cold brew while a fried explained things in an easy to understand way by combining history, theology, logic and common sense.This book was great.

All the things you never knew to ask
Kevin Orlin Johnson's book "Why Do Catholics Do That" is so good that I had to have 2 copies of it, one to keep and one to share.I had a 300+ library of books on all things Catholic and this was in my top 20 along with 2 other Johnson books as well - "The Rosary", and "Apparitions".I believe that if Catholics or non-Catholics gave this book a read, one would walk away as if a veil has been lifted in their understanding of Catholic culture.The information is vast, accurate, yet simply presented and extremely readable.Johnson has really done an outstanding job of research and the reader is well rewarded.I highly recommend this book.

Not objective enough, singing to the Catholic-only choir
I thought this book would be able to tell me how some Catholic practices came into being, and how Catholics view these practices--things foreign to many Protestants, such as worship of Mary, praying to saints, relics, the rosary. I could not get very far, however, because the author does not do a good job of presenting these things objectively, and inserts slams at Protestants. ... Read more

Product Description
This new Classroom Edition of the top-selling Living Justice retains the broad coverage of Catholic social teaching in the first edition with expanded pedagogy. New coverage focuses on the environment and globalization from a Catholic perspective. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Religious reading
Great book.Explains how to live the Catholic Faith so anyone can
understand.

On the mark!
Archbishop Chaput is right on target with this book.It was a pleasure to read, and helped my resolve to live out my Catholic faith.He is a rock solid man, priest, bishop and archbishop, and defends not only his beliefs, but that of Christ Himself, which, understandably are the same!

mom of 8
Very down to earth, practical book about living the Christian Faith.Archbishop Chaput is a very holy man who knows how to get his point across to everyone.I highly recommend it

Wonderful and insightful
This was a gift and replacement order.This is a fabulously interesting, inspirational, and readable book!I had loaned my original out so often that it needed to be replaced, plus I bought several for gifts. I will read this book many more times! Living the Catholic Faith: Rediscovering the Basics

Family-centered Evangelization for the 21st Century!
I am a doctoral student in Theology, so I have read much deeper explanations of many truths of the faith and explorations of how to live it. I don't want to read heavy theology all of the time, though; sometimes I just want something light and entirely oriented towards my practice of the faith. This book hit the spot. My wife and I read it concomitantly and it has really energized us and given us a lot to talk about. We are both cradle Catholics and very informed, but everyone needs continual spiritual nourishment. While the book might not have taught us anything "new" per se, it provides a great vision of the faith overall and very helpful vignettes and action points to indicate how to live as a Catholic in the modern world. As the book unfolds, it enters into some of the typical stumbling blocks that Catholics have (e.g. why priest don't marry, why contraception and NFP are different). Again, not much new or different from the academic explanations I've heard, but the approach is much more engaging than most. Chaput simply unfolds the beauty of the Catholic faith in a convincing way.

I think the book is at its best in its emphasis upon mission/evangelization in the modern world. We often think that families are not capable of this--this is for crazies willing to take vows and give up everything. Taking the cue from Vatican II and recent Church teaching, Chaput insists that the family is the domestic Church capable of cultivating heroic holiness, and the laity are the primary interface between the Church and the world. We Catholics aren't as good as our separated Protestant brethren at inviting others to consider our faith, but I was challenged to do this in the ways recommended by the book.

Given my studies and goals, I am likely to find myself teaching introductory courses on Christianity or the Catholic Church. I will most likely try to use at least portions of this book to cover the basics of Christianity in a compact, informative, but attractive way. I would also recommend this as reading for engaged couples. Due to the family-oriented nature of the book, it might not be as useful for teenaged audiences, which might not care for this perspective as much.

I highly recommend this book--it will enrich you and challenge you to live Christ and be Christ to the world! ... Read more

Product Description
From the editor of the "Necronomicon" comes a shocking and revealing investigation of the historic ties between the occult and the Catholic Church, including the first English translation available of the "Grimoire of Pope Honorious". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

How the "Smoke of Satan" entered the sanctuary of the Vatican
Fascinating and completely believable history of the practice of magic within the Catholic Church. Readers of Malachi Martin's Windswept House will find here validation of his description of the desecration of St Paul's in Vatican City, and why it was so powerful. Others will at least be surprised at the extent that Catholic clergy used its sacramental powers for secular and evil ends.

interesting grimoire, the rest of the book I am not sure....
I actually got this book because I thought it was going to Present the rarely talked about Clerical Mages of the catholic church during the medieval and Renaissance period, they were a few who new if they were caught doing magick they would be tortured then killed. Either way The book went into conspiracy, Freemasons, something I believe that should be in conspiracy books not books on magick. while he did say a little about this occult underground. he did not expand upon it. only redeeming thing on the book was the grimoire at the very end.

Buy for the translation
Unfortunately, Simon has tainted his reputation dramatically by publishing his "translation" of the necronomicon. Long story short: The necronomicon was invented by H.P. Lovecraft. If it ever existed beyond his imagination, we have no proof.

Therefore, with Simon publishing this Grimoire of Honorius, we should be skeptical. I would not be able to tell if the translation is genuine, as proper copies of the grimoire itself sell for roughly $1,300.00! So, even if Simon's translation is not reliable, it's worth the chance for such a less expensive alternative.

That being said, its worth a look but I wouldn't take it seriously as an occultist.

Vaticanomicon
PAPAL MAGIC (2007)
by "Simon"

It is well known that several pagan practices have been incorporated into various Christian rituals.As a matter of fact there is a very large body of work on the subject, starting with Alexander Hislop's (extremely controversial) 'the Two Babylons'. Now Simon has written a book about "sorcery" in the Catholic church.Simon is the author affiliated with the popular Necronomicon paperback.

The book is made up of two sections.The first is Simon's fragmented account of dark Catholic history while the next section is a translation of the "Grimoire of Pope Honorius III". This is a book allegedly written or used by Pope Honorius III in order to educate bishops on how to understand and control demonic forces.It should be pointed out that Honorius was Pope in the 13th century and the gimoire wasn't published until 1670.The grimoire is the centerpiece and is worth a look because it is the only widely available english translation of the text.It is quite scarce otherwise, and definitely a bizarre find regardless of its authenticity.I do not personally believe that it was written by the Pope, but I don't really have a dog in that fight.

As for the rest of Papal Magic, there are several little subsections that talk about various controversies such as the Vatican's connection to the Propaganda Due/P2 Masonic Lodge or certain clergymen who are said to have held membership in the Ordo Templi Orientis occult organization.There are also subsections on several different priests who supposedly made pacts with the devil, collaborated with occult groups or utilized occult techniques.None of these subsections is very thorough and most are under ten pages.When I read the chapters at the beginning, it felt like Simon had originally written an introduction to the grimoire but decided that it wasn't enough.So he split up the introduction and peppered its fragments into different chapters about scandals in Catholic history.It would've been much more helpful if the information regarding the grimoire had simply been written as a single chapter and perhaps some of the rest of the material could have been incorporated as footnotes.

I felt like there were so many things that Simon could've included but didn't.There are a lot of books on this subject matter from writers of all different backgrounds.There are protestants who are criticizing the Catholic church, "messianics" who are criticizing Christianity, atheists who are criticizing monotheism, and even Traditional Catholics who are saying that the Vatican has strayed.I myself believe that Darrell Conder's Mystery Babylon the Great (first volume only) is the best account of how pagan rituals have been repackaged as Christianity.Conder's book does not only analyze Catholicism but Christianity at large.I might add that I am a Christian myself and feel that it is important to read this sort of material in order to weed out the deception and confusion surrounding religion in general.

The book is not bad but it really doesn't go deep enough for me.This might be a good place to start if you need something to follow 'the DaVinci Code' or if Madonna peaked your interest in the Kabbalah.But if you've read ANY literature on the early Christian church, Gnosticism or Freemasonry then I'd say the only reason to buy this book is the grimoire.

Could have been so much better.
The reason I give this book 3 stars is because it has a decent translation of the Grimoire of Pope Honorius. That part is interesting and it also rather hard to get a copy of that text.

The Grimoire is only half of the book though and the first half is not that interesting. Mostly some well known facts mixed with "what if" scenarios. Any person with some knowledge of the occult already will know about all of the material in the first part.

Even the translation of the Grimoire of Pope Honorius could have been much better since it has no notations or anything in it. Still I find the price to be cheap enough to get a version of the Grimoire in print to be worth buying it. ... Read more

Product Description
An invaluable reference for those who want a topical summary of "what it means to be Catholic". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

The Esential Catholic Handbook
For anyone wanting to understand the basics of the Catholic Church
this book will help.I highly recommend it along with an appointment with a Priest for further information on RICA classes if you are considering converting to Catholism.If you are thinking about returning to the faith it will help you to relearn the Catholic Religion.

Good Info
This was a pretty informative little book which I read a while back. But looking back at what it has to offer, it looks like something I will want to reference in the future. The first half of the book, I would consider a condensed version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Second half begins with a concise summary of the Vatican II Documents. Following thereafter is a Catholic dictionary. This might be a useful tool for a catechist in the classroom for those "trivial" questions one might have to face about little details. It was an "easy" read.



-Laurence

Good Introduction to the Catholic Faith
This book is a good introduction for Catholics seeking to rediscover their faith as well as for those of other faiths seeking to obtain a basic understanding of Catholicism.The Essential Catholic Handbook is appropriately designed from a pastoral, rather than from an academic perspective enabling readers to quickly comprehend the beliefs, practices and prayers of the Church.

For those brought up in the faith, the book is also a good refresher on the "why's" of Catholicism.It is not a catechism, but it provides the fundamentals and, as such, can be a stepping stone to more systematic study.

Great way to learn Catholicism, even if you were born in it!
I own other Essential Handbooks (Lenten, Mary) and they are all great! I found this one interesting in its portrayal of how to be Catholic, even though I grew up Catholic! The book's version is quite warm and fuzzy, stressing helping others and so forth. Growing up in Catholic schools, I lived being Catholic but I never read a book about how to be Catholic. A lot of the things in the glossary and explained in the book I knew about to a degree from hearing them somewhere as a child, without knowing their full meaning or the reasoning behind the practice. I found the book very uplifting, and a good reminder for adults on what's important in life: the simplicity of being a good person.

Very Informative
I think this is a very good book for Catholics or for those who want to know more about Catholicism.It's cross-referenced to the Catechism and I like the list of all the saints' days at the back of the book. ... Read more

Product Description
From Sacred Song to Ritual Music is a guide to changes in Roman Catholic worship music theory and practice in the twentieth century. Questions asked include: What is Catholic worship music? What is its purpose? What are its qualities?. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A must-read for Catholic music ministry leaders
I wanted to delve into the Catholic Church's liturgical documents and read what a local church's music ministry should look like. While this book cannot take the place of reading the official church documents, it gives a quick look at what many documents say about music ministry. This book will save you the time from reading through lengthy church documents. From Sacred Song to Ritual Music is truly foundational to understanding this ministry and should be mandatory reading for all music ministers who are in leadership roles in the Catholic Church.

A must for liturgical music directors
Jan Michael Joncas has proven to be as excellant at research as he is a composer. This book gives one a look at the vast changes that have taken place within the field of Catholic Liturgical Music. Each chapter is titled in the form of a question; ie.(What is Roman Catholic Worship Music?)and answered by studying the papal instuctions, beginning in 1903 with "Tre le sollecitdini" and continuing with instructions from 1955, 1958, the second Vatican Councils "Sacrosanctum Concilium" in 1963, and its continuation statement in 1967 "Musicam Sacram". In addition to the Papal doucments, it further reviews, each chapter, with the statements of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (USA), "Music in Catholic Worship", "Liturgical Music Today", "The Milwaukee Statement" and the "Snowbird Statement". Other chapters are titled: What is the Purpose of Roman Catholic Worship Music?,What Qualities Should Roman Catholic Worship Music exhibit?, What People Are to Make Roman Catholic Music?, and What Instruments Are to Make Roman Catholic Music? If one is looking for a history of music in worship, GET THIS BOOK!

Require for music directors and liturgy commissions
This volume provides answers to questions regarding the choice, use and purpose of music in the Roman Rite, by following the changing understandings in the last century as verbalized in the documents of the century: (1) Tra le solleciturdini (2) Musicae sacrae disciplina (3) De musica sacra et sacra liturgia ad mentem litterarum Pii Papae XII ... (4) Sacrosanctum Concilium (5) Musicam Sacram (6) Music in Catholic Worship (7) Liturgical Music Today (8) Milwaukee Symposia for Church Composers (9) Snowbird Statement on Catholic Liturgical Music.

He collates the material in the documents to show the flow of changing understandings and adds to it the thoughts of some of the major scholars/practitioners in the field.You won't be given answers but you will have an excellent understanding of the questions and their underpinings after reading this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The history of the church is a story of people: popes and peasants, heretics and apostates, saints and martyrs. Mostly the story shows how commom people throughtout the ages have passed on the faith and tried to live the life of Christ. the story of the church is also about the spirit of God who has not left us orphans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Pretty Bland
This is an historical primer that summarizes 2000 years of Church history in about 270 pages.If you're looking for a basic timeline and a general understanding of key events, the book is ok.However, the author bends over backwards to present a balanced interpretation of these key events.Unfortunately, when every side of every issue is presented as equally reasonable, the cumulative effect is that of a very unreasonable point of view. Case in point: I thought portraying Martin Luther as a reasonable middle-of-the roader was a rather peculiar choice, considering Luther is one of the most extreme and controversial characters in all of religious history. I can imagine someone thinking Luther was the greatest thing that ever happened to Christianity.I can imagine someone thinking Luther was the worst thing that ever happened to Christianity.What I have a hard time imagining is someone thinking, "Oh well.The Reformation was just one of those things."But that is exactly the impression I got of how Mr. Koch feels about it.I would look elsewhere for Church history.

Not balanced
Unfortunately, I ordered this book thinking that it was the book by the same title, but written by a true historian--Phillip Hughes.Carl Koch, on the other hand is a professor of education, human development, and English at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Graduate School.If you are looking for a work on the Church by a true historian, look elsewhere.I recommend strongly the works of H. Daniel Rops, Phillip Hughes, and the especially readable Warren Carroll (History of Christendom series is superb).

The work itself is the typical liberal-'catholic' dogma.Luther was a great guy that had it right and was wronged by the Church. ..those familiar with liberal garbage can probably guess the rest.

A very good overview
This was an extremely good introduction to the history of the church. Especially the early church history was written very lively, giving me a new understanding and appreciation for this period in time. The layout and structure of the book, including interesting maps and charts, made the reading very nice too.

I enjoyed the balanced treatment of this topic, neither blaming the church for all negative that ever happened, nor white-washing and excusing dark areas in history. The author mentioned very nicely the conditions of the times leading to new developments, be they negative or good.

A very good overview
This was an extremely good introduction to the history of the church. Especially the early church history was written very lively, giving me a new understanding and appreciation for this period in time. The layout and structure of the book, including interesting maps and charts, made the reading very nice too.

I enjoyed the balanced treatment of this topic, neither blaming the church for all negative that ever happened, nor white-washing and excusing dark areas in history. The author mentioned very nicely the conditions of the times leading to new developments, be they negative or good.

journey to the past to see the future
from The Faith Connection, 7/12/98: "offers readers a journey intothe past so they can see the future. Koch makes a good point: we need tosee the church with new eyes so that we can advance its mission with wiserminds and hearts." ... Read more

Product Description
"Very valuable . . . a fine and judicious book . . . " --Istvn Dek, New York Review of Books

"A well-reasoned but damning overview of the Vatican's response to Nazi atrocities during and after WWII. . . . A fair and even-tempered account of a volatile subject." --Kirkus Reviews

"Phayer makes an important addition to the literature of Holocaust studies: he provides evidence that Pope Pius XII. . . knew in early 1942 what was happening to Europe's Jews . . . yet he remained silent. . . . " --Publishers Weekly

Throwing the spotlight relentlessly on Pius XII ("Hitler's Pope") has skewed the question surrounding Catholicism and the Holocaust, depriving us of a record of what the entire church did or did not do. Such a record is provided for the first time in the Michael Phayer's compelling book. Phayer shows that without effective church leadership under Pius XII, Catholics acted ambiguously during the Holocaust--some saving Jews, others helping Hitler murder them, the majority simply standing by. After the Holocaust, with Pope John XXIII at the healm, the church moved swiftly to rid itself of centuries-long antisemitic tradition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Get Your Facts Straight First
Before I form an opinion or rush to judgement on any subject, I like to get my facts straight first.I will do research to get differing viewpoints.This book is a step in that direction.Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Anachronisms and Prejudice
I winced on almost every page of Phayer's book. Historians are paid, presumably, to help us understand well......history,the perceptions, motivations and issues at play in a prior era. Historical analysis, synthesis and judgments should say something to us about the actual conditions people lived and experienced-- in doing so an historian is even better positioned to pass the moral judgments Phayer is so addicted to.

In Phayer's book we have no such thing but instead an overblown thesis that Pius XII can only be understood as obsessed with anti-communism and his role as peacemaker. Phayer arrives at his negative judgment on Pius XII largely by anachronism in his analysis, and selectivity and bias in his use (and lack of use) of key references. Considering all the ink that has been spilt over Pius XII, his detractors no longer deserve a pass when they fail to even mention now well documented and thoroughly vetted evidence that disproves parts of the Pius-the-bad-guy thesis. Almost every page is loaded with these errors.

One example will have to suffice. Phayer condemns Pius XII's 1942 Christmas message as weak and ineffectual, "...no one, certainly not the Germans, took it as a protest against their slaughter of the Jews."

Contrast Phayer's assessment to that of a German government report which described the pope's 1942 speech as, "...one long attack on everything we stand for, HERE HE IS CLEARLY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE JEWS [emphasis added] and makes himself the mouthpiece of the Jewish war criminals."

There are plenty of other references to the contemporary impact of Pius' 1942 speech, to include the German ambassador, the New York Times and Mussolini's government.

None of that matters to writers like Phayer and his ilk, they are, it must finally be said lousy historians ---- using anachronistic reasoning and blithely ignoring or otherwise suborning evidence that does not meet their prejudiced preconceptions. They are hardly writing history at all, but are themselves mouthpieces for anti-catholicism.

The end result of their endeavors though is transferring blame for the holocaust away from its perpetrators and exploiting the deaths of millions for their personal prejudices.

The definitive story
This book removed itself from all of the hype, defensiveness and trash talking that seems to surround this topic.Michael Phayer approached the topic systematically and objectively and in so doing has produced a book that for me seems to be the definitive work on this subject.A must read for anyone interested in the history of Pius XII and the Holocaust.

Fair and thorough
This book explains the response of the Catholic Church to the Nazi Government and the Holocaust.Coverage is given to time periods before, during, and after the Holocaust.Ample coverage is given to actions of the Church and individual Catholics that were praiseworthy and to actions or nonactions that were shameful.There was much of both.

Unlike many other books and customer reviewers on this subject, the author appears not to have a particular bias that colors his analysis and assessment of every topic covered.The book is neither a blanket condemnation nor a blind hagiography.As such,
I recommend it highly.

Poor scholarship
Like so many hatchet jobs on poor Pius XII, the author systematically ignores the evidence of the pope's longstanding opposition to Nazism and anti-Semitism (no citations of his famous condemnation of anti-Semitism at Lourdes) and exaggerates the alleged anti-Semitism of obscure Catholic officials and publications.It is striking how little attention is paid to the Vatican newspaper and radio, which repeatedly detailed and denounced Nazi atrocities. ... Read more