Product Description
Year four examines God s word as it resonates in the Hellenistic culture that dominated the Mediterranean world from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. Most of the books studied this year attempt to cope with this new situation. Year four examines God s word as it resonates in the Hellenistic culture that dominated the Mediterranean world from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. Most of the books studied this year attempt to cope with this new situation. Students will study the Old Testament wisdom literature, then a variety of post exilic Jewish writings (including the deuterocanonical books), and finally the Gospel According to Matthew, the New Testament letters not studied in second year, and Hebrews. ... Read more

Product Description
A thoughtful exploration of the history and vitality of traditional Catholic prayers.

Praying people have long relied on meditative or extemporaneous prayer to express their feelings and yearning to God. Traditional prayer, often considered rote, tends to be neglected. In The Words We Pray, author Amy Welborn offers an insightful exploration into eighteen traditional prayers and the vital role they play in the spiritual life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Words We Pray
As a returning Catholic(almost 30 years away from the Church), I have found Amy Welborn a reliable source to ease my transition back in the fold. This book refreshed my knowledge of prayers I learned as a child. It also introduced me to some I never knew or felt I should have known. I have given this book to other devout Catholics,both cradle and convert,who treasure it as I do.

St. Francis....and more
Although I bought this little book for it's prayer by St. Francis, I found it rich with other prayers that only the Christian can fully appreciate.

The Words We Pray: Discovering the Richeness of Traditional Catholic Prayers
Excellent!!!Amy Welborn is an awesome author, our bible study enjoys reading any of her books.

Why use old prayers
Discovering the history and the sense of being part of the communion of saints is what this book does well.The author is frank about her very subjective perspective, so that nobody can expect a scholarly treatment of the subject.It does well what it sets out to do.

Terrific resource will enrich your prayer life Immeasurably
Most Catholics, whether they actively practice their faith or not, can recite the words to the Hail Mary as instinctively as they tie their shoelaces.They may not know the meaning or origin of the words they pray, but the prayer itself is a part of their core, their identity, their soul.In her latest book The Words We Pray (Loyola Press, October 2004, paperback, 210 pages), Amy Welborn gives her readers a gift - the gift of prayer, of knowing not only the words to our favorite prayers, but the stories behind them and the occasions in life when turning to them can provide solace and joy.

I have long admired Welborn's ability to write.Picking up one of her books, or treating yourself to an article she's written is like a combination of having lunch with a friend and a tutoring session with a knowledgeable mentor.The Words We Pray continues this tradition for me, as Amy Welborn captures so effectively the essence and origin of traditional Catholic prayers.The book opens with Welborn's heartfelt description of her own "journey" towards an eventual embracing of prayers such as the Salve Regina.

The true stars of The Words We Pray are the prayers themselves.Welborn has included eighteen of the most popular and powerful Catholic prayers, and has richly described their histories and traditions.When we as Catholics turn to God in communication using these wonderful gems of our Faith, we take our place in the Communion of Saints who have over countless years turned to these prayers to seek intercession and aid.Welborn's book concludes with an interesting discussion of "where our prayers go" and the value of praying vocally, using traditional prayers.The Words We Pray serves not only as a valuable reference, but also as an invitation to a deeper and richer prayer life.
... Read more

Product Description
Publisher: Swedesboro, N.J. : St. Joseph's Rectory ;Publication date: 1889Subjects: JesuitsNotes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be numerous typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Product Description
Publisher: Oxford : J. Parker and CoPublication date: 1876Subjects: Catholic ChurchOld Catholic Church -- LiturgyNotes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of inspirational essays on aspects of Irish society at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Writing from a unique perspective, the author offers fresh insight into oft-examined but rarely understood issues such as loneliness, second marriages, contemporary culture and lapsing faith, conscience and forgiveness. Useful as homily resources or as sources of spiritual nourishment, both churchgoers and non-churchgoers should find this a practical and enlightening collection. ... Read more

Product Description
It is an open secret that marriage is in crisis in the United States and that the marriages of Catholics are not significantly different from other marriages. In Marriage and the Catholic Church Michael Lawler confronts the difficult questions in the Catholic theology of marriage.

Lawler, among the leading Catholic voices on the theology of marriage, does not shy away from the difficult questions, but confronts them honestly, historically accurately, and pastorally. He highlights a Catholic approach to pre-marital relationships, to marriage, to divorce, and to remarriage. He examines the relationship of marriage and sacrament, faith and sacrament, friendship in marriage, divorce and remarriage, cohabitation, family, interchurch marriages, and the changing models of marriage in the Catholic tradition. The whole offers a fresh look at the Catholic theology of marriage for a new millennium.

Chapter 1 looks at marriage as a sacrament. Chapter 2 then asks what models of marriage function in the contemporary Catholic Church. Chapter 3 considers what it takes to transform the social reality of marriage into the Catholic sacrament and answers that it takes personal faith. Lawler looks into the bonds or relationships in marriage in Chapter 4. He offers an extended consideration of divorce and remarriage in the Catholic Church in Chapter 5. In Chapter 6 he offers theological and pastoral reflections on interchurch marriage. He analyzes the Christian reality and value of friendship and reflects on its contribution to the stability of marriage in Chapter 7. Lawler inquires, in Chapter 8, whether cohabitation could, again as in the past, be counted as a step in the process of becoming married in the Catholic tradition. Finally in Chapter 9 he seeks to construct a theology of Christian family and reflects on what that theology, and the families rooted in it, can contribute to American families in their present crisis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Catholics, Marriage & Divorce: Real People, Real Questions
Good practical up-to-date information contained within this book.Real life examples presented in a clear and organized fashion.The reason I purchased this book was to find answers to the myriad of questions I had.Within one single hour-long read I was able to have all of my questions answered!

Helpful resource for those with questions
This helpful resource, which carries both the nihil obstat and imprimatur, is a great resource for anyone with questions on marriage, divorce and annulment issues within the Catholic church.Gleaned from the forums of a large web site, the topics posed in this question and answer format book are both relevant and common.Additionally, the book covers pre-marriage topics as well.The responses are offered in a concise and non-judgemental fashion, making the book both enjoyable to read and a good resource for those whose paths may have led them away from the Church.

A people driven Q&A on annulments...
Over the years, I have sometimes disagreed with the author when it comes to canon law.But not over anything she has written or edited in this book.Of the numerous annulment question and answer books out there, Sister Victoria's is my favorite.

This book is readable, informative, interesting and completely faithful to Church teaching.What makes this book unique is that Sister answers real questions asked by real people either going through the annulment process or those thinking of doing so.Additionally, Sister isn't scared to branch out and answer some good questions about what makes for stronger marriages and what weakens marriage.She also adds a personal touch by sharing how God worked His grace is the marriage of her parents.

In the end, it makes for a fun book, insofar as something as painful as an annulment or a broken marriage can be fun.My only complaint is that Sister Victoria doesn't spend more time marketting the book, since this hidden gem is truly among the best Q&A books on annulments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Torpedoed by it's own extra material.
Perhaps other reviewers do not read margin quotes.One was from Andrew Greeley, and another one referred to the Holy Spirit as "she".

If you can swallow this drop of poison, the rest of this little book (178 pages) is a light,easy read covering many topics that most long-time Catholics probably do not know(i.e. what does the title "Monsignor" signify, what is the significance of the Church calendar, what is a "sacristy", "alb" or "chasuble", how is the American church organized, what are some of the changes in Catholic practice brought by Vatican II, etc.)

Although it would get a high ranking without the quotes, in its current form it does not merit the "Nihil Obstat", a few bucks, or more than one star.

Helpful Resouce for Catholics and Inquirers
As a Catholic parent and one interested in growing in faith and knowledge about my own Church, I love resources like Joanne Turpin's Catholic Traditions:Treasures Old and New.The book provides a comprehensive overview of all of the important aspects of the Catholic Church and its teachings.

Turpin's chapters are well organized with a sufficient level of detail to answer most questions well.The book covers everything from the Sacred Space (physical layout) of the Church, to the names and meanings of the various items employed in the Church.Traditions and teachings related to Marian devotion, the Communion of Saints, Angels and our liturgical calendar are all covered. Wonderful sections on prayer and popular devotions provide not only detailed explanation, but also inspiration for new modes of prayer and adoration.

I will definitely turn to this book to grow in my own faith, to teach my children, and to help educate my friends and others on the beauty of our Catholic traditions.

Primer for New Catholics, Blast from the Past for Old-Timers
One of the author's goals in this work is to "distinguish between the essentials and the trimmings, the tradition and the customs." She meets the challenge in 13 chapters dealing with such topics as the Mass; sacraments; prayer; Mary; angels and saints; and "Catholic practices, minor and major." The section on Catholic practices will evoke memories, if not nostalgia, in those who grew up in the 50s, but younger readers may be amused by the era's rules for fasting, women wearing hats to church, "making" the First Fridays, and the like. As a pre-Vatican II Catholic, I read about Forty Hours devotions wistfully.

Each chapter contains relevant margin quotes with reference notes and a short reading list. An extensive index is included. This work would be especially helpful for catechists, parents, and those involved in, RCIA programs. ... Read more

Product Description
Last Rights examines end-of-life decisions in the context of the Roman Catholic tradition, a heritage rich in its teaching about the human person, the value of life, and the moral rights and responsibilities inherent to every human being. Written for Catholics seeking a better understanding of their own tradition, ministers who deal with Catholic patients, those who wish to learn more about the Catholic perspective, and ordinary decision-makers who must face these complex issues, Last Rights includes cross-references, a glossary, and an appendix and bibliography that provide resources for further study and helpful tools for end-of-life decision-making. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Uncommon liturgies...
This book is produced as a service to the under-served Old Catholic community. Unlike many denominations, there is no seminary or press or publishing house yet specifically dedicated to the production of Old Catholic materials. One problem in building such a press at this time is the diversity (read, strong differences) among Old Catholic jurisdictions. Happily, some efforts are being made at dialogue and cooperation.

Introductory Material
The first part of the book has a general introduction, calendrical studies, and an overview of the liturgy. In the introduction, the book explains its historical basis going back to the very beginnings of Christian history.

`From the early liturgies, like that of Saint James, Brother of Our Lord (61 AD), and its updates by Basil and Chrysostom, until the present day Anglican and Roman liturgies, the form is consistent and similar in all climes and cultures. Add the Syrian Orthodox Eucharistic Liturgy, with its 80 plus canons (anaphoras), the Liturgy of Mar Addai and Mari of the Nestorians (Church of the East), and the Armenian Liturgy, and -- while one is confronted with that lawful diversity that is the special gift of the Spirit amongst us -- the consistency of form and intention remains remarkable.'

This casts a wide net for inclusiveness. Liturgy is a hot-button issue in many churches, catholic, protestant and orthodox, so drawing from common resources is a welcome piece.

The Commons has an explanation of the General Calendar (which describes how holidays are placed, many in relation to the calculation for Easter), a listing of saints and holy days, and a discussion of the moveable feasts and seasons.

Finally, the introductory section has a brief description of the Liturgy of St. James, which provides a matrix for liturgical understanding.

Services of Preparation
The next section is on the liturgies of preparation. Many churches tend to overlook the practice of preparation, spiritual or otherwise, for services today. In our rush to get on with things, these practices seem archaic. They are in fact quite ancient in many respects, and often relate to useful and necessary preparations, such as vesting, setting the altar, preparing the gifts, and preparing the church.

In this section, there is a short model, the Preparatio ad Missam of the Tridentine Mass, the Vesting prayers of the Gregorian Mass, and Liturgy of Preparation for the liturgies of St. James and St. Basil.

The Main Liturgy
The word liturgy actually means 'work of the people', and what is commonly referred to as liturgy is that which takes place in the worship service proper. This also constitutes the largest section of this book. It breaks into three sections: one short Enarxis, which is a form of litany akin to Anglican and Russian litanies; and longer sections for the Synaxis, liturgies of the catechumans/Word, and the Eucharist, or Communion.

The models presented for the Synaxis and Eucharist are:
- Divine Liturgy (modified)
- Tridentine/Latin
- OC Mass (Mathew)
- Gregorian Mass
- Holy Communion 1928
- Tridentine/English
- Tikhon Mass

The OC Mass of Mathew refers to the work of Archbishop Mathew, a colourful character in Old Catholic history around the turn of the twentieth century. An expanded work has also been produced by Dry Bones Press, and will become the subject of a later review.

The Holy Communion 1928 refers to the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, 1928 version. Many Old and Independent Catholics worship and affiliate with continuing Anglicans who left the Episcopal church over various issues in the 1970s, one of which was prayer book revision.

The Mass of St. Tikhon is an Orthodox model, again given due to the continuation of certain elements in Orthodox liturgies, and due to the cooperation and commonalities between many Old Catholic and Orthodox communities.

Appendix
The appendix is brief, but contains three useful pieces of information: the Liturgy of St. Basil, the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified, and the Liturgy of St. James of Jerusalem. These are special liturgies -- rubrics called for the St. Basil to be performed ten times a year; the Pre-Sanctified is largely known in the West only for Holy Saturday (although in the East is has a much more widespread use during the Great Lent); and St. James is presented as being the oldest extant liturgy continually in use.

General Commentary
This book is a wealth of information. The liturgies are presented not only with words, but with extensive rubrics and commentary, prescribing not only what should be said, but what must be done and how it should be done. Brief historical notes can lead one to further research; a more extensive bibliography and annotation would be welcome for the liturgical scholar. The selection of liturgical models is a good one, pulling things in from East and West, honouring the main streams of liturgical practice. As Bishop Elijah wrote in his Afterword:

`Choosing the Liturgies to include in the first edition of this small volume, without overwhelming the reader, was no easy task.Diversity in unity is the mark of the presence of the Spirit in the Church, a presence that is playful, creative, and not bound by our limitations of concept and perception.'

Some liturgies, such as those of Chrysostom, the Roman Novus Ordo, and various European Old Catholic liturgies, were not included because, like those of the current Book of Common Prayer, they are more readily available.

This book is an important book certainly for Old Catholic clergy and seminarians, but also for clergy and laypersons of other denominations who have an interest in the diversity of liturgical practice. This text by itself will not satisfy the liturgical researcher, but it is a necessary volume. Being an Old Catholic production makes it all the more rare and special.

Bishop Elijah comments in the Afterword that this is a 'first edition'. One hopes there will be further developments. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is presented by the Old Catholic Church of the United States. The Old Catholic Church of the United States is a Catholic Family of Faith, based within the United States. As inheritors of Apostolic Succession from the Western Latin (Catholic) Church, the Ancient Oriental Churches and the Eastern Byzantine (Orthodox) Churches, we possess a rich theological heritage. It is a sacramental church, embracing the fullness of Christianity as expressed within Catholic understanding. It stands, holding fast to the teachings of the ancient faith, in a modern society that is often hostile, towards Christians in general and Catholics in particular, and chooses to obey the timeless message of Christ rather than yield to the "Spirit of the Age". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Oremus
Oremus is a wonderful Ritual for the Old Catholic Church.The contributors and authors have provided the Old Catholic Church with an important and much needed tool. This inter-jurisdictional Ritual establishes and provides a common ground for celebrating the Sacraments and other rites of the Church that helps to bind and solidify Old Catholic worship and prayer.Every Old Catholic clergyman ought to have this in hand and ready for use!

Let us pray...
This prayer book, 'Oremus', is compiled by Bishop Andre Queen of the Old Catholic Church of the United States.He is also the editor of the book 'Old Catholic: History, Ministry, Faith & Mission', published in 2003.There are not very many books in the Old Catholic tradition that make it into print and stay in print, so texts such as this are very valuable to the scattered clergy and laypersons of the Old Catholic communities in North America.Bishop Queen references Bishop Elijah, whose own publishing efforts have kept some key pieces available, such as the 1909 Old Catholic Missal, which is utilised in this collection of liturgies and prayers.

The book itself is meant to be a standard text for some jurisdictions, bearing the imprimatur from authorities of the Old Catholic Church of the United States and the English Catholic Church, and bearing the approval of the International Synod of Old Catholic Churches (ISOCC).The General Instructions state that there is no authorisation granted for local modification of the sacramental rites herein; my personal view is that this instruction is a bit unfortunate, not least of which because it is unenforceable for the most part.I understand that one of the issues with more general Old Catholic disunity is disagreement over liturgical forms, but my personal view is against such restrictions.However, this does not detract from the general value of the text.

Like many prayer books (the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer being a good example here), the rubrics are in fact not printed in red throughout, but rather in italicised typeface, and often bracketed from spoken texts and title headings.There are thirty principle chapters overall, which cover sacraments (baptism, eucharist, unction, marriage), liturgical rites for special events (Stations of the Cross, various blessings and consecration rites), general prayers (morning, evening, meal blessings, Marian prayers, etc.), various litanies, processions, and creedal statements.The text includes some rare pieces, such as the form for release from excommunication or inhibition, the churching of women, and a form for exorcism (which, interestingly, has perhaps the longest section of commentary preceding the actual liturgical form of any section in the book).

The book does not contain forms for ordination of deacons, priests, or bishops, or confirmation rites.As a book meant to be useful for study as well as worship practice, having the forms for these liturgies would be valuable additions.

I do take one star off on my rating of this book for some editorial issues.There are various page layout, spelling, terminology and citation issues that are a bit of a problem with this text.For example, the General Instructions indicate that there are 'Modern English' and 'Old English' options - however, this is incorrect.The 'Old English' that is mentioned here is not in fact Old English (which is the language of Beowulf, the Exeter book anthology, etc. and generally incomprehensible to modern English speakers) nor is it even Middle English (which is best typified by Chaucer or the Pearl Poet, again a hard read for modern English speakers).The 'Old English' here is in fact Shakespearean/King Jamesian language, and the terms 'traditional' and 'contemporary' language would be much more accurate.Also, the information on the book speaks of the text being useful to seminarians as well as clergy - however, without citations throughout the text, this becomes problematic in an academic sense.The editors state the breadth of sources (as mentioned above) but do not cite throughout the text which liturgies, forms and prayers come from which sources, which would be invaluable for the student of liturgy.

In terms of it being a prayer book, these are fairly minor concerns (after all, the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer has various liturgies derivative of other traditions, such as Rite II, Prayer D being influenced by Orthodox liturgies, yet such influences are not referenced in the BCP itself).The combination of the fact that there is very little by way of standard and readily accessible collections such as this for Old Catholics and the breadth of material contained make this a valuable resource for Old Catholics, independent Anglicans, and students and liturgists of other Christian denominations and jurisdictions as well.

The text is readable, generally useful, and many pieces will ring a familiar sound in the memory of readers of many denominations, as these liturgies derive from the kinds of forms shared by Christendom from the earliest days in some cases;churches Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox share many of the same words, so this should not be surprising.For the high liturgical non-OldCatholic, perhaps the most interesting and useful sections of the books will be those on blessings, of everything from seminaries and church cornerstones to animals to simple prayers to be said while vesting for services.

A valuable resource.
... Read more