Best Selling Books by John Paul II

"A Crossroad book." Delivered as the opening address at the International Congress on Fruitful and Responsible Love: Ten Years after Humanae Vitae, June 1978, Milan.

An accessible commentary that illuminates the Christian meaning of masculinity, fatherhood, marriage, and family life through the model of St. Joseph. Significant encyclical with pastoral commentary and discussion questions¿great for individual or group use.

Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Pope John Paul IIs encyclical Mother of the Redeemer. This expanded edition offers a rich commentary and invites us to reflect on the Blessed Virgin Mary as a model of faith. In three sections, readers are guided through Marys place in the mystery of Christ, the Church, and humanity through her exceptional pilgrimage of faith. Readers are engaged through reflection questions, ideas to ponder, prayers, and actions in a warm and inviting style.

This Companion to the Catechism of the Catholic Church Book of References contains all the passages of Sacred Scripture referred to in the Catechism arranged according to the paragraphs in which the references are made. But that is only a beginning. The Catechism also refers to conciliar texts, papal documents, writings of the Fathers and of the Saints. There are more than 3,600 of these references extending from the earliest credal formulations of the ancient Church to the documents of Vatican II and beyond to the magisterial teaching of Pope John Paul II. The Book of References includes all the texts referred to arranged, along with the Scripture passages, according to the paragraphs of the Catechism in which they are referred. (From Ignatius Press website: http://www.ignatius.com/Products/CCCC-P/the-companion-to-the-catechism-of-the-catholic-church.aspx - accessed 11/03/2011).

Pamphlets are located in the pamphlet section, in the box labeled with the first heading listed below under Subjects. Pamphlets are for in library use only. Special permission to borrow the pamphlets may be granted by the librarians.

This historic apostolic letter from Pope John Paul II broadens the traditional pattern of the rosary to include the mysteries of light-five reflections on Christ's public ministry between his Baptism and his Passion.

The compiler has organized brief quotations and extracts on a variety of topics and identified the source of each, including type of material (speech, homily, book, etc.), location, and date.

Pope John Paul II's discussion of family life and sexual morality, first published in 1960, which defends Catholic tradition and draws upon physiological and psychological research regarding the sexual urge, love, chastity, and sexology and ethics.

Saint John Paul II’s Meditation on Givenness was never published during the Holy Father’s lifetime, and even today remains unknown in most languages. In it, he weaves together essential themes of his pontificate, including God’s plan for human love, the theology of the body, the dignity of womanhood, and each person’s call to find oneself through a sincere gift of self. As the title indicates, the text is intended to be read as a meditation. Like a choice wine, the reflections ought to be savored rather than consumed in haste. In it, readers will discover a synthesis of the Holy Father’s thought that is unparalleled in its simplicity and beauty.

This treasury of selected passages from the writings and addresses of perhaps the most impressive leader of the Catholic Church the world has ever known offers, as its editor suggests, "a harvest from the mind and heart of Pope Wojtyla." And so here is a chance for the modern reader, engaged in various daily tasks, to spend a few moments with the Pope each day of the liturgical year, contemplating his reflections on the mystery and the example of Christ; and on the church, man, the family, the lives of the saints, the meaning of holidays, and the place of faith in daily life. His personal concerns as expressed in these passages include such topics as "Sharing with Others," "To Be in Peace," "Consumer Society," "Family Prayer," and "The Great Divine Trial," about the meaning of his near-assassination. Through these pages of calm reflection each day of the year, all will find a moment of peaceful repose from the occupations of life.

Pope John Paul II proclaims a sense of urgency in challenging moral darkness with the light of truth.

Cover title. Translation of: Mulieris dignitatem. "August 15, 1988." Includes bibliographical references.

"The attraction to Pope John Paul II was an attraction no just to the human charism and magnetism of the Pope. It was an attraction to a profoundly spiritual human being, who lives Christ, radiates Christ, and resounds Christ. All of the speeches, homilies, letters and the encyclical "Jesus Christ the Redeemer of Man" are a proclamation of Christ--the Way, the Truth, and the Light. The Pope is, in name and in fact, an "Alter Christus--Another Christ" as well as the Vicar of Christ. To help us appreciate this basic spiritual element in our Holy Father, the gifted American Dominican theologian Jordan Aumann, former Director of the Institute of Spirituality at St. Thomas Aquinas University, Rome, has translated the Holy Father's doctoral thesis on "Faith According to St. John of the Cross". It is my fervent hope that the reading of this translation will help many not only to know God better, but to live His divine life--to that fullness of life promised by Christ."-- John Cardinal KrolArchbishop of Philadelphia (from the Foreword)

"We should always forgive, remembering that we too are in need of forgiveness."Christ came not to condemn but to forgive, to show mercy."Mercy is an indispensable dimension of love; it is as it were love's second name and, at the same time, the specific manner in which love is revealed. . . ."Such is the wisdom of the world's most influential religious leader, Pope John Paul II. In the same format as Fear Not, which has sold 21,000 copies, Forgiveness is a touching collection of the Holy Father's thoughts and reflections on the importance of forgiveness in the human experience. This topic is especially timely because it is the main theme of the Vatican's Holy Jubilee Year 2000. As editor Alexandria Hatcher says, "Pope John Paul II understands 'forgiveness' not as an abstract entity to talk about, but rather as a process to be lived." The Pope's impassioned philosophy on the subject can only be described as inspiring and heartfelt. The insight provided by Forgiveness comes from a holy man committed to spreading the importance of God's love and mercy in the face of chaotic modern times. The Pope's teachings on the subject of forgiveness are beautifully edited by Hatcher into four themed sections for readers: Sin, Mercy, Conversion, and Salvation. To acknowledge John Paul II's Trinitarian sense of forgiveness, these primary themes are interspersed with brief interludes on the Son, who bridges our humanness to God's mercy; on the Holy Spirit, who guides us toward atonement; and on the Father; in whom we seek the wholeness that reconciliation offers. Elegantly simple and accessible for any reader, Forgiveness is the perfect book for any person seeking to understand the special and pivotal role forgiveness can have in his or her life.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith because the Blessed Sacrament is Christ himself, the full manifestation of his boundless love. In this encyclical letter On the Eucharist, Pope John Paul II seeks to rekindle in the faithful the profound sense of amazement and gratitude that surrounds the Eucharist. "In the humble signs of bread and wine, changed into his Body and Blood, Christ walks beside us as our strength and our food for the journey, and he enables us to become, for everyone, witnesses of hope," John Paul II writes. "The Church has received the Eucharist from Christ her Lord not as one gift — however precious — among so many others, but as the gift par excellence, for it is the gift of himself, of his Person in his sacred humanity, as well as the gift of his saving work."

Encyclical letter calling for Christian unity, given by Pope John Paul II, at Saint Peter's on 25 May, 1995.