New Releases by Mike Aquilina

Meet the heroines of Christianity''s formative years! The Witness of Early Christian Women: Mothers of the Church demonstrates the radical nature of Christianity''s understanding of women and their roles, especially in a pagan society that viewed them as little more than property. The variety of women here is striking: poor widows, consecrated virgins, heroic martyrs, but also businesswomen, the wealthy, and an indomitable traveler on a world tour. Each chapter features a concise biography accompanied by writings from the early Church about the woman in question. The Mothers of the Church include: Holy Women of the New Testament St. Blandina St. Perpetua and St. Felicity St. Helena St. Thecla St. Agnes of Rome St. Macrina Proba the Widow St. Marcella St. Paula St. Eustochium St. Monica Egeria the Tourist Explore the impact of each of these women on the Church, then and now. Their stories will enthrall you. Their writings will inspire you. Their witness will empower you.

Every day is a holiday in the Catholic Church. In their latest collaboration, Cardinal Wuerl and Mike Aquilina examine the history and traditions behind both favorite and forgotten holidays, from Christmas to Easter, from the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity to the Feast of the Holy Angels Catholic faith is festive, and the Catholic faithful count their days by celebrating the mysteries of Jesus'' life. There is a message to be found in the passing of days, weeks, and seasons. Through the feasts, ordinary Christians learn the life of Christ, share it, and come to imitate it. This book continues the work the authors began in their books The Mass and The Church, exploring the meaning and purpose of the most basic and beloved aspects of Catholic life. Each chapter uncovers the biblical origins and development of one of the great feasts or fasts -- Advent, Epiphany, the Holy Angels, all the Marian feasts, and even this very day. The calendar can be a catechism for Catholics who know how to live it. "The feasts form us," write the authors, "They help to make us and remake us according to the pattern of the life of Jesus Christ. We number our days as we walk in his footsteps, from his birth to his baptism, from his passion to his resurrection, from his Ascension to his sending of the Spirit to make us saints. We do this faithfully every year, and it defines us as who we are." "Cardinal Wuerl and Aquilina show us the transformative spiritual power in the Church''s original and most ancient feasts. This is a book to be prayed with and meditated on. Because when we understand the meaning of the Church''s liturgical feasts, we know better the great dignity and destiny we have as children of God." - Most Reverend Jos� Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles

We hear the voices of the early Church Fathers even today. Their teachings, their guidance, their insights, and their sacrifice shaped the Catholic Church. They defined the canon of Scripture. They developed our creeds and forms of worship. They defined Christianity''s distinctive moral sense. But who were they? What can we learn from their ancient teachings? What can the Fathers teach us in the 21st century - about holiness, culture, faith, and the Gospel? This is the definitive resource for anyone interested in learning about the Church Fathers and their legacy. Ideal for RCIA, catechists, and clergy as well as lay Catholics who want to learn more about the great teachers of early Christianity. In this new and extensively updated The Fathers of the Church, 3rd Edition, you will find: New: twenty Church Fathers never before covered in this series, New: many poets of ancient Christianity, whose hymns we still sing today, An extensively revised introduction, Nearly seventy-five more pages of information on the early Church, The Mothers of the Church and their impact, Research-friendly references and citations, topical index, timeline, and detailed bibliography Book jacket.

Many of us give up on prayer when we don''t get the answer we want WHEN we want it. For nearly two decades, Saint Monica prayed for her wayward son. Years and years of prayers, seemingly unanswered. Countless tears shed with no relief. Yet she would not give up. That very act of persistent prayer blessed the entire Church, for we have all benefitted from the conversion of her son, Augustine, who became one of the most revered saints of all time. Parents of any age or at any stage can cultivate the same virtues in prayer that Saint Monica discovered during her long wait for God''s answer for her child. This devotion includes 18 contemporary reflections, meditations taken from the writings of Saint Augustine, and prayers adapted from the liturgy and other ancient sources. Don''t give up. Persistence in prayer can change everything-for you, your children, and maybe even the world.

Known for his hit songs The Wanderer and Runaround Sue in the 1960s, Dion continued to make great music while slowly returning to his Catholic roots. His hard-won wisdom filters through his stories.

Guides readers through the different parts of the Catholic mass, from the entrance procession to the blessing and dismissal, and examines the history and spiritual significance of each element of the mass.

"Newman provides a model for so many different kinds of Catholics. He did what love required." -- Scott Hahn John Henry Newman''s journey to Catholicism is one of the greatest stories of the nineteenth-century Church. He relied on divine revelation, together with logical reasoning and historical facts, to reach religious truths and vigorously defend religious doctrines. Each topical entry begins with an excerpt from this saintly man''s writings, followed by these helpful prompts: Think About It -- Points that serve as a springboard for prayerful consideration of each meditation topic. Just Imagine -- A scripture scene that brings the issue at hand to life. Remember --A simple memorization passage to help you work through the meditation topic. Learn how to apply John Henry Newman''s inspiring teachings to all of the situations in your life!

The real mystery is the Real Presence "The Grail Code satisfies the hunger that people have for knowledge of this mystery. The true Grail bears witness to a divine gift that exceeds even the deepest human longing." --Scott Hahn, author of "The Lamb''s Supper "and "Hail, Holy Queen" The Holy Grail stories possess a mysterious power that has seized the human imagination for centuries. They tell of a great secret finally revealed, of a surprising answer to the most profound questions, of a hidden mystery that satisfies our deepest longings. Writers, poets, artists, composers, and filmmakers have pursued the Grail for 1,700 years. The great quest drives the legends of King Arthur, propels Indiana Jones''s greatest adventure, and keeps many people turning the pages of "The Da Vinci Code." These tales of quests and miracles and of honor and betrayal have capti-vated humankind for so long, say the authors of "The Grail Code," because the stories really do touch the deepest parts of our hearts. They reveal our innate yearning to know Christ, to be in communion with the Divine. What we''ve lost in the pop-culture transformations of the Grail is what made it holy in the first place: the intimate link with the Eucharist. "The Grail Code "is a literary and theological detective story, centuries in the making, that ends where the Grail legends began--in the room where Jesus gathered his closest friends for the last time, spoke blessed words, broke bread, and shared a sacred cup.

Are you managing your life or is your life managing you? Get back on track with the perfect dose of inspiration, fresh perspective, and faithful direction in Our Sunday Visitor''s "30-Minute Read" series. Find a sliver of time at lunch, in the parking lot, or just before bed and get started today!

Imagine the dangerous life of an early Christian. You''ve embraced your newfound faith in Christ but fear the risk of persecution or death at the hands of the pagans living around you. Then a trusted friend tells you about some of Jesus'' followers who secretly meet. He whispers into your ear, "Look for a fish carved in a paving stone" by a certain home on the Via Tiburtina. You smile in gratitude. Still today, modern society recognizes those Christian symbols that kept the early Christians safely connected: they appear on churches, bumper stickers, mugs -- even mints and stuffed animals. Yet we are often ignorant of the rich meaning of these symbols: their origins in Scripture, in ancient culture, and in the preaching of the Church Fathers. In this book, noted author Mike Aquilina conducts an intriguing and insightful tour of the symbols that expressed the life and devotion of the Church through the first four centuries of its existence. He explains how Christians freely borrowed pagan and Jewish symbols, giving them new, distinctly Christian meanings. Recover the zeal of our spiritual ancestors as you learn to read their symbolic language -- and discover the impact the symbols still have on your life today. More than a hundred illustrations, reproduced by artist Lea Marie Ravotti from the ancient originals, beautifully complement the text. View a mulitmedia presentation and listen to an interview of the author here.

“Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” Mike and Terri Aquilina offer a rich array of evidence for the emotional, physical, spiritual and psychological importance of breastfeeding. Drawing on everything from scriptures and the Church Fathers to modern medical journals and Pope John Paul II, they posit that “breastfeeding has a ‘sacramental’ quality; it stands as a natural sign of something divine. Indeed, it is among the most profound and personal experiences of the divine beauty revealed in nature.” Such an important message for mothers today!