“The Song at the Scaffold” by Gertrude von le Forte’s is one of the best novella’s…ever!   Vivian Dudro, writer and editor at Igantius Press, engages in a wonderful conversation about the work of German author Gertrude von le Forte who was a writer of novels, poems, and essays.  A convert  to Catholicism in 1926, most of  von le Forte work came after her conversion. In 1952 she won the Gottfried-Keller Prize, an esteemed Swiss literary award.

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Set during the French Revolution, this classic novella is based on the true story of the Carmelite nuns of Compiègne, who offered their lives for the preservation of the Church in France. The Song at the Scaffold was the original inspiration for the opera Dialogues of the Carmelites written by Francis Poulenc, which premiered in 1957. The opera was based on a libretto with this same title written by Georges Bernanos.

As Vivian points out in our discussion, von le Forte’s work is as relevant today as it was in the last century. In the course of our conversation, we discuss the influence of the Carmelite tradition and it’s influence on Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) and Bl. John Paul II, as well the role of redemptive suffering in the life of the Christian.

A novella in it’s truest sense, this book contains as much meaning as any tome made up 10x the pages.  A NOT TO BE MISSED READ.

You can find it at Ignatius.com

One of the great Christian classics of all time. —Michael O’Brien, Author, Father Elijah

A poignant reminder that, for the Christian, fearlessness lies on the far side of Gethsemane and the Cross. —George Weigel, Author, Witness to Hope

It’s always a joy to talk with Fr. Robert Spitzer!  With his latest book , “Ten Universal Principles: A Brief Philosophy of the Life Issues” he has brought solid philosophy that is easy to read and understand.  Not just for those who are interested in a prolife discussion, the “Ten Universal Principles” is perfect for anyone who wishes to grow in the use of faith and reason.  Fr. Spitzer addresses many questions including:  How do we make sense of life?  How should we treat others?  How should we reasonably be expected to be treated by others? When human life is at stake, are there reasonable principles we can rely on to guide our actions?  How should our laws be framed to protect human life? What kind of society should be built?

The Four Levels of Happiness described in the last section is worth it’s weight in gold.

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The Four Levels of Happiness^®

Happiness is the only goal that people pursue for its own sake, which makes it an ideal lens for explaining why people and organizations behave as they do. The Four Levels of Happiness model shows leaders how to elevate the powerful drive for happiness and direct it toward shared goals, strong ethics, and great performance. Click here for a full description of the Four Levels.

 

 

You find the book here

You can listen to more Fr. Spitzer as he discusses the “5 Pillars of the Spiritual Life” on the Inside the Pages interview #56

“Toward the Gleam” is a fantastic novel written by T. M. (Tom) Doran!  I love the adventure, but also the philosophical discussions which take place in the context of the story.

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Just don’t take my word for it, here is what our friend Joseph Pearce had to say:

“The works of Tolkien and Lewis continue to inspire new generations of writers, most of whom are not worthy to bask in the reflected glory of their mentors. T. M. Doran is a noble and notable exception. Towards the Gleam rises above the level of parody or pastiche to reach the heights that few writers have achieved. Although it basks in the reflected glory of The Lord of the Rings and conveys inklings of That Hideous Strength, it does not merely reflect the light that Tolkien and Lewis have shone; it refracts it in exciting new directions, toward the gleam of the glorious light that is the source of all great literature.”

For more information on “Toward the Gleam” go to ignatius.com

The revised and updated version of what I think is a classic work, “Solzhentisyn: A Soul in Exile”, is a tremendous gift to us all.   With all of the impressive clarity and tender insight you have come to expect from Joseph Pearce, this biography of the great Russian writer covers the lifespan of this incredible figure of the 20th century.    Joseph goes to the “heart” of the man, his Christian faith. With that illumination, he sheds a whole new understanding of his contribution to literary thought, Catholic Social Doctrine, and the value and dignity of each human person.  He allows Alexander Solzhenitsyn to speak for himself, and what he has to say is so important it shouldn’t be missed.

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You can find the book here

I can’t get enough from Pope Benedict XVI, especially when he shares with all of us his innermost thoughts and insights! “Light of the World: The Pope, The Church and the Signs of the Times” by Peter Seewald had such a fascinating conversation with our Holy Father that it seems to be the gift that just keeps giving. Mark Brumley took time out of his busy day as president of Ignatius Press to shed more “light” on this incredible book and the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI.

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Check out more on the book here

“Introduction to Christianity” by Cardinal Joseph Ratizinger (Pope Benedict XVI) is a modern day classic! Fr. Joseph Fessio S.J., founder of Ignatius Press and student of Pope Benedict, joins us to break open the gift of insight and wisdom contained in this inspirational work of our Holy Father.  As the Pope Benedict states in the preface in the 2nd edition of the book, that approach, taken in the book, puts the question of God and the question about Christ in the very center, which leads to a “narrative Christology” and demonstrates that the place for faith is in the Church.  It is an excellent edition to all Christian libraries and a must for anyone seeking a richer appreciation of the teachings of faith.  Pope Benedict uses the Old and New Testament, the teachings of the Fathers of the Church and generations of Saints, as well as the beauty of the Church’s Tradition to ponder the reality of Christ.  It’s beautiful!

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For more information on this work as well as all the books by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), go to  www.ignatius.com

“The World of St. Paul” is a marvelous book, which accurately chronicles the life of St. Paul beautifully, but because of Joseph Callewaert’s writing we get glimpse of his heart as well. Joseph is an extraordinary man who is an ardent student of St. Paul, and he brings to us the fullness of his life and times in way that only someone who truly prayed with St. Paul could.  It is a book for the common man, which is void of all the silly political agendas you find in some of the more recent biographies of this great saint by authors who have their “issues” with Christianity.  Joseph is firmly anchored in the Church and it’s rich tradition and scholarship passed down through the ages.  It was a wonderful read.

Check out Joseph’s book here

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Fr. Dwight Longenecker is Catholic priest and writer who has experienced an interesting journey of faith. Born into a Evanglical Christian family in Pennsylvania, graduate from fundamentalist Bob Jones University in Florida, and he would later become an Anglican priest serving as  a curate, a chaplain at Cambridge, and a country parson.  Then, in 1995, he and his wife and family were received into the Roman Catholic Church.  He spent the next ten years working as a freelance Catholic writer, contributing to over twenty-five magazines, papers and journals in Britain, Ireland and the USA.

Fr. Longenecker has expanded and revised his book “More Christianity:   where he invites the readers to move from “Mere Christianity” to “More Christianity” in the Roman Catholic faith.  Filled with every major aspect of our Catholic faith, Fr. Longenecker book serves, not only as resource to help Evangelicals to understand the Catholic faith, but also is excellent for Catholics who wish to deepen their own knowledge of the faith we profess.

Visit Fr. Longenecker’s blog “Standing on My Head” to learn more about this and other books, as well as so much more

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An ordinary woman who has experienced extraordinary grace and wow, look what God has done!  Abby Johnson, author of “unPlanned: the dramatic true story of a former Planned Parenthood leader’s eye-opening journey across the life line”, a courageous woman who has brought forward not just the Planned Parenthood story (at times nightmarish in their behavior), but more importantly, her story…the journey of conversion, forgiveness, and witness.  She didn’t go looking for the spotlight, but she didn’t say “no” when it fell on her and now she is standing up for life and exposing the reality of Planned Parenthood and the beautiful options for life that are truly available.  She can truly say, with all integrity, that she knows both sides of the battle, and she is choosing life!  Be sure to get the “Catholic Edition” by Ignatius Press.  Visit Abby’s website here.

 

You can pick up the book here

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Episode 1 – Great Works in Western Literature with Joseph Pearce – Introduction to the Series

Based on the Ignatius Critical Edition, this series examines, from the Judeo-Christian perspective, the life, the times, and influence of authors of great works in literature .

Joseph Pearce is currently the Writer-in-Residence and Visiting Fellow at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, New Hampshire. He is also Visiting Scholar at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, New Hampshire. He is also Visiting Scholar at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, New Hampshire. He is co-editor of the Saint Austin Review (or StAR), an international review of Christian culture, literature, and ideas published in England (Family Publications) and the United States (Sapientia Press). He is also the author of many books, including literary biographies of Solzhenitsyn, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, and Oscar Wilde.

To learn more about the authors and titles available in the Ignatius Critical Editions

“Narnia And Beyond: A Guide to the Fiction of C. S. Lewis” by Thomas Howard is fantastic.  Dr.  Howard is regarded as one of the leading authorities on the works of C. S. Lewis,  and with remarkable clarity he shares with us all the Lewis that has touched the hearts and minds of so many generations, both young and old.  It is always a joy to talk with Thomas Howard, but this conversation was particularly enlightening.

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You can check out the book at igantius.com

An unprecedented book-length interview given by a Pope, Light of the World by German journalist Peter Seewald, is an absolute must for those who look to our Holy Father for guidance and direction as we attempt to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ. I am beyond delighted to have Amy Welborn with us to discuss this important conversation Pope Benedict XVI is actually having with us all.  Amy, the author of numerous books, has written extensively on the teachings of Pope Benedict; I couldn’t have anyone better to go “Inside the Pages” of this work that tackles some the greatest issues facing the world today.

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Check out Amy Welborn’s blog  “Charlotte was Both“

You can find our more at igantius.com the website for Ignatius Press

 

Fun and entertaining well-written story…it’s what we hope for when we wish to sit down with a fiction book…here is one that will not disappoint thanks to author David Downing.

It is 1940, and American Tom McCord, a 23-year-old aspiring doctoral candidate, is in England researching the historical evidence for the legendary King Arthur. There he meets perky and intuitive Laura Hartman, a fellow American staying with her aunt in Oxford, and the two of them team up for an even more ambitious and dangerous quest.

Aided by the Inklings — that illustrious circle of scholars and writers made famous by its two most prolific members, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien — Tom and Laura begin to suspect that the fabled Spear of Destiny, the lance that pierced the side of Christ on the Cross, is hidden somewhere in England.

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Mary Eberstadt’s “The Loser Letters” is not your typical apologetic book, and that’s it’s beauty.  Intelligent, funny, and so very thoughtful…that’s a great combination.  This book is a pro-religious satire of atheism, told from the point of view of a worldly and troubled twenty-something girl.  Fans of C. S. Lewis will love this modern day Christian approach to the new atheist.  Mary Eberstadt is fantastic…we can definitely look forward to more from her.

Pick up  a copy of “The Loser Letters”
at ignatiuspress.com

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St. Clare of Assisi…how I love her so.  Cofoundress of the Order of Poor Ladies, or Clares, and first Abbess of San Damiano; born at Assisi, 16 July, 1194; died there 11 August, 1253.  I can’t even begin to describe the effect St. Clare has had on my life.  My relationship with her goes so deep that any words I could come up with would not honor her as I wish I could.

Instead, why not enter into her life’s story by listening to one of the best storytellers I know…Sr. Joan Mueller.  She is enthralling!!! 

The best DVD I have ever seen on the life of Clare and Francis is (and I’ve seen them all) the newest distributed by Ignatius Press. Clare is protrayed as a woman in love with Christ, not a starry-eyed hippy pining over Francis.  And she gets equal time…finally. This film is perfect!

If you ‘d like to see her life summed up in a quick read try here.
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I should share this little story of my own.  In 2007, I had a chance to visit Assisi…I just wanted to be near St. Clare.  I didn’t plan it, but my hotel ended up being right across the street from St. Clare’s Basilica (it seems wrong to call it a street, it’s width is so small).  Really early one morning, I just couldn’t sleep so I got up and began walking around outside of the Basilica.  No one was out, all the shops closed, the sun was just coming up.  On a whim I thought I would see if the doors of the church were open (thinking to myself  of course they wouldn’t be), but to my surprise they opened.  So I entered.  No one was around.  I saw steps leading down to a lower level.  I stepped over the rope blocking the entrance (boorish American that I am) and walked down.  The path led down to an area that had a display of relics, like clothing and other items (I assumed they were Clare’s) and then I turned around and saw something incredible…the crypt of St. Clare.  It stopped me in my tracks, so much so that I had to remind myself to breath again.  I quietly walked over to the enclosure grates that blocked off getting any closer.  I knelt down, and I just started to weep…I just couldn’t help it.  It was so quiet, it was such a gift.  I began to pray. I brought to St. Clare all the petitions I held so deeply in my heart.  And when that was done, silence filled the space. After about 10 minutes, out of nowhere, I could here the sound of the Poor Clare Sisters in the distance chanting their morning prayers.  I knelt at that spot, for a good 30 minutes or so, all alone with St. Clare.  I then got up, praised God for this special moment and left the basilica.  She’s been with me, in a special way, ever since.  St. Clare, pray for us.