Spanning from the birth of Christianity through the Crusades and the Protestant Reformation to John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council, Key Moments in Church History is a brief and accessible guide to the origins and evolution of the Catholic Church. In this insightful and informative look at eleven of the most significant periods in church history, Finley not only helps readers understand the context and characters of the past, but sheds light on the current and future Church. The result is a hopeful and inspirational reading experience that is ideal for personal reflection or group use.

This is a _back door book_ about faith. In his trademark accessible and thought-provoking style, Mitch Finley offers us a book that explores what faith is not, so that we can understand what faith is. Dispensing with common misconceptions of faith as a way around suffering, a source of secret knowledge, a security blanket, a crutch, a way to escape death, an answer to all questions, a solution to all problems, and an antidote to doubt, Finley helps us make the most of our finite human language in talking about our infinite God. Mixing wisdom from Scripture, tradition, and everyday life with humor and insight, Finley helps us understand faith as a gift that stretches our minds, helps us learn from suffering, motivates us to reach out to those in need, and leads us to more meaningful and joyful living.

Living Scripture captures the essence of each week's Scripture readings in an easy-to-read, easy-to-use format.

Spanning from the birth of Christianity through the Crusades and the Protestant Reformation to John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council, Key Moments in Church History is a brief and accessible guide to the origins and evolution of the Catholic Church. In this insightful and informative look at eleven of the most significant periods in church history, Finley not only helps readers understand the context and characters of the past, but sheds light on the current and future Church. The result is a hopeful and inspirational reading experience that is ideal for personal reflection or group use.

Who was St. Genesius, and why is he the patron saint of actors? Why is St. Thrse of Lisieux, who was a cloistered nun, the patron saint of missionaries? Is there a patron saint for automobile mechanics? How about for athletes? Bestselling Catholic writer Mitch Finley answers these questions and more in this delightful book of one hundred saints and the occupations, groups, or causes they are associated with. These are listed alphabetically and cross indexed with a list of the saints featured in the book, making it easy to find either the saint or the cause. In each short selection, Finley describes the life of the saint and why he or she has been selected as a patron. Finleys popular style makes this book fun to read. A great resource to keep on your shelf for years to come. A thoughtful gift for Confirmation or other occasions.

Beginning with a brief explanation of the communion of saints, this book offers biographies of St. Anthony of Padua and St. Jude and a history of how devotion to these two saints became popular in the United States. The heart of the book presents real-life stories of prayers answered by both these "heavenly helpers."