Pope John Paul II

          Officially proclaiming blesseds and saints has not been something marginal or occasional in the twenty years of John Paul II's pontificate. Our Sunday Visitor invites you to get acquainted with these blesseds and saints, these holy men and women, in John Paul II's Book of Saints.

     With its emphasis on the Church's vision of the Faith and how holy men and women from around the globe have lived out that vision over the centuries, John Paul II's Book of Saints is more than a listing of the Pope's saints and blesseds; it is also an inspirational collection of biographies that will enable readers to enrich their faith and explore the courage and conviction of those who have entered the gates of heaven.

     "The great variety of gifts and personalities in the new saints and blesseds shows that the Holy Spirit is never inactive. They come from the most diverse social and cultural background; they have had important functions or simple ordinary lives; their pilgrimage on earth has been long or short, they have lived in poverty or in affluent surroundings. They invite all of us to strive toward perfection." - Edouard Cardinal Gagnon

The Church on Earth by Ronald Knox $11.95 - 151 pages - Soft Cover Sophia Institute Press	The nature of the Church and authority of the Pope explained Recent scandals have led many to claim that the Catholic Church is inherently flawed and that to save it, the Pope and bishops must yield decision-making authority to the laity. With clarity and verve, Ronald Knox here shows that by the very terms of its commission from Christ, the Catholic Church cannot become a democracy. Unlike Protestant congregations, the Church on earth is not just an assembly of Christians, pledged to keep intact a set of dogmatic truths and moral principles. It is directly God's handiwork, deliberately designed by Him as a hierarchical institution headed by the Pope. Knox explains that although the Church is not inerrant in its policies, it is infallible in its doctrines; and it rightly serves as the living interpreter of Scripture and of its own teachings. He shows that despite the faults of its members (and even many of its leaders), the Church on earth has a higher claim on our loyalty than country, party, or even family. When Catholics obey the Church, they obey the voice of God. These pages offer a bracing counterpoint to the recent popular rush to democracy in the Church. They are essential reading for all who genuinely desire to understand the Church as Christ established it for us, and who seek to ensure that in our day the Church will remain faithful to the holy mission He entrusted to it.
On the Fiftieth Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination Gift and Mystery by Pope John Paul II $15.00 - 114 pages - Soft Cover Doubleday	"The outbreak of the war took me away from my studies and the university environment. During that time I lost my father, the last person left in my innermost family circle. Objectively speaking, this also meant a process of detachment from my earlier plans. In away it was like being uprooted from the soil on which, up to that point, my humanity had grown. "But it wasn't a purely negative process. Meanwhile, in fact, a light kept shining more brightly in my consciousness: the Lord wants me to become a priest. One day I saw this with great clarity: it was like an inner illumination bringing with it the joy and security of another vocation. "And this awareness filled me with great inner peace." "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!" (Hebrews 13:8) "I am convinced that priests should have no fear of being 'outside time, because the human 'today' of every priest is part and parcel of the 'today' of Christ the Redeemer. The greatest kind of fulfillment for any priest at any time is to find in daily life his priestly 'today' in the 'today' of Christ." "The community of priests, rooted in a true sacramental brotherhood, constitutes a supremely important environment for spiritual and pastoral formation."
Covenant of Love by Richard M. Hogan & John M. Levoir $16.95 - 329 pages - Soft Cover Ignatius	Pope John Paul II has a profound theological and personal impact on Catholics and non-Catholics alike. In the scholarly tradition of Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas, he has found a new unity between faith and reason. The study of God, says John Paul, is also the study of humanity. He has come to vigorously insist on the rights and dignity of each human person, and on the divine importance of the family. John Paul teaches that the keystone of Christian living today is the communion of persons which is the family. Covenant of Love conveys this central message of his pontificate. It explores the influence of Christ on the modern family, human intimacy, and sexuality and illustrates the Pope's response to the violations of that familial communion: materialism, sterilization, pre-marital sex, abortion, polygamy, adultery and lust, contraception and artificial conception, and homosexuality. Written for the layman as well as for clerics, students, and educators, this volume will enhance the understanding and appreciation of Pope John Paul II's teachings. Covenant of Love presents the extraordinary new way that John Paul II is using to present a new synthesis of the faith that can be the means of renewing the faith of all Christians and of bringing more people to Christ. It sets out his philosophical and theological design for every Christian who seeks a closer relationship with God - in the person of Christ, in the Church, and in the human heart.
Love & Responsibility by Harol Wojtyla $14.95 - 319 pages - Soft Cover Ignatius	Drawing from his own pastoral experiences as a priest and bishop before he became Pope John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla has produced a remarkably eloquent and resourceful defense of Catholic tradition in the sphere of family life and sexual morality. He writes in the conviction of science - biology, psychology, sociology - can provide valuable information on particular aspects of relations between the sexes, but that a full understanding can be obtained only by study of the human person as a whole. Central to his argument is the contrast between the personalistic and the utilitarian views of marriage and of sexual relations. The former views marriage as an interpersonal relationship, in which the well-being and self-realization of each partner are of over-riding importance to the other. It is only within this framework that the full purpose of marriage can be realized. The alternative, utilitarian view, according to which a sexual partner is an object for use, holds on possibility of fulfillment and happiness. The author argues that divorce, artificial methods of birth control, adultery (and pre-marital sexual relations), and sexual perversions are all in various ways incompatible with the personalistic view of the sexual self-realization of the human person. Perhaps the most striking feature of the book is that the author appeals throughout to ordinary, human experiences, logically examined. In a substantial section on "sexology and morals," he draws support for his views on the proper gratification of sexual needs, on birth control, and on other matters, from the findings of physiologists and psychologists. His conclusions coincide with the traditional teachings of the Church, which invoke scriptural authority. But the author's approach ensures that non-Christians also can consider his arguments on their own merits.
When A Pope Asks Forgiveness The Mea Culpa's of John Paul II by Luigi Accattoli $16.95 - 257 pages - Soft Cover Pauline Books & Media	This exceptional book was originally published in Italy in 1997. At that time John Thavis, Rome Bureau Chief for Catholic News Service, noted that "after nineteen years in the public eye, new discoveries about Pope John Paul II's pontificate might seem highly unlikely. But an Italian journalist recently put his finger on a hidden theme of this papacy, a theme destined to take on crucial importance as the Church prepares for the year 2000. "When the Pope outlined his plans for the jubilee year 2000 in 1994, he called on the Church to make a critical self-evaluation of its actions over the past centuries. The Pope's decision intrigued Luigi Accattoli, who wondered why a Polish-born Pontiff known for his staunch defense of the Church and its institutions would initiate a critical review of Church behavior. He began researching speeches and made his surprising discovery, that Pope John Paul II had publicly admitted Church culpability 94 times, on topics ranging from the Inquisition to the treatment of women." When a Pope Asks Forgiveness contains Accattoli's impressive research and the complete texts of John Paul's "mea culpa" addresses to date. This timely book invites the reader to enter into an examination of conscience leading to the reconciliation of the human family for the Third Millennium.
Go in Peace A Gift of Enduring Love by John Paul II $19.95 - 244 pages - Hard Cover Loyola Press	Peace is not a utopia, nor an inaccessible ideal, nor an unrealizable dream. War is not an inevitable calamity. Peace is possible and because it is possible, peace is our duty: our grave duty, our supreme responsibility. This Life is a talent entrusted to all of us so that we can transform it and increase it, making it a gift to others. No person is an iceberg drifting on the ocean of history. Each one of us belongs to a great family, in which we have our own place and our own role to play. (Pope John Paul II) Pope John Paul II is the most recognized and beloved spiritual leader of our time. In this definitive collection, he shares his most personal and inspirational thoughts about what it means to be a Christian in the modern world. Addressing issues such as prayer, forgiveness, family, suffering, and poverty, the Holy Father reveals his pastoral heart and shows us how to live a life of faith.
Theotokos Woman, Mother, Disciple Volume Five by Pope John Paul II $12.95 - 269 pages - Soft Cover Pauline Books & Media	A Catechesis on Mary, Mother of God Volume Five Who is Mary for us today? Pope John Paul II explored this question in a series of general audience talks given from 1995 to 1997. Collected in this volume, these catecheses form an easy-to-follow course in Marian doctrine and devotion. Basing his thought on the Council's lead, the Pope places Mary in a scriptural and ecclesial context. The humble Virgin of Nazareth appears as she really was-a young Jewish woman called to live out in faith the unique mission God called her to. Mary's vocation sheds light on the dignity and vocation of every woman. In explaining the Church's doctrine, the Pope points out that everything about Mary is related to Christ. Marian devotion is meant to lead the faithful ever closer to Jesus. Throughout these talks Mary appears under many aspects-as an example of faith and love, and a model of the Church at prayer. She is ever our mother, always concerned for the good of those who turn to her for help.
The Genius of Women by Pope John Paul II $8.00 - 80 pages - Soft Cover	"One of the many historic achievements of the papacy of John Paul II has been to give real life, in word and deed, to Vatican II's fertile but cryptic statements on the changing roles of women in the family, society, and the Church. This Pope has reflected more deeply than any of his predecessors on the roles of women and men as "partners in the mystery of redemption," yet his writings to and about women are not as well known as they should be. Many thanks are due to the NCCB for making these 1995 messages more widely available." Mary Ann Glendon, Professer of Law, Harvard Law School "Anyone interested in the role of women in the Church and society will find this compendium an invaluable resource. The statements and messages of Pope John Paul II during 1995 illuminate the meaning of the 'new feminism' the Pope called for in Evangelium Vitae." Annette Kane, Executive Director, National Council of Catholic Women "A hallmark of his service as Pope is the manner in which he consistently plumbs anthropological depths to cite the immense dignity and giftedness of women with men in the call to be image and likeness of Trinitarian relational life. ..." Sr. M Timothy Prokes, FSE, PRofessor of Theology and Spirituality Notre Dame Graduate School, Alexandria, VA.
The Theology of the Body Human Love in the Divine Plan by Pope John Paul II $24.95 - 603 pages - Soft Cover Pauline Books & Media	The Theology of the Body presents a magnificent vision of the human person. In these talks, John Paul II has given a catechesis which is centered on the human person, understood within the mystery of Christ. Going back to the biblical "beginning" as recorded in Genesis, the Pope discusses the bodily dimension of human personhood, sexuality and marriage in the light of biblical revelation. Starting from three primordial human experiences - original solitude, original unity and original nakedness - he outlines a theology of the nuptial meaning of the body. A key theme is communion of persons, which is a reflection of Trinity. Within this framework, the Pope also considers the meaning of chasity for the sake of the kingdom. A final section is dedicated to reflections on Humanae Vitae. John Paul takes a personalist approach in discussing the "language of the body" and how that relates to the issue of contraception. The Pope has made an outstanding contribution, indispensable for understanding the Church's approach to questions of sexuality and marriage.
Springtime of Evangelization The Complete Texts of the Holy Father's 1998 ad Limina Addresses to the Bishops of the United States by Pope John Paul II $14.95 - 152 pages - Soft Cover Bailica Press	John Paul II has an extraordinary grasp of the modern - and especially the modern "American" - spiritual terrain. His ad limina talks make very fruitful reading for anyone interested in enriching his or her faith, and we owe a special thanks to the Legionaries for bringing these texts to the general public. Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Archbishop of Denver These thirteen talks of the Pope to the United States bishops in 1998 admirably highlight the priorities of the present pontificate as they apply to the Catholic Church in the American cultural context. The tone is ardent and engaging; the message is crystal clear, and the very words convey the evangelical spirit of John Paul II. All in all, the right diagnosis, the right prescription, and the fare we need. Rev. Avery Dulles, S.J. Lawerence J. McGinley Chair in Religion and Society, Fordham University It must be rare layperson who has ever read any of the Pope's addresses to bishops on their ad limina visits. This collection of talks delivered by John Paul II to U.S. bishops in 1998 shows us what we were missing: a glimpse of a great teaching pontiff giving guidance to our more immediate teachers. In their very brevity, these addresses reveal which concerns are more urgently felt by the Holy Father and closest to his heart as he prerpares his brethren for the challenges and opportunities of the "Springtime Evangelization." All Catholics should be greatful to the Legionaries of Christ for making these writings available, and for the illuminating introduction by Fr. Thomas Williams, L.C. Mary Ann Gleadon Member, Council for the Laity Professor of Law, Harvard University
John Paul II's Book of Saints by Edouard Cardinal Gagnon $11.95 - 384 pages - Hard Cover Our Sunday Visitor	The Saints of the "Saint-Making" Pope Officially proclaiming blesseds and saints has not been something marginal or occasional in the twenty years of John Paul II's pontificate. Our Sunday Visitor invites you to get acquainted with these blesseds and saints, these holy men and women, in John Paul II's Book of Saints. With its emphasis on the Church's vision of the Faith and how holy men and women from around the globe have lived out that vision over the centuries, John Paul II's Book of Saints is more than a listing of the Pope's saints and blesseds; it is also an inspirational collection of biographies that will enable readers to enrich their faith and explore the courage and conviction of those who have entered the gates of heaven. "The great variety of gifts and personalities in the new saints and blesseds shows that the Holy Spirit is never inactive. They come from the most diverse social and cultural background; they have had important functions or simple ordinary lives; their pilgrimage on earth has been long or short, they have lived in poverty or in affluent surroundings. They invite all of us to strive toward perfection." - Edouard Cardinal Gagnon