Doctrina Christiana: The Timeless Catechism of St. Robert Bellarmine


Book Description

This catechism can be considered as a valid and effective catechetical tool for the work of the evangelization, a work which has to be realized with a new missionary zeal towards those who don't know the Catholic faith and as well towards those who know it defectively and insufficiently. May those who will read this catechism and those who will use it in the noble and meritorious work of teaching Christian doctrine, may be equipped with the sure and sacred doctrine of the Catholic faith, in order to stand, having their loins girt about with truth. -Bishop Athanasius Schneider This is the first English translation of St. Robert Bellarmine's Long Catechism, which follows a traditional question and answer model but gives deep meditations on the truths of faith. It was written for students with some education as well as for those who would teach Catechism. It was explicitly approved by Pope Clement VIII and praised by Pope Benedict XIV and Pius XI. St. Robert Bellarmine is a doctor of the Church.




Spiritual Writings


Book Description

Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621), a Jesuit as well as a leading theologian of the Counter-Reformation, had an enormous effect on the religious life of his age. Here are two of his most influential ascetical works: The Mind's Ascent to God, written in the tradition of Bonaventure and John Climacus, and The Art of Dying Well.




The Marian Writings of St. Robert Bellarmine


Book Description

"For Those Who Want To Learn From A Saint How To Defend The Blessed Mother" If YOU have ever been at a loss for words in defending Mary, rejoice, now you will be able to fight back. For centuries now, Mary's privileges have been under attack, and sadly, many Catholics don't how to defend them. As a result, many souls are lost to the Church, either by not being brought into it or by leaving it because they believed a twisted interpretation of the Bible. God, however, raises up Saints who are equal to the challenge. One of those was St. Robert Bellarmine, who was also St. Aloysius Gonzaga's spiritual director. Why is this book set apart from other books on Marian apologetics? Because you get to learn from a man who was as pious as he was learned. And this is very important. Think about it. Even the devil knows Marian doctrine, and can defend it better than you or anyone else. Needless to say, he can't live the Marian doctrine which he knows so well. The previously untranslated biographical material about St. Robert in this book shows how he lived the Marian doctrine which he taught so well. And that's the advantage this book gives you. An advantage which turns the devil green with envy, because, unlike you, he can't profit from what he knows. Knowledge without application is useless. Because this book combines the head and the heart, you will know how to walk the walk, instead of simply being able to talk the talk. This will make your words more convincing, because, by now, you know well that people are moved more by example than by words. St. Robert was unsurpassed when it came to learning. When he taught in Rome, everyone flocked to his classes. Everyone recognized how smart he was. When Pope Clement VIII made St. Robert a cardinal, he said: "The Church of God has not his equal in learning." Even Protestants recognized his genius. They said that he presented their teaching better than they themselves did. So you get the benefit of understanding the real sticking points. Because of this, you get a masterful lesson in Marian apologetics. He even names his contemporary opponents and where they went wrong. You won't find this anywhere else. You will be as good as gold with this book... 1. because YOU will be able to defend Mary with great confidence. 2. because YOU will learn the only defense of the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen), which you probably did not know was attacked, as other Marian apologetics books neglect to cover this. 3. because YOU will see how Mary's Immaculate Conception was brilliantly defended centuries before it was solemnly defined by the Church. 4. because YOU get to learn at the feet of a man who was not only a Saint, but who also was considered the most learned man in the Church. 5. because YOU won't be spinning your wheels or feel like you're swimming upstream when it comes to defending Mary. 6. because YOU get to save time. Since he wrote in Latin, his style is clear and concise, without cutting corners. No wasted words. And that's not all. Because he was trained in Latin and Greek, he made use of works which still have not been translated. You will find these passages in this book. What's more, you will also discover his sermons in praise of Our Lady. This is a natural consequence of understanding Mary's privileges, which he knew so well. Finally, this book contains more than what was mentioned above. There are other little-known or unknown Marian writings of St. Robert Bellarmine contained at the end. Best of all, your investment in this book will not cost you a king's ransom. In fact, it amounts to only a few cents a day over a year's time. Scroll up and get your copy today.




To the Heart of the Mystery of Redemption


Book Description

In the 1960's, Fr. Hans Urs von Balthasar gave two conferences in Paris on the subject of redemption. One considered the perspective of Christ the Redeemer. The other gave a view of the redemption from the perspective of Mary and the Church, consenting to the sacrifice of Jesus. These two conferences are what Fr. Jacques Servais, S.J., in his foreword calls "a lantern of the Word," shedding light amidst the advancing turmoil of the postconciliar period. These conferences were later collected by the eminent theologian Henri Cardinal de Lubac, S.J., in a single volume along with an anthology of meditations on the Passion by the mystic Adrienne von Speyr, and selected by von Balthasar. In this new edition, prepared for the centenary of the birth of Hans Urs von Balthasar, Fr. Servais, the director of Casa Balthasar in Rome, provides an extensive postscript illuminating the text along with the original preface by de Lubac.




Forsaking the Fall


Book Description

Forsaking the Fall argues along exegetical, theological, and philosophical lines that the doctrines of the Fall and Original Sin need not be understood as integral components of orthodox Christianity. By engaging biblical studies, systematic theology, and analytic philosophy, the book provides a comprehensive understanding of the most important issues at play in the Original Sin debate, as well as offers a set of tools for helping readers to think critically about the essence of the Christian faith and its relation to Original Sin. Crucially, it lays the theoretical groundwork for an orthodox nonlapsarianism and advances a novel theory vis-à-vis the Fall and Original Sin in Christian theology. This innovative and provocative book will be of interest to scholars of theology and philosophy, specifically analytic theologians and philosophers of religion.




On the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass


Book Description

St. Robert Bellarmine was one of the best known of the Counter-Reformation theologians by both friend and foe. His apologetic writings were the most widely read treatises on theological subjects during the 17th century, and they also brought numerous conversions to the Catholic faith. Now for the first time, St. Robert's amazing treatises are available to you in English! In this treatise on the Sacrifice of the Mass, St. Robert divides his work into two topics: That the Mass is a Sacrifice, and secondly, the nature of that Sacrifice, namely that the Mass is propitiatory, beneficial to others, and that the ceremonies of the Mass are ancient and pleasing to God. St. Robert takes the fight to the Protestants on their own ground, defending the Mass from Scripture and how the Church Fathers understood it. Then he argues from the consensus of Greek and Latin Fathers and the whole history of the Church to defend the Mass as a sacrifice instituted by Christ Himself. "St. Robert Bellarmine is a masterful defender of the Catholic faith, a prince of apologists. The controversy over whether the Holy Mass is a true and proper sacrifice was-and is-among the most hotly debated questions dividing Catholics and Protestants. Bellarmine's almost unbelievable erudition is on full display as he thoroughly proves the Catholic doctrine by marshaling arguments from Scripture, the Fathers of the Church, and human reason. But the real thrill for lovers and scholars of liturgy comes in his defense of the various prayers and ceremonies of the Roman Rite of Mass. Here is a commentary on the Tridentine Mass by one of the greatest theologians of the Tridentine era." -Dr. John Joy, President of the St. Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies "St. Robert Bellarmine, in this section of the De Controversiis, provides the reader with an unparalleled defense of the Catholic theology of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Many of the objections raised and refuted by St. Robert are still applicable today amidst the various theological speculations of our times. Steeped in the tradition of the Church, this text addresses many aspects of the theology of the Mass in a depth not seen in writings of modern authors. The timeliness of the book is evident in our current historical context as many priests and faithful are taking a fresh look at the ancient rite of Mass." -Fr. Chad Ripperger, SMD "For five years in Chablais, I preached with no books other than the Bible, and the Great Bellarmine."-St. Francis de Sales




The Ethics of Courage


Book Description

This two-volume work examines far-reaching debates on the concept of courage from Greek antiquity to the Christian and mediaeval periods, as well as the modern era. Volume 1 begins with Homeric poetry and the politics of fearless demi-gods thriving on war. The tales of lion-hearted Heracles, Achilles, and Ulysses, and their tragic fall at the hands of fate, eventually give way to classical views of courage based on competing theories of rational wisdom and truth. Fears of the enemy and anxieties about suffering and death are addressed through the lenses and teachings of medicine, geography, military history, moral philosophy, and metaphysics. For early Christian thinkers, the ethics of fear, fate, and fealty to the Almighty supplant the voice of reason and the wisdom of virtue. Much of Christian doctrine's history is a long journey towards bridging the gap between Greek philosophy and devotion to God and spirits in heaven. Some Church Fathers attempt to dispel the fear of suffering through a joyful craving for martyrdom and the eternal blessings that follow. Others show openness to one or more of the following principles: the abstractions of moral philosophy, the metaphysics of Gnostic enlightenment, the gift of free will and intentionality, the growth of church authority and hegemony, and the intrinsic worth of life on Earth. Augustine, Ambrose, Cassian, and Chrysostom play a central role in revisiting the foundations of Christian fortitude along some or all of these lines. They lay the groundwork for the scholastic adaptations of faith-based rationalism proposed by Peter Lombard, Philip the Chancellor, Albert the Great, and Thomas of Aquinas. The mediaeval period ends with church dissidents and Protestant Reform leaders condemning Rome’s corruption and calling for a return to early Christian faith and the courage of godly fear, submission, suffering, and fate.




T&T Clark Handbook of Ecclesiology


Book Description

Divided into 3 parts, this handbook provides a wide-ranging survey and analysis of the Christian Church. The first section addresses the scriptural foundations of ecclesiology; the second section outlines the historical and confessional aspects of the topic; and the final part discusses a variety of contemporary and topical themes in ecclesiology. Compiled and written by leading scholars in the field, the T&T Clark Handbook of Ecclesiology covers a range of key topics in the context of their development and importance in each stream of historic Christianity and the confessional traditions. The contributors cover traditional matters such as creedal notes, but also tackle questions of ordination, orders of ministry, and sacraments. This handbook is extensive enough to provide a true overview of the field, but the essays are also concise enough to be read as reference selections.




The Catechism Explained


Book Description

In this comprehensive guide, Father Francis Spirago provides a detailed and thorough explanation of the Catholic religion, covering a wide range of topics from the fundamental beliefs to the practical aspects of living a Catholic life. The Catechism Explained serves as an invaluable resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith, offering clear and concise explanations that are accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Whether you are a lifelong Catholic or simply curious about the religion, this book will provide you with the knowledge and insights needed to navigate the rich and complex world of Catholicism.




Converso Non-Conformism in Early Modern Spain


Book Description

This book examines the effects of Jewish conversions to Christianity in late medieval Spanish society. Ingram focuses on these converts and their descendants (known as conversos) not as Judaizers, but as Christian humanists, mystics and evangelists, who attempt to create a new society based on quietist religious practice, merit, and toleration. His narrative takes the reader on a journey from the late fourteenth-century conversions and the first blood purity laws (designed to marginalize conversos), through the early sixteenth-century Erasmian and radical mystical movements, to a Counter-Reformation environment in which conversos become the advocates for pacifism and concordance. His account ends at the court of Philip IV, where growing intolerance towards Madrid’s converso courtiers is subtly attacked by Spain’s greatest painter, Diego Velázquez, in his work, Los Borrachos. Finally, Ingram examines the historiography of early modern Spain, in which he argues the converso reform phenomenon continues to be underexplored.