Brandon Vogt's Blog, page 21

6 New and Notable Books I’m Excited About (November 2014)

One perk of being a book reviewer is that publishers regularly send me a steady stream of advanced review copies.

I try to review as many as I can, but I can’t get to them all. So every couple months, I highlight a handful of new and upcoming books I’m particularly excited about.

(The descriptions below are either from the publisher or from Amazon.)

Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive A Preparatory Catechesis for the World Meeting of Families

by Pontifical Council for the Family

Our Sunday Visitor, 128 pages, paperback

Released on September 4, 2014

For Pope Francis, as for his predecessors Saint John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, this is more than just talk. It is a rallying cry. This is the focus of the 2015 World Meeting of Families: Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.

For Catholics everywhere, it is a time to renew our focus on the family, the “domestic church” – what it means, why it’s important, how it fits in with God’s plan for us, and how we can become who God created us to be.

Here is a new, fresh, and insightful way to do just that. In Love is Our Mission, you can easily explore Catholic teaching on marriage, family, sexuality, children, human dignity, and the sanctity of life. It’s a guided tour through scripture and 2000 years of Church teaching in which you are awakened to the relationship God wants to have with you, the family, and ultimately the world. Self-reflection or group discussion questions bring the teachings home in a very real and practical way.

As Pope Francis has said, we must, “keep before us the beauty of the family and marriage, the greatness of this human reality which is so simple and yet so rich…”

Chastity Is for Lovers: Single, Happy, and (Still) a Virgin

by Arleen Spenceley

Ave Maria Press, 160 pages, paperback

Released on November 28, 2014

In 2012, journalist Arleen Spenceley outed herself as a twenty-six-year-old virgin in a Tampa Bay Times op-ed that went viral.

In Chastity Is for Lovers, Spenceley expands on that piece, advocating Catholic teaching on sex and marriage with candor and humor, and without judgment.

In her debut book, seasoned journalist and self-professed “happy virgin” Arleen Spenceley offers a mature, funny, and relatable vision of Catholic teaching on chastity for young adults. Chastity Is for Lovers provides perspective on a variety of topics—the difference between chastity and abstinence, how virginity is an affirming and valuable life choice, how the word “purity” can be harmful in ministry settings, how to date well, and why sexual self-control is the best form of marriage preparation–and gives single adults the best possible chance to find true love.

She carefully avoids using language that shames readers and instead presents a view of chastity that is joyful and positive.

The Past as Pilgrimage: Narrative, Tradition and the Renewal of Catholic History

by Christopher Shannon and Christopher O. Blum

Christendom Press, 192 pages, paperback

Released on November 28, 2014

In this book, Catholic historians Christopher Shannon and Christopher O. Blum challenge the secular bias currently prevalent among professional historians, and argue for the compatibility of faith and reason in the study of the past.

Inspired by the understanding of tradition developed in the work of philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre, the authors first critically examine both the internal contradictions and the enduring faith commitments of secular objectivity, then proceed to explore various traditions of Catholic historical thinking capable of synthesizing the technical advances of modern history with distinctly Catholic historical narratives.

Their argument seeks to foster a conversation about the ways in which Catholic historians can integrate their faith traditions into their professional work while still remaining open to and engaged with the best of contemporary, non-Catholic thinking and writing about history.

Catholic Family Handbook: Time-tested Techniques to Help You Strengthen Your Marriage and Raise Good Kids

by Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik

Sophia Institute Press, 240 pages, paperback

Released on December 15, 2014

Here is a crucial book for you if you want to shield your family from the effects of our selfish secular culture, which destroys families and poisons relationships.

Fr. Lawrence Lovasik, the renowned author of The Hidden Power of Kindness, gives faithful Catholics all the essential ingredients of a stable and loving Catholic marriage and family — ingredients that are in danger of being lost in our turbulent age.

Using Scripture and Church teachings in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step format, Fr. Lovasik helps you understand the proper role of the Catholic father and mother and the blessings of family. He shows you how you can secure happiness in marriage, develop the virtues necessary for a successful marriage, raise children in a truly Catholic way, and much more.

Let Fr. Lovasik strengthen your marriage and family as you discover:

Three things you can learn from the Holy Family about living as a family today
The secret of gaining God’s blessing and peace upon your family: do you know it?
Four crucial lessons no school can teach to your children (only you can!)
Why marital happiness is not automatic, but must be earned (and how to earn it)
Common mistakes fathers make that can damage their families irrevocably
The primary requirement for family happiness: does your family measure up?
The secret of overcoming the anger that can disrupt any relationship
Eleven simple steps you can take to bring harmony to your marriage right now
Are you selfish? Sixteen searching questions to ask yourself in order to find out
Four qualities that every good parent has: can you name them? Do you have them?
Sex education: how to navigate this minefield in a way that is good for your kids
Plus much more that will help you imbue your family with Catholic values!


The Hobbit Party: The Vision of Freedom That Tolkien Got, and the West Forgot

by Jay Richards and Jonathan Witt

Ignatius Press, 232 pages, hardcover

Released on October 20, 2014

Anyone who has read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings can gather that their author hated tyranny, but few know that the novelist who once described himself as a hobbit “in all but size” was—even by hobbit standards—a zealous proponent of economic freedom and small government. There is a growing concern among many that the West is sliding into political, economic, and moral bankruptcy. In his beloved novels of Middle-Earth, J.R.R. Tolkien has drawn us a map to freedom.

Scholar Joseph Pearce, who himself has written articles and chapters on the political significance of Tolkien’s work, testified in his book Literary Giants, Literary Catholics, “If much has been written on the religious significance of The Lord of the Rings, less has been written on its political significance—and the little that has been written is often erroneous in its conclusions and ignorant of Tolkien’s intentions…. Much more work is needed in this area, not least because Tolkien stated, implicitly at least, that the political significance of the work was second only to the religious in its importance.”

Several books ably explore how Tolkien’s Catholic faith informed his fiction. None until now have centered on how his passion for liberty and limited government also shaped his work, or how this passion grew directly from his theological vision of man and creation. The Hobbit Party fills this void.

The few existing pieces that do focus on the subject are mostly written by scholars with little or no formal training in literary analysis, and even less training in political economy. Witt and Richards bring to The Hobbit Party a combined expertise in literary studies, political theory, economics, philosophy, and theology.

There Is No Rose: The Mariology of the Catholic Church

by Aidan Nichols

Fortress Press, 144 pages, paperback

Released on February 1, 2015

Mary continues to be a source of theological interest and concern for Catholics and Protestants alike. For Catholics, Mariology was codified in a set of dogmas over the centuries; yet many Catholics remain unaware of the biblical, historical, and theological matrix that gave rise to the magisterial teaching. Protestants, with some exceptions, remain skeptical of Marianism in Catholic theology, viewing such as intrusions upon biblical doctrine and faith or unnecessary accretions threatening of sound Christian theology. Aidan Nichols, OP, attempts to address this “puzzlement” of Mary.

Working through the biblical, patristic, and medieval sources, Nichols introduces readers to the robust scriptural and theological bases for the Church’s celebration of Mary in its doctrine and liturgy, alongside the work of the Councils and the magisterium, to argue for the crucial relevance of Mary in the theological articulation of the gospel, the celebration and practice of the liturgy, and the sacramental life of the Church. The present study aims to contribute to the revival of a more full-blooded Marian teaching and attempts to take the path set by ressourcement theology in recovering the robust voice of witness to Mary.

 
What new and notable books are you looking forward to?

  

The post 6 New and Notable Books I’m Excited About (November 2014) appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

Scott Hahn book giveaway!

“Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.” – St. Augustine

 

Since I’ve built up a large collection of extra books and resources, every week I give some away absolutely free, no strings attached. Each giveaway lasts seven days with a new one beginning every Friday. You can enter any time during the week. Check out my past giveaways here.

Thanks to Image Books, today I’m giving away TEN copies of Scott Hahn’s new book, which is perfect for Christmas, titled Joy to the World.

 

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

 

Joy to the World: How Christ’s Coming Changed Everything (And Still Does)

by Scott Hahn

Image Books, 192 pages, hardcover

 

 

What could be more familiar than the Christmas story — and yet what could be more extraordinary? The cast of characters is strange and exotic: shepherds and magicians, an emperor and a despot, angels, and a baby who is Almighty God. The strangeness calls for an explanation, and this book provides it by examining the characters and the story in light of the biblical and historical context. Bestselling author Scott Hahn who has written extensively on Scripture and the early Church, brings evidence to light, dispelling some of the mystery of the story.

Yet Christmas is made familiar all over again by showing it to be a family story. Christmas, as it appears in the New Testament, is the story of a father, a mother, and a child—their relationships, their interactions, their principles, their individual lives, and their common life. To see the life of this “earthly trinity” is to gaze into heaven.

 

 

I’m using Rafflecopter to help with the giveaway, which is cool because it allows you multiple entries for commenting, posting on Facebook, sharing on Twitter, etc. Click below to enter:

(If you’re reading this through email or RSS and don’t see the giveaway widget, click here.)

By entering this giveaway you agree to occasionally receive email updates from me—no spam, just updates about free books, cool links, and exciting news.

 

 

The winner(s) will be randomly selected next Friday and the books will be sent out, free of charge, shortly thereafter.

In the future I’ll be giving away more books and resources, sometimes multiple items per giveaway! So subscribe via feed reader or email to ensure you never miss your chance to win.

(Since I’m covering the shipping costs, only residents within the continental United States are eligible to win.)

The post Scott Hahn book giveaway! appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

Joy to the World: Interview with Scott Hahn [Video]

Dr. Scott Hahn is one of the best-known theologians, professors, and Christian apologists in the Western world. He has authored dozens of books including Rome Sweet Home, which recounts his conversion, and The Lamb’s Supper, his bestselling guide to the Mass.

Dr. Hahn is also one of today’s premier biblical scholars. He founded and is currently the President of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Christian research center committed to the promotion of biblical literacy among the Catholic laity and clergy.

In addition to teaching at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, earlier this year, Cardinal Francis George appointed Dr. Hahn to the newly established McEssy Distinguished Visiting Professorship in Biblical Theology at Mundelein Seminary.

Today, I interview Dr. Hahn about his newest book titled, Joy to the World: How Christ’s Coming Changed Everything (And Still Does) (Image Books, 2014).

(This interview was originally posted at WordOnFire.org.)

 

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

1:15 – How does the Old Testament foreshadow the Christmas narratives in Matthew and Luke?
3:54 – How is the family the hero of the Christmas story?
7:19 – Why is the family “key to Christianity”?
9:26 – What do we know about St. Joseph and why is he so magnanimous?
12:59 – Why is Christmas joy so important to the New Evangelization?

The post Joy to the World: Interview with Scott Hahn [Video] appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

The “Humanum” Videos: Extraordinary Short Films on Marriage and the Family

The Vatican is currently wrapping up an international and interreligious colloquium on men, women, and marriage called “Humanum”. Over 350 participants, including representatives from 14 religious traditions and 23 countries, have united to uphold the beauty and wisdom of marriage. (I recently interviewed Dr. Helen Alvaré about the gathering.)

As part of the conference, organizers have released six extraordinary videos on marriage. Filmed around the world and containing interviews with people like Fr. Robert Barron, Dr. Peter Kreeft, and N.T. Wright, the short films evocatively display timeless truths about men, women, and the family’s role in humanity. What Fr. Barron’s CATHOLICISM series did for the Church’s beauty and truth, this series does for marriage and the family.

These videos, freely available on YouTube, are tremendous resources. If you serve in marriage preparation ministry, youth and young adult ministries, or any ministry focused on the family, relationships, or parenting, you should definitely consider incorporating them into your work.

Watch the series trailer and all six videos below:

“Humanum” Trailer

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

 

The Destiny of Humanity: On the Meaning of Marriage (Part 1 of 6)

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

 

The Cradle of Life and Love: A Mother & Father for the World’s Children (Part 2 of 6)

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

 

Understanding Man and Woman (Part 3 of 6)

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

 

A Hidden Sweetness: The Power of Marriage Amid Hardship (Part 4 of 6)

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

 

Challenge and Hope for a New Generation (Part 5 of 6)

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

 

Marriage, Culture, and Civil Society (Part 6 of 6)

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

 

Visit the “Humanum” YouTube channel, by clicking the image below, and find several videos from the conference, including talks by Pope Francis, Rick Warren, N.T. Wright, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, and many more:

The post The “Humanum” Videos: Extraordinary Short Films on Marriage and the Family appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

“Behold Your Mother” Book Giveaway!

“Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.” – St. Augustine

 

Since I’ve built up a large collection of extra books and resources, every week I give some away absolutely free, no strings attached. Each giveaway lasts seven days with a new one beginning every Friday. You can enter any time during the week. Check out my past giveaways here.

Thanks to Catholic Answers, today I’m giving away TEN copies of Tim Staple’s remarkable new book on Mary, Behold Your Mother.

 

Behold Your Mother: A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines

by Tim Staples

Catholic Answers, 368 pages, hardcover

 

 

From the cross Jesus gave us his mother to be our mother, too: a singularly holy model, consoler, and intercessor for our spiritual journey. Yet most Protestants and too many Catholics don t understand the role that God wants her to play in our lives. In Behold Your Mother, Tim Staples takes you through the Church s teachings about the Blessed Virgin Mary, showing their firm Scriptural and historical roots and dismantling the objections of those who mistakenly believe that Mary competes for the attention due Christ alone.

Combining the best recent scholarship with a convert s in-depth knowledge of the arguments, Staples has assembled the most thorough and useful Marian apologetic you ll find anywhere. He also shows how all the Marian doctrines are relevant even essential to a salvific faith in Jesus. From her divine maternity to her perpetual virginity, from her Immaculate Conception to her Assumption, the Church s core teachings about Mary are intertwined with the mysteries of Christ. In a word, Mary matters. Read Behold Your Mother and find out just how much.

 

 

I’m using Rafflecopter to help with the giveaway, which is cool because it allows you multiple entries for commenting, posting on Facebook, sharing on Twitter, etc. Click below to enter:

(If you’re reading this through email or RSS and don’t see the giveaway widget, click here.)

By entering this giveaway you agree to occasionally receive email updates from me—no spam, just updates about free books, cool links, and exciting news.

 

 

The winner(s) will be randomly selected next Friday and the books will be sent out, free of charge, shortly thereafter.

In the future I’ll be giving away more books and resources, sometimes multiple items per giveaway! So subscribe via feed reader or email to ensure you never miss your chance to win.

(Since I’m covering the shipping costs, only residents within the continental United States are eligible to win.)

The post “Behold Your Mother” Book Giveaway! appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

From Atheist Philosopher to Coptic Desert Monk [Video]

This fascinating 18-minute documentary covers the life and conversion of Father Anthony El Lazarus, a Coptic monk living in seclusion in the Red Sea mountains, in a 4th-century monastery about 200 miles southeast of Cairo, Egypt.

He spent the first forty years of his life as an atheist, lecturing in Australian universities on literature and philosophy. But after his mother died of cancer, he left his native land and set out on an existential journey that led him to God—and eventually to life as a monk.

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

(HT: Vox)

The post From Atheist Philosopher to Coptic Desert Monk [Video] appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

Saints and Social Justice [Event]

Excited to speak at St. Michael Catholic Church in Houston, TX on “The Saints and Social Justice”!









Date:
November 19, 2014


Time:
7:00pm-8:30pm


Event:
Saints and Social Justice


Topic:
The Saints & Social Justice: A Guide to Changing the World


Sponsor:
St. Michael Catholic Church


Venue:
St. Michael Catholic Church (PLC A)


Location:
Houston, TX


More Info:
Click here for more information.

The post Saints and Social Justice [Event] appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

Shameless Monday! (November 2014)

Shameless Monday is back! Every couple months my blog becomes your platform. It’s your chance to shamelessly promote your project, website, or favorite link.

I was inspired by Jon Acuff‘s “Shameless Saturdays”. Here’s the idea:

 

“Post a link to whatever it is you’re all about with no shame or apologizing or feeling like you’re making a comment on a post you really don’t care about but are instead secretly trying to promote your own blog.

 

(I’ve done that myself many times. The best way to do it is to say, “That’s an interesting post. It reminds me of something I wrote recently on my blog ……”)”

 

Whatever it is, we want to hear about it:

 

What’s your blog?

What’s your cause?

What’s your project?

What’s your book?

What’s your ministry?

What’s your product?

What’s the link you want people to see more than anything else?

 

Tell us in the comment box below and be sure to provide a link to whatever you’re sharing.

 

The post Shameless Monday! (November 2014) appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

“All Roads” Book Giveaway!

“Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.” – St. Augustine

 

Since I’ve built up a large collection of extra books and resources, every week I give some away absolutely free, no strings attached. Each giveaway lasts seven days with a new one beginning every Friday. You can enter any time during the week. Check out my past giveaways here.

Thanks to American Chesterton Society, today I’m giving away THREE SIGNED copies of Dale Ahlquist’s new book, All Roads: Roamin’ Catholic Apologetics.

 

 
All Roads: Roamin’ Catholic Apologetics

by Dale Ahlquist

ACS Books, 288 pages, paperback

 

 

In an irresistible series of short, sparkling chapters, Dale Ahlquist defends the Catholic faith against a wide variety of attacks that come at it from all sides. Combining quick wit, sympathetic understanding, and plenty of quotes from G.K. Chesterton, Ahlquist takes on such things as Atheism, Agnosticism, Islam, Protestantism, Materialism, Social Engineering, Environmentalism, as well as the many groups who openly oppose the moral and theological teachings of the Catholic Church.

Whether in the headlines, in the classroom, or in friendly, late night debates, the Catholic doctrine is challenged on every subject, every idea, every issue. But conversely, every conversation is a ready opportunity to demonstrate the truths of the Catholic Church. In other words, “All roads lead to Rome.”

 

 

I’m using Rafflecopter to help with the giveaway, which is cool because it allows you multiple entries for commenting, posting on Facebook, sharing on Twitter, etc. Click below to enter:

(If you’re reading this through email or RSS and don’t see the giveaway widget, click here.)

By entering this giveaway you agree to occasionally receive email updates from me—no spam, just updates about free books, cool links, and exciting news.

 

 

The winner(s) will be randomly selected next Friday and the books will be sent out, free of charge, shortly thereafter.

In the future I’ll be giving away more books and resources, sometimes multiple items per giveaway! So subscribe via feed reader or email to ensure you never miss your chance to win.

(Since I’m covering the shipping costs, only residents within the continental United States are eligible to win.)

The post “All Roads” Book Giveaway! appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

Your God is Too Boring [Book]

Your God is Too Boring by Jon Leonetti (Dynamic Catholic, 2014)











When most people dismiss God as boring or irrelevant, they’re rejecting a straw man. In this exciting and helpful book, Jon Leonetti sets fire to those scarecrows and reveals, in their place, a God who is far more fascinating, mysterious, and invigorating than his distorted impostors.

The post Your God is Too Boring [Book] appeared first on Brandon Vogt.