Brandon Vogt's Blog, page 27

Shameless Monday! (July 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! (July 2014) appeared first on BrandonVogt.com.

Father Robert Barron MEGA 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.

 



 

This week’s giveaway is sponsored by Word on Fire, the media evangelization ministry of Fr. Robert Barron. He and the team have donated an amazing giveaway package. One winner will receive a mega Fr. Barron prize pack including the ten-part CATHOLICISM DVD series, the recent CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization DVD series, and a copy of each of Fr. Barron’s nine books.

Read below for a list of all the giveaway items and for details on how to enter:

 

CATHOLICISM DVD series
by Fr. Robert Barron

Word on Fire, DVD, five discs

Released on August 25, 2011

For the first time, in breathtaking, high-definition cinematography, the beauty, goodness and truth of the Catholic faith are illustrated in a rich, multimedia experience.

Journey with acclaimed author, speaker and theologian Fr. Robert Barron to more than 50 locations throughout 15 countries. Be illuminated by the spiritual and artistic treasures of this global culture that claims more than one billion of the earth’s people.

From the sacred lands of Israel to the beating heart of Uganda, from the glorious shrines of Italy, France, and Spain, to the streets of Mexico, Kolkata, and New York City, the fullness of CATHOLICISM is revealed. Journey deep into the Faith as you watch each episode.

Mike Leonard, a veteran NBC Today Show correspondent and acclaimed filmmaker, is the Executive Producer of this groundbreaking series.

The box set includes five DVDs, each containing two episodes. Each episode runs 50-60 minutes.

 

CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization DVD set
by Fr. Robert Barron

Word on Fire, DVD, four discs

Released on September 10, 2013

CATHOLICISM taught us what the Church believes and why. Now CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization shows us how to put our Faith into action in today’s increasingly secular world.

You’ll follow Fr. Barron around the world to Australia, England, and around the U.S. to examine the Church’s mission within the challenges of Western secular culture. This 90-minute film first tells us what the “New Evangelization” is, and then takes us on a fascinating tour to witness examples of new ardor, new expressions, and new methods of evangelization in action.

The DVD set also includes four hours of extra features, including two Fr. Barron speeches, as well as full interviews and insights on the New Evangelization with George Weigel, Ross Douthat, Brad Gregory, and Brandon Vogt.

 

Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith
by Fr. Robert Barron

Image, 304 pages, hardcover

Released on September 6, 2011

What is Catholicism? A 2,000 year living tradition? A worldview? A way of life? A relationship? A mystery? In Catholicism Father Robert Barron examines all these questions and more, seeking to capture the body, heart and mind of the Catholic faith.

Starting from the essential foundation of Jesus Christ’s incarnation, life, and teaching, Father Barron moves through the defining elements of Catholicism – from sacraments, worship, and prayer, to Mary, the Apostles, and Saints, to grace, salvation, heaven, and hell – using his distinct and dynamic grasp of art, literature, architecture, personal stories, Scripture, theology, philosophy, and history to present the Church to the world.

Paired with his documentary film series of the same title, Catholicism is an intimate journey, capturing “The Catholic Thing” in all its depth and beauty. Eclectic, unique, and inspiring, Father Barron brings the faith to life for a new generation, in a style that is both faithful to timeless truths, while simultaneously speaking in the language of contemporary life.

 

Eucharist
by Fr. Robert Barron

Orbis, 141 pages, paperback

Released on September 30, 2008

Fr. Barron, the popular preacher and podcasting priest, offers inspiring insights into the beauty of Christ’s presence in our lives and the centrality of the profound mystery of the Eucharist as an important part of that presence.

Today so many believers do not have much understanding or appreciation for the great mystery of the Eucharist, which Vatican II called the “source and summit of the Christian life.” This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God and the real presence of Christ.

 

 

Word on Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ
by Fr. Robert Barron

Crossroad, 240 pages, paperback

Released on April 1, 2008

Word on Fire is one of the leading introductions to Catholic faith and culture. Based on specific Bible readings from the Old and the New Testament, Fr. Barron shares enthusiastically from the riches of Christian belief and tradition. His lively presentation of Catholicism uses art, music, painting, poetry, philosophy and the saints’ lives to illustrate the Biblical message.

With sections on God, Jesus, the church, the liturgy, living the spiritual life, and the saints—each one featuring a beautiful illustration by Michael O’Neill McGrath—this book offers passionate evangelism for discerning readers interested in Catholicism, whether in private reflection or in group discussion.

 

Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master
by Fr. Robert Barron

Crossroad, 192 pages, paperback

Released on April 1, 2008

In this book, a young, contemporary theologian examines the life and work of Catholicism’s greatest theologian.

Father Robert Barron shares with the reader not only the deep spirituality within Aquinas’ theological writings, such as the arguments for God’s existence, but also Aquinas’ little known spiritual writings on prayer and other topics. Throughout the book, he makes Aquinas’ teachings accessible and applicable to our daily lives.

The result is that you’ll discover a brilliant saint who is deeply in love with Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

Priority of Christ, The: Toward a Postliberal Catholicism
by Fr. Robert Barron

Brazos, 352 pages, paperback

Released on June 1, 2007

For a long time, Christians have tried to bridge the divide between Christianity and secular liberalism with philosophizing and theologizing.

In The Priority of Christ, Father Robert Barron shows that the answer to this debate and the way to move forward lies in Jesus. Barron transcends the usual liberal/conservative or Protestant/Catholic divides with a postliberal Catholicism that brings the focus back on Jesus as revealed in the New Testament narratives.

Barron’s classical Catholic postliberalism will be of interest to a broad audience including not only the academic community but also preachers and general readers interested in entering the dialogue between Catholicism and postliberalism.

 

Bridging the Great Divide: Musings of a Post-Liberal, Post-Conservative Evangelical Catholic
by Fr. Robert Barron

Sheed and Ward, 312 pages, paperback

Released on September 17, 2004

Bridging the Great Divide represents a pivotal moment in the life of the Catholic community. Today’s faithful are searching for an expression of Catholic Christianity that is vibrant, colorful, provocative, counter-cultural, deeply rooted in the tradition, and full of the promise of the Good News.

In this timely and prophetic book, Father Robert Barron-himself a member of the younger generation-has minted a new vernacular and blazed a new way that bridges the great divide and gives voice to the concerns of post-liberal, post-conservative, evangelical believers.

 

 

 

The Strangest Way: Walking the Christian Path
by Fr. Robert Barron

Orbis, 175 pages, paperback

Released on April 9, 2002

Is Christianity a bland, domesticated religion, unthreatening and easy to grasp? Or is it the most exotic, unexpected, and uncanny of religious paths?

For the mystics and saints—and for Robert Barron who discovered Christianity through them—it is surely the strangest way.

“At its very center, ” writes Barron, “is a God who comes after us with a reckless abandon, breaking open his own heart in love in order to include us in the rhythm of his own life.” What could be more compelling?

 

 

 

 

Heaven in Stone and Glass: Experiencing the Spirituality of the Great Cathedrals
by Fr. Robert Barron

Crossroad, 128 pages, paperback

Released on April 1, 2002

Like a mystical tome awaiting to be deciphered, a Gothic cathedral holds many secrets about the soul’s yearning for God.

In Heaven in Stone and Glass, Catholic priest and professor of theology at Mundelein Seminary in Chicago teaches us how to read these secrets, with beautiful reflections on aspects such as light and darkness, the labyrinth, the meaning of gargoyles and demons, and the imagery of vertical space. whether you are preparing for a pilgrimage to York Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, or looking ahead to inspirational bedside reading, this book is the perfect guide.

 

 

And Now I See: A Theology of Transformation
by Fr. Robert Barron

Crossroad, 296 pages, paperback

Released on September 1, 1998

Barron, professor of systematic theology at Mundelein Seminary, near Chicago, offers an accessible exploration of Christian theological concepts He divides his book into three sections as he examines Christianity as a source of human transformation.

In his first section, Barron argues that human nature is alienated from itself and thus humans are in need of a mediator who can draw them back to God and self.

The second section takes up a renewed understanding of God in light of the alienated nature of humanity. In his final section, Barron contends that Christ is a healer and reconciler who seeks to draw humanity back into relationship with God. Along the way, Barron draws on sources as diverse as Dante, Paul Tillich, Thomas Merton and Flannery O’Connor.

 

 

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

Note: By entering this week’s giveaway, you’ll also receive free email updates from Fr. Barron about his latest work. You can unsubscribe from these at any time.

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

 

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 Father Robert Barron MEGA Giveaway! appeared first on BrandonVogt.com.

Download your FREE copy of “The Saints’ Favorite Books”

>> Download FREE copy of The Saints’ Favorite Books (PDF) <<

 

I love to read. And like all heavy readers, I’m always hunting for good books. I constantly ask friends, what are you reading? What books do you recommend? What books changed your life?

But one day I had a revelation: why not ask the saints?

St. Josemaria Escriva claimed, “Reading has made many saints.” That’s so true. While some saints were illiterate, like Catherine of Siena, many of them were faithful readers. So why not follow their lead?

I spent several months trying to uncover the books they enjoyed. I read biographies, journals, personal letters, and more. I then collected all that research into a new book, titled The Saints’ Favorite Books: Read What They Read, Become Who They Are.

And here’s the best part: I’m giving the book away completely FREE to people who sign up for my new email list!

To get your copy, simply click the link below:

Download FREE copy of The Saints’ Favorite Books (PDF)

 

(If that link above doesn’t work for you, just visit SaintsFavoriteBooks.com.)

Inside, you’ll find fourteen saints and their favorite books, including:

St. Augustine of Hippo
St. Benedict of Nursia
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Ignatius of Loyola
St. Teresa of Ávila
St. John of the Cross
St. Francis de Sales
St. John Eudes
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati
St. Teresa Benedicta
Servant of God Dorothy Day
Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

This isn’t just a plain, black-and-white text document. It’s a professionally designed eBook with beautiful graphics and interactive links. Here are a couple sample pages:

 

I also threw in a special BONUS Appendix on “The Popes’ Favorite Books.” Which book did Pope Pius X keep on his nightstand? Which book did Pope Benedict say he would bring on a deserted island? Find out when you download your FREE copy of The Saints’ Favorite Books.

After you read the book, be sure to let me know what you think in the comment box below! Enjoy!

The post Download your FREE copy of “The Saints’ Favorite Books” appeared first on BrandonVogt.com.

“Forming Intentional Disciples” Mega-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 the good folks at Our Sunday Visitor, I’m giving away TEN Forming Intentional Disciples prize packs. Each of the ten winners will receive two books:

 

 

Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus
by Sherry Weddell

Our Sunday Visitor, 224 pages, paperback

Released on July 10, 2012

How can we transmit a living, personal Catholic faith to future generations? By coming to know Jesus Christ, and following him as his disciples.

These are times of immense challenge and immense opportunity for the Catholic Church. Consider these statistics for the United States.

Only 30 percent of Americans who were raised Catholic are still practicing.
Fully 10 percent of all adults in America are ex-Catholics.
The number of marriages celebrated in the Church decreased dramatically, by nearly 60 percent, between 1972 and 2010.
Only 60 percent of Catholics believe in a personal God.

If the Church is to reverse these trends, the evangelizers must first be evangelized-in other words, Catholics-in-the-pew must make a conscious choice to know and follow Jesus before they can draw others to him. This work of discipleship lies at the heart of Forming Intentional Disciples, a book designed to help Church leaders, parish staff and all Catholics transform parish life from within.

Drawing upon her fifteen years of experience with the Catherine of Siena Institute, Sherry Weddell leads readers through steps that will help Catholics enter more deeply into a relationship with God and the river of apostolic creativity, charisms, and vocation that flow from that relationship for the sake of the Church and the world.

Learn about the five thresholds of postmodern conversion, how to open a conversation about faith and belief, how to ask thought-provoking questions and establish an atmosphere of trust, when to tell the Great Story of Jesus, how to help someone respond to God’s call to intentional discipleship, and much more.

And be prepared for conversion because when life at the parish level changes, the life of the whole Church will change.

 

Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus
by Ximena DeBroeck

Our Sunday Visitor, 16 pages, paperback

Released on March 28, 2014

What is keeping so many of us, and so many of our parishes, from becoming powerhouses of faith and evangelization is that we don’t have a living relationship with Christ that transforms us into intentional disciples.

Forming Intentional Disciples has become one of the most talked-about books of the decade in Catholic parishes across the country.

Written by Sherry Weddell, co-founder and co-director of the Catherine of Siena Institute, Forming Intentional Disciples takes a cleareyed look at the state of the Church today. Based on more than a decade of research with Catholics from across the country, the issues and opportunities in this book connect seamlessly with Pope Francis’ call for evangelization as we open wide the doors of faith!

Now the book that is changing hearts has a study guide that will help you change your parish or small faith community. Created by people who have experienced the transformative impact of discipleship firsthand, the Forming Intentional Disciples Study Guide provides tools and resources to “break the silence,” initiate conversations, share the story of faith, and begin walking the path of discipleship together.

 

 

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 new blog posts, giveaways, and books.

 

 

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 “Forming Intentional Disciples” Mega-Giveaway! appeared first on BrandonVogt.com.

Woohoo! The First Copies of “Saints and Social Justice” (Pictures)

It’s finally here! Me receiving the first copies of “Saints and Social Justice.”

 

It’s finally here! The print edition of my newest book, Saints and Social Justice: A Guide to Changing the World , released a few weeks ago. As fellow authors know, it takes an extraordinary amount of effort and struggle to produce a book. So when you finally receive a box of the first copies, it’s like seeing a child for the first time. You’re full of joy and satisfaction, stunned that it’s really, actually here!

If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, head over to Amazon and grab the paperback or Kindle version. The book became the #1 bestselling Catholic book on Amazon before it even released. Since then we’ve shipped over 3,000 copies. Reviews have poured in, through blogs, email, and social media, but I’d love to hear what you think!

If you already have your copy, do me a favor and please leave a short review on Amazon.com. The more reviews, the more Amazon promotes it to browsing customers, and therefore the more likely the book gets into the hands of people who need it.

I’ll leave you with some pictures of us receiving the first batch of books! It was a really exciting night in the Vogt household.

Isaiah opening the box…

 

…and dumping all the books on the ground.

 

After an entire year of work, I finally get to hold copies of “Saints and Social Justice”! Thanks, Our Sunday Visitor!

 

This pretty much sums up Isaiah and Teresa.

 

Two happy kiddos.

 

My beautiful wife, Kathleen, who sacrificed many Saturday mornings so that I could head to Panera and write.

 

Our little guy, Augustine, who is more interested in pizza than Daddy’s new book.

 

He took a look, but only while eating pizza.

 

“Turn the page, Mommy!”

 

Gianna, only nine weeks old, has no clue what a book is.

 

Isaiah, proudly holding the book which Daddy dedicated to him.

 

The books!

 

Order your copy at SaintsAndSocialJustice.com.

The post Woohoo! The First Copies of “Saints and Social Justice” (Pictures) appeared first on BrandonVogt.com.

Learning from a Dishwashing Bishop

Today we continue our regular series called “Learning from the Saints.” Our guide is expert Bert Ghezzi, a dear friend of mine and the author of numerous books including Voices of the Saints, Saints at Heart, and Discover Christ: Developing a Personal Relationship with Jesus.

His newest book is The Saints Devotional Bible, which illuminates the Scriptures with the saints’ own reflections. You can learn more about Bert and his work at BertGhezzi.com.

Today, Bert profiles St. Bonaventure, a thirteenth century bishop and Doctor of the Church.

 

From 1248 to 1257, St. Bonaventure taught Scripture and theology at the Franciscan school at Paris. His teaching and writing there established him as a leading scholastic theologian. Bonaventure’s books about Christian realities dispel the false contemporary opinion that medieval theologians were dry-as-dust rationalists who wasted time counting angels on the heads of pins. In this excerpt from The Tree of Life, Bonaventure lyrically urges the soul to seek God:

 

“You soul devoted to God,

whoever you are, run

with living desire

to this Fountain of life and light

and with the innermost power of your heart

cry out to him:

 

‘O inaccessible beauty of the most high God

and the pure brightness of the eternal light,

life vivifying all life,

light illumining every light,

and keeping in perpetual splendor

a thousand times a thousand lights

brilliantly shining

before the throne of your divinity

since the primeval dawn!

 

O eternal and inaccessible,

clear and sweet stream from the fountain

hidden from the eyes of all mortals,

whose depth is without bottom,

whose height is without limit,

whose breadth cannot be bounded,

whose purity cannot be disturbed.

 

From this Fountain

flows the stream of the oil of gladness,

which gladdens the city of God,

and the powerful fiery torrent,

the torrent, I say, of the pleasure of God,

from which the guest at the heavenly banquet

drink to joyful inebriation

and sing without ceasing

hymns of jubilation.

 

Anoint us

with this sacred oil and refresh

with the longed-for waters of this torrent

the thirsting throat of our parched hearts

so that amid shouts of joy and thanksgiving

we may sing to you

a canticle of praise,

proving by experience that

with you is the fountain of life,

and in your light we will see

light (see Ps 36:10).”

 

After 1257 as Master-General of the Franciscans, Bonaventure governed the friars gently, but firmly. He reorganized the order whose numbers had increased enormously, and he renewed the friars’ zeal. However, Bonaventure could not resolve the dissension between rigorists who put poverty above all and moderates who wanted a less severe rule. His insistence on serious study departed from St. Francis’s teaching and required the possession of buildings and books. He saw the friars mission as preaching and giving spiritual direction, complementing the work of parish priests who often were not skilled in these things.

In 1273, Pope Gregory X appointed Bonaventure cardinal-bishop of Albano. His legates came bearing the red hat and other symbols of office only to find Bonaventure washing the dishes. The saint told his visitors to hang the hat on a tree and wait in the garden until he was finished with his task. “A constant fidelity in small things,” he once wrote, “is a great and heroic virtue.”

The pope summoned Bonaventure to Rome, charging him to prepare for the Council at Lyon that he had called to restore unity with the Greek Church. In 1274, Bonaventure played a major role at the meeting, even addressing the assembly in Greek, and the delegates agreed on reunion. Bonaventure preached at the Mass of reconciliation. The saint must have felt exhilarated at making peace in the Church. But he died shortly afterward, not surviving long enough to see his work dashed when Constantinople repudiated the reunion.

 

“No one can be made happy unless he rise above himself,

not by an ascent of the body, but of the heart.

But we cannot rise above ourselves

unless a higher power lifts us up.

And divine aid is available

to those who seek it from their hearts,

humbly and devoutly.”

— St. Bonaventure

 

 

(Image Credit: Bonaventure)

 

 

Read more from Bert at his website www.BertGhezzi.com, or check out his many books on Amazon.



 
 
 
 

 

The post Learning from a Dishwashing Bishop appeared first on BrandonVogt.com.

New and Notable Books (July 2014)

One perk of being a book reviewer is that publishers regularly send emails, catalogs, and 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 each month I highlight a few new and upcoming books that I’m particularly excited about.

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

 

 
To the Heights: A Novel Based on the Life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
by Brian Kennelly

TAN Books, 280 pages, paperback

Released on August 28, 2014

Enter the heart of a passionate young man, who in his brief life reached the heights of adventure, friendship—and sanctity.

Born to a wealthy family in Turin at the dawn of the 20th century, Pier Giorgio Frassati was good-looking, popular and athletic. He spent much of his youth climbing the rugged Italian Alps, disappearing into the clouds for days at a time. He was quick with a joke or a prank and enjoyed a good time. It seemed he was blessed with everything a young man could ask for.

But he hungered for more.

Despite coming from a family of such prestige, Pier Giorgio spent most days in the slums of Turin, visiting the poor and serving the sick. His love for Christ burned within him and brushed off on everyone he came into contact with – from lepers and orphans to college friends and political diplomats. He shared his Faith with kindness and charity, and defended it passionately against the evils of Fascism, even coming to blows with Mussolini’s thugs on numerous occasions.

Pier Giorgio touched the lives of thousands, yet his high-society parents remained unmoved by the life he led as they frowned upon his religious practices and charitable work. Reaching them would be his last challenge, his final mountain to climb.

To the Heights is an unforgettable novel about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Dig deeper than the biographical facts and discover the heart of a charismatic young man whose soul blazes brightly and uniquely among the host of heaven.

 

 
Katharine Drexel: The Riches-to-Rags Life Story of an American Catholic Saint
by Cheryl C. D. Hughes

Eerdmans, 283 pages, paperback

Released on August 1, 2014

On October 1, 2000, Pope John Paul II proclaimed Katharine Drexel (1858–1955) to be a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. Only the second American-born Catholic saint in history, Drexel founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891 and established more than sixty Blessed Sacrament missions and schools.

In this biography Cheryl Hughes chronicles the remarkable life of St. Katharine Drexel, exploring what drove her to turn away from her family’s wealth and become a missionary nun who served some of the most underprivileged and marginalized people of her time. Through her inspiration and effort “Mother” Katharine improved the lives of untold numbers of Native Americans and African Americans, overcoming open hostility to her work from various quarters, including the Ku Klux Klan. Her saintly legacy lives on today.

 

 
Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial?: . . . and Other Questions from the Astronomers’ In-box at the Vatican Observatory
by Guy Consolmagno, S.J. and Paul Mueller

Image Books, 304 pages, hardcover

Released on October 7, 2014

“Imagine if a Martian showed up, all big ears and big nose like a child’s drawing, and he asked to be baptized. How would you react?” – Pope Francis, May, 2014

Pope Francis posed that question – without insisting on an answer! – to provoke deeper reflection about inclusiveness and diversity in the Church. But it’s not the first time that question has been asked.

Brother Guy Consolmagno and Father Paul Mueller hear questions like that all the time. They’re scientists at the Vatican Observatory, the official astronomical research institute of the Catholic Church. In Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial? they explore a variety of questions at the crossroads of faith and reason: How do you reconcile the The Big Bang with Genesis? Was the Star of Bethlehem just a pious religious story or an actual description of astronomical events? What really went down between Galileo and the Catholic Church – and why do the effects of that confrontation still reverberate to this day? Will the Universe come to an end? And… could you really baptize an extraterrestrial?

With disarming humor, Brother Guy and Father Paul explore these questions and more over the course of six days of dialogue. Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial will make you laugh, make you think, and make you reflect more deeply on science, faith, and the nature of the universe.

 

 
Pope Francis and the Joy of the Gospel: Rediscovering the Heart of a Disciple
by Edward Sri

Our Sunday Visitor, 112 pages, paperback

Released on August 28, 2014

“I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ.”-Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium

The call of Christ to each of us is as heart-stopping as the moment captured by Caravaggio in his painting, The Call of St. Matthew. Jesus points, he invites-and Matthew the tax-collector must make a decision. “The Lord does not disappoint those who take that risk” and choose him, Pope Francis tells us in his Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel.

Dr. Edward Sri, theologian, author, and speaker, unpacks The Joy of the Gospel, making it accessible and actionable. In these brief reflections Sri explores those things that hold us back, how we can open ourselves to God’s love, and the difference this can make to our joyful proclamation of the Gospel.

Pope Francis and the Joy of the Gospel reminds us that when life weighs us down, “the Lord is already there, waiting for us with open arms.”

Great for use by individuals or groups, each chapter concludes with questions for reflection or discussion, moving readers further into a renewed personal relationship with Christ.

 

 

 
What new and notable books are you looking forward to?

 

The post New and Notable Books (July 2014) appeared first on BrandonVogt.com.

“Outside da Box” DVD 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 the generosity of Catholic Word, today I’m giving away a prize pack containing six DVDs from “Outside da Box”, an award-winning Catholic production company. You’re probably familiar with their Palm Sunday short film, which has been shared around Easter time each of the last couple years.

One winner will receive each of the DVD films below:

 

Zombies Vs. Jesus

A young man awakens on a Sunday morning to discover that his family has turned into zombies. In a panic, he and a friend seek refuge in the one place they believe they will be safe: the town’s Catholic church. There they discover the truth about what they have encountered. (8 minutes) – 2012 John Paul II International Film Festival – Best Short Film

DVD includes English and Spanish versions of the film, movie trailer, behind-the-scenes footage, and a discussion guide printed on the inside panel of the DVD package.

 

VCAT: The Creed

The latest release from Outside da Box! This fantastic DVD contains the following 13 short films – great for youth ministry, religious education, and Catholic school programs and classrooms:

The Creed – Is there a difference between believing there is a God and believing in God? (3 minutes) – English & Spanish subtitled versions
The Pursuit – I fled him, down the nights and down the days. I fled him, down the arches of the years. I fled him, down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind and in the midst of tears. I hid from him…(5 minutes)
38 Hours – After an earthquake leveled his son’s school building, a father digs through the rubble for 38 straight hours, clinging to the hope that his boy is still alive. (5 minutes)
Creation – What are the chances of life on earth to have just “happened”? What are the chances of the universe to be in perfect balance to allow life to exist? (3 minutes)
Joy Story – In the hands of young Aaron, the nativity figurines are transformed into 1st century action figures. After Aaron’s mother gently guides him away from that activity, the story of Jesus comes to life in the manger and an unusual participant in the scene learns about the important role Mary played in the salvation of the world. (6 minutes)
And Became Man – Bishop Michael J. Bransfield and teens of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston reflect on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. (6 minutes)
That 1 Day – Jesus Christ’s ONE DAY on the cross made our ETERNITY in heaven possible. (3 minutes)
Where’s the Body? – Sempronis and Alexander, the Roman soldiers assigned to guard Jesus’ tomb, have a problem. The body is gone. What do they tell Pilate? (5 minutes) – English & Spanish subtitled versions
You’re Dead. Now What? – Heaven. Hell. Purgatory. Particular Judgment. Final Judgment. What happens when we die? (3 minutes)
Chris Padgett on Fire with The Holy Spirit – Through his outrageous humor, incomparable intellect, and stunning good looks, Chris Padgett shares some theological and practical insights about the mysterious third person of the Holy Trinity. (4 minutes)
This is My Church – Meet the Savilla family. For generations, Holy Trinity Church in Nitro, West Virginia has been their “home.” This charming community, like thousands of others around the world, is a very important part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. (2 minutes)
Pray for Me – Josh uses some pretty typical excuses to reject his cousin Emma’s attempts to draw him back to Christ. But does he really believe those excuses? (6 minutes)
Forgiveness of Sins – Father Joseph Espaillat says what we’re all thinking about the hold of sin in our lives. He doesn’t stop there, however. This film declares the truth that there is forgiveness of sin for the praise of God’s glory. (4 minutes)

 

CateQUIZ’em! Sex & Marriage: Understanding God’s Beautiful Gift

Recommended for 8th-12th grade, CateQUIZ’em! Sex & Marriage is an interactive DVD-based video curriculum for catechesis. The volume content is put into the context of the four pillars of the Church – Creed, Sacraments, Morality, and Prayer.

Users interact with the content through the DVD’s four sections: Learn It!, Play It!, Live It!, and Pray It! This edition is great for integration with “Theology of the Body” presentations.

“It’s harder and harder to reach young people with the genius of Catholicism. Nothing is more effective that CateQUIZ’em!”

 

CateQUIZ’em! Holy Spirit: Lord & Giver of Life

Recommended for 8th-10th grade, CateQUIZ’em! Holy Spirit is an interactive DVD-based video curriculum for catechesis. The volume content is put into the context of the four pillars of the Church – Creed, Sacraments, Morality, and Prayer.

Users interact with the content through the DVD’s four sections: Learn It!, Play It!, Live It!, and Pray It! This edition is great for Confirmation prep.

“It’s harder and harder to reach young people with the genius of Catholicism. Nothing is more effective that CateQUIZ’em!”

 

Video Collection 2011

This DVD contains the following 17 short films (including Telly Award winner – Palm Sunday) – great for youth ministry, religious education, and Catholic school programs and classrooms:

Called by God – The person who chooses to follow Christ is continually invited to respond to the question, “What is God calling me to do?” Whether the inquiry is about today or a lifetime, it arises from the desire to pursue God’s will for one’s life. In this first installment of the “Nun Run” series, three young woman from Columbus, Ohio (and their priest companion) visit some REALLY cool nuns in pursuit of an answer to this important question. (33 minutes)
Palm Sunday – Brothers Julio and Marvin become restless during the reading of the Passion, and begin slapping one another with their palms. Their mother is not amused. After a brief scolding, the two settle for a moment before they agree to a bet: who can shout “crucify him” the loudest. Once arranged, the younger of the brothers gets overwhelmed by the experience. (5 minutes) – English & Spanish subtitled versions 2012 Telly Award – Best Religious Short Film
Palm Sunday: Behind-the-Scenes – Take a look at what went into the making of Palm Sunday and the reason behind it. (3 minutes)
Discerning God’s Call – To what is God calling me? Patrick and Kayla – both college students – share the important steps they take in their journey of life and faith as they seek to discern the answer to this question. (3 minutes)
Holy Water – When a ‘voice from above’ asks a teenage boy why he blesses himself with holy water as he enters the chapel in his local parish, the teen responds, “Isn’t that what you are supposed to do when you enter a church?” The ‘voice’ then takes him on a journey into his past and future to see exactly what this water means. (4 minutes)
Welcome Home – In Matthew 5:8, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” This short film metaphorically communicates the importance and beauty of confession, showing the parallel between home plate on the baseball diamond and the human soul. (4 minutes)
One Minute Inside a Catholic’s Head – Episode Two – Confession. Yikes! Arguably the Sacrament most feared and neglected by Catholics. Our main character from episode one is now seen standing in line for reconciliation, struggling to decide what to share with the priest. (1 minute)
Pray for Us: St. Joseph & St. Maria Goretti – This first installment of a series of reflections on the lives of some incredible Saints focuses on St. Joseph and St. Maria Goretti – two people who chose to live holy and chaste lives – no matter the cost! (4 minutes)
Who Do You Say That I Am? – This entertaining short film offers a great opportunity to reflect on the essential question in life: Who is Jesus Christ to me? (4 minutes)
Chris Padgett – Artist Spotlight – Chris Padgett is passionate about his relationship with Jesus Christ. For more than a decade, he has communicated his love for the Lord with thousands of teens and adults through speaking, writing, and music. In this interview, Chris talks about walking intimately with Jesus and what it truly means to love and be alive. (7 minutes)
I’m In Love – Chris Padgett – We seek to fill our hearts with so many false substitutes for love. Chris Padgett sings about the one true love that is greater than anything else we pursue. (4 minutes)
Mind. Body. SOUL? – School, friends, athletics, internet, work, band, family, relationships, theater…Just how much time do you take to develop your relationship with the Lord? (3 minutes)
Catholic Integration Agency – For the C.I.A. (Catholic Integration Agency), protecting and saving souls is a 24/7 job. (4 minutes)
The 23rd Psalm – Psalm 23 is one of the most well known chapters of Scripture both in and outside of the Church. This creative stop motion animation video combines unique imagery with the familiar and comforting verses from the 23rd Psalm. (2 minutes)
With This Ring – Amanda Vernon – In this music video, Amanda Vernon testifies to the beauty and importance of saving sex for marriage. (4 minutes)
The Lord’s Prayer – The ‘Our Father’ is probably the most popular and recited prayer in the history of the world. This creative stop motion animation video offers a unique look at the Lord’s Prayer. (2 minutes)
Perfect Sponsor – This humorous short film makes for a great discussion starter when talking about mentors and why we pick a Confirmation sponsor. (5 minutes)

 

Video Collection 2012

This DVD contains the following 10 short films (including Telly Award winner – Evidence) – great for youth ministry, religious education, and Catholic school programs and classrooms:

The Creed – Is there a difference between believing there is a God and believing in God? (3 minutes) – English & Spanish subtitled versions
Evidence – Jenny is on trial for being a Catholic. The Prosecutor thinks he has a pretty easy case until Jenny’s delinquent Defense Attorney finally shows-up and presents a very compelling argument. (7 minutes) – English & Spanish subtitled versions. 2013 Telly Award – Best Religious Short Film – Runner-Up
The Pursuit – I fled him, down the nights and down the days. I fled him, down the arches of the years. I fled him, down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind and in the midst of tears. I hid from him…(5 minutes)
Tech Talk – In this episode of Tech Talk, show host Susan Baumann visits with two inventors who present cutting-edge technological inventions that help people connect with God. One is tried and true and has been around for centuries. The other…well…you be the judge. (5 minutes) – English & Spanish subtitled versions
Eternal Life – While planning ‘the weekend of his life’ with a couple of friends, a strange man appears and talks with Daniel about eternal life and what he can expect to experience. (4 minutes)
38 Hours – After an earthquake leveled his son’s school building, a father digs through the rubble for 38 straight hours, clinging to the hope that his boy is still alive. (5 minutes)
The Word of God – It’s active. It’s relevant. It’s persistent. Sharper than any two-edged sword. Can you hear it? Are you listening for it…to it? (7 minutes) – English & Spanish subtitled versions
Face to Face – Some things are best said face to face. (4 minutes) – English & Spanish subtitled versions
Sharing the Gospel – It is routine for us to talk about so many different things – movies, concerts, people, food, but how often do we share the message of Jesus Christ with those around us? (6 minutes)
The Eucharist & You – Jimmy is an all American Kid! He’s got great friends and a loving family and also performs well in school and sports. He also goes to church and receives great strength from a very important source of life. (2 minutes)

 

 

I’m using Rafflecopter to help with the giveaway, which is great because it gives 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.)

 

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 “Outside da Box” DVD Giveaway! appeared first on BrandonVogt.com.

Because the Church Says So

On each of the next few Tuesdays, I’ll be sharing a guest post by my good friend Michael Marchand. They’re excerpted from his book, The E Word, which is a clear, concise, practical guide to the New Evangelization. Michael is now hosting live events and retreats based on the book. Find out more through his website.

 

 

Did you ever ask your dad for permission to do something only to get shot down? Most of us respond to such defeat by changing our target: we ask Mom. It only took a “Yes” from one or the other for us to feel justified in doing whatever it was we were hoping to do. But when both parents came back with the same response and the same instructions even when they were asked separately, we knew there was no chance of appeal.

Jesus very clearly tells us we’re supposed to evangelize, and his bride, the Church, tells us the exact same thing. She even uses stronger words than Him:

“The task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church.⦆ It is a task and mission which the vast and profound changes of present-day society make all the more urgent. Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize.” (Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi)

Don’t miss that last sentence: the Church exists to evangelize.

It’s not just one the things that the Church should do, it is THE thing she MUST do. If she exists to evangelize, if that is her deepest identity, then if she’s not evangelizing, there is no reason for the Church to exist.

If we are the Church, the body of Christ, then the mission of the Church is our mission. If the Church exists in order to evangelize, then that should be the very reason for our existence as well.

No excuses.

“No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples.” (Pope John Paul II, Repemtoris Missio)

Far too often we look at evangelization as optional. We tell ourselves: “Those people who are good at evangelization should do that, that’s not really my gift, so God can’t expect me to do something that I’m not good at. He can’t really want me to do something I don’t like doing. Right?”

Wrong:

“All the Christian faithful…are bound by the general obligation…to work so that the divine message of salvation is made known and accepted by all persons everywhere in the world.” (Code of Canon Law, 225)

Did you catch that? Canon Law says “All the Christian faithful…”, not “those who are good at sharing their faith” or “people who love to evangelize”. No, the same obligation to preach the Gospel that was imposed on Paul (1 Corinthians 9:16), has been imposed on all of us.

The Church doesn’t mince words. If we believe in Christ, evangelization is our duty, our obligation. It should be the reason for our existence.

 

 



 

 

Michael Marchand is the author of The E Word a fantastic resource on Catholic evangelization. The response to the book has been so positive, that Michael now also runs evangelization retreats based on it’s content at parishes and schools around the country. (Portions of this article were taken from The E Word.)

Michael is one the co-creators of ProjectYM, a Catholic Youth Ministry resource and popular collaborative blog. He’s also the guy behind ParishDesigner.com, PopeTweets, and ReigniteUganda.

 

 

(Image credit: TM01001)

The post Because the Church Says So appeared first on BrandonVogt.com.

Pier Giorgio Frassati Book and DVD 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.

 

Today we celebrate the Fourth of July in America, but it’s also the feast day of my favorite saint, Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati. Thanks to the generosity of Ignatius Press, today I’m giving away THREE Pier Giorgio prize packages.

Each contains a copy of the best book on Pier Giorgio, A Man of the Beatitudes, written by his sister, Luciana. It also includes a DVD copy of “Sanctity Within Reach”, an EWTN special on Pier Giorgio’s life featuring Christine Wohar, Executive Director of FrassatiUSA, and Wanda Gawronska, Pier Giorgio’s niece.

 

A Man of the Beatitudes: Pier Giorgio Frassati
by Luciana Frassati

Ignatius, 179 pages, paperback

The remarkable life of Blessed Pier Frassati for young adults. A beguiling and moving biography of Pier Giorgio Frassati, a handsome, athletic and fun-loving young man from a rich, aristocratic Italian family in the 1920′s who was recently beatified by Pope John Paul II. Pier Giorgio turned from a life of privilege to one devoted to working with the poor, and was a courageous witness of Christian faith and charity to many others. Discouraged by his affluent parents from his religious involvement and deep spiritual life, Pier Giorgio secretly ministered to the poor and marginalized, and was a leader of youth whose love of God transformed the lives of all those around him. He died of the polio virus at the age of 24, and the story of his life and death spread throughout Europe, influencing the young Karol Wojtyla, who as Pope John Paul II described Frassati as “a man of the eight beatitudes, a modern youth and great mountaineer who was keenly interested in the problems of culture, sports and social questions, as well as the true values of life.”

“This inspiring biography provides a highly enriching account of how the Beatitudes are the way of peace and joy. Frassati’s biography is a wonderful source of inspiration and encouragement for a world in search of hope.” — Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., Author, Arise from Darkness

 

Sanctity Within Reach: Pier Giorgio Frassati (DVD)
by Luciana Frassati

EWTN, 90 minutes, DVD

John Paul II called Blessed Giorgio Frassati, “The Man of the Eight Beatitudes,” and his friends described him as “an explosion of joy.” He ascended the mountain of personal holiness with zealous tenacity—in much the same fashion that he scaled his beloved Italian Alps.

This three-part EWTN film unpacks the life and spirituality of this avid mountain climber and fun-loving Italian youth who died at the age of 24 in 1925, and was beatified by John Paul II. Christine Wohar, Executive Director of FrassatiUSA and Wanda Gawronska, niece of Pier Giorgio, examine the life and astounding legacy of good works and deep spirituality of this outstanding Catholic young man.

“To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth, is not living but just existing.”

—Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

 

 

I’m using Rafflecopter to help with the giveaway, which is great because it gives 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.)

 

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 Pier Giorgio Frassati Book and DVD Giveaway! appeared first on BrandonVogt.com.