New converts and cradle Catholics alike are often perplexed by the myriad of devotions, traditions, practices, and beliefs that the Catholic Church has accumulated over the past twenty centuries. Why pray to St. Anthony to find something lost? Why keep a St. Christopher medal in your car? Or why bury a statue of St. Joseph — upside down! — in your yard when selling your house? In Helen Hoffner’s lovingly-illustrated, encyclopedic Catholic Treasures and Traditions, you’ll find succinct – and sometimes amusing – answers to these and hundreds of other questions. This delightful book explains the origin and nature of most of the common traditions of the Catholic Faith, as well as the source and meaning of many of the quaint and obscure ones. From Forty Hours to First Fridays and from Holy Hours to Holy Days, you’ll find in these pages an informative, delightful compendium of the Catholic way of life, including information about: Novenas * Penance * Prayers for the Dead * First Fridays * Votive Candles * Religious Medals * St. Francis Statues * Bathtub Madonnas * Holy Cards * Crucifixes * House Blessings * Prayer Corners * Advent Calendars * Jesse Trees * Marian Apparitions * Vestments * Icons * Divine Mercy * The Sacred Heart * The Liturgical Year * Holy Days * Religious Orders * The Holy See * The Roman Curia * The Divine Office * Holy Oils * Genuflecting * Relics * Stations of the Cross * The Sacraments * The Angelus * Litanies * Patron Saints and much more to acquaint you with the many wonderful treasures and traditions of the Catholic Faith!

This newly revised, expanded edition answers the questions most commonly asked by both Catholics and non-Catholics. Dues outlines traditional Catholic religious history, gives an engaging overview of the rich variety of customs associated with Advent, Christmas, Holy Week, and Lent, and provides a thorough understanding of why Catholics practice their faith the way they do.

How did the maestro advise the young violinist? There is a story of a young violinist who had an audition at Carnegie Hall. As she hurriedly exited the subway, she was momentarily disoriented. To her relief, she saw an old man with a violin under his arm and thought that surely he would know. “Sir, can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?” she asked. “Practice,” he said, with a grin. It’s the same way with Catholic spirituality–growing in faith is all about practice. This collection by today’s most respected Catholic writers offers a compendium of these practices, traditional and contemporary, that can enable us to sustain and grow a vibrant spiritual life. This must-have volume will quickly become a trusted companion for an entire lifetime of engagement with the beauty and richness of the Catholic faith. Contents: Catholic Spirituality in Practice / Colleen M. Griffith Practices of Prayer The Lord’s Prayer / N. T. Wright Praying with the Saints / Elizabeth A. Johnson, CSJ The Jesus Prayer / Joseph Wong, OSB, CAM Intercessory Prayer / Ann Ulanov and Barry Ulanov Centering Prayer / Joseph G. Sandman The Rosary/ Thomas H. Groome Liturgy of the Hours / Elizabeth Collier Praying with Images / Colleen M. Griffith Everyday Prayers / Compiled by Thomas H. Groome Practices of Care Living the Sacramental Principle / Esther de Waal Practicing Hospitality / Ana María Pineda, RSM Practicing Forgiveness / Marjorie J. Thompson Family Life as Spiritual Practice / Wendy M. Wright Día de los Muertos / Alex Garcia-Rivera Practicing Care for the Environment / United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Practices of Spiritual Growth The Ignatian Examen / Dennis Mamm, SJ Spiritual Direction / Kathleen Fischer Retreats / Anne Luther Lectio Divina / Sandra M. Schneiders, IHM Discernment / David Lonsdale Eucharistic Adoration / Brian E. Daley, SJ The Angelus / Thomas H. Groome Stations of the Cross / Thomas H. Groome Fasting / Joan Chittister, OSB Thanksgiving after Communion / Thomas H. Groome Spiritual Practice Goes Digital / Barbara Radtke Conclusion: Keep on Practicing, You’ll Get Better at It / Thomas H. Groome

Scott Hahn, the bestselling author of The Lamb’s Supper and Reasons to Believe, celebrates the touchstones of the Catholic life, guiding readers to a deeper faith through the Church’s rites, customs, and traditional prayers. Signs of Life is beloved author Scott Hahn’s clear and comprehensive guide to the Biblical doctrines and historical traditions that underlie Catholic beliefs and practices. Devoting single chapters to each topic, the author takes the reader on a journey that illuminates the roots and significance of all things Catholic, including: the Sign of the Cross, the Mass, the Sacraments, praying with the saints, guardian angels, sacred images and relics, the celebration of Easter, Christmas, and other holidays, daily prayers, and much more. In the appealing conversational tone that has won him millions of devoted readers, Hahn presents the basic tenets of Church teachings, clears up common misconceptions about specific rituals and traditions, and responds thoughtfully to the objections raised about them. Each chapter concludes with loving, good-natured, inspiring advice on applying the Church’s wisdom to everyday life.

This encyclopedia has more than 4200 entries, 280 contributors, leading experts on all aspects of Catholicism. Tables of the liturgical calendar, eccumenical councils and all the Popes. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

'Catholic Treasures New And Old' seeks to untangle those threads once more and to show that Catholics have much to cherish in their common heritage.

A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families offers ideas for activities, crafts and recipes to help families celebrate the various Seasons and Feast Days of the Liturgical Calendar. with fun-filled activities, we can build our own family traditions while passing on the richness of our Catholic faith. Suggested activities are intended to prompt families to actively practice their Faith, delving into Church Celebrations and allowing these festivities to spill back into home life.

There is a fabric of culture, a world view, made up of popular customs, rituals, devotions and the like that have formed the Catholic way of life for centuries. This handbook explains many of these elements of Catholic culture and explores the changes in Church life since Vatican II.

Although most Catholic priests are devout men who have sincerely committed their lives to Christ and His Church, they are also human beings with faults and failings. Some are cranky and stern, and others can be weak or indifferent. Some grapple with alcohol or sensuality, and others are controlled by money. In our day, thousands of priests have been exposed for committing the gravest of sins: abusing those who have been entrusted to their care. In these searingly honest and insightful pages, EWTN host and author Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., brings consolation to all those who have been abused, wounded, or scandalized by the wickedness of priests and bishops. He takes you on a reassuring exploration of the Gospels to show how Christ anticipated the sins of the clergy and the hierarchy—and gives us examples of how to deal with them spiritually emotionally, rationally, and practically. Fr. Mitch reinforces what Christ’s parables teach us: that good and evil will co-exist in the Church, and that spiritual blindness will affect the moral life of the clergy and the lay faithful alike. The solution, he says, lies in the power of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection and the Apostles’ response to the Risen Lord: authentic conversion to faith in Jesus, which reorients our lives toward selfless service of others.

Provides answers to frequently asked questions on Catholic faith, worship, culture, customs, and symbols