It is a bit confusing and uncomfortable to be born a Roman Catholic. Each of us certainly has a body of received dogma and moral teachings but received wisdom is quite another thing. Wisdom comes from living. Moral demands and dogmatics without reference to the individual mind and considered behavior is, at best empty and, at worst, a kind of cultural fascism. Most of us who worship regularly and identify ourselves with a particular religion are not theologians any more than we are constitutional scholars or very complete historians of our own countries. At the same time we share a set of problems and goals: How do you make practical sense out of faith and useful meaning out of Church teaching? We are as much creators of our faith and morality as we are consumers of church dogmas and morals. The goal of faith is hope, tranquility and meaning. To this end, stories need be told. “Shared stories” is one definition of family and community. The People of God can only be persons of faith who share their stories. Coping Catholic is shared stories and meditations on the Creed, Commandments and Sacraments of a baptized Roman Catholic. It initiates a dialogue within the Christian Community. It shares the life experiences of a church-going, college educated Roman Catholic and reports what he believes. It proceeds dogma by dogma in the Creed, commandment by commandment, sacrament by sacrament, and life experience by life experience. His story reports the what and explains the why. The author’s intent in sharing his story is that some readers will find a foothold of hope in the story of how another person, who shares much of their experiences and education, has learned to cope with the faith and doctrine many of us were born to.

The surprising similarities in the rise and fall of the Sunni Islamic and Roman Catholic empires in the face of the modern state Coping with Defeat presents a historical panorama of the Islamic and Catholic political-religious empires and exposes striking parallels in their relationship with the modern state. Drawing on interviews, site visits, and archival research in Turkey, North Africa, and Western Europe, Jonathan Laurence demonstrates how, over hundreds of years, both Sunni and Catholic authorities experienced three major shocks and displacements—religious reformation, the rise of the nation-state, and mass migration. As a result, Catholic institutions eventually accepted the state’s political jurisdiction and embraced transnational spiritual leadership as their central mission. Laurence reveals an analogous process unfolding across the Sunni Muslim world in the twenty-first century. Identifying institutional patterns before and after political collapse, Laurence shows how centralized religious communities relinquish power at different rates and times. Whereas early Christianity and Islam were characterized by missionary expansion, religious institutions forged in the modern era are primarily defensive in nature. They respond to the simple but overlooked imperative to adapt to political defeat while fighting off ideological challenges to their spiritual authority. Among Laurence’s findings is that the disestablishment of Islam—the doing away with Islamic affairs ministries in the Muslim world—would harm, not help with, reconciliation to the rule of law. Examining upheavals in geography, politics, and demography, Coping with Defeat considers how centralized religions make peace with the loss of prestige.

It is a bit confusing and uncomfortable to be born a Roman Catholic. Each of us certainly has a body of received dogma and moral teachings but received wisdom is quite another thing. Wisdom comes from living. Moral demands and dogmatics without reference to the individual mind and considered behavior is, at best empty and, at worst, a kind of cultural fascism. Most of us who worship regularly and identify ourselves with a particular religion are not theologians any more than we are constitutional scholars or very complete historians of our own countries. At the same time we share a set of problems and goals: How do you make practical sense out of faith and useful meaning out of Church teaching? We are as much creators of our faith and morality as we are consumers of church dogmas and morals. The goal of faith is hope, tranquility and meaning. To this end, stories need be told. "Shared stories" is one definition of family and community. The People of God can only be persons of faith who share their stories. Coping Catholic is shared stories and meditations on the Creed, Commandments and Sacraments of a baptized Roman Catholic. It initiates a dialogue within the Christian Community. It shares the life experiences of a church-going, college educated Roman Catholic and reports what he believes. It proceeds dogma by dogma in the Creed, commandment by commandment, sacrament by sacrament, and life experience by life experience. His story reports the what and explains the why. The author's intent in sharing his story is that some readers will find a foothold of hope in the story of how another person, who shares much of their experiences and education, has learned to cope with the faith and doctrine many of us were born to.

Countless Christians — including scores of saints — have suffered profound, pervasive sorrow that modern psychiatrists call “depression.” Then, as now, great faith and even fervent spiritual practices have generally failed to ease this wearying desolation of soul. In these pages, Catholic psychiatrist Aaron Kheriaty reviews the effective ways that have recently been devised to deal with this grave and sometimes deadly affliction — ways that are not only consistent with the teachings of the Church, but even rooted in many of those teachings. Extensive clinical experience treating patients with depression has shown Dr. Kheriaty that the confessional can't cure neuroses, nor can the couch forgive sin. Healing comes only when we integrate the legitimate discoveries of modern psychology and pharmacology with spiritual direction and the Sacraments, giving particular attention to the wisdom of the Church Fathers and the saints. Here, with the expert help of Dr. Kheriaty, you'll learn how to distinguish depression from similarlooking but fundamentally different mental states such as guilt, sloth, the darkness of sin, and the sublime desolation called “dark night of the soul” that is, in fact, a privileged spiritual trial sent to good souls as a special gift from God. You'll come to know how to identify the various types of depression and come to understand the interplay of their often manifold causes, biological, psychological, behavioral, cultural, and, yes, moral. Then you'll learn about exciting breakthroughs in pharmacological and other medical treatments, the benefits and limitations of psychotherapy, the critical place that spiritual direction must have in your healing, and the vital role that hope — Christian hope — can play in driving out depression.

Experiencing stress can be frustrating, upsetting, or downright debilitating. Managing it, however, can provide a new source of energy, accomplishment -- and everyday application of the Faith. Managing Stress with the Help of Your Catholic Faith helps readers confront, understand, and overcome challenges. Through the teachings and Traditions of the Church, it explores the causes of stress, explains ways to identify personal stress triggers, and delivers realistic, helpful tools for coping. Written for individuals and support groups, this practical resource covers: A better understanding of stress and human suffering Innovative ways to break the cyclical nature of stress Discovering the stress-reducing impact of receiving Christ in the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation Finding comfort and release in prayer Taking an outside perspective to avoid stress-induced selfishness Look for more titles from the ... with the Help of Your Catholic Faith series from Our Sunday Visitor!

Winner of a 2018 Catholic Press Association Award: Sacraments. (Second Place). In the first book to directly integrate the Twelve Steps with the practice of Catholicism, Scott Weeman, founder and director of Catholic in Recovery, pairs his personal story with compassionate straight talk to show Catholics how to bridge the commonly felt gap between the Higher Power of twelve-step programs and the merciful God that he rediscovered in the heart of the sacraments. Weeman entered sobriety from alcohol and drugs on October 10, 2011, and he's made it his full-time ministry to help others who struggle with various types of addiction to find spiritual wholeness through Catholic in Recovery, an organization he founded and directs. In The Twelve Steps and the Sacraments, Weeman candidly tackles the struggle he and other addicts have with getting to know intimately the unnamed Higher Power of recovery. He shares stories of his compulsion to find a personal relationship with God and how his tentative steps back to the Catholic Church opened new doors of healing and brought him surprising joy as he came to know Christ in the sacraments. Catholics in recovery and those moving toward it, as well as the people who love them will recognize Weeman's story and his spiritual struggle to personally encounter God. He tells us how: Baptism helps you admit powerlessness over an unmanageable problem, face your desperate need for God, and choose to believe in and submit to God’s mercy. Reconciliation affirms and strengthens the hard work of examining your life, admitting wrongs, and making amends. The Eucharist provides ongoing sustenance and draws you to the healing power of Christ. The graces of Confirmation strengthen each person to keep moving forward and to share the good news of recovery and new life in Christ. Weeman's words are boldly challenging and brimming with compassion and through them you will discover inspiration, hope, sage advice, and refreshingly practical help.

"Illustrates how aspects of one's Catholic faith can contribute powerfully to emotional healing. Includes real life examples. In comparison with the two previous editions, features more practical tools to deal with depression as well as additional spiritual components"--

What it means to be a man or a woman is questioned today like never before. While traditional gender roles have been eroding for decades, now the very categories of male and female are being discarded with reckless abandon. How does one act like a gentleman in such confusing times? The Catholic Gentleman is a solid and practical guide to virtuous manhood. It turns to the timeless wisdom of the Catholic Church to answer the important questions men are currently asking. In short, easy- to-read chapters, the author offers pithy insights on a variety of topics, including • How to know you are an authentic man • Why our bodies matter • The value of tradition • The purpose of courtesy • What real holiness is and how to achieve it • How to deal with failure in the spiritual life

Winner of the Resource of the Year award and a first-place award in resources for ministry from the Association of Catholic Publishers and a third-place award in pastoral ministry books from the Catholic Media Association. Many pastoral leaders feel ill-equipped to respond to the turmoil of those who face the death by suicide of a loved one. Responding to Suicide is the first book written for Catholic leaders that takes a holistic approach to understanding suicide and ministering effectively in its aftermath. More than a dozen leading mental health practitioners, Catholic theologians, and pastoral care experts share how best to respond to suicide as leaders in parishes, schools, healthcare systems, and other Church settings. The book offers a cross-disciplinary approach that provides basic information about the central role of mental health in suicide and clarifies Church teaching about suicide, funerals and burials for those who have died by suicide, and their afterlife. The National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that suicide was the tenth most common cause of death among Americans of all ages in 2017 and the second leading cause of death among fifteen to twenty-four year-olds. Death by suicide is usually sudden, often violent, and frequently comes at the end of a long and difficult struggle with a mental illness. Heaped on top of that is a social stigma that leaves loved ones in shock and often burdened with shame. Responding to Suicide addresses common concerns of the bereaved following a suicide: skepticism that Catholic leaders will understand; fear that the Church teaches that their loved one is in hell; and belief that they will find little if any support in the Church. More than a dozen contributors from across the spectrum of Catholic life provide rich guidance rooted in firsthand experience of suicide loss. Contributors include Deacon Ed Shoener, Bishop John P. Dolan, Msgr. Charles Pope, Leticia Adams, Archbishop Wilton Gregory, Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, and clinical experts in the field of mental health and suicide. They share personal stories of loss, grief, hope, and healing, and clear up misconceptions about Church teaching. They offer practical takeaways for pastoral leaders: dos and don’ts when talking about suicide guidance for preaching and planning funerals information on the role of mental illnesses in suicide resource lists for those who grieve as well as for your own professional development suggested protocols for ministering to a school or parish community following a suicide ideas about forming parish outreach ministries to the bereaved that address the needs of suicide loss

When St. Jane Francis de Chantal encouraged St. Francis de Sales to be a bit angrier over the opposition they were facing in starting their religious order, he replied, “Would you have me lose in a quarter hour what has taken me twenty years’ hard work to acquire? St. Francis de Sales had quite a temper when he was young. But over time he learned to convert his angry feelings into virtuous action. He knew that anger never leads to happiness. Worse, it causes tremendous harm to our relationship with God. In these pages, the wise Fr. Morrow shows you how to pull the rug out from beneath your anger and reclaim a life of peace and grace. You’ll come to understand the root causes of angry behavior, ways to heal painful memories, and how to deal well with your hurts and humiliations. You’re not likely to overcome blowups and anxiety through willpower alone. You need tools that help you cultivate the habits that lead to virtuous action. You’ll discover here simple ways to influence your behavior, control your impulses, and rebuild tattered relationships. When you follow the simple advice offered in these pages, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’re giving up all desire for revenge, forgiving those who hurt you, and finding peace in your life. You’ll also learn: The difference between righteous and sinful anger.Why saying "Well, that’s just the way I am” could cost you your soul.The three root causes of every angry outburstThe five stages of healing hurtful memories.How to discipline an angry childThe three actions every Christian MUST take to overcome sinful anger. “Father Morrow presents a practical solution to a common problem. This book can make the world a much better place." Mike Aquilina