Aiming to make this compelling story of church politics and Christian service available to all Australians, Lesley O'Brien presents a moving account of the life and times of Mary MacKillop. She reveals the extraordinary story of the 'bold' women behind the veil, once outlawed by the church hierarchy and now held up by the same church as a model for others. Mary is indeed a model of courage and selflessness. Her egalitarian vision and penetrating social conscience have a special relevance for Australians of our own time. With the official recognition of Mary as Australia's first saint, attention turns to the question: 'Who was this woman?' If Australians are to have a saint, they want one of flesh-and-blood, one truly their own. Mary MacKillop, a woman of strength, humour and compassion, does not disappoint.

Blessed Mary MacKillop (15 January 1842 - 8 August 1909), of Scottish descent, was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. This book delves deeply into what inspired this great Australian.

For more than two centuries, "Butler's" has been one of the best known, most widely consulted hagiographies. In its brief and authoritative entries, readers can find a wealth of knowledge on the lives and deeds of the saints, as well as their ecclesiastical and historical importance since canonization.

A specialist in human goodness, divine providence, and recent saints, Patricia Treece offers the fruits of years of research on how God meets the financial needs, in varying ways, or his people. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, for instance, refused to let anyone raise money in her name, insisting if God wanted something done through her, he'd send the money. Other friends of God did seek donations and got them in amazing ways. In this lively book she offers copious examples of miracles, answered prayers and nine universal principles to live by so you can join those who know, in good times or bad, God will provide.

In 2010 Mary MacKillop became the first Australian citizen to be officially proclaimed a saint by the Catholic Church. This event, and the long canonisation process which preceded it, has received much coverage in the Australian media. Yet confusion persists over what exactly it means to be a saint. In this book scholars from the Catholic Theological College of South Australia and the Flinders University School of Theology share reflections from different perspectives: historical, biblical, philosophical, theological, ethical, spiritual, liturgical and personal. Veneration of St Mary MacKillop is set in the context of a tradition which can be traced back to Christian martyrs in the ancient Roman Empire, and which, it is argued, is still meaningful today.

Provides insight into a key issue of Christian history which still has a huge influence on ecclesiastical practice and politics.

This book introduces the special dynamics of women and their close relationships with the gift in both past and contemporary religious settings. Written from a cross-cultural perspective, it challenges depictions of women’s roles in religion where they have been relegated to compliance with specifically designated gendered attributes. The different chapters contest the resultant stereotypes that deny women agency. Each chapter describes women as engaged in an aspect of religion, from that of ritual specialists, to benefactors and patrons, or even innovators. The volume examines topics such as sainthood and sacrifice so as to refine these ideas in constructive ways that do not devalue women. It also examines the meaning of the term “gift” today, embracing the term in both figurative and literal ways. Such a collection of diverse women’s writings and activities provides a significant contribution to their quest for recognition, and also suggests ways this can be understood and realized today.

This book on penal law explains the main topics of penal law, with cases and examples of its implementation, using the changed text of Book 6 of the Code of Canon Law that will come into effect on December 8, 2021. Pope Francis has revised Book 6 of the Code of Canon Law, “Penal Sanctions in the Church,” canons 1311-1399. Of these 89 canons, 63 have been changed and others have been renumbered. Changes include a new canon 1376 concerning the crimes of stealing and misappropriation of church property; canon 1398 §2 making the sexual abuse of minors by religious brothers and sisters a crime; c. 1398 §1 no. 2 making grooming a crime. Other changes in canon law since 1983 have been incorporated into the new book 6. These include raising the age for sexual abuse from under age 14 to under age 18; a 1988 law imposing penalties for recording confessions; penalties for the attempted ordination of a woman; penalties for bishops failing to report or take sufficient measures against perpetrators of sexual abuse; and for clerics using pornography of those under age 18.