The image of the "cafeteria Catholic" -- one who blithely picks and chooses those doctrines that suit him -- is a staple of American culture. But are American Catholics really so nonchalant about how they integrate the ancient devotional practices of Catholicism with the everyday struggles of the modern world? For Sense of the Faithful, Jerome Baggett conducted 300 intensive interviews with members of six parishes to explore all aspects of this question. The book is an act of listening that allows ordinary Catholics to speak for themselves about how they understand their faith and how they draw upon it to find purpose in their lives. Many American Catholics, Baggett shows, do indeed have an uneasy relationship with the official teachings of the Church and struggle to live faithfully amidst the challenges of the modern world. But Baggett finds that it is a genuine struggle, one that reveals a dynamic and self-aware relationship to the Church's teachings. Moving beyond the simplistic categories of national surveys and the politically motivated pronouncements of pundits, Sense of the Faithful ultimately paints a more complex -- and more accurate -- portrait of what it is like to be Catholic in America today.

Winner of the 2010 Lynlea Rodger Australia Theological Form (ATF) Press Theological Book Prize The Eyes of Faith presents a systematic theology of the sense of the faithful (sensus fidelium) and shows the fundamental and necessary interrelationship between sensus fidelium, tradition, Scripture, theology, and the magisterium. Ormond Rush provides fresh perspectives on a number of issues. He proposes that tradition and Scripture are the products of the sensus fidelium and that the inspiration of Scripture is best understood in terms of the Holy Spirit working through the sensus fidelium. In addressing the role of the sensus fidei in the lives of individual believers, the book provides a unique approach to the way Christians make sense of their faith within the diverse contexts of daily life. It shows how the imaginative capacity of the sensus fidei forms a foundational notion for understanding the diversity of spiritualities, inculturations, and contextualizations of the Gospel in the history of the church up to the present. This ecclesial activity of interpreting the Christ event through the sensus fidelium enables the church to proclaim the Gospel in new times and cultures throughout history. The Eyes of Faith proposes that, for an effective teaching of the faith to contemporary Christians, the distinctive roles of the magisterium and of theology must be conceived primarily in terms of, and in relationship to, the ecclesial Spirit-given capacity of the sensus fidelium. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ormond Rush is lecturer of theology and former president of St. Paul's Theological College in Banyo, Australia, and is president of the Australian Catholic Theological Association. He is the author of Still Interpreting Vatican II: Some Hermeneutical Principles and The Reception of Doctrine: An Appropriation of Hans Robert Jauss' Reception Aesthetics and Literary Hermeneutics. PRAISE FOR THE BOOK: "In addition to its internal argumentation, the book's extensive footnotes, Scriptural references, and Church documents will make it a tremendously valuable tool for advanced researchers in several theological areas, including pneumatology, ecclesiology, Scripture studies, and hemeneutics. . . . Highly recommended." -- C. A. Montevecchio, Choice "Some works of scholarship stand out, providing a point of reference and showing the way forward. Orm Rush's study is in this class, and it is not surprising that its first release by CUA Press is a splendid hardback volume. This work makes a significant contribution to Catholic Theology." -- Rev. John Thornhill SM, The Australasian Catholic Record "Rush provides a theologically perceptive panorama of the sensus fidelium at work in the church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In addition to offering numerous insights--usually beneficial and sometimes provocative--Rush's study is extraordinarily well-researched. . . . [T]his volume is an outstandingly creative and comprehensive theological study of the grace of the Holy Spirit acting through the sensus fidelium in the reception of revelation in the church."--John Ford C.S.C., Theological Studies "Rush has here provided us with a sophisticated study of theological hermeneutics, as well as a foundational work in ecclesiology."--Lawrence S. Cunningham, Commonweal "This detailed and well-argued book explores the phenomenon of reception in both the Bible and in contemporary Roman Catholic tradition. . . . An insightful study for those interested in the newest wave of Roman Catholic dogmatic theology, which tends to draw deeply from biblical sources as well as Vatican teaching, this book genuinely advances discussions of the doctrine of reception." --Aaron Klink, Religious Studies Review

Do various members of the church--regardless of their generation, gender, race, sexual orientation, country of origin, and whatever their doubts are about official church teachings and policies--have any role in determining, safeguarding, and assessing the authentic teaching and praxis of the faith of the church? This has always been a haunting question in the life of the Christian church, though only recently acknowledged, because of the long-standing role of male clergy of European descent with a Eurocentric outlook who held hierarchical offices and determined official doctrines and moral and disciplinary codes. There have been controversies that bear on these matters over the course of the church's history. But it has only been over the last fifty years that the question has received increasing attention among Roman Catholics in terms of the baptismal anointing of the Spirit that bestows the gift of the sense of the faith on individuals and the collective sense of the faithful. This gift provides discerning skills to recognize, receive, and imaginatively and practically apply the living faith in history and society. This book explores these issues from historical, sociological, systematic and theological ethical perspectives, infused by the contributions of world Christianities.

This interdisciplinary, widely researched study reclaims the vital importance of the emotions emphasized both in the lives and teaching of Jesus and Paul, as well as in the writings of John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, and others.

As they examine the stories of incredible women of the Bible, readers will find hope, encouragement, and a strong sense of community in this beautiful, eclectic collection of writing, photos, and lyrics that reflect God’s faithfulness. Bringing together some of the most beloved Christian authors and songwriters of today, Faithful guides readers through the pages of Scripture to increase understanding of how God has always valued the integral role of females and how that shapes the lives of women today. The Faithful project is a collaboration between three major ministry partners: David C Cook, Integrity Music, and Compassion International. The accompanying album and a 2021 tour of live events celebrates the contributions of women while recognizing their empowerment through the faithfulness of God. This beautiful, creative book will invite readers to return again and again for reflection and inspiration through guided scripture reading and writing prompts.

Explore the things that really matter for a successful ministry. "Well done, good and faithful servant." Every ministry leader wants to hear these words when they meet their Lord. But what does successful ministry look like? There are many books on leadership strategies and church structures, but this one looks at what matters most: the character and attitude of church leaders. It recognizes that the spiritual health of the church leaders in large part determines the spiritual health of the congregation and therefore the success of the ministry. In this short, punchy, challenging and at times surprising book, Rico Tice draws on decades of experience in church leadership to call fellow pastors and others with oversight of areas of church ministry to define success biblically, fight their sin, lead themselves and serve their churches. A must-read on pastoral leadership for pastors, elders, worship leaders, youth leaders and anyone else with a leadership role in church ministry.

The perfect gift! A specially priced, beautifully designed hardcover edition of The Joy of the Gospel with a foreword by Robert Barron and an afterword by James Martin, SJ. “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus… In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.” – Pope Francis This special edition of Pope Francis's popular message of hope explores themes that are important for believers in the 21st century. Examining the many obstacles to faith and what can be done to overcome those hurdles, he emphasizes the importance of service to God and all his creation. Advocating for “the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned,” the Holy Father shows us how to respond to poverty and current economic challenges that affect us locally and globally. Ultimately, Pope Francis demonstrates how to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ, “to recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small.” Profound in its insight, yet warm and accessible in its tone, The Joy of the Gospel is a call to action to live a life motivated by divine love and, in turn, to experience heaven on earth. Includes a foreword by Robert Barron, author of Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith and James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage

Everyone has thoughts about God. But how do we know if our thoughts are true? If we want to know the truth about God, we need a sound approach to incorporating what the whole Bible teaches. In this concise introduction to systematic theology, theologian Graham A. Cole explores how we move from Scripture to doctrine in order to shape what we believe, what we value, and how we live. He shows us the importance of having the right method: rooted in the word of God, consistent with church history, in the context of a broken world, dependent on divine wisdom, and ultimately aiming at pure worship.

Two-term governor of Tennessee Bill Haslam reveals how faith--too often divisive and contentious--can be a redemptive and unifying presence in the public square. As a former mayor and governor, Bill Haslam has long been at the center of politics and policy on local, state, and federal levels. And he has consistently been guided by his faith, which influenced his actions on issues ranging from capital punishment to pardons, health care to abortion, welfare to free college tuition. Yet the place of faith in public life has been hotly debated since our nation's founding, and the relationship of church and state remains contentious to this day--and for good reason. Too often, Bill Haslam argues, Christians end up shaping their faith to fit their politics rather than forming their politics to their faith. They seem to forget their calling is to be used by God in service of others rather than to use God to reach their own desires and ends. Faithful Presence calls for a different way. Drawing upon his years of public service, Haslam casts a remarkable vision for the redemptive role of faith in politics while examining some of the most complex issues of our time, including: partisanship in our divided era; the most essential character trait for a public servant; how we cannot escape "legislating morality"; the answer to perpetual outrage; and how to think about the separation of church and state. For Christians ready to be salt and light, as well as for those of a different faith or no faith at all, Faithful Presence argues that faith can be a redemptive, healing presence in the public square--as it must be, if our nation is to flourish.