Religion and theology became an occult science for many; and belief in the values of life that religions proclaim turned to be useless and void. The handing on of the faith’ has become a deep crisis and a problematic today and has turned to be a burning issue for the contemporary Church. What is necessary in the contemporary culture is to develop a counter-culture that passionately understands the love of God and sharing it passionately and joyfully with the fellow humans and the world around us. We need a counter-culture of sharing the truth and love which is God. Pope Francis’ message is none other than this. He exhorts for a missionary renewal in the Church and to have a new theological outlook that leads the Church to be a Church of the poor – a counter culture of compassionate and tender love. When it comes to India, the Church, a minority in number, faces a lot of challenges in its practice and proclamation of faith. Globalization and the new economic reforms badly affected the Indian culture which is turning to be secular, as well as fundamentalist. With a weak presence in many areas the Church in India is struggling to make its presence felt in the nation. Here the author is making an attempt to understand the joyful sharing of the Gospel in the Indian context in the light of the first two documents of Pope Francis. The author discusses the challenges and ways to face the challenges to be truthful by being in love and faith. It will provide a clear understanding to live the faith relying upon God’s providence and mercy, and will enable the Church to work for the holistic development of humanity.

Religion and theology became an occult science for many; and belief in the values of life that religions proclaim turned to be useless and void. The handing on of the faith’ has become a deep crisis and a problematic today and has turned to be a burning issue for the contemporary Church. What is necessary in the contemporary culture is to develop a counter-culture that passionately understands the love of God and sharing it passionately and joyfully with the fellow humans and the world around us. We need a counter-culture of sharing the truth and love which is God. Pope Francis’ message is none other than this. He exhorts for a missionary renewal in the Church and to have a new theological outlook that leads the Church to be a Church of the poor – a counter culture of compassionate and tender love. When it comes to India, the Church, a minority in number, faces a lot of challenges in its practice and proclamation of faith. Globalization and the new economic reforms badly affected the Indian culture which is turning to be secular, as well as fundamentalist. With a weak presence in many areas the Church in India is struggling to make its presence felt in the nation. Here the author is making an attempt to understand the joyful sharing of the Gospel in the Indian context in the light of the first two documents of Pope Francis. The author discusses the challenges and ways to face the challenges to be truthful by being in love and faith. It will provide a clear understanding to live the faith relying upon God’s providence and mercy, and will enable the Church to work for the holistic development of humanity.

The Vatican II was an event of a new facelift for the entire edifice of the Catholic ecclesiology. It called for the renewal in the universal Catholic Church. This book deals with the question: How can the Catholic Church in India accept the council's challenge for renewal and become truly Indian in its being and essence? Undertaking a systematic examination of the post-conciliar ecclesiological development in the Indian Catholic Church, in its existential multi-religious and multi-cultural context, the author attempts to develop an ecclesiological reflection for the Indian context.

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

A study of the most important document from Pope Francis to date exploring key components of his agenda for the church.

Instrumentum Laboris is the (working document) for the 3rd Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (to be held October 5-19) which focuses on “pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelization”.The Instrumentum Laboris consists of three parts. The first part focuses on the biblical and magisterial understanding of marriage, and features a heavy focus on the “natural law.” It also reflects on the role of the family today, the “fundamental cell of society, where we learn to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one another.”The second part concerns many pressing challenges to marriage and the family. These include cohabitation, remarried divorcees, teen motherhood, mixed-religion marriages, and same-sex unions.The final part deals with openness to life and parental responsibility. It explores how to transmit the faith to younger generations and how to form children in difficult or irregular family situations.This document will set the tone for October's anticipated Synod on the Family, and it deals with some of the most important issues today.

"A magnificent book, bursting with profound spiritual insights, from a man who has quickly become one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time." --James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage In the year since he was elected, Pope Francis’s simple message of mercy, service, and renewal has spread to every corner of the world. Through his gentle demeanor, selfless actions, and welcoming call for service to others, Pope Francis has captured the attention of a world longing for an authentic message of hope—we want to hear what he has to say. Collected from Pope Francis’s speeches, homilies, and papers presented during the first year of his papacy, The Church of Mercy is the first Vatican-authorized book detailing his vision for the Catholic Church. From how to be citizens of the world to answering God’s call for evangelization, Pope Francis's deep wisdom reminds us that the Church must move beyond its own walls and joyfully bring God's mercy wherever suffering, division, or injustice exists. Named TIME Magazine’s 2013 “Person of the Year,” Pope Francis is helping the Church continue toward an authentic Christianity that is faithful to the Gospel and resonant with the world’s greatest needs. The Church of Mercy encourages each of us to ignite the flame within to help share the light of Christ and revitalize the Church.

2006 Catholic Press Association Award Winner After suffering an eclipse during the post-Vatican II liturgical reform, popular piety has regained its vital role in the spiritual life of Catholics. In response to its re-emergence, the Congregation for divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy on December 17, 2001. The Directory was written for bishops and their collaborators as a pastoral guide addressing the relationship between liturgy and popular piety. Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines, A Commentary by Peter C. Phan provides a chapter-by-chapter commentary on the Directory, summarizing its contents, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses, and offering suggestions on how devotional practices can be implemented in the United States. For liturgists, religious educators and students, pastoral leaders, and other interested Christians, this volume is helpful toward promoting a vigorous and authentic devotional life in the community, while respecting the preeminence of liturgical worship. The Commentary begins with a preface by Peter C. Phan and an introduction by James Empereur, entitled Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines." Chapters in Part One: Emerging Trends: History, Magisterium, Theology are *Liturgy and Popular Piety in a Historical Perspective, - by Mark R. Francis; *Liturgy and Popular Piety in the Church's Magisterium, - by Peter Fink; and *Theological Principles for an Evaluation and Renewal of Popular Piety, - by Nathan Mitchell. Chapters in Part Two: Guidelines for the Harmonization of Popular Piety with the Liturgy are *The Liturgical Year and Popular Piety, - by Keith F. Pecklers; *Veneration of the Holy Mother of God, - by Joyce Ann Zimmerman; *Veneration of the Saints and Beati, - by Rail Gomez; *Suffrage for the Dead, - by Peter C. Phan; *Shrines and Pilgrimages, - by Ana Maria Pineda. Concludes with a bibliography that presents the most significant recent writings on popular piety and liturgy, by Robert Brancatelli. Peter C. Phan, PhD, is the Ignacio Ellacuria Professor of Catholic Social Thought at Georgetown University. "