Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591) was a major reformer of the Carmelite Order. He was canonized as a saint by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726. What he accomplished in the monasteries paralleled what Saint Theresa of Avila did in the convents. Together, these two saints are considered the founders of the Discalced Carmelites. In fact, the two saints were friends and corresponded regularly. 

Purgatory (Latin "purgare", to make clean, to purify), in accordance with Catholic teaching, is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions. The whole penitential system of the Church testifies that the voluntary assumption of penitential works has always been part of true repentance. The councils of the Church remind the faithful that God does not always remit the whole punishment due to sin together with the guilt. 

St. Catherine of Siena was born during an outbreak of the Plague in Siena in 1347. She was brought up in the faith, and especially after her own sister died at the age of 16, found herself committed to pursuits of piety. She joined the Dominican order, and, at the age of 21, had what she described as her "mystical marriage" to Christ. 

When You Suffer is a refreshing look at the mystery of pain and suffering and how to find meaning and even joy in the midst of it. Jeff Cavins discusses why we suffer and how our suffering can draw us closer to God. He explains that suffering is the greatest opportunity to love as Christ loves and how, by "offering up" our suffering, we join in Christ's mission to redeem the world.

Andrew Jukes (1815-1901), deacon of St. John's Church, Hull, wrote this classic work on the offerings of the Old Testament’s Book of Leviticus and their significance for the New Testament believer. The author considers the five tabernacle offerings of Leviticus as forms of Christ's work to enable the believer's fellowship with God. 

In the midst of crisis, confusion, and a world at war with the Church, it's time to come home again to our spiritual father, St. Joseph. In this richly researched and lovingly presented program of consecration to St. Joseph, Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, brings to life the wonders, the power, and the ceaseless love of St. Joseph, Universal Patron of the Church and the Terror of Demons. 

Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century features 21 saints who walked the earth in the 20th century and were canonized in the 21st. Each chapter tells the story of one woman’s radical gift and the world in which she lived. You’ll also find stories of everyday women who are living these gifts in ways large and small today.  

This highly acclaimed and captivating book offers the world the most thorough understanding to date of “the Warning,” or “the Illumination of Conscience” - a critical moment in human history when every person alive will see their soul in the light of divine truth - including fascinating stories of those who have already experienced it for themselves.

As Catholics, we believe in the resurrection of the body. We profess it in our creed. We're taught that to bury and pray for the dead are corporal and spiritual works of mercy. We honor the dead in our Liturgy through the rite of Christian burial. We do all of this, and more, because when Jesus Christ took on flesh for the salvation of our souls he also bestowed great dignity on our bodies. In Hope to Die: The Christian Meaning of Death and the Resurrection of the Body, Scott Hahn explores the significance of death and burial from a Catholic perspective.

If you're looking for a new Lenten experience, here are 40 fresh ideas. Some will challenge you to deepen your prayer life; others will open your mind to new ways to serve others. Each of the 40 ways includes a reflection to help you understand more about Lent and why it matters. You'll learn how to have a more creative experience of Lent. You'll discover positive, proactive ways to take action instead of the same old routine of giving something up.

In Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary, Dr. Pitre takes listeners step-by-step from the Garden of Eden to the Book of Revelation to reveal how deeply biblical Catholic beliefs about Mary really are. Dr. Pitre uses the Old Testament and ancient Judaism to unlock how the Bible itself teaches that Mary is in fact the new Eve, the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven and Earth, and the new Ark of the Covenant. 

The Bible teaches us the real story of Christmas. The problem is people have taken this story and added onto it. Cultures have added on to it. It’s passed through countries, and they’ve tacked on their little spin. We have thousands of years of a Christmas that is built around legends and myths. The Christmas we know is, in places, more a fairy-tale. It’s an inspiring one for sure. But a fairy-tale, nonetheless. This book helps us slow down and unpack the layers so we can see just how beautiful this gift really is.

A trailblazer in the civil rights movement, John M. Perkins led voter registration efforts in 1964, worked for school desegregation in 1967, and was jailed and tortured in 1970. He is no less zealous today as he sees a new generation of freedom fighters battling the same issues and the same systems he has spent his life working to correct.

New York Times best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado has discovered that at any given point, almost everyone is dealing with something difficult. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, marriage issues, illness, job loss, or the stress of everyday life, you need the assurance that God will be there for you during tough times. 

You already know Jesus is important, but do you know him as a person? Do you ever feel you have only bits of his story and teachings in your head but want to understand it all from front to finish, including how it applies to you in this overwhelming age? People learn and think differently today...and this book gets that. Anyone can experience the joy, peace, and power of Christ like never before with this fresh approach to the life of the Master.