Religious Books

A landmark book on the role of visual arts, beauty and aesthetics in ecumenical exchange.
In a visual age, this book shares the belief that beauty and art can bridge differences. Essays from catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Protestant artists, scholars, clergy and theologians explore beauty as a means to unify the body of Christ. The occasion of the Reformation commemoration year offers a time to reflect on the rich artistic heritage shared by all Christians and an opportunity to learn from other traditions.

"The Ecumenism of Beauty is a call to the church to again embrace the arts in service to its liturgy and mission." --Sandra Bowden, Collector, Curator and Past President of Christians in the Visual Arts

Essays include Calvin and the Visual Arts: The Aesthetics of Soli Deo Gloria, The Artist as Contemplative, and Art and the Liturgy.

Contributors to this book include:
Timothy Verdon, Editor -- Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Director (Florence, Italy)
William Dyrness -- Fuller Theological Seminary, Professor of Theology
Jérôme Cottin -- University of Strasbourg, Professor of Practical Theology
Susan S. Kanaga --Mount Tabor Ecumenical Centre for Art & Spirituality, Artist
Philippo Rossi -- Florentine Study Centre of Stanford University, Visiting Professor
Martin Shannon -- The Community of Jesus, Liturgist and Director of Formation

The work of contributors Susan S. Kanaga and Filippo Rossi is currently on display at the Grande Museo del Duomo in Florence, Italy. For more information visit artsandecumenism.org.

Twenty years ago, Dr. Alan Schreck's landmark book The Essential Catholic Catechism, was one of the most prominent books in the New Evangelization"publishing boom, through which many Catholics, both converts and cradle Catholics alike, learned the Faith.

TAN is proud to bring this book that has cultivated the hearts and souls of so many back into print. This new edition features an introduction by TAN publisher Conor Gallagher, student and friend of Dr. Schreck at Franciscan University of Steubenville. It is a new edition, but the questions and answers remain for they are perennial ones, that each new generation must ask and answer for themselves.

Who is God? How does the Church help me to know God better? What is the connection between faith and reason, between the spiritual life and "real life?" Does it really matter what I believe, so long as I'm a good person?

These questions and many others are answered simply and with clarity by the bestselling author Dr. Schreck. This book will give you a basic introduction to the Catholic faith that is both theologically sound and readily understandable.

A useful resource for anyone interested in learning more about the basic tenets of the Catholic faith. Keyed to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this catechism also helps readers to understand more fully this important document and its relevance to daily life. An excellent tool for anyone who wants to be able to explain the Catholic faith more clearly. Ideal for religious education instructors, pastors, and RCIA directors.

People from all faiths and none at all find in the prayers of the mystical traditions expressions that speak to their deepest needs.

Whether appealing for knowledge, seeking a sense of the love of God, or about asceticism, questions and doubts, or contemplation and action, each of these prayers (from Christian and other religious tradition sources) are vibrantly alive. Rooted in classic sources, each prayer in Essential Mystic Prayers is important, especially now, in the 21st century. This book collects some of the most beautiful of these prayers.

In flame of sunrise bathe my mind, that when I wake, clear-eyed may be my soul's desire. --Fiona Macleod, Scotland, 19th century

How should the God who made heaven and earth come into me? Is there any room in me for you, my Lord, my God? --St. Augustine, Africa, 5th century

Praise be to Thee, Most Supreme God, Thy Beauty do we worship, to Thee do we give willing surrender. -- from Sufi morning prayers

Popular meditations for every day, featuring a text from Sacred Scripture, a quotation from the writings of a Saint, and a meaningful prayer. Includes an introduction by Rev. Frederick Schroeder. Illustrated and printed in two colors. Includes ribbon marker.

Hookup culture has become widespread on college campuses, and Catholic colleges are no exception. Indeed, despite the fact that most students on Catholic campuses report being unhappy with casual sexual encounters, most studies have found no difference between Catholic colleges and their secular counterparts when it comes to hooking up. Drawing on a survey of over 1000 students from 26 institutions, as well as in-depth interviews, Jason King argues that religious culture on Catholic campuses can, in fact, have an impact on the school's hookup culture, but when it comes to how that relationship works: it's complicated.

In Faith with Benefits, King shows the complex way these dynamics play out at Catholic colleges and universities. There is no straightforward relationship between orthodoxy and hookup culture--some of the schools with the weakest Catholic identities also have weaker hookup cultures. And not all students define the culture in the same way. Some see a hookup as just a casual encounter, where others see it as a gateway to a relationship.

Faith with Benefits gives voice to students, revealing how their faith, the faith of their friends, and the institutional structures of their campus give rise to different hookup cultures. In doing so, King addresses the questions of students who don't know where to turn for practical guidance on how to navigate ever-shifting campus cultures, reconciling their faith with their relationships. Students, parents, faculty, administrators-indeed, anyone who cares about Catholic teenagers and young adults-will find much of value in this book.

New book of prayers taken from the classic work of Thomas a Kempis. All the prayers are given in large type and sense lines for easier reading and understanding. They are permeated by the inspiration and devotion of their author and inculcate the following of Christ.

"Francis, rebuild my Church!" That is how St. Francis of Assisi heard the call of Christ. It is also how Jorge Mario Bergoglio, at the age of 76, and a Jesuit, seems to have accepted his election to the papacy with the choice of a name that no other pope has ever chosen.

Who is Pope Francis, elected in one of the shortest conclaves in history? Who is the man chosen to be the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope?

How does he see the world and his ministry? How does he understand his call to serve Christ, his Church, and the world? In short, what is the mind and heart of this new pope of a new world--of the Americas and the rest of the world of the 21st Century?

In the words, the ideas, and the personal recollections of Pope Francis--including material up to the final hours before his election--the most highly regarded Vatican observer on the international scene reveals the personality of this man of God, gentle and humble. The son of Italian immigrants to Argentina, he made radically following Christ and the way of non-violence the pillars of his pastoral ministry in a country, continually tormented by social and economic inequities.
This complete biography offers the keys to understanding the man who was a surprise choice, even a kind of revolutionary choice, for pope. It is the story of the humble pastor of one of the world's largest archdioceses; a cardinal who takes the bus, talks with common folk, and lives simply. It is the story of why the cardinal electors of the Catholic Church set aside political and diplomatic calculations to elect a pope to lead the renewal and purification of the worldwide Church of our time.

"Brothers and Sisters, before the bishop blesses the people, I ask you to pray to God that he will bless your bishop."
- Pope Francis
"Catholics and others eager to know all they can about Pope Francis will learn a great deal from Andrea Tornielli's first-person account."

-James Hitchcock, Professor of History, St. Louis University, author of History of The Catholic Church