Summer 2015

It is the life of Man to know and to love God.  

As the prologue of our Catechism states:

     “God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man.

     He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church.”

Next to the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is the most important resource of our faith.  The teachings in the Catechism are based on Sacred Scripture, writings of the Fathers of the Church, the liturgy, and the Magisterium—the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church.  It is the revelation of the Tradition of the Church.

And, next to the Bible, the Catechism is a resource that should certainly be a part of every Catholic home library as a reference for questions that you or someone you know may have about the teachings of the Church.

Because of the tremendous significance of the Catechism in learning about the faith, we have made it the final selection for the 2014-2015 season, as well as the final selection for the Seasons of Reading program.  After seven years of reading recommendations, this program is approaching its closing season.

If you have missed any of our past selections, please feel free to browse through the list of our earlier seasons in the column to the right of this post.  You can also search through our previous posts to learn more about each of these selections.

We would like to thank all of the customers who have participated in this program.  Learning about our faith brings us closer to God and helps us better understand the depth and richness of the Catholic faith.  We hope that you will continue to take advantage of the wide selection of books available at St. Patrick Book & Gift. Our volunteers will be happy to suggest new reading materials to help keep you on the path to saintliness!

From now until October 31, The Catechism of the Catholic Church will be available for purchase at 20% of the regular retail price.

Spring 2015

From the moment we are baptized until we possess the beatific vision, we are all Unfinished Christians.  And so, before we pass from the vale of tears, it is our duty to cooperate with God's plans for us to become saints.  Blessed John of Avila said it best, "Your life consists in drawing nearer to God."  

As Lent is completed and we celebrate the Sacred Triduum, we hope to have experienced at least some degree of transformation of faith that has given us the desire to dive a bit deeper into the mystery that is God.  Traditionally, this period is known as the stage of Mystagogia.  Mystagogia or Mystagogy comes from the Greek words meaning "to lead through the mysteries."  It is the final stage for those who have gone through the RCIA program, but it is also a time of renewal and a deepening of faith for those who are already members of the Church.  This period is intended as a time to further discover what it means to participate in the sacramental mysteries of the Catholic Church.

The period of Mystagogia traditionally goes from Easter to Pentecost, and the selection for the Spring Seasons of Reading program, Living the Mysteries: A Guide for Unfinished Christians, is a devotional that follows that custom.  However, there is no reason that a reader could not use this devotional any time of the year.  As Unfinished Christians on that lifetime journey to sainthood, we can be open to learning more about our faith during any season of the year.

Each day, Living the Mysteries provides a short reading from one of the Church Fathers intended for prayer and reflection as well as a recommendation for some practical application of that day's teaching.  So, for anyone who has just completed RCIA to those who are cradle Catholics, this book can help all Unfinished Christians explore the mysteries of our faith and bring us nearer to God. 

From now until June 30, Living the Mysteries: A Guide for Unfinished Christians, will be available for purchase or special order at St. Patrick Book & Gift for 20% off the regular retail price!  This book would also make an excellent Confirmation gift.