History
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Auschwitz And Absolution
$29.00Add to cartFew people know that in the face of his execution, the notorious Rudolf Hoss, the Commandant for Auschwitz, met with a Polish Jesuit priest, Fr. Wladyslaw Lohn. Hoss made a confession to Fr. Lohn for approximately four hours, and from Fr. Lohn he received communion. This compelling account of a secret and sacramental meeting not only tells what happened but seventeen Christian and Jewish scholars offer a critical challenge to, or celebration of Christian notions of forgiveness.
We have access to Hoss’s confession by way of selections from his published memoirs. Fr. Lohn said almost nothing about his encounter and certainly nothing about the confession itself. In addition to writing a thorough introduction to this encounter, in order to contemplate the priest’s thoughts, James Bernauer has composed a work of imagination, a diary of how this Jesuit might have scrutinized this meeting. Bernauer’s hope is that, in addition to giving a sense of a historical encounter, the reader will perform their own imaginative reflection on the issues. Throughout the work, the limitations on religious absolution of sin are heightened by recall of alternative Christian practices (historical and contemporary), as well as Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s warnings about “cheap grace.”
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Martyred And Blessed Together
$16.95Add to cartThe extraordinary story of the Ulma family is one of faith, courage, and heroic love of neighbor. Jozef and Wiktoria Ulma risked their lives to protect three Jewish families during the Holocaust. On the night of March 24, 1944, German Nazis raided their farmhouse and cruelly shot all of the Jews the Ulmas were hiding and every member of the Ulma family. In just minutes, seventeen people, including the Ulma’s six young children and the child in Wiktoria’s womb, were brutally executed.
In an unprecedented event, the entire Ulma family was beatified on September 10, 2023, in Markowa, Poland, where the family lived and was martyred. This is the first time the Catholic Church has beatified an entire family together.
Martyred and Blessed Together provides a detailed account of the virtuous lives and martyrdom of the Ulma family, while placing their lives and actions within the horrors of World War II and the historical relations between Poles and Jews.
While tragic, the story of the Ulma family demonstrates great sacrificial love. The Ulmas found strength in the parable of the Good Samaritan in the Gospel of Luke, and moved with compassion for their Jewish neighbors, went beyond even the Good Samaritan’s example by sacrificing their lives for the sake of total fidelity to Jesus Christ.
Blessed Jozef, Wiktoria, Stasia, Basia, Wladziu, Franio, Antos, Marysia, and unnamed baby Ulma, pray for us!
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100 Ways John Paul 2nd Changed The World
$17.95Add to cart“There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us.”
Pope Saint John Paul II embodied these words throughout his life. Born May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, Karol Jzef Wojty???a lived in times of political turmoil. As a young man during the Nazi occupation of Poland, he studied in an underground seminary. As pope, he was instrumental in the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. Through it all, he maintained an unwavering hope in the ultimate triumph of love, truth, and beauty. He remains a hero to millions of people for his unflinching defense of the Church and her teachings.
John Paul II changed the world forever in many ways; this book describes 100 of the most important. Each of the 100 accomplishments, teachings, or stories about John Paul II is fascinating, providing a glimpse into the astounding life and impact of this great and beloved saint.
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Redemptorists Of Cuenca
$34.99Add to cartDuring the civil war in Spain in the 1930s, all churches were closed against worship. Many of the churches were burned. All altars, religious images and objects of worship were destroyed. Bells, chalices, monstrances, and candelabras were melted down and used for the war. All monasteries and convents were emptied and their buildings repurposed. Priests and religious were detailed, jailed or shot without due process in the thousands.
Redemptorists of Cuenca: Six Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War is a stirring biography of the Redemptorist community at San Felipe Neri in the city of Cuenca, Spain. It recounts the community’s founding, the lead-up of the civil war in the early 1930s, the turbulent last days of the Redemptorists in hiding or in jail, to the murder of six of the twelve members of their community in July and August 1936.
The poignant stories of the six martyrs are brought to life by quotes from their personal journals. The book concludes with the story of their recognition as martyrs and subsequent canonization on October 13, 2013.
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Bearing False Witness
$18.95Add to cartAs we all know and as many of our well established textbooks have argued for decades, the Inquisition was one of the most frightening and bloody chapters in Western history, Pope Pius XII was anti-Semitic and rightfully called “Hitler’s Pope,” the Dark Ages were a stunting of the progress of knowledge to be redeemed only by the secular spirit of the Enlightenment, and the religious Crusades were an early example of the rapacious Western thirst for riches and power. But what if these long held beliefs were all wrong?
In this stunning, powerful, and ultimately persuasive book, Rodney Stark, one of the most highly regarded sociologists of religion and bestselling author of The Rise of Christianity (HarperSanFrancisco 1997) argues that some of our most firmly held ideas about history, ideas that paint the Catholic Church in the least positive light are, in fact, fiction. Why have we held these wrongheaded ideas so strongly and for so long? And if our beliefs are wrong, what, in fact, is the truth?
In each chapter, Stark takes on a well-established anti-Catholic myth, gives a fascinating history of how each myth became the conventional wisdom, and presents a startling picture of the real truth.
For example,
-Instead of the Spanish Inquisition being an anomaly of torture and murder of innocent people persecuted for “imaginary” crimes such as witchcraft and blasphemy, Stark argues that not only did the Spanish Inquisition spill very little blood, but it was a major force in support of moderation and justice.
-Instead of Pope Pius XII being apathetic or even helpful to the Nazi movement, such as to merit the title, “Hitler’s Pope,” Stark shows that the campaign to link Pope Pius XII to Hitler was initiated by the Soviet Union, presumably in hopes of neutralizing the Vatican in post-World War II affairs. Pope Pius XII was widely praised for his vigorous and devoted efforts to saving Jewish lives during the war.
-Instead of the Dark Ages being understood as a millennium of ignorance and backwardness inspired by the Catholic Church’s power, Stark argues that the whole notion of the “Dark Ages” was an act of pride perpetuated by anti-religious intellectuals who were determined to claim that theirs was the era of “Enlightenment.”In the end, readers will not only have a more accurate history of the Catholic Church, they will come to understand why it became unfairly maligned for so long. Bearing False Witness is a compelling and s
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Story Of Civilization 2 Textbook
$24.95Add to cartIn The Story of Civilization text book, children will live through the ancient stories that shaped humanity. Author Phillip Campbell uses his historical expertise and story-telling ability together in tandem to present the content in a fresh and thrilling way.
The journey continues in this second volume that picks up just after the conversion of Emperor Constantine. Children will watch the seeds of Christendom being planted in the soil of Europe thanks to colossal figures like Sts. Benedict, Patrick and Ambrose. The wonder of the Medieval world comes alive with brilliant tales of knights, crusaders, castles and inventions.
The strength of the content lies not only in the storybook delivery of it, but also in the way it presents history through the faithful prism of the Church. Have you always wanted your children to learn about world history from a Catholic perspective? Here, you’ll have the trusted resource you’ve always wanted.Did you know that:
* Monks were the first to make use of clocks?
* St. Patrick was once kidnapped by pirates?
* St. Bernard of Clairvaux once excommunicated a swarm of flies?
* The pope once lived in France instead of Rome?
* A plague spread out across Europe and killed millions of people?
* Knights fought with all sorts of weapons, including swords, lances, maces, and crossbows?
* Marco Polo was one of the most famous explorers who ever lived?Embark on the journey now to learn of all these wonders and more!
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My Battle Against Hitler
$21.00Add to cartHow does a person become Hitler’s enemy number one? Not through espionage or violence, it turns out, but by striking fearlessly at the intellectual and spiritual roots of National Socialism.
Dietrich von Hildebrand was a German Catholic thinker and teacher who devoted the full force of his intellect to breaking the deadly spell of Nazism that ensnared so many of his beloved countrymen.
His story might well have been lost to us were it not for this memoir he penned in the last decades of his life at the request of his wife, Alice von Hildebrand. In My Battle Against Hitler, covering the years from 1921 to 1938, von Hildebrand tells of the scorn and ridicule he endured for sounding the alarm when many still viewed Hitler as a positive and inevitable force. He expresses the sorrow of having to leave behind his home, friends, and family in Germany to conduct his fight against the Nazis from Austria. He recounts how he defiantly challenged Nazism in the public square, prompting the German ambassador in Vienna to describe him to Hitler as “the architect of the intellectual resistance in Austria.” And in the midst of all the danger he faced, he conveys his unwavering trust in God, even during his harrowing escape from Vienna and his desperate flight across Europe, with the Nazis always just one step behind.
Dietrich von Hildebrand belongs to the very earliest anti-Nazi resistance. His public statements led the Nazis to blacklist him already in 1921, long before the horrors of the Third Reich and more than twenty-three years before the famous assassination attempt on Hitler in July 1944. His battle would culminate in the countless articles he published in Vienna, a selection of which are featured in this volume.
“It is an immense privilege,” writes editor John Henry Crosby, founder of the Hildebrand Project, “to present to the world the shining witness of one man who risked everything to follow his conscience and stand in defiance of tyranny.”
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Champions Of The Rosary
$16.95Add to cartChampions of the Rosary, the latest book by bestselling author Fr. Donald Calloway, which tells the powerful story about the history of the rosary and the champions of this devotion! The rosary is a spiritual sword, containing the saving mysteries of the God-Man. It has the power to conquer sin, defeat evil, and bring about peace. Champions of the Rosary presents a complete history of this spiritual weapon, 26 of its greatest heroes, detailed accounts of its victories, 26 color images of the rosary in art, as well as endorsements from the Master General of the Dominicans, 10 Dominican bishops, and 20 other bishops from around the world!
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Travels Of Reverend Olafur Egilsson
$24.95Add to cartFurnishes a unique account of the attack by North African pirates on Ice-land in 1627. Sailing for over 3,000 miles, they abducted around 400 peo-ple, among whom was the author who subsequently wrote a description of the whole episode. Beautifully translated and accompanied by a helpful apparatus, this book tells a story of adventure, suffering, and final return.
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Doors Of Mercy
$27.95Add to cartWe are living in an extraordinary time: A Time of Mercy.
But what is mercy? What does it mean to be living in a Time of Mercy? How can we receive God s Mercy? And how should we respond?
In Doors of Mercy, authors Fr. Jeffrey Kirby and Brian Kennelly answer these important questions. They act as your tour guides on a whirlwind tour of salvation history, from Adam and Eve to the coming of the Savior, and into the present day with the beautiful story of St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy message and devotion.
You ll discover the intricate stitching of a divine rescue plan that would not be stopped by anything. Across countless generations the Lord s mercy acted as the lifeblood of this rescue plan, so that neither our own weakness, nor the devil himself, could thwart it. He would deliver us a Savior and a King of Mercy no matter what it took, one who would bring His Kingdom to the ends of the earth, and who would smash the very gates of hell.
Inside you ll discover:
*How the rebellion of Adam and Eve in the Garden affects our relationships with each other, with God, and with the world around us
*Why God chose a rainbow as the sign of the covenant with Noah
*The purpose behind Abram s name being changed to Abraham
*How the plagues in the time of Moses were not random but had symbolic meaning
*How David s Kingdom serves as a template, or blueprint, for the Church
*The hidden meaning behind some of Jesus s well known parables and why the Eucharist is the sign of the new and eternal covenant
*How the Church and her saints have spread mercy throughout the centuries, with short biographies of Sts. Vincent, Camillus, Margaret Mary, Maria Goretti and more
*The history behind St. Faustina s visions of Jesus and the spreading of the Divine Mercy message and devotion
*How you can continue Christ s mission of mercy in your own life… -
Story Of Iona
$21.00Add to cartTells the story of the small Hebridean island of Iona and the remarkable growth and influence of its spiritual life over fifteen centuries, with new translations of early Gaelic and medieval prayers and original research into the island’s story and development by a member of the modern Iona community.
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Home Heaven And Hitlers Hell
$27.99Add to cartIn spite of all the stories about Germany during Hitler’s heyday, virtually nothing has been written about the 105 Marian Apparitions that occurred from 1937 – 1940. The sightings happened in Heede, a village close to the Dutch border and less than twenty miles from the birthplace of author Hans Rolfes. Totally unexpected, not unlike what took place in Lourdes, the sightings were seen by four local girls. This raised the ire in Berlin to such an extent that the girls, then 11 to 13, were placed in a mental institution and a hospital for ten weeks. Hitler’s obsessive interest was the industrial behemoth Krupp and its nearby firing range, where the “Big Bertha” rattled dishes in the author’s home as it threw one-ton shells airborne. The events in Heede, so good, so pure, so hard-to-explain had no value for him. Today he and his ilk are gone, but tens of thousands of Christians flock annually to the area. The veil of silence surrounding Heede was lifted only recently, with its official recognition as a Marian Prayer Site. Many more events are described, including the author’s unbelievable experience when he and other boys investigated an Allied bomb that suddenly, precipitously, exploded…. Hans G. Rolfes is a retired professional engineer who lives in Westchester, N.Y. He was a senior consultant for General Foods for a quarter century-the basis for his book, General Foods, America’s Premier Food Company. He has visited and studied at the apparition site in Heede, Germany, many times.
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Cross And Lynching Tree
$27.00Add to cartThe cross and the lynching tree are the two most emotionally charged symbols in the history of the African American community. In this powerful new work, theologian James H. Cone explores these symbols and their interconnection in the history and souls of black folk
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Festa Paschalia : A History Of The Holy Week Liturgy In The Roman Rite
$30.50Add to cartThis book provides the first comprehensive history in English for eighty years of the origins and development of the Holy Week liturgy in the Roman Rite. Describing how the first apostles and disciples, and their immediate successors, came during the years following 33 AD to celebrate annual feast of the Resurrection, and the form which this first-century celebration took, it goes on to explain in detail how the ceremonies with which we are familiar today began in fourth-century Jerusalem. These ceremonies were then elaborated and developed during the early and late Middle Ages in Western Europe, particularly in the Frankish kingdom, and at Rome itself, down to the Tridentine reform of the sixteenth century, a reform which endured for some four hundred years with very little change.
Looking at the two significant twentieth-century reforms of the rites, that of 1955 and that of 1970, Philip J. Goddard then explains the various changes which were made, the source from which innovations were introduced, and the reasons for the introduction of those changes and innovations, as given (so far as possible) by those involved in making them.
While accessible to the ordinary reader with no particular knowledge of liturgical history, this study will be of great interest to liturgical specialists and scholars, to those in seminaries and religious orders or to clergy interested in the history of the Roman liturgy. Comprehensive notes give full references to both primary and secondary sources.
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Early Carthusian Writings
$12.95Add to cartA collection of key texts from early Carthusian writing in the IIth and 12th Centuries. St Bruno: Letter to his Carthusian sons at the Chartreuse, The Letter to Raoul le Verd, Profession of Faith. Bl. Guigo, fifth prior of the Grande Chartreuse: Letter on the solitary life. Guigo II, ninth prior of the Grande Chartreuse: The scale of the cloister. Other books of classic Carthusian spirituality published by Gracewing include The Call of Silent Love, Interior Prayer, The Prayer of Love and Silence, They Speak by Silences, The Way of Silent Love and The Wound of Love.
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Francis And His Brothers
$16.99Add to cartTo celebrate the 800th anniversary of the foundig of the Franciscan Order, Franciscan scholar and historian Dominic Monti tells us the beautiful and inspirational story of Frances of Assisi and his followers – the Order of Friars Minor, or the Lesser Brothers-from its beginnings to current times.
This history emphasizes not only the medieval developments of the world’s most beloved band of men but also the internal evolution and mission efforts of the friars during the modern period, from the sixteenth century to the present. Monti gives particular emphasis to the history of the Order in the English-speaking world: first England and Ireland and then North America and the 20th century expansion of the Order to other English-speaking countries.
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Gospel Of Cesar Chavez
$16.95Add to cartOnce asked to explain how he had sustained himself over so many years of struggle, Cesar Chavez responded: “I don’t think I could base my will to struggle on cold economics or some political doctrine. For me, the base must be faith.”
In evaluating the life and struggles of Cesar Chavez, one of the most recognized Latino leaders in the United States and the first labor leader to successfully organize and unionize U.S. farm workers, many historians, journalists, and other writers have largely missed one significant factor of his life-his faith and deep spirituality. The Gospel of Cesar Chavez uses the prolific leader’s own words to express his profound faith and the way it shaped his life and leadership.
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Catholic Martyrs Of The 20th Century
$34.95Add to cartFrom the Catholic martyrs at Auschwitz to Oscar Romero; from Ita Ford and her companions to the recent murders of Christians in India, it is estimated that more than one million Christians died for their faith in the “century of progress” we have just experienced. In The Catholic Martyrs of the Twentieth Century, Robert Royal presents a wide-ranging history of these martyrs. The book traces the specific situation of each incident and studies the political system and the reason for confrontation. Regions and topics include the Calvary of Romania, the death of Edith Stein, Miguel Pro and the Mexican tragedy, Soviet Russia, and China.
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Concise History Of The Catholic Church (Revised)
$20.00Add to cartExpanded and updated for the new millennium.
Covering the life of Christ, the election of Pope Benedict XVI, and everything in between, A Concise History of the Catholic Church has been one of the bestselling religious histories of the past two decades and a mainstay for scholars, students, and others looking for a definitive, accessible history of Catholicism. With a clarity that will appeal to any reader, Thomas Bokenkotter divides his study into five parts that correspond to the major historical and epochal developments in Catholicism. His authoritative, thorough approach takes readers from the Church’s triumph over paganism, through “the sound and fury of renewal,” to a new section devoted to such topics as dissent and current developments in the ecumenical movement. Informative illustrations throughout the book, new to this edition, enrich the reader’s experience, and the addition of a wide-ranging bibliography increases its value as a sourcebook.
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Europes Reformatios 1459-1650
$52.00Add to cartPart One: Introduction
Premises
The Reformation In European Perspective
Part Two: Doctrine To Live By
Late Medieval Background
Martin Luther, To 1521
The German And Swiss Reformation, 1521-1526
The German And Swiss Reformation, 1526-1555
The European Reformations
Part Three: Politics
The Wars Of Italy, 1494-1559
Wars Of Religion, 1562-1648
The European Reformations
England’s Reformations, 1527-1660
Part Four: Society And Community
Late Medieval Background
The German And Swiss Reformation
Reformations Across Europe
Europe’s Reformations In Global Perspective
Additional Info
In this widely praised history, noted scholar James D. Tracy offers a comprehensive, lucid, and masterful exploration of early modern Europe’s key turning point. Establishing a new standard for histories of the Reformation, Tracy explores the complex religious, political, and social processes that made change possible, even as he synthesizes new understandings of the profound continuities between medieval Catholic Europe and the multi-confessional sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This revised edition includes new material on Eastern Europe, on how ordinary people experienced religious change, and on the pluralistic societies that began to emerge.Reformation scholars have in recent decades dismantled brick by brick the idea that the Middle Ages came to an abrupt end in 1517. Martin Luther’s Ninety-five Theses fitted into an ongoing debate about how Christians might better understand the Gospel and live its teachings more faithfully. Tracy shows how Reformation-era religious conflicts tilted the balance in church-state relations in favor of the latter, so that the secular power was able to dictate the doctrinal loyalty of its subjects. Religious reform, Catholic as well as Protestant, reinforced the bonds of community, while creating new divisions within towns, villages, neighborhoods, and families. In some areas these tensions were resolved by allowing citizens to profess loyalty both to their separate religious communities and to an overarching body-politic. This compromise, a product of the Reformations, though not willed by the reformers, was the historical foundation of modern, pluralistic society.
Richly illustrated and elegantly written, this book belongs in the library of all scholars, students, and general readers interested in the origins, events, and legacy of Europe’s Reformation.
Features
Offers a detailed glossary and suggested readings
Richly illustrated with over 90 paintings, maps, and drawings
An ideal introduction to the Reformation courses on early modern Europe
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Women And Christianity V2
$28.00Add to cartThe second volume in a major historical trilogy that documents the lives and contributions of Christian women from the beginning of Christianity to the present.
In this volume Mary Malone explores the fascinating period of the medieval world, from 1000 to 1500. She brings to life women who were mystics and doctors of the church together with those who suffered persecution for pushing boundaries that would one day become mainstream. From Hildegarde of Bingen to Catherine of Siena, from Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine to Marguerite Porete, she gives us history that inspires and values that endure. -
Sikhs
$22.00Add to cartFive hundred years ago, Guru Nanak founded the Sikh faith in India. The Sikhs defied the caste system; rejected the authority of Hindu priests; forbade magic and idolatry; and promoted the equality of men and women — beliefs that incurred the wrath of both Hindus and Muslims. In the centuries that followed, three of Nanak’s nine successors met violent ends, and his people continued to battle hostile regimes. The conflict has raged into our own time: in 1984 the Golden Temple of Amritsar — the holy shrine of the Sikhs–was destroyed by the Indian Army. In retaliation, Sikh bodyguards assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Now, Patwant Singh gives us the compelling story of the Sikhs — their origins, traditions and beliefs, and more recent history. He shows how a movement based on tenets of compassion and humaneness transformed itself, of necessity, into a community that values bravery and military prowess as well as spirituality. We learn how Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Guru, welded the Sikhs into a brotherhood, with each man bearing the surname Singh, or “Lion,” and abiding by a distinctive code of dress and conduct. He tells of Banda the Brave’s daring conquests, which sowed the seeds of a Sikh state, and how the enlightened ruler Ranjit Singh fulfilled this promise by founding a Sikh empire.
The author examines how, through the centuries, the Sikh soldier became an exemplar of discipline and courage and explains how Sikhs — now numbering nearly 20 million worldwide — have come to be known for their commitment to education, their business acumen, and their enterprising spirit.
Finally, Singh concludes that it would be a grave error to alienate an energetic and vital community like the Sikhs if modern India is to realize its full potential. He urges India’s leaders to learn from the past and to “honour the social contract with Indians of every background and persuasion.”
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1st 1000 Years
$28.00Add to cartWomen have enriched and enabled Christianity for more than 2,000 years. In this, the first of three path-breaking volumes, theologian Mary T. Malone situates Christian women in their time and context, thus creating a continuous historical narrative rather than simply a series of vignettes. She uses women’s writings and voices as primary sources on almost every page. All women, Christian or otherwise, who seek an understanding of their past will value this unprecedented, comprehensive history of Christian women and their contributions, not only to faith but to civilization.
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Resurrection Song : African American Spirituality
$24.00Add to cartThis fresh treatment of African-American spirituality explores the roots of its expression in African, through their retention in communities of the enslaved in the American South, and in Black churches nationwide today. Bridges also considers the manifestations of these retentions in contemporary film.
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Flowering Of Mysticism
$49.95Add to cartStarting in 1200, forms of Christian religious life began emerging that provided the impetus for a “new mysticism” that continues to influence the faithful today. McGinn explores the rich theological and historical significance of these developments with unprecedented insight and knowledge.
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Growth Of Mysticism
$49.95Add to cartA spectacular tour of Christian mysticism as it evolved, from 500 C.E. to 1200 C.E. The volume examines the unique contributions of such figures as Pope Gregory the Great, John Scottus Eriugena, William of St. Thierry, Hugh of St. Victor, and Bernard of Clairvaux.
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Missionary Movement In Christian History
$32.00Add to cartThe collected lectures and articles of the noted missionary and historian Andrew Walls, professor emeritus of Edinburgh University and founder of The Center for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World. This book makes the full range of his thought available for the first time to scholars and students of world mission, theology, and church history.
