Joseph Callewaert's engaging work on St. Paul reads like a novel. With inviting, even dramatic, prose, it recounts the story of the great Apostle to the Nations. This is no dry tome or ponderous biography. Nor is its subject a "safe" historical figure, irrelevant to the issues of today: St. Paul remains controversial.
Some scholars claim he "invented" Christianity. They believe his message radically departed from what Jesus taught. The Christian faith, so the claim runs, is the creation of Paul's religious experience, not the doctrine of Jesus. Callewaert rejects this theory, as do many other scholars. His interpretation rests on the Bible and the abiding tradition of the ages, rather than tendentious theories or ideologically-motivated revisions.
Yet Callewaert's work is no anti-scholarly screed. The World of Saint Paul provides a popular, yet expert account of the Apostle and his age. For those who know little about St. Paul--which includes many Christians--it is a superb introduction.
Born into an important Portuguese Family, his father being a politician, young Anthony wanted to sacrifice his life to be a martyr for Christ in Morocco. Nevertheless, God had other plans for Anthony when he met some humble traveling Franciscans, and he left his studies to follow Francis and spre...
Follow the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe and her interactions with recently canonized St. Juan Diego. Juan was a simple peasant widower, completing his daily routines, when Our Lady, heavy with child, appeared over Tepeyac Hill in Mexico, and announced other plans for him. Listen to the story of...
Born in Codogno Italy, with a great love for our Lord, this sickly, small girl would likely never be accepted into a convent, nor travel far from home. Both assumptions were incorrect, as St. Frances made 23 transatlantic crossings by boat after she began her missionary work at the age of 42 year...
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