Best of
Catholic

1922

The True Story of Fatima


John de Marchi - 1922
    Written by the priest-author who spent seven years in Fatima (1943-1950), this is the true story of the 1917 Fatima apparitions, including interviews with the three shepherd children, their parents and various family members, and other eye-witness accounts. Highlighting the lives of each of the three children (including the deaths of Blessed Francisco Marto and Blessed Jacinta Marto), this book features various transcripts of interrogations made of the children, eye-witness accounts of the apparitions and of the Miracle of the Sun, the two consecrations made by Pope Pius XII, and affirms that the "Third Secret" of Fatima was to be released by 1960. Includes the updated 1952 Appendix, which features a critical examination of the "Great Miracle," and also corrects a popular but erroneous fiction regarding Blessed Francisco and the first apparition on May 13, 1917. With photos and linked Table of Contents and endnotes, this easily readable book which tells the true and beautiful story of Fatima is for everyone---children, teens, and adults.

Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine


Michael J. Sheehan - 1922
    Unique in presenting the Faith in a clear, persuasive and understandable manner. Since its demise in 1962 after selling nearly 500,000 copies, no other textbook in English has repeated Sheehan's successful presentation of the Faith. The new Baronius edition has been updated by Fr. Peter Joseph, of Wagga Wagga, Australia, and is fully endorsed by Cardinal Archbishop Pell.

Frequent Confession: Its Place in the Spiritual Life: Instructions and Considerations for the Frequent Reception of the Sacrament of Penance


Benedict Baur - 1922
    Author Benedict Baur explains the purpose of frequent Confession, outlines the essential elements of every good Confession, and shows how frequent Confession can help you conquer sin (including venial sin), imperfections, self-love, and lukewarmness. On the positive side, he details how frequent Confession will improve your prayer life and give you growth in sacramental grace, fear of God, love of Christ, fraternal charity - and much more.

An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory


Marie de la Croix - 1922
    It was sent to that periodical by a zealous and devout missionary and is a pious document based on alleged conversations between a nun and a soul in Purgatory. No one can deny off-hand the possibility, or in fact, the reality of such apparitions of souls in Purgatory to persons still living. Such apparitions are not rare and there are many accounts of them. They are of frequent occurrence in the lives of the Saints. We will quote only one example from the life of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. She says: "When I was praying before the Blessed Sacrament on the feast of Corpus Christi, a person enveloped in fire suddenly stood before me. From the pitiable state the soul was in, I knew it was in Purgatory and I wept bitterly. This soul told me it was that of a Benedictine, who had once heard my confession and ordered me to go to Holy Communion. As a reward for this, God permitted him to ask me to help him in his sufferings. "He asked me to apply to him all I should do or suffer for a period of three months. Having obtained my superior's leave, I did what he asked. He told me that the greatest cause of his sufferings was that in life he had preferred his own interests to those of God, in that he had been too attached to his good reputation. His second defect was lack of charity to his brethren. The third was his all too natural attachment to creatures. It would be difficult for me to describe what I had to endure during those three months. He never left me and seeing him, as it were on fire and in such terrible pain, I could do nothing but groan and weep almost incessantly. My superior, being touched with compassion, told me to do hard penances, particularly to take the discipline . . . After the three months I saw the soul radiant with happiness, joy, and glory. He was about to enjoy eternal happiness, and in thanking me he said he would protect me when with God." The testimony of theologians and of historical documents are not less numerous or convincing, but let it suffice for us to mention Canon Ribet's Divine Mysticism, (Vol. II, Ch. VIII) and the other outstanding works of this master of mystical theology.

Sacred Signs


Romano Guardini - 1922
    Romano Guardini speaks with poetic wisdom about the fundamental language of symbols out of which the Sacred Liturgy is woven. When we speak this language fluently, we can offer ourselves, body and soul, more completely to the Lord.