It was because of our sins, and the seriousness of these sins, that Our Lord underwent so cruel a torture. Using only classic Catholic Commentaries on the Scriptures, Fr. Groenings demonstrates the historical context and spiritual significance of each episode of the Passion of Jesus. From the Agony in the Garden through Our Lord's death and burial, every page of this book is replete with vaulable lessons and superabundance of material for meditation and reflection. Drawing from both the Old and New Testaments, Fr Groenings is able to illustrate the meaning of every event and episode, showing how to apply these lessons to our lives today. Far from being merely an act of unspeakable brutality, the Passion and death of Jesus Christ are shown to be the greatest proof of God's love and mercy to each of us.

    Drawing on the Old and New Testaments as well as the witness of the early church, Lipscom ( makes a strong case for the church's non-involvement in civil government (in contrast with the divine government, which is being demonstrated through the church community).

    This is a powerful defense of the papacy from Soloviev, a Russian Orthodox theologian who was committed to the cause of Christian unity and spent years attempting to convince his Orthodox brethren to reunite with Rome. Soloviev uses Scripture, history, and hardheaded logic to prove that the papacy is essential to Christian unity and truth, and without it the early Christian Church would have disintegrated into hundreds of competing sects.