Devout, but also a fierce defender

The Sign of the Cross by St. Francis de Sales
The Fifteen Most Powerful Words in the English Language
Sophia Institute Press, 2013

Because of his masterpiece, Introduction to the Devout Life, it might be tempting to paint St. Francis de Sales into a nice, safe corner reserved for those blessed few who have glimpsed the true path to holiness and graciously shared it with the world. As such, the accompanying perception of St. Francis might understandably be as gentle and contemplative, endlessly engaged in prayer and the pursuit of spiritual completeness.

While there's no doubt Francis could be described in those terms, it doesn't begin to tell the whole story. St. Francis de Sales is one of the most courageous defenders and champions of the faith, spurred to action in the wake of John Calvin's revolt and resulting upheavals in the late 16th century.

Francis volunteered for the job of trying to rebuild the church in the Chablais region of Europe at a time when Calvin and his followers had rendered it nearly non-existent. It was an uphill battle to say the least, but Francis approached it with faith and love. While he treated the Calvinists with respect, he used the power of the pen to ferociously defend Catholicism. He wrote tract after tract refuting all the Calvinists' erroneous claims about the church. He distributed them widely and ultimately his words led to the return of an estimated 72,000 Catholics who had left the church... nearly the entire population of the region! He was so effective we now recognize him as the patron saint of journalists.

Among the items Francis penned was this small book in defense of the sign of the cross, which had come under attack by Calvinist theologian Antoine de la Faye. Of course, the sign of the cross is still under attack today and avoided by most Protestants, be they Calvinist or otherwise. As such, St. Francis' work remains useful some 400 years after its first publication.

This little tome is full of information about the history of the sign of the cross, biblical and non-biblical references to it, its multitude of uses, and its powerful results when employed by the faithful. While each chapter is brief, one must nonetheless exercise patience with Francis' train of thought. His logic is impeccable and highly developed, even if not immediately obvious to the reader, and those who see him through to his conclusion are richly rewarded.

This is just one example of the many classic works preserved and republished by Sophia Institute Press. While the editors there have countless options and lots of tough decisions when selecting what to make available again, they need not second guess themselves here: all signs indicate this will meet with the faithful's seal of approval.

Feast on something that makes sense of it all

The Lamb's Supper by Scott Hahn
The Mass as Heaven on Earth
Doubleday, 1999

According to reliable statistics, about 40 percent of Catholics don't believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It's a fairly safe bet even a higher percentage don't understand the Book of Revelation. What makes The Lamb's Supper a must-read is that it successfully tackles both those topics – better than that, it expertly explains the undeniable and unbreakable link between the two.

The subtitle, The Mass as Heaven on Earth, is the real key, here. Dr. Scott Hahn, professor of Biblical Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville and the founder of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, breaks through all the symbolism and strange imagery in Revelation to show that it describes the Mass. It's all there if you know what to look for, and Hahn does. What's more, it's also all part of the marriage feast of the Lamb; it's the worship of the angels and saints in heaven – what they do in heaven is what we do here! And what we both do is tied together (think about some of the words from the Mass: "Lift up your hearts..." and "With the angels and saints in heaven, we proclaim...").

This is mind-boggling stuff, to say the least. However, it's nothing new, as Hahn quickly admits. The church Fathers knew this and it's been reaffirmed right through to the Second Vatican Council. The Lamb's Supper, however, makes it very accessible to the every day person in the pews, carefully and succinctly explaining the connection step by step. As such, this is one book no Catholic should be without. This small tome is literally capable of completely transforming one's perception of the Mass, from a potentially stilted, unemotional, ceremonial memorial into an incredible participation in the most perfect event ever unveiled... the Eternal Supper of the Lamb.

A little more Joe, please

Father Joe by Tony Hendra
The Man Who Saved My Soul
Random House, 2004

While Tony Hendra is probably not a household name, most middle-aged and older Americans are likely familiar with at least some of his work. Hendra served as an original editor at National Lampoon and played Ian Faith in the movie This Is Spinal Tap, to name a couple entries from his resume. His reputation is that of a no-holds barred satirist, the consequences or casualties be damned.

Father Joe, however, is a different undertaking altogether. The subtitle suggests the book is about the priest whom Hendra credits with ultimately leading him to the truth of the Catholic Church. The problem, however, is that before Hendra truly found the church he badly lost his way. In and of itself, that’s not uncommon – we’re all of us sinners and many of the children of the 60’s and 70’s have their own stories of getting off track before eventually reverting to the church. Heck, St. Augustine has the same story!

This issue here, though, is Hendra spends a little too much time relaying how bad his life was and not enough time on Father Joe. Obviously, the intent is to let the reader know just how important Father Joe’s influence was by showing just how low Hendra had sunk. It’s a solid writing device, but Hendra overdoes it. The same effect could have been achieved with a lot less detail and name-dropping...and more Father Joe. The only saving grace is that Hendra succeeds amazingly well at making himself completely unlikable, which in fact does work quite well as a contrast next to the very likable picture he paints of Father Joe.

The wise priest at Quarr Abbey whom Hendra meets as a teenager is the quintessential embodiment of the sower of seeds Paul mentions in his first letter to the Corinthians (chap. 3, verses 6-9); Father Joe is planting and watering, but he’s wise enough to stand back and let God do the work in His own time and according to His own plan. Over the course of decades, Father Joe patiently shares and models God’s love for Hendra. Unfortunately, the encounters during Hendra’s wandering years are few, which may explain why he spends more time on himself than on Father Joe: it doesn’t sound like he saw the priest that much.

Whether telling the story of his journey away from the church or telling the story of his relationship with Father Joe, there can be no doubt that Hendra is a gifted story-teller and writer. The narrative pulls one along, anxious for the outcome of the current conflict and eager for the next turn of events. It’s a not a book one is likely to set down and forget to pick back up, if for no other reason than the hope that the next pages will bring a little more Father Joe. And even though the book is a lot more Tony Hendra than Father Joe, a little Father Joe goes a long way. 

A good starting point for church history

The Compact History of the Catholic Church by Alan Schreck
Servant Books, 1995

It’s important to understand that this little book wasn’t intended to be a book at all, but rather a teacher’s manuscript for seminars presented in Third World countries. It was designed as a primer, a means by which a basic foundation of Catholic history could be shared with those who otherwise might not have the resources to acquire it. Seen in that light, and assuming the material was placed in the hands of capable instructors, the eight chapters (lessons) contained in this brief historical overview surely must have served their purpose well.

Considering its original purpose, it’s no surprise The Compact History of the Catholic Church is a great place to start for those who have no background or knowledge of church history. Obviously, Schreck just scratches the surface – there’s only so much you can do when covering 2000 years in 173 small paperback pages. For example, the eleventh century occupies just one page in the book. Anyone expecting in-depth analysis or a book that covers every aspect of Catholic history will be disappointed.

However,this compact book is perfect as the first step in a broader examination of historical topics. Schreck does a good job of hitting the major players and movements through the ages, thus providing the inquisitive with enough information to delve more deeply into those people and events that capture their interest. The Compact History of the Catholic Church is by no means a major reference work and was never meant to be. However, it succeeds in providing rudimentary knowledge of church history and establishing a jumping-off point for those whose appetite it whets for more.