Jeffrey Kirby

As Christians, our faith is founded on the papal office, the very institution Christ Himself bestowed authority on to lead His Church. In A Year with the Popes, award-winning author Fr. Jeffrey Kirby gives an original exposition of the nobility and enduring power of the papacy. This manual reads as an engaging parade through the history of the papacy, showing its biblical foundations in Sacred Scripture and providing portions of Saint Peter's own letters from the New Testament, before pivoting to recount the twists and turns of the papal ministry and the various men who have served as successors of Saint Peter. Father Kirby dives into the triumph of the good and saintly popes and the scandals of the bad, and provides papal teachings that occurred at monumental times, such as the slave trade, the Line of Demarcation that prevented a European war, the Galileo affair, the institution of a new calendar for the West, reactions to the world wars of the twentieth century, the advent of the sexual revolution, and more. Avoiding academic staleness and cold, empty passages from documents, A Year with the Popes gives an encouraging affirmation of the divine character of the papal office as it walks through history and explores the teachings of these men who were called the Vicar of Christ.

The Brown Scapular holds a special place in the devotional life of the faithful. It is neither jewelry, a sentimental religious article, nor a vain token of superstition. Rather, it is a silent prayer, a gift from our Heavenly Mother that draws us to the Sacred Heart of her Divine Son. A simple pairing of two pieces of cloth with ribbon, wearing the scapular is a declaration that you have put on Christ and are seeking to follow His way in imitation of Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Although there is no formal preparation for investiture in the Brown Scapular, Fr. Jeffrey Kirby has collected in these pages the Church's best writings on the subject to prepare you for receiving the scapular and incorporating it into your daily faith practice. Because Baptism is foundational to your consecration and commitment to Jesus Christ, Fr. Kirby centers the reflections in this book on the six baptismal promises in order to heighten and intensify your living out of the baptismal way of life. A Journey to Mount Carmel will ground you in the spiritual significance of the scapular as a powerful sacramental that draws us closer to the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist. Fr. Kirby explains Our Lady's pivotal role in our salvation from the protoevangelium ("first gospel") in Genesis to the Paschal mystery in the Gospels, and he reveals the depths of God the Father's healing love for you and the maternal intercession of Mary in your life. From there you will grasp the protection and blessing Our Blessed Mother offers through the scapular. Each chapter comprises three parts: preparation, with opening prayers and goals; teachings, which include a compelling real-world story with catechesis and reflection questions; and spiritual exercises, which include a brief reflection about a saint, a guided Lectio Divina meditation, a Rosary meditation, an examination of conscience, and more As Fr. Kirby breaks open wisdom from the Bible, Tradition, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, you will learn: How investiture in the scapular assists you in living out your baptismal promisesHow to grow in Christian discipleship, live as a "small Christ," and press on toward eternal gloryWhy Carmelite spirituality opens your heart to spiritual freedom and the gift of contemplationWays to nurture the gift of sanctifying grace in your life and actively listen to GodHow to triumph over concupiscence and find rest from the battle by creating "a Carmel within"

If God is so good and so powerful, why is there suffering in our world? Why do good people suffer so much? How can we find value and meaning in the midst of the fallenness of the world? These questions--and many others--call for answers. The responses will determine our worldview and way of life. In the Manual for Suffering, the revealed, time-tested, and holistic answer from the depths of the Catholic faith is presented in all its beauty and power. This manual will also provide spiritual aids to navigate and bear with hope and trust the suffering we encounter in our fallen world. The first part lays out the biblical and theological foundations for suffering and the world's fallenness, while the second offers aids for those who suffer, including passages and excerpts from: Scriptural texts; magisterial teachings; the writings of the saints; and traditional Catholic prayers and devotionals. The purpose of this manual is to help those who suffer find the meaning, purpose, and value of suffering with and in Jesus Christ. It is intended for personal use and private reflection, and to share with those we love who need a guide and companion as they walk along the via crucis, the path of the Cross.

No one likes to think about death and many are not ready for it, either as the patient or a loved one. And yet, the dying process is oftentimes marked by an array of diverse and confusing questions that can catch anyone off guard. What are we supposed to do? We Are the Lord's is a succinct, quick-reference guide to difficult end-of-life questions, framed by divine wisdom and Church teaching. Its easy-to-read chapters and question-and-answer format can be a welcomed help to any person or family who are searching for answers during a difficult and traumatic time. We Are the Lord's answers such questions as: What's the difference between medical care and medical treatment? Are pain medications okay? How much is too much? What should I do if my loved one refuses to eat or drink? When is it okay to suspend nutrition and hydration? What to do if medical personnel pressure you to accept treatment that you feel is not morally acceptable? Is a breathing tube considered "extraordinary care"? Is a breathing tube morally different from a feeding tube? How do I know when it's okay to let go and stop treatment of my loved one? How to handle challenging situations concerning DNR ("do not resuscitate"). How do I handle the guilt of making a decision that ended a person's life? ...and more This book is an invaluable resource for direct and focused responses to some of life's most difficult and painful questions. It straightforwardly addresses end-of-life questions, such as the gift of life, redemptive suffering, judgment, and the hope of eternal life, as well as how to properly understand the Catholic Funeral Mass. Whether as a preparation for a future journey or as an immediate guide for you now, We Are the Lord's is available and ready to help.

Escape the Kingdom of Man The Perfect Christmas Gift for Parishes: $3 25-99; $2 100+ copies Get one for each family and make a lasting impact when your church is at its fullest. Engage current parishioners and gain new ones For more details, click here. In this encouraging, easy-to-read book, Father Jeffrey Kirby offers hope to the tired, overburdened, and unhappy. He reminds us that we are made for happiness. But he goes beyond that, showing us the path to achieving happiness. It's not a new path. In fact, Jesus showed us the way in the Beatitudes, but Kingdom of Happiness reveals how these aren't merely nice sayings, they are powerful ways of living. Fr. Kirby first identifies the sources of unhappiness: the false promises--the anti-beatitudes--of a fallen, busy world. He explains how these anti-beatitudes, far from leading to happiness, tear down and rob us of happiness. Kirby leads the reader out of this darkness, pointing us to Jesus Christ as the saint-tested and centuries-proven source of authentic peace, true joy, and radical happiness. To unveil the path to happiness in Jesus Christ, Kirby does not rely on emotional arguments or soft spirituality. He turns to the boldness of the Lord's Beatitudes, the real promises to true happiness. He teaches about the love, power, and self-control within them by showing their practical, life-application in today's world. Kingdom of Happiness shows that the Beatitudes are not a self-help guide or a boring list of eight more things to do, but are a series of grace-filled, life-giving promises that excite our souls and point us along a way of life that assures us of true, lasting happiness.

St. Maria Goretti was only a child when she died a martyr s death. Yet today, she inspires millions who find in her a perfect model of purity and holiness. Read here about her great holiness in the midst of tremendous suffering, how she died at the hands of a vicious murderer who tried to defile her purity, and how she visited this very same murderer years later in his jail cell to forgive him. Fr. Jeffrey Kirby examines the life of this little saint as he reflects on the Beatitudes and how she, along with her family, lived them each day. In a world where purity is corrupted in the darkness of the night and mercy is abandoned in the name of vengeance, let us turn to St. Maria Goretti and see her as the dawn of a new day, where the light of Christ shines on each of us and guides us into His Kingdom."

What do you really know about Vatican City? The Vatican, comprising the Apostolic Palace, St. Peter's Basilica, and various other buildings, serves as the headquarters of the Catholic Church. It has done so for nearly two millennium ever since the first Pope, St. Peter, made it his home. Thousands of Catholics flock to the Vatican and its iconic basilica each year. But what do you really know about this great basilica and the city that houses it? Here, Father Jeffrey Kirby takes you on a whirlwind tour of this little country (yes, Vatican City is its own country, Fact # 2) and uncovers the secrets and surprising facts about the city, and its famous church. Discover what language degree you need to work a Vatican ATM, what archi tectural feature of St. Peter's is a map of the universe, and even what the pope's license plate number is. Along the way, you'll find the deep theological meaning woven into the design and architectural features of St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican. Whether you've already been to Rome or are still planning your first trip, 101 Surprising Facts About the Vatican will transport you to Basilica and City at the heart of the Catholic Church and enable you to appreciate them like never before.