Mediatrix Press

St. Norbert is perhaps one of the greatest, yet today unknown, saints of the middle ages. Above all he was a great reformer. Born of nobility, and living in luxury with royal favor, St. Norbert suddenly had a conversion, and embarked to be a new St. Paul, throwing away his rich garments, and preaching to the faithful as a beggar. Led further, and provided with papal approval, Norbert makes a foundation in the valley of Pr montr , whence his order gets its name. The preaching of St. Norbert and his order restored faith in the Eucharist, badly shaken by heretics, and for this he was long remembered in northern European cities badly affected by heresy such as Antwerp. His life dominated the 12th century where, as a friend of St. Bernard, he worked to reform Church life and to defend the independence of the Papacy. The great project of St. Norbert was to combine the active and the contemplative life, by establishing canons who lived by the maxims of monastic life, to both work in the world and retire for prayer. In this he anticipates Sts. Francis and Dominic by a century. Premonstratensian abbeys dotted the landscape of Europe until the revolutions of the 16th-18th centuries. Fr. Kirkfleet, relying on the best histories and the most accurate primary sources, provides the most complete biography of this great saint in English.

St. Francis of Assisi is one of the greatest and most recognizeable saints in the history of the Church. His life was a mirror of the life of Christ. In a decadent age, filled with corruption, Francis became not merely an impetus for reform, but a living image of Christ in his virtue and in his flesh through the stigmata. Candide Chalippe's work is not merely biography, it is a spiritual classic written by an author filled with piety and love for Christ and His Church. This new publication edits Chalippe's work and presents it for modern readers in new chapter divisions, with artwork from the Basilica of St. Francis and Renaissance masters. This excellent biography takes us through Francis' entire life, as well as the progress and history of his order in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, compiling sources from all of the earliest authors.

Mariology is a collection of essays embracing the whole of the study of Mary from top theologians, constituting the most complete work on the subject prior to Vatican II, now reprinted for the first time. Volume II maintains the scholarly character of the first volume, delving into Mariology as such. Namely, the principal doctrines in the theology of Mary. This considers the key doctrines of the Immaculate Conception, Sinlessness, Perpetual Virginity, Assumption, Mediation, Mary's Coredemption, and the relationship between Our Lady and the Church. With essays from 14 scholars of international repute, volume II explains in scientific detail the heart of Mariology, its nature in preserving authentic teaching about the person of Jesus Christ, and the sources deep within the tradition from the Fathers, the Scholastics, Baroque theology and contemporary understanding enlightened by the Magisterium.

St. Francis of Assisi is one of the greatest and most recognizeable saints in the history of the Church. His life was a mirror of the life of Christ. In a decadent age, filled with corruption, Francis became not merely an impetus for reform, but a living image of Christ in his virtue and in his flesh through the stigmata. Candide Chalippe's work is not merely biography, it is a spiritual classic written by an author filled with piety and love for Christ and His Church. This new publication edits Chalippe's work and presents it for modern readers in new chapter divisions, with artwork from the Basilica of St. Francis and Renaissance masters. This excellent biography takes us through Francis' entire life, as well as the progress and history of his order in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, compiling sources from all of the earliest authors.

Written by Fr. Bernard O'Reilly while that Pope was alive, and based on a memoir furnished to him by the Holy See. Thus, this work is nearly autobiographical, being based on the Pope's life as he wished it to be written. Fr. O'Reilly, making copious use of the Pope's Italian memoir, presents to us Gioacchino Pecci, the future Leo XIII, in the midst of the dramatic and revolutionary changes affecting the Church in both Italy and all Europe in the 19th century. In all events, Pecci as priest, Bishop, Cardinal and later Pope, fought courageously for the Universal Church with prudence, humility and care, and above all defending his priests and the sacrament of Marriage against the innovations of the revolutionaries holding the seat of government throughout Europe. In this book you see the future Leo XIII fight the revolution head on in and how wrong the liberal view is that holds Mazzini and Garibaldi as heroes, and, moreover, how tyrannical the new Italian regime became in its persecution of the Church.

The Mariology of Cardinal Newman is a study of Blessed John Henry Newman's journey from a cautious intellectual acceptance of limited Marian doctrines while an Anglican to his full acceptance and development of Marian doctrine as a Catholic. Newman was a master of the English language and possessed a fine intellectual mind, but at the same time, because of his deep humility, he could enter into true devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Rev. Friedel draws from all of Newman's work to provide a truly masterful treatise establishing not only Newman's views to doctrine, but Newman as a devout client of our Blessed Lady. He divides the first part of the book into two periods: Newman's life as an Anglican and his developing attitude toward Mary; then his views when he became a Catholic and how this developed in his devotional life. Then, in the second part, the author examines the specific doctrine's of Mary which Newman treated on.

St. Robert Bellarmine's work in defense of the saints, their place in heaven, their canonization and veneration, etc., ranks like all of his works among the classical works of Catholic Theology. In this work, Bellarmine meets the attack of Protestantism against Catholic teaching on the saints, firstly on their own ground with sound Scriptural Exegesis, backed up by the witness of the Greek and Latin Church. The great counter-reformation doctor begins the work with a treatise on whether the souls of the saints receive a particular judgment and go to heaven or await for the end of time suspended as it were in some hidden place; then what canonization is, who does it and what is its authority; then lastly, whether the saints may be venerated and invoked.

St. John of Capistran was many things, a Franciscan, a theologian, a crusader, but ultimately a reformer of the Church, a friend of saints and a man zealous for the salvation of souls. The deep remorse that took possession of him on the day of his conversion never left him and remained the dominant attitude of his mind. This penitential disposition underlay his preaching. Setting aside all reserve, he would make public confession in the pulpit, thus emulating the penitent Magdalene, his favorite saint. We are not surprised that such an energetic temperamental nature, always ready for action and battle, did not escape reproaches of irascibility and impetuosity. Yet appeals to his sympathy must have been frequent. Capistrano's history is inextricably bound up with the great figures and world events of the 15th century. Hofer, in this powerful historical biography of the saint, traces his life as a reformer, preacher, and leading a Crusade to stop the Turkish onslaught into Europe.

St. John of Capistran was many things, a Franciscan, a theologian, a crusader, but ultimately a reformer of the Church, a friend of saints and a man zealous for the salvation of souls. The deep remorse that took possession of him on the day of his conversion never left him and remained the dominant attitude of his mind. This penitential disposition underlay his preaching. Setting aside all reserve, he would make public confession in the pulpit, thus emulating the penitent Magdalene, his favorite saint. We are not surprised that such an energetic temperamental nature, always ready for action and battle, did not escape reproaches of irascibility and impetuosity. Yet appeals to his sympathy must have been frequent. Capistrano's history is inextricably bound up with the great figures and world events of the 15th century. Hofer, in this powerful historical biography of the saint, traces his life as a reformer, preacher, and leading a Crusade to stop the Turkish onslaught into Europe.

The Holy Mass, by Fr. Lucas, is a historical treatise on the Roman Rite which is meant for the average reader that does not have a lot of study on the subject. It was first published in 1914 in two volumes and is now republished containing both volumes in one book. Father Lucas' first volume is more popular than the second which deals in a rather erudite fashion with the difficult question of the development of the Roman Canon. Father Lucas while admitting that the scholar need not be deterred from investigating the structure of the Roman Canon out of a mistaken feeling of reverence, still thinks that he can vindicate for the Roman Canon a more or less perfect organic unity. He does not agree with those writers who imagine that there is in it a kind of patchwork. Fr. Lucas uses textual analysis of the Latin in comparison with ancient texts to demonstrate that the Canon was composed as one text, in union with many venerable authors.

The Life of Cardinal Baronius is the life of a scholar, of the man who not only founded the discipline of Church history, but also created the model of historical scholarship that is used today. Baronius, though a humble scholar in the oratory of St. Philip Neri, found himself mixed into the great events of his age, in correspondence with the great, while his work on the Annals brought him glory for having systematized history. This edition of Lady Amabel Kerr's life of Cardinal Baronius has been reprinted from the original, it is not a facsimile. Many pictures of the subjects in the work have been added as well as adjustments to some archaic 19th century words to make the work more readable, but faithful to the original.

The Life of Cardinal Baronius is the life of a scholar, of the man who not only founded the discipline of Church history, but also created the model of historical scholarship that is used today. Baronius, though a humble scholar in the oratory of St. Philip Neri, found himself mixed into the great events of his age, in correspondence with the great, while his work on the Annals brought him glory for having systematized history. This edition of Lady Amabel Kerr's life of Cardinal Baronius has been reprinted from the original, it is not a facsimile. Many pictures of the subjects in the work have been added as well as adjustments to some archaic 19th century words to make the work more readable, but faithful to the original.

St. Charles of Sezze was a Franciscan mystic and stigmatist of the 17th century. Although he was quite unlettered, still, through the ever increasing influence of the Holy Spirit he wrote books that number in size, and content make him one of the greatest mystical writers of the Church, ranking with St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. The canonization of St. Charles after his having remained unknown for several centuries should serve to indicate that his life and writings carry a message for modem man. His complete obedience rebukes the present-day lust for self-determination; his humility, its pride and boastfulness; his poverty, its precipitate rush after material pleasures. St. Charles teaches us the way to oppose the devil and all the fallen angels in their incessant warfare against our souls. Very few will ever be asked to suffer bodily harm from the devil, but all must suffer, and overcome, his temptations to pride, lust and ambition.

St. Charles of Sezze was a Franciscan mystic and stigmatist of the 17th century. Although he was quite unlettered, still, through the ever increasing influence of the Holy Spirit he wrote books that number in size, and content make him one of the greatest mystical writers of the Church, ranking with St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. The canonization of St. Charles after his having remained unknown for several centuries should serve to indicate that his life and writings carry a message for modem man. His complete obedience rebukes the present-day lust for self-determination; his humility, its pride and boastfulness; his poverty, its precipitate rush after material pleasures. St. Charles teaches us the way to oppose the devil and all the fallen angels in their incessant warfare against our souls. Very few will ever be asked to suffer bodily harm from the devil, but all must suffer, and overcome, his temptations to pride, lust and ambition.

Volume III treats the world-wide phenomenon of devotion to Mary from its beginnings to the present day. Specifically delving into the history of Marian Devotion in the life of the Church. The essays in this volume cover the notion of devotion to Mary, the history of the Rosary, the Scapular, liturgical feasts honoring Mary, the teaching of St. Louis de Montfort, as well as the history of Marian Confraternities and Conferences. It will then conclude with Our Lady in Literature, Music, and Art, and finally, an overview of Protestant interest on Our Lady. The final volume completes the study by outstanding American scholars on virtually every phase of Marian theology and devotion, bringing ideas and teaching that is rarely found in the English language.

The second volume continues where the first left off in Our Lord's life and continues the same original commentary and discussion all the way to passion week. The wonderful thing of Bishop Goodier's narrative is that it does not make use of secondary sources or copious quotes, rather he simply quotes the Scriptures and organizes the teaching of the Gospels into the sequential occurrence of events. If you want to know more about our Lord and understand the places he is going to, what he is doing and why, this is the perfect work. The new edition includes wonderful depictions of events from Renaissance art.

The Public Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by bishop Goodier, takes the subject of Christ's life from the coming of John the Baptist until his last day before Palm Sunday and the beginning of His passion. Goodier notes in his introduction: "Hence in a work of this kind it has not seemed necessary to introduce any discussion concerning the four Evangelists, or the authenticity of their work. These have been examined and proved by writers far more skilled and learned than the author and he is content to accept their decision referring readers who would examine these sources to them. On the other hand, when accepting the Gospels, he accepts them wholly and entirely. It seems to him a futile attitude of mind to take a source as authentic, and then, almost entirely from internal evidence, to proceed to whittle it away." Artwork from the Renaissance has been added which is not in the original to aid the reader.

Volume III treats the world-wide phenomenon of devotion to Mary from its beginnings to the present day. Specifically delving into the history of Marian Devotion in the life of the Church. The essays in this volume cover the notion of devotion to Mary, the history of the Rosary, the Scapular, liturgical feasts honoring Mary, the teaching of St. Louis de Montfort, as well as the history of Marian Confraternities and Conferences. It will then conclude with Our Lady in Literature, Music, and Art, and finally, an overview of Protestant interest on Our Lady. The final volume completes the study by outstanding American scholars on virtually every phase of Marian theology and devotion, bringing ideas and teaching that is rarely found in the English language.

Mariology is a collection of essays embracing the whole of the study of Mary from top theologians, constituting the most complete work on the subject prior to Vatican II, now reprinted for the first time. Volume II maintains the scholarly character of the first volume, delving into to Mariology as such. Namely, the principle doctrines in the theology of Mary. This considers the key doctrines of the Immaculate Conception, Sinlessness, Perpetual Virginity, Assumption, Mediation, Mary's Coredemption, and the relationship between Our Lady and the Church. With essays from 14 scholars of international repute, volume II explains in scientific detail the heart of Mariology, its nature in preserving authentic teaching about the person of Jesus Christ, and the sources deep within the tradition from the Fathers, the Scholastics, Baroque theology and contemporary understanding enlightened by the Magisterium.