Both [Mark and Matthew] designate Jesus’ preaching with the Greek term evangelion– but what does this actually mean? The term has recently been translated as “good news.” That sounds attractive but it falls far short of the order of the magnitude of what is actually meant by the word evangelion. This term figures in the vocabulary of the Roman emperors, who understood themselves as lords, saviors, and redeemers of the world. The messages issued by the emperor were called in Latin evangelium, regardless of whether or not their content was particularly cheerful and pleasant. The idea was that what comes from the emperor is a saving message, that it is not just a piece of news, but a change of the world for the better. . .The evangelium, the Gospel, is not just informative speech but performative speech– not just the imparting of information, but action, efficacious power that enters into the world to save and transform. Mark speaks of the “Gospel of God,” the point being that it is not the emperors who can save the world but God. And it is here that God’s word, which is at once word and deed, appears; it is here that what the emperors merely assert, but cannot actually perform, truly takes place. For here it is the real Lord of the world– the living God– who goes into action.
 Only $16.95
Author: Peter Kreeft
|
 Only $12.95
|
 A Key to the Catechism . . .
Only $9.95
|
 Only $34.95
|
 An Introduction
Only $14.95
Author: Kenneth Baker S.J.
|
 From Genesis to Revelation
Only $14.95
Author: Fr. John Triglio
|
 The First 2000 Years
Only $15.95
Author: Martha Rasmussen
|
 Only $39.95
Editor: Our Sunday Visitor
|
 A Quick Journey Through the Bible – 4 DVD Set – 8 Courses!
Only $99.99
|
 4 DVDs – over 6 hours!
Only $39.95
|
- The People of God is formed into one in the first place by the Word of the living God . . . . The preaching of the Word is required for the sacramental ministry itself, since the sacraments are sacraments of faith, drawing their origin and nourishment from the Word.
“The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the Body of Christ and, finally, to give worship to God. Because they are signs they also instruct. They not only presuppose faith, but by words and objects they also nourish, strengthen, and express it. That is why they are called ‘sacraments of faith.'”
 Italian marble with pewter inlay
Only $8.50
|
 Made of polished bronze.
Only $31.95
|
 Available in bronze or gold color.
Only $58.00
|
 Gold and Silver – From the Vatican Library Collection
Only $76.00
|
“But in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence”
-1st Letter of St. Peter 3:15
Reasons for Apologetics
“The first reason, for the Christian, is out of obedience to God’s will, announced in his Word. Refusal to give a reason for faith is disobedience to God. There are also at least two practical reasons for doing apologetics; to convince unbelievers and to instruct and build up believers. Evan if there were no unbelievers to persuade, we should still give reasons for faith, for faith does not remain alone but produces reasons just as it produces good works. Faith educates reason and reason explores the treasure of the “faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.”
Furthermore, faith for a Christian is faith in a God who is himself love, our lover and beloved; and the more our hearts love someone, the more our minds want to know about our beloved. Faith naturally leads to reason through the agency of love. So faith leads to reason, and reason leads to faith…Thus reason and faith are friends, companions, wedded partners, allies.”
– from the Handbook of Christian Apologetics
Support the Faith
Musings from a Catholic Bookstore 