CULTURE CORNER

WINTER 2019–2020

A Pilgrimage to Eternity: From Canterbury to Rome in Search of a Faith
Timothy Egan
A New York Times columnist who describes himself as “a skeptic by profession ... lapsed but listening,” embarks on the ancient 1,000-mile Via Francigena pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome – “a trail compressed by the patter of 150 generations.” Burdened by doubt and anger (his brother was a victim of clerical abuse as a boy), Egan is nonetheless open to the wonders of the walk. Filled with evocative descriptions of landscapes, people and sacred sites, his book is by turns lyrical, comic and deeply meditative. Be warned: This transformative odyssey, which culminates in an audience with the pope, may leave you longing to make a pilgrimage of your own.
Viking

Faith and Fury: The Rise of Catholicism During the Civil War
Fr. Charles P. Connor
The early history of Catholicism in the United States is one of growth and courage in the face of widespread anti-Catholic bigotry. The Civil War saw the Church gain in influence, as thousands of Catholic soldiers fought and died for both sides. Fr. Connor recounts the fearless and compassionate work of the many Catholic chaplains and religious sisters who served as nurses and doctors to the wounded in field hospitals. He examines why the Church in America failed to come to a principled stand against slavery, and how anti-Catholicism returned in full force as soon as the war was over.
EWTN Publishing

Sacred Shelter: 13 Journeys of Homelessness and Healing Edited
Susan Celia Greenfield
Devastating though it is, homelessness is a symptom of deeper issues, of lives sent into tailspin by a variety of social ills: drugs, economic injustice, a fractured health care system and various other holes in the safety net. These 13 essays by formerly homeless “graduates” of a life-skills empowerment program founded by Catholic Charities of New York and the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing provide a sobering yet hopeful look at the slide into homelessness and the climb back to stability.
Empire State Editions

Who Do You Say I Am? Daily Reflections on the Bible, the Saints, and the Answer That Is Christ
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan
These 365 meditations by our own archbishop are down to earth and uplifting at the same time, crystal clear and perfectly applicable to everyday life.
Image

In the Beginning: A Catholic Scientist Explains How God Made Earth Our Home
Dr. Gerard Verschuuren
Not only is religion not incompatible with science; Dr. Verschuuren argues that the laws of nature, the vastness and complexity of the universe, and the unique conditions that make our planet habitable support the scientific conclusion that Earth was specifically designed by God to support the human species.
Sophia Institute Press