Best Selling Books by Wyatt North

One of the most beloved saints and martyrs from the earliest times of the Church, St. Cecilia still inspires many people today. This book, which is based on a scholarly piece of literature from the Abbey of Solesmes in France, includes not only the life of St. Cecilia but also the history of her veneration. This is hagiography at its finest.

The stigmata is the supernatural recreation of the wounds of Christ in Christians. The German spiritual writer Joseph G rres wrote this fantastic book on the subject which is simultaneously a history of the stigmata, a highly developed theory on how the stigmata comes about, and an eyewitness account of the author who saw for himself mystics who had the stigmata. This is a compelling and fascinating explanation of this famous hallmark of Christian mysticism.

The stigmata is the supernatural recreation of the wounds of Christ in Christians. The German spiritual writer Joseph Görres wrote this fantastic book on the subject which is simultaneously a history of the stigmata, a highly developed theory on how the stigmata comes about, and an eyewitness account of the author who saw for himself mystics who had the stigmata. This is a compelling and fascinating explanation of this famous hallmark of Christian mysticism.

The power of the Angels is incredible--one alone of these blessed spirits being able to defeat millions of armed men--nay, the whole world put together. We are told in the Book of Kings, that an Angel slew in one night 85,000 of the Assyrians, the enemies of the people of God. They can make the winds blow, the rain fall, the thunder roar: they can raise tempests, cause earthquakes, give abundance and famine, cure and inflict all sorts of maladies, and operate many other things, almost in a moment.

St. Margaret of Cortona (1247 - 1297) was born in Laviano, Italy near Perugia, and died in Cortona. She was canonized in 1728. The Church of Santa Margherita in Cortona was rebuilt in her honor, in which her incorrupt body now resides. St. Margaret is the patron saint of the falsely accused, homeless, insane, orphaned, mentally ill, single mothers, reformed prostitutes, stepchildren, and tramps.

One part biography, one part prayer book, The Life and Prayers of Saint Anthony of Padua is an essential book for any Christian. For centuries Saint Anthony of Padua, Thaumaturgist, Evangelical Doctor of the Church, has been regaled and venerated as a wonder-worker, eminent theologian, and preacher. To him infertile women, sailors, the poor, seekers of lost articles, to name a few, have prayed to intercede. Thousands upon thousands flocked to hear him preach, and witnessed his miraculous deeds. We hope that with this book, the reader might realize an invitation to call upon Anthony, not just to find lost things, but as a companion in a quest to find a renewed and challenged faith, hope, and love.

Angels are, indeed, everywhere. Their purpose is to serve God and guide us. They are formidable warriors against evil, guardians of the whole of God's creation, witnesses to God's sacred mysteries, and messengers of God's salvation.

Wyatt North's A Reader's Study of the Gospels series, written by Michael J. Ruszala, contains an engaging narrative and commentary on each gospel. A Reader's Study of the Gospels: The Gospel of John assists the reader to understand the fourth gospel's theology and symbolism in presenting Jesus as God's eternal Word, the Light of the World, the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd, and much more.

An anthology of Catholic prayers, with introductory articles on the subject of prayer.

San Miguel es el Defensor de la Fe y de nuestra Iglesia. Nosotros como cristianos le rezamos a diario para que nos acompañe en esta vida y en la del más allá.San Miguel Arcángel es el más venerado de todos los arcángeles en la Iglesia, en la historia y hoy en día, pero su predominio trasciende la historia de la Iglesia cristiana.El rol de San Miguel se extiende más allá de la guerra contra el enemigo en la Tierra;abarca a todos los miembros de la Iglesia. Su venerado nombre es invocado a diario para pedir protección, cura, consuelo y por los moribundos que están terminando su viaje hacia el Reino Eterno de Dios y buscan evitar la desolación del Purgatorio.

Throughout her life, Mother Teresa worked to transform our ideas of home, love, and family. Her life teaches us that it is never too late to make a difference in the world. As a figure of the 20th century, she saw the rapid changes taking place in the world and among its people. She asked individuals to contemplate the meaning of ideas such as home, love, and family and to be open to new conceptions of these terms in the midst of our changing world. In doing so, Mother Teresa introduced a new, modern way of doing missionary work, led an international religious organization, and was beloved by people the world over for the work she did out of love for her family, which would one day grow to include all of humanity. Her life teaches us that it is never too late to make a difference in the world.

St. Francis's call is a call to return to the basics of Christianity. It is a call to Christians to reach back to their roots so that their spiritual lives can draw strength from the pure waters of the Gospel instead of being choked by manmade traditions and worldly concerns. In the words of G. K. Chesterton, the coming of Francis “marked the moment when men could be reconciled not only to God but to nature and, most difficult of all, to themselves. … his whole function [was] to tell men to start afresh and, in that sense, to tell them to forget” (124).While St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most beloved saints in history, the relevancy of St. Francis for our times in light of the election of Pope Francis has yet to be explored. This book is written with the intention of filling that gap. While it is biographical in nature, it also freely explores themes that relate to St. Francis but are not a part of his life. This book is about more than the life of St. Francis of Assisi; it is about the impact this beloved saint has had through his imitation of Christ, his love of poverty, the Franciscan movement, and his profound influence on Pope Francis.

Nearly every detail about Luke the Evangelist's life has been the subject of heated debate. The scholars of one era have provided explanations that entirely contradict the scholars of an earlier era. It is not as simple as a matter of religious tradition versus modern scholarship; tradition contradicts tradition, scholarship contradicts scholarship, scholarship contradicts tradition, and sometimes tradition and scholarship go hand in hand. Despite the debate, no singular conclusion seems to be available. It does not help that more of Saint Luke's life is shrouded in darkness than is available to us, even when taking into account the most controversial suppositions about him. That makes the quest for Saint Luke very difficult, but it is important that we try to find and to understand him nonetheless. He is, after all, a man whose work has influenced millions of people, and it is through him alone that we know several of the most popular parables of Jesus.

This book, The Lives of the Saints: Volume IV (October - December), brings to completion a series of four volumes on the lives of the saints, covering the memorials, feasts, and solemnities of the whole Church year, in addition to several of the many optional memorials. This last volume brings with it some of the most beloved of the saints, including St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Holy Guardian Angels, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Cecelia, and St. Nicholas.

Francis de Sales was a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions. He is known also for his writings on the topic of spiritual direction and spiritual formation, particularly the Introduction to the Devout Life and the Treatise on the Love of God. Introduction to the Devout Life enjoyed wide popularity, and was well received in both Protestant and Catholic circles, evidenced by its translation into all major languages of the day. It is typically categorized as a form of reading known as lectio divina (“divine reading”), based on the Christian monastic practice of spiritual reading.

One part biography, one part prayer book, The Life and Prayers of Saint Francis of Assisi is an essential book for any Christian. Saint Francis of Assisi is quite possibly the most popular of all Christian saints. Perhaps it is his adoration for all living things or his unrelenting generosity that has made so many people open their hearts to him. Perhaps it is the deep conviction and piety expressed not only by the saint himself, but in his name, in the Franciscan orders throughout the centuries. Whatever the reason, in a world that is quickly developing in a direction diametrically opposite to the saint's own simple asceticism, Saint Francis of Assisi still stirs strong emotions and compassion. How close he found God, in the very nature around him, is inspiring.

From ancient Jewish rabbis through the Bible and into the Church in every age, Michael the Archangel has quite the story to be told, and even more so, quite the job still to do! This prince of the heavenly host and protector of God's people is seen behind the scenes from the most ancient of times down to the present day. In this book, we will piece together what the Bible and tradition tell us about angels in general, their being and roles, and about where St. Michael may fit in with the choirs of angels. We trace the interaction with and devotion to St. Michael throughout Church history, recounting various apparitions, healings, prayers, and notable churches named after the archangel.

One part biography, one part prayer book, The Life and Prayers of Saint Michael the Archangel is an essential book for any Christian. Saint Michael is the Defender of the Faith and of our Church. As Christians we pray each day that he stands with us through this life and beyond. Saint Michael the Archangel is the most revered archangel within the Church throughout history and today but his pre-eminence transcends the history of the Christian Church.Saint Michael's role extends far beyond the war with the enemy here on Earth; it embraces every single member of the Church. His venerated name is invoked on a daily basis for protection, for healing, for consolation and by the dying as they make their final journey to God's Eternal Kingdom, seeking to avoid the desolation of Purgatory.

St. Therese of Lisieux (1873–1897) is one of the most popular saints in modern times. What makes her life so outstanding and such an inspiration to so many people? She had no sustained spiritual visions, unlike St. Bernadette of Soubirous before her or the three children of Fátima after her. She had no stigmata, was not a martyr, was not a teacher during her lifetime, and did not start a religious order. Her life was sealed off, as it were, from the rest of the world in a cloistered convent. How did she become so well-beloved around the world?

Sublime poet, ecstatic exemplar, attentive guide—these are only three of the roles attributed to St. John of the Cross. Many consider the writings of this Carmelite priest to represent the pinnacle of Spanish poetry. Even centuries after his death, he remains a masterful model of spiritual attainment. And for anyone seeking to undertake a personal quest for God, he remains unsurpassed as a spiritual guide, for he is the Christian mystic par excellence, teaching a complete spiritual system for living as a means of attaining union with God. Pope John Paul II found John's teachings about faith to be so vitally relevant and important that as a young priest he wrote his doctoral dissertation in theology on the subject. Later, when as pope he celebrated the fourth centenary of John's death, John Paul extolled the ability of faith to re-evangelize believers and increasingly open them to Christ's teachings and light. On that occasion, John Paul expressed John's central message in this way: “living faith … is the guide of the Christian, his only light in the dark nights of trial, an ardent flame fed by the Spirit.”

It has become a cliche to say that one person can make a difference, but the life of Mahatma Gandhi confronts us with the enduring truth of that statement. It is impossible to say exactly what moved people to revere and follow him and be imprisoned and beaten on his behalf in the thousands. No doubt, his ever gentle demeanor had a hand in that. His perpetual grace and joy, even in the face of terrible hardship, surely won some hearts and minds. His genuine ability to treat all men - Hindu, Muslim, Parsee, Sikh, Harijan, Christian, and Zulu - as brothers must have won even more.

From a life of self-indulgent vanity, the calling of God transformed the life of Inigo Lopez de Loyola beyond imagination. From the time of conversion, St Ignatius, Father of the Jesuits, sought only the will and glory of God. Today his spirituality continues to influence both Christians and non-Christians around the world, the legacy of a humble man who epitomized the motto of his order throughout his life. This holy, self-aggrandizing man turned his back on the self-indulgences of courtly life, seeking only God's approval and taking his word out onto the streets and to the sick and the poor. His ministry was his life and if all of life's activities represent the opportunity for prayer, as Ignatius fervently believed, then no life epitomized this more than that of Ignatius of Loyola. Following in the steps of Saint Ignatius, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected Pope Francis I on March 13, 2013 and is the first Jesuit pope.

Born Helena Kowalska on a clear August day in 1905, to a poor Polish family, she was the third of ten children. When Helena turned nineteen, she felt called by Jesus to go to Warsaw and enter a convent. After arriving, she was turned down by convent after convent, until finally, one accepted her. She took the name Faustina and stayed in the convent until her death in 1938. Little would have been known about her if it had not been for her extraordinary revelations. Sister Faustina's most extraordinary revelation-the one she is famous for-was of Jesus appearing to her with white and red rays protruding from his heart. Jesus told her that he wanted her to have a painting made of the vision and have as its banner, "Jesus, I trust in you."

Saint Matthew is an example of God's love and mercy not just for those who are saints, but also for those who are struggling with sin and feeling disconnected from God. The many layers of Matthew's story teach us about true love and the powerful and sustaining force God's love offers to us.

In the year 1277, Margaret, pure in mind and fervent of heart, was praying before the crucifix which is now on the side altar of the Church of the Friars Minor, when she seemed to hear these words: "What is thy wish, poverella ?" And the Saint, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, replied: "I neither seek nor wish for aught but only Thee, my Lord Jesus."

A man of reason and vigorous discourse, and a renowned professor of literature and philosophy, C.S. Lewis, always "Jack" to family and friends, never shied from intellectual debate, and through his written works encouraged others to wrestle with the difficult questions of faith. A master of visual illustration and allegory, Lewis wrote with the intuitive understanding that his readers wrestled with the same questions about the Christian story, about pain, suffering, and notions of Heaven and Hell, as he himself had wrestled. He also understood that others found reason and imagination to be incompatible aspects of an understanding of God and the universe.

Catholics have always had a special love for the Blessed Virgin Mary. Devotions to Mary are wide-ranging and diverse. Within the pages of this book, we will explore a tremendous variety of Marian devotional practices, including prayers honoring Mary, such as the Rosary; devotional articles; and a Mary garden, filled with plants representing events from her life.

Nelson Mandela's legacy is known worldwide, and his life has been widely documented. His memory is preserved in statues, paintings, feature films, history books, and biographies. Yet to many Americans, Mandela may be somewhat unknown. Many people around the world consider Mandela one of the greatest leaders of the twentieth century. He received hundreds of honors during his lifetime-among them the Nobel Peace Prize-for his work in helping free the peoples of South Africa from the oppression of apartheid. He earned the respect and love of people from all walks of life.

Pope St. John Paul II was known for many things. In his youth, he had a passion for the theater. He eventually became one of the most charismatic and influential bishops in the Roman Catholic College of Cardinals. That a Pole should be elevated to the papacy shocked many within the church and around the world. During his long pontificate, he was one of the most beloved, but also most controversial, people in the world. Still, in order to understand what motivated his life, it is crucial to understand that he was

In the year 1277, Margaret, pure in mind and fervent of heart, was praying before the crucifix which is now on the side altar of the Church of the Friars Minor, when she seemed to hear these words: "What is thy wish, poverella ?" And the Saint, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, replied: "I neither seek nor wish for aught but only Thee, my Lord Jesus."

Joan of Arc was declared a saint in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV, who called her a "most brilliantly shining light of God." From her story emerges a persona that millions, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, have come to regard as the embodiment of courage and faith.

Almost everyone, no matter their religious affiliations, will have his/her brush with variously shaped and delivered Christmas/Holiday and New Year greeting cards, Luke 2, gift giving from surfeit to simple, the Salvation Army bell, crèches, travel delays, "Jingle Bells," stockings, tinsel, wrapping paper, wreaths, weight gain, catalogs, evergreen scent, Handel's "Messiah," lit-up roofs and yards, fir trees, fake trees, plastic Santas, mall Santas, cookies and candy, and the list goes on and on. Whatever the word evokes for you, you may never have given thought-not for a long time anyway-to the beginnings, the customs, and the legends, and wonder, "how did it come to this?" This book addresses the Christian origins of Christmas, its dating, its establishment as a feast of the Church, its popularization, and the origins of popular customs in America. Not the least, it offers an invitation to Catholics to rekindle devotion to the "Christ" in Christmas with sincere intention and faithfulness.

Jesus was a Messiah behind enemy lines – God come into a sinful world ruled by evil. He was on a secret mission to save humanity. To Jesus' first-century Jewish contemporaries, whatever the Nazarene might be, he was not simply 'another good rabbi.' Jesus was a polarizing figure. One believed either that this powerful preacher and wonderworker was uniquely of God or that he was an agent of the Evil One. As he said in Luke's Gospel, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Lk. 11:23).We often speak of the love, mercy, and compassion of Jesus, but Malachi also prophesied of him, “Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire” (Mal. 3:1-2). That is indeed how he came. Jesus was always moved by love of God and neighbor, but he was not always 'nice.' He was “meek and humble of heart” (Mt. 11:29) but never tame. Innocent though he was, it is little wonder that his boldness and zeal for righteousness provoked such powerful enemies; he knew it would be so. Jesus walked the earth at a time when human life had become cheapened, and prompt and brutal execution was a matter not so much of justice as of expedience. Ultimately, Jesus' paradoxical roles as fiery prophet and meek Lamb of God would intersect on the wood of the cross.

Let's live a life of love. Let's reflect on and learn from the lives of saints.The word "saint" comes from the Latin word sanctus, a translation of the Greek word hagios, which means "holy." While all of us are capable of holiness, canonization is the Church's official recognition that a particular person displayed an extraordinary degree of holiness, or devotion to God, during his or her time on earth.There is much to be learned from the words, acts, and lives of the saints of the Roman Catholic Church. Each concise biography, from Saint Francis to Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, provides guidance for living a life of love.

One part biography, one part prayer book, The Life and Prayers of Saint Thomas Aquinas is an essential book for any Christian. Aquinas' genius lay in his ability to synthesize vast and disparate sources into intelligible and convincing discourse.After a thorough investigation of the scholarship of Thomas Aquinas, one might contend that only the intellectually stalwart could fully benefit from knowing this great man of the church; this is perhaps true. Likely, not many “average” Christians would choose Aquinas for their bedtime reading, just as most patients would not care to hear the scientific explanation behind the human genome. Yet, the implication of that discovery, just like the implications for Aquinas' groundbreaking approach to Christianity, has changed everything.

One part biography, one part prayer book, The Life and Prayers of Saint Patrick is an essential for any Christian. The Saint Patrick of his own writings and the early records of his life are not known to many. While Saint Patrick also represents shamrocks, Irish pride, and even the occasional green beer there is much of his life that is often forgotten. For instance, the original color associated with Saint Patrick's Day was blue, and although Saint Patrick dedicated his life to spreading Christianity in Ireland, he might not have celebrated the nation, as we do on his feast day today, in his own lifetime. Ireland, for Patrick, was in many ways bittersweet. On the other hand, it was also the nation of his spiritual awakening, which is probably a large part of why Patrick decided to make the conversion of Ireland his calling. In the English-speaking world, few saints are as well known, yet so misunderstood, as Saint Patrick. The saint himself, as he was in life, sometimes gets lost in his holiday. The seekers who want to know the real Patrick have to dig much deeper, but they will also find Patrick a more complex and rewarding acquaintance.