The Insights eNewsletter

Insights provides critical perspective on the issues that affect your life as a Catholic today. Delivered twice weekly.

» Subscribe

This Insights eNewsletter was sent to subscribers on March 22, 2013.

eNewsletter Subject: Envisioning Renewal, and Living Holy Week

In a universe in which there are no coincidences, it is fitting that so many books on various aspects of Catholic renewal are coming to our attention as Francis begins his pontificate.

Here are my reviews of three of them:

• Evangelical Catholicism: George Weigel’s Vision of Catholic Reform: I explain the theory of authentic renewal behind a new book about reform in the 21st century.
• Matching Books to Readers, I: Monti’s A Sense of the Sacred: If you are drawn to liturgy and ritual as critical to the spirit of Catholic renewal, this major study by James Monti is for you.
• Matching Books to Readers, II: Stroik’s The Church Building as a Sacred Place: And if you recognize the powerful role that Church architecture can play in orienting us toward God, you'll appreciate professor and architect Duncan Stroik's collected essays and photographs.

It is also possible to consider what happens when their is no spiritual renewal going on at all. Phil Lawler calls attention to A ’must‘ and horrifying read.

We also have some good news for you. Remember the Benedictine monks of St. Joseph Abbey in Louisiana? Since they make and sell caskets, the State of Louisiana tried to put them out of business to protect mortuaries from competition. But a Federal appeals court overruled the State....

[more content for subscribers]

There's more to this eNewsletter! Sign up to receive complete Insights!