7. Apologetics & Explaining the Faith

A Map of Life by Sheed, F.J.

Captive Flames by Ronald Knox

Project Gutenberg - Confessions of a Convert by R.H. Benson

“Brant Pitre is one of the most compelling theological writers on the scene today.” –Bishop Robert Barron Bestselling author of Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist casts new light on the Virgin Mary, illuminating her role in the Old and New Testaments. Are Catholic teachings on Mary really biblical? Or are they the "traditions of men"? Should she be called the "Mother of God," or just the mother of Jesus? Did she actually remain a virgin her whole life or do the "brothers of Jesus" refer to her other children? By praying to Mary, are Catholics worshipping her? And what does Mary have to do with the quest to understand Jesus? In Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary, Dr. Pitre takes readers step-by-step from the Garden of Eden to the Book of Revelation to reveal how deeply biblical Catholic beliefs about Mary really are. Dr. Pitre uses the Old Testament and Ancient Judaism to unlock how the Bible itself teaches that Mary is in fact the new Eve, the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven and Earth, and the new Ark of the Covenant. Page numbers: 242

Bestselling author Hahn, a convert to Catholicism, explains the "how and why" of the Catholic faith--through Scripture, his own struggles and questions, and through the experiences of everyday life as well as natural science. Page numbers: 250

St. Justin Martyr's The Apologies (comprising the First Apology addressed to Emperor Antoninus Pius and the Second Apology to the Roman Senate) is a defense of Christianity against pagan accusations of atheism, immorality, and disloyalty to the empire. It explains Christian beliefs, worship practices like the Eucharist, and moral teachings, while refuting misunderstandings through philosophical reasoning and appeals to justice and reason. Theologically, it holds significance as one of the earliest systematic apologetics, affirming Christ's divinity, the resurrection, and the compatibility of faith with Roman law, influencing later patristic defenses of the faith.

The Belief of Catholics by Knox, R.

“This book will prove to be a most effective weapon… against the debunking and skeptical attitudes toward the Gospels that are so prevalent, not only in academe, but also on the street, among young people who, sadly, are leaving the Churches in droves.” – Robert Barron, author of Catholicism For well over a hundred years now, many scholars have questioned the historical truth of the Gospels, claiming that they were originally anonymous. Others have even argued that Jesus of Nazareth did not think he was God and never claimed to be divine. In The Case for Jesus, Dr. Brant Pitre, the bestselling author of Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, goes back to the sources—the biblical and historical evidence for Christ—in order to answer several key questions, including: • Were the four Gospels really anonymous? • Are the Gospels folklore? Or are they biographies? • Were the four Gospels written too late to be reliable? • What about the so-called “Lost Gospels,” such as “Q” and the Gospel of Thomas? • Did Jesus claim to be God? • Is Jesus divine in all four Gospels? Or only in John? • Did Jesus fulfill the Jewish prophecies of the Messiah? • Why was Jesus crucified? • What is the evidence for the Resurrection? As The Case for Jesus will show, recent discoveries in New Testament scholarship, as well as neglected evidence from ancient manuscripts and the early church fathers, together have the potential to pull the rug out from under a century of skepticism toward the traditional Gospels. Above all, Pitre shows how the divine claims of Jesus of Nazareth can only be understood by putting them in their ancient Jewish context. Page numbers: 258

The Faith Explained by Leo J. Trese

Theology and Sanity by Sheed, F.J.

Theology for Beginners by Sheed, F.J.