Author Garth Lean’s story of William Wilberforce’s struggle against slavery shows that one person can make a difference, and that it is possible to combine integrity and conscience with a successful political career.

Fr. Richard Sheehy PP explores what it means to ‘pass on the faith’ and how he has worked with this in his Dublin parish.

The murder in 1980 of one of the contemporary Church’s most prophetic and courageous champions of peace, justice and the rights of the poor is recalled by Dermot Keogh.

Cardinal Newman has become a popular source of spirituality since Vatican II and he could soon be beatified. Michael Paul Gallagher SJ gives an account of the man, his struggles and his thinking.

John Murray PP tells the story of the Austrian farmer, Franz Jägerstätter, who rejected arguments of obedience and his own safety and refused to enlist in the Nazi army: he felt in his conscience what they were doing was evil and he would have no part in it.

Declan and Sarah O’Brien from Prosperous in Co. Kildare share a novel and simple way of preparing for Christmas with their children by building an atmosphere of love in the home.

Brian D’Arcy’s controversial autobiography is his story of struggle between his human nature and his calling. As a Passionist Father he found a way of combining his love for music and sport by becoming chaplain to the entertainment industry (and playing football for charities). He has integrated a career in [...]

Using The Catechism of the Catholic Church as his starting point and structure, Patrick M. Devitt provides a range of images, personalities, cameos from everyday life along with a Scripture text to present and illustrate the truths of the Catholic faith. The style is punchy. It is useful not only [...]

2005 marks the 50th anniversary of Einstein’s death and the centenary of the theory of relativity. Fritzsch and Helge explain how Einstein revolutionised physics by reinterpreting space and time.

John Sullivan was born into a prosperous Protestant background in Victorian Dublin. Though his mother was a Catholic, it was a surprise to the whole family that he converted to the Catholic faith and entered the Jesuit novitiate at the turn of the century. Conor Harper SJ tells his story.

John Murray PP tells us the story of Eve Lavallière, an accomplished actress and high flyer, who changed her whole way of life when a parish priest invited her to Mass and gave her a book about Mary Magdalen.

Opera singer Michelle Sheridan tells how she keeps her faith alive and nourished and how she manages when her faith is shaken.|

Anthony Krivak’s beautiful memoir of his eight years as a Jesuit becomes a long retreat in its own right as he tests all his desires against the pledge to do all “for the greater glory of God”. It becomes a pattern for our own spiritual search, for our own prayer [...]

What we hand on to our children is not so much doctrines or practices as the capacity to love. Paul Andrews SJ has a sympathetic understanding of how parents hand on their faith to their children and what’s important.

Hans was born into squalid poverty over 200 years ago, his father died insane and his mother ended her days as an alcoholic in a workhouse. Yet his 156 fairy tales probably gave more pleasure, especially to children, than the works of any other writer.

Fra Angelico is well-known as an artist, but he never handled a brush without fervent prayer. He was beatified by Pope John Paul in 1982 and declared patron of Catholic artists in 1984. John Murray tells his story.

Pauline Jaricot founded the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Through this society lay people can contribute to the organisation of the missions. It was Pauline’s sense of self-sacrifice that was the stimulus to setting it up. John Murray PP tells the story.

Peter Ward C.Ss.R. proposes St Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists, as patron for all those suffering from arthritis, sciatica, muscular pains, and the like.

John Waters is journalist who has become an outspoken campaigner for fathers’ rights in Ireland. He has also written a song to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. Here he recalls his journey from belief to unbelief and back again.

Seventy-five year old retired Maynooth vice-president and parish priest Denis O’Callaghan sees his life in three phases: the twenty five years of his childhood and preparation for the priesthood, twenty five years teaching moral theology in Maynooth and twenty five years as parish priest in Mallow. This fascinating memoir charts [...]

Sean O’Rourke tells his experience of sharing prayer with his own young children.

Sr Helen Prejean has campaigned tirelessly for the abolition of the death penalty. She talks to Seán Murphy about the wrongful execution of innocents in the US.

Frederic Ozanam is known especially as the founder of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, an international voluntary Christian organisation noted for helping the poor. John Murray PP tells his story.

Pope John Paul II spoke of the brothers Sts Cyril and Methodius as ideal examples of the true missionary spirit – faithful to the traditions that formed them and yet endeavouring to understand the peoples to whom they were sent. Fr John Murray PP explains.

Archbishop of Dublin during the takeover of Ireland by the Normans and King Henry II, his efforts in the peace process and his frustration with King Henry probably caused his early death. Highly honoured at Eu in Normandy, France, where he died. Kevin Doran, parish priest of Glendalough, tells his [...]

This is a book about Opus Dei by an insider that is accessible to outsiders. Scott Hahn was a Presbyterian biblical theologian who met some members of Opus Dei and was attracted by their life and example to investigate further, eventually joining the group himself. This is his personal story. [...]

Louis Power gives an interesting outline drawing from myths, legends, historical and biblical sources about what happened to the 12 apostles after Pentecost.

Luigi Scrosoppi was an Oratorian priest, who with his brother ran an orphanage in Udine at a time when there was a strong anti-religious wind sweeping over Italy. Working and keeping his good humour through adversity, he became famous for miracles of healing after his death.

Arrupe would say: “See with the eyes of Christ, go wherever the need is greatest, serve the faith and promote justice as best you can, and you will find God!” Yet opposition to his vision, to his interpretation of the Ignatian charism, came from some Jesuits in Spain but also [...]

Joe Aston, fisherman and sailor, tells what inspires him to be a believer.