Why Be Catholic?: Ten Answers to a Very Important Question

by Patrick Madrid, Seán O'Malley (Foreword by)

Overview

The popular blogger and publisher of Envoy magazine offers 10 key reasons why he loves being Catholic (and you should too). Drawing heavily on poignant anecdotes from his own experience as a life-long Catholic born in 1960s, Madrid offers readers a way of looking at the Church—its members, teachings, customs, and history—from perspectives many may have never considered.

Growing up Catholic during a time of great social and theological upheaval and transition, a time in which countless Catholics abandoned their religion in search of something else, Patrick Madrid learned a great deal about why people leave Catholicism and why others stay. This experience helped him gain many insights into what it is about the Catholic Church that some people reject, as well as those things that others treasure. Drawing upon Madrid's personal experiences, Why Be Catholic? offers a deeply personal, fact-based, rationale for why everyone should be Catholic or at least consider the Catholic Church in a new light.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780307986436
Publisher:	The Crown Publishing Group
Publication date:	06/03/2014
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	227,306
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

PATRICK MADRID is the author or editor of twenty books on Catholic themes, including Search and Rescue, Where Is That in the Bible?, and Pope Fiction. He also hosts Right Here, Right Now, a daily radio broadcast heard on 240 stations coast to coast. He an adjunct professor of theology at Holy Apostles College and Seminary and he is president of the Catholic Apologetics Academy. Patrick and his wife, Nancy, live in Ohio along with the rest of their family, which includes the blessing of eleven children and fifteen grandchildren.

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Excerpted from "Why Be Catholic?"
by .
Copyright © 2014 Patrick Madrid.
Excerpted by permission of The Crown Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Foreword ix

1 Catholics: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly 1

2 You Can Handle the Truth: The historical case for the Catholic Church 20

3 Brought to My Senses: The Seven Sacraments 37

4 Soul Food: Mass and the holy eucharist 56

5 The Cure for What Ails Me: Confession and Healing 76

6 A Rock That Will Not Roll: Peter and the Papacy 92

7 Mamma Mial: The Blessed Virgin Mary's Role in God's Plan of Salvation 118

8 How 'bout Them Saints?: Mystics, Martyrs, and Miracle-Workers 142

9 Hello, I Love You: The Catholic Church's Good Works 160

10 Ah, the Good Life: The Awe, Wonder, And Goodness of God 176

Notes 209

Acknowledgments 227

Editorial Reviews

"The Catholic Church is the last place most people would expect to find their intellectual and spiritual home, so they never investigate it. Why should they? How could the Church—with its rules, rigidity, and reputation—possibly be where true happiness is found? How could it, appreciated for its pageantry but disdained for its teachings, have anything to offer the modern world in general or them in particular? It’s this very improbability that Patrick Madrid cuts through in showing that only the Catholic faith can satisfy everyone’s deepest longings." -Karl Keating, President, Catholic Answers

"If this book had been available when I was still a Protestant, I may have been convinced to become Catholic without reading any further.  It’s a great resource for dispelling much of the misinformation and ignorance that abounds about the Church and also a reminder to us Catholics as to how blessed we truly are." -Gail Buckley, Founder & President, Catholic Scripture Study International

"This book is as simple and clear as its title.  In ten chapters, master apologist Madrid explains and explores ten good reasons to be Catholic—ten good, true and beautiful things the Church offers us.  Each is explained in a way almost impossible to misunderstand, and enlivened by fascinating actual incidents from the author's life.  Full of historical facts and commonsense arguments for Catholic teachings, yet not intimidatingly 'scholarly,' this is a perfect book for inquirers or beginners." -Dr. Peter Kreeft, author of Handbook of Christian Apologetics

"Patrick Madrid's latest book goes to the heart of the matter and answers the question 'Why Be Catholic?'  In a world that has a love hate relationship with religion, and especially all things Catholic, Mr. Madrid bravely, clearly, and convincingly provides the answer to that question, helping every Catholic understand the basics of the faith but also gives the Church a reason to celebrate it!" -Fr. Leo E. Patalinghug, founder of GraceBeforeMeals.com

"To be Catholic is to be joyously human and alive; ready to both party and to feel deeply the grief of this world.  It is to know deep common sense and deep mystery; to weep at the tomb of Lazarus and to shout in triumph over death at the tomb of Jesus.  Patrick Madrid gets this and is one of the best guides to the Faith writing in English." -Mark P. Shea, author of The Heart of Catholic Prayer

"Our Sacraments, Church history, our Traditions, the Saints; after reading this beautiful examination of our faith, the question that comes to mind for me is not why be Catholic but why would you be anything but Catholic? Patrick's latest book will no doubt be a tool to bring fallen away Catholics back into the fold and help attract others to the one, holy, apostolic faith as well." -Teresa Tomeo, author of God's Bucket List

“Patrick Madrid has done it again.  With wit, humility, and nearly three decades of experience, Madrid lovingly responds to the top misconceptions about Catholicism, making it simple for each of us to swing wide the gates in welcoming people into the Catholic Church.” – Greg Willits, author of The New Evangelization and You: Be Not Afraid

From the Publisher