Showing titles in Biographies

George Marsden describes how Lewis gradually went from being an atheist to a committed Anglican - famously converting to Christianity in 1931 after conversing into the night with his friends, J. R. R. Tolkien and Hugh Dyson - and how Lewis delivered his wartime talks to a traumatized British nation in the midst of an all-out war for survival.

This course will have a profound impact on your faith and thinking. Thomas Aquinas, OP (1225-1274), is one of world history's most influential thinkers. His works indelibly shaped Western thought and Christian belief, and his brilliant ideas continue to resonate in universities and churches everywhere. But his complex thought can often seem inaccessible to most of us. In this superb course, taught by an internationally known Aquinas expert, you will tour his towering thought while gaining powerful insights into your faith.

In this fascinating series, the saints you’ll meet include a woman who didn't discover her true vocation until she was past sixty, a man who lived for years with a concubine and fathered an illegitimate son, a religious teacher and reformer who was repeatedly charged with heresy, three women who were wives and mothers before they became Sisters, and many more. The words of these great men and women may move you, but their actions will absolutely take your breath away.

As a special operations army commander, Jeff Tiegs anchored his life in the battlefield—and the Bible. He joined the 1st Ranger Battalion at age eighteen and retired as a Delta Force lieutenant colonel. Often separated from his wife and kids, Tiegs lost friends in combat but never stopped pursuing his enemies wherever they tried to hide.

As the Society of Jesus approaches its 500th anniversary, the Jesuits make up the largest unified religious order of men in the Catholic Church. How did these "Soldiers of Christ" grow from their humble beginnings to become an order deeply engaged in ministries, learning, and society in 112 nations on all six inhabited continents? Whether you are a Jesuit yourself or a person touched by Jesuit education, ministries, and writings, you will love this course.

Explore the profound spirituality of Hans Urs von Balthasar. Born in Switzerland, Balthasar (1905-1988) was one of the most prolific and sophisticated Catholic thinkers of the 20th century. As you will discover, Balthasar's theology provides a powerful model for the Catholic Church in the modern world. In Hans Urs von Balthasar: Rediscovering Holistic Christianity, you will join Balthasar expert Dr. Kevin Mongrain (PhD, Yale University) in exploring this great theologian.

Take an unforgettable retreat with Teilhard de Chardin's masterpiece: The Divine Milieu. A Jesuit priest and scientist, Teilhard's powerful vision of the universe has influenced countless spiritual seekers. Written in the 1920s but published posthumously, The Divine Milieu is a spiritual work at once cosmic and personal. Mapping the horizons of transcendence and intimacy, it illuminates the boundless contours of our true nature and home in God.

When a white, middle-class, Christian, heterosexual, able-bodied man begins to question all of these cultural realities that he has been raised within, something is sure to give. The cultural fishbowl is sure to be cracked. Woven is such a story. The gradual awakening of a man to his gender, economic, and racial privilege. It is the story of growing up within contemporary evangelicalism, the dissatisfaction that began to arise, and the subsequent journey of self-discovery. Woven is a story of dissatisfaction. A story of struggling and wrestling, and questioning.

St. John of the Cross is one of the most inspiring figures in the history of Christianity: a saint of profound faith, a compelling mystic, and an immensely gifted poet. Now, you can explore the life, teachings, writings, and reflections of St. John of the Cross.

On February 29, 1948, Romanian secret police abducted Richard Wurmbrand off the streets of Bucharest because of his bold Christian witness. Despite the torture and great suffering he endured in a Communist prison, he loved and encouraged both his cellmates and his oppressors through the hope he had in Christ. In his book In God's Underground, Richard shares his story of triumphant faith amid deep anguish.

When Thomas Merton published The Seven Storey Mountain in 1948, no one could have expected it to become an international sensation. An autobiography of his conversion to Catholicism, it became a wildly popular best seller, propelling this humble Trappist monk to literary fame. Today, it is widely regarded as a spiritual classic. While it remains his most famous work, The Seven Storey Mountain is only the tip of the iceberg in Merton's rich, multi-layered oeuvre.

At the time of his death, Christopher Hitchens was the most notorious atheist in the world. And yet, all was not as it seemed. "Nobody is not a divided self, of course," he once told an interviewer, "but I think it's rather strong in my case." Hitchens was a man of many contradictions: a Marxist in youth who longed for acceptance among the social elites; a peacenik who revered the military; a champion of the Left who was nonetheless pro-life, pro-war-on-terror; and, after 9/11, something of a neocon.

From Hollywood dreams to spiritual darkness—and ultimately, to redemption through Christ. In this raw and riveting memoir, Alex Smith takes listeners on a powerful journey through the highs and horrors of life in the entertainment world of Los Angeles. Caught in a web of occult influence, gang violence, and inner torment, Alex spirals deeper into spiritual chaos—haunted by demons both figurative and literal. But just when all hope seems lost, a divine rescue unfolds. This is not just a story of survival—it's a supernatural testimony of God's relentless grace.

In Mission with Prophetic Power, Evan Howard introduces us to his good friend John Woolman (1720–1772). In this autobiographical record of his life, Woolman describes his charismatic, contemplative, and evangelical spirituality as he practiced a lifestyle of fair trade (justice) and minimalism (simplicity). Encounter testimonies of the “operations of divine love” in Woolman’s record of the goodness of God.

"Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry: True Stories of Padre Pio, Book II" is the second part of a two part book series on the life and spirituality of Padre Pio written by Diane Allen. The author continued her research and study on the life and spirituality of the saint who has often been referred to as "the greatest mystic of the 20th Century."

Apologia Pro Vita Sua (A Defence of One's Own Life), John Henry Newman's defense of his religious beliefs, was published in 1864 in response to Charles Kingsley of the Church of England after Newman quit his position as the Anglican vicar of St. Mary's, Oxford. From 1833 to 1841 there was friction in the Church of England which culminated in Newman's 1845 resignation as an Anglican vicar and his conversion to Roman Catholicism. Newman's essay responded to attacks from Charles Kingsley of the broad church party, who criticised Newman's conversion.

In this short introduction to the life and works of MacDonald exclusively written for Hovel Audio, renowned scholar Rolland Hein is your guide through MacDonald's Fairyland. You will explore the symbols, motifs, and themes that run through MacDonald's stories, such as "The Wise Woman", "The Golden Key", and "The Princess and the Goblin". Moreover, Hein introduces you to MacDonald's ability to take his own imagination into the pulpit, where he preached many powerfully moving sermons

Gerard Manley Hopkins is undoubtedly one of the greatest poets in the English language. Under the influence of Cardinal John Henry Newman, Hopkins became a Jesuit priest. Now celebrated as a masterful poet, he inspires people throughout the world with his words and example. Hopkins was not only a brilliant poet but also a deeply spiritual man whose works explored religious themes such as Jesuit spirituality and the presence of God in nature.

In the poignant contents of "Unraveling Wrongful Conviction and Miscarriage of Justice," Matthew invites listeners on a compelling journey—a transformation from the depths of despair to a life rekindled with hope and purpose. Baring his soul, Matthew recounts the gripping narrative of his spiritual rebirth, wherein he confronts the shadows of wrongful conviction and takes ownership of his past, breaking free from the chains of destructive behaviors.

The mystics show us the deepest recesses of the human spirit. Now, this remarkable series gives you the rare opportunity to take one of the world's leading experts on mysticism as your personal guide. Boston College's Fr. Harvey Egan draws on 50 years of teaching the Christian mystics. Brilliantly taught, his lectures are filled with faithful insights. Under his guidance, you will explore the mystical life by focusing upon 11 significant figures. You will begin with Ignatius of Loyola and his finding of God in all things.