Mastering the Tools of Thought and Expression: A Trivium-Inspired English Course by T. R. Wrye Kozinski, MALA with Dr. Thaddeus Kozinski, Maryann Hedstrom, et alia

Mastering the Tools of Thought and Expression: A Trivium-Inspired English Course by T. R. Wrye Kozinski, MALA with Dr. Thaddeus Kozinski, Maryann Hedstrom, et alia

Mastering the Tools of Thought and Expression: A Trivium-Inspired English Course

by T. R. Wrye Kozinski, M.A.L.A., with Dr. Thaddeus Kozinski, Maryann Hedstrom,
and the English Department at Marin Catholic College Preparatory High School

This book presents a Trivium-inspired approach to English education that integrates grammar, logic, rhetoric, and dialectic within a modern curriculum. Rooted in the classical liberal arts tradition and informed by Catholic intellectual thought, the course equips students to think clearly, argue persuasively, and communicate truthfully. Through literary analysis, Socratic discussion, and rhetorical formation, students learn to unite language, reason, and imagination in the pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness.

Full Color Paperback: $22.95 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

“As a former classroom teacher and a professor of Education for over 16 years, I find that the most insightful and relevant curriculum comes from peers in the field. Mastering the Tools of Thought and Expression is an English textbook that treats thinking as seriously as writing. Rooted in the classical Trivium of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, the text and teacher companion offer thoughtful and practical progression, preparing students not only for academic success but also for meaningful engagement with the world through truth, beauty, and goodness. Whether one is new to the classroom or has invested years in the vocational call, this curriculum provides philosophy, commentaries, and answer keys for the separate logic text. It deepens discussion and supports teacher preparation, without sacrificing rigor or the pursuit of truth in both AP and Catholic classical education.” – Dr. Tiffany Boury, Professor of Education, Franciscan University 

“This is a really powerful course synthesizing grammar, logic and rhetoric; I have found it essential for students because it opens the doors in their minds, actually giving them ownership over the keys that unlock their capability for deeper thought. An eye-opening course that connects everything together for the teacher, it has allowed me to really help students with their writing, because the grammar synthesized with the logic helps in terms of explaining how reality interfaces with the mind and the fundamentals of language.” – Ryan Sweeney, English teacher

“This class was more than a place of learning; it was the catalyst that turned my restless curiosity into a lifelong pursuit of deeper understanding . . . it wasn’t just a space for analysis; it was a proving ground for perspectives. It pushed me into moral dilemmas not to “correct” answers, but to teach me how to wrestle with uncertainty. And in that struggle, something in me shifted. Learning how my thought mattered ignited my confidence. I’ve become someone unafraid to question, to write with vulnerability, to chase ideas into the dark.” – Brandon Little, Marin Catholic Class of 2026

Mastering the Tools of Thought and Expression restores the Trivium to its rightful place at the heart of humane education, forming students not merely to write well, but to think clearly, speak truthfully, and pursue wisdom with intellectual and spiritual maturity.”  – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, co-author with Ronda Chervin of Why Be an Atheist if…?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tami Kozinski, M.A., is a seasoned educator with a profound foundation in classical learning. She earned her Master’s degree in the Liberal Arts from St. John’s College Graduate Institute and holds credentials in both elementary and secondary English education. Since 1993, she has taught at high school and collegiate levels, enriching students across the U.S. and internationally. As a Great Books online moderator, adjunct composition professor, writer, and homeschooling mother, Tami brings passion, scholarship, and creativity to every classroom.

Dr. Thaddeus Kozinski is an advocate of Catholic liberal education and the Socratic method of teaching, and has authored a number of articles and books, including The Political Problem of Religious Pluralism: And Why Philosophers Cannot Solve It and Modernity as Apocalypse: Sacred Nihilism and the Counterfeits of Logos. At present, he teaches philosophy for Memoria College and John Adams Academy. He is the author of Modernity as Apocalypse: Sacred Nihilism and the Counterfeits of Logos (Angelico Press) and Words, Concepts, Reality: Aristotelian Logic for Teenagers (En Route).

OTHER CATHOLIC BUSINESS AND EDUCATION BOOKS

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

The Tools of Thought: Logic and Language in Harmony by T. R. Wrye Kozinski, M.A.L.A., and Thaddeus Kozinski, Ph.D.

The Tools of Thought: Logic and Language in Harmony by T. R. Wrye Kozinski, M.A.L.A., and Thaddeus Kozinski, Ph.D.

The Tools of Thought: Logic and Language in Harmony

by T. R. Wrye Kozinski, M.A.L.A., and Thaddeus Kozinski, Ph.D.

This book introduces students to the foundations of clear thinking through accessible lessons on words, concepts, judgments, and reasoning. Drawing from classical philosophy, this text explores Aristotle’s categories, the three acts of the intellect, and the laws of thought, showing how language and logic mirror reality. With engaging examples, exercises, and reflections, it equips learners to discern truth, avoid fallacies, and develop intellectual virtue in pursuit of wisdom.

Full Color Paperback: $19.95 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

“As a former classroom teacher and a professor of Education for over 16 years, I find that the most insightful and relevant curriculum comes from peers in the field. Mastering the Tools of Thought and Expression is an English textbook that treats thinking as seriously as writing. Rooted in the classical Trivium of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, the text and teacher companion offer thoughtful and practical progression, preparing students not only for academic success but also for meaningful engagement with the world through truth, beauty, and goodness. Whether one is new to the classroom or has invested years in the vocational call, this curriculum provides philosophy, commentaries, and answer keys for the separate logic text. It deepens discussion and supports teacher preparation, without sacrificing rigor or the pursuit of truth in both AP and Catholic classical education.” – Dr. Tiffany Boury, Professor of Education, Franciscan University 

“This is a really powerful course synthesizing grammar, logic and rhetoric; I have found it essential for students because it opens the doors in their minds, actually giving them ownership over the keys that unlock their capability for deeper thought. An eye-opening course that connects everything together for the teacher, it has allowed me to really help students with their writing, because the grammar synthesized with the logic helps in terms of explaining how reality interfaces with the mind and the fundamentals of language.” – Ryan Sweeney, English teacher

“This class was more than a place of learning; it was the catalyst that turned my restless curiosity into a lifelong pursuit of deeper understanding . . . it wasn’t just a space for analysis; it was a proving ground for perspectives. It pushed me into moral dilemmas not to “correct” answers, but to teach me how to wrestle with uncertainty. And in that struggle, something in me shifted. Learning how my thought mattered ignited my confidence. I’ve become someone unafraid to question, to write with vulnerability, to chase ideas into the dark.” – Brandon Little, Marin Catholic Class of 2026

The Tools of Thought shines with clarity and depth, equipping students to reason faithfully and live truthfully. Her work enriches Catholic education with a timeless wisdom our Church and world urgently need.” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, co-author with Ronda Chervin of Why Be an Atheist if…?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tami Kozinski, M.A., is a seasoned educator with a profound foundation in classical learning. She earned her Master’s degree in the Liberal Arts from St. John’s College Graduate Institute and holds credentials in both elementary and secondary English education. Since 1993, she has taught at high school and collegiate levels, enriching students across the U.S. and internationally. As a Great Books online moderator, adjunct composition professor, writer, and homeschooling mother, Tami brings passion, scholarship, and creativity to every classroom.

Dr. Thaddeus Kozinski is an advocate of Catholic liberal education and the Socratic method of teaching, and has authored a number of articles and books, including The Political Problem of Religious Pluralism: And Why Philosophers Cannot Solve It and Modernity as Apocalypse: Sacred Nihilism and the Counterfeits of Logos. At present, he teaches philosophy for Memoria College and John Adams Academy. He is the author of Modernity as Apocalypse: Sacred Nihilism and the Counterfeits of Logos (Angelico Press) and Words, Concepts, Reality: Aristotelian Logic for Teenagers (En Route).

OTHER CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY BOOKS

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

The Glorious Freedom of the Children of God: The Human Dimension of the Formation of Seminarians by Fr. Matthew Rolling

The Glorious Freedom of the Children of God: The Human Dimension of the Formation of Seminarians by Fr. Matthew Rolling

The Glorious Freedom of the Children of God: The Human Dimension of the Formation of Seminarians 

by Fr. Matthew Rolling

A philosophically rigorous and pastorally grounded exploration of the human dimension of seminary formation, The Glorious Freedom of the Children of God examines the nature of the human person through Thomistic anthropology, contemporary psychology, and the Church’s vision for priestly formation. Fr. Matthew Rolling presents seminarians as men sharing a common humanity while remaining uniquely individual, emphasizing affective maturity, freedom, virtue, and authentic masculinity as essential foundations for fruitful priestly ministry in the modern world.

Paperback: $12.95 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

“Fr. Matthew Rolling offers a deeply needed synthesis of Thomistic anthropology, priestly formation, and contemporary human experience. This work is intellectually rich, pastorally grounded, and exceptionally timely for seminary formators seeking a truly integrated vision of human formation.” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, co-author with Ronda Chervin of Catholic Realism: A Framework for the Refutation of Atheism and the Evangelization of Atheists 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As a Catholic priest and philosophy professor, Fr. Matthew Rolling also serves as Academic Dean at St. Gregory the Great Seminary, the college seminary of the Diocese of Lincoln, NE.

OTHER CATHOLIC PRACTICAL THEOLOGY

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Holiness in the Hundred-Acre Wood (or What Tiggers Like Best!) by Fr. Lawrence Maria Waszkiewicz

Holiness in the Hundred-Acre Wood (or What Tiggers Like Best!) by Fr. Lawrence Maria Waszkiewicz

Published in collaboration with the Christian Center for Culture of Mary Our Queen.

Holiness in the Hundred-Acre Wood (or What Tiggers Like Best!) 

by Fr. Lawrence Maria Waszkiewicz

Many adults joyfully return to the books they loved as children in later years, discovering in them a surprising depth of wisdom and goodness. This is especially true for parents, whose very lives lead them to relive childhood alongside their own children.

This book was written precisely for such adults (and for their children as well): those capable of looking more deeply, both with a twinkle in the eye and with utmost seriousness. For it seems that God continually teaches His children not to take “serious matters” too seriously, while at the same time approaching seemingly trivial things with the seriousness they deserve.

– And of course, there is one more reason. Your birthday, Pooh.
– Really?
– Of course. It has already been one hundred years since the world first learned of your peculiar way of coming down the stairs: “Bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head behind Christopher Robin, who was pulling him by the forepaw.” A hundredth birthday.
– And you remembered?
– Oh, I’m quite certain I wasn’t the only one!

Paperback: $12.95 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

Holiness in the Hundred-Acre Wood is a charming and unexpectedly profound spiritual meditation that transforms beloved childhood characters into companions on the path of grace, humility, friendship, and sanctity. Fr. Waszkiewicz writes with wit, warmth, and remarkable theological insight.” — Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, author of The Narrative Spirituality of Dante’s Divine Comedy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fr. Lawrence Maria Waszkiewicz was born in 1985 in Wrocław, Poland. A Missionary of Our Lady of the Angels, he serves in the Archdiocese of Trnava in Slovakia, where he ministers in a Hungarian-speaking parish. He studied library science at the University of Wrocław and completed his seminary studies in Italy. Fr. Waszkiewicz is the author of numerous books on spirituality, saints, and the interior life, including The Alchemist, Nunc Coepi, and Beautiful Soul, a biography of Maria Gaetana Agnesi.

OTHER CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY BOOKS

Living as Long as I Can as Well as I Can by James Pomeroy

Living as Long as I Can as Well as I Can by James Pomeroy

Living as Long as I Can as Well as I Can by James Pomeroy This is a book that will be helpful to health care providers, including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, chaplains, and their patients, because it offers a spiritual foundation for living well,...

read more
A La Sombra de Nuestra Señora

A La Sombra de Nuestra Señora

Mary Kloska speaks to a 'Seven Sisters' Group about her book In Our Lady's Shadow (May 21, 2021)A La Sombra de Nuestra Señora: La Espiritualidad de la Oración por los Sacerdotes by Mary Kloska A la Sombra de Nuestra Señora: ‘La Espiritualidad de Rezar por los...

read more
Voices from the Upper Room

Voices from the Upper Room

Voices from the Upper Room by Father Dominic Lenk, O.S.B. Just who were those people gathered together in the Upper Room during those three days between the crucifixion and the resurrection? Imagine with the author all those people gathered in the Upper Room during...

read more
The Holy Heart

The Holy Heart

The Holy Heart by Holly Garman “My Father will love you so deeply that We willcome to you and make you Our dwelling place.”~ Jesus (Jn. 14:32, TPT) The Scriptural truths of The Holy Heart help us to let God become fully at home in us, as we become fully at home in...

read more
The Mercy Ocean

The Mercy Ocean

All profits go to the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles (M.S.A.)The Mercy Ocean by Reverend Vincent A. Salamoni, M.S.A. Simply described as a collection of information, which perhaps will be USEFUL TO YOU AND/OR OTHERS! Father Vincent’s book of meditative reflections...

read more
Shared Miracle Stories

Shared Miracle Stories

Shared Miracle Stories of the Dominican Community of Mary Mother of Dominic and Friends of Cedaredge Ed. by Mrs. Helen R. Hawkins, OP This is a book that invites us to share our miracles with one another. Why does God use or allow miracles? First, a miracle is an...

read more
The Fourteen Holy Helpers

The Fourteen Holy Helpers

The Fourteen Holy Helpers Authored by Allison Lunsford and Illustrated by Joan Bennett Saint Acacius, Saint Barbara, Saint Blaise, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Saint Christopher, Saint Cyriacus, Saint Denis, Saint Erasmus, Saint Eustace, Saint George, Saint Giles,...

read more
Led by the Spirit

Led by the Spirit

Led by the Spirit: Into the Consciousness of Christ by Dennis J. Billy, C.Ss.R. Following Jesus means being open to and led by his Spirit. This book explores the meaning of this phrase by looking at the larger picture of why God entered our world and became one of us...

read more
Experiencing God: Thoughts and Testimonies

Experiencing God: Thoughts and Testimonies

Experiencing God: Thoughts and Testimonies by Robin Arthur In this thoughtful reflection, Robin Arthur presents his perspectives on the God experience, addressing the conundrum of faith in Christ crucified, which St. Paul has told us is "a stumbling block to Jews and...

read more
Fuera de las Tinieblas… por Mary Kloska

Fuera de las Tinieblas… por Mary Kloska

Fuera de las Tinieblas por Mary Kloska Aquí, al principio de este libro, no quiero explicar mucho sobre mí (quien soy, o dónde vivo, o dónde estudié), en su lugar, me gustaría simplemente presentarlo como es: una colección de tesoros que Jesús ha compartido con mi...

read more
Z ciemności…

Z ciemności…

Z Ciemności... Mary Kloska (tłumaczenie: Agata Wesołowska) Ta książka to kolekcja skarbów, których Pan Jezus zechciał udzielić sercu autorki ‒ Mary Kloska. Dzieląc swoje refleksje z czytelnikiem, pragnie ona jak najlepiej zaświadczyć o wielkiej mocy, jaką zawiera w...

read more
A Philosopher Reflects on the Rosary by Raymond Dennehy

A Philosopher Reflects on the Rosary by Raymond Dennehy

A Philosopher Reflects on the Rosary by Raymond Dennehy In this book, Catholic philosopher Raymond Dennehy demonstrates to the reader that besides being a powerful source of God's grace and, as Father Garrigou-Lagrange observed, "a school of contemplation," the Rosary...

read more
In Our Lady’s Shadow, authored by Mary Kloska

In Our Lady’s Shadow, authored by Mary Kloska

Mary Kloska speaks to a 'Seven Sisters' Group about her book In Our Lady's Shadow (May 21, 2021)In Our Lady's Shadow: The Spirituality of Praying for Priests by Mary Kloska In Our Lady’s Shadow–the Spirituality of Praying for Priests is a guide for women, taking them...

read more
Table for Three by Larry Hopperton

Table for Three by Larry Hopperton

Private Chapel Picture someone like a popein prayer, a tiny chapel.Altar servers murmur latin robes raised in personal praise.We did that in choir school.We recited the responses didn’t know what they meantbut could participate at the feetof the meditative...

read more
33 Days … with St. Joseph by Fr. Nicholas Cachia

33 Days … with St. Joseph by Fr. Nicholas Cachia

33 Days . . . with Saint Joseph by Fr. Nicholas Cachia This book is a resource for meditative prayer based on excerpts taken from the Apostolic Letter Patris Corde of Pope Francis (December 8, 2020). It is a prayerful journey into the attitudes and sentiments of St....

read more
Out of the Darkness by Mary Kloska

Out of the Darkness by Mary Kloska

Out of the Darkness by Mary Kloska This work is a collection of treasures Jesus has shared with Mary Kloska's heart. In offering this to the reader, Mary hopes to witness to the great power Jesus’ Cross contains in itself.  Her heart cringes at the thought of her...

read more
Our House of the Sacred Heart

Our House of the Sacred Heart

When you join, you’ll get: for each day of the Consecration: a daily reflection sent to your inbox. You will be guided in beautiful prayer, contemplation or story, great works of Catholic art, and reflection for that day. Each day will prepare your own heart for...

read more
Always a New Beginning!

Always a New Beginning!

Always a New Beginning! A Conversation between Broken Catholic Spiritual Warriors By Ronda Chervin, Ph.D., and David E. Dowd RONDA: Life is a broken field of dreams for some of us. Loved ones, experience, accidents, illness, old age... each inflicting pain and...

read more
Returning Home: A Spirituality of the Christian Journey

Returning Home: A Spirituality of the Christian Journey

Returning Home: A Spirituality of the Christian Journey The spiritual life has often been presented in terms of a journey because it is all about finding our way to God. For Christians, the spiritual journey has to do with following Christ into the mystery of the...

read more
Light for the Journey: Reflections from Carmel

Light for the Journey: Reflections from Carmel

"Our Lady of Mount Carmel with Simon Stock, Angelus of Jerusalem, Maria Maddalena de’Pazzi, Teresa da Avila." Italian painter and architect Pietro Novelli (1603-1647), dated 1641.Light for the Journey: Reflections from Carmel by the Association of St. Teresa EVERY...

read more
Simple Holiness, authored by Al Hughes and Ronda Chervin

Simple Holiness, authored by Al Hughes and Ronda Chervin

Simple Holiness by Albert E. Hughes and Ronda Chervin We all are called to holiness, but we may not know what holiness means or how to approach it. Do you really desire to climb the ladder of holiness? Do you seek a life of spiritual joy in union with God, no matter...

read more
Seeking Christ in the Crosses & Joys of Aging

Seeking Christ in the Crosses & Joys of Aging

Seeking Christ in the Crosses & Joys of Aging by Dr. Ronda Chervin Seeking Christ in the Crosses & Joys of Aging is a refreshing and inspiring look at a period of your life ‘en route to eternity’ where Jesus awaits you in a new way. A perfect gift also for...

read more
Healing Meditations from the Gospel of St. John

Healing Meditations from the Gospel of St. John

Healing Meditations from the Gospel of St. John Healing Meditations from the Gospel of St. John is about recovering who we are . . . our true selves. Simply put, the true self is the self that God wants us to be, what Kierkegaard called God’s prophesy for each person,...

read more
Holding Hands with God

Holding Hands with God

Holding Hands with God Edited by Dr. Ronda Chervin Miscarriage, depression, breast cancer, abuse, divorce, addiction, and other specific personal, chronic problems touch the lives of many Catholic women. While expert advice is plentiful, what so many women...

read more
Quotable Saints

Quotable Saints

Quotable Saints Ed. Dr. Ronda Chervin These memorable quotes of the saints and hundreds more are uniquely organized by theme in this uplifting treasury. In each chapter, you follow a particular theme and journey with the saints as they provide just the right word of...

read more
St. Robert Bellarmine

St. Robert Bellarmine

St. Robert Bellarmine by Shaun McAfee St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) was a prolific author of the Counter Reformation and great defender of the Catholic Church. This book tells the story of the great saint who went from obscure title to become one of the most...

read more
Marrying the Rosary to the Divine Mercy Chaplet

Marrying the Rosary to the Divine Mercy Chaplet

Marrying the Rosary to the Divine Mercy Chaplet by Shane Kapler Discover the rewards of uniting two of the Catholic Church’s most beloved devotions. In this new book, Shane Kapler provides 20 reflections - paired with 40 classic works of art - demonstrating the riches...

read more
Waiting with Purpose

Waiting with Purpose

Waiting with Purpose: Persevering When God Says 'Not Yet' by Jeannie Ewing All of life involves waiting. We wait at stoplights. We are caught in traffic jams. We agonize over medical test results. We hang on to a much-anticipated getaway. Sometimes, we wait to finish...

read more
Cry Oneness by Joe Avalos

Cry Oneness by Joe Avalos

Cry Oneness by Joe Avalos I was spiritually dead, despite all the things I was doing with my life. I don’t think there’s a worse death that can happen to any human being. Now I have a Life beyond my dreams. Full of Miracles, Poetry, and Locutions. This book...

read more
Escaping Anxiety: Along the Road to Spiritual Joy

Escaping Anxiety: Along the Road to Spiritual Joy

Escaping Anxiety: Along the Road to Spiritual Joy by Albert E. Hughes and Ronda Chervin Escaping Anxiety: Along the Road to Spiritual Joy is not a “simple” book of advice, which could turn out to be ineffective because too “pat.” Instead it evolved into something that...

read more
Weeping with Jesus: The Journey from Grief to Hope

Weeping with Jesus: The Journey from Grief to Hope

Weeping with Jesus: The Journey from Grief to Hope by Dr. Ronda Chervin In the past the word grief was used only to describe the sorrow of loss through death. Nowadays pain coming from other kinds of losses such as rejection and divorce are also seen to involve...

read more
In Praise of Life

In Praise of Life

In Praise of Life by Dr. Donald DeMarco This book illustrates how ten different factors can improve our appreciation of life: Evolution prepares it, Meaning justifies it, Love enhances it, Truth directs it, Freedom crowns it, Virtue strengthens it, Sexuality promotes...

read more
The Way of Love: The Path of Inner Transformation

The Way of Love: The Path of Inner Transformation

The Way of Love: The Path of Inner Transformation by Dr. Ronda Chervin A reprint of Dr. Ronda's The Way of Love: The Battle for Inner Transformation, this new edition under a new subtitle puts back in front of the world the nature of human love alongside human passion...

read more
St. John Henry Newman: A Doctor of the Church for Our Time – Spiritual Guide for the Catholic Heart by Sister Mary Catherine Blanding, IHM

St. John Henry Newman: A Doctor of the Church for Our Time – Spiritual Guide for the Catholic Heart by Sister Mary Catherine Blanding, IHM

St. John Henry Newman: A Doctor of the Church for Our Time – Spiritual Guide for the Catholic Heart

by Sister Mary Catherine Blanding, IHM

Sister Mary Catherine Blanding’s St. John Henry Newman: A Doctor of the Church for Our Time presents a compelling and deeply pastoral introduction to one of the most influential Catholic thinkers of the modern era. Drawing from Newman’s sermons, spiritual writings, and personal journey of conversion, Blanding reveals why Newman continues to speak powerfully to contemporary believers confronting doubt, secularism, loneliness, and the search for holiness. Both intellectually rich and spiritually accessible, the work serves as a guide to prayer, conscience, divine providence, and authentic Christian transformation.

Paperback: $14.95 | Kindle: $9.99

ARTICLES

Blanding, IHM, Sr. Mary Catherine. (March 9, 2026). “Fasting as a Path to Discernment.” Spiritualdirection.com. Click here to read the article.

Blanding, IHM, Sr. Mary Catherine. (May 3, 2026). “SpiritualDirection: The Art of Arts” SpiritualDirection.com. Click here to read the article.

Blanding, IHM, Sr. Mary Catherine. (October 30, 2025). “St. John Henry Newman, A Man of Deep Compassion” Catholicexchange.com. Click here to read the article.
Blanding, IHM, Sr. Mary Catherine. (March 10, 2019). “What does the Doctor Diagnose? Listening to the Church Doctor; St. Catherine of Siena on Perennial Principles for our Attitudes towards Priests” Homiletic and Pastoral Review. Click here to read the article.

REVIEWS

Tschanz, Anne (May 23, 2026). “New Book on St. John Henry Newman.” Vocation Blog. Click here to read the review.

TESTIMONIALS

“Sr. Mary Catherine has a rare gift for translating Newman into American. She makes him accessible, understandable, and even lovable to my countrymen. I am deeply devoted to the Doctor, and so it has pained me that Americans often find him remote or antiquated. But he comes alive in Sr. Mary Catherine’s telling of his story and her distillation of his work. She has done this not only on paper, but by founding Newman discussion groups whose impressive numbers meet regularly for years. By every means at her disposal, she has built him a fan base in the United States, and she’s only just begun. This makes me happy.” Mike Aquilina, author, The Fathers of the Church, television host, co-founder of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology

“Sr. Mary Catherine Blanding, I.H.M. has written a timely and important book on our most recent Doctor of the Church, St. John Henry Newman. While St. Newman’s thought was an energizing force at Vatican II, still, his writings, especially his Grammar of Assent, have yet to be fully appropriated by the Church. Sr. Mary Catherine’s book addresses this important need, especially for those new to Newman’s writings. She has written a book that is accessible, faithful to Newman’s thought, and convincing on why we need to read Newman now.” Rev. Joseph Gile, Spiritual Director of the St. Joseph House of Formation for Seminarians, Professor at Newman University, Pastor of St. Mary’s, Aleppo, Kansas

“The heart of one spiritual counselor speaks to another in A Doctor of the Church for Our Time. Sister Mary Catherine thoroughly demonstrates the importance of Newman’s life and thought today–and tomorrow–especially through her application of selected sermons with insights for ‘spiritual insight and renewal.’ This book offers a great resource for those who may not yet have discovered Saint John Henry Newman’s relevance for Catholics today.” Stephanie A. Mann, author of Supremacy and Survival: How Catholics Endured the English Reformation

“Excellent and Engaging! Without question Sr. Mary Catherine Blanding, IHM, is a compelling and accessible writer. She doesn’t waste our time with the superfluous. Driven in her writing by what drives her in life, namely, a profound hunger and thirst for what matters most, for the deepest truths, the truths that transform, she leads us there. Along the way, she echoes her beloved mentor St. Cardinal John Henry Newman by starting with what is commonly experienced by us humans in this day and age and opening our eyes to Newman’s vast and transformative horizons. She has done this for countless students and young adults over the past 30 years. Here, she immerses us in Newman’s brilliant guiding light along the way. A can’t-put-it-down, must-read for anyone seeking true peace, answers, hope…purpose and meaning.” Karen Walker, founder of The Mentors Radio show (no religious affiliation), The Catholic Business Hour and the Catholic Business Journal, who met and became friends with Sr. Mary Catherine in college

Discover and be encouraged to blossom in faith through the wisdom of our newest Church doctor. This gift awaits within the pages of Sr. Mary Catherine’s new book, St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, A Doctor of the Church for Our Time as she lovingly presents his conversion story, his sermons, and his earnest living in service of Christ alone. Following his example, we too can learn to pray “…one step enough.” Paula Zwenger, Lover of Jesus, Wife and Mother, Rhymer Extraordinaire

“St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, A Doctor of the Church for Our Time, is a wonderful, well-written overview of the 38th Doctor of the Church. Part One describes St. John Henry Newman and his works while Part Two offers a sampling of his writings. As Sister Mary Catherine says so well, ‘In a time marked by confusion, isolation, and moral ambiguity, his thought speaks with rare clarity. He articulates our experience better than we can ourselves. He ignites conversion and grips the heart with his words.’ Her book makes his work accessible to us who are beginners so we too can be Lovers of Newman. — Belinda Terro Mooney, author of Pray with Us: A Saint for Every Day

“Blanding Newman offers a compelling and deeply human portrait of one of the twentieth century’s most influential Catholic thinkers. Thoughtfully written and spiritually perceptive, this work illuminates Newman’s enduring relevance for faith, conscience, education, and intellectual life today.” — Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, author of The Narrative Spirituality of Dante’s Divine Comedy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As a teacher, catechist, and spiritual director, Sr. Mary Catherine Blanding, IHM, of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Wichita, has a gift for bringing the thought of the Church’s newest Doctor into everyday life. For more than fifteen years, she has introduced St. John Henry Newman to participants in her discussion group, Lovers of Newman, fostering a heart-to-heart encounter with his writings and spirituality.

Formed in philosophy and catechetics, Sr. Mary Catherine is a longtime student of Newman whose graduate work focused on his teaching on faith. She holds a master’s degree in Catechetical Theology from the Angelicum and a second master’s degree in Philosophy from The Catholic University of America.

She co-authored the first-edition teacher manuals for the Faith and Life Series (three volumes) and Image of God (two volumes). Her work has appeared in Homiletic and Pastoral Review, Catholic Exchange, and Soul Magazine, and forthcoming work will appear in Religious Life.

Through her writing, teaching, spiritual direction, retreat ministry, and parish formation work, she seeks to inspire Catholics and those drawn to the faith through the spiritual riches of St. John Henry Newman.

 

OTHER CATHOLIC BIOGRAPHIES

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.