Faith in Crisis: Critical Dialogues in Catholic Traditionalism, Church Authority, and Reform

edited by Andrew Likoudis

Faith in Crisis equips Catholics to navigate today’s fiercest ecclesial debates. With a foreword by philosopher-statesman Rocco Buttiglione, the volume unfolds in three sections:

• Traditionalism — exposes the roots of fundamentalist rigor, private-revelation subcultures, and reactionary dissent.
• Church Authority — outlines papal primacy, collegiality, and the distinction between the ordinary and extraordinary Magisterium—showing how trust erodes and how to rebuild it.
• Reform — revisits Vatican II and the postconciliar reforms, synodality, ecumenism, and interreligious dialogue, showing that legitimate change is always a reform in continuity.

Amid a polarized media atmosphere and doctrinal fog, these essays offer the clarity and pastoral realism Catholics need to remain anchored in a Faith ever ancient, ever new.

Paperback: $29.95 | Audible: $14.99 | Kindle: $9.99

REVIEWS

TESTIMONIALS

“I welcome initiatives such as this volume, Faith in Crisis, which seeks to reaffirm ecclesial communion and the authentic meaning of the liturgy. There is only one ‘Mass of the Ages’: the one regulated by the Church’s living Magisterium. The rite of the Eucharistic celebration is neither eternal nor immutable. It belongs to the Church, through the authority of her living Magisterium, to establish the rite of the Eucharist. To deny the Second Vatican Council is to deny the Catholic faith in the Church itself. From denial of the Council, one proceeds to denial of the Pope’s legitimacy and, from there, to chaos in the Church. The saints and the faithful, in communion with the Church past and present, have celebrated and continue to celebrate the Mass according to the liturgical rite in force in each age.” — † Odilo Pedro Cardinal Scherer, Archbishop of São Paulo, Brazil

“For some time, I have thought that the resistance, criticism, and attack of some ultraconservative sectors toward Pope Francis responds not so much to love for Tradition as to a subtle but efficient “moralism,” that is, the merely ethical reduction of the Christian event. In this context, the book Faith in Crisis: Critical Dialogues in Catholic Traditionalism, Church Authority, and Reform seems to me to be a providential initiative that allows us to appreciate, through different voices, how much we need to overcome pharisaical attitudes and rediscover, with simplicity, the most elementary thing: Christianity is not a set of values—however correct they may be—but a living Person encountered in the Church. The Church remains Catholic when she learns to live with joy and humility the path that means being educated and corrected in the faith by Peter and his successors throughout history.” — Rodrigo Guerra, PhD, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America; Ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy for Life; Ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences; Professor at the Pontifical Lateran University

“Faith in Crisis is a vital and timely contribution to understanding the challenges and opportunities facing the Church in the modern era. With intellectual rigor and clarity, this volume explores the complex questions of tradition, ecclesial authority, and reform, offering a nuanced and theologically constructive exploration of the crises that have emerged since Vatican II. This book is an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to grasp the theological, cultural, and pastoral implications of these pressing issues. Its thoughtful analysis goes beyond critique to propose constructive pathways toward dialogue, Church unity, and renewal. Whether you are a scholar of history, theologian, clergy, or layperson, this volume challenges and equips readers to engage with the critical questions of our time. Faith in Crisis is essential reading for all who are dedicated to safeguarding the Church’s sapience while courageously embracing its future.” — Ines Angeli Murzaku, PhD, Professor of Ecclesiastical History; Founding Chair of the Department of Catholic Studies; Director of Catholic Studies, Seton Hall University

“It is important as Catholics that we not lose sight of the fact that the divine genius of the Church is its uncanny ability to retain doctrinal and liturgical integrity in the midst of the vicissitudes and contingencies within the wide range of cultures, political systems, and nations in which the Church must proclaim the Gospel. Faith in Crisis is an important contribution to our better understanding and appreciation of that genius.  The book’s editor, Andrew Likoudis, should be commended for drawing in such a diverse group of contributors, all of whom are sons and daughters of the Church.” — Francis J. Beckwith, PhD, Professor of Philosophy & Church-State Studies, Baylor University

“While Catholic tradition is good and beautiful, fundamentalism disguised as traditionalism is false and can be downright ugly. Faith in Crisis has assembled an excellent team of authors to show where this fundamentalism goes wrong and how to embrace Catholic tradition authentically.” — Trent Horn, MA, Host of The Counsel of Trent; Author of Why We’re Catholic

“Faith in Crisis offers a much-needed resource for the Church in addressing the complex challenges surrounding tradition, authority, and authentic reform that have resurfaced with heightened intensity in recent years. With an exceptional selection of leading Catholic voices, the volume deftly confronts the symptoms of division that so often hinder the Church’s mission of evangelization. Developing a theological and pastoral framework for renewal and unity, Likoudis’ team emphasizes the substantial continuity of Christian doctrine across the ages while demonstrating the importance of respecting the distinction between definitive and non-definitive elements of Church teaching. Even if some perspectives do not fully align with the reader’s own views, the book will offer profound support for those seeking to unite truth and charity in navigating the most pressing issues facing the Church today.” — Matthew J. Ramage, PhD, Professor of Theology; Co-director, Center for Integral Ecology, Benedictine College

“As a pastor, you see good and faithful believers struggling with questions about tradition and authority in the Church almost every day. After decades of very difficult times for the Church and its believers, those who continue practicing the faith are not only committed and invested, but also desire the gifts of clarity and hope; clarity regarding how to think about the life of the Church today, and hope for a vivified and dynamic future for the Church, our parishes, our families. The essays collected in Faith in Crisis give the reader these gifts of clarity and hope. The reader walks away with a better understanding of how to think about the life of the Church today, with a better sense of what really matters, and with a deeper conviction that together, and by the grace of God, the future is filled with possibility.” — Brendan Fitzgerald, Rector, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—America’s First Cathedral; Executive Director, Source of All Hope

“My students need to read this book! I am excited about it because it so well addresses confusion among the contemporary generation over authority, tradition, and reform in the Catholic Church. It alerts us to the important role of historical development in our faithfulness to the Gospel that is ever ancient and ever new. This book shows how properly understanding the authority of the Church as a gift from the Lord frees us from existential anxiety and constant suspicion of everyone and everything.” — Joseph T. Stuart, PhD, Professor of History; Fellow in Catholic Studies, University of Mary

“For Catholics—and not only Catholics—seeking a proper understanding of the Catholic Church and its teachings, no recent collection of essays better serves that need than Faith in Crisis. Bringing together the writings of many of today’s leading Catholic thinkers, on the swirling debates inside the Church, Faith in Crisis is exceptional in its comprehensiveness, fairness, orthodoxy and charity. This book deserves a place on everyone’s religious bookshelf and will remain a priceless source of knowledge and insight about Catholicism for many years to come.” — William Doino Jr., Catholic writer and speaker

“Faith in Crisis proves itself to be a collection of essays born from the minds and hearts of those who have their fingers on the pulse of the Church. Of the many theological and pastoral needs facing her today, this book seeks to address those issues that are the most inflammatory and polarizing. More than sixty years since the Second Vatican Council, the Church in the West now finds herself simultaneously in need of deescalating the understandable anger of those who perceive a loss of the sense of the sacred, deepening and clarifying her teachings concerning Tradition and church authority, and undertaking a reform that is truly in conformity with the documents of the Council itself. Given the complex nature of the problem itself and the multifaceted approach needed to remedy the situation, these essays bespeak careful reflection and due diligence to nuance, in order to start a path toward unity and healing. My prayer for the church is that what is born of such times as these is a truly organic reform—one that retains all that is beautiful, good, and true about the Latin Rite, while embracing the dynamism needed for effective evangelization. All of this, of course, begins by contemplating the face of Jesus Christ through docility to the Holy Spirit and obedience to Holy Mother Church.” — Jason Bulman, ThM, MPAS, Deacon of the Diocese of Orlando

“There is a need for mature, sober, thoughtful discussion about the trends that are affecting the Catholic Church today, some of which threaten her doctrinal and ecclesial unity. Though I agree with most of it, I don’t agree with everything in this anthology. And I think that’s the point. Each essay is serious and insightful and contributes to a conversation that needs to happen. I am grateful for Faith in Crisis and believe that it will be a blessing for Catholics who love the Church and wish her to thrive in our unsettled times.” — Carter Griffin, Rector, St. John Paul II Seminary, Washington, DC

“Faith in Crisis is a godsend for our times. In the post-conciliar Church, it seems there is a need to get back to basics when it comes to defending the Faith. It used to be the so-called ‘liberals’ in the Church who were known for their refrain, ‘That’s not infallible, so I don’t have to believe it.’ Today, we find those words coming from some calling themselves traditionalists who are really not traditional at all. These have become Catholic Fundamentalists who have a stunted understanding of what ‘tradition’ truly is. The ‘living tradition’ of the Magisterium as championed by Vatican II, the Catechism, and all of the post-conciliar popes, has been misconstrued as a dead and static understanding that seems to challenge nearly every nuance and development of thought that comes from the Magisterium of the Church post-1962 (cf. CCC 639; 113; 2663, etc.). Andrew Likoudis has done the Church a great service by presenting the teaching of the living Magisterium, that can serve as a guide for all to truly ‘listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches’ specifically for the Church and our world today (Rev. 2:7; 11; 17; 29; 3:6; 13; 22).” — Tim Staples, Senior Apologist, Catholic Answers

“This is a splendid collection, and one that can be fruitfully consulted not only by Catholics seeking a way past the ecclesial impasses of the present, but by Christians in every communion who value tradition but want to resist the rigorism and frequent truculence of “traditionalism”. The richness of Catholic thought and practice is enormous in its capaciousness. Attempts to limit it to a narrowly defined and inflexible set of standards that have more to do with the anxieties of the present than the genuine inheritance of the past are a sad impoverishment. More to the point, they come not infrequently with a severe dearth of charity. And this is what is most important about this volume: it is a call to remember that the deepest and most essential resource of Catholic tradition is the law of love, given by him who laid down his life for his brothers and sisters.” — Dr. David Bentley Hart, collaborative researcher, University of Notre Dame; Author, All Things Are Full of Gods (Yale, 2024)

“Faith in Crisis is an important and timely work that helps readers engage difficult questions with faith, courage, and humility.” — Dr. Anne DeSantis, Executive Director, Raymond Nonnatus Foundation, and author of The Virtue of Affability or Friendliness and its Relevance in Modern Evangelization

ABOUT THE EDITOR

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS

Jimmy Akin is an internationally known author and speaker. He is a senior apologist at Catholic Answers and has more than twenty-five years of experience defending and explaining the Faith. Jimmy is a convert to the Faith and has an extensive background in the Bible, theology, philosophy, canon law, and liturgy. He is a weekly guest on the national radio program Catholic Answers Live, a regular contributor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a popular blogger and podcaster. His personal web site is JimmyAkin.com. He is also the author of Teaching with Authority, and The Bible is a Catholic Book, from Catholic Answers Press.

Henry Matthew Alt, MA, is a freelance writer with a Masters degree in English from Southern Illinois University. His writings have appeared in notable publications such as Patheos Catholic, Epic Pew, Aleteia, The National Catholic Register, and Catholic World Report. Formerly a writer and managing editor at Catholic Stand, Henry converted to Catholicism in 2011. He is a Third Degree Knight of Columbus and Benedictine Oblate of St. Meinrad Archabbey. Henry has taught college composition and literature, and shares insights on Catholic issues at ToGiveADefense.com.

Dave Armstrong is a veteran apologist, and editor or author of over fifty books who lives in southeastern Michigan with his wife, Judy, and their children. His conversion story was published in the bestselling book Surprised by Truth (Ed. Patrick Madrid, 1994). His books include The One-Minute Apologist (2007), Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical (2015), and his most recent, The Word Set in Stone (2023), from Catholic Answers Press.

Mike Aquilina is author of more than seventy books on Catholic history, doctrine, and devotion. He is co-founder, with Scott and Kimberly Hahn, of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, based in Steubenville, Ohio. Mike serves as contributing editor of Angelus News and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History series published by Ave Maria Press. He has hosted eleven television series on EWTN and is past editor of New Covenant magazine and The Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper. He is also a songwriter, whose works have been recorded by Dion, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Jeff Beck, Amy Grant, Carlene Carter, Peter Frampton, and many others. He has been married to Terri since 1985, and together they have six children and a rising number of grandchildren.

Fr. Matthew Mary Bartow, MFVA, is a priest with the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, currently serving as an Assistant Chaplain at EWTN in Birmingham, Alabama. He was the former Director of Pilgrimage at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Matthew pursued his higher education at Mount St. Mary’s University, where he completed his BA in philosophy. He completed his Master of Sacred Theology in Sacred Scripture at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary.

Andrew J. Boyd, STL, is Senior Programme Manager at the King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID). He previously taught at the Pontifical Beda College, Assumption University, and other institutions in Rome. His focus areas are ecclesiology, ecumenism, and interreligious dialogue, with particular interest in the diaconate and non-ordained professional ministry. He came to Rome as a Russell Berrie Fellow in Interreligious Studies and worked as Assistant Director of the John Paul II Center for Interreligious Dialogue. 

Rocco Buttiglione is a distinguished scholar of political philosophy and personalism. He studied under renowned philosopher Augusto Del Noce and was a collaborator of Pope St. John Paul II, of whose philosophical anthropology he is considered an authority. Buttiglione has held positions at numerous universities, including the Instituto de Filosofia Edith Stein, the University of Rome, and the Pontifical Lateran University, where he held the John Paul II Chair for Philosophy and History of European Institutions. Buttiglione also served as Acting Rector of the International Academy of Philosophy in Liechtenstein. Author of over a dozen books and more than 130 scholarly essays, he has received honorary degrees from the Catholic University of Lublin (1994) and the Francisco Marroquín University (2005). He served as a member of the Italian Parliament for over two decades (1994–2018), holding positions as Minister for European Affairs (2001–2005), Minister of Culture (2005–2006), and Vice President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies (2008–2013), as well as a Member of the European Parliament (1999–2001). Buttiglione is a Distinguished Fellow of the Hildebrand Project, and an Ordinary Member of both the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, and the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Gavin D’Costa, PhD, is Invited Professor of Interreligious Dialogue at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome, and Emeritus Professor of Catholic Theology at the University of Bristol. In 1998 he was Visiting Professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He advises the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales. His publications include Catholic Doctrines on the Jewish People (2019), Vatican II: Catholic Doctrines on Jews and Muslims (2014), Christianity and World Religions: Disputed Questions (2009), and other books, including a volume of poetry along with four other Christian poets: Making Nothing Happen (2014).

Luis Dizon, MTS, is a PhD candidate in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto, specializing in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Biblical Languages, and Comparative Abrahamic Religions (especially Islam). He is a regular at the Reason & Theology podcast, and also works as a lay pastoral associate and catechist in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Richard G. DeClue, Jr., SThD, is a systematic theologian and Professor of Theology at the Word on Fire Institute. He earned degrees in theology at Belmont Abbey College (BA) and The Catholic University of America (STB, STL, and SThD). His scholarly interests include the ecclesiology of Henri de Lubac, the debate over nature and grace, and in developing a rapprochement between Communio theology and Thomism. He has published articles in Communio, Nova et Vetera, and Evangelization & Culture, and is the author of The Mind of Benedict XVI: A Theology of Communion (Word on Fire, 2024).

Gregory J. Downs, MATS, is a novelist-turned-theologian with a history of participating in a wide variety of ecclesial ministries, especially teaching. He was previously Director of Information Services at Catholics United for the Faith. He is dedicated to defending orthodox Catholicism and to the fostering of genuine reform in the Church, but most of all to the increase of Charity, for “Charity, by which we love God and our neighbor, is in secure possession of the divine promises in all their breadth and magnitude (St. Augustine, Sermo 350, 2–3).”

R. Michael Dunnigan, JCD, JD, is Associate Professor of Canon Law at Saint Meinrad Seminary, having previously practiced both civil and canon law. His research interests include the rights of the faithful, comparative law, and doctrinal development. He is the author of Religious Liberty and the Hermeneutic of Continuity: Conservation and Development of Doctrine at Vatican II (Emmaus Road, 2023).

Robert Fastiggi, PhD, holds the Bishop Kevin M. Britt Chair of Systematic Theology and Christology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He is a former president of the Mariological Society of America; a member of the theological commission of the International Marian Association; a corresponding member of the Pontifical Marian Academy International; and co-editor of the 43^rd edition of the English translation of the Denzinger-Hünermann Enchiridion Symbolorum, published by Ignatius Press. He also served as the executive editor of the 2009-2013 supplements to the New Catholic Encyclopedia and revised and updated the translation of Ludwig Ott’s Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma for Baronius Press in 2018. Dr. Fastiggi and his wife, Kathy, have been married since 1984 and have three adult children: Mary, Anthony and Clare.

Pedro Gabriel, MD, is a Portuguese internet journalist having received a diploma with Honors from the London School of Journalism in 2021. He is currently residing in Portugal with his wife, Claire. He is a co-founder of Where Peter Is, where he remains as one of its main contributors. He also won First Prize of the 2023 Catholic Media Awards in the category “Pope Francis” for his apologetics book The Orthodoxy of Amoris Laetitia (Resource Publications, 2022). Currently, he is taking classes in moral theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. He is also a medical oncologist, a parish reader, and a published writer of Catholic novels.

Mike Lewis, MA, is a Catholic writer, editor, and podcaster, serving as editor-in-chief of Where Peter Is, a site he co-founded in 2018. A Washington, DC-area native, he holds a BA in English and Literature from the University of Maryland and an MA in Publishing from the University of Baltimore. Mike’s professional background includes work in biotechnology and medical communications, before working in the Communications Department at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and as Director of Operations at the Catholic Climate Covenant. At the USCCB, he contributed to projects such as the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Respect Life Month, and on the reception of papal documents, closely observing U.S. responses to Pope Francis’s pontificate. His writing has appeared in America Magazine, Catholic Outlook, The Synodal Times, and Exaudi. Mike enjoys reading, lifelong learning, and spending time with his wife, Stephanie, and their four children: Stephen, Peter, Elizabeth, and Lucy.

James Likoudis, DD (h.c.), was an internationally recognized apologist, theologian, and lecturer. He was regarded as a leading authority on ecumenism, liturgy, the papacy, catechetics, family life, and the role of the laity. He earned his BA studying history and philosophy at the University of Buffalo, held a master’s degree in education from Elmira College, and was a former College Instructor in History and Government with over 20 years of teaching experience in public and private education. Dr. Likoudis converted to the Catholic Church in 1952 from Eastern Orthodoxy and wrote several books dealing with the ecclesiology of the Eastern Orthodox churches, and co-wrote the highly acclaimed book, The Pope, the Council, and the Mass, dealing with Vatican II’s reforms. In 2020, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Sacred Heart Major Seminary for his contributions to ecumenism, Catholic morality and for his defense of the Faith. He was the father of six and had 35 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren.

Michael Lofton, MA, is an Adjunct Professor of Magisterial Studies at Catholic Polytechnic University and a ThD Candidate with Pontifex University, writing a dissertation on the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. He is a graduate of Christendom College Graduate School of Theology where he received his Master of Arts in Theological Studies (Cum Laude) in 2018. Michael is the founder and host of Reason & Theology, where he has interviewed many of the leading figures in contemporary theology. He has also worked with Catholic Answers as an affiliate apologist and appeared on EWTN, SiriusXM Radio, and Radio Maria. He is also Founder and Director of The Maximus the Confessor Institute. His most recent book is Answering Orthodoxy from Catholic Answers Press.

Rafael Luciani, SThD, is a Venezuelan lay theologian. He is a member and a co-coordinator of the Intercontinental Seminar Group Peter & Paul and is an Expert of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality. He serves as Expert of CELAM (Latin American Episcopal Council) and Member of the Theological Advisory Team of the Presidency of CLAR (Latin American Confederation of Religious). He holds a Doctorate in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University; and conducted postdoctoral research at the Julius Maximilians Universität. In recognition of his theological and pastoral contributions to the global Church, he was awarded an honorary Doctor Honoris Causa in Theology from the Aquinas Institute of Theology (USA). He is Full Professor at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas and has been Extraordinary Professor at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. He teaches Ecclesiology, Latin American Theology, Vatican II, and Synodality in the Church.

William Masur, MS, is a husband, father, creator of the Men of Character Conference, and author of The Book of Uncomfortable Truths: A Guide to Navigating the Modern World & Forging Your Own Destiny. He is a revert Catholic who began to fall into the errors of traditionalism, but by the grace of God discovered the true teachings of The Church.

Tyler McNabb, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. Previously, he has held an Associate Professorship at The University of Saint Joseph in Macau, China, as well as an Assistant Professorship at Houston Baptist University, and a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Macau. He is the author of several well-regarded books, including Religious Epistemology (Elements in the Philosophy of Religion). He is also the co-author of Classical Theism and Buddhism: Connecting Metaphysical and Ethical Systems (2023) and Plantingian Religious Epistemology and World Religions (2018). He is the co-editor of The Cambridge Handbook of Religious Epistemology (2023) and Philosophy and the Spiritual Life (2023).

Andrew Mioni grew up among traditionalists during his involvement with four different groups. He was raised in the Society of St. John (SSJ) and the Fraternal Society of St. Peter (FSSP), he attended a high school run by the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), and as a young adult he attended Mass with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP). He earned a BA in English from Kansas State University and lives with his family in upstate New York. Andrew is the co-founder of TradRecovery.com, a support network and resource center for recovering traditionalists. He is also the author of Altar Against Altar: An Analysis of Catholic Traditionalism (2024) from En Route Books.

Father Bernard Mulcahy, OP, PhD, is Associate Professor of Theology and a spiritual director at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. He is the author of Aquinas’s Notion of Pure Nature and the Christian Integralism of Henri de Lubac: Not Everything Is Grace. He belongs to the Province of St. Joseph of the Order of Friars Preachers.

Timothy O’Malley, PhD, Professor of the Practice, is the Director of Education at the McGrath Institute for Church Life and Academic Director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy. He holds a concurrent appointment in the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. He earned his undergraduate degree in theology and philosophy, as well as an MTS in liturgical studies, from the University of Notre Dame, and completed a doctorate in theology and education from Boston College, focusing on Augustinian liturgical formation. His research and teaching covers liturgical-sacramental theology, marriage and family, Catholic higher education, catechesis, preaching, and spirituality, adapting Romano Guardini’s approach to modern liturgical formation. O’Malley has authored nine books on liturgy, RCIA, the Eucharist, and related topics, and he is also a senior contributor and editor of the McGrath Institute’s Church Life Journal. Prof. O’Malley is married with two children and is originally from Knoxville, TN.

Emmett O’Regan, PhD, completed his doctoral thesis, “The Indefectibility of the Apostolic See: The Nature and Scope of Divine Assistance for the Ordinary Exercise of the Papal Magisterium” at the Loyola Institute, Trinity College Dublin. After graduating with First Class honors in 2006, he won the theology prize scholarship at the Institute of Theology at Queen’s University Belfast. He also won the Sean O’Riordan scholarship at the Loyola Institute, Trinity College Dublin in 2019, and the Loyola Trust PhD scholarship in 2020. His writings have appeared in publications including Nova et Vetera, Theological Studies, Vatican Insider, and the Catholic Truth Society. He is the author of Unveiling the Apocalypse: The Final Passover of the Church, and The End of the World: What Catholics Believe.

James L. Papandrea, MDiv, PhD, is an award-winning author and Professor of Church History and Historical Theology, as well as the host of the Catholic Culture Podcast, “The Way of the Fathers,” and the Theological Consultant for the EWTN Television series, The Heresies. Jim has an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a PhD from Northwestern University in the history and theology of the early Christian Church, with secondary concentrations in New Testament interpretation and the history of the Roman Empire. He has also studied Roman history at the American Academy in Rome. He is on the faculty at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and is a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He was named a “Springtime Ambassador” by the Springtime of Faith Foundation. Jim is also a member of multiple professional organizations, including the Academy of Catholic Theology, the North American Patristics Society, and the Society of Biblical Literature.

Adam Rasmussen, PhD, is a Religious Studies teacher at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland. He has a PhD in Theology and Religious studies from The Catholic University of America, specializing in historical theology and early Christianity. He is the author of Genesis and Cosmos: Basil and Origen on Genesis 1 and Cosmology (Bible in Ancient Christianity 14; Brill, 2019).

Cardinal Robert Sarah was born in Guinea, West Africa. Made an Archbishop by Pope St. John Paul II and a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI, he was named the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by Pope Francis in 2014. He is the author of God or Nothing, and many other books.

Steven J. Schloeder, PhD, AIA, is a theologian, architect, and author. He received the Bachelor of Architecture cum laude from Arizona State University and completed the Master in Architecture degree at the University of Bath, studying under Prof. Michael Brawne. His thesis, The Architecture of the Vatican Two Church, was published as Architecture in Communion (Ignatius Press, 1998). Schloeder received the Presidential Fellowship at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA, where he attained the PhD in theology, working under Rev. Dr. Michael Morris, OP. His architecture firm Liturgical Environs serves Catholic church projects for new build, and remodel and design.

Suan Sonna, MTS, currently serves as the Director of Apologetics for the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT. Having completed his New Testament studies at Harvard Divinity School, Suan is currently pursuing an MAR in Second Temple Judaism at Yale. He runs the YouTube channel and podcast “Intellectual Catholicism.”

Michel Therrien, STL, SThD, is the President and CEO of Preambula Group. Before founding Preambula Group, he was the President of the Institute for Pastoral Leadership and Director of Evangelization for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He previously taught and served as Academic Dean at the Augustine Institute in Denver and at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, PA. Michel holds a BA in Theology from Gonzaga University, an MA in Theology and Christian Ministry from Franciscan University of Steubenville, a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the International Theological Institute, and a Doctorate in Fundamental Moral Theology (SThD) from the University of Fribourg. He has authored The Catholic Faith Explained (2020) and Wounded Witness (2023).

Very Reverend Canon, Francis J. Tiso, PhD, is a distinguished Catholic priest and scholar known for his work in interreligious dialogue, particularly with Tibetan Buddhism. He holds an AB from Cornell, an MDiv cum laude from Harvard, and a PhD from Columbia and Union Theological Seminary. A canon of the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Isernia, Italy, he serves as Director of the Diocesan Office of Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue, Regional Coordinator for Dialogue with Islamic Communities in Abruzzo and Molise, Diocesan Chaplain to Migrants, and Associate Pastor of Ave Gratia Plena Parish in Gallo Matese (CE). Fr. Tiso has taught Tibetan Buddhism at the Pontifical Gregorian University and is known for translating early biographies of the Tibetan yogi Milarepa, and for his research on the rainbow body phenomenon in Tibet. In 1995, he accompanied Cardinal Francis Arinze, then head of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, to a major dialogue with Buddhist leaders in Taiwan. From 2004 to 2009 he was Associate Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at the USCCB. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Mind and Life Europe, is a musician, and paints in acrylics and watercolors.

Laura Vander Vos is a lifelong Catholic, wife, mother of 4 (so far), sacred musician of 17 years, author, and host of the Misshappycatholic YouTube channel and podcast. She is the co-founder of TradRecovery.com, a support network and resource center for recovering traditionalists. She loves her family, their home state of Montana, studying Liturgy, and reading G.K. Chesterton.

OTHER CATHOLIC FAITH AND MORALS BOOKS

The Host of Gethsemane: Eucharistic Hospitality in the Gethsemane Narratives

by Dr. Annabelle Moseley, Th.D.

TESTIMONIALS

Annabelle’s WCAT Radio Shows – “Destination: Sainthood” and “Then Sings My Soul”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Annabelle Moseley is an award-winning American poet, author of nine books, including Sacred Braille: The Rosary as Masterpiece through Art, Poetry, and Reflections, Our House of the Sacred Heart, and Awake with Christ: Living the Catholic Holy Hour in Your Home, Professor of Theology and host of the Catholic radio shows and podcasts on Sacramental Living: “Then Sings My Soul,” and “Destination: Sainthood — Journey to the Great Cloud of Witnesses,” on WCAT Radio. Moseley’s work as a poet is featured as one of five artists profiled in the 2019 Documentary Film, Masterpieces, about the vocational call of the arts. This film is available to view through Amazon Prime and Formed On Demand (formed.org).

Moseley has won the titles of Walt Whitman Birthplace Writer in-Residence (2009-2010) and 2014 Long Island Poet of the Year. She teaches at St. Joseph’s College in New York and at St. Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoodie, NY) where she specializes in the field of Theological Aesthetics with an emphasis on the intersection between theology and literature. Moseley has led various retreats and workshops for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, and is the founder of Desert Bread (desertbread.org), a series of lectures on faith and the arts that concludes with sharing a meal and taking a collection of canned food donations for local food pantries. Moseley is a frequent columnist for the Catholic online magazine, Aleteia.

Born on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Annabelle Moseley was baptized at the Church of St. Louis de Montfort (a saint known for his special devotion to the Rosary). Raised on the North Shore of Long Island, Moseley continues to reside there, grateful for the domestic church she has built with her husband and their children.

OTHER CATHOLIC FAITH AND MORALS BOOKS

Redeeming Sex: The Battle for the Body

by Eduardo J. Echeverria

Paperback: $32.95 | Kindle: $9.99

REVIEWS

Miller, Monica Migliorino. (January 11, 2026). “Sex, Morality, and Truth Embodied,” The Catholic World Report. To read the article, click here.

Chalk, Casey. (July 30, 2025). “On Echeverria’s ‘Redeeming Sex’,” The Catholic Thing. To read the article, click here.

TESTIMONIALS

“With the publication of Redeeming Sex: The Battle for the Body, Dr. Eduardo Echeverria launches Creation Redeemed, the first of a three-volume set that promises to be an undertaking of critical importance in the recovery an integral vision of the human person and of our culture. He tells us that at the heart of the entire series is a conviction that the new evangelization called for by Pope St. John Paul II must overcome the divide between faith and culture such that the whole of human thought and action is permeated by the Gospel. In this first installment, Dr. Echeverria offers us a profoundly insightful approach to engaging in the confrontation between orthodoxy and modernity by taking up several vexed questions: the existence of a normative account of human sexuality and marriage, the intrinsic importance of the body to human personhood, and – perhaps most significantly in light of contemporary discourse – a realist account of the place of experience in arriving at the truth, both of reality and of oneself. The volume illustrates one of the author’s own key points: that the aggiornamento called for by the Second Vatican Council is not the starting place but a consequence of the creative retrieval of the wisdom of our tradition.” – Dr. Deborah Savage, Franciscan University of Steubenville, and co-editor of Lived Experience and the Search for Truth: Revisiting Catholic Sexual Morality 

“St. Pope John Paul II preached at his inaugural mass: 22 oct. 1978: ‘Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows ‘what is in man’. He alone knows it.’ This book does just that: by intellectually bringing Christ in the realm of sexuality, it opens our minds, hearts and bodies for His redeeming power!” + Everard de Jong, auxiliary bishop of Roermond, Netherlands, and apostolic administrator of the Military Ordinariate of Netherlands

“With his customary incisiveness, carefulness, and depth, Eduardo Echeverria has produced an essential study of one of the most neuralgic moral and theological subjects in our time. Current discussions of sex, the body, and human nature have too often descended into sterile polemics and mutual anathemas. Echeverria brings a bracing breath of fresh air to the discussion which, simultaneously, reserves a proper place for justice, truth, and mercy amid many difficult questions.” – Robert Royal, Faith & Reason Institute

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

OTHER FAITH AND MORALS BOOKS

A Catechesis on Deification, Transfiguration & the Luminous Mysteries

by Matthew A. Tsakanikas, STD

This book is a catechetical exploration of Christian deification, deeply rooted in the theological insights of Saint Athanasius and other Church Fathers. The work connects the mysteries of the Rosary with the transformative grace offered through Christ, focusing particularly on the Luminous Mysteries as a lens for understanding humanity’s participation in the divine life.

Central to the book is the concept of deification, described as the process by which humans become “partakers in the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Dr. Matthew A. Tsakanikas emphasizes that deification does not imply losing one’s humanity but rather elevating it through grace, living in God’s will, and growing in love and virtue. Drawing on biblical passages, he demonstrates how the Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection of Christ make this elevation possible.

The book revisits key moments in salvation history, such as the Transfiguration, where Jesus revealed the glory of divine light to his disciples, and the Eucharist’s institution, portraying these events as glimpses of the divine kingdom. Tsakanikas also explores discipleship in Mary, the Rosary’s role in cultivating divine intimacy, and the unity of Scripture’s Old and New Testaments.

Through theological reflection and practical devotion, Tsakanikas invites readers to embrace their divine calling, entering into Christ’s transformative love.

Paperback: $19.95 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

“Dr. Matthew A. Tsakanikas has written an informative book on Deification.  Those not familiar with Deification, or even those who are familiar with it, will find this short book beneficial.  Quoting the Church Fathers and Doctors of the Church, including St. Thomas Aquinas, Tsakanikas uncovers their teaching on the purpose for the Incarnation: “For the Son of God became man so that we might become God” (CCC #460).  “…We might become God” is Deification. What does this almost unbelievable teaching mean? Tsakanikas discloses the keys for understanding Deification by examining the Biblical happenings at Mt. Tabor, Mt. Sinai, and Mt. Zion.  He also uses material from the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.  He writes that we can live out our Deification by following the example of Mother Mary’s discipleship.  The book is well written, logically organized, and spiritually enriching.  Deification is what we are created for.  This book tells us why.” – Most Rev. John M. LeVoir, Bishop Emeritus of New Ulm, author of Covenant of Love, one of the first books promoting John Paul the Great’s Theology of the Body.

“Professor Tsakanikas, throughout his distinguished teaching career, has emphasized the central Christian doctrine of man’s deification. This work has illustrated with clarity the radical transformation of one’s life through the gift of sanctifying grace in the soul, elevating man to the supernatural order. This important work will help rekindle in Christians everywhere a deeper understanding and appreciation of this priceless gift which flows from the open Heart of Christ, thereby enriching one’s prayer and devotional life.” – Timothy O’Donnell, STD, author of Heart of the Redeemer and President-Emeritus Christendom College

“Matthew does a masterful job of illuminating the connections between Mt. Sinai, The Garden of Eden, the Transfiguration, and the Blessed Mother. As usual, Matthew provides us with deep insights into the mysteries of our Faith, insights that all would be wise to ponder.” – Daniel Kuebler, PhD, author of Darwin and Doctrine: The Compatibility of Evolution and Catholicism [coming Aug. 2025]

“Dr. Tsakanikas’ research on deification and the Transfiguration has inspired my own teaching and research for years. This book further inspires by simultaneously articulating the concept of deification through the lens of the Luminous Mysteries of the rosary and illuminating the coherence of the Luminous Mysteries through the theology of deification. At once theological and evangelical, Tsakanikas’ book uses Scripture, analogy, and anecdote to present an accessible account of deification, responding to errors in biblical interpretation and objections that this biblical concept is akin to Mormonism or New Age. Along the way he provides clear accounts of the dynamic between nature and grace, human freedom, and the unity of the Old and New Testament. This text will inspire popular and academic audiences alike.” – Andrew Whitmore, PhD, author of Saintly Habits, Aquinas’ 7 Simple Strategies You Can Use to Grow in Virtue

“This rich but accessible book will help the believer reground their Christian faith in something beyond a religious rationalism or moralism. Through an original synthesis of Scripture, Sacrament, and the Luminous Mysteries, Tsakanikas reminds us anew how the Incarnation of the Eternal Word redeems us by immersion into the eternal glory of love in God himself: deification.” – Conor Sweeney, STD, author of Abiding the Long Defeat: How to Evangelize Like a Hobbit in a Disenchanted Age

“Dr. Tsakanikas guides us in a prayerful study of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary as a way to experience the mystery of the Lord’s Transfiguration as a call to conversion and live fully the promise of our soul’s immortality. In this important work Dr. Tsakanikas explains how our participation in the person and mission of Jesus Christ is central for the Christian. The Lord’s Transfiguration makes possible and witnesses to our identity as Images of God. An important bridging of Eastern and Western theological and spiritual perspectives on our identity as Imago Dei, this work is both approachable for young adults and thought provoking for theological students.” – Mark P. Fusco, S.J., author of The Physics and Metaphysics of Transubstantiation

“God became man, so that man might become God.” These words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church drawn from the deep tradition of Christian experience echo throughout Tsakanikas’ A Catechesis on Deification. Tsakanikas has been writing and teaching on the doctrine of deification for over twenty years. He weaves a biblical narrative moving from Sinai to the Transfiguration to Calvary (upper room, the Eucharist) showing the primary purpose of the liturgy is theosis, or deification, all in the context of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary as a primer for the faithful to understand this core doctrine of the Church.” – Daniel Toma, PhD, author of Vestige of Eden, Image of Eternity

“Whatever one’s level of theological education or none, these reflections on deification and the luminous mysteries of the rosary are rich in theological insights and scriptural exegesis. Moreover, one comes away from this work with one’s faith in the Church and the possibilities for human salvation renewed.” – Professor Tracey Rowland, University of Notre Dame (Australia), author of Ratzinger’s Faith

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

OTHER BOOKS IN FAITH AND MORALS

On the Third Part of the Secret of Fatima, Second Edition

by Kevin J. Symonds

For several decades, there has been much discussion on the famous third part of the secret of Fátima. Originally communicated to the three seers of Fátima in July, 1917, it was not written down until January, 1944. It was then kept under lock and key first in Portugal, then in the Vatican until its eventual release in June, 2000. The long years of its remaining unpublished was accompanied by a desire by various Church officials not to discuss the matter. These two facts and others led to much speculation on the content of the third part of the secret as well as to accusations of a cover-up on the part of the Church hierarchy.

The seemingly endless speculations and accusations have been more prominent since the release of the text in the year 2000. To date, there has been no comprehensive refutation of specific arguments in response to the speculations and accusations.

That fact has now changed. Kevin J. Symonds of Menominee, Michigan has performed some groundbreaking research on the matter in his latest book On the Third Part of the Secret of Fátima.

Utilizing material in six foreign languages, including information from the archives of the Sanctuary of Fátima itself, Kevin weighs many of the arguments in support of conspiracy theories on the third part of the secret. He takes the arguments head-on, explores the sources and critiques the conspiracies. Symonds’ findings produce some truly astonishing results that are sure to cause many to re-think their understanding of the message of Our Lady of Fátima.

In these centennial years of Fátima, many of the faithful are renewing their interest in or discovering for the first time the message of Our Lady of Fátima. On the Third Part of the Secret of Fátima is not an introductory book but will be an excellent source for people already familiar with the topic.

Hardback: $29.95 | Paperback: $24.95 | Kindle: $9.99

INTERVIEWS

Catholic Answers Interview (Aired March 19, 2018) – Fatima’s Secrets in Context | Catholic Answers

• Dr. Michela Ferri – interview for Frontier
• Matthew Hoffman – interview with The Catholic World Report 

REVIEWS

“A Book Review… A Non-Polemical Study The Third Secret Of Fatima.” by Donal Anthony Foley

TESTIMONIALS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

OTHER ACADEMIC BOOKS

The Rest of the Gospel Story: A Dated Summary of the New Testament Gospels and The Poem of the Man-God in Synthesis 

by David J. Webster

The Church distinguishes between “private” revelations, meant for personal faith and discernment, and revelations of public significance, which illuminate the Deposit of Faith but do not introduce new theological truths. The Catechism refers to these as “so-called private revelations,” emphasizing their role in helping the faithful live out their faith during specific historical periods (Catechism §§66–67). While the Magisterium provides guidance, discerning these Heaven-sent messages remains the responsibility of the faithful, reflecting Christ’s words, “My sheep hear My voice.”

Pope Paul VI’s abolition of restrictive canons in 1963 allowed Catholics to freely access, publish, and disseminate reports of such revelations, provided they align with faith and morals. Among these, The Poem of the Man-God by Maria Valtorta stands out. First published in 1947, this work, which Pope Pius XII supported, offers detailed, chronologically accurate accounts of Christ’s life. Despite technical critiques and suppression, it has garnered strong support from clergy and laity.

The Poem aligns with Our Lady’s warnings at Amsterdam (1945) and Akita (1973) about modernism and clergy-led spiritual decay. Its unique chronological precision and spiritual insight enrich the understanding of Gospel events. While the Church hasn’t formally recognized it as divine revelation, it acknowledges its freedom from doctrinal error, leaving its discernment to the faithful. Efforts are ongoing for Maria Valtorta’s beatification, affirming her as a visionary of profound significance.

Paperback: $24.95 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

His Holiness Pope Pius XII, February 26,1948 (Osservatore Romano): “Publish this work as it is.  There is no need to give an opinion about its origin, whether it be extraordinary or not.  Who reads it will understand.” 

Msgr. Ugo Lattanzi, Dean of the Faculty of Theology of the Lateran Pontifical University, advisor to the Holy Office (1951): “The author could not have written such an abundant amount of material without being under the influence of a supernatural power.”

Fr. Gabrielmiles Roschini, professor at “Marianum,” Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Rome, renowned mariologist, author of 130 books, and advisor to the Holy Office (1972): “I must candidly admit that the Mariology found in Maria Valtorta’s writings, whether published or not, has been for me a real discovery.  No other Marian writing, not even the sum total of all the writings I have read and studied, were able to give me as clear, as lively, as complete, as luminous, or as fascinating an image, both simple and sublime, of Mary, God’s masterpiece.” 

Prof. Fabrizio Braccini, University of Palerma (1979): “What constitutes the finish line for others, so to speak, is, on the contrary, Maria Valtorta’s ascetic starting point.”

Dr. Vittorio Tredici, geologist and mineralogist, Italy (1952): “I wish to underline the author’s unexplainably precise knowledge of Palestine in its panoramic, topographical, geological and mineralogical aspects.” 

Fr. Gabriel Allegre, OFM, renowned translator of the Bible into Chinese, Macao/Hong Kong (1970): “The finger of God is here.  As for theological justification of a book as convincing, as charismatic, as extraordinary even from a merely human point of view, as is Maria Valtorta’s Poem of the Man-God, I find it in St. Paul’s first Epistle to the Corinthians 14:6 where he writes, ‘Take me for instance brothers, of what use could I be to you, if I were to come to you speaking in tongues, but without revelation or knowledge, prophecy or doctrine?’” 

H.E. George H. Pearce, S.M., former Archbishop of Suva, Fiji, now active in Providence, Rhode Island (1987): “I first came in contact with the work of Maria Valtorta in 1979 … I find it tremendously inspiring.  It is impossible for me to imagine that anyone could read this tremendous work with an open mind and not be convinced that its author can be no one but the Holy Spirit of God.”

Archbishop Alfonso Carinci, Secretary of the Congregation of the Sacred Rites (1946): “There is nothing therein which is contrary to the Gospel.  Rather this work, a good complement to the Gospel, contributes towards a better understanding of its meaning.”

Fr. Dreyfus, of the French Biblical and Archeological School, Jerusalem (1986): “I was greatly impressed on finding in Maria Valtorta’s work the names of at least six or seven towns which are absent from the Old and New Testaments.  These names are known but to a few specialists . . . . How could she have known these names, if not through the revelations she claims that she had.” 

Fr. Agostino Bea (future Cardinal), Jesuit, rector of the Pontifical Biblical Institute and advisor to the Holy Office (1952): “I have read in typed manuscripts many of the books written by Maria Valtorta . . . As far as exegesis is concerned, I did not find any errors in the parts which I examined.”

Msgr. Pea qua Ia Macchi, Private secretary of Pope Paul VI, to Fr. C.M. Berti, OSM, in an hour-long interview (1963): “When His Holiness (Paul VI) was Archbishop of Milan, he read one of the books of The Poem of the Man-God.  He told me how he appreciated it, and had me send the complete work to the library of the diocesan Seminary.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Webster graduated from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Minneapolis in 1971. He served for eight years as pastor of a central Wisconsin Baptist Church. It was the many mounting questions about his interpretation of the Scriptures and the incredible implications of several revelations given to Catholic visionaries that drove him into seeking out what he came to see as the Catholic faith being the complete body of faith.  His own passionate love for the Scriptures, his training in Biblical Greek and Hebrew, motivated his monumental effort to update the Douay-Rheims, creating the Evangelical Catholic Study Bible which takes head on the massive misinformation and distortions of the modernist editing throughout the New American Catholic Study Bible. The Gospel episodes are also keyed to the Valtorta Gospel revelations    

In addition to this massive Bible project nearly on a full-time basis for nine years, he has also been researching and writing extensively on post-Apostolic revelations to the Church, particularly the revelations given to the Italian mystic Maria Valtorta, which he considers the most important revelation Heaven has ever given to the Church since the close of the Biblical canon. He has compiled both “The Rest of the Gospel Story” and “The Dated Harmony of the Gospels,” the Gospel accounts both in parallel and for the first time in accurate chronological sequence and also keyed back to the Revelations to Maria Valtorta.  

He founded Save Our Church, a group of the faithful to help expose a Chicago branch of Call to Action in his Cleveland Diocese. He has spoken at the Miles Jesu, Path to Rome Conferences in Austria and Phoenix. He has appeared on the Coming home network at EWTN and with Sandy Timco on the Lumin Christi network.

David is married to his wife Cindy, and is the Father of two wonderful daughters, who have all joined the Catholic Church. David and Cindy now have seven grandchildren. 

OTHER FAITH AND MORALS BOOKS