The First Christians: Keeping the Faith in Times of Trouble
by Gerard Verschuuren
In this book, we speak about these first Christians mainly through the people who gave them a voice and a compass: the Church Fathers. They were their leaders and their teachers, heirs to the apostles. They were also the ones to tell us, present-day Christians, about the deep Faith of the first Christians. They told us how these Christians could keep the Faith in times of trouble—even in very tumultuous times, when they were constantly besieged from two sides: by prosecution from without and by heresies from within. The Church Fathers kept their flock together and kept them on the right path. We can only understand the Church Fathers if we understand them as fathers who deeply cared about the newborn Church as if it were their own family. They are Fathers with a “pedigree.”
Verschuuren has tried to let the Church Fathers speak for themselves, as much as possible. To do so, he used a translation of their words that is easily accessible on the Internet, so readers can check the accuracy and the context in which these words were spoken and written. This translation may not always be smooth, and the way the Church Fathers expressed themselves may not always be clear to modern ears, but their words deserve serious attention, for they are the pillars on which the Church has built what Catholics believe—now and then. They are a vital part of our history and tradition, dating back to Jesus Christ himself.
Paperback: $18.99 | Kindle: $9.99
TESTIMONIALS
“This book should be in every home, offering every family the opportunity to learn more about how our Church was born and how she developed her core beliefs. The author wrote a very informative book that gives us a deep insight into what the early Church Fathers taught us about who Jesus Christ really is. The author has a true gift of laying out positions quickly with a few strokes of the pen. Easy to read, this book is full of insights and apt quotations – a real gift to Catholics. Buy it and read it.” — Fr. C. John McCloskey, STD, Former Director of the Catholic Information Center of the Archdiocese of Washington, Research Fellow at the Faith and Reason Institute, Washington, D.C.
“Many of us wish we knew more about the early Church Fathers but we are not scholars of Church history.
Here is an excitingly readable book with great quotations from the Fathers in context of the troubles of their times. It will give you courage to read how the Church survived all those heresies, as we believe today that the Church will survive our troubles. I recommend it as a book that will benefit college students, thoughtful adult Catholics, and all defenders of the faith.” — Ronda Chervin, Ph.D., A Jewish convert to Catholicism, Professor of Philosophy, writer, and Catholic speaker
“Verschuuren ably sets forth the often bewildering struggles of the early Catholics to understand and precisely articulate the deepest truths of our faith. He accurately and yet concisely presents an immensely helpful portrait of those times. The book is sure to remain a great resource for all who seek to understand the early Church. An excellent book. A great summary.” — Msgr. Charles Pope, Our Sunday Visitor Columnist and blogger, Pastor at Holy Comforter – St Cyprian Parish, Washington, D.C.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gerard M. Verschuuren is a human geneticist who also earned a doctorate in the philosophy of science. He studied and worked at universities in Europe and the United States. Currently semi-retired, he spends most of his time as a writer, speaker, and consultant on the interface of science and religion, faith and reason.
More information about his life and works may be found on his Wikipedia page at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerard_Verschuuren
A review of Aquinas and Modern Science: A New Synthesis of Faith and Reason, by Gerard M. Verschuuren, has appeared in Volume 57, Issue 4 (December 2017) of the International Philosophical Quarterly
OTHER ACADEMIC BOOKS
21 Centuries of Church History in 21 Pages by Albert Domm
21 Centuries of Church History in 21 Pages by Albert Domm Focused on our Catholic faith, Albert Domm's 21 Centuries of Church History in 21 Pages engages the Catholic reader in a concise but rich history of our Church one full century at a time. A narrative flow, this...
Words, Concepts, Reality: Aristotelian Logic for Teenagers
Words, Concepts, Reality: Aristotelian Logic for Teenagers By Thaddeus Kozinski, Ph.D. When we hear the word logic, we tend to think of arguments, premises and conclusions, claims and evidence for claims. But this is only half of it. Arguments are made of words, and...
Teaching and Learning in the Age of COVID19
Teaching and Learning in the Age of COVID19: Faith-Based -- Online and Emergency Remote Ed. by Sebastian Mahfood, OP, Ph.D., Timothy Westbrook, Ph.D., and Victoria Dunnam, Ph.D. with a Foreword by Dr. Mary E. Lowe Over the past two decades, a generation of...
Romans by Paul, authored by Richard L. Akins
Special congratulations to Rick for his being awarded third place in the 2020 Catholic Book Awards contest for best Catholic novel for Rebirth of Nicodemus.Romans by Paul: The Apostle's Defense of Catholic Doctrine by Richard L. Akins We are often challenged in our...
Teaching Research Processes by William Badke
Customers who buy Teaching Research Processes also bought Research Strategies. Get your copy today!Teaching Research Processes: The Faculty Role in the Development of Skilled Student Researchers, 2nd Edition by William Badke Today’s students struggle with the research...
The Right Way to Live: Plato’s Republic for Catholic Students by Richard Geraghty
The Right Way to Live: Plato's Republic for Catholic Students by Richard Geraghty Plato's philosophical dialogues provide a solid understanding of Catholic moral principles. Geraghty shows within these pages how the truths of the old sage are both delightfully and...
Soulful Organizational Leadership by Arthur William McVey
Soulful Organizational Leadership by Arthur William McVey In the "Postmodern" organizational era, the concept of soul, spirituality, rationality, telos, virtue, happiness, and meaning is becoming increasingly a mainstream component in scientific psychology. This...
A Reader in Recent Catholic Philosophy, ed. by Dr. Alan Vincelette
Out this Weekend!A Reader in Recent Catholic Philosophy: The Twentieth Century Ed. by Alan Vincelette This presentation of readings in Catholic philosophy in the twentieth-century reveals a remarkable diversity of views. Dr. Vincelette presents this diversity in the...
Wisdom Literature
Wisdom Literature by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA The seven books of wisdom include Job, the Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Wisdom, and Sirach, all of which teach one thing in a universal and essentially poetic manner: wisdom. Wisdom is a practical...
Pentateuch by Very Rev. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA
Pentateuch: A Spiritual Interpretation by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA This book gives a special emphasis to a spiritual interpretation of the Pentateuch in a manner that springs forth from and is based on the literal interpretation, in particular the actual words used...
The Historical Books by Very Rev. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA
Historical Books by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA This book introduces the historical books of the Old Testament as a way by which all, especially those aspiring to the priesthood, can become familiar with the Old Testament and the various spiritual ways, grounded in...
Prophetic Literature by Very Rev. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA
Prophetic Literature by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA This book engages the canonical prophetic literature of the Old Testament, demonstrating how it points to Christ and is fulfilled in Christ. Like Wisdom Literature, prophetic literature teaches perennial moral truths...
Recent Catholic Philosophy: The Twentieth Century
Recent Catholic Philosophy: The Twentieth Century by Alan Vincelette This presentation of Catholic philosophy in the twentieth-century reveals a remarkable diversity of views. Dr. Vincelette presents this diversity in an expository manner without applying the kind of...
Solidarity and Salvation in Christ in the Light of “Gaudium et Spes”: An Anthropologico-Theological Study
Solidarity and Salvation in Christ in the Light of "Gaudium et Spes": An Anthropologico-Theological Study by Msgr. Albert Kuuire Deep within himself, man longs for a better and longer-lasting life. This deep longing reveals both the ephemeral nature of our material...
Help Dante Help Italy
Help Dante Help Italy A new translation by Daniel Fitzpatrick accompanied by the new sculptures of Timothy Schmalz Donate today!The Inferno is now available in Paperback and Kindle! Click a link below to order your copy today! And, as you're ordering, listen to the...
Mary and Bioethics: An Exploration
Mary and Bioethics: An Exploration by Francis Etheredge Whether it is the problem of pain, the messiness of our relationships or the confusion circulating about human identity, it is possible to think that we do not have anything to learn from the Virgin Mary, spouse...
New Paths to God and the Soul by Roger Skrenes
New Paths to God and the Soul by Roger Skrenes Much of what we receive through media of social communications does not concern itself with either God or the soul. So it is up to each of us to make ourselves aware of the pathways to God and the evidence for...
At Mass with Jesus on Calvary: Reflections on the Prayers of the Mass and the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, authored by Fr. Gene Martens, SJ
At Mass with Jesus on Calvary: Reflections on the Prayers of the Mass and the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist by Fr. Gene Martens, SJ For the ordinary Catholic, this book will clarify the teaching of the Catholic Church on the Real Presence of Jesus in the...
Spiritual Husbands-Spiritual Fathers: Priestly Formation for the 21st Century, co-edited by Bishop Estévez and Bishop Cozzens
Spiritual Husbands-Spiritual Fathers: Priestly Formation for the 21st Century by Bishop Felipe J. Estévez, S.T.D., and Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens, S.T.D. In Spiritual Husbands-Spiritual Fathers: Priestly Formation for the 21st Century, Bishops Estévez and Cozzens...
Conception: An Icon of the Beginning, authored by Francis Etheredge
Conception: An Icon of the Beginning by Francis Etheredge A book to plunge into the debate on the beginning of life like a life-boat dropping into the stormy seas filled with a variety of arguments both simple and more complex, drawing on reason, evidence and expert...
The Destructive Doctrines of our Age by Gerard M. Verschuuren
The Destructive Doctrines of Our Age by Gerard M. Verschuuren There are many doctrines around that try to change and mold our minds—doctrines such as relativism and secularism, to name just a couple, but this book discusses 13 more. These doctrines are...
A Study of the New Testament by Rev. John Paul Heil, S.S.D.
John Paul Heil is a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Ordained in 1974, he studied at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, where he received his Doctorate in Sacred Scripture in 1979. After teaching at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis for 27 years, he...
Walking the Parables of Jesus: A Journey into the Words, Life and Times of Jesus Christ, authored by Deacon Bob Evans
Walking the Parables of Jesus: A Journey into the Words, Life and Times of Jesus Christ by Deacon Bob Evans Walking the Parables of Jesus is a unique treatment of Jesus’ parables. Drawing on the work of many scholars, the author takes those who seek a deeper...
The Meaning of the Eucharist by Fr. Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R.
The Meaning of the Eucharist by Fr. Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R. This book highlights some of the major theological voices from the past century who contributed to a deepening of the Church’s understanding of the significance of the Eucharist and whose efforts came to...
Broken Hearts in a Broken World, authored by Gerard M. Verschuuren
Broken Hearts in a Broken World by Gerard M. Verschuuren Brokenness has become endemic in our days. In poll after poll, the vast majority of respondents say that our country is fundamentally broken. Our political system is broken. Our economy is broken....
A Companion to Reading Newman’s Grammar of Assent by Richard Geraghty
A Companion to Reading Newman's Grammar of Assent by Richard Geraghty In this book A Companion to Reading Newman’s Grammar of Assent, Richard Geraghty explains Newman’s truths by illustrating them as they pertain to contemporary Catholic issues. Through his personal...
On the End Times, or the First Return of Christ by Jacques Cabaud
On the End Times, or The First Return of Christ by Jacques Cabaud To pray the "our Father" is to pray for the renewal of humanity by the Holy Spirit. This book explains the implications of our prayer for the conversion of sinners in moral and metaphysical...
The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis
COMING SOON! The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis by Dr. Donald Boland As with every great philosopher and theologian, the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, though perhaps the clearest expressed of all, has inevitably been subject to a variety of...
Eastern Civilization from a Catholic Viewpoint
Eastern Civilization from a Catholic Viewpoint by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA, STD Eastern Civilization from a Catholic Viewpoint traces the history of East and South East Asia from ancient times to modern times. In the process, the reader is introduced to the various...
East and South East Asian History
East and South East Asian History by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA East and South East Asian History studies the historical development of countries that make up East Asia (China, Taiwan, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea) and countries that make up South East...
Western Civilization from the End of the Renaissance to Modern Times
COMING SOON! Western Civilization from the End of the Renaissance to Modern Times by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA This book presents the history of Western Civilization from the end of the Renaissance to Modern and the so-called Post-Modern Times. Topics include the...
Western Civilization from Prehistorical Times to the Protestant Reformation
COMING SOON! Western Civilization from Prehistorical Times to the Protestant Reformation by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA Western Civilization owes a debt of gratitude to three ancient civilizations: Jewish, Greek, and Roman. The first half of this book studies each of...
The Eclipse of God: Is Religion on the Way Out?
The Eclipse of God: Is Religion on the Way Out? by Gerard Verschuuren This book was specifically written for all those who feel lost in a world dominated by ideologies that obscure God. It is hard to pinpoint one particular cause of how we feel in such Godforsaken...
Contemporary Sacred Art: Conversations on Art & Faith
COMING SOON! Contemporary Sacred Art: Conversations on Art & Faith by Dr. Michela Beatrice Ferri In translation now from the Italian. Buy it in the original language here: What is the so-called “Contemporary Sacred Art”? In her book, Michela Beatrice Ferri...
The Narrative Spirituality of Dante’s Divine Comedy: a hundred-day guided journal
The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri has captivated the imagination of its readers for over seven centuries as Dante, a pilgrim on a journey to God, is called by Our Blessed Mother through the supernatural realms of the afterlife to witness the state of the souls of...
Voyage to Insight
Voyage to Insight by Dr. Ronda Chervin En Route Books and Media has reprinted Ronda Chervin and Lois Janis’ book Voyage to Insight with fresh, exciting graphics. It can be read straight through or you can add your own insights into the book and even dialogue about...
Economic Science and St. Thomas Aquinas: On Justice in the Distribution and Exchange of Wealth
Economic Science and St. Thomas Aquinas: On Justice in the Distribution and Exchange of Wealth by Dr. Donald Boland This is a book on what is perhaps the most burning and urgent of social issues of our times, namely, the relationship between the science of Economics...
Refractions of Light: 201 Answers on Apparitions, Visions and the Catholic Church
Refractions of Light: 201 Answers on Apparitions, Visions and the Catholic Church by Kevin Symonds For the past several decades, there has been a notable rise in claims of apparitions, visions and messages from heaven. This growth has often led to confusion and...
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,...
A Not-So-Elementary Christian Metaphysics, Volume 2: An Introduction to Ragamuffin Thomism
A Not-So-Elementary Christian Metaphysics, Volume 2: An Introduction to Ragamuffin Thomism by Dr. Peter Redpath Nothing short of a metaphysical disturbance and metaphysical revolution of the highest order can resolve the West’s and the world’s current...
A Not-So-Elementary Christian Metaphysics, Volume 1: Written in the Hope of Ending the Centuries-old Separation between Philosophy and Science and Science and Wisdom
A Not-So-Elementary Christian Metaphysics, Volume 1: Written in the Hope of Ending the Centuries-old Separation between Philosophy and Science and Science and Wisdom by Dr. Peter Redpath This book’s chief aim is novel and radical: to reunite philosophy,...
The Jesus Code: In the Beginning was the Word
The Jesus Code: In the Beginning was the Word by Roger Skrenes Jesus is the only person in the history of the world whose biography was known before he was born! He wanted everyone on earth to know of this miraculous Old Testament portrait of himself (Luke...
Mary, the Beloved
Mary, the Beloved by Keith Berubé The Magisterium of the Catholic Church teaches that Mary, the Mother of God, is a grace-filled, flesh and blood woman, who unsurpassingly loves each of us by name. Mary, the Beloved, affirms that teaching, providing a theological and...
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...
On the Third Part of the Secret of Fatima
On the Third Part of the Secret of Fatima 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...
The Moral Psychology of St. Thomas Aquinas: An Introduction to Ragamuffin Ethics
The Moral Psychology of St. Thomas Aquinas: An Introduction to Ragamuffin Ethics by Dr. Peter Redpath Through a radical reinterpretation of classical philosophy as an organizational psychology, The Moral Psychology of St. Thomas: An Introduction to Ragamuffin...
The Human Person: A Bioethical Word
The Human Person: A Bioethical Word by Francis Etheredge Is bioethics a technical specialization or a profound expression of human being? Wonderfully answering this question, the book is beautifully enriched by eight Forewords. Beginning again and again, Etheredge...
History of the Eucharist
History of the Eucharist by Roger Skrenes The Eucharist is not a topic of the moment. Like any good teacher, God took “his time” in revealing the Eucharist slowly, step by step, throughout Biblical history. In this history there are two main tracks: 1) the history of...
Political Science from a Catholic Perspective
Political Science from a Catholic Perspective by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA Today, many specializations within the field of political science identify it particularly as a social science, and these are namely political theory, government and politics, comparative...
A Brief Historical Survey of Marian Devotion and Theology by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA
A Brief Historical Survey of Marian Devotion and Theology by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA This book surveys the historical development of Marian belief and devotion by the Holy Spirit through the Church. How Mary was prepared and foreshadowed in the Old Testament is...