Books, CDs, and DVDs

Thanks to the miracle of PayPal, you can order a copy of any or all of my books or tapes directly from me! If it's a book, I'll even sign it! For your convenience, I take Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and ECheck. Or, if you don't prefer the PayPal method of payment, simply drop me a line and tell me what you'd like to order.

The Heart of Catholic Prayer: Rediscovering the Our Father and the Hail Mary

To learn and understand the Our Father and Hail Mary is to learn the deepest contours of the Church's interior life, for both are prayers that come from the Holy Spirit, who is the soul of the Church.

At once meditative and catechetical, The Heart of Catholic Prayer dissects the two anchors of our faith line by line in a journey into the Church's deep tradition of prayer, drawing us more deeply into the heart of the mystery of God's love. It's no coincidence the Our Father and the Hail Mary are closely intertwined in the heart of the Church.

The Heart of Catholic Prayer expertly weaves the contemporary with the historical and the theological with the practical as it opens up these most common of prayers with a fresh and penetrating perspective for all to see. Mere rote recitation of the Our Father and Hail Mary, without knowing what they mean, and why we say them, threatens to characterize God as “a kind of cosmic vending machine demanding correct change.”

Experience the ordinary truths of the Faith that the Church has always taught, but in ways which will generate a spark of recognition in the contemporary mind.  Understand why these two prayers, since Christianity’s earliest days, have occupied a central place in the life of faith.

The Work of Mercy: Being the Hands and Heart of Christ

At the very heart of the Gospel are the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Just as Jesus was God "hidden" in the flesh, mercy is the incarnational echo of God's presence in our world. His light shines forth through you and me, powerfully illuminating the dark places and guiding us along the path of sanctification.  In The Work of Mercy, we take a good look at these fourteen forms of service to the weak, defenseless, and poor that have been embedded in the Christian tradition from the beginning and learn how each of them must and can be carried out today by God's people.  Spiritual and practical, The Work of Mercy helps a 21st Century reader live the ancient teaching of the One who said, "as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."

Or you can download it as an MP3 by clicking here.

Here's a little interview I did about the book:

Mary, Mother of the Son

Mary, Mother of the Son takes the reader on a tour de force exploration of the Marian dimension of Catholic thought, life, prayer, and practice.

In Volume One: Modern Myths and Ancient Truth you discover the fascinating way in which Mary emerges with profundity, beauty, and love from the pages of Scripture in the light of apostolic teaching. You probe how the gospel of Christ crowns and perfects, not only the Old Testament, but the deepest insights of the great non-Christian philosophies, religions, and myths.  You learn how to read the Bible as the earliest Christians did and find out how Mary safeguards the deepest truths about Christ and his Church. 

In Volume Two: First Guardian of the Faith you will learn about the biblical and apostolic roots of Mary’s title as Theotokos; as well as her Perpetual Virginity, Immaculate Conception, and Assumption into heaven.  In addition, you will discover the astonishing relevance each of these teachings has, not only for the Christian believer, but for the twenty-first century as it comes to grips with such questions as the dignity, origin, and destiny of the human person. 

In Volume Three: Miracles, Devotions, and Motherhood you will explore the devotional life of the Church: a life which includes not only the worship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but the communion of saints, the holy rosary, the mysteries of private revelation and Mary’s God-given role as mother of all who believe in Christ.

Disorientation: How to Go to College without Losing Your Mind

Every year, thousands of young Catholics leave their homes for higher education at our nation’s colleges and universities. Very few realize, however, that from orientation day onward, they will be indoctrinated with a vision of reality that is very different from the values their families hold dear. Sadly, many of our young people will fall prey to one or more of the dominant ideologies engrained in their college education, ideologies that can lead them away from the Church and, ultimately, their faith in God. Students who are not taught how to think critically or who lack the tools needed to sift through the logic of these positions are easily swayed by the smooth sophistry of the intellectual elite.

For this reason, twelve of the top Catholic writers in America—professors, priests, journalists, philosophers, and theologians—have come together to dissect the trendy ideas that can lead young Catholics away from the Church. Disorientation is intellectual ammunition for every college student and parent, as it breaks down the history, analyzes the appeal, and debunks the empty promises of such wildly popular errors as:

• Hedonism
• Relativism
• Progressivism
• Modernism
• Americanism
• Scientism
• Fundamentalism
• Radical Feminism
• Multiculturalism
...and more.

Edited by John Zmirak (author, The Bad Catholic’s Guide to Good Living and editor of Choosing the Right College), this book is guaranteed to get college students thinking hard about what their professors are telling them—and what they should really believe.

Contributors:
Fr. George Rutler (Cynicism)
Donna Steichen (Feminism)
Jimmy Akin (Fundamentalism)
Fr. John Zuhlsdorf (Modernism)
Peter Kreeft (Progressivism)
Robert Spencer (Multiculturalism)
Mark Shea (Americanism)
Eric Metaxas (Relativism)
John Keck (Scientism)
Elizabeth Scalia (Sentimentalism)
Eric Brende (Consumerism)
John Zmirak (Hedonism)
Fr. Dwight Longenecker (Utilitarianism)

Catholic Controversies: Understanding Church Teachings and Events in History

Catholic Controversies gives Catholics and others seeking the truth a valuable resource for correcting the most common misunderstandings and myths perpetuated by the media, university professors and the uninformed. Catholic Controversies collects the very best articles addressing most of the “hot-button” issues used to undermine both the authority of the Church and the faith of Catholics, especially young people. The topics range from proofs of God’s existence to the Spanish Inquisition to human cloning and stem-cell research.

Learn from some of the best modern thinkers:
• how history and archaeology corroborate the Gospels
• how the Crusades were defensive wars necessary to save Christianity
• overwhelming evidence that the Eucharist contains the Real Presence of Christ
• how contraception undermines happy marriages
• why marriage is inherently heterosexual
• why devotion to the Blessed Virgin is profoundly biblical and enriching to our Christian faith
• why Purgatory is both sensible and in accord with Scripture

Catholic Controversies makes it easy to digest these and many other issues by providing an introduction to each topic and a summary, presented in bullet format, of the highlights and conclusions of each article. Every Catholic wishing to be armed with the facts should read this book.
 

The Church and New Media

The Church finds herself in the midst of a technological revolution, the biggest communication shift since the advent of the printing press.

The printing press created an information explosion, allowing people to absorb tremendous amounts of knowledge. But this modern, digital revolution brings a new type of communication. It pairs content with dialogue, discussion, and relationship, moving beyond a one-way flow of information.

New tools have burst onto the scene to provide this dual-offering of knowledge and community. Nicknamed “New Media”, these tools include social media, blogs, podcasts, video-casts, mobile media, and interactive websites.

Finding herself in a world that has dramatically embraced these tools, the Church is at a crossroad. If her missions of evangelization, formation, community-building, and social-justice are to continue in future generations, she must harness these tools and utilize them now. Thankfully, many Catholics are doing just that.

The Church and New Media brings together innovators, visionaries, and experts on the relationship between faith and technology, packaging their wisdom into the definitive book on New Media and the Church. It shows not only how the Church can exist in the digital age, but how she can effectively proclaim the Gospel today.

In addition to profiling many New Media innovators and relevant Church teachings, the book features chapters by the following New Media experts:

Foreword
Cardinal Seán O’Malley

Introduction / The Digital Continent
Brandon Vogt
 

Part One / Put Out Into the Deep: New Media & Evangelization

Chapter One / The Virtual Areopagus: Digital Dialogue with the Unchurched
Fr. Robert Barron
Chapter Two / Into the Light: Sharing the Spiritual Journey
Jennifer Fulwiler
Chapter Three / Speaking Their Language: Connecting with Young Adults
Marcel LeJeune
 

Part Two / That the World May Know: New Media & Formation

Chapter Four / Modern Epistles: Blogging the Faith
Mark Shea
Chapter Five / New Wineskins: Fresh Presentations of Ancient Tradition
Taylor Marshall
Chapter Six / Digital Discourse: The New Apologetics
Fr. Dwight Longenecker
 

Part Three / Fostering the Flock: New Media & Community

Chapter Seven / Innovative Shepherding: New Media in the Diocese
Scot Landry
Chapter Eight / High-Tech Community: New Media in the Parish
Matthew Warner
Chapter Nine / That They May Be One: Cultivating Online Community
Lisa Hendey
 

Part Four / To the Ends of the Earth: New Media & Mission

Chapter Ten / Changing the World: New Media Activism
Thomas Peters
Chapter Eleven / Moving Mountains: Building a Digital Movement
Shawn Carney (40 Days for Life)

Conclusion / To Infinity and Beyond: The Future of the Church and New Media
Brandon Vogt

Afterword
Archbishop Timothy Dolan

Glossary
Appendix / New Media How-To

Walking with God: A Journey Through the Bible

The Bible plays a vital role in the life of the Catholic Church. In fact, we are called to immerse ourselves daily in the Scriptures. But many of us get lost when we actually dive into the Bible, and our time spent can be more frustrating than fruitful. We are reading a collection of writings drafted by an ancient people, in an ancient culture. But Scripture is nothing less than the Living Word of God, and it is meant just as much for us as for those who lived thousands of years ago.

In Walking with God, Dr. Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins unpack the central story woven throughout Scripture and present it in an easy-to-read, concise manner. Gray and Cavins take you on a journey through the “narrative” books of the Bible—the ones that tell the story—and present a panoramic view of God’s glorious plan of salvation. Their expert commentary dives deep into the mysteries of Scripture, unlocking its riches and showing how these inspired words are meant for you today.

Enter into the Scriptures with Walking with God. Witness the fascinating story of our faith unfold, and see how you, at this moment in your life, fit into God’s plan for all of humanity.

St. Paul: His Spiritual and Scriptural Contributions to the Church

Tim Staples - St. Paul and Justification

Eric Jenislawski - St. Paul and the Crisis of Modern Biblical Interpretation

Sebastian Carnazzo - Acts of the Apostles: The Key to Understanding St. Paul’s Epistles

Mark Shea - St. Paul, Evangelization, and Apologetics

Catholic Controversies: Growing In Faith During an Age of Doubt

A fun and fascinating romp through the riches of the Catholic Faith in this 4-CD series.

Disc 1: 101 Reasons Not to Be Catholic is an uproarious look at the many crazy things our culture says about the Church--and the one sane Word God speaks to our culture.

Discs 2-3: Does the Catholic Church Really Know the Bible? takes you deep into the mystery of Christ's revelation to us through Scripture and helps you mine the Bible for all it is worth.

Disc 4: Purgatory and Indulgences dispels the many misconceptions surrounding these profound and sensible teachings, and shows how both of them are implied, not only in Scripture, but even by our own experience!

The Apostle of Common Sense, Season IV DVD

Hosted by the inimitable Dale Ahlquist, President of the American Chesterton Society and one of the funniest and wisest guys in the world.  With special guest appearances by G.K. Chesterton himself (Chuck Chalberg), as well as Charles Dickens, Hilaire Belloc, Clarence Darrow, Father Brown, a Chinese Mystic, a British Twit, an Ex-Seminarian (all played by the remarkably versatile Kevin O'Brien) and a raft of various characters from GKC's imagination, including Innocent Smith from Manalive (played by yours truly).

This 2-DVD set includes the follow episodes from the 13-part series that originally aired on EWTN.

1. "The Only Man I Regularly Read"
2. A Friend of The Family
3. How to Think
4. East and West
5. Health and Medicine
6. Law and Lawyers
7. Chesterton vs. Darrow
8. Abandon Hopelessness, All Ye Who Enter Here
9 Chesterton and Shakespeare
10.The Seven Deadly Sins - Part 1
11. The Seven Deadly Sins - Part 2
12. Ask Mr. Chesterton
13. Against the Stream

See Dale Ahlquist back in his wing-back chair, Chuck Chalberg as GKC back on his park bench, and Kevin O’Brien as Stanford Nutting back in his inclusivity sweater, and yours truly talking a bit about the relationship of drama and faith. Some say it’s the best season ever. Watch these episodes over and over. They are thought-provoking, inspiring, and entertaining. There is nothing else like it on television or anywhere else!

12 Great New Episodes:

1. Life and Death
2. Faith and Doubt
3. The Universe and Other Little Things
4. The Bible
5. Catholic Social Teaching
6. The Return of the King
7. God is Dead: Chesterton vs. Nietzsche
8. The Divine Detective
9. Comedy and Tragedy
10. Ask Mr. Chesterton III
11. St. GKC?
12. What Happens at a G.K. Chesterton Conference?

Complete The Apostle of Common Sense, Season VI DVD set - $45 (includes cost of shipping and billing)

PS:  If you want to get the other seasons, you can do so by going to the American Chesterton Society.

Amazing Grace for Survivors

Fifty stories of faith, hope, and perseverance from a whole bunch of Catholic writers and edited by Jeff Cavins, Matt Pinto, Patti Armstrong and Luke Armstrong. Includes a tale of me, Sadie Hawkins and how I survived high school. 

G. K. Chesterton's The Surprise - DVD

Adapted for television by the delightful Dale Ahlquist, President and Supreme Intergalactic Plenipotentiary of the American Chesterton Society, this wonderful, wise and funny two act play by the Master himself gives us Chesterton's hilarious perspective on creativity, free will, the problem of evil and the need for the incarnation of the Great Playwright in the Great Play.  The last line says of the play says it all.

Oh, and it marks the television acting debut of yours truly as The Captain of the Guard.

Power in the Blood: The Life-Changing Power of the Eucharist 

To receive Communion is to experience the most powerful, personal encounter with Christ you could ever hope to have. Are you getting everything you could out of your relationship with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament?

In this four CD series of conversations between me and popular radio host and family therapist Dr. Greg Popcak, you will discover how a true appreciation of the power of Christ in the Eucharist will compel you to develop a completely different view of work, play, relationships, and creation itself! Discover how developing a Eucharistic worldview can change your life forever! Whether you are new to the Faith, or have been Catholic all your life, Power in the Blood will show you what you've been missing and take your relationship with Christ, and your life, to a whole new level!

Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did

Reading the Bible in a way as old as Scripture itself, this book takes the reader on a "fly-over" of the biblical story from Genesis to Revelation and invites us to explore the literal, allegorical, moral and anagogical senses of Scripture. Whether you've been studying Scripture for years or are encountering it for the very first time, Making Senses Out of Scripture is an invaluable tool that will help you see biblical revelation afresh—as Christians have done for 2000 years. Click here to see reviews and here to read an excerpt..

In addition to my book, check out the CDs of my

Making Senses Out of Scripture Workshop
(with a bonus CD of my conversion story "How I Got This Way")

This four-CD set contains the complete workshop based on my book Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did. In this series of talks, you will get the Big Picture of Catholic revelation, starting from natural revelation (and what it all has to do with the game of Myst), through the five covenants of the Old Testament (five points if you can name them) to the New and Everlasting Covenant in Christ. Then you will be introduced to the Four Senses of Scripture, a fascinating way of reading Scripture that is as old as Scripture itself (and which, as you will discover, you already know something about). In addition, to all this you get a special bonus: How I Got This Way, the story of how the Holy Spirit led me a merry chase from pagan agnosticism through Evangelicalism till he caught me and brought me into full union with his Holy Catholic Church, the family of God.

And if this workshop floats your boat, why not have me come to your parish or conference and speak?

By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition

A tale of spiritual and intellectual awakening that makes a different kind of conversion story. The book describes how, as an evangelical Protestant, I rejected tradition and held to the principle of "scripture alone" as the foundation of religious authority. But this principle crumbled in the face of attacks from modernist scholars who reject Christian doctrine and the authority of the Bible. This book chronicles how, at first reluctantly, then with growing excitement, I discovered that Tradition as expressed by the Catholic Church is the only guarantee of the truth of the revelation of Jesus Christ. Click here to see reviews and here to read an excerpt.

This Is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence

A popular apologetic written in terms accessible to lay Evangelicals. Its goal is to meet the Evangelical reader within the framework of his or her own basic truths, concerns and loves and show how Catholic Eucharistic belief is already latent in that framework. It addresses common Protestant objections and shows them to be logically flawed, exegetically untenable, or based upon predictable misconceptions as to what Catholic teaching really is. After dealing with the objections the book then positively and convincingly constructs the Catholic case.

Like the books? You'll love this audio recording:

An Evangelical Discovers the Catholic Faith

Disc 1: By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition. A fun, fast-paced overview (given to a fun crowd in New Zealand in April 1997) of how the Jesus Seminar, Dr. James Dobson, Martin Luther, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, the Church Fathers, and assorted folks from various times, places and seasons united with unwitting unanimity to point me to the truth and common sense of Catholic Sacred Tradition.

Disc 2: This is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence. This talk (given to the same fun crowd in New Zealand in April 1997) tells the story of how I came to believe that the Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence in the Eucharist was not just a bunch of weird medieval superstition but was, in fact, what the biblical writers themselves believed and taught.

Disc 3: Behold Your Mother: An Evangelical Discovers the Blessed Virgin Mary. This talk (given at a parish in Seattle in May 2001 and based on my trilogy Mary, Mother of the Son) explains not only the theological underpinnings of the four Marian dogmas in both Scripture and Tradition, but also discusses the peculiar effects that denial of these dogmas has on orthodox Christian faith. Examines the way in which cultural differences between Catholic "feminine" piety and Evangelical "masculine" piety tend to obscure discussion of real theological differences. Describes the way in which my own exploration of the Marian teaching of the Church led me to conclude that the Catholic vision of Mary is both biblical and beautiful.

The Best of Rock Solid, Volume 1

A CD with some of the best of my popular Catholic Exchange podcasts.  Full of fun and informative listening on everything from soup to nuts and all related to the Catholic faith!

The Da Vinci Deception: 100 Questions About the Facts and Fiction of The Da Vinci Code

An easy-to-digest debunking of the silliness at work in Dan Brown's malicious attack on the Catholic Faith.  For anybody who has ever suffered through the novel or the film and then listened to people proclaim, "Wow!  I learned so much!"  This book will do what The Da Vinci Code only pretends to do: educate you.

Tolkien on Film: Essays on Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings

A bunch of interesting essays on these great film adaptations of Tolkien's even greater novel.  Includes my whimsical piece "The Lord of the Rings: A Source-Criticism Analysis".

A Guide to the Passion: 100 Questions About The Passion of The Christ 

The definitive guide to understanding the message and the artistry behind Mel Gibson's powerful film, The Passion of the Christ.  If you loved the film, you will want this book.

A fun walk-through of the book, highlighting C.S. Lewis' Christian message and linking the ideas in the novel with the depths of the rest of Lewis' work.

Shaken by Scandals: Catholics Speak Out About Priests' Sexual Abuse

Featuring essays by Raymond Arroyo, Rod Dreher, the Editors of Catholic World Report, Kristine Franklin, Al Kresta, Phillip Lawler, Mark Lowery, Michael Novak, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Greg Popcak, Leon Suprenant, Fr. Joseph F. Wilson, Paul Thigpen and yours truly. Your best source for a faithful, loving, sensible and orthodox response to the Scandal.

By the way, did I mention that you should have me come to your parish or conference and speak?

Copyright 2011 - Mark P. Shea