Sacraments       

If you have questions about any of these resources click here.  Please include the Reference Number listed.

Publisher Information

1)      About the Sacrament of Confirmation.  South Deerfield, Massachusetts:  Channing L. Bete Co., Inc., 1982.

      Reference Number:  00740

2)      Banta, Margrit Anne.  Parish Reconciliation Services:  Seasonal Celebrations for Adults and Children.  Mystic, Connecticut:  Twenty-Third Publications, 1994.

    “Here is a timely and insightful book for celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation.  These communal services center on concerns common to the faith life of committed Christians today, and feature Scripture readings corresponding to the liturgical seasons.  Additionally, Banta has increased the usability of these services by adding a special children’s Celebration of the Word of God for use with children in grades two through four.” 

      Reference Number:  B-00140

3)      Bausch, William J.  A New Look at the Sacraments.  Mystic, Connecticut:  Twenty-Third Publications, 1983.

    “This newly revised and expanded edition of William J. Bausch’s best-seller incorporates fresh, vital insights into understanding the sacraments in a communal, parish environment.  The revisions deliver perceptive observations of on-going parish experiences of ritual changes in the last two decades, and how these have affected personal faith and impacted parish life in the church.  The expanded sections now offer, for the first time this volume, Fr. Bausch’s treatment of marriage and orders.  As always, his sense of speaking to current pastoral situations, in light of church history and a hopeful future, shines through.”

      Reference Number:  B-00142

4)      Bernier, Paul, SSS.  Bread Broken and Shared:  Broadening Our Vision of Eucharist.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Ave Maria Press, 1981.

    “Provides a dramatic new look at Eucharist, one that seeks to make Christians sensitive to its meaning, and offers some astounding implications:  At Mass we are expressing and celebrating our potential-to be the Body of Christ, the church, and to give our lives for others; it pledges us to alleviate human suffering and address the causes, to build the kingdom for which Jesus lived and died.  “If we do not,” says Father Bernier, “our liturgies are empty.””

      Reference Number:  B-00144

5)      Bernier, Paul, SSS.  Eucharist Celebrating its Rhythms in Our Lives.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Ave Maria Press, 1993.

    “The Eucharist today is widely regarded as the “source and summit” of Christian life.  But when many fail to find it relevant to their daily lives or routinely skip Sunday liturgy, we may well ask what the actual relationship is between the Eucharist and Christian life.  In this insightful book, Fr. Paul Bernier shows why the Eucharist has lost it place in the lives of many Christians and offers creative insights for restoring it to its rightful central role.”

      Reference Number:  B-00145

6)      Bowman, Peg.  At Home with the Sacraments:  Eucharist.  Mystic, Connecticut:  Twenty-Third Publications, 1991.

    “Not too long ago, you brought your child to the parish for baptism, a time to welcome him or her into the Christian community.  At baptism, you promised to join with the church in nurturing and fostering your child’s spiritual growth.  Now, as your child prepares for the celebration of first Eucharist, you may have many questions:  What is the Eucharist?  What relevance does it have to our family life?  How does Eucharist call us to Christian service?  At Mass, the celebration of Eucharist takes place around a table, in company with our parish community.  In our homes, we celebrate Eucharist in the meals that we share, and in the conversation and activities that we experience with one another.  We also celebrate Eucharist in service to our family, friends, neighbors, and others we encounter in our lives.”

      Reference Number:  B-00146

7)      Bowman, Peg.  At Home with the Sacraments:  Reconciliation.  Mystic, Connecticut:  Twenty-Third Publications, 1991.

    “As your child prepares to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, you might experience feelings of anxiety, fear, and confusion.  More than any other sacrament, the rites for celebrating reconciliation have changed dramatically since Vatican II.  But can you effectively encourage and assist your children as they prepare for this sacrament if you yourself don’t understand the changes in focus and function?  At Home with the Sacraments:  Reconciliation shows parents how this sacrament speaks to them today.  It examines the history of penance, and outlines the different ways it is celebrated today.  Always foremost is the fact that reconciliation is a celebration of God’s love and unconditional forgiveness.”

      Reference Number:  B-00147

8)      Bowman, Peg.  At Home with the Sacraments:  Confirmation.  Mystic, Connecticut:  Twenty-Third Publications, 1991.

    “Confirmation is one of the sacraments of initiation.  At its best, confirmation is a renewal of hope and prayer that the confirmand will continue in a life of faith.  It is the sacrament where traditionally we call upon the grace of the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds, and strengthen us in our faith journey.  At Home with the Sacraments:  Confirmation shows how, as parents, you are invited to join your child to renew your own faith, to sharpen your own Christian commitment.  Here both parents and their children are challenged to take a look at the connection between what we say our faith is, and how we actually live our that faith.”

      Reference Number:  B-00148

9)      Broderick, Robert C.  Jesus Come:  My Communion Book.  St. Paul, Minnesota:  The Leaflet Missal Company, 1991.

      Reference Number:  B-00149

10)  Browning, Robert L. and Reed, Roy A.  Models of Confirmation and Baptismal Affirmation.  Birmingham, Alabama:  Religious Education Press, 1995.

    “A thoroughgoing exploration of Confirmation as an essential component in a person’s overall unified into the church.  This ecumenical volume also examines a wide variety of established and emerging pastoral patterns of Confirmation in the churches.  At the heart of this refreshing book lies the exciting thesis that Confirmation is a repeatable sacrament which both strengthens and adds to Baptism at various stages in an individual’s lifecycle.”

      Reference Number:  B-00150

11)  Champlin, Joseph M.  Together for Life.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Ave Maria Press, 1970.

    Reference Number:  C-00151

12)      Champlin, Joseph M.  Should We Marry?.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Ave Maria Press, 2001.

“Everyone wants to find the right person and live happily ever after.  But how do you know if your relationship is the real thing?  And how do you make it last?  Fr. Joseph Champlin knows a lot about real love.  He's presided over five hundred marriages in the last ten years alone, and his wedding preparation booklet Together for Life has sold more than seven million copies.  In fact, it's used by well over half the couples married in the Catholic Church in the U.S. each year.  His popularity as a presider and his success as a writer springs from the same source:  his deep concern for couples and his ability to listen and respond to them.  Now he offers the wisdom of his experience to couples who are asking some very important questions:  Is this the person for me?  Should we live together first?  How should we get engaged?  There are no pat answers here.  But if you are genuinely concerned about building a lasting relationship, you'll find some probing questions and lots to think about.  And you'll encounter some of the many couples who have shared with Fr. Champlin what makes them confident and hopeful as they begin their lives together-values like friendship, communication, forgiveness, romance, trust, patience...and faith.”

Reference Number:  C-00212

13)  Champlin, Joseph M.  Together for Life Special Edition for Marriage Outside Mass.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Ave Maria Press, 1970.

      Reference Number:  C-00152

14)  Coffey, Kathy.  Immersed in the Sacred:  Discovering the "Small S" Sacraments.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Ave Maria Press, 2003.

    "Immersed in the Sacred is an invitation to fine the holy in the people, places, activities, and objects that fill our days. Through personal reflections on her own "ordinary" life, Kathy Coffey encourages each of us to explore our lives and to find the sacred that surrounds us. Whether it's a beautiful mountain view or an unimpressive, simple hotel room, every place can be an entrée to the sacred. When we enjoy a meal with family or friends, or when we huff and puff our way through an aerobics class, every activity can be a vehicle for grace. While respecting the sacraments celebrated in church, how do we also find the holy in the office, home, garage, of shop? Immersed in the Saved shows us."

      Reference Number:  C-00188

15)  Costello, Gwen.  Reconciliation Services for Children:  18 Prayer Services to Celebrate God’s Forgiveness.  Mystic, Connecticut:  Twenty-Third Publication, 1992.

    “This book of ready-to-use reconciliation service will enable catechists and teachers to spend less time planning the service itself, and more time preparing children to receive the sacrament.  It is geared to children in grades two through six who are either preparing for first reconciliation or regularly receiving the sacrament in the parish or school.  The topics for each service are timely, and relate well to the needs and concerns of children.  Throughout the book, the reality of sin and sinful actions is acknowledged; yet it is the child’s need for forgiveness, for change, for growth, and for friendship with God that is ultimately emphasized.”

      Reference Number:  C-00153

16)  Coyle-Hennessey, Bobbie.  A Guide to Marrying Again:  Once More with Love.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Ave Maria Press, 1993.

    “Takes readers on a journey of growth and awareness as they examine the complexities and issues of remarriage.  It is a book born out of the author’s own painful experiences of divorce and the challenges of remarriage.  And it has been developed and refined over ten years of use with those who have remarried or are planning to do so.  It draws on the personal experience of the author along the with over 400 people who have participated in her remarriage preparation sessions.  Understanding that second marriages fail at an even more alarming rate than fist marriages, this practical, down-to-earth book offers useful strategies for coping with the problems and issues of remarriage; focuses on communication and conflict resolution skills; and presents resources to help deepen and enrich relationships.”

      Reference Number:  C-00154

17)  Davitz, Lois Leiderman, Ph.D. and Davitz, Joel R., Ph.D.  Fun?  But We’re Married!  A Wise and Witty Guide to a Lasting Marriage.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Sorin Books, 1999.

      “Marriages that last may be back in style, but no one thinks that they come easily.  Only folks who take marriage as seriously as this scholarly husband and wife team would suggest that the real key to a lasting marriage is having fun together.  They also insist that more communication is not always better, that you can be just too sensitive, that your marriage can survive a few good fights (if you know the rules), and that getting out of sync is not necessarily fatal.  These insights are among many that they back up with their experience of over fifty years of life together and almost as many years of research into why some marriages last and why others fold.  Drawing on their own life story they provide a witty and wise guide for those about to marry, those who are experiencing their own stumbling blocks, and those who want to look back with the perspective of years and touch of laugher.  For every reader there is a non-threatening questionnaire that is designed to be helpful…and fun.”

      Reference Number:  D-00079

18)  Donnelly, Doris.  Putting Forgiveness into Practice.  Allen, Texas:  Argus Communications, 1982.

    “Forgiveness touches everyone’s life.  It makes the difference between love and hatred, hope and despair.  Without forgiveness, hurts grow unchecked, and we recycle bitterness and mistrust.  With forgiveness, hurts are healed.  Putting Forgiveness into Practice considers the obstacles and misunderstandings associated with forgiveness and focus on the gospel message that calls persons of all ages to be peacemakers—in their families, neighborhoods, careers, and in the world.”

      Reference Number:  D-00080

19)  Dumestre, Marcel.  How to Understand The Sacraments Facilitator Guide.  New York, New York:  The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1995.

      Reference Number:  D-00082

20)  Everett, Fred & Everett, Lisa.  Christian Married Love:  Host Couple's Manual.  Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 1997.

      Reference Number:  E-00047

21)  Everett, Fred & Everett, Lisa.  Christian Married Love:  Engaged Couple's Manual.  Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 1997.

      Reference Number:  E-00048

22)  Faladerau, Ernest, S.S.S.  One Bread and Cup:  Source of Communion.  Collegeville, Minnesota:  The Liturgical Press, 1987.

    “The Eucharist is the communion of the believers with all Christians in time and space, and not only Roman Catholic Christians, but all who are baptized.  It is still a mystery as to how we can be, in some way, of the one body of Christ received in the sacrament of the alter, and yet cannot celebrate around that same alter as divided sisters and brothers.  Indeed, our Roman Catholic Mass is yet an imperfect communion until the full communion of the body of Christ, in the church, is restored.  Each time we go before the alter, yet alienated from our fellow Christians, we feel the pain of that division which the ecumenical movement calls upon us to heal.”

      Reference Number:  F-00056

23)  Fearon, Sister Mary, R.S.M.  The Seven Sacraments.  Tucson, Arizona:  E.T. Nedder Publishing, 1999.

      Reference Number:  F-00057 

24)  Feider, Rev. Paul A.  The Sacraments:  Encountering the Risen Lord.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Ave Maria Press, 1986.

    “Rooted in scripture and shape by history and tradition, the sacraments offer all Christians a means to encounter the saving love of the Father.  The Sacrament:  Encountering the Risen Lord is a handbook in which author Paul Feider demonstrates the scriptural basis of the sacraments, outlines their historical development, and discusses their renewal since Vatican Council II.  The sacraments began as an attempt by the early Christian to keep alive the presence of Jesus.  In this book, Father Feider takes the reader into the past to examine the teachings an actions of Jesus in order to discover how he led people to the Father.  And he delves into history to give the reader an experience of the challenges of the early church as it sought to keep alive the memories and the saving power of the Lord. In so doing he hopes to form a vision of the future, to suggest new ways to reenact the gestured of Jesus in meaningful expression that is consistent with our roots.”

      Reference Number:  F-00058

25)  Fitzgerald, Timothy.  Confirmation A Parish Celebration.  Chicago, Illinois:  Liturgy Training Publications, 1983.

    “Much is written about catechesis for confirmation.  This guidebook is about preparing a worthy liturgy to culminate that process.  Author Timothy Fitzgerald, a priest of the diocese of Des Moines, considers every aspect of the celebration—processions, music, readings, ministers—and sets it in context as a sacrament of initiation.”

      Reference Number:  F-00060

26)  Freund, John, C.M. and Hunter, JoAnn Heaney.  Mirror of God’s Love:  Sacramental Marriage and the Difference it Makes.  New York, New York:  Pueblo Publishing Company, 1984.

    “An introduction to the ministry of marriage.  Father John Freund, C.M., and JoAnn Heaney Hunter have written this booklet to give couples preparing for the sacrament a deeper understanding of their relationship to God, to each other, and to the Christian community.”

      Reference Number:  F-00061

27)  Foley, Gerald.  Courage to Love…When your Marriage Hurts.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Ave Maria Press, 1992.

    “In a social climate that actually encourages divorce rather than reconciliation, Courage to Love… offers help and hope instead.  Building on the experience of Retrouvaille, a successful church-sponsored ministry that is rapidly gaining notice and taking root across North America, it focuses on relationship building.  It invites couples to reconciliation, to rebuilding trust, to learning the skills necessary for healthy communication, and to growing spiritually through the lived reality of married life.  Courage to Love… emphasizes ways to counter cultural trends that are detrimental to permanent marriage and a strong family life while covering such crucial topics as self-awareness, conflict resolution, forgiveness, the stages of a relationship, and intimacy.  Each chapter conclude with reflection and sharing questions that encourage dialogue and discussion between spouses.”

      Reference Number:  F-00062

28)      Gaillardetz, Richard R., Ph.D.  A daring Promise:  A Spirituality of Christian Marriage.  New York, New York:  Crossroads Publishing Company, 2001.

Reference Number:  G-00109

29)  Garascia, Anthony.  Before “I Do” Preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Ave Maria Press, 1999.

      Reference Number:  G-00058

30)  Garascia, Anthony.  Before “I Do” Preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage Leaders Guide.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Ave Maria Press, 1999.

    ““Get it right, guys!” These were the words written on the back of a recent survey of the effectiveness of marriage preparation programs in the Catholic Church.  Before “I Do” is a program designed to “get it right.”  Anthony Garascia, a lay pastoral minister and marriage and family therapist, has designed a program rich in psychological insight, permeated with a spirituality of marriage, and easily adapted for various settings.  Six sessions provide a wealth of exercises and reflection questions to help engaged couples clarify their expectations for marriage and deepen their love and understanding.”

      Reference Number:  G-00059

31)  Getting Confirmed:  A Journey of Questions and Answers.  Liguori, Missouri:  Liguori Publications, 1996.

      Reference Number:  00742

32)  Hardon, John A., S.J.  With Us Today.  Ypsilanti, Michigan:  Ave Maria University Communications, 2000.

    "Even during the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI thought it was necessary to publish an encyclical warning against growing misinterpretation of the Holy Eucharist and to encourage a deepening of Eucharistic piety. Nonetheless, the years following the Council have witnessed a crisis in faith in Christ Jesus' Real Presence in the Eucharist. Lacking the faith in the Real Presence, Catholics today are often unable to understand the purpose of the Mass and of the ordained priesthood. More importantly, they deny themselves the gift of our Lord present to them today in the Eucharist."

      Reference Number:  H-00336

33)  How to Have a Happy Marriage.  Worldwide Church of God.

      Reference Number:  00743

34)  Huebsch, Bill.  Rethinking Sacraments:  Holy Moments in Daily Living.  Mystic, Connecticut:  Twenty-Third Publications, 1989.

    “Through out the pages of Rethinking Sacraments, you’ll find words to challenge you, to address old ideas and nurture new ones on what sacraments mean to today’s Catholic.  This book will offer new paths to arrive at the holy moments in our everyday experience.”

      Reference Number:  H-00262

35)  Jorgensen, Susan S.  Eucharist!.  San Jose, California:  Resource Publications, Inc., 1994.

    “This “prayer by prayer” approach to Eucharist will help your parishioners—both lifetime members of the Church and the newly initiated—increase their full, active, and conscious participation in liturgy.”

      Reference Number:  J-00027

36)  Keating, Charles.  Infant Baptism and the Christina Community.  Mystic, Connecticut:  Twenty-Third Publications, 1972.

    “The Challenge of infant Baptism is the challenge to live out and celebrate the joy of our Christian values in a community of love and faith.  On the day of a child’s baptism we celebrate this challenge to the child and the excitement of our ongoing adult commitment.  In this book Charles Keating provides thorough preparation for parents, godparents, relatives and friends to join knowledgeably in this sacrament.”

      Reference Number:  K-00046

37)      Law, Maureen Rogers & Law, Lanny.  God Knows Marriage isn’t Always Easy.  Notre Dame, Indiana:  Sorin Books, 2002.

     Reference Number:  L-00099

38)  Link, Mark, S.J.  Spirit 2000:  Daily Meditations on the Themes of Confirmation.  Allen, Texas:  Tabor Publishing, 1994.

      Reference Number:  L-00065

39)  Luebering, Carol.  The Forgiving Family:  First Steps to Reconciliation.  Cincinnati, Ohio:  St. Anthony the Messenger Press, 1983.

      Reference Number:  L-00067

40)  Luebering, Carol.  Your Childs Confirmation.  Cincinnati, Ohio:  St. Anthony the Messenger Press, 1987.

    “Years ago you made baptismal promises on behalf of your child.  Now, as Confirmation approaches, that child prepares to claim a Christian identity all his or her own.  But how can you be sure your son or daughter is ready for such a step?  What, indeed, does readiness mean at your youngster’s age?  Says the author of this concise sacrament preparation guide, “The purpose of this book is to help you sort things through.  It will not present a lot of sacramental theology or attempt to grasp that “wind which blows where it will,” the Holy Spirit.  It will guide you in reflecting on your child’s growth in faith and help you decide for yourself how Confirmation completes what you began when you presented an infant for Baptism years ago.”

      Reference Number:  L-00067

41)   McKarney, Joan.  Experience Christ Spirit:  Program Planner for the Catholic Update Video Eucharist Series.  Cincinnati, Ohio:  Franciscan Communication, 2000.

      Reference Number:  M-00162

42)  McKarney, Joan.  Experience Christ Present:  Program Planner for the Catholic Update Video Confirmation Series Sealed with God's Spirit.  Cincinnati, Ohio:  Franciscan Communication, 2001.

      Reference Number:  M-00151

43)   McKarney, Joan.  Experience the Reconciling God:  Program Planner for the Catholic Update Video Reconciliation Series.  Cincinnati, Ohio:  Franciscan Communication, 1999.

      Reference Number:  M-00161

44)  Moore, Joseph.  When a Teenager Chooses You as Friend, Confidante, Confirmation Sponsor:  Practical Advice for Any Adult.  Cincinnati, Ohio:  St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1987.

    “Every adolescent needs a “special adult” to talk with—someone other than parents, someone who won’t judge or blame or worry too much or repeat what is said.  That person just may be you.  Perhaps a teenager has begun to hang around your kitchen even after your own son or daughter has left.  Or perhaps you’ve been formally selected—as a Confirmation sponsor, for instance.  However you’ve been chosen, consider yourself lucky—and look to this book for practical advice.  Whether you’re a teacher, a coach, a scout leader, a Confirmation sponsor, an aunt or uncle or just an “available” listener for a friend of a son or daughter, this book can help you take an active interest in a teenager’s inner journey, the struggle to maturity, including spiritual maturity.”

      Reference Number:  M-00124

45)  My Booklet About God’s Love and Forgiveness.  St. Paul, Minnesota:  The Leaflet Missal Company, 1985.

      Reference Number:  M-00125

46)  O’Malley, Sarah, OSB and Eimer, Robert, OMI.  Come, Let Us Celebrate! Creative Celebrations of Reconciliation.  San Jose, California:  Resource Publications, Inc., 1986.

    “A book of communal Penance Services with many advantages for the busy Pastor.  It offers 16 complete services for various liturgical seasons, including homily hints.  For creative persons, it offers 12 additional themes and symbols around which they can create their own services.  For both young and old, these services are alive, full of symbols and meant to catch the eye, the ear an the heart and set an atmosphere for an experience of forgiveness.”

      Reference Number:  O-00037

47)      Osborne, Kenan, OFM.  Sacramental Guidelines:  A Companion to the New Catechism for Religious Educators.  Mahwah, New Jersey:  Paulist Press, 1995.

"With the widespread use of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church, religious education teachers are being confronted wit ha wealth of questions and problems.  Sacramental Guidelines provides helpful guidelines for anyone preparing classes that deal wit the sacraments.  In a clear and logical order, author Kenan B. Osborne puts forth the hierarchy of truths involved in sacramental instruction.  He identifies which doctrines of the church are "immutable truths" that must be concisely taught.  Then, he discusses statements which are currently the official teachings of the church, but which may change in time.  Finally, he describes those areas in sacramental teaching which are still being discussed and argued by reputable Catholic theologians."

48)  Osborne, Kenan B.  Sacramental Theology:  A General Introduction.  New York, New York:  Paulist Press, 1988.

    “A general introduction to the whole study of sacraments that analyze them from the perspective of the sacrament that is Christ and the Church.  Ecumenical in its presentation, Sacramental Theology sets our the complete teaching of the Roman Catholic Church and relates this to a wide range of Anglican and Protestant thought as well.  Fr. Osborne brings together masterfully the teaching of Vatican II on the sacraments with the rich tradition of sacramental theology through the centuries.”

      Reference Number:  O-00039

49)  Petras, Rev. David M.  Confirmation in the American Catholic Church:  A Byzantine Perspective.  Washington D.C.:  National Conference of Diocesan Directors of Religious Education, 1980.

      Reference Number:  P-00091

50)  Rego, Fr. Richard J.  A Contemporary Adult Guide to Conscience for the Sacrament of Confession.  St. Paul, Minnesota:  The Leaflet Missal Company, 1990.

      Reference Number:  R-00060

51)  Rego, Fr. Richard J.  The True Meaning of Love the Beauty & Wisdom of Church Teaching.  St. Paul, Minnesota:  The Leaflet Missal Company, 1990.

      Reference Number:  R-00061

52)  Ryan, John Barry and Lodato, Francis J.  Creating your Christian Engagement.  Liguori, Missouri:  Liguori Publications, 1994.

    “Your engagement is an exciting time filled with caterers, florists, invitations, jewelers, bridal shops, travel agents, and demands of a thousand other people.  Should it be something more?  Written especially for Catholic couples, Creating Your Christian Engagement looks at the period of engagement as an important time of passage.  The author, experienced educators, view engagement as more than simply two people soon to be married.  Your engagement is something unique—an opportunity to plan and dream, to deepen relationships, to see the religious significance of your relationship, and to build the foundation for the critical first years of your marriage.”

      Reference Number:  R-00062

53)  Searle, Mark.  The Church Speaks about Sacraments with Children:  Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance.  Chicago, Illinois:  Liturgy Training Publishing, 1990.

    “What canonical and liturgical laws apply?  Is a coherent or consistent catechetical and liturgical policy even possible?  Mark Searle asks these important questions of official church documents.  By gathering them together in a convenient from so that their origin, authority and relevance can be compared, Searle shows that a clear pattern emerges.  Pastoral leaders will find direction and assurance in the documentation and commentary contained in this handy book.  And sacraments with children will receive new focus.”

      Reference Number:  S-00140

54)  Sheridan, Tom.  The Gift of Baptism:  A Handbook for Parents.  Chicago, Illinois:  ACTA  Publications, 1996.

      "The sacrament of baptism marks the first step on a journey of faith that lasts a lifetime. Baptism is a rite of welcome, of acceptance, of challenge, and of opportunity. The sacrament welcomes a child-your child-into a faith and a faith community…and welcomes parent, godparents, family members, and friends to share in this beautiful expression of initiation into the Christian faith. The Gift of Baptism explains the sacrament of baptism, the ceremony, the signs and symbols. It answers many practical questions about baptism and about the church. It also helps parents to understand and reflect on the importance of this special event. Prayers, scripture readings, and suggestions for the continued religious growth of children and families are also included in this helpful book."

      Reference Number:  S-00176

55)  Sheridan, Tom.  The Gift of Godparents:  For those Chosen with Love and Trust to be Godparents.  Chicago, Illinois:  ACTA  Publications, 1996.

    "The word itself may seem old-fashioned, outdated, even irrelevant. Still, the tradition of godparenting persists, because it doesn't have to be those things. It can be a powerful opportunity to change the world, one child at a time. And now you have been asked to be a godparent-perhaps for the first time, perhaps for yet another. What will be expected of you at the ceremony? What will be your role in the lives of your new godchild and his or her parents? In a world that sorely lacks for real heroes and heroines, you have the opportunity to become one for your godchild. Perhaps this little book can help you on that way. The Gift of Godparents explains the current practice of godparenting in the Catholic Church and give practical advice to godparents trying to do their job appropriately, consistently and creatively."

      Reference Number:  S-00177

56)  Smith, Thomas J. and Frances.  Teachers Guide for Alive in the Spirit.  Winona, Minnesota:  St. Mary’s College Press, 1976.

      Reference Number:  S-00141

57)  Stasiak, Kurt, O.S.B.  A Confessor’s Handbook.  New York, New York:  Paulist Press, 1999.

    “Confession, more properly called the Sacrament of Reconciliation these days, is one of the most distinctive and well-known practices of the Catholic Church.  Modern life and the reforms of the Second Vatican Council have brought about many changes in the observance and understanding of the sacrament and that people today have lost a sense of sin.  However, the Sacrament of Reconciliation continues to be one of the most comforting and liberating experiences of the Christian life.  Fr. Kurt Stasiak, O.S.B., a Benedictine scholar, offers here a new handbook for the priest who hears confessions and thereby adds a unique contribution to the practice and understanding of the sacrament in the church today.”

      Reference Number:  S-00142

58)  Twigg, Sister Blanche, M.H.S.H.  Penance:  God’s Gift for Forgiveness.  St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1977.

    “In this illustrated booklet, 30 pages make up the child’s reader/activity section.  This material is designed to help the child—with parent/teacher guidance—to explore the presence of love, failure to love, sorrow, and forgiveness in his world.  It encourages him to express his own ideas about these things.”

      Reference Number:  T-00031

59)  Vath, Raymond, M.D. and O’Neill, Daniel. Marrying For Life.  Minneapolis, Minnesota:  Winston Press, 1982.

    “The authors base this common-sense guide on Christian values.  They help people understand why marriages break down, identifying trouble spots common to most relationships.  Vath and O’Neill offer workable ways to develop the keys to a successful marriage:  honesty, compassion, and love.  Above all, they stress that lasting relationships are no accident.”

      Reference Number:  V-00009

60)  Wilde, James A.  Confirmed as Children, Affirmed as Teens.  Chicago, Illinois:  Liturgy Training Press, 1990.

    “If you have restored the order of initiation in your diocese or parish—placing confirmation after baptism, before first communion or between the two at a single celebration—then how do you celebrate sacramentally the events of youth?  How do your ritualize a time of passage for a young man or young woman?  How do you celebrate a young person’s belonging to the Christian community?  How do you commission a teen for apostolic ministry within the community?  How do teens ritually become “ambassadors of reconciliation” for the community?  How do you liturgically mark an older teen’s arrival at adulthood?”

      Reference Number:  W-00067

61)  Wilde, James A.  When Should We Confirm?.  Chicago, Illinois:  Liturgy Training Press, 1989.

    “With evidence from the United States, England and Europe, this book shows that the restored order of initiation in the church—baptism, confirmation, Eucharist—is expected and possible.  Research results and a proposal are presented from a study committee on guidelines for confirmation for the diocese of Pittsburgh committee chairperson Frank D. Almade.  Liturgist and seminary professor Geoffrey Steel documents and critiques the restoration of the order of initiatory sacraments in the diocese of Salford, England.  Guidelines for confirmation for the archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis are made available by its Ordinary John R. Roach and its committee on sacraments.  A report on the seven-year practice of confirmation before first communion at Christ the King Parish, Crystal, Minnesota, is given by its pastor Richard D. Moudry.  Linda Gaupin, CDP, Ph.D., shows what led up to Pope Pius X’s Quam Singulari for Eucharist and pints to the need for a similar decree for confirmation.”

      Reference Number:  W-00068

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