What to read

Into the Storm: Chronicle of a Year in Crisis
Christopher R. Altieri
TAN Books, 391 pages

From the title one might expect an examination of 2020 with its COVID pandemic, street riots, and contentious U.S. presidential election. Instead, Christopher Altieri offers his journalist’s perspective on another year and crisis: the period from late January 2018 to late February 2019, when the leadership of the Catholic Church up to and including Pope Francis came under fire for its handling of the abuse crisis, personnel decisions, and lack of transparency. “The crisis of leadership in the Catholic Church is protracted, persistent, and global,” Altieri begins one report in this collection of essays published during this tumultuous year. It’s a worthy backgrounder on a crisis still seeking resolution.

A Catholic Scientist Proves God Exists
Dr. Gerard Verschuuren
Sophia Institute Press, 176 pages

Although some in the scientific community dare to propose theoretical models for creatio ex nihilo, science is incapable of disproving the existence of God. Arguably, its failure to account for the preexisting matter, conditions, or causes that brought the universe into existence is itself a proof of God. In this work, Dr. Gerard Verschuuren walks the reader through the medieval five proofs for God’s existence from the perspective of a Catholic scientist, demonstrating how the use of reason in examining the observable universe and the logical deductions that follow reveal the power of God and His perfect attributes. As Charles Dickens wrote, “Take everything on evidence.” It’s there.

Wisdom from the Psalms
Peter J. Kreeft
Ignatius Press, 243 pages

Looked over, then overlooked – that’s how too many would regard the Psalms of the Old Testament. Most are hard pressed to recognize any but the 23rd Psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd…” Yet the Psalms have been at the heart of prayer and worship from the time of the ancient Jews to the liturgy of the Church today. Boston College professor Peter Kreeft looks here at just a dozen of the 150 Psalms, drawing out their lyrical beauty and meaning. The Psalms provide an everrelevant voyage for inspiring praise, petition, contrition, and contemplation, and this book is a valuable tool for their rediscovery.