What to read

Blessed Charles of Austria: A Holy Emperor and His Legacy
Charles Coulombe
TAN Books, 324 pages

When 29-year-old Charles (Karl) of Austria ascended to the throne in 1916, the devoutly Catholic and strongly anti-communist emperor earnestly sought a peaceful resolution to the war in Europe and supported Pope Benedict XV’s efforts to that end. He tried to imbue Austrian society with Christian values, but his brief reign ended in exile in 1919, followed by his death of pneumonia in 1922. His beatification in 2004 by Pope St. John Paul II recognizes his heroic witness in the face of much suffering he endured. Read this powerful biography and be inspired by the life and intense faith of the “Peace Emperor,” the last of the Hapsburg rulers.

The Politics of Envy
Anne Hendershott
TAN Books, 305 pages

Envy is more than just a capital sin. It is a corrosive vice that leads to divisiveness, hatred, and even violence among individuals, families, demographic groups, political parties, and entire nations. It fosters excesses of victimhood and entitlement, and we see it at the roots of the mob mentality, cancel culture, and socialist tendencies that permeate American society today. There’s hope to overcome this troubling trend, says author Anne Hendershott, but it requires heroism and determination — and a re-examination of the effects and use of social media. Her book provides both the diagnosis and the prescription for defeating this ill before it is too late.

Christ Versus Satan in Our Daily Lives
Father Robert Spitzer
S.J. Ignatius Press, 439 pages

For the Christian, avoiding temptation and sin is a fulltime occupation, which is why philosophers and theologians have long referred to our “spiritual battle” against the devil. In this work, Fr. Robert Spitzer notes the reality of Satan and his efforts to lead us astray and offers practical wisdom on how to recognize and withstand his deceptions and temptations. A strong interior life, he explains in some depth, strengthens us and enable us to find God’s peace in the most difficult circumstances. There’s even a discussion of true cases of possession and other diabolical activity. Very engaging and highly recommended.