igantius press Archives

IP#14 – Fr. Paul Hamans – Edith Stein and Companions on the Way to Auschwitz on Inside the Pages

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Fr. Paul Hamans – Edith Stein and Companions on the Way to Auschwitz on Inside the Pages

In this episode of “Inside the Pages”, Fr. Paul Hamans discusses with Kris McGregor his book Edith Stein and Companions on the Way to Auschwitz, which chronicles the lives of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) and 113 other Catholic Jews who were martyred by the Nazis in retaliation for a pastoral letter written by Dutch bishops protesting the Nazi regime.

Fr. Hamans, a Church history professor in the Netherlands, reminds listeners of the importance of remembering these martyrs, whose sacrifices were both an act of faith and a stand against Nazi atrocities. He highlights the deep spiritual significance of these lives, their willingness to suffer for their faith, and the ongoing legacy of their witness. In addition, he addresses the impact of the Dutch bishops’ resistance, the persecution faced by Jewish converts to Catholicism, and the profound example set by Edith Stein and others who embraced their crosses in service to God and the Church.

You can buy a copy of the book here.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Sacrifice and Faith: How do the sacrifices of Edith Stein and her companions inspire you to deepen your own faith and commitment to Christ?
Witness of Martyrdom: What lessons can you draw from the courage of the Catholic martyrs in standing against injustice, even at the cost of their lives?
Legacy of Resistance: How does the Dutch bishops’ resistance to Nazi atrocities challenge you to speak out against modern-day injustices?
Spiritual Resilience: In what ways can you embrace and carry your own crosses in your daily life, following the example of these martyrs?
Hope in Eternal Life: How does the focus on eternal life, as emphasized by Fr. Hamans, influence your perspective on the challenges and sufferings you face?

From the Book’s Description:

“On the same summer day in 1942, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) and hundreds of other Catholic Jews were arrested in Holland by the occupying Nazis. One hundred thirteen of those taken into custody, several of them priests and nuns, perished at Auschwitz and other concentration camps. They were murdered in retaliation for the anti-Nazi pastoral letter written by the Dutch Catholic bishops.

While Saint Teresa Benedicta is the most famous member of this group, having been canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1998, all of them deserve the title of martyr, for they were killed not only because they were Jews but also because of the faith of the Church, which had compelled the Dutch bishops to protest the Nazi regime.

Through extensive research in both original and secondary sources, P.W.F.M. Hamans has compiled these martyrs’ biographies, several of them detailed and accompanied by photographs. Included in this volume are some remarkable conversion stories, including that of Edith Stein, the German philosopher who had entered the Church in 1922 and later became a Carmelite nun, taking the name Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

Several of the witnesses chronicled here had already suffered for their faith in Christ before falling victim to Hitler’s “Final Solution”, enduring both rejection by their own people, including family members, and persecution by the so-called Christian society in which they lived. Among these were those who, also like Sister Teresa Benedicta, perceived the cross they were being asked to bear and accepted it willingly for the salvation of the world.”

About the Author

Fr. Paul Hamans is a diocesan priest in Roermond, Netherlands, where he teaches Church history at the seminary there. He has a doctorate in history from the University of Augsburg, Germany, and is an expert on the Dutch martyrs of the twentieth century. His other publications include History of the Catholic Church in the Netherlands.

IP#127 Dale Ahlquist – In Defense of Sanity on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

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How can you possibly pick the best of G. K. Chesterton’s essays? Thank goodness for Dale Ahlquist, Joseph Pearce, Aidan Mackey! Leading authorities on all things G. K. they’ve done it for us…and what a feast! From cheese to Jane Austen, barbarians to “what is right with the world,” G. K. covers it all. And the beauty is that it is still as relevant today as it was in his day…that’s the mark of genius, or more accurately, authentic wisdom and grace. It is always a joy to talk with Dale Ahlquist! He is the “good son” of G. K. Have fun with the listen and then read “In Defense of Sanity: The Best Essays of G.K. Chesterton.”

You can find the book here

From the book description:

The variety of topics are astounding: barbarians, architects, mystics, ghosts, fireworks, rain, juries, gargoyles and much more. Plus a look at Shakespeare, Dickens, Jane Austen, George MacDonald, T.S. Eliot, and the Bible. All in that inimitable, formidable but always quotable style of GKC. Even more astounding than the variety is the continuity of Chesterton’s thought that ties everything together. A veritable feast for the mind and heart.

While some of the essays in this volume may be familiar, many of them are collected here for the first time, making their first appearance in over a century.

IP#162 Ruben Quezada – For Greater Glory on Inside the Pages

“For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada The Cristero War and Mexico’s Struggle for Religious Freedom” is meant as a companion book to the film of the same name, but it truly be considered a stand alone in its own right. Ruben Quezada does a fine job of outlining a horrific persecution which occurred just south of our border a little over 80 years ago, yet many of us know little or nothing about. The Mexican government brutally killed men, women and children in an attempt to snuff out the life of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico in the 1920’s. Bishops and priests were martyred, Churches descrated, along many other atrocities. “Vivo Christo Rey” became the prayer triumphantly proclaimed by the Church Militant…this the story of their fight for religious freedom

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You can find the book here

“For Greater Glory is a top-flight production whose message of the importance of religious freedom has particular resonance for us today.”
— Most Reverend José Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles

“For Greater Glory is ‘must-see’ viewing for all those who care about faith and liberty today.”
— Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus

As you read you’ll discover:

• Who were the Cristeros?
• What drove the Mexican government to ruthlessly persecute Catholics?
• Can a priest “wage war”
• What role did groups like the Knights of Columbus play in this armed resistance?
• Why did thousands of Catholics – priests, religious, lay people – willingly give their lives in the Cristiada?
• What role did the U.S. play in ending this bitter conflict?
• What did the Pope do to support the Church in Mexico?
• Which characters in the movie went on to become Catholic saints and blesseds in real life?
• Why is this dramatic episode of history so little known today?
• What is the lesson of the Cristiada for those struggling for religious freedom today?

IP#105 J. Budziszewski – What We Can’t Not Know on Inside the Pages

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What a fascinating subject: The Natural Law! It’s made utterly exciting when talking with Prof. J. Budziszewski. He is such a great thinker, and, what’s even better, he helps us to become better thinkers as well. In “What We Can’t Not Know: A Guide“, Prof. Budziszewski makes the argument for the existence of absolute values of right and wrong and that are embedded in the conscience of every human being. And he uses the Ten Commandments as a spring board for various aspects of the discussion. His book is highly readable and just as HIGHLY recommended! I can’t wait for his next book.

Find out more here

IP#61 Mark Brumley – The Handbook of Catholic Apologetics on Inside the Pages

Mark Brumley is one of the masters of today’s Catholic apologetics, so if he recommends a book to help us convey the faith to others, we should take note! “The Handbook of Catholic Apologetics: Reasoned Answers to Questions of Faith” is a fantastic resource for any and all who wish to communicate the faith more clearly. It’s also for those who desire to deepen and grow in their own understanding of Catholic faith. Mark does a great job in this interview talking about some of those teachings, as well as, addressing today’s current issues.

Check out the book here!

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IP#14 Fr. Paul Hamans – Edith Stein and Companions on the Way to Auschwitz on Inside the Pages

Compelling just isn’t a big enough word to capture the work that Fr. Paul Hamans has given us in this book. “Edith Stein and Companions on the Way to Auschwitz” not only gives us a portrait of the great saint, but gives us the faces and insights into the hearts of those we call “companions”…be prepared to be both heartbroken and inspired at the same time.

Find this book at the Ignatius Press website
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