Contents
INTRODUCTION
by Bishop Robert Barron
Chapter 1: St. Augustine
Chapter 2: St. Benedict
Chapter 3: St. Francis of Assisi
Chapter 4: St. Thomas Aquinas
Chapter 5: St. Catherine of Siena
Chapter 6: Michelangelo
Chapter 7: Bartolomé de las Casas
Chapter 8: St. Ignatius of Loyola
Chapter 9: St. John Henry Newman
Chapter 10: G.K. Chesterton
Chapter 11: Fulton J. Sheen
Chapter 12: Flannery O'Connor
by Holly D. Ordway
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
What People Are Saying...
“This is a beautiful book. Peace and strength waft up from its pages as you read and turn them and gaze at the vivid, vibrant pictures. It is the fresh air of Catholic culture that you are breathing in, not as an abstract idea but through the lives of the enlightened men and women who—differently but always fresh in every age—embody the exquisite truths of Jesus’ Gospel.”
Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B., Abbot of Mount Angel Abbey
“In this beautifully illustrated and captivating book, Bishop Barron draws our attention to twelve heroic figures, from St. Augustine to Flannery O'Connor. The Pivotal Players is a powerful and welcome reminder that the truths of the faith are not limited to the abstractions of theology and philosophy, but have also been made manifest in the particular lives of our greatest theologians, artists, mystics, and saints.”
—Jennifer Frey, associate professor of philosophy, University of South Carolina
“The pivotal players in this book captivate the imagination, stir the heart, and inspire a life filled with love of God and love of neighbor. Bishop Barron’s winsome text is accompanied by lavish art that brings to life twelve fascinating figures from diverse cultures and times. If I ran the world, this book of heroes would be required reading in every parish, in every classroom, and in every home. Get a copy for yourself and share a copy with a ‘none’ whom you love.”
—Christopher Kaczor, professor of philosophy and author of The Seven Big Myths About the Catholic Church
“Bishop Robert Barron is a baseball fan, which is the ultimate demonstration that he’s a very smart man. He’s also a virtuoso evangelist and the best guide to the beauty and truth of the Catholic tradition I’ve ever known. This book is Barron in his element, so settle in and allow him to introduce you, or re-introduce you, to the pivotal players in the Catholic game. Play ball!”
—John Allen, Jr., President of Crux and Senior Vatican Analyst for CNN
“In this book Bishop Robert Barron provides us with a wonderful introduction to a symphony of witnesses to Christ, each in their respective intellectual genius and spirituality. In doing so he gives a portal into the splendor of the truth of the Catholic faith as a religion of truth, beauty, and goodness.”
—Fr. Thomas Joseph White, OP, Thomistic Institute, Angelicum