About the Book
In two thousand years, the Catholic Church has yielded countless saints, artists, mystics, and scholars. But among them are figures that are truly pivotal—men and women who not only shaped the life of the Church but changed the course of civilization.
In this vibrant book based on the multi-part film series CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players, Bishop Robert Barron draws readers into the life and work of twelve Pivotal Players—from great saints such as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas to literary masters such as G.K. Chesterton and Flannery O’Connor—who personally demonstrated the dynamics of the Christian faith in their distinct time and place. These stories capture both the great variety of personalities and vocations in the Catholic Church and the harmonies between them, all oriented to its ultimate purpose: to be salt and light for all the nations.
Elegantly designed with full-color images and photography, The Pivotal Players is a unique journey into the truth and beauty of Catholicism as exemplified in the concrete lives of some of its most fascinating figures.
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