There are countless books about the sacraments -- but few books about sacramentals. These powerhouses of grace are often overshadowed but should not be overlooked. Here is the book that will help you understand various types of sacramentals and receive the abundant graces that flow from their use.

During the last decades, sacramentals seem too often to have been marginalized, even though they are supposed to be the daily bread of any priest, as well as of the laity, affirms Fr. Ralph Weimann. Drawing from Scripture and the Tradition of the Church, Fr. Weimann has succeeded in closing this gap by striking a proper balance between the natural and the supernatural, between reason and revelation. He breaks open how sacramentals developed in the history of the Church and their definition in modernity, both in the liturgical documents of Vatican II and the Code of Canon Law.

Sacramentals are meant to produce spiritual effects in the daily lives of the faithful, Father shares. He further explains:

• Four categories of sacramentals (See if you can name them!)
• Two elements that are integral in each sacramental (Do you know?)
• How sacramentals are acts of divine worship and are intrinsically linked to the Faith
• The real meaning of consecration and three levels of this type of blessing
• Nine important spiritual effects of holy water
• Five temporal and spiritual benefits received from the blessings of persons

Additionally, Fr. Weimann provides an extensive framework about exorcisms and their significance as a sacramental, noting that when faith weakens, there is often a rise in superstition and the occult. Included are sample blessings (both new and old versions) and commentary about their relevance today.

You will see how sacramentals help us on our journey to God and the wondrous graces that emanate from them. Most significantly, you will find that how we use sacramentals demonstrates the maxim As we worship, so we believe. As Fr. Weimann reflects, The indwelling grace of the sacred signs is usually hidden to our eyes. However, they become visible through the eyes of faith, causing spiritual effects.

It is to the credit of Fr. Ralph Weimann, a theologian who lives in today's world and is particularly attentive to the current challenges of the Church, but at the same time deeply rooted in the great tradition of the Church, to have made a valuable contribution in this regard with this book. The purpose of this book is to offer a guide to show the way to Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. To this end, in a first step, the common prejudices that supposedly speak against the faith and the Church are outlined in each chapter. In a second step, they are given an answer, based on Sacred Scripture and Tradition. Therefore, this book is a valuable help especially for disoriented believers and is also useful for every Catholic who wants to be prepared to explain his faith.

Death, and with it the end of human life, has been brought back into focus by the pandemic. But - how to deal with death, given medical-technical progress? What is morally justifiable and acceptable? The end of life presents many challenges. In this timely text, the most important bioethical challenges at the end of life are described, followed in each case by an ethical-moral orientation based on the Gospel and the tradition of the Church. Principles are presented pointing beyond death to eternal life, principles without which end-of-life issues cannot be faced responsibly.

Taken up with a refreshing lack of evasion are such pressing issues as various forms of euthanasia, suicide and assisted suicide, ordinary and extraordinary measures at the end of life, life-sustaining measures to consider, and organ transplants. And, hovering all the while in the background: the question of determining the moment of death. The search is on for spiritual insight into how faith and reason may guide us serenely even in the midst of personal grief to mediate bioethical challenges at the end of life in the spirit of Christ-that is, by never overstepping the inviolable dignity of the human being.

Death, and with it the end of human life, has been brought back into focus by the pandemic. But - how to deal with death, given medical-technical progress? What is morally justifiable and acceptable? The end of life presents many challenges. In this timely text, the most important bioethical challenges at the end of life are described, followed in each case by an ethical-moral orientation based on the Gospel and the tradition of the Church. Principles are presented pointing beyond death to eternal life, principles without which end-of-life issues cannot be faced responsibly.

Taken up with a refreshing lack of evasion are such pressing issues as various forms of euthanasia, suicide and assisted suicide, ordinary and extraordinary measures at the end of life, life-sustaining measures to consider, and organ transplants. And, hovering all the while in the background: the question of determining the moment of death. The search is on for spiritual insight into how faith and reason may guide us serenely even in the midst of personal grief to mediate bioethical challenges at the end of life in the spirit of Christ-that is, by never overstepping the inviolable dignity of the human being.

In einer säkularisierten Gesellschaft sind Anfang und Ende des menschlichen Lebens mehr denn je zuvor den Möglichkeiten des technisch-medizinischen Fortschritts unterworfen. Die Einführung der PID - der Präimplantationsdiagnostik - in Deutschland führt zu neuen ethischen Problemen mit weitreichenden Konsequenzen, die aus einer bioethischen Perspektive analysiert werden.
Bioethische Probleme gelten in Deutschland als besonders prekär, zum einen aufgrund der historischen Verpflichtung, zum anderen weil sich die Bundesrepublik per Grundgesetz auf die Wahrung jener unumstö lichen Normen verpflichtet, die für die demokratische Grundordnung unverzichtbar sind. Eben diese Grundordnung steht auf dem Spiel, wenn über den zukünftigen Umgang mit menschlichem Leben debattiert wird. Es geht um Wesentliches: um die Unantastbarkeit der menschlichen Würde.

In Zeiten des Wandels und der Beliebigkeit stellt sich die Frage nach dem Fundament des Glaubens. Doch auf welche Grundlage kann man dabei sich stützen? Anhand der Theologie Joseph Ratzingers werden die Prinzipien dargestellt, die Orientierung bieten und Fortschritt ermöglichen.
Sinkende Zahlen von Kirchenmitgliedern, innerkirchliche Spannungen und eine gewisse Ratlosigkeit über die Zukunft der Kirche bestimmen im deutschsprachigen Raum vielerorts das Klima. Zugleich trägt mit Benedikt XVI. zum ersten Mal seit über 450 Jahren ein deutscher Papst die Verantwortung für die Universalkirche, der als Theologenpapst mit den vielfältigen Schwierigkeiten vertraut ist. Die vorliegende Arbeit ist der Frage nachgegangen, welche Antworten Joseph Ratzinger auf die dringlichen Probleme gibt und welche Prinzipien notwendig sind, damit die Theologie weder in der Erstarrung noch im Bruch mit der Vergangenheit nach vorne schreiten und Zukunft eröffnen kann. Dieser Aspekt bietet einen Schlüssel zum Verständnis des Pontifikats von Papst Benedikt XVI.