Letters to a Young Catholic

by George Weigel

Publisher:

Basic Books

, 2015

Overview

In this modern classic, a pre-eminent Catholic intellectual illuminates the faith’s core beliefs and practices

“An engaging, lucid, and informative introduction to the teachings and traditions of Catholicism.” ―Wall Street Journal

In this remarkable exploration of the Catholic world, prominent Catholic author and papal biographer George Weigel offers a luminous collection of letters to young Catholics, not-so-young Catholics, and curious souls who wonder what it means to be Catholic today. Weigel takes readers on an epistolary tour of Catholic landmarks—from Chartres Cathedral to St. Mary’s Church in Greenville, South Carolina; from the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem to G.K. Chesterton’s favorite pub in London; and from the grave of a modern martyr in Warsaw to the Sistine Chapel. Weaving together insights from history, literature, theology, and music, Weigel illuminates the beliefs that gave Catholicism its distinctive texture and explores the theological importance of grace, prayer, vocation, sin, forgiveness, suffering, and—most importantly—love. Letters to a Young Catholic will inspire not only the young generation of Catholics whose World Youth Day celebrations have embodied an era of renewal for the Church, but also the faithful, the doubtful, and the searchers of every age.

Praise for Letters to a Young Catholic

“An engaging, lucid, and informative introduction to the teachings and traditions of Catholicism.”—Wall Street Journal

“If I weren’t a cradle Catholic, George Weigel’s Letters to a Young Catholic might make me want to convert.”—Washington Post

“‘Great Expectations,’ in fact, could be Weigel’s subtitle, for that is what he hopes to inspire in youthful souls with his graceful meditations on truth, beauty, and love.”—Claremont Institute Review

“I expect Letters will be a long-time Catholic-culture classic.”—National Review

“This is a luminous work that would appeal to anyone interested in faith, hope, and life itself.”—Booklist

Product Details

• Title: Letters to a Young Catholic
• Author: George Weigel
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Print Publication Date: 2015
• Logos Release Date: 2023
• Pages: 368
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9780465097500, 9780465092628, 0465092624, 0465097502
• Resource ID: LLS:9780465097500
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-12-08T06:58:34Z

About George Weigel

George Weigel is an American author, and political and social activist. He currently serves as a Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Weigel was the Founding President of the James Madison Foundation. He is the author of the best-selling biography of Pope John Paul II, Witness to Hope.