This collection of essays presents the answer of faith to many questions of our culture.
Father Ronald Lawler, OFM Cap. (1926–2003), was a priest, teacher, author, theologian, catechist, spiritual advisor, and mentor, who lived the great life of faith and encouraged others to join him in loving Christ and his Church. In The Great Life, those who knew and loved Father Lawler honor him by continuing his work of presenting the faith in its fullness and beauty. This collection of essays is not only an invitation to know the faith, but also to love, live, and teach it from the heart of the Church.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
This volume is part of the Catholic Virtue and Holiness Collection (7 vols.). Take a look at the whole collection.
“Christian formation is seen as a progressive but complete configuration to Christ. The Church Fathers called this process the sequela Christi or imitatio Christi: the following or imitation of Christ.” (Page 177)
“Another early writing that has always fascinated me is the Letter to Diognetus, where the author is describing to his friend what Christians are like. He says that they live in the same neighborhoods, speak the same language, dress like everybody else; but they do not kill their babies and they respect the marriage bond. Very quaint indeed. It is a little scary to think that Diognetus’ letter could have been written last week.” (Page 14)
“He ended his presentation with a message of love: ‘The cruelest people in the Church, I think, are those who, hoping to be kind to suffering people today, destroy or neglect (or fail to insist on) the sacred values that are needed to brace ordinary lives.’ Christ is making demands on the hearts of men and women: to faithful love and forgiveness, and generosity. Father Lawler understood that the new law is established through ‘the grace of the Holy Spirit.’ This is the grace that gives men and women power to do with generosity what is necessary for them to do to be good persons at all. He quoted the words of Pope Paul VI in Humanae Vitae: ‘It is an excellent work of Divine Love to lessen in no way the saving law of Christ’ (HV 29).” (Page 155)
“The world is a powerful and attractive teacher, but while it can often give us what we want, it can’t give us what we need. We need God.” (Page 4)