Audiobooks by Joseph Pearce

Poems Every Catholic Should Know Audiobook

This anthology provides some of the finest Christian verse written during the second millennium of Christianity. All of the great ones are here: Hildegard of Bingen, Francis of Assisi, Dante and Chaucer from the High Middle Ages; Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and John Donne from the Reformation; English and American Romantics such as Browning and Whittier; late nineteenth-century mystics like Dickenson and Hopkins, as well the great converts of that period like Newman and Chesterton. A conscious attempt was made to meet both the standards of academia and the tastes and sensibilities of the faithful. The selections are arranged chronologically to serve also as a history of verse. Brief biographical and anecdotal introductions reveal the varied relationships of the poets with each other and with the trials and tribulations of their day. This magnificent collection is essential for all poetry lovers for those who respond to the beauty of the written word penned in the service of spiritual truth.

Joseph Pearce (Author), Kevin O'brien (Narrator)

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Benedict XVI: Defender of the Faith

Pope Benedict XVI will go down in Church history as one of the greatest popes. In this heartfelt defense of Pope Benedict’s words and works, a tribute to his life and legacy and a homage to his sanity and sanctity, Joseph Pearce’s biography provides an unforgettable encounter with this great historical figure. As the defender of the Faith, Pope Benedict XVI fought tirelessly and largely successfully against the forces of secularism first as the indomitable Ratzinger and then as the incomparable supreme pontiff. As an uncompromising defender of the dignity of the human person, he fought the wickedness of the world in his unremitting battle against the dictatorship of relativism and its culture of death. Within the Church, he fought against the spirit of the world in his war on modernism and its worship of the spirit of the age, restoring the splendor of truth in his defense of orthodoxy and the splendor of the liturgy in his defense of tradition. Years from now, Catholics will still look back on Pope Benedict’s enduring legacy with enormous gratitude. For he successfully steered the barque of Peter in charity and truth against the evil tides that sought to engulf the Church.

Joseph Pearce (Author), Kevin O'brien (Narrator)

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Further Up and Further In: Understanding Narnia

Beloved by generations of readers, the Chronicles of Narnia are thought, erroneously, by some to be 'mere children's stories.' In this volume, Joseph Pearce thoroughly debunks the error as he skillfully explains why there is nothing 'mere' about such stories. Rather, the Narnia books contain profound insights concerning the human condition. Pearce, however, goes beyond even that and illuminates the deeper riches and profound truths found therein: the highest truths, in fact, those concerning God. Join Pearce as he explores the 'grown-up' themes that are so important for a proper understanding of Lewis's magnificent creation, including the deep and profound Christian symbolism, extensive literary allusions, and the constant theme of temptation, sin, and redemption. The author of numerous literary works and an authority on the writings of Lewis, Chesterton, and Tolkien, Pearce is uniquely qualified to examine the deeper theological, philosophical, and historical dimensions of the Chronicles. With Pearce as your guide, 'return to Narnia' and come to understand in new and profound ways that place which has so marked the imaginative landscape of so many. Rediscover your love for Narnia, because 'wardrobes are for grown-ups too.'

Joseph Pearce (Author), Jim Denison (Narrator)

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C.S. Lewis and the Catholic Church

C. S. Lewis, the great British novelist and Christian apologist, has been credited by many - including the author - for aiding their journey to the Catholic Church. For this reason, it is often perplexing that Lewis himself never became Catholic. In C. S. Lewis and the Catholic Church, Joseph Pearce delves into Lewis's life, writings, and spiritual influences to shed light on the matter. Although C. S. Lewis's conversion to Christianity was greatly influenced by J. R. R. Tolkien, a Catholic, and although Lewis embraced many distinctively Catholic teachings, such as purgatory and the sacrament of Confession, he never formally entered the Church. Meticulously researched and beautifully written, this book digs deep to present the facts of Lewis's life, to illuminate key points in his writings, and to ask the question: Was C. S. Lewis on the path to Rome? This revised and updated edition - with a new introduction by Father Dwight Longenecker - is a fascinating historical, biographical, theological, and literary account of a man whose writings have led scores to the Catholic Church, despite never having become a Catholic himself.

Joseph Pearce (Author), Kevin F. Spalding (Narrator)

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Old Thunder: A Life of Hilaire Belloc

Hilaire Belloc is one of the most important writers of the 20th century. At turns reviled or revered, depending on the audience, he was a razor-sharp social commenter and a master of both poetry and prose who continues to captivate readers. In Old Thunder, Joseph Pearce examines Belloc's enduring impact on British intellectual life. Along the way, Pearce uncovers Belloc's relationships with Chesterton, Waugh, and Sassoon, among others. Pearce also illuminates another side of Belloc's personality by relaying his long courtship with Elodie Hogan, her brief stint in a convent, and his ultimate grief at her death. In this updated biography, with a new introduction by Dale Alhquist, Joseph Pearce uses previously unpublished letters and photographs to reveal in Belloc a romantic, complex, and solitary man, who is one of the true giants of the Catholic revival in the last century.

Joseph Pearce (Author), Kevin F. Spalding (Narrator)

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Frodo's Journey: Discover the Hidden Meaning of The Lord of the Rings

J. R. R. Tolkien's magnum opus, The Lord of the Rings, has been beloved for generations, selling millions of copies and selling millions more tickets through its award-winning film adaptations. The immense cultural impact of this epic is undeniable, but the deeper meaning of the story often goes unnoticed. Here, Joseph Pearce, author of Bilbo's Journey uncovers the rich - and distinctly Christian - meaning just beneath the surface of The Lord of the Rings. Make the journey with Frodo as he makes his perilous trek from the Shire to Mordor, while Pearce expertly reveals the deeper, spiritual significance. Did you know that the events of The Lord of the Rings are deeply intertwined with the Christian calendar? Or what the Ring, with its awesome and terrible power, represents? How do the figures of good and evil in the story reflect those forces in our own lives? Find the answers to these questions and much more in Frodo's Journey.

Joseph Pearce (Author), Kevin O'Brien (Narrator)

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Bilbo's Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning in The Hobbit

In Bilbo's Journey, go beyond the dragons, dwarves, and elves, and discover the surprisingly deep meaning of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel The Hobbit. Bilbo's quest to find and slay the dragon Smaug is a riveting tale of daring and heroism, but as renowned Tolkien scholar Joseph Pearce shows, it is not simply Bilbo's journey, it is our journey too. It is the Christian journey of self-sacrifice out of love for others, and abandonment to providence and grace. In Bilbo's Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of The Hobbit, you will relive the excitement of Tolkien's classic tale, while discovering the profound Christian meaning that makes The Hobbit a truly timeless adventure.

Joseph Pearce (Author), Kevin O'Brien (Narrator)

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The Hobbit: Discovering Grace and Providence in Bilbo's Adventures

In this course, Professor Joseph Pearce shows that Tolkien's own words about The Lord of the Rings being a 'fundamentally religious and Catholic work' also apply to The Hobbit. Professor Pearce guides you through various life lessons discovered through an in-depth reading of The Hobbit: Bilbo grows in maturity, wisdom, compassion, self-sacrifice, and heroism over the course of his journey to the Lonely Mountain. At the end of the novel, Gandalf proclaims that Bilbo is no longer the hobbit he was, and we know that he is changed for the better. The meaning of life is to grow in virtue and holiness by learning the lessons of our adventures so that we can return 'home' to God in Heaven.In The Hobbit, Bilbo is time and again protected and rewarded by 'luck' or 'good fortune.' The 'luck' present in The Hobbit is nothing other than the hand of providence and grace. In order to survive our life's journey like Bilbo, we need the supernatural assistance of grace and providence.Over and over again in the book, Tolkien presents characters who have fallen prey to dragon-sickness: pride and lust for gold or other material possessions. The Hobbit serves as a cautionary meditation on Matthew 6:21: 'Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.'Tolkien's profoundly Catholic worldview allows us to transcend a simply literal reading of the story and discover its theological richness. Bilbo Baggins and his adventures can serve as a mirror for our journey through life. Even though we won't find ourselves traveling through goblin-infested mountains, chased by spiders, or threatened by trolls, we can see that virtue is only attained through grace by slaying the monsters and demons which try to prevent our passage into eternal glory.

Joseph Pearce (Author), Joseph Pearce (Narrator)

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The Hidden Meaning of The Lord of the Rings: The Theological Vision of Tolkien's Fiction

Join Joseph Pearce as he explores the great theological depth of the most popular work of literature in the twentieth century, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Despite the absence of any direct mention of Christ or the Catholic Church, Tolkien described his work as 'fundamentally religious and Catholic.' He was able to infuse his fictional world with theological orthodoxy through his creation of myth and a world order. Endowing his protagonists with Christian virtues, he also incorporated themes of grace and mercy. Tolkien's deep faith and creative philosophy emerge from the narrative as an unmistakable Catholic presence. The very foundation of Tolkien's Middle-earth, from its creation by Iluvatar, the one God, to angel-like Melkor's sinful rebellion, to the menacing presence of Sauron, the dark lord, supports Professor Pearce's argument for the Catholicity of the work. You'll learn of the symbolic greatness of the One Ring, understand the significance of Tolkien's choice of dates, notice the rich similarities between the Elvish waybread, lembas, and the Catholic Eucharist, and see how Frodo, Aragorn, and Gandalf act as Christ-figures. Over the eight lectures in the course, Professor Pearce highlights connections, symbols, and insights which will expand your reading of The Lord of the Rings. It is said that art holds the mirror up to life. This is the reason that art is 'real' and fiction is 'true.' The Lord of the Rings has continued to endure as a masterpiece of literary genius because it puts human nature on display, revealing both man's greatest temptations, and his most glorious victories. Learn more and discover the wisdom of The Lord of the Rings with Professor Joseph Pearce.

Joseph Pearce (Author), Joseph Pearce (Narrator)

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