Essentials

Welcome to the Catholic Church!

Now that you're officially a Catholic, you are probably wondering, "Now what?"

Shaun McAfee has been where you are. As a convert, he worried that he might not be a "good Catholic." He wanted to take part in the sacraments, really prepare for Mass, learn how to defend and even share his faith, and understand certain Catholic devotions. Yet he wasn't sure how to do any of this, or where to look for answers once RCIA was finished.

If you feel the same way, I'm Catholic. Now What? Is the perfect resource for you!

In ten meaty sections, you'll learn about:

• How to get started as a new Catholic
• Customs, courtesies, rules, and traditions
• Prayer, devotion, and spirituality
• Getting the most from the sacraments
• Catholic life day-to-day
• Morality for Catholics
• Current issues in the Church and the world
• Knowing and defending the Faith
• Evangelization and how to do it
• Mary, the Church, and the saints

Dip into the sections as you have questions, or dive deeper as you are moved to learn about a particular topic or theme. Use it as a reference when people ask you questions about your new faith.

This resource is also ideal for people considering converting, and even for "cradle Catholics" who are interested in learning more about our Catholic Faith.

Why I Am Catholic (and You Should Be Too)

With atheism on the rise and millions tossing off religion, why would anyone consider the Catholic Church? Brandon Vogt, a bestselling author and the content director for Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, shares his passionate search for truth, a journey that culminated in the realization that Catholicism was right about a lot of things, maybe even everything. His persuasive case for the faith reveals a vision of Catholicism that has answers our world desperately needs and reminds those already in the Church what they love about it.

A 2016 study by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 25 percent of adults (39 percent of young adults) describe themselves as unaffiliated with any religion. Millions of these so-called "nones" have fled organized religion and many more have rejected God altogether.

Vogt was one of those nones. When he converted to Catholicism in college, he knew how confusing that decision was to many of his friends and family. But he also knew that the evidence he discovered pointed to one conclusion: Catholicism is true. To his delight, he discovered it was also exceedingly good and beautiful.

Why I Am Catholic traces Vogt's spiritual journey, making a refreshing, twenty-first century case for the faith and answering questions being asked by agnostics, nones, and atheists, the audience for his popular website, StrangeNotions.com, where Catholics and atheists dialogue. With references to Catholic thinkers such as G. K. Chesterton, Jacques Maritain, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and Bishop Robert Barron, Vogt draws together lines of evidence to help seekers discover why they should be Catholic as an alternative.

Why I Am Catholic serves as a compelling reproposal of the Church for former Catholics, a persuasive argument for truth and beauty to those who have become jaded and disenchanted with religion, and at the same time offers practicing Catholics a much-needed dose of confidence and clarity to affirm their faith against an increasingly skeptical culture.

Author: Brandon Vogt

ISBN: 9781594717673

5.5" x 8.5" Hardcover

192 pages

On-sale date: October 6, 2017