Turn to the Lord

Leonard J. DeLorenzo, PhD, directs strategic planning for the McGrath Institute for Church Life, where he also directs the Sullivan Family Saints Initiative, with a concurrent teaching appointment in the department of theology. Leonard is the author of four books: A God Who Questions (OSV, 2019), What Matters Most: Empowering Young Catholics for Life’s Big Decisions (Ave Maria, 2018), Work of Love: A Theological Reconstruction of the Communion of Saints (UND Press, 2017), and Witness: Learning to Tell the Stories of Grace that Illumine Our Lives (Ave Maria, 2016). He is also the co-editor of two other books: Dante, Mercy, and the Beauty of the Human Person (Cascade, 2018) and I Call You Friends: John Cavadini and the Vision for Catholic Leadership in Higher Education (Pickwick, 2019).

"The Catholic faith, and the person of Jesus Christ who reveals it, is ever new and has the power to fascinate the mind as it sets a heart on fire with excitement about the promise of a life greater than we can imagine. DeLorenzo brings to life the striking beauty of the story of Jesus Christ and offers a method that empowers catechists to share this life-changing truth with young people. This book, firmly based in the principles of the new Directory of Catechesis, has the power to transform an ordinary confirmation program into a life-changing experience, because it helps the catechist become a witness to the transforming power of the Gospel."The Most Reverend Andrew H. Cozzens, STD, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis

• ContentsPreface: The Whole Thing xiPart I: Power and Wisdom1 The Way 32 Saul of Tarsus and the Witness of St. Stephen 83 The Conversion of St. Paul 124 St. Paul: The Source of Goodness 165 Paul, Apostle of Christ 216 The Life of Paul and the Love of Jesus 257 Who Is Jesus? The Son of the Father Drawn Near to Us 288 Who Is Jesus? I AM 369 Who Is Jesus? The Power and Wisdom of God 4310 Who Is Jesus? The Gift of Beatitude 4911 Advent: Prepare the Way of the Lord 5312 Advent: Waiting for the Lord 5913 Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going 6314 Who We Are Created to Be 6615 Male and Female God Created Them 7316 Sin and Its Effects 8017 The Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Strength of Virtue 8718 Chastity of the Ears: Inclining Our Hearts 9619 Chastity of the Tongue: Harnessing the Power of Words 10420 Chastity of the Eyes: Risking the Joy of Encounter 11021 The First and Perfect Disciple 11522 The Mystery and Motherhood of the Church 12223 Becoming Christ’s Body: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist 12524 Healed as Members: Penance and Anointing of the Sick 13225 At the Service of Communion: Marriage and Holy Orders 138Epilogue The Keynote of Communion 143Part II: Reflection and Practice Introduction: The Conditions of Formation 1471 The Way 1592 Saul of Tarsus and the Witness of St. Stephen 1643 The Conversion of St. Paul 1684 St. Paul: The Source of Goodness 1725 Paul, Apostle of Christ 1776 The Life of Paul and the Love of Jesus 1787 Who Is Jesus? The Son of the Father Drawn Near to Us 1818 Who Is Jesus? I AM 1879 Who Is Jesus? The Power and Wisdom of God 19210 Who Is Jesus? The Gift of Beatitude 19711 Advent: Prepare the Way of the Lord 20112 Advent: Waiting for the Lord 20513 Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going 21014 Who We Are Created to Be 21515 Male and Female God Created Them 21916 Sin and Its Effects 22517 The Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Strength of Virtue 23118 Chastity of the Ears: Inclining Our Hearts 23719 Chastity of the Tongue: Harnessing the Power of Words 24220 Chastity of the Eyes: Risking the Joy of Encounter 24821 The First and Perfect Disciple 25422 The Mystery and Motherhood of the Church 26223 Becoming Christ’s Body: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation 26724 Healed as Members: Penance and Anointing of the Sick 27325 At the Service of Communion: Marriage and Holy Orders 279Index 284