- Mike Aquilina
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Mike Aquilina is a popular author working in the area of Church history, especially patristics, the study of the early Church Fathers.[1]
He is the author or editor of more than thirty books, including The Fathers of the Church (2006); The Mass of the Early Christians (2007); The Resilient Church (2007); Living the Mysteries (2003); and What Catholics Believe (1999). His books have been translated into many languages, from Croatian and Portuguese to German and Braille. The Grail Code has appeared in ten languages since its publication in 2006.
Critics have praised Aquilina's work for making the Fathers accessible to non-academic readers: "Most scholars … study the paper trail — homilies, letters, teaching manuals, works of theological disputation … Aquilina loves the words, too. But he also finds the sermon in the stuff, the theology expressed in the little things that the first Christians left behind — fading murals on catacomb walls, pottery and dishware, pieces of coinage, ancient hymns and Mass prayers, common household items … The point is that for Aquilina, the little things matter — because they tell us big things about what Catholics believe and how they look at the world."[2]
Aquilina is executive vice-president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, founded by Scott Hahn. He blogs on the topic of early Christianity at FathersOfTheChurch.com.[3]
In recent years, he has hosted eight television series on the Eternal Word Television Network. He is a frequent guest commentator on Catholic radio, especially KVSS and EWTN. His journalistic work has appeared in many periodicals.
Aquilina is past editor of New Covenant magazine (1996–2002) and The Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper (1993–1996).[4]
He was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, in 1963. He received his elementary and secondary education in Catholic schools in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He is a 1985 graduate of Pennsylvania State University, and he received that university's Oswald Award for Achievement in Journalism and Mass Media. He and his wife Terri have been married since 1985. They live in the suburbs of Pittsburgh with their children, who are the subject of his book Love in the Little Things (2007).
Books
- (2011) Understanding the Mass: 100 Questions, 100 Answers, ISBN 978-0867169492
- (2011) Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth (co-author with Dion DiMucci), ISBN 978-0867169997
- (2011) The Mass: The Glory, the Mystery, the Tradition (co-author with Cardinal Donald Wuerl), ISBN 978-0307718808
- (2010) The Doubter's Novena: Nine Steps to Trust with the Apostle Thomas (co-author with Christopher Bailey), ISBN 978-1592765966
- (2010) A Year With The Church Fathers: Patristic Wisdom for Daily Living, ISBN 978-1935302353
- (2010) Take Five: Meditations with John Henry Newman (co-author with Fr. Juan Velez), ISBN 978-1592768004
- (2010) Roots of the Faith: From the Church Fathers to You, ISBN 978-0867169386
- (2010) Sweet Gridlock: Selected Love Poems 1985-2010, ISBN 0-61532-163-1
- (2009) Why Me? When Bad Things Happen, ISBN 1-59276-708-7
- (2009) Sharing Christ's Priesthood: A Bible Study for Catholics, ISBN 1-59276-678-1
- (2009) Take Five: Meditations with Pope Benedict XVI (co-author with Fr. Kris Stubna), ISBN 1-59276-554-8
- (2009) Fire of God's Love: 120 Reflections on the Eucharist, ISBN 0-86716-923-0
- (2009) Praying the Psalms with the Early Christians (co-author with Christopher Bailey), ISBN 1-59325-155-6
- (2009) Angels of God: The Bible, the Church and the Heavenly Hosts, ISBN 0-86716-898-6
- (2008) Companion Guide to Pope Benedict's 'The Fathers' , ISBN 1-59276-542-4
- (2008) Signs and Mysteries: Revealing Ancient Christian Symbols, ISBN 1-59276-450-9
- (2008) Take Five: On the Job Meditations With St. Ignatius (co-author with Fr. Kris Stubna), ISBN 1-59276-403-7
- (2007) Love in the Little Things: Tales of Family Life, ISBN 0-86716-814-5
- (2007) The Resilient Church: The Glory, the Shame, & the Hope for Tomorrow, ISBN 1-59325-104-1
- (2001, 2007) The Mass of the Early Christians, ISBN 1-59276-320-0
- (2006) The Grail Code: Quest for the Real Presence (co-author with Christopher Bailey), ISBN 0-8294-2159-9
- (1999, 2006) The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers, ISBN 1-59276-245-X
- (2006) The Great Life: Essays on Doctrine and Holiness in Honor of Father Ronald Lawler, O.F.M. Cap. (co-editor with Kenneth Ogorek), ISBN 1-931018-32-4
- (1995, 2006) Talking to Youth About Sexuality: A Parents' Guide (co-author with Fr. Kris Stubna), ISBN 1-59276-310-3
- (2003) Living the Mysteries: A Guide for Unfinished Christians (co-author with Scott Hahn), ISBN 1-931709-12-2
- (2002) Praying in the Presence of Our Lord: With St. Thomas Aquinas, ISBN 0-87973-958-4
- (2001) A Pocket Catechism for Kids (co-author with Fr. Kris Stubna), ISBN 0-87973-722-0
- (2000) The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions (co-author with Regis J. Flaherty), ISBN 0-87973-415-9
- (2000) The World's First Christmas: Jubilee 2000 (co-author with Regis J. Flaherty), ISBN 0-87973-314-4
- (1999) What Catholics Believe: A Pocket Catechism (co-author with Fr. Kris Stubna), ISBN 0-87973-574-0
- (1999) The Way of the Fathers: Praying With the Early Christians, ISBN 0-87973-334-9
- (1997) Weapons of the Spirit: Selected Writings of Father John Hugo (co-editor with David Scott), ISBN 0-87973-608-9
References
- ^ Mark Sullivan, "Spiritual Son of the Fathers," National Catholic Register, Oct. 28, 2008, http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/spiritual_son_of_the_fathers.
- ^ David Scott, "Review of 'A Year with the Church Fathers: Patristic Wisdom for Daily Living,'" Catholic News Agency, Dec. 3, 2010, http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/column.php?n=1417.
- ^ Angelo Porciuncula, "A Fresh Look at the Church Fathers," EarlyChristians.org (University of Navarre, Spain), October 2009, http://www.earlychristians.org/docs_interest/Interview_MAquilina.html.
- ^ Karl Keating, "Mike Aquilina Explains Schmoozing," This Rock, October 1996, http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1996/9610int.asp.
External links
Categories:- 1963 births
- Living people
- American Roman Catholic religious writers
- Writers from Pennsylvania
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