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).

Contents
Preface: The Whole Thing xi
     Part I: Power and Wisdom
1 The Way 3
2 Saul of Tarsus and the Witness of St. Stephen 8
3 The Conversion of St. Paul 12
4 St. Paul: The Source of Goodness 16
5 Paul, Apostle of Christ 21
6 The Life of Paul and the Love of Jesus 25
7 Who Is Jesus? The Son of the Father Drawn Near to Us 28
8 Who Is Jesus? I AM 36
9 Who Is Jesus? The Power and Wisdom of God 43
10 Who Is Jesus? The Gift of Beatitude 49
11 Advent: Prepare the Way of the Lord 53
12 Advent: Waiting for the Lord 59
13 Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going 63
14 Who We Are Created to Be 66
15 Male and Female God Created Them 73
16 Sin and Its Effects 80
17 The Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Strength of Virtue 87
18 Chastity of the Ears: Inclining Our Hearts 96
19 Chastity of the Tongue: Harnessing the Power of Words 104
20 Chastity of the Eyes: Risking the Joy of Encounter 110
21 The First and Perfect Disciple 115
22 The Mystery and Motherhood of the Church 122
23 Becoming Christ’s Body: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist 125
24 Healed as Members: Penance and Anointing of the Sick 132
25 At the Service of Communion: Marriage and Holy Orders 138
Epilogue The Keynote of Communion 143
     Part II: Reflection and Practice Introduction: The Conditions of Formation 147
1 The Way 159
2 Saul of Tarsus and the Witness of St. Stephen 164
3 The Conversion of St. Paul 168
4 St. Paul: The Source of Goodness 172
5 Paul, Apostle of Christ 177
6 The Life of Paul and the Love of Jesus 178
7 Who Is Jesus? The Son of the Father Drawn Near to Us 181
8 Who Is Jesus? I AM 187
9 Who Is Jesus? The Power and Wisdom of God 192
10 Who Is Jesus? The Gift of Beatitude 197
11 Advent: Prepare the Way of the Lord 201
12 Advent: Waiting for the Lord 205
13 Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going 210
14 Who We Are Created to Be 215
15 Male and Female God Created Them 219
16 Sin and Its Effects 225
17 The Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Strength of Virtue 231
18 Chastity of the Ears: Inclining Our Hearts 237
19 Chastity of the Tongue: Harnessing the Power of Words 242
20 Chastity of the Eyes: Risking the Joy of Encounter 248
21 The First and Perfect Disciple 254
22 The Mystery and Motherhood of the Church 262
23 Becoming Christ’s Body: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation 267
24 Healed as Members: Penance and Anointing of the Sick 273
25 At the Service of Communion: Marriage and Holy Orders 279
Index 284