Borromeo Books

Borromeo Books is dedicated to the publication of books for the “Via Media” according to the saying of Jesus Christ: “Every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” Matthew 13:51-52

A dedicatory preface explains the philosophy and motives behind the book: the compelling need the author sees to help Catholics of all ages today who must swim upstream in order to live a Catholic Christian life. This is followed by an introduction to explain the book’s methodology. The following eight chapters are arranged in pairs, one offering clear-sighted analysis of present realities, followed by a chapter offering its spiritual antidote. These pairings are “Darkness” and “Light,” “Absence of Truth” and “Presence of Truth,” “Freedom for Delusion” and “Freedom for Excellence,” “Vice” and “Virtue.” Read Fr. Kevin Cusick's full review of Worthy of Promises, Wanderer columnist.

Borromeo Books has been established under the patronage of St. Charles Borromeo, who brought the decrees of the Council of Trent to their first realization in his diocese of Milan by convoking a diocesan synod to implement the reforms of the Council. He is known as the principal author of the Catechism of the Council of Trent and the reform of the Liturgical Books, in as much as it was his task to oversee the work of the many learned writers, translators and editors who contributed to these works.

Saint Charles survived an assassination attempt by those who resisted the reform of his diocese, and ministered to his people in time of famine and plague by feeding the poor and establishing hospitals. He died at Milan in 1584 at the age of 46; canonized in 1610.

About The Author . . . James H. Toner earned his doctoral degree in 1976 at the University of Notre Dame. He has taught ethics, leadership, and politics at universities in Indiana, Vermont, and Alabama; written four previous books and hundreds of articles, reviews, and monographs; and served as an ethics consultant for religious, educational, military, athletic, and media groups. He frequently speaks at schools and colleges, civic functions, and churches on contemporary theological and moral education issues. He has taught ethics to senior officers at the Air War College (Maxwell AFB, AL) from 1992 to the present, planning to retire in 2008. From 2002-2004, he served as the Ambassador Holland H. Coors Distinguished Visiting Chair of Character Development at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was ordained to the permanent diaconate in May 2004 at the Cadet Catholic Chapel, U.S. Air Force Academy, by Bishop Michael J. Sheridan of Colorado Springs, CO. Deacon Toner and his wife Rebecca make their home in Montgomery, Alabama. They have three grown sons and, at present six grand-children. In summer 2008, Deacon Toner will join the faculty of Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, CT.

This book was written by Dr. Hippler at the request of then Bishop of LaCrosse, Raymond Burke, to help fill the lack of authentic Church teaching in most Catholic high school textbooks. Dr. Hippler serves as the Director of the Office of Justice and Peace for the Diocese of La Crosse. He received his Ph. D. in philosophy from Boston College in 1993.
Citizens of the Heavenly City is a valuable resource for Catholic students as well as other Catholics who need a clear explanation of just what the Church’s social teaching consists of and in what sense it obliges Catholics.
In his foreword, Archbishop of St. Louis, Raymond Burke declares that this book “is directed to helping our youth to understand and to observe the pastoral priority of witnessing to Christ in their ordinary Christian living. It is a text which will also be fruitfully studied by adults who desire to deepen their own understanding of what it means to live in Christ.”

About the author . . .

Arthur Hippler serves as the Director of the Office of Justice and Peace for the Diocese of La Cross a position he has held since January 2000. He also serves as a Visiting Professor for the Institute of Pastoral Studies of Ave Maria University. Dr. Hippler received his Ph.D. in philosophy from Boston College in 1993, and has taught both at the high school and college level. He is the author of Citizens of the Heavenly City: A Catechism of Catholic Social Teaching (published by Borromeo Books) and writes a bi-weekly column for the diocesan newspaper. Dr. Hippler is married to Theresa, a native of the Philippines,.and together they have three children.

Rev. John Miller, C.S.C., editor, Social Justice Review, declares: “Citizens of the Heavenly City is excellent and truly remarkable. It goes all the way back to the Ten Commandments and shows how they must necessarily influence the Church’s social teaching.”

Rev. Edward Krause, C.S.C., Ph.D., Asst. Professor of Social Ethics, Gannon University says: “This textbook introduction to Catholic Social Teaching is outstanding. It has a clear, competent focus on the Natural Law, the 10 Commandments, our common moral tradition, and the “truth that binds and limits all of us.” It includes an excellent introduction to Biblical tradition, the early Church Fathers, Augustine, Aquinas, Conciliar teaching and appropriate papal documents.Its focus on the key Cardinal Virtues essential to moral growth and perfection is very well done.”

Fr. Robert A. Sirico, President, Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty says: “A balanced text directed at young people, unpacking the Church’s rich, yet often hijacked social teaching, has long been needed. We can be grateful to Dr. Hippler for providing such a well-rounded work.”

This book is essential reading for any Catholic student whether in high school or college. As more and more Catholic parents are beginning to understand, authentic Catholic textbooks are a key component of a true Catholic education.