Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
June 20, 2001
Sales brisk for archbishop's book
`Living the Catholic Faith' examines faith, how to live it in third millennium
Released in April, Archbishop Charles Chaput's first book, "Living the Catholic Faith: Rediscovering the Basics" is not a best seller — yet — but sales are brisk, locally and nationally, book sellers say.
Based on a popular lecture series the archbishop gave during the Jubilee Year, the book examines the Catholic faith and offers suggestions on how to live it in the third millennium. Chapter headings include "Becoming a Christian," "Living in Christ" and "Growing in Christ."
"It's very practical, very easy to apply," said Jocelyn Chavarria, book buyer for Gerken's Church Goods near downtown Denver. "Right now I'm out of the book again and almost everything I've ordered is sold."
At the downtown Barnes and Noble, book seller Dori Timmons said the book is doing "pretty well for a book that's not officially a best seller and for a religious title that isn't constantly featured."
And it's doing "great" on Amazon.com, said Kolleen O'Meara of Servant Publications, which published the book.
One local priest, Father Ken Leone, pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Littleton, ordered copies for his entire staff.
"We're all reading it," said Trudi O'Connor, director of administration services for the parish.
"It's light reading; it's not real heavy. A non-Catholic could pick up this book and be intrigued by the content."
Interviewed when the book was first released, Archbishop Chaput described it as "random thoughts of a 20th century preacher."
"I try to be very practical and concrete and apply what the faith of the Church would mean practically in our day-to-day life," he said.
The book also includes topics not addressed in the lecture series. A chapter on natural family planning is based on a pastoral letter on family life the archbishop penned. A chapter on the Eucharist is based on a lecture he gave during a liturgy congress.
Proceeds from "Living the Catholic Faith" go to charity. List price is $10.99. It is available at bookstores and online through Amazon.com.
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