The Pivotal Players
The Pivotal Players
12 Heroes Who Shaped the Church and Changed the World
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In two thousand years, the Catholic Church has yielded countless saints, artists, mystics, and scholars. But among them are figures that are truly pivotal—men and women who not only shaped the life of the Church but changed the course of civilization.
In this vibrant book based on the multi-part film series CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players, Bishop Robert Barron draws readers into the life and work of twelve Pivotal Players—from great saints such as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas to literary masters such as G.K. Chesterton and Flannery O’Connor—who personally demonstrated the dynamics of the Christian faith in their distinct time and place. These stories capture both the great variety of personalities and vocations in the Catholic Church and the harmonies between them, all oriented to its ultimate purpose: to be salt and light for all the nations.
Elegantly designed with full-color images and photography, The Pivotal Players is a unique journey into the truth and beauty of Catholicism as exemplified in the concrete lives of some of its most fascinating figures.
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What People are Saying
“Bishop Robert Barron is arguably the greatest Catholic communicator of our times. In The Pivotal Players, we meet the men and women whose lives animate Bishop Barron’s words—and who can motivate each of us to live the adventure of our faith in new and unexpected ways.”
—Arthur C. Brooks, PhD, Professor of Public Leadership, Harvard University, and bestselling author of Love Your Enemies
“This is a beautiful book. Peace and strength waft up from its pages as you read and turn them and gaze at the vivid, vibrant pictures. It is the fresh air of Catholic culture that you are breathing in, not as an abstract idea but through the lives of the enlightened men and women who—differently but always fresh in every age—embody the exquisite truths of Jesus’ Gospel.”
—Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B., Abbot of Mount Angel Abbey
“In this beautifully illustrated and captivating book, Bishop Barron draws our attention to twelve heroic figures, from St. Augustine to Flannery O'Connor. The Pivotal Players is a powerful and welcome reminder that the truths of the faith are not limited to the abstractions of theology and philosophy, but have also been made manifest in the particular lives of our greatest theologians, artists, mystics, and saints.”
—Jennifer Frey, associate professor of philosophy, University of South Carolina
“The pivotal players in this book captivate the imagination, stir the heart, and inspire a life filled with love of God and love of neighbor. Bishop Barron’s winsome text is accompanied by lavish art that brings to life twelve fascinating figures from diverse cultures and times. If I ran the world, this book of heroes would be required reading in every parish, in every classroom, and in every home. Get a copy for yourself and share a copy with a ‘none’ whom you love.”
—Christopher Kaczor, professor of philosophy and author of The Seven Big Myths About the Catholic Church