When you read ‘Catholicism Everywhere,’ you will enter body and soul into a more joyful and appreciative Catholic life...

[Michie]

It’s a good title, but it’s not mine. Instead, Catholicism Everywhere is a delightful new book from Sophia Institute Press, a coffee-table sort of book which highlights the Catholic origins of and contributions to just about every aspect of our lives from the calendar and health care, through food and fashion and gardening, and on to the Catholic roots of common expressions, including the “Hail Mary” pass in football. Packed with pictures, highlights, and entertaining descriptions of the Catholic impact on an immense variety of things we all take for granted, Catholicism Everywhere was created by Dr. Helen Hoffner, a long-time Catholic educator who is a professor at Holy Family University in Philadelphia.

You may well know of the Catholic origins of hospitals, but did you know that April Fools Day originated from the persistence of certain “April Fools” who insisted on continuing to celebrate the new year on April 1st even after Pope Gregory had promulgated the Gregorian Calendar that we still use today? And you may have seen scapulars and rosaries hanging from rear-view mirrors in automobiles, but did you know that the Hudson Company embedded a St. Christopher’s medal in each of its Wasp automobiles? Did you know that authentic Trappist ale is now protected by a trademark to protect the brand against imitators attempting to cash in on its popularity?

Continued below.

Catholicism Everywhere:

You may not be aware that Pope Gregory I originated the expression “God bless you” in response to sneezing in the course of a sixth-century plague.

www.catholicculture.org

 

[DJWhalen]

It is educational! I love it!