The Faith of Our Fathers : A Plain Exposition and Vindication of the Church Founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ

by James Cardinal Gibbons

Book Description:  Originally written and published by James Cardinal Gibbons, the eminent American churchman of the late 19th century, The Faith of Our Fathers is and always has been one of the most popular and successful books to explain the basic tenets of the Catholic Faith and why we hold them. It delves into the historical background of virtually everything people find hard to understand about Catholicism, such as:

• priestly celibacy,
• sacred images,
• the Church and the Bible,
• the primacy of Peter,
• Communion under one kind,
• invocation of the Saints,
• and a host of other objections from non-Catholics . . .

First published in 1876, when there was much anti-Catholic sentiment in the United States, the book sold 1.4 million copies in forty years and has been reprinted many times since. While the content was originally intended to counter the false notions of a Protestant audience, it is suitable for any apologetic purposes and even for brushing up on Catholic history oneself. The Faith of Our Fathers will confirm one’s faith in the truth of the Catholic Church like none other and will arm you to answer the questions so often posed by skeptics and unbelievers.

James Cardinal Gibbons was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1834, but he grew up in Ireland, only moving back to the United States with his mother in 1853 after his father’s death. In the United States, he became a priest, ordained in 1861 in Baltimore. In 1868, he became the first Apostolic Vicar of North Carolina at age 34. He participated in the First Vatican Council, voting for the definition of Papal Infallibility. He also became a prominent figure in the United States, preaching even to Protestants and advising presidents. Eventually, he became the Archbishop of Baltimore and a Cardinal of the Church, renowned throughout America by both Catholics and Protestants.