Since 2014, Mater Media has published 17 inspirational Catholic books.
Fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, poetry.
CASTLECOTTAGE
When an aging and aching Josephine Byrne reluctantly “welcomes” her grown grand niece and her 7-year-old daughter, Maeve, to live in her Castlecottage, a clash of culture erupts between the wee one and the wise old faith-healer.
In an adventure packed with Irish wit and dialect, the wondrous themes of redemptive suffering and perseverance shine through in a cast of old sod characters. Warm, poignant, and entertaining, Castlecottage delivers eternal truths in a humor-filled tale that touches the heart.
Order your printed copy or eBook today!
Excited Castlecottage Reader Reviews:
"Just finished CastleCottage. What a story....profoundly poignant. I'm speechless with feelings and a zillion thoughts swirling around in my Irish mind heart and soul."
- Connie, Saint Louis
"This book Castlecottage was the best book I have read all year! This inspiring story is set in a small village in Ireland and it’s people all have unique personalities but all mesh peaceably in this quaint setting. The main character is indeed a character, she’s feisty, funny and holds her Catholic Faith as a priceless gift, but a gift she shares with all. The author makes the reader feel they have known the villagers all their lives and have walked down the streets, into the pub, to the Friary and up to the Holy Place on stop of the green hills with them many times. There is an uproar in the village when American relatives visit but then the fun really starts. This book made me laugh out loud and cry big tears, I didn't want put it down and I didn't want it to end."
- Camp, USA Amazon Review
Zip Rzeppa’s soul-baring autobiography,
FOR A GREATER PURPOSE
It’s the story of how an ordinary, middle-class kid from Detroit with no major contacts or impressive wealth or genius wound up in some amazing places.
Like going to school with Howard Stern. Lounging poolside with Johnny Bench. Negotiating with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the living room of his California home. Hanging with the greatest female athlete of the 20th century. Creating national radio shows for Dick Vitale and Dan Dierdorf. Helping Joe Buck get his start in TV. Traveling the world with Bill O’Reilly.
But it’s also the story of overcoming addictions early in life, making millions of dollars then going broke, finding and losing love—more than once. Of hearing a call to a higher purpose, and launching into service—helping people with extreme mental and physical disabilities, reaching out to the poor and the suffering, acquiring homes for foster children, going door-to-door in the inner city to evangelize the Catholic Faith.
It’s about finding one’s true calling, and responding in love and grace.
Order Zip's hilarious and grace-filled journey from our store here.
PASSION FLOWERS IN BLOOM
Passion Flowers in Bloom enlivens a love for our Lord through charming illustrations and touching poetry. Cultivating an eye for seeing God in the little things, Hailey Hall invites us into humble contemplation.
Adults will find this collection a valuable tool for meditation. This little volume also can assist teachers and parents in helping children appreciate the gift of a religious life rooted in the Passion of Christ.
Like dainty blossoms, Hailey’s simple imagery expresses profound truth and beauty that calls us to deeper faith.
Order your printed copy or eBook today!
THE KAI:
THE ADVENTURES OF A MYSTIC MARTIAL ARTS MAINTENANCE MAN
Unleashing the skills of a refreshing raconteur and masterful wordsmith, Jamey Toner captivates and entertains in this memorable memoir.
Peppering his prose with references to G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis, Augustine and Therese, Toner brings the reader deep inside his never-ending challenges—living with an undiagnosed condition, mastering the martial arts, traversing the terrain of half the states in the USA, waking up under bushes and in abandoned cars, returning to the Kai time and again in his search to find true and lasting love.
Order your printed copy or eBook today!
A YOUNG CATHOLIC'S GUIDE TO SPIRITUAL WARFARE
In A Young Catholic's Guide to Spiritual Warfare, Father William Peckman brings to light the tactics used by the forces of evil to ruin souls. Lies, sin, and temptation are constantly being deployed.
With the enemy identified, there is no need to cower on the sidelines. God provides powerful weapons to help us overcome. Sadly, these weapons have largely been hidden from today’s youth.
But not anymore. A Young Catholic’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare is your playbook to eternal victory.
• Go on offense with a team of warriors
• Use the ancient weapons to counter the enemy
• Become an unstoppable force against the devil
• Employ God’s grace to win an unperishable crown of glory
Are you ready to fight?
Order a paperback copy here.
Or a PDF eBook version here.
The unique and powerful Catholic novel for young teens,
MY ROCK & SALVATION
My Rock & Salvation delivers a powerful message about the Theology of the Body built around the adventures of a young, budding rock star. The characters include the young musician, a superstar NFL wide receiver, two beautiful, young Catholic women, the boys in the band, a dynamic former college football player-turned-priest, a slimy talent agent, and a mysterious, angelic figure.
The novel’s theme revolves around the relationships of protagonists Manny and Sheila, and their friends. It incorporates a murder, an attempted murder, a near-death experience, an unwanted pregnancy, a recurring drug addiction, and scintillating debates about abortion and chastity and true love to hold young readers’ attention.
Working primarily in partnership with the Steubenville Conferences in many U.S. cities, Mater Media has distributed 20,000 copies of My Rock & Salvation to young teens.
Order this thrilling faith-filled adventure from our store here.
COFFEE TALK
When newly retired professor, Dr. Grayson Rogers, encounters a stranger treading on his space in his favorite campus coffee shop, he has no idea an unforgettable friendship is about to develop—one that will drastically alter his life forever.
Lucy the Barista delivers the brews while pursuing higher goals in a story full of twists and turns, wit and charm.
Taking inspiration from unexpected, emotional battles in their own lives, authors Bryan Taylor and Michael Kroth use the teachings of the 15th century classic, The Imitation of Christ, to craft a spiritual masterpiece that will help heal your past, support your present, and transform your future.
Grab your favorite mug and cuddle up with a cast of lovable characters, unforgettable friendships, and life-changing conversions.
Order your copy here.
I.C.U.
The Imitation of Christ Unit offers an intensive course in growing in holiness. Significant spiritual growth may be acquired through faith and grace and the application of the materials recommended in the ICU. Based on the principles in Thomas à Kempis’ ageless classic, The Imitation of Christ, the ICU purports to be the contents of Professor Matthew’s binder as he developed the curriculum for a theology class in the acclaimed Catholic novel, Coffee Talk.
Purchase an interactive pdf version here.
THE DEAL
This unique, powerful, emotion-filled Catholic novel, written by longtime national radio host and EWTN documentary producer, Chuck Neff, immediately drew rave reviews on Amazon.com and other forums.
Within 90 days of its release, The Deal influenced thousands of couples struggling in their marriages, celebrating their marriages, or preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony.
The lead character, Charlie, is a high-flying lawyer who wants out of his marriage to Nora. Charlie’s unexpected two-day reunion with Father Billy, formerly known as Wild Bill Donahue, becomes a clash of friends that ricochets from a small church, to a majestic bluff, to a mysterious cabin.
Charlie is faced with a gut-wrenching dilemma: an internal collision of anger, frustration, passion, and faith.
He discovers that to achieve the deal of a lifetime, it will cost him everything. His very soul is on the line.
Order Chuck Neff’s highly-acclaimed Catholic novel, The Deal
SEVEN DAYS TO A MARRIAGE WORTH CELEBRATING
Seven Days to a Marriage Worth Celebrating is the companion workbook to The Deal. It is designed to help husbands and wives enrich their marriage through a unique 7 step journey that deepens their relationship with one another and with God. Married couples are energized by this simple and powerful method that can be experienced multiple times throughout their lifetime together.
Individual workbooks can be ordered here.
Get the Celebrate Marriage Experience Parish Package here.
GOD WOOS: FAVORITE POEMS OF A MONK PRIEST: 1970–2020
God Woos is a collection of the favorite poems written over a 50-year period by Benedictine monk-priest, Father Ralph Wright.
Born in Nottinghamshire, England in 1938 and educated at Oxford, Father Ralph has been writing and teaching in the United States since 1970. In God Woos, he offers selections from some of his acclaimed poetry books, including Ripples of Stillness, Life is Simpler Toward Evening, All the Stars are Snowflakes, and Seamless, as well as some thought-provoking recent works.
This poet of great distinction wondrously describes the beauty of mother and child, the majesty of clouds, the miracle of snowflakes, the wonders of love, peace, rain, leaves, and of course, the glory of God.
WISDOM AND INSPIRATION FROM THE SAINTS IN A SENTENCE
A brand-new daily devotional for every day of the year. Each date features a memorable and quotable sentence uttered by the saints. 395 pages, all full-color, featuring classic artwork from numerous centuries. Quoted saints include: St. John Bosco, St. Jose Maria Escriva, St. Bernadette, St. John Vianney, St. Philip Neri, St. Monica, St. Joan of Arc, St. Elizabeth, St. Thomas More, and so many more!
This beautiful book serves as an ideal gift for any occasion, and may also be ordered in bulk.
Order at romancatholicgear.com
SURRENDER TO JOY
The revealing memoir, packed with heartfelt spiritual truth, of longtime corporate attorney, Allan Barton.
Over 30 years ago, Allan was crushed by the weight of severe personal loss. In response to his cry for help, he received an outpouring of grace that changed the course of his life.
He learned that surrendering self unleashes the freedom to embrace the fullness of life. This new understanding of reality led him to experience the greatest joy he had ever known.
With vivid imagery, Surrender to Joy illustrates Allan’s journey with Jesus as he discovers:
-
The Paradox of True Freedom
-
The Surprise Hidden in an Awakened Faith
-
The Joy of a Self-Giving Life
Energize your quest to find joy in all its fullness by ordering Allan’s book
LET FREEDOM RING
A powerful 40-day tactical training for freedom from the devil.
Co-Authored by former attorney turned priest and social media influencer, Father James Altman, the leader of U.S. Grace Force and creator of the Combat Rosary, Father Richard Heilman, and agnostic turned priest and pastor, Father William Peckman, Let Freedom Ring describes forty ways the devil influences our lives.
To combat the forces of evil, Let Freedom Ring provides a 40-day training program, perfect for Lent but applicable over any 40-day period, to strengthen today’s Catholics spiritually, mentally, and physically.
Providing ways to cultivate virtues that counteract demonic manifestations, the authors highlight many spiritual weapons that have fallen by the wayside in modern culture.
To order this what-to-do-and-how-to-do-it training, Let Freedom Ring,
GOD STRONG
How To Become Spiritually Strong
Our smallest book ever, but packed with power, this mini book (2 x 3.25in, 36 pages) is filled with sound advice about winning in spiritual warfare. Written by the founder of U.S Grace Force, Fr. Richard Heilman, this booklet provides instruction on how to Go Weapons H.O.T. – developing and employing Humility, Obedience, and Trust.
Includes instructions on how to make a good confession and pray the rosary. This book is frequently included in Fr. Heilman’s Combat Rosary Kit. First published in April of 2021. 40,000 copies are in print.
WIDY
is the emotional, true story of a boy named Widy (Weedy) born in Haiti with hydrocephalus.
Written by WIDY’S adopting mother, Jody Hauf, it relates how a child who could never walk, or even stand, who knew no more than 40 words, could influence the lives of thousands of people, by being exactly who the Lord made him to be.
Hauf skillfully describes the pain and suffering, the setbacks and victories, the love and the joy of her fight to provide for WIDY’S needs and desires through unconditional, self-sacrificing love. WIDY evokes many laughs and tears, and deeply touches even the most stone-hearted.
Order Widy's touching tale from our store here.
A NEW LENS ON LIFE—
JESUS WAS MY OPHTHALMOLOGIST
.jpg)
The autobiography of noted ophthalmologist, Dr. Harry R. Brady, who established the Brady Institute for the Homeless at St. Louis University, which has served more than 11,000 medically-disenfranchised patients.
Harry’s account of growing up poor in Pittsburgh, with rats in the basement and an alcoholic father, is peppered with hilarious incidents of childhood mischief and adolescent shenanigans.
He recounts the accident that cost his three college classmates their lives, and led him into atheism, and the subsequent pain of graduating from Georgetown without his friends.
His journey through medical school, his M.A.S.H.-like service as a surgeon during the Vietnam war, the surgeries he performed to save the sight of the poorest of the poor in Haiti, his romance, marriage, and children all precede his spiritual enlightenment, in his eighties, as he reconciles science and religion, and returns to his Catholic Faith after 64 years away.
Order Harry's exciting and hilarious book from our store here.