Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine, printed originally as two volumes by M.H. Gill & Son, Dublin, was a classic high school text in several countries for over forty years, and sold well over 450,000 copies. Its outstanding clarity, persuasiveness and comprehensiveness are totally unique. No popular textbook in English published since its last appearance in 1962 has repeated Sheehan's successful presentation of the Faith.
This edition retains as much as possible of Sheehan's original whilst including some essential revision of the text. The principle has been to retain the original text as far as possible and to add, change or delete only where necessary. It is fully in conformity with the definitive edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church published in 1997.
For years, this book gave to many young Catholics the support and knowledge to sustain them in the Faith for a lifetime. They knew the Catholic religion, and they knew the reasons for it. Both teachers and students who used it have testified to its lasting impression upon them. We hope that its re-issue will help to restore to today's disinherited younger generation their rightful heritage.
The structure and sequence of the argument of Sheehan's Apologetics have a unique clarity and logical force. The exposition of the deposit of faith in Catholic Doctrine is clear and thorough. Objections are faced openly and honestly. Dr Sheehan's whole text breathes a loving confidence in the truth of the Faith founded on Him to Whom all honour and glory is due: Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday, today and forever.
Archbishop Michael Sheehan was born in Ireland in 1870. He was Co-adjutor Archbishop of Sydney, Australia from 1922 to 1937 and a brilliant theologian and linguist. He wrote several books of religious instruction as well as others in the fields of theology, linguistics and botany. He died in his native Ireland in 1945.
Father Peter Joseph is Vice-rector, Dean of Studies and lecturer in Dogmatic Theology at Vianney College, the diocesan seminary of Wagga Wagga, Australia.
Read more about Archbishop Michael Sheehan, plus the recent launch of this superb book in the New South Wales Parliament building in the presence of His Grace Archbishop George Pell, the spiritual leader of Australia's Catholics!
Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine, by Archbishop Michael Sheehan.
664 pages, paperback. ISBN 1 901157 14 8.
We regret that this book is now out of print in the UK.