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The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage Hardcover – September 11, 2013
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Editorial Reviews
Review
It may sound cliché, but Fr. Mitch Pacwa’s latest work, The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage, really is the next best thing to being there. That’s because Fr. Mitch is not only a Scripture scholar, brilliant author, well-known talk-show host, and popular speaker, he has also visited the land of our Lord countless times and continues to serve as an expert pilgrimage leader. For those who have been there, this book will help you vividly recall the sights and sounds of those sacred places. And for those of you who have yet to take the pilgrimage plunge, Fr. Mitch will no doubt inspire you to finally make the journey of a lifetime.—Teresa Tomeo, bestselling Catholic author and syndicated talk-show host
Most of us won’t be traveling to the numerous destinations eloquently discussed in The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage, but from the comfort of our homes, we can sit back, enjoy the ride, and benefit from the author’s wisdom. Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., shares his vast pilgrimage experiences along with his expertise on Church teaching to bring us this masterpiece. I highly recommend this stunning book.—Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, EWTN TV host of Catholic Mom’s Café and author of The Miraculous Medal: Stories, Prayers, and Devotions
"Thinking about making a trip to the Holy Land? Or thinking you'll never be able to afford such a thing? Either way, you'll enjoy this 'armchair pilgrimage.' ... The book is lavishly illustrated with photos and classic artwork." — Catholic Digest
About the Author
Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., was ordained a priest in 1976. A well-known biblical scholar, he has lectured at hundreds of conferences and churches around the world and has appeared on and hosted international radio and television programs. He is best known for his appearances on EWTN, where he currently hosts two programs, Threshold of Hope and EWTN Live. Fr. Pacwa also serves as the weekly host of EWTN Radio’s Open Line program. Fluent in twelve languages, Fr. Pacwa has a unique understanding of the peoples and cultures of the Middle East. His extensive travels to the Holy Land led to the publication of the Holy Land Prayer Book in 2004, and he recently released a video, Holy Land Rosary. He lives in Irondale, Alabama.
More About the Author
FATHER MITCH PACWA, S.J. is a respected Scripture Scholar, Author, and popular EWTN Television and Radio Host, as well as the founder and President of IGNATIUS PRODUCTIONS www.fathermitchpacwa.org - a teaching and media apostolate. He received his B.A. in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Detroit, summa cum laude. He was ordained a Jesuit Catholic priest in 1976 with the Society of Jesus and then continued his studies. He received his Master of Divinity and S.T.B. from the Jesuit School of Theology of Loyola University, magna cum laude. At Vanderbilt University, he received his Master of Arts, Ph.D. in Old Testament. Father Pacwa has taught at the high school, university, and seminary levels. He has lectured at hundreds of conferences and churches around the world and is best known for his appearances on EWTN - The Global Catholic Television Network www.ewtn.com. Father Pacwa is fluent in twelve languages and has a unique understanding of the peoples and cultures of the Middle East and is respected for his knowledge on Islam and the Qur'an. Father Pacwa serves as Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and has led thousands of pilgrims to holy sites around the world. He is also has the privilege of being bi-ritual, which means he can also celebrate the Maronite Mass of the Eastern Catholic Church. Father Pacwa is also the author of many books and can be found here on Amazon Author's Page.
Join Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J. on FACEBOOK! www.Facebook.com/FrMitchPacwaSJ
Learn more about Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J.'s Teaching Apostolate, IGNATIUS PRODUCTIONS, at: www.FatherMitchPacwa.org
WATCH/LISTEN TO Fr. Pacwa on EWTN - Global Catholic Television Network:
Threshold of Hope Tuesdays at 10:00pmET
OPEN LINE Radio Show Wednesdays 3:00pmET till 5:00pmET
EWTN Live Wednesdays 8:00pmET
Holy Rosary from the Holy Land Daily at 7:30amET
Find EWTN at www.EWTN.com/channelfinder
Join Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J. on FACEBOOK! www.Facebook.com/FrMitchPacwaSJ
Learn more about Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J.'s Teaching Apostolate, IGNATIUS PRODUCTIONS, at: www.FatherMitchPacwa.org
WATCH/LISTEN TO Fr. Pacwa on EWTN - Global Catholic Television Network:
Threshold of Hope Tuesdays at 10:00pmET
OPEN LINE Radio Show Wednesdays 3:00pmET till 5:00pmET
EWTN Live Wednesdays 8:00pmET
Holy Rosary from the Holy Land Daily at 7:30amET
Find EWTN at www.EWTN.com/channelfinder
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By
Liz Lantigua
on November 22, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Comment
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The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage by Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J. is a great keepsake and a meaningful gift for someone special this Christmas! It’s an art, history and prayer book all in one! The Holy Land is in the style of a coffee table book, filled with pages of lovely photographs, along with historical facts and accompanied by beautiful prayers.
I now have an image to attach to the sites I have read in the Bible and have a real appreciation of what it all looks like. For a moment, history comes alive again!
I enjoyed the beautiful photos of the book but also gained so much knowledge about my faith. I learned the Sea of Galilee has various names in the Bible: also referred as the Sea of Kinnereth in the Book of Numbers, Genesareth by Luke, and the Sea of Tiberias as John like to call it. As I read this book, I understand how the Church of the Nativity is the oldest church in the Holy Land, because the Persians destroyed all the other churches except this one because it contained a mosaic of the Magi, who were wearing Persian-style clothes. I was amazed that the Basilica of the Visitation contained so many mosaics and frescoes: including one depicting the wedding feast of Cana and another of John Duns Scotus, a theologian, who defended the theology of the Immaculate Conception in the Middle Ages.
With every page, I visited all the sites from the Annunciation, Birth, Public Ministry and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ! I’ve traveled, seen and learned at my pace while reading The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage and it is good to know that if I ever plan a real trip I can take it with the author as well. Fr. Pacwa makes pilgrimages there all the time!
I now have an image to attach to the sites I have read in the Bible and have a real appreciation of what it all looks like. For a moment, history comes alive again!
I enjoyed the beautiful photos of the book but also gained so much knowledge about my faith. I learned the Sea of Galilee has various names in the Bible: also referred as the Sea of Kinnereth in the Book of Numbers, Genesareth by Luke, and the Sea of Tiberias as John like to call it. As I read this book, I understand how the Church of the Nativity is the oldest church in the Holy Land, because the Persians destroyed all the other churches except this one because it contained a mosaic of the Magi, who were wearing Persian-style clothes. I was amazed that the Basilica of the Visitation contained so many mosaics and frescoes: including one depicting the wedding feast of Cana and another of John Duns Scotus, a theologian, who defended the theology of the Immaculate Conception in the Middle Ages.
With every page, I visited all the sites from the Annunciation, Birth, Public Ministry and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ! I’ve traveled, seen and learned at my pace while reading The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage and it is good to know that if I ever plan a real trip I can take it with the author as well. Fr. Pacwa makes pilgrimages there all the time!
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By
Stuart Dunn
TOP 500 REVIEWER on December 20, 2013
Format: Hardcover
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The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage is a gorgeous coffee table book, which highlights significant Biblical places (e.g., Gethsemane and Cana) and churches of importance (e.g., Ascension Chapel). The book is divided into the following eight geographical sections:
1. Bethlehem and Ein Karem
2. Jerusalem Old City
3. Mount of Olives
4. East of Jerusalem
5. Mount Zion
6. North of Jerusalem
7. Western Galilee
8. The Sea of Galilee
When I first opened this book, I went through it and only looked at the pictures. I must confess that if this book included nothing but those pictures, it would be worth the price for the pictures alone. After my surface investigation of this book, I decided to get serious and take the time to actually read the accompanying text. His descriptions and attention to detail make you feel like you are on an actual pilgrimage with Fr. Pacwa. It also makes you wish for even more pictures in the book or perhaps for an accompanying DVD tour. Each chapter then ends with a prayer, which can be used for guided meditation. So far I have only had time to quietly reflect on a couple of these places. I plan to re-visit the book many times in the future though, especially when the places tie in with major feast days in the Church.
My favorite place to read about was a toss-up between The Holy Sepulcher Church and the Church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Holy Sepulcher Church is venerated as the site where Jesus was both crucified and buried. Underneath the altar is an actual rock from Calvary. How awesome this place must be in which to worship. There is a yearly miracle that occurs here, which Fr. Pacwa failed to mention, and that is the Miracle of Holy Fire.Read more ›
1. Bethlehem and Ein Karem
2. Jerusalem Old City
3. Mount of Olives
4. East of Jerusalem
5. Mount Zion
6. North of Jerusalem
7. Western Galilee
8. The Sea of Galilee
When I first opened this book, I went through it and only looked at the pictures. I must confess that if this book included nothing but those pictures, it would be worth the price for the pictures alone. After my surface investigation of this book, I decided to get serious and take the time to actually read the accompanying text. His descriptions and attention to detail make you feel like you are on an actual pilgrimage with Fr. Pacwa. It also makes you wish for even more pictures in the book or perhaps for an accompanying DVD tour. Each chapter then ends with a prayer, which can be used for guided meditation. So far I have only had time to quietly reflect on a couple of these places. I plan to re-visit the book many times in the future though, especially when the places tie in with major feast days in the Church.
My favorite place to read about was a toss-up between The Holy Sepulcher Church and the Church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Holy Sepulcher Church is venerated as the site where Jesus was both crucified and buried. Underneath the altar is an actual rock from Calvary. How awesome this place must be in which to worship. There is a yearly miracle that occurs here, which Fr. Pacwa failed to mention, and that is the Miracle of Holy Fire.Read more ›
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By
Carol Blank
on November 21, 2013
Format: Hardcover
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In the 1980s and '90s, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., a student of the Holy Land, joined three pilgrimages to the ancient sites. Within a few years, the Jesuit was adding information to the guide’s presentation and eventually was permitted to lead his own groups. By 2012 he had led 58 trips to Israel, 10 to both Jordan and Egypt, 5 to both Greece and Turkey, and 2 to Lebanon. With this armchair pilgrimage, Pacwa hopes that readers, both those who have traveled to the Holy Land and those who have not, find an opportunity “to pray more and come closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
The Holy Land, an Armchair Pilgrimage contains biblical texts associated with key shrines and sites, photos and art, mediations, and prayers. By structuring the book geographically Pacwa provides readers with an experience similar to that of an actual pilgrimage. Some of the featured sites, such as The Church of the Nativity, lend especially to that outcome. This chapter opens with a photo of the church and brief historical background. The next pages take us inside the church with photos and a description of the visitor’s experience from “adult visitors must bend down to avoid bumping their heads on the wide stone lintel” to “public expression of prayer is not permitted as you wait in the long, disorganized line.” The same feel of “being there” continues through The Cave of the Nativity. This page features photos of pilgrims descending into the cave and the silver star marking the spot where Christ was born. The chapter closes with history, scripture, and photos related to the chapels of St. Joseph and The Holy Innocents and St. Jerome.
In addition to the rich text and full color artwork, Pacwa provides lists of illustrations, scripture citations, and a subject matter index. Through and through, The Holy Land, An Armchair Pilgrimage is a treasure.
The Holy Land, an Armchair Pilgrimage contains biblical texts associated with key shrines and sites, photos and art, mediations, and prayers. By structuring the book geographically Pacwa provides readers with an experience similar to that of an actual pilgrimage. Some of the featured sites, such as The Church of the Nativity, lend especially to that outcome. This chapter opens with a photo of the church and brief historical background. The next pages take us inside the church with photos and a description of the visitor’s experience from “adult visitors must bend down to avoid bumping their heads on the wide stone lintel” to “public expression of prayer is not permitted as you wait in the long, disorganized line.” The same feel of “being there” continues through The Cave of the Nativity. This page features photos of pilgrims descending into the cave and the silver star marking the spot where Christ was born. The chapter closes with history, scripture, and photos related to the chapels of St. Joseph and The Holy Innocents and St. Jerome.
In addition to the rich text and full color artwork, Pacwa provides lists of illustrations, scripture citations, and a subject matter index. Through and through, The Holy Land, An Armchair Pilgrimage is a treasure.
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