"Author / Evangelist"   

Travels from: Seattle, WA
Mark P. Shea is a popular Catholic writer, speaker and host of the famous blog, Catholic and Loving It! He is a double-jump convert: raised more or less as an agnostic pagan, became a non-denominational Evangelical in 1979, and entered the Catholic Church in 1987.

He is author of the following popular books:

He also shows up on TV now and then, and humbly jokes saying, to frighten small children and puppies and prove to the world that he has a Radio Face. Obligingly, he also turns up frequently on radio.

He also finds time to be Senior Content Editor at Catholic Exchange, a non-profit web portal for Catholics. In addition, Mark is an affiliate and devoted friend of the Catholic of Siena Institute and boosts their phenomenally important work wherever and whenever he can. Further, he is an awarding-winning columnist, contributing "Heaven and Earth" to the late lamented New Covenant and "The Culture of Life" to Catholic Parent, as well as numerous articles to many other magazines. He has been happily married since 1983 and he and his wife have frequent adventures with their four sons.

In addition, Mark is busy bopping around the country (and occasionally other countries) speaking on lots of fun and interesting topics which  are described below:

Seminars (Three sessions plus Q and A)

• Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did
  Reading the Bible in a way that is as old as Scripture itself, this workshop takes you on a "fly-over" of the biblical story from Genesis to Revelation and invites us to explore the literal, allegorical, moral and anagogical senses of Scripture. This workshop will help you see biblical revelation afresh-as Christians have done for 2000 years.
• By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition

An in-depth exploration of the Catholic case for Sacred Tradition: part examination of the Faith and part mystery story.
• The Da Vinci Deception
  
A fast-paced and hilarious survey of the blunders, lies and frauds of the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code.  You will not only learn the devices of the "man behind the curtain" as he attempts to attack the Christians faith and establish a creation myth for resurgent paganism, you will also learn the solid truth of the Faith and acquire the information necessary to defend it from this cunning and dishonest attack..
• Understanding the Book of Revelation

Drawing on his work with Dr. Scott Hahn in preparing the Catholic Scripture Study lessons on Revelation, Shea introduces the modern reader to what is easily the most difficult book in Scripture and shows how a Catholic can profit greatly from reading it within the Tradition and teaching of the Church.

Talks (plus Q and A)

• 101 Reasons not to be Catholic
  
There are a million reasons not to be a Catholic and only one reason to be one. You be the judge.
• Behold Your Mother: An Evangelical Discovers the Blessed Virgin Mary

Few things are more ooky for a nice Evangelical than Catholic devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here's the story of how this Evangelical came to see that Catholic Marian theology was thoroughly biblical, refreshingly sane, and deeply satisfying to the soul.
• Our Lady of Sorrows: Through Suffering to Glory
  
Our culture hates suffering and deals with it by denying us everything that can help us through suffering and give it meaning.  Discover how the Blessed Virgin Mary shows us a different way.
• By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition

The authority of Sacred Tradition is the big dividing line between Catholics and Protestants. This is the story of how an Evangelical, with the unlikely help of the Jesus Seminar, became convinced that Catholic Tradition was the other side of the coin of biblical revelation.
• Care and Feeding of the Lay Catholic Apostle

Lay Catholics are called to do the vast majority of the work in the New Evangelization. This talk gives some tips, not only to lay people about the cultural and theological glitches that confront the lay apostle in Millennial America, but to clergy and religious who are interested in helping to form their flocks into fellow workers in the Vineyard.
• Deconstructing the Jesus Seminar

Every couple of years the Jesus Seminar claims to have found the Real Jesus again. Who are these guys? Why are they saying so many stupid things on Larry King Live? This talk gives you the dish on everybody's favorite theology quacks and the sleight of hand they use to sell dumb media types the Brooklyn Bridge.
• Understanding the Book of Exodus

If you don't understand Exodus, you don't understand the Bible. Learn how this book provides us with many of the keys for grasping the meaning of Jesus Christ.
• Private Revelation

Explore the fascinating and strange world of Private Revelation, where God makes real to us the truth revealed in Jesus Christ and continues to astound the world with the amazing power of the Holy Spirit.
• Family as Icon of the Holy Trinity

The family is the closest image we have to the life of the Blessed Trinity. This talk makes clear why give some practical steps on how to help your family share in the life of God.
• Friendship Evangelism

Friendship is a form of love. So is Evangelism. This talk discusses how the two are related and lived out in the real world.
• Healing and the Communion of Saints

One very powerful form of prayer is the intercession of the saints. This talk discusses the theology and practice of this ancient form of prayer, particularly with respect to healing prayer.
• How I Got This Way: Confessions of a Double-Jump Convert

From suburban pagan to college Evangelical to adult Catholic. The story of my journey to the Catholic Church.
• How to Be a Campus Radical

Anybody can conform to tiresome PC twaddle. It takes real heroism and a lust for life to be a committed Catholic on campus. Here's how!
• Incarnational Evangelism

When people were dying, God did not send them a manual. He sent them Emmanuel. Here's how to bear witness to the Faith with more than just words.
• Indulgences: The World's Most Misunderstood Spiritual Gifts

Few things are more outrageous to most non-Catholics (and even many Catholics) than the thought that the Church still grants indulgences. Yet, when they are explained in ordinary language, it turns out they make a tremendous amount of sense! This talk shows how.
• Infallibility Doesn't Mean Never Having to Say You're Sorry

What's up with the whole infallibility thing? Does anybody believe that stuff anymore? As a matter of fact, yes. This talk explains what infallibility does and does not mean.
• Listening Evangelism

Evangelism begins in the ears, not the mouth. Learn how to listen to your friends so that you can speak with "the tongue of those who are taught, that [you] may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary (Is 50:4)
• Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did

A fascinating introduction to Scripture as the earliest Christians saw and read it.
• Making Connections: Being a Lay Witness in Postmodern Culture

The genius of Catholic theology is its ability to connect things wisely and well. Unexpectedly this makes bearing witness to Catholic faith a bit easier in ecologically-sensitive postmodern culture. This talk explains how.
• Radical Hope on Campus

As Pope John Paul II has frequently stressed, the call of youth is to heroism. This talk addresses the deep desire for heroism among today's youth and points to the ultimate embodiment of heroism: Jesus Christ.
• Salvation: Participation in the Divine Nature

Salvation is not just a "forgiven" stamp on the heavenly passport. It's is a doorway into intimate participation in the life of the Blessed Trinity Himself. This talk sketches the truly awesome nature of life in Christ and give practical steps for entering into that life.
• The Eucharist and the Four Senses of Scripture

A look at the way in which Word and Sacrament illumine each other in startling and unexpected ways!
• The Many-Sided Gospel

With a tip of the hat to G.K. Chesterton, this talk makes a case for the sanity of the Catholic Faith by listing dozens of reason for not being Catholic. Great fun!
• This is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence

I thought the Catholic Church had fallen for some sort of medieval hocus-pocus. I found out I was wrong. This talk tells how.
• Where Are You with God?

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the coolest gifts God ever gave us! Here is a talk that shows you how to reap immense benefits from this wonderful encounter with God.  To book Mark please click on the button below and he is very excited to hear from you.

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