The voyage of Vasco da Gama to India (1497-1499) was one of the seminal events of the Renaissance period. An anonymous Journal kept by a member of his fleet has long served as the main documentary source for accounts of this voyage. Strangely, there has only been one English translation of this important document, published more than a century ago. This book provides a new, updated English translation of the Journal with extensive editorial notes and appendices which encompass and reflect changes in the historiography over the last century on Vasco da Gama and his first voyage. In doing so, it examines initial Portuguese impressions when confronted by the cultures of Africa and India during this period.

Many catholics today--even those who attend Mass regularly--are confused about the Church's teaching on moral issues like abortion, premartial sex, and homosexuality. In an age where even some Catholic thelogians fail to uphold Church teaching in areas like premarial sex and the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, " The Catechism issue of the Catholic Church" is a beacon on stormy seas. The critical issues is this: How can Catholics in the pew understand and apply this massive new catechism that is meant to guide them into the twenty--first century? Pope Jhon Paul II clearly intends it to be used by all the members of the Church and not simply as a resource for theologians and catechists. But how can lay Catholics begin the task of absorbing the message of this important work? In the faith, Father Hardon offers a popular guide, written in question--and--answer format, that provides a road map for those who want to fully embrace the teachings of the catholic Church. In concise and clear language Father John Hardon explains the"what," the "why" and the "how" of the Cathecism for the popular reader: what it's about, why it's important and how to use it. Interested lay Catholics, pastors, parents and catechists will find that Father Hardon's The Faith is a sure guide to help them understand and apply their faith--today and into the next century.

We Believe in the Holy Spirit: Global Perspectives on Lutheran Identities Today the concept of "identity" is contested against the backdrop of myriad forms of social, political, economic and ecological exclusion. How is identity expressed in a global Lutheran tradition whose members share common biblical, liturgical, confessional, theological and spiritual foundations, yet represent diverse cultures and traditions? At the end of 2019, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) hosted a global consultation on contemporary Lutheran identities, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The result is the papers presented in this publication. The authors – church leaders, young Christians, theologians, lay and ordained practitioners in local communities – explore the Spirit's work to revive and equip the faithful for vocation through the ministry of the church today and into the future of the Lutheran communion. [Wir glauben an den Heiligen Geist: Lutherische Identitäten aus weltweiter Perspektive] Vor dem Hintergrund der vielfältigen Formen von gesellschaftlicher, politischer, wirtschaftlicher und ökologischer Ausgrenzung ist das Konzept einer "Identität" in unserer aktuellen Zeit höchst umstritten. Wie wird Identität in einer globalen lutherischen Glaubenstradition zum Ausdruck gebracht, deren Anhängerinnen und Anhänger zwar gemeinsame biblische, gottesdienstliche, konfessionelle, theologische und spirituelle Grundfeste haben, aber gleichzeitig aus ganz unterschiedlichen Kulturen und Traditionen kommen? Ende 2019 hat der Lutherische Weltbund (LWB)in Addis Abeba, Äthiopien, eine globale Konsultation zu lutherischen Identitäten von heute veranstaltet. Das Ergebnis dieser Konsultation sind die Abhandlungen in dieser Publikation. Die Autorenschaft – Kirchenleitende, junge Erwachsene, Theologie-Fachleute, ordinierte und nicht-ordinierten Fachleute aus Ortsgemeinden – untersucht das Wirken des Heiligen Geistes, der die Gläubigen für ihre Berufung durch den Dienst der Kirche von heute und die Zukunft der lutherischen Kirchengemeinschaft neu belebt und zurüstet.

A critical reassessment of world-shaping Portuguese voyages of discovery that places these quests in historical context. The lasting impact of historic Portuguese voyages of discovery is unquestionable. The slave trade, the diaspora of the Sephardic Jews, and the intercontinental spread of plants and animals all make clear these voyages’ long-term global significance. Navigations reexamines these Portuguese quests by placing them in their medieval and Renaissance settings. It shows how these voyages grew out of a crusading ethos, as well as long-distance trade with Asia and Africa and developments in map-making and ship design. Malyn Newitt also narrates these voyages of discovery in the framework of Portuguese politics, describing the role of the Portuguese ruling dynasty—including its female members—in the flowering of the Portuguese Renaissance, the creation of the Renaissance state with its distinctive ideology, and in the cultural changes that took place within a wider European context.

ESPIRITUALIDADE Encontrar o equilíbrio nestes tempos perigosos e confusos pode ser uma dura batalha. Muitos tentam viver uma vida normal e tranquila, mas, a cada passo dado na intenção de encontrar normalidade, paz e conforto, acontecem também eventos e atividades inexplicáveis e muito confusos em suas vidas e seus lares. Muitos não são capazes de explicar a origem exata desse desconforto, dessas batalhas ou as razões por trás delas. Buscam respostas, mas elas nunca estão disponíveis. Muitas pessoas descrevem essas lutas como “lidar com demônios interiores”. Ocorrem situações de desregramento, tormento, vício e até tentativas de suicídio. Gostaria de apresentar a você o que o Espírito Santo gentilmente me apresentou há muitos anos, através da Bíblia Sagrada. Gostaria ainda de eliminar a sombra do “elefante na sala”, que os crentes optam por ignorar, na esperança de que ele saia sozinho. Não tenha medo de ter dúvidas e de questionar a realidade. Espero responder a algumas das perguntas sobre espíritos imundos que continuam a fazer estragos nas vidas de pessoas que têm fé em Deus. Esses indesejados espíritos imundos não precisam ficar. Com nossa fé no Senhor Jesus, podemos recuperar o controle e expulsá-los. Deus é nossa libertação e nossa salvação.