Since 1917, when three Portuguese shepherd children received apparitions of the Virgin Mary, Fátima has been the destination of milions of pilgrims. The events came at a time of great turmoil in the history of mankind, though the message of Fátima is eternal: prayer and penance form the path to salvation. This work tells the Fátima story with a moving account of the lives of the seers.

Since it was first performed in 1634, the passion play at Oberammergau has been an unforgettable experience for many millions of people. Concise, compact, colorful, and informative, this latest in the Pilgrim’s Guide series will enable the visitor to make the most of their stay and evoke many lasting memories. Illustrated in full color, there is insight into the traditions and staging of the play and a brief synopsis as it unfolds on stage. Practical details include how to see the play, a plan of the village, and a guide to the surrounding area. This is the fifth edition with enlarged content. Ray Goodburn has organized and led groups there on numerous occasions and is doing so again in 2010.

"The future of our civilization, our liberties, our very existence may depend upon the acceptance of her commands." --William Thomas Walsh This was the conclusion reached by William Thomas Walsh, distinguished author, historian, and teacher, after he had thorougly investigated the miracle of Fatima. Here is the whole remarkable story of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three simple children at an obscure Portuguese village in 1917. Her prophecies of World War II and the rise of communism, her plea to humanity to do penance, her promise that world peace and the conversion of Russia would take place if her messages were heeded -- these are some of the dramatic events in this fascinating account of a modern miracle. Our Lady of Fatima is a magnificent re-creation of an event whose effects are still reverberating throughout the world -- the appearance in person of the Mother of God with a "peace plan from heaven."

The true story of a fourteenth-century traveler, whose journeys through the Islamic world and beyond were extraordinary for his time. In 1325, when Ibn Battuta was just twenty-one, he bid farewell to his parents in Tangier, Morocco, and embarked on a pilgrimage to Mecca. It was thirty years before he returned home, having seen much of the world. In this book he recalls his amazing journey and the fascinating people, cultures and places he encountered. After his pilgrimage to Mecca, Ibn Battuta was filled with a desire to see more of the world. He traveled extensively, throughout Islamic lands and beyond — from the Middle East to Africa to Europe to Asia. Travelers were uncommon in those days, and when Ibn Battuta arrived in a new city he would introduce himself to the governor or religious leaders, and they in turn would provide him with gifts, a place to stay and study, and sometimes they even gave him money to continue his journey. Some of the highlights of his travels included seeing the stunning Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem; witnessing the hundreds of women who gathered to pray at the mosque in Shiraz; visiting the public baths in Baghdad; and meeting the Mogul emperor of India, who made him a judge and eventually sent him to China as an ambassador. Ibn Battuta kept a diary of his travels, and even though he lost it many times and had to recall and rewrite what he had seen, he kept a remarkable record of his years away. His adventurous spirit, keen mind and meticulous observations, as retold here by Fatima Sharafeddine, give us a remarkable picture of what it was like to be a traveler nearly seven hundred years ago. The book is beautifully illustrated by Intelaq Mohammed Ali, with maps and travel routes forming the backdrop for many richly painted scenes. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.3 Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.3 Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.

The third edition of this guidebook to the biblical sites in both Israel and Jordan has been revised and rewritten, with new pictures, illustrations, maps, and plans. It contains practical information on both countries.