St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) was born in Milan, Italy to Gilbert, Count of Arona and Margaret de Medici. His mother, Margaret de Medici, was sister to the Marquis of Melegnano and sister to John Angelo de Medici, who became Pope Pius IV. Charles entered the priesthood in his young twenties, became a Cardinal and served not only his uncle but other popes as well. He was made a "saint" in the Roman Catholic Church in 1610

Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) became the driving force of reform within the Catholic Church in the wake of the Council of Trent following the Protestant Reformation and the primary reason Trent's dramatic reforms were successful. His remarkable accomplishments in Milan as Archbishop became the model of reform for the rest of Western Europe. Change is never easy, but St. Charles' approach – deeply biblical, personal, practical and centered on Christ – offers a road map of reform, even for today. Now for the first time in over 400 years a significant selection of his works appears in the English language. Chapter 1 offers three orations that St Charles gave as Archbishop of Milan to the other Bishops. These texts were among those that Pope Paul VI sent out to the Bishops of the world in 1963 during Vatican II. Chapter 2 contains a selection of homilies on the Eucharist and is followed by a collection of texts that treat the reform of the clergy. The final chapter presents Borromeo's efforts at mobilizing the laity in their own reform. This translation is intended to be faithful to Borromeo's Latin or Italian texts rendered into contemporary English.

"Why did Pa have to die?" What Pa was involved in had been handed down from generation to generation. The Hill's and the Evans' had fought over land and squabbled over money for years - taking each other to court, putting up unseen boundaries on land to keep each other out. Mary Hill didn't understand everything about the feud. She knew that Uncle Jesse was shot and killed two years ago, but was really too young to grasp what had happened. So young, and so familiar with sorrow, Mary struggles to keep her family together in the midst of a bitter and violent feud. Just fifteen years old, she is thrust into the role of mother to her twelve siblings, fearful that, with the coming of each new day, a new tragedy will strike. By escaping Garrard County, Mary may be able to save her family from further bloodshed, but can she get them all out in time?

Incorporated in 1809, St. Charles has distinguished itself as a historically significant city with a small-town feel. Located on the banks of the Missouri River, St. Charles has been called the "Williamsburg of the West." Repurposed buildings draw thousands of visitors each year, yet the city's historical importance is more than streets and structures. St. Charles was the scene of notable events, including the 1804 launching of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's exploration of the Missouri River and land in the Louisiana Purchase. The first state capital was located here from 1821 until 1826. Pioneer Daniel Boone settled here and helped create Boone's Lick Trail. It became a major artery for settlers, leading to the development of the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. In 1956, the first section of the Interstate Highway System opened in St. Charles.