What do you think?
Rate this book
Catholics in Exile: Biblical Wisdom for the Journey Home
From the day the Gospel dawned in the World, Christians have occupied a remarkable place—citizens of heaven, but heirs to the world; loving the world, yet persecuted by the world. A second-century author remarked that Christians are to the world what the soul is to the body. In this book, Catholics in Biblical Wisdom for the Journey Home , authors Scott Hahn and Brandon McGinley demonstrate that the same power that converted the world in the first century is still converting the world today. The message of this book is at once bracingly realistic and hopeful. Christians today are living in exile. But Christians have always lived as strangers in a strange land—and have nevertheless prevailed. It is a timeless message, but calibrated here precisely for our time.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published September 18, 2023
57 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Scott Hahn
415 books1,342 followersScott Hahn is a renowned Catholic theologian, apologist, speaker, and bestselling author whose work has had a profound impact on contemporary biblical theology and Catholic thought. A former Presbyterian minister, Hahn converted to Catholicism in 1986 after an intense personal and theological journey, which he details in his popular book Rome Sweet Home, co-written with his wife, Kimberly Hahn. Their story of conversion has inspired countless readers around the world and remains a landmark in modern Catholic apologetics.
Hahn holds the Father Michael Scanlan Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has taught since 1990. He is also the founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biblical literacy among the laity and biblical fluency among clergy. Through the Center, Hahn leads a wide range of initiatives, including publications, pilgrimages, Bible studies, and the scholarly journal Letter and Spirit.
Educated at Grove City College (B.A.), Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Marquette University (Ph.D. in Systematic Theology), Hahn brings a deep academic foundation to his work. His dissertation, Kinship by Covenant, was later published by Yale University Press and received praise for its theological insight and scholarly rigor.
Throughout his career, Hahn has emphasized the covenant as the key to understanding salvation history, showing how the biblical narrative reveals a divine plan that unites all of humanity into God's family. His works explore themes such as the Eucharist, the role of Mary, the sacraments, and the authority of the Church, often drawing on the writings of the early Church Fathers to bridge the ancient faith with modern understanding.
He is the author or editor of over forty books, including The Lamb’s Supper, Hail, Holy Queen, First Comes Love, Letter and Spirit, Swear to God, Reasons to Believe, The Creed, The Fourth Cup, and Holy Is His Name. Many of his books have become staples in Catholic households, study groups, and seminaries.
In addition to his writing, Hahn is a highly sought-after speaker, having delivered thousands of lectures across the United States and abroad. He appears regularly on EWTN and has collaborated with Lighthouse Catholic Media to bring his teachings to an even broader audience.
Scott Hahn lives in Ohio with his wife Kimberly. They have six children and numerous grandchildren. Together, the Hahns continue to lead efforts in evangelization and Catholic education, embodying a lifelong commitment to deepening faith and understanding through Scripture and tradition.
Hahn holds the Father Michael Scanlan Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has taught since 1990. He is also the founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biblical literacy among the laity and biblical fluency among clergy. Through the Center, Hahn leads a wide range of initiatives, including publications, pilgrimages, Bible studies, and the scholarly journal Letter and Spirit.
Educated at Grove City College (B.A.), Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Marquette University (Ph.D. in Systematic Theology), Hahn brings a deep academic foundation to his work. His dissertation, Kinship by Covenant, was later published by Yale University Press and received praise for its theological insight and scholarly rigor.
Throughout his career, Hahn has emphasized the covenant as the key to understanding salvation history, showing how the biblical narrative reveals a divine plan that unites all of humanity into God's family. His works explore themes such as the Eucharist, the role of Mary, the sacraments, and the authority of the Church, often drawing on the writings of the early Church Fathers to bridge the ancient faith with modern understanding.
He is the author or editor of over forty books, including The Lamb’s Supper, Hail, Holy Queen, First Comes Love, Letter and Spirit, Swear to God, Reasons to Believe, The Creed, The Fourth Cup, and Holy Is His Name. Many of his books have become staples in Catholic households, study groups, and seminaries.
In addition to his writing, Hahn is a highly sought-after speaker, having delivered thousands of lectures across the United States and abroad. He appears regularly on EWTN and has collaborated with Lighthouse Catholic Media to bring his teachings to an even broader audience.
Scott Hahn lives in Ohio with his wife Kimberly. They have six children and numerous grandchildren. Together, the Hahns continue to lead efforts in evangelization and Catholic education, embodying a lifelong commitment to deepening faith and understanding through Scripture and tradition.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 19, 2025
I quite enjoyed Scott Hahn's insights on living as a Catholic in our contemporary world. The second half of the book became a bit repetitive. Overall I looked forward to sitting down again to pick up the book. Hahn offers great encouragement to Christians living in an Apostolic age. The first half of the book painted a vivid image of our mission and privilege as Christians today. It is hopeful and it is exciting. The Jeremiah option is possible and maybe even necessary. Altogether, we seek the same end that Christians of the Middle Ages did, but with a different road to victory and glory. I would suggest this as a nice read for any Catholic today – remember how great a call we have received.
July 4, 2024
Excellent book with beautiful prose. The author did a great job of explaining why people struggle mentally while trying to live a Godly life. Lots of great advice and very well-researched. This quote summed up a lot of it: Ora et labora. Pray and work.
February 22, 2025
A beautiful reminder that we are not made for this world. Hahn offers parallels between the exile of the Israelites to Catholics in modern society. The last section focusing on Matthew 11:28-30 was particularly comforting for moving forward on the road ahead.
January 14, 2024
Beautiful reminder that this home is not our own so we shouldn’t live like it.
August 2, 2024
Scott Hahn's the best. I loved the frequent references to Scripture and learning about parallels between other "exiled" communities (i.e. the Israelites/Early Christians) and the Church today. Though a little repetitive at times, overall this was insightful, encouraging, and relatively easy to follow. :-)
January 23, 2024
The book uninterested me at first. Through one chapter, I thought my girlfriend had gifted me the first bad Scott Hahn book that I’ve read. But I was wrong.
My initial disappointment stemmed from the authors constantly reverting back to scriptures and writings from saints.
The constant back and forth seemed unnatural at first, but they ease up on the quotes and the book starts building a constant flow. Although they continue reverting to these writings, the placement of each quote is particular and thoughtful.
In the end, the book taught me Holy perspectives on living a life of Christ in the secular world and how to view work. The publication even gave me a new outlook on Mass and the sacraments.
The last couple pages of the chapter become quote heavy, again. However, it did make for a solid conclusion.
We are all pilgrims in exile.
My initial disappointment stemmed from the authors constantly reverting back to scriptures and writings from saints.
The constant back and forth seemed unnatural at first, but they ease up on the quotes and the book starts building a constant flow. Although they continue reverting to these writings, the placement of each quote is particular and thoughtful.
In the end, the book taught me Holy perspectives on living a life of Christ in the secular world and how to view work. The publication even gave me a new outlook on Mass and the sacraments.
The last couple pages of the chapter become quote heavy, again. However, it did make for a solid conclusion.
We are all pilgrims in exile.
August 19, 2024
What a beautiful book. I couldn’t help but feel at certain times reading this, that the words flowing were truly inspired. This is a book that will help you make sense of a senseless world. And I actually feel that the thoughts shared can be of great benefit to those who live with depression and anxiety in a world where they often feel out of place, awkward, or even unwelcome. I would even invite non Catholics or even non Christians who are exploring the spiritual aspect of their lives to read this.
April 29, 2024
We are not home, but on a journey to our real home--heaven. Like the Jews wandering in the desert on the way to the promised land, we journey. Like the Jews exiled in Babylon for 70 years, we wait to journey home.
The book is a brief supplement to the Lenten series from St. Paul Center featuring Scott Hahn and another theologian. It is not essential to the series.
I have numerous sticky notes in my copy, there are so many excellent nuggets in this short book.
The book is a brief supplement to the Lenten series from St. Paul Center featuring Scott Hahn and another theologian. It is not essential to the series.
I have numerous sticky notes in my copy, there are so many excellent nuggets in this short book.
July 8, 2024
The title describes it perfectly! It is encouragement that gets you thinking!
Read
September 5, 2025-Each ch easy to follow. logically builds
- Loved the part about Abraham, Sarah and the pagan king who reprimands Abraham for lying about Sarah being his sister. The Pagan had a deeper understanding of Natural law- God's law. how that still happens today. I often think about this grace when I encounter beauty and truth in secular spheres- novels, poems, art.
- Hahn talks words and different types of virtues.
-He did seem to brush aside the "Liturgy wars" too quickly. Not wanting to open a can of worms I suppose.
July 22, 2024
Anything from Hahn is bound to be good. There is plenty here to like and he certainly provides encouragement to us navigating this crazy culture. Maybe it's just me, though, but I didn't find a lot of practical advice on how to actively engage the culture in the areas that are most distressing to Catholics trying to live the faith today.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews