Visiting Scholar in Catholic Thought: Br. Guy J. Consolmagno, S.J., PhD - 2012

In God’s Mechanics, Brother Guy tells the stories of those who identify with the scientific mindset—so-called “techies”—while practicing religion. A full fledged techie himself, he relates some classic philosophical reflections, his interviews with dozens of fellow techies, and his own personal take on his Catholic beliefs to provide, like a set of “worked out sample problems,” the hard data on the challenges and joys of embracing a life of faith as a techie. And he also gives a roadmap of the traps that can befall an unwary techie believer.

With lively prose and wry humor, Brother Guy shows how he not only believes in God but gives religion an honored place alongside science in his life. This book offers an engaging look at how—and why—scientists and those with technological leanings can hold profound, “unprovable” religious beliefs while working in highly empirical fields. Through his own experience and interviews with other scientists and engineers who profess faith, Brother Guy explores how religious beliefs and practices make sense to those who are deeply rooted in the world of technology.

Link to Electronic Book


Ever since Galileo was forced to recant his proofs of a sun-centered solar system, the Roman Catholic Church has been considered hostile toward science. Not quite true, argues Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno in his moving and intellectually playful memoir of a life lived in the active interplay of science and religion.Blending memoir, science, history, and theology, Consolmagno takes us on a grand adventure. We revisit the infamous "Galileo affair" and see that it didn't unfold in quite the way we thought. We get a rare glimpse into the world of working scientists and see how scientific discoveries are proposed and advanced. We learn the inside story of the "Mars meteorite": how can we be sure it's really from Mars, and why can't scientists agree on whether or not it contains evidence of life?Brother Astronomer memorably sets forth one scientist's conviction that the universe may be worth study only if it is the work of a Creator God.

In honor of the International Year of Astronomy and the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first astronomical observations, the Vatican and its century-old Observatory present The Heavens Proclaim, an incredible demonstration of the beauty of the universe and the Catholic Church's role in its exploration.

In The Way to the Dwelling of Light, Guy J. Consolmagno, S. J., shows us how our religious experience can illuminate our understanding of physics of light and how, in that light, we can see what modern physics shows us in God's creation.

A superb guidebook described in Bookwatch as 'the home astronomer's "bible"', Turn Left at Orion provides all the information beginning amateur astronomers need to observe the Moon, the planets and a whole host of celestial objects. Large format diagrams show these objects exactly as they appear in a small telescope and for each object there is information on the current state of our astronomical knowledge. Revised and updated, this new edition contains a chapter with ten new spreads describing spectacular deep sky objects visible from the southern hemisphere, and tips on observing the upcoming transits of Venus. It also discusses Dobsonian telescopes, with hints on using personal computers and the Internet as aids for planning an observing session. Also new to this edition are redrawn "Guidepost" figures at the beginning of each season chapter that allow readers to visualize a three-dimensional view of the sky's dome; redesigned seasonal object layouts that provide more space for the naked-eye charts; a new spread on double stars near Bo_tes has been added to Spring, replacing the "Shrinking Double" spread; and a unique "When and Where to Look" table has been added to the last page, among other new features. Unlike many guides to the night sky, this book is specifically written for observers using small telescopes. Clear and easy to use, this fascinating book will appeal to skywatchers of all ages and backgrounds. No previous knowledge of astronomy is needed.

Designed to be accessible to those with a strong general (not professional) interest in planetary science, this volume explores the various aspects of the solar system planet by planet. Along the way, it illustrates by example how science is “done,” and constantly goes beyond the issue of merely “What do we know,” to ask such questions as “What motivates our questions?" and "How do we go about finding the answers?"Begins each chapter with a purely descriptive section about a planet; then includes two sections on topics that are related to the planet in question (e.g., atmospheric chemistry and Venus; the generation of magnetic fields and Jupiter). Later chapters consider more difficult topic such as planetary satellites, comets and the solar wind, and the origin of the solar system. Confines the use of integral calculus and most derivations to separate boxes, and reviews basic concepts of physics and chemistry, in boxes, as necessary.For undergraduate students and general readers interested in planetary science.