Online text: “Charlemagne & Kingship: The Responsibility of Absolute Power”, by Jane Swotchak Ourand

See this online text:

• Charlemagne and Kingship: The Responsibility of Absolute Power (M.A. Thesis), by Jane Swotchak Ourand, Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts (1988). Available in pdf format through ScholarWorks@UMassAmherst. [Note: Although it is not certain if this text was written by a Catholic Christian, it provides a useful introduction to the political ideas of Western Christendom’s foremost prince and, we believe, an appropriate model for other Christians in political life.]

See also the texts and ebooks listed on the pages History and Biography, Secular Law and Society and Social Teaching; under sub-list IX.B. Church and State on the page Church and Ecclesiology; and on the post “Free ebook: Church and State in the Formation of Christendom, by T.W. Allies“; as well as the following:

• Augustine and the Art of Ruling in the Carolingian Imperial Period: Political Discourse in Alcuin of York and Hincmar of Rheims, by Sophia Moesch, Ph.D. (London, New York: Routledge, 2020). Available in pdf format on this page at OAPEN. The text states: ““The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.” [Note: It is not certain if this text was written by a Catholic Christian. Nonetheless, the text is of value to researchers interested in the Christian civilisation of Latin Europe.]
• De l’Union Intime de la Foi Catholique et de la Foi Monarchique en France, par Ch. De Caqueray (Paris: Allouard et Kaeppelin, 1850). Disponible en Internet Archive et Open Library.

In belated remembrance of Charles the Great / Charlemagne, King of the Franks, Emperor of the Romans, Defender of Christendom. For other texts and ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title), the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject), the List of Worth-It Catholic Books & eBooks, and the main page of the Catholic eBooks Project. From the text:

“[T]he most important factor that explains Charlemagne’s success and his enduring reputation lies in his conception of kingship… distinguished… by an awareness that power implies responsibility… The king’s power comes directly from God and elevates him to a status above all others, but, by its very nature, such power is limited by the king’s accountability to God for its proper exercise… [H]e saw himself as father to his people, with responsibility for their spiritual and physical well-being… [which] enjoined him to assume as his special concern the welfare of widows, orphans, the poor- all those least able to protect themselves.”

Online ebook: “Towards Reducing Unemployment”, by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences

See this online ebook:

• Towards Reducing Unemployment: The Proceedings of the Fifth Plenary Session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, 3-6 March 1999 (Acta 5), edited by M. Archer (Vatican City: Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, 1999). 345 pages. Available in pdf format on this page of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

On the Feast of Saint Cajetan (San Gaetano) in the Roman Rite. For other texts and ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title), the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject), the List of Worth-It Catholic Books & eBooks, and the main page of the Catholic eBooks Project.

Online audiobook & ebook: “The Seventh & Tenth Commandments”, by Dr. Peter Kreeft

See this online audiobook and ebook:

• The Seventh and Tenth Commandments: Economic and Political Morality, by Dr. Peter Kreeft (New Haven, CT: Catholic Information Service—Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, 2001-2021). With Imprimatur. Part of The Luke E. Hart Series: Basic Elements of the Catholic Faith (General Editor, Father John A. Farren, O.P.
  • The audiobook may be streamed through this page and is available in mp3 format on this page of the Knights of Columbus.
  • The ebook may be purchased following these directions through this page, and is available in pdf format this page, of the Knights of Columbus.

See also the following related text(s):

Online text: “Catholic Social Teaching, Human Activity & the Collapse of Biological Diversity” by the Laudato Si’ Research Institute

See this online text:

• The Wailing of God’s Creatures: Catholic Social Teaching, Human Activity and the Collapse of Biological Diversity: A Report by the Laudato Si’ Research Institute for CIDSE, CAFOD and GCCM on the Current Biodiversity Crisis, March 2021 (Brussels, Belgium:  CIDSE; London: CAFOD, 2021). Available in pdf format at the Laudato Si’ Research Institute.

Posted on the secular observance of Coral Triangle Day, and after the secular observance of World Environment Day and World Oceans Day. For other texts and ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title), the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject), the List of Worth-It Catholic Books & eBooks, and the main page of the Catholic eBooks Project.

Online text: Encyclical on Human Work, by Saint John Paul the Great

See this online text:

• Encyclical “Laborem Exercens” on Human Work, on the Ninetieth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum, by Saint John Paul the Great / Pope John Paul II, 14 September 1981. May be read online on this page at Catholic Culture, on this page at the EWTN Libraries, at the Holy See; and at Christus Liberat.

See also these related texts:

Texto en linea: “Caritas in veritate: sobre el desarrollo humano integral”, del Papa Benedicto XVI

Ver este texto en linea:

• Carta encíclica “Caritas in veritate” sobre el desarrollo humano integral en la caridad y en la verdad, del Papa Benedicto XVI, 29 de junio 2009. Disponible en Catholic.net y la Santa Sede.

Ver tambien:

• Carta encíclica “Deus caritas est” sobre el amor cristiano, del Papa Benedicto XVI, 25 de diciembre de 2005. Disponible en Catholic.net y la Santa Sede.
• Compendio de la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia, del Pontificio Consejo « Justicia y Paz » (2004). Disponible en Opus Dei y la Santa Sede.
• Instrucción sobre libertad cristiana y liberación “Libertatis conscientia”, de la Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe, 22 de marzo de 1986. Disponible en Catholic.net y la Santa Sede.

En el cuarto domingo de Adviento en rito romano, y en el Día Internacional de la Solidaridad Humana. Para más libros, por favor ingrese a la lista de los libros electrónicos gratis (Ordenados por título) y la lista de los libros gratis (Agrupados por tema). Desde el texto:

“La caridad en la verdad, de la que Jesucristo se ha hecho testigo con su vida terrenal y, sobre todo, con su muerte y resurrección, es la principal fuerza impulsora del auténtico desarrollo de cada persona y de toda la humanidad… La caridad es la vía maestra de la doctrina social de la Iglesia. Todas las responsabilidades y compromisos trazados por esta doctrina provienen de la caridad que, según la enseñanza de Jesús, es la síntesis de toda la Ley.”

[And if the grammar is wrong, please correct me. Gracias!]

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel… veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

Online text: “Tithing: An Act of Worship, An Act of Stewardship”, by the Diocese of Wichita

See this online text:

• Tithing. An Act of Worship. An Act of Stewardship, produced by the Catholic Diocese of Wichita (Wichita, Kansas: Office of Stewardshio, Catholic Diocese of Wichita, 2015). Available in pdf format on this page of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina.

On the Feast of the Prophet Aggaeus (Haggai / Hajjai) in the Eastern Catholic churches. For other texts and ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title), the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject), the List of Worth-It Catholic Books & eBooks, and the main page of the Catholic eBooks Project.

Online text: “Fighting Poverty to Build Peace”, by Pope Benedict XVI

See this online text:

• “Message for World Day of Peace 2009 ‘Fighting Poverty to Build Peace’”, by Pope Benedict XVI, 08 December 2008. May be read online on this page of Catholic Culture.org, and at the Holy See. See also “Pope Benedict’s Message for the World Day of Peace, 2009”, by Justin Cardinal Rigali.

Posted on the secular observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and in honor of Father Joseph Wresinski. For other texts and ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title), the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject), the List of Worth-It Catholic Books & eBooks, and the main page of the Catholic eBooks Project.

Online text: “On Atheistic Communism”, by Pope Pius XI

See this online text:

• Encyclical “Divini Redemptoris” on Atheistic Communism, by Pope Pius XI, March 19, 1937. May be read online on this page of Catholic Culture.org, on this page of the EWTN Library, at Papal Encyclicals Online, and at the Holy See.

On the secular observance of Black Ribbon Day, 2020. For other texts and ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title), the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject), the List of Worth-It Catholic Books & eBooks, and the main page of the Catholic eBooks Project.

Online text: “On the Social Teaching of the Church”, by Saint John Paul the Great

See this online text:

• Encyclical “Sollicitudo Rei Socialis” for the Twentieth Anniversary of “Populorum Progressio”, by Saint John Paul the Great (Pope John Paul II), December 30, 1987. Sometimes alternatively titled “On the Social Teaching of the Church”. May be read online on this page of CatholicCulture.org, on this page of the EWTN Library, and at the Holy See (© copyright – Libreria Editrice Vaticana).

On the Feast of Saint Alberto Hurtado. For other texts and ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title), the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject), the List of Worth-It Catholic Books & eBooks, and the main page of the Catholic eBooks Project. Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints!