During my research for the Church Alive series I came across this epic CNS file photo of Pope Paul VI and Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. The photo's caption reads, "Paul VI, who served in Poland during his early priesthood, held the future Pope John Paul II in high regard." Not only do they both look like don dadas, but they're the original dynamic duo when it comes to the Second Vatican Council. Although John XXIII called the Council, Paul VI was the person who actually did all the work. He's responsible for promulgating the major documents that came out of the Council. Pope John Paul II, moreover, was the person who enacted the Council's vision throughout his reign as one of the longest serving pontiffs in Church history. So if you want to know what the New Evangelization is, just take a page out of either one of these men's lives. I highly recommend Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi: although this document was penned just under forty years ago, it reads as if it was written yesterday. And if you really want to up your game, check out the Church Alive series! This is a sure way to level up when it comes to this huge and sometimes intimidating topic. Included in our DVD set is a 75-page study guide which is very handy literally and figuratively: its small and fits in the palm of your hand and it gives you all the goods like bios, resources, synopses, and study questions. As Robin would say: Holy History, Batman!   -

Credit: CNS file photo