Building a Better World

Building a Better World Cover
Title

Building a Better World

A Contemporary Augustinian Perspective
Price
$16.95
ISBN
978-1-56548-730-7
Page Count
144 pages
Publication date
Free shipping on U.S. orders over $55
Building a Better World Cover
    About the book

    A captivating commentary on the Rule of Saint Augustine from the viewpoints of environmental and social justice, and authentic human relationships.

    “The message of Augustine, as lived and taught by Fr. Art Purcaro, is something that will benefit the readers of this book. Just as Saint Augustine encourages the reader of his Rule to use it as if looking in a mirror, so too can this book be an opportunity for reflection and prayer, which can then become a new pathway to walk together with one another in harmony, in order to move forward in peace, with God and with the world around us.”

    Pope Leo XIV (From the Foreword)

    This work is meant for anyone interested in living a more harmonious life. It is written for those who are not willing to accept the status quo, how things currently are, either for themselves, for others, or for nature itself.

    (From the Preface)

    In an age of rampant individualism and ecological crisis Building a Better World offers a profound remedy rooted in ancient wisdom, yet urgently relevant for our contemporary challenges. Drawing from Saint Augustine's Rule and the revolutionary concept of integral ecology, this work masterfully weaves together spiritual formation, social justice, and environmental stewardship into a coherent vision for authentic Christian living. The book presents a concrete blueprint for Christian communities committed to transformative action—communities that move beyond charity toward justice and beyond isolation toward genuine communion. At its heart lies a call to radical sharing, grounded in divine love and expressed through our interconnected creation. This essential work will speak to all who seek authentic faith that engages both personal transformation and systemic change in pursuit of a more just and sustainable world.

    Ilia Delio, OSF
    Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology, Villanova University

    About the author

    Art Purcaro, born in the Bronx, became an Augustinian in 1968, and a priest in 1975.  He volunteered and ministered in the desert and Andes of the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Peru, from 1971 till 2015.  From 1995 till 2007 Art also served as a member of the General Council of the Order of St Augustine in Rome.  Art worked closely with Rev. Robert Prevost O.S.A. who is now Pope Leo XIV in Peru and also in Rome. He is currently Assistant Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, USA, where he also teaches theology.