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{"num_reviews":0,"add_this":[{"service":"facebook","annotation":""},{"service":"email","annotation":""},{"service":"twitter","annotation":""},{"service":"linkedin","annotation":""}],"gtin":null,"attributes":[],"id":2246,"can_purchase":true,"meta_description":"Stream the TAN Course: Saints With a Past: A Study of Conversion in the Lives of Eight Notorious Sinners today to deepen your understanding of the Catholic intellectual tradition","category":["Courses/TAN Courses","Homeschool","Homeschool/By Subject/Religion"],"AddThisServiceButtonMeta":"","main_image":{"data":"https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-iuax7bpgx3/images/stencil/{:size}/products/2246/15460/saints-with-a-past-a-study-of-conversion-in-the-lives-of-eight-notorious-sinners__99427.1744048952.jpg?c=1","alt":" Saints with a Past: A Study of Conversion in the Lives of Eight Notorious Sinners "},"add_to_wishlist_url":"https://tanbooks.com/wishlist.php?action=add&product_id=2246","custom_fields":[{"id":"55302","name":"Author","value":"Thomas J. Craughwell"},{"id":"55303","name":"Imprint","value":"TAN Courses"},{"id":"55304","name":"Publication Date","value":"12/5/2011"},{"id":"57579","name":"Wistia Name","value":"CCI: Saints with a Past"},{"id":"57580","name":"Wistia Url","value":"https://fast.wistia.com/embed/channel/awj464f39z"},{"id":"57581","name":"Wistia Hash","value":"awj464f39z"},{"id":"63098","name":"atc-product","value":"1719"},{"id":"63099","name":"atc-product","value":"3193"},{"id":"63100","name":"atc-product","value":"3761"},{"id":"63101","name":"cpu-product","value":"1221"},{"id":"63102","name":"cpu-product","value":"4232"},{"id":"63103","name":"cpu-product","value":"3002"}],"sku":"C40003","backorder_availability_prompt":"","url":"https://tanbooks.com/products/books/saints-with-a-past-a-study-of-conversion-in-the-lives-of-eight-notorious-sinners/","description":"<style>\n#tan-product-description h2,\n#tan-product-description h3 {\nfont-family: 'Crimson Pro', serif !important;\ncolor: #870000 !important;\n}\n</style>\n<section id=\"tan-product-description\" style=\"font-family: 'Crimson Pro', serif; color: #262626;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size: 1.7rem; margin-bottom: 1rem;\">Saints Who Started Badly</h2>\n<p style=\"margin: .25rem 0; font-size: 1.15rem; color: #555;\">By Thomas J. Craughwell &middot; Published by TAN Books</p>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 1.4rem; margin-top: 2rem;\">Course Trailer</h3>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<script src=\"https://fast.wistia.com/embed/medias/j6vqo0enco.jsonp\" async=\"\"></script>\n<script src=\"https://fast.wistia.com/assets/external/E-v1.js\" async=\"\"></script>\n<div class=\"wistia_responsive_padding\" style=\"padding: 56.25% 0 0 0; position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"wistia_responsive_wrapper\" style=\"height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%;\">\n<div class=\"wistia_embed wistia_async_j6vqo0enco seo=false videoFoam=true\" style=\"height: 100%; position: relative; width: 100%;\">&nbsp;</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 1.4rem; margin-top: 2rem;\">Overview</h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.6;\">How bad can someone be and still become a saint? The answer may surprise you. Throughout the history of the Church, some of the greatest saints began their lives as criminals, heretics, adulterers, violent offenders, and notorious sinners. Yet through the transforming power of God's grace, each of them experienced a profound conversion that changed the course of their lives&mdash;and eternity.</p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.6;\">In <strong>Saints Who Started Badly</strong>, renowned Catholic historian Thomas J. Craughwell introduces students to eight remarkable saints whose lives demonstrate the limitless mercy of God. Through engaging stories of repentance, humility, perseverance, and grace, this course reveals that no sinner is beyond redemption and no past is too broken for God to heal.</p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.6;\">Each lecture explores a dramatic story of conversion, showing how ordinary men and women overcame profound sins, embraced God's mercy, and became extraordinary witnesses to holiness. Their journeys remind us that sanctity is not reserved for the perfect&mdash;it is the destination of repentant sinners who cooperate with God's grace.</p>\n<div style=\"background: #fdfcf0; border: 1px solid #d4af37; padding: 1.25rem; margin: 1.5rem 0; border-radius: 4px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.1rem; color: #870000; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;\"><strong>What This Course Offers:</strong></p>\n<ul style=\"margin: 0; padding-left: 1.25rem; font-size: 1.05rem; line-height: 1.5;\">\n<li><strong>Powerful Conversion Stories:</strong> Discover saints whose lives were radically transformed by God's grace.</li>\n<li><strong>Hope for Every Sinner:</strong> Learn why no one is beyond redemption, regardless of past mistakes.</li>\n<li><strong>Practical Lessons in Holiness:</strong> Explore the virtues of humility, repentance, perseverance, and trust in God.</li>\n<li><strong>Historical Insight:</strong> Encounter fascinating figures from Church history through engaging biographical studies.</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<ul style=\"margin: 1.5rem 0; padding-left: 1.25rem; font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.6;\">\n<li><strong>See Grace at Work:</strong> Witness how God transforms even the most hardened sinners into saints.</li>\n<li><strong>Overcome Discouragement:</strong> Find encouragement in the reality that holiness begins with repentance.</li>\n<li><strong>Learn from Real Human Struggles:</strong> Meet saints whose flaws, failures, and weaknesses make them relatable.</li>\n<li><strong>Deepen Your Spiritual Life:</strong> Discover practical lessons for your own ongoing conversion.</li>\n<li><strong>Grow in Hope:</strong> Experience renewed confidence in God's mercy and power to change lives.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 1.4rem; margin-top: 2rem;\">Course Curriculum</h3>\n<ul style=\"margin: 1rem 0; padding-left: 1.25rem; font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.6;\">\n<li><strong>St. Callixtus: Embezzler &amp; Brawler</strong></li>\n<li><strong>St. Hippolytus: Heretic &amp; First Antipope</strong></li>\n<li><strong>St. Mary of Egypt: Seductress</strong></li>\n<li><strong>St. Moses the Black: Cutthroat &amp; Gang Leader</strong></li>\n<li><strong>St. Olga: Vengeful Mass Murderer</strong></li>\n<li><strong>St. Vladimir: Fratricide &amp; Polygamist</strong></li>\n<li><strong>St. Margaret of Cortona: Rich Man's Mistress</strong></li>\n<li><strong>St. Camillus: Mercenary &amp; Card Shark</strong></li>\n</ul>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 1.4rem; margin-top: 2rem;\">Lecture Sample</h3>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<script src=\"https://fast.wistia.com/embed/medias/sxvq0tc5i7.jsonp\" async=\"\"></script>\n<script src=\"https://fast.wistia.com/assets/external/E-v1.js\" async=\"\"></script>\n<div class=\"wistia_responsive_padding\" style=\"padding: 56.25% 0 0 0; position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"wistia_responsive_wrapper\" style=\"height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%;\">\n<div class=\"wistia_embed wistia_async_sxvq0tc5i7 seo=false videoFoam=true\" style=\"height: 100%; position: relative; width: 100%;\">&nbsp;</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 1.4rem; margin-top: 2rem;\">From the Course</h3>\n<blockquote style=\"font-style: italic; border-left: 4px solid #E2E2E2; background: #fafafa; padding: 1rem; font-size: 1.15rem; margin: 1rem 0;\">\"We can escape the quick sands of pride and sin, lies and sadness, selfishness and false security, to find out and live the richness of Jesus' love if we allow ourselves to be continuously converted by the Lord Jesus.\" <br /><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; color: #555;\">&mdash; Pope Benedict XVI</span></blockquote>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 1.4rem; margin-top: 2rem;\">Meet Your Professor</h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.6;\">Thomas J. Craughwell has spent more than three decades researching the lives of the saints, examining their autobiographies, letters, and historical records to uncover the real men and women behind the holy images. His work highlights the humanity, struggles, and remarkable conversions that shaped the saints we venerate today.</p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.6;\">A prolific author and historian, Professor Craughwell has written more than two dozen books on religion, history, and culture, including <em>Saints Behaving Badly</em>, <em>Saints for Every Occasion</em>, and <em>Saints Preserved: An Encyclopedia of Relics</em>. He has appeared on EWTN, CNN, The History Channel, and numerous radio programs discussing saints, Church history, and the canonization process.</p>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 1.4rem; margin-top: 2rem;\">Intended Audience</h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.6;\">This course is perfect for Catholics seeking encouragement in their spiritual lives, those struggling with past sins, homeschool families, parish study groups, RCIA participants, and anyone interested in the dramatic stories of conversion found throughout Church history. It is especially valuable for those who need reassurance that God's mercy is greater than any human failure.</p>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 1.4rem; margin-top: 2rem;\">FAQs</h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.6;\"><strong>Are these saints officially canonized by the Church?</strong><br />Yes. Every person featured in this course is a recognized saint whose life demonstrates the transforming power of God's grace.</p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.6;\"><strong>Is this course focused on Church history or spiritual growth?</strong><br />Both. While the course explores fascinating historical figures, its primary focus is the spiritual lessons of conversion, humility, repentance, and holiness.</p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.6;\"><strong>What can I learn from saints with troubled pasts?</strong><br />Their lives show that holiness is possible for anyone. By studying their conversions, we gain hope, practical wisdom, and confidence in God's mercy.</p>\n<div style=\"background: #fafafa; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2; padding: 1.5rem; margin-top: 2rem;\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 1.25rem; margin: 0 0 .5rem;\">Homeschool Components</h3>\n<ul style=\"margin: 0; padding-left: 1.25rem; font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.5;\">\n<li><strong>Lesson Plans:</strong> Structured guidance for completing the course.</li>\n<li><strong>Quizzes:</strong> Reinforce key concepts and historical understanding.</li>\n<li><strong>Lecture Notes:</strong> Helpful study summaries and discussion aids.</li>\n<li><strong>Final Essay:</strong> Comprehensive written assessment.</li>\n<li><strong>Answer Key:</strong> Complete instructor resources included.</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<div style=\"background: #fafafa; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2; padding: 1.5rem; margin-top: 2rem;\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 1.25rem; margin: 0 0 .5rem;\">Key Themes</h3>\n<ul style=\"margin: 0; padding-left: 1.25rem; font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.5;\">\n<li><strong>Conversion:</strong> The lifelong journey from sin toward holiness.</li>\n<li><strong>Divine Mercy:</strong> God's willingness to forgive even the gravest sins.</li>\n<li><strong>Humility:</strong> The foundational virtue that opens the soul to grace.</li>\n<li><strong>Redemption:</strong> The transformation of broken lives through Christ.</li>\n<li><strong>Hope:</strong> Confidence that no sinner is beyond the reach of God's love.</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n</section>","show_backorder_message":false,"tags":[],"warranty":"","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$49.95","value":49.95,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"},"default_shipping_expectation_prompt":"","detail_messages":"","availability":"","page_title":"Saints with a Past: A Study of Conversion in the Lives of Eight Notorious Sinners | TAN Books","cart_url":"https://tanbooks.com/cart.php","show_backorder_availability_prompt":false,"max_purchase_quantity":0,"show_quantity_on_hand":false,"show_default_shipping_expectation_prompt":false,"show_quantity_on_backorder":false,"mpn":null,"upc":null,"options":[{"id":5277,"type":"Configurable_PickList_Set","display_name":"Format","required":true,"state":"variant_option","partial":"set-rectangle","condition":true,"values":[{"id":10430,"label":"Streaming Video","selected":false,"data":"Streaming Video"},{"id":10431,"label":"Audio Course","selected":false,"data":"Audio Course"},{"id":10433,"label":"Set","selected":true,"data":"Set"},{"id":10434,"label":"Course Guide","selected":false,"data":"Course Guide"}]}],"related_products":[{"id":1782,"sku":"1842-GROUPED","name":"Saints and Sinners of Calvary","url":"https://tanbooks.com/products/books/saints-and-sinners-of-calvary/","availability":"","rating":0,"brand":null,"category":["Books","Books/Topic/Church Doctrine","Books/Topic/Theological Tradition","Books/Occasion/Lent & Easter"],"summary":"\nNothing connected with the Passion and Death of Christ was purely accidental. 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Saints with a Past: A Study of Conversion in the Lives of Eight Notorious Sinners

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    Saints with a Past: A Study of Conversion in the Lives of Eight Notorious Sinners
    ["Courses/TAN Courses","Homeschool","Homeschool/By Subject/Religion"]

    Saints Who Started Badly

    By Thomas J. Craughwell · Published by TAN Books

    Course Trailer

     

     

    Overview

    How bad can someone be and still become a saint? The answer may surprise you. Throughout the history of the Church, some of the greatest saints began their lives as criminals, heretics, adulterers, violent offenders, and notorious sinners. Yet through the transforming power of God's grace, each of them experienced a profound conversion that changed the course of their lives—and eternity.

    In Saints Who Started Badly, renowned Catholic historian Thomas J. Craughwell introduces students to eight remarkable saints whose lives demonstrate the limitless mercy of God. Through engaging stories of repentance, humility, perseverance, and grace, this course reveals that no sinner is beyond redemption and no past is too broken for God to heal.

    Each lecture explores a dramatic story of conversion, showing how ordinary men and women overcame profound sins, embraced God's mercy, and became extraordinary witnesses to holiness. Their journeys remind us that sanctity is not reserved for the perfect—it is the destination of repentant sinners who cooperate with God's grace.

    What This Course Offers:

    • Powerful Conversion Stories: Discover saints whose lives were radically transformed by God's grace.
    • Hope for Every Sinner: Learn why no one is beyond redemption, regardless of past mistakes.
    • Practical Lessons in Holiness: Explore the virtues of humility, repentance, perseverance, and trust in God.
    • Historical Insight: Encounter fascinating figures from Church history through engaging biographical studies.
    • See Grace at Work: Witness how God transforms even the most hardened sinners into saints.
    • Overcome Discouragement: Find encouragement in the reality that holiness begins with repentance.
    • Learn from Real Human Struggles: Meet saints whose flaws, failures, and weaknesses make them relatable.
    • Deepen Your Spiritual Life: Discover practical lessons for your own ongoing conversion.
    • Grow in Hope: Experience renewed confidence in God's mercy and power to change lives.

    Course Curriculum

    • St. Callixtus: Embezzler & Brawler
    • St. Hippolytus: Heretic & First Antipope
    • St. Mary of Egypt: Seductress
    • St. Moses the Black: Cutthroat & Gang Leader
    • St. Olga: Vengeful Mass Murderer
    • St. Vladimir: Fratricide & Polygamist
    • St. Margaret of Cortona: Rich Man's Mistress
    • St. Camillus: Mercenary & Card Shark

    Lecture Sample

     

     

    From the Course

    "We can escape the quick sands of pride and sin, lies and sadness, selfishness and false security, to find out and live the richness of Jesus' love if we allow ourselves to be continuously converted by the Lord Jesus."
    — Pope Benedict XVI

    Meet Your Professor

    Thomas J. Craughwell has spent more than three decades researching the lives of the saints, examining their autobiographies, letters, and historical records to uncover the real men and women behind the holy images. His work highlights the humanity, struggles, and remarkable conversions that shaped the saints we venerate today.

    A prolific author and historian, Professor Craughwell has written more than two dozen books on religion, history, and culture, including Saints Behaving Badly, Saints for Every Occasion, and Saints Preserved: An Encyclopedia of Relics. He has appeared on EWTN, CNN, The History Channel, and numerous radio programs discussing saints, Church history, and the canonization process.

    Intended Audience

    This course is perfect for Catholics seeking encouragement in their spiritual lives, those struggling with past sins, homeschool families, parish study groups, RCIA participants, and anyone interested in the dramatic stories of conversion found throughout Church history. It is especially valuable for those who need reassurance that God's mercy is greater than any human failure.

    FAQs

    Are these saints officially canonized by the Church?
    Yes. Every person featured in this course is a recognized saint whose life demonstrates the transforming power of God's grace.

    Is this course focused on Church history or spiritual growth?
    Both. While the course explores fascinating historical figures, its primary focus is the spiritual lessons of conversion, humility, repentance, and holiness.

    What can I learn from saints with troubled pasts?
    Their lives show that holiness is possible for anyone. By studying their conversions, we gain hope, practical wisdom, and confidence in God's mercy.

    Homeschool Components

    • Lesson Plans: Structured guidance for completing the course.
    • Quizzes: Reinforce key concepts and historical understanding.
    • Lecture Notes: Helpful study summaries and discussion aids.
    • Final Essay: Comprehensive written assessment.
    • Answer Key: Complete instructor resources included.

    Key Themes

    • Conversion: The lifelong journey from sin toward holiness.
    • Divine Mercy: God's willingness to forgive even the gravest sins.
    • Humility: The foundational virtue that opens the soul to grace.
    • Redemption: The transformation of broken lives through Christ.
    • Hope: Confidence that no sinner is beyond the reach of God's love.
    Author:
    Thomas J. Craughwell
    Imprint:
    TAN Courses
    Publication Date:
    12/5/2011