Brennan was a California kid who had no faith formation. His spirituality was Neo-pagan and the philosophy of Nietzsche. In graduate school he was exposeded to the Catholic faith in history class. He began attending Masses and to learn who God is and what prayer is. He spent a summer at a Benedictine monastary, in Germany. While reading the sermons of St. Ambrose of Milan, he felt Christ calling him to faith. In response he was received into full-communion with the Catholic Church while still in Germany. Dr. Pursell is professor of European history at DeSales University, in Pennsylvania. Dr. Pursell is the author of the books “Benedict of Bavaria: An Intimate Portrate of the Pope and His Homeland” & “History in His Hands: A Christian Narrative of the West”. His website is: www.brennanpursell.com.