FAITH AND FORTUNE chronicles the nineteenth century revival of Catholicism in England from the perspective of the wealthiest families in the country. Against much opposition, many men and women courageously sought membership in the One True Church. Their generosity with their fortunes in re-building the Catholic Church in England is still seen in the remarkable number of churches, convents, monasteries and schools which they founded. Their stories are told in two sections of the book, "Off to Rome" and "Over to Rome". The Grand Tour to southern Europe introduced many English and Scottish travellers to Catholicism. Entering Catholic churches for the first time, the mystery of the magnificent liturgy prompted many to explore the riches of the Catholic Faith.

Others joined the Church without leaving England's shores at all, simply in response to the prayers and example of others.

The two outstanding Cardinals of the nineteenth century, Manning and Newman, were both well-known converts who drew many in their wake. Manning, with his Oblates founded by Saint Charles Borromeo and Newman with his Oratorians founded by Saint Philip Neri, introduced into Protestant England the spirituality of the counter-Reformation of the sixteenth century. So too Italian Orders such as the Passionists and Rosminians had a profound role to play in their missionary work. This paperback describes the fruits of the journeys between Catholic Europe and once-Catholic England, with fascinating stories of individual souls who gave up everything for the Church..

Review extracts by Michael Davies (1936-2004), "The Latin Mass: A Journal of Catholic Culture", Vol. 12. No.2 Spring 2003

"Miss Madeleine Beard is one of the most remarkable Catholics I have ever met. Miss Beard, a truly devout and and convinced traditional Catholic, is a water color artist of exceptional talent, dedicating herself almost exclusively to spiritual subjects in what she terms her water color icons. Their delicacy and profound spirituality are reflected in her writing, and are perfectly adapted to the subject of her book, an account of the conversion to Catholicism of nineteenth-century members of the British aristocracy.

It might be well asked why a book should be devoted to aristocratic conversions. The answer is that members of this class who converted had the most to lose, ranging from social ostracism to disinheritance. In some cases they also had the most to give; and where they had control of their fortunes were able to found monasteries or convents and do a great deal for the Catholic poor - the class into which so many Catholics, Irish immigrants in particular, found themselves through no fault of their own."

"Not least among the merits of Miss Beard's book is its uncompromising insistence that truth is more important than unity, a fact that she makes clear simply by recounting the lives of these courageous and saintly men who were prepared to sacrifice all that they had to grasp the pearl of great price that is the Catholic faith."

"I began this review by remarking that "Faith and Fortune" is a remarkable book by one of the most remarkable Catholics I have ever met. It immerses us in an epoch in which truth did indeed matter, and all who read it will be strengthened in their devotion to the one, true Church founded by the Son of God who came to bring truth into the world. It is a book that should be in the home of every Catholic who truly loves his faith."

"If I may conclude on a personal note, one of my most treasured possessions is a portrait of Lady Margaret Beaufort, patron of Saint John Fisher, painted by Madeleine Beard."