Spirituality
In this book, Catholics walk step by step with Jesus from his infancy to the Ascension. Anchored in the life of Christ as presented in the Gospels, it explores the entirety of Jesus’ life—who he is, what he is really like, what he taught, what he did for our salvation, and what this means for us as Catholics today.
This study shows, in a simple way, how Jesus, the Incarnate God, is both fully divine and fully human—his intimacy with the Father, his revelation of the Father’s love, and his extraordinary influence on his disciples, his followers, and even his enemies.
Most importantly, this encounter with Christ will inspire and empower you to center your entire life in him as you come to know and love him in an ever-deeper and more intimate way.
In this book, Catholics will learn...
• Who Jesus is and how he answers the longings of the human heart.
• Why Jesus was baptized.
• The significance of the Transfiguration.
• The essentials of Christology explained in a way the average Catholic can understand.
• The mystery and meaning of the Resurrection, Christ’s triumph over death.
• The nature of Jesus’ mission and the redemption of humanity.
• Our role today as Catholics in the Great Commission.
Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn't commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship--and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever. Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer's coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice. Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction - Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Nonfiction - Winner of a Books for a Better Life Award - Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize - Finalist for the Kirkus Reviews Prize - An American Library Association Notable Book "Every bit as moving as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so . . . a searing indictment of American criminal justice and a stirring testament to the salvation that fighting for the vulnerable sometimes yields."--David Cole, The New York Review of Books "Searing, moving . . . Bryan Stevenson may, indeed, be America's Mandela."--Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times "You don't have to read too long to start cheering for this man. . . . The message of this book . . . is that evil can be overcome, a difference can be made. Just Mercy will make you upset and it will make you hopeful."--Ted Conover, The New York Times Book Review "Inspiring . . . a work of style, substance and clarity . . . Stevenson is not only a great lawyer, he's also a gifted writer and storyteller."--The Washington Post "As deeply moving, poignant and powerful a book as has been, and maybe ever can be, written about the death penalty."--The Financial Times "Brilliant."--The Philadelphia Inquirer
When Luke Larson and his wife Evie embarked on a 500-mile pilgrimage across northern Spain, their purpose was to experience walking as a way of keeping company with Jesus and his companions, of both earth and heaven, such as Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Keeping Company is filled with personal, luminously candid, and often amusing stories of the couple's experiences along the Way of Saint James. More than anything, this book invites you to step off the treadmill of self-effort in your quest to experience God more intimately through the spiritual practice of walking, literally, with God.
Although the story of our salvation began in the Orient, the richness of the spirituality of our Eastern Fathers and Mothers in the Faith has long remained hidden. The Church is indebted to the East for revealing how Christians from apostolic times lived their faith, from founding Christian monastic life to developing the worship that has helped shape our liturgy.
In this spiritual masterpiece, Dr. Alexander Harb offers penetrating meditations on nine themes of the spiritual life, drawing from Eastern Christian sources and his own real-life examples. Each chapter includes a power-packed meditation, a related Scripture passage, engaging reflection questions, and challenges that are perfectly accessible for individual or group study.
Through the lens of the Eastern Church and the Desert Fathers, you will reflect on topics such as repentance, the Jesus Prayer, heartbrokenness, discernment, family, friendship, and total reliance on God.
In these absorbing pages, you will discover:
Although practicing asceticism can be challenging, the fruits of inner freedom, peace, and the vision of God are unmistakable. These life-changing reflections aim to help you experience God's compassionate and healing love for you and your family. By absorbing the wisdom of the East, you will come to know the Father's merciful love more deeply, grow closer to our Lord, Jesus Christ, and become enlightened by the Holy Spirit.
Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle is a Catholic author, a radio and television host, and an inspirational speaker known and admired from coast to coast. Yet with all of her public exposure, she has revealed very little about her personal history, that is, until now. When she discovered that sharing her struggles gives encouragement to others, she was persuaded to write this story of her life.
Growing up in a Polish-American Catholic family, Donna-Marie was blessed with hard-working parents who provided a stable home for their eight children. At times her childhood was golden and carefree, but other times it was tarnished by pain that she felt was best left unspoken as she sought God for help and strength.
After she left home after high school, her path took some harrowing turns. A Vietnam veteran fiancé snapped and held her against her will. She suffered pregnancy loss, serious illness, divorce, and single motherhood. Perhaps her greatest trial was an epic custody battle in which she needed to defend both her reputation as a mother and the safety of her five children.
Yet through all the dark valleys, Donna-Marie kept the fire of her faith burning. Helping her to see the beauty of the crosses in her life, and to rely on the presence and the providence of God, were saintly souls who became her friends and mentors. One of these was Blessed Mother Teresa, who was her confidant and spiritual mother for ten years.
Who was Gilbert Keith Chesterton? A rotund man in a cape brandishing a walking stick? Certainly. A twentieth-century writer? Prolifically. A great champion and defender of the Christian Faith? Gallantly. He is known too as the "prince of paradox" and an "apostle of common sense." Chesterton has lately been enjoying a resurgence in popularity. His name appears on blog posts and news articles alike. His name is spoken more often on college campuses, and schools around the United States are being named after him.
Who was this engaging, witty, prophetic man? Allow Dale Ahlquist, the president of the American Chesterton Society, to introduce you to him. In a rollicking adventure quite Chestertonian in flavor, Ahlquist captains an expedition of discovery into who this GKC fellow is. He deftly and cleverly explores Chesterton as a man, as a writer, and as a potential saint.
Those curious about Chesterton will have their initial questions answered. Those who might be dubious about Chesterton's reputation will be challenged to reconsider. Those who consider Chesterton an old friend will be delighted. All will be engaged by amusing anecdotes, plentiful quotations, and a thoughtful study of the life of G. K. Chesterton.
If you are confused by the array of conflicting teachings that claim to be Catholic, or have found the Catechism too difficult to read, then this book will give you clear, concise, and readable explanations of the foundational truths for living the Catholic faith.
Organized by topic, Dr. LaBarbara has pulled from countless Church documents to present a timely and compelling synthesis of not only what the Church teaches, but how those teachings fit together perfectly in a true unity of faith and truth.
Read these pages, and you'll learn so much more about who God is and who you are, and how fully embracing the Church's teachings will lead you to truly live the glorious freedom of the children of God.
The Christian life is a grand journey. And like any pilgrimage along unfamiliar roads, we can benefit from having experienced guides and trustworthy companions along the way.
Through their classic spiritual texts, Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross offer valuable maps of tried paths along the way. At the same time, they were both experienced and sought-after spiritual companions for many others. Their timeless insights into the qualities that should mark a good spiritual director--learned, experienced, and discerning--are the fruit of their own prayer, reflection, and rich personal experience as guides and as people guided by others.
St. Maximilian Kolbe is one of the most well-known and well-loved saints of all time. Many are familiar with the story of his selfless act at Auschwitz, where he sacrificed his own life to save a man who was a husband and father. But do you know about Kolbe's deep love for Mary, whom he called the Immaculata? How he surrendered everything to Our Lady to grow in holiness and align his will to the will of God? How he consecrated his life to Mary?
In Led by the Immaculata, Joshua Mazrin, a Kolbe devotee and Mariology expert, will
Kolbe taught that by giving our lives completely to Mary, the Immaculata, she would direct our will to the will of the Holy Spirit--that is, the will of God. Kolbe wanted this message shared far and wide and so founded the Knights of the Immaculata with the goal of consecrating as many people as possible to Mary and her son.
Each step of the consecration journey is explained in practical and theological terms, making it accessible to all, regardless of vocation or age. While Kolbe initially targeted men, the principles of holiness are equally relevant to women. The book concludes by empowering you--men and women alike--to be evangelists for the Immaculata and the Gospel and to be spiritual leaders in your family, workplace, and community.
Led by the Immaculata invites you to embrace a deeper devotion to Mary and emulate Kolbe's path to holiness through the practical application of the fourteen steps in your daily life.
The triumphant story of this remarkable young woman's journey through the darkness of genocide will inspire anyone whose life has been touched by fear, suffering, and loss.
In this classic, modern-day parable about a man and his transforming love for his dog, Lass, bestselling author Phillip Keller paints a vivid picture of God's love for the unlovable.
When Philip Keller and his wife decide to become sheep farmers in British Columbia, Philip realizes that he needs a sheep dog to help him manage his herd. When Philip brings home Lass, the dog is anything but cooperative, and Philip considers just returning the dog to its original owner--but as time passes and the dog begins to trust him, everything begins to change.
Woven just under the surface of this simple parable, Keller presents profound spiritual truth in his story of the "worthless" animal thought to be untrainable, who ultimately becomes a magnificent and valuable sheep dog--similar to how God's love can transform our worst characteristics into blessings that serve to further His Kingdom. As Lass's relationship with Philip begins to improve, so does Philip's relationship with his Savior. Fractured for quite some time, he is able to restore and renew his faith as he works to train his beloved dog.
Lessons from a Sheep Dog is:
A profoundly moving and challenging book highlighting the depth of trust God desires from his people, allow yourself to see Biblical truth in this classic tale of what can happen when you yield to the Master.
Worry begins with fear.
And events in our time--pandemic, war, political division, hate--are making us both worried and fearful. Gary Zimak, author of the bestselling Give Up Worry for Lent!, wants to help you find hope in God no matter what life sends your way.
Zimak explores two Gospel stories of Jesus calming storms--and his disciples--to show you how to manage the big feelings of fear in your life. His practical retelling of the familiar stories, when Jesus is asleep in the boat and when he walks across the water toward his disciples, is an invitation to encounter the Lord in the midst of your own storms and move from discouragement to courage and away from anxiety and toward hope.
Fear is like a smoke alarm, Zimak says. It's designed to warn you of impending danger so you can take appropriate action--and maybe even save your life. But often your internal alarm system is too sensitive. As a result, you're afraid when you shouldn't be.
"We're afraid because we don't believe that God loves us, is with us, and is bigger than our problems," Zimak writes.
In Let Go of Your Fear, you'll discover:
Perfect for individual or group use, each chapter of Let Go of Your Fear includes reflection questions to help you identify the times and places you are most likely to wrestle with fear and to guide you to establish new habits that move you away from discouragement and anxiety toward greater faith, hope, and trust.
If you could talk to your younger self, what would you tell her? If you could equip her for the challenges she would face today, with the Church plagued by scandal and the culture on the verge of collapse, what would you say?
In Letters to Myself from the End of the World, Emily Stimpson Chapman answers those questions, weaving Catholic theology, biblical wisdom, and her own life experience into forty-five “letters” to her twenty-five-year-old self.
Both personal and practical, Chapman’s letters reflect upon sin and grace, the Church’s sacraments and saints, scandals and injustice, social media and prayer, suffering, adoption, motherhood, and much more. Written in real time, during the summer and fall of 2020, while pandemics and riots filled the news and as Chapman and her husband prepared to adopt a second child, Letters to Myself from the End of the World is a faithful guide for pursuing holiness and spiritual maturity in a world broken by sin. It’s also a testimony to the power of grace to heal our hearts, renew our minds, and transform our lives.
Bishop Sheen's writings, tapes and videos are as popular today as when he was alive. His timeless insights offered in this book give wise, personal and inspiring guidance on the problems affecting our lives in today's world. His talks cover an amazing variety of subjects, from the character of the Irish to the handling of teen-agers. He discusses education, Christianity, relativity, and world affairs. He speaks about love, conscience, fear, motherhood, work. He tells amusing anecdotes, recites poetry, and ponders the fate of the free world as well as America's destiny.
Among his many best-selling books, none has greater universal appeal than Life Is Worth Living. It offers a stirring and challenging statement of Bishop Sheen's whole philosophy of life and living. It is a book for everyone - of immediate concern to all people seeking understanding, belief, and purpose in these troubled times.
Among the most popular of Henri Nouwen's books, Life of the Beloved was initially written for a Jewish friend, and went on to become Henri Nouwen's greatest legacy to Christians around the world. This sincere testimony of the power and invitation of Christ is indeed a great guide to a truly uplifting spiritual life in today's world.
The Life-Giving Power of the Cross, the newest Scripture guide of the popular Keys to the Bible series, helps us to realize that Christ's victory is our victory as well. This six-session Bible study is especially pertinent during Lent but can be used at any time of the year. Each session features
the Scripture text to be studied and insightful commentary;
questions for reflection, discussion, and personal application;
"In the Spotlight" sections offering wisdom from the saints and the church as well as fascinating historical background about Jesus' passion and crucifixion.
Series Summary
The new What Every Catholic Should Know series is intended for the average faithful Catholic who wants to know more about Catholic faith and culture. The authors in this series take a panoramic approach to the topic of each book aimed at a non-specialist but enthusiastic readership. Forthcoming titles planned for this series include: literature, salvation, mercy, history, art, music and philosophy.
Book Summary
Learn about everything from the Greek epics to Shakespeare's plays to Tolkien's famous trilogy. Visit Dante's Italy, Cervantes's Spain, Dostoevsky's Russia, and Jane Austen's England along the way.
Part of the What Every Catholic Should Know series, this book is an insightful introduction to the world's rich depository of stories. It directs the reader back to The Story--the Story of Salvation History--because this is what great literature does. Great literature directs us back to the Storyteller, God himself. Allow Joseph Pearce to be your joyful guide on this brief pilgrimage through the literature every Catholic should know.
Sharp penance for remembered sins helps stouthearted Christians seize heaven, but gentler souls like Our Blessed Lady and scores of her saints have trod a different path. Their souls are possessed by gratitude, inspired by the remembrance of past benefits, and filled with wonder at the abundant loving-kindness of God.
As Father Faber shows, gratitude is the fertile soil from which springs an ardent, exuberant love of Christ - a love that can be yours as well. These wise pages reveal the critical role that gratitude plays in your sanctification, and they'll remind you of the many things the Lord has given you for which you should be grateful each moment of every day. Here you'll also learn:
Hear in this small book the voices of so many saints who knew that gratitude is the very key to holiness: St. Alphonsus de Liguori, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Bonaventure, St. Bridget of Sweden, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Francis de Sales, St. Francis Xavier, St. Gertrude, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, St. Jerome, St. John Chrysostom, St. John of Avila, St. John of God, St. Lawrence Justinian, St. Louis of France, St. Peter Faber, St. Philip Neri, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Thomas Aquinas, and many others.
Saints don't grow holy by chance.
Instead, by living in accord with a plan of life, they transform their everyday frustrations, anxieties, and temptations into opportunities for humility, contemplation, and growth in sanctity.
Now you can, too.
Here, Fr. John Portavella shows you how to develop for yourself a personalized plan of life that will enable you to balance your duties to God, your family, and your work, and even to make time for leisure. You'll discover easy, practical ways to fit prayer, devotions, and spiritual reading into your family situation and professional life. In just a few weeks, your cares and anxieties will give way to holy peace as you awaken to the workings of God's loving grace in your life.
This Little Manual for Spiritual Growth brings you the time-tested key to lasting health of soul and cheerful serenity of spirit.
Do your possessions "spark joy"? In our materialistic society, we are often plagued with the slow torture of accumulated stuff, which creates disharmony, prevents us from living in the present moment, and keeps us from setting our eyes upon Heaven. The Little Way of Living with Less is a spiritual journey guided by St. Therese of Lisieux toward a "less is more" manner of living. It shares one couple's effort to downsize, declutter, and detach - and the challenge of growing in virtues that is associated with this process. Indeed, this book serves as a practical antidote to the consumerism and commodification of daily home life today.
Through the words and example of the Little Flower, you will find peace, joy, and security as you learn how to overcome disorder - whether physical, mental, or spiritual. St. Therese will help form you in single-mindedness to complete the ordinary with extraordinary, selfless love, and you'll soon find yourself becoming intentional about making God the center of your life and your home.
Best of all, you will discover that "everything is grace" (St. Therese) and will begin thanking God for your many blessings and experiencing His miraculous favors with greater mindfulness. Inspired by the Little Way, you will more confidently seek the things above and "choose all" in holiness. Let "the greatest saint of modern times" show you how to:
By living an integrated life that is free of materialistic pleasures, you will develop the freedom of a child of God to abandon yourself to the Father's will. Enter into the Heart of Jesus and make room in your heart to experience the wonders of His love!
Every parent knows that. But some extraordinary children seem sent by God to teach us about the -big questions- such as life, death, suffering, and the existence of God. The children in this book, all of whom suffered terribly during their short lives, bore witness to God's love and an understanding of the meaning of suffering and -what to do with it- that belied their years. And their teaching was not limited to their immediate family: Everyone with whom they came into contact, from doctors and nurses, to major political figures and popes to family friends and other children, was profoundly affected by the encounter.
This book will make you cry, yes, but the tears will be mixed with something akin to joy at the beauty of the short lives of Brendan, Margaret, and Audrey, and awe at the grace and dignity with which they bore their crosses, lived and enjoyed this life, and ultimately left it to be with the God they all loved. In this time in which there is so much despair and sadness, and in this world in which we are so frequently reminded that it can truly be a -vale of tears, - let the Littlest Suffering Souls remind you that this present life is not all there is; let the Littlest Suffering Souls point you to heaven and to Christ.
2019 Best Book Awards, Finalist: Religion: Christianity
2018 Catholic Press Association Book Awards, Second Place: Children's Books and Books for Teens
By discerning our deepest desires, we discover our truest selves. Today's popular culture thrives on telling us what we should do and who we should be. We need to have the prestigious job, the perfect relationship, the jam-packed social life, and we need to show it all off on social media. But can achieving those things provide the fulfillment that we all long for? Is there something bigger and better out there waiting for us? Tim Muldoon has counseled countless young adults on this very issue. In Living Against the Grain, Muldoon offers a field-tested strategy for those facing a time of transition to help them discern their deepest desires and discover their true purpose in and for this world. Each chapter focuses on a crucial aspect of decision making, such as traveling the unpaved road, discovering your calling, finding inner freedom, and loving authentically. Throughout the chapters, Muldoon poses reflective questions that make the material both personal and practical. By engaging in the unique discernment process found in this book, you'll be wholly equipped to find the path you were meant to follow and become the person you were created to be.
This is the book you need to master your anger so your anger won't master you. Popular TV host, clinical psychologist, and best-selling author Dr. Ray Guarendi incisively cuts to the heart of the matter to help you determine whether your anger response is justified -- and what to do when it isn't.
Dr. Guarendi unpacks for you the many types of anger and the types of people who suffer most from anger. For some, anger is a trait; for others, it is a state. Some are "wired fiery," with an anger that is always simmering or on a low boil, while the anger of others often comes and goes quickly.
You'll learn why feelings aren't neutral, and whether anger is a product of your nature or nurture. You'll also learn the difference between righteous and unrighteous anger -- and why those closest to us can anger us the most.
In his straightforward, engaging, and humorous style, Dr. Guarendi also unveils healthy strategies for coping with those who make us angry and how we can make choices to regulate our emotions. From this compelling, life-changing book, you will also learn:
The danger of harboring negative feelings
The surprising benefits of anger, as well as its liabilities
Pros and cons of venting anger and of holding it inside
The advantages of exercising self-control in the heat of an argument
Ways to take ownership of your thoughts, words, and actions
Best of all, this book will help you grow in virtue as you develop Christlike patience, charity, self-control, forgiveness, and humility in your relationships with others. By responding prayerfully and choosing to love deliberately, you will attain greater happiness, clarity of mind, and peace of heart.
This is the book you need to master your anger so your anger won’t master you. Popular TV host, clinical psychologist, and best-selling author Dr. Ray Guarendi incisively cuts to the heart of the matter to help you determine whether your anger response is justified ― and what to do when it isn’t.
Dr. Guarendi unpacks for you the many types of anger and the types of people who suffer most from anger. For some, anger is a trait; for others, it is a state. Some are “wired fiery,” with an anger that is always simmering or on a low boil, while the anger of others often comes and goes quickly.
You’ll learn why feelings aren’t neutral, and whether anger is a product of your nature or nurture. You’ll also learn the difference between righteous and unrighteous anger ― and why those closest to us can anger us the most.
In his straightforward, engaging, and humorous style, Dr. Guarendi also unveils healthy strategies for coping with those who make us angry and how we can make choices to regulate our emotions. From this compelling, life-changing book, you will also learn:
- The danger of harboring negative feelings
- The surprising benefits of anger, as well as its liabilities
- Pros and cons of venting anger and of holding it inside
- The advantages of exercising self-control in the heat of an argument
- Ways to take ownership of your thoughts, words, and actions
Best of all, this book will help you grow in virtue as you develop Christlike patience, charity, self-control, forgiveness, and humility in your relationships with others. By responding prayerfully and choosing to love deliberately, you will attain greater happiness, clarity of mind, and peace of heart.
Embark on an enchanted journey of well-being that begins in the Garden of Eden and concludes with a deeper and more intimate relationship with God.
Living in the Garden of Eden unites age-old wisdom with modern-day science to bring you the light of truth, a road map for optimal health and nutrition. It will help you identify deadly toxins in your environment and offers a comprehensive guide for eliminating sickness and disease. It contains three simple steps for effortless weight loss and increased energy, all through the spectacular benefits of a plant-based diet.
It s a powerful resource that everybody should own, a sure plan for regaining your health and a wealth of practical information. Begin the journey today. Experience a more natural state of living in paradise with God.
Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary are the only figures in the New Testament described as friends of Jesus. He enters the Gospel of St. John as mysteriously as he exits. After receiving word of Lazarus' illness, Jesus delays his departure, taking time which we imagine could have been cut short to save his friend’s life.
In this book on Lazarus' death and resurrection, we delve into the various circumstances of time and place to ponder why.
What did the Lord want to tell us about death? Was Lazarus truly dead? Why did Jesus announce his death, only to proclaim that he would awaken him? How does this event point to Jesus' own death and Resurrection?
For those who believe in Jesus Christ, no death is final. Jesus shows us that, through him, the kingdom of death is broken in two. He prefigures the glory of his own resurrection, following his tragic death on a cross, taking place only days after the raising of Lazarus.
Love Letters from Mom on What Matters Most; is a compilation of personal letters written by Patty Schneier to her three children as they mature into adulthood and venture out on their own.
Without preaching or scolding, she candidly discusses the joys of living a faith-filled life, what it means to be a Catholic in the world today, and why it matters. It is a book to inspire and encourage all mothers and their children—no matter what their age—to live for Christ, to strive for holiness, and desire Heaven.
A "must-read" for mothers who want to pass the faith on to their children!
This inspiring book contains admonitions, challenges, and encouragements for the reader to move up another step on the spiritual ladder. In short, these are spiritual self-help exercises for personal improvement.The gentle hints and suggestions come in the form of meditations and brief contemplative insights, which will help the hesitant inquirer who is making the first gestures towards inner contentment.
Having overseen the efforts of more than 200 Jesuit retreat houses and centers for spirituality, Fr. Tetlow is uniquely equipped to describe how the ordinary person in the 21st century can live out the extraordinary theology of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
The 40 concise meditations contained in Making Choices in Christ explore what Ignatian spirituality is and isn't; what it means to live by it; Ignatius's legacy to all who practice the spirituality; and its important concepts and experiences, most notably the Spiritual Exercises.
An ideal resource to be used before or during a retreat with the Exercises, this book can guide any layperson at any time toward a life-changing encounter with the living God.
By Antonio P. Villahoz
Many already appreciate the importance of spiritual direction in the interior life. But having a good director is not enough. One must also know how to make the most of spiritual direction.
This book will help you to prepare well for your time in spiritual direction. This spiritual direction book describes the four keys to a successful conversation with your director and offers a list of topics that should be covered. It will help you discern what is important and what is not important to talk about in spiritual direction.
Making the Most of Spiritual Direction is a helpful aid to beginners and to those with more experience, as well as priests and those entrusted with giving direction to others.
In this unusual book on the Gospel of Mark, the brilliant and prolific Peter Kreeft presents 252 contemporary questions that modern man asks about every aspect of the meaning of life, faith, love, suffering, friendship, death, eternity, God, Jesus and more.
He then gives an answer to each question taken directly from Mark's Gospel, which are always pointed and often suprising, and makes us ponder more deeply about the meaning of the Scripture passage in relation to our own lives. Kreeft says that Mark's Gospel is "the quickest and 'busiest' of the four - the Gospel for Americans." He describes the book as "a series of sudden shocks and surprises because that is how Jesus appeared to Mark and others who followed him - full of shocks and surprises."
Kreeft's goal of this book is for us to allow Jesus to speak more directly to us, to answer our questions in a personal and profound way, so that we will learn more about ourselves, and about Him. And thus how to know, love and follow Him more closely in our lives.
Here is the book that will help you discover how to be "fully alive." Esteemed theologian, Fr. Thomas Mullady, OP shares a fresh perspective on why you are called to union with God. He provides accessible and relevant answers on commonly asked post-Vatican II questions in Catholic theology, including Thomistic problems which have pervaded Catholic theology, both past and present.
Fr. Mullady offers solutions to debates and a springboard to launch an analysis of contemporary issues such as:
Masterfully, Fr. Mullady examines each topic from the perspective of faith and reason, and provides a new understanding of both the positive and negative contributions of the Catholic theologians of the last fifty years, including Karl Rahner, Henri de Lubac, Rene Decartes, Immanuel Kant, and Martin Heidegger. Through his wisdom you will clearly understand the interrelationship between the body and soul, and how this crucial unity affects our moral actions.
By seeking to follow the truth with openness of heart, your soul will begin to experience happiness on earth and attain the fullness of joy in Our Father's house in Heaven.
--Anderson Cooper, Anderson Cooper 360/CNN This seminal book, which has been called "one of the outstanding contributions to psychological thought" by Carl Rogers and "one of the great books of our time" by Harold Kushner, has been translated into more than fifty languages and sold over sixteen million copies. "An enduring work of survival literature," according to the New York Times, Viktor Frankl's riveting account of his time in the Nazi concentration camps, and his insightful exploration of the human will to find meaning in spite of the worst adversity, has offered solace and guidance to generations of readers since it was first published in 1946. At the heart of Frankl's theory of logotherapy (from the Greek word for "meaning") is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but rather the discovery and pursuit of what the individual finds meaningful. Today, as new generations face new challenges and an ever more complex and uncertain world, Frankl's classic work continues to inspire us all to find significance in the very act of living, in spite of all obstacles. A must-read companion to this classic work, a new, never-before-published work by Frankl entitled Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything, is now available in English.
In Mandate to Difference, renowned theologian Walter Brueggemann sets forth a new vision of the Christian church in today's world. Based on speaking engagements surrounding his critical passion and conviction that the church in this moment must set itself in tension with the rest of the world, these essays call the church to courageously defy political polarization, consumerism, and militarism.
Did you know that the whole world needs your "yes" to God?
In this book, Fr. Jeremiah Shryock shares how he learned this humbling truth from his personal relationship with Mary, and how we too can learn from her how to follow Christ with all our hearts.
"Fr. Jeremiah Shryock, CFR has written a truly beautiful book. Frankly, it is a must-read for everyone aspiring to enter more deeply into the life of holiness and Mary's role in leading souls to a total self-offering and surrender to God. Inspired passages and uniquely contemplative insights fill the pages of this book as Fr. Jeremiah ponders the mysteries of the Rosary and Mary's presence in the gospel accounts with a great heart of love. Fr. Jeremiah calls himself now a Marian hermit taught by Mary; clearly, he has been a very fine student and son in placing himself receptively before the profound instructions of his Virgin Mother." --Fr. Donald Haggerty, author of St. John of the Cross, Master of Contemplation, The Contemplative Hunger, Contemplative Provocations
"C.S. Lewis is the ideal persuader for the half-convinced, for the good man who would like to be a Christian but finds his intellect getting in the way." -- Anthony Burgess, New York Times Book Review
Our moral consciousness and moral judgements are proof to the human race that a moral being exists--God.
Mere Christianity explores the core beliefs of Christianity by providing an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith. A brilliant collection, Mere Christianity remains strikingly fresh for the modern reader and at the same time confirms C. S. Lewis's reputation as one of the leading writer and thinkers of our age.
The book brings together Lewis' legendary broadcast talks during World War II. Lewis discusses that everyone is curious about: right and wrong, human nature, morality, marriage, sins, forgiveness, faith, hope, generosity, and kindness.