Lectio Divina, Latin for “sacred reading,” is an ancient way of praying with the word of God. Many today are using this ancient art of prayer to contemplate Scripture.Though Lectio Divina took shape in a variety of forms through the centuries, its roots are in early monasticism and the desert fathers. It was used mostly in the more literate religious communities through the centuries but is growing in popularity among laity, religious, and ecumenical groups today.How do you...

From the cross, Christ gave his mother to be mother of all Christians and of the whole Church. Her tender care and intercession in turn have long been sought by means of this devotion, and captured in the image of the celebrated icon dating from the fourteenth century. The devotion’s history is here explained and accompanied by a rich collection of appropriate prayers, litanies and novenas, for private and communal use. Cardinal Nichols has written a preface to this edition because he was ...

The novenas in this booklet are for those who wish to experience the richness of a time-honored prayer experience. Includes novenas to the Most Holy Trinity, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Saint Joseph, and a host of devotional novena prayers to a wide variety of saints, including Saint Jude, Saint Gerard Majella, and St. Anthony. Perfect for personal use, and inexpensive enough to purchase in larger numbers for groups.Deluxe...

In keeping with the exhortation to pray always, this deluxe pamphlet includes a treasury of prayers for a wide variety of events in the life of a parish, as well as a collection of prayers for those who work in service to the parish. In Parish Prayers and Devotions, you will find seasonal prayers that reflect the parishs experience of the liturgical year Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time. This prayer companion also includes prayers for pastoral ministers, parish...

"Why are you weeping?" was the question the angels put to Mary Magdalen at the tomb of Jesus. Mary Magdalen's grief was real and it was deep. But as she expresses her grief, the Risen Christ himself comes to her and says, "Mary!" Jesus comes to us, too, who mourn the death of those we have loved. The reflections contained in this booklet are designed to bring us into contact with the compassion of Jesus as we struggle with questions of faith and feelings of loss in the face of death. It al...

Self-esteem is a psychological concept rooted in human nature. Yet, people need an understanding of self-esteem that is healthy, Christian-based, and nourishing. This book synthesizes the ways psychology and theology approach the issue of self-esteem. It shows how our psychological natures relate to and form the basis for our spiritual selves, and conversely, how our spiritual life enlivens and enriches our human lives.Whatever form of "higher power" you believe in, this book, root...

"The prayer with power to touch the heart and shape the soul."The Our Father--For nearly two millennia, Christians the world over have learned it by heart, recite it frequently in the quiet of their hearts, in their private devotions, and when celebrating the Eucharist. Yet its immense popularity over the years has had the unwanted effect of weakening its hold over the Christian imagination and turning it into an unwelcome harbinger of the status quo. It has for many become a "toke...

The beatification of Francis Xavier Seelos (1819-1867) by Pope John Paul II on April 9, 2000, came as a surprise to many Catholics who had never heard of this humble Redemptorist missionary priest. This informative biography provides a much-needed sketch of Blessed Francis X. Seelos' life and work.The holiness of Blessed Francis X. Seelos consisted not in heroic deeds as the world considers them, but in faithfully and joyfully performing his daily duties, and bearing his daily cros...

Beginning with a brief history of the Church's devotion to St. Joseph, this deluxe pamphlet traces the Saint's popularity and importance from early Christian times to our own day. A section of contemporary prayers helps us to understand the special significance that St. Joseph's intercession can have in our daily lives, while traditional prayers remind us of Joseph's example as a trusting servant of the Lord. Feast day meditations and a section of special devotions complete this inspiratio...

What happens to a community when it is destroyed by a foreign power? How do survivors face the future? Is it all over for them? In Constructing Exile, John Hill investigates how the people of ancient Judah survived invasion and destruction at the hands of the Babylonians. Although some of them were deported to Babylon, they created a new identity for themselves, and then, once they were back in Judah, they tried to recreate the past. Hill examines the way that later generations used the ex...

Recognized for his exceptional holiness, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos was the only American to be beatified in Solemn Jubilee Year 2000. A contemporary of St. John Neuman, this humble Redemptorist missionary was noted for his love of the poor, his preaching of the Gospel, and his service to all in need. Father Seelos died from yellow fever in 1867 while ministering to victims of the disease. This novena recalls the virtue and example of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.Deluxe pam...

Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696–1787), bishop and doctor of the Church, taught us how to practice forgiveness in our daily lives. A spiritual practice that includes healing, discernment, and calming those feelings of guilt and anxiety will lead you to peace—through forgiveness. St. Alphonsus’ method has been successfully used for generations by people like you who seek to deepen their relationship with God and make a difference in the world.Deluxe pamphlet