Strangers to the City: Reflections on the Beliefs and Values of the Rule of St. Benedict


Michael Casey - 2005
    Benedict for decades, turns to the particular Benedictine values that he considers most urgent for Christians to incorporate into their lives today. Eloquent and incisive, Casey invites readers to accept that gospel living - seen in the light of the Rule - involves accepting the challenge of being different from the secular culture around us. He encourages readers to set clear goals and objectives, to be honest about the practical ways in which priorities may have to change to meet these goals, and to have the courage to implement these changes both daily and for the future. Casey presents thoughtful reflections on the beliefs and values of asceticism, silence, leisure, reading, chastity, and poverty - putting these traditional Benedictine values into the context of modern life and the spiritual aspirations of people today. Strangers to the City is a book for all who are interested in learning more about the dynamics of spiritual growth from the monastic experience.

The Devil is Afraid of Me


Gabriele Amorth - 2020
    All the while, he deftly used modern media to awaken our disbelieving modern culture — and even the Church — to the reality of the Devil and his nefarious actions at all times and everywhere.In these eye-opening pages, angelologist Father Marcello Stanzione tells the fascinating story of Father Amorth and his life as an exorcist. You’ll learn of his daily schedule and how he managed to perform dozens of exorcisms each week. You’ll find out what his exorcism room looked like, and how various devils responded to his bold practice. Best of all, you’ll read Father Amorth’s own startling explanations of many truths about the Devil that our culture has forgotten — and about the canny methods the Deceiver has adopted in recent years to corrupt believers and unbelievers alike. Among the many questions Father Amorth answers here are:•How can we recognize the action of the Evil One?•Can a person in the afterlife enter spiritually into a living person?•Which prayers of liberation are the most successful?•What are the four methods a demon uses to enter souls?•Can demons hide from an exorcist?•What are the six characteristics of evil spells?•Are all instances of clairvoyance managed by demons?•Is an exorcist infallible in his judgment and his ministry?•Why is there no longer any possibility of salvation for the fallen angels?•What are the arms of combat that each of us must use to do battle with evil?•And many more surprising facts about the Evil One and how to resist him.“We can do nothing against you because you are too protected!” cried the devils that Father Amorth battled. Let Father Amorth teach you in these pages how you, too, can be protected!

Ecclesia de Eucharistia: On the Eucharist in Its Relationship to the Church


Pope John Paul II - 2003
    Topics include: The theology of the Eucharist The importance of the Eucharist in the life of the Church The relationship between the priesthood and the Eucharist The Eucharist as a point of unity - and separation - among Christians The importance of the liturgy and following liturgical norms Mary as an example of our relationship to Jesus in the Eucharist

The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Prayers, Devotions and Reflections for September


Rita Bogna - 2011
    During September Roman Catholics commemorate and honour the Seven Sorrows (or Dolours) of the Blessed Virgin Mary by prayers, other pious devotions and meditations.The first part of this book consists of prayers and miscellaneous devotions.The second part is a step-by-step guide to praying the popular Rosary (or Chaplet) of the Seven Sorrows with selections of text from the Gospels.The third part is a set of Reflections on the Seven Sorrows written by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri.The book is fully navigable by an active Table of Contents with hyperlinks.

New Seeds of Contemplation


Thomas Merton - 1962
    Christians and non-Christians alike have joined in praising it as a notable successor in the meditative tradition of St. John of the Cross, The Cloud of Unknowing, and the medieval mystics, while others have compared Merton's reflections with those of Thoreau. New Seeds of Contemplation seeks to awaken the dormant inner depths of the spirit so long neglected by Western man, to nurture a deeply contemplative and mystical dimension in our lives. For Merton, "Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth plants something in his soul. For just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them: for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the soil of freedom, spontaneity and love."

Angels and Devils


Joan Carroll Cruz - 1999
    Among the many recent books about Angels, this has to be one of the very best, if not the very best yet. Definitely another Mrs. Cruz bestseller! Impr. 314 pgs 44 Illus, PB

The Face of Mercy


Pope Francis - 2015
     Pope Francis, beloved for his down-to-earth understanding of pastoral life, recommends that this Holy Year become a time for each person to grow rich in "living out in our daily lives the mercy" which God "constantly extends to all of us." Always the pastor of souls, he reminds us that mercy makes demands of us and offers suggestions so that everyone, lay and ordained, may give concrete expression to mercy in words and deeds. In this way we may all become "merciful like the Father," the motto of this extraordinary Holy Year. To deepen our understanding of mercy, the document develops three main themes. First, the theological understanding of mercy is accessibly explained, along with its foundational role in the lives of individuals and in the pastoral ministry of the Church. Secondly, practical suggestions for living out the Holy Year are offered, ranging from making a pilgrimage to refraining from judgment and gossip. Lastly, specific appeals for conversion and the acceptance of God's mercy are made to those involved in corruption on various levels. The Catholic Church's tradition of Holy Years dates back 700 years. Until now, the Church has celebrated 25 jubilees, but only two "extraordinary" jubilees. Pope Francis, with The Face of Mercy, has now proclaimed the third extraordinary jubilee, which will come to a close on November 20, 2016, the Solemnity of Christ the King.

Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation: 31 Bible Verses About Faith - To Keep You Overcoming! (Daily Devotional)


Gloria Coleman - 2012
     Scroll up and grab a copy today.

Possession, Exorcism, and Hauntings


Adam C. Blai - 2014
    Mr. Blai is an auxiliary member of the International Association of Exorcists, a peritus of religious demonology and exorcism in the Roman Catholic church, and he trains priests in exorcism and deliverance on a national level in the United States. He has worked on demonic cases for about 10 years and has combined this with his professional training in adult clinical psychology, brain research experience, and clinical exposure to mental illness. This unique perspective and experience has been summarized here for the public audience.

Saint Padre Pio: In the Footsteps of Saint Francis


Michael J. Ruszala - 2014
    Pio of Pietrelchina has emerged as a figure of immense popularity, attracting fascination, veneration, and also emulation. Padre Pio, who once wrote in a letter, “I am a mystery to myself,” is certainly a mystery to all who know of him. To those who moved beyond mere credulity, he became an inspiration to embrace the fullness of faith. Perhaps that is why his shrine in outlying San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, is second only to the Vatican itself in annual number of pilgrims and why Italian Catholics now report to praying more for St. Pio’s intercession than for that of any other saint. This book is a concise introduction to Padre Pio’s life, especially as compared to the example and journey of his spiritual father, St. Francis of Assisi. If St. Francis is said to be the most popular saint of all time, Franciscan Capuchin Padre Pio is perhaps the most popular saint of our times. Given that he passed only in 1968, it is remarkable to think that such a spiritual “superhero” could exist in our modern age. Through not spared from misfortune, he was spared those things that cloud us from perceiving the world in a truly spiritual way. Perhaps that is why Padre Pio offers us just the message we need to hear.

Meditations Before Mass


Romano Guardini - 1955
    Meditations before Mass is a wise, pastoral, and timeless classic on preparing for Mass-it is an example of twentieth-century theologian Romano Guardini at his very best. Meditations before Mass was written before Vatican II, but its relevance has endured over the past sixty years. Not a "how to" book for either the old or the new Roman Rite, it is instead a spiritual feast for the mind and heart, and a guide for modern people who wish to make sense of the Church's feasts and liturgies. Meditations before Mass has helped thousands of readers participate more fully in Christian liturgy and continues to do so today.

Way of Mastery


Shanti Christo Foundation - 2004
    Contains CD "A Meditation into the Heart of Christ"

The Book of Common Prayer and The Scottish Liturgy


The Episcopal Church in Scotland - 2011
    You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Meditations for Lent


Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet - 2014
    . . which is precisely what we are called to do in Lent!

Take Heart: 100 Devotions to Seeing God When Life's Not Okay


Grace Cho - 2020
    "But take heart, I have overcome the world."If life hasn't turned out the way you planned, you're not alone. Cancer comes. Loved ones die. Spouses leave. Dreams slip through our fingers. Anxiety and depression steal precious seasons. But what if you knew you weren't alone in your pain, and sorrow isn't in the end of the story?In this 100-day devotional, the (in)courage community comes alongside you when your heart is grieving, your faith is shaking, or it's just one of those mundane hard days. In these vulnerable stories, you won't find tidy bows or trite quick fixes, but you will find arrows pointing you straight to Jesus. Each day includes a key Scripture, a heartening devotion, and a prayer to remind you that God is near and hope is possible.Let this book be like a trusted friend, wrapping your heart with comfort and assurance that you are seen. Together we can find ourselves and God again in one another's stories. Together we can take heart!