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In this dynamic and authoritative book on the spiritual life, Cardinal Robert Sarah shows us how to enter into and progress through the spiritual life.

Sometimes it's easy to simply say the words of the Psalms without really praying them. Our minds are so easily distracted by the many cares of the world. But what if you discovered that these sacred prayers relate directly to your concerns? Here is the book that will help you read the Scriptures with devotion even when you're struggling, pray with your heart, and find consolation in God's Word speaking into your life. Dr. James Papandrea provides you with a new English translation of Psalms carefully selected as most conducive to worshipful prayer so that you can make them your own and pray them with the same relish and fruitfulness as did the early Christians and monastics. This book will help you to pray in the spirit, go deeper into contemplation, and speak to God in every circumstance of your life. As you enter into Divine worship through these prayers, your faith life will be renewed and you will be refreshed by the Lord's loving kindness and mercy. In these enlightening pages, you will learn: The four stages of Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading) to apply in praying the Psalms How to speak to God with the ancient prayers of the Psalms Techniques to immerse yourself in the Psalms and hear God speaking to you Ways God fortifies you and helps you overcome temptations How to pray the Psalms to intercede for others and give thanks to God Breathing prayers with the Psalms to quiet your mind and rest in God's love Praying the Psalms has the power to transform your prayer life and enhance your ability to worship and rest in the Lord. A handy "mood index" is included to help you quickly locate the psalms that relate best to the state of mind you're experiencing.

Joseph Cardinal Zen of Hong Kong offers these stirring, spiritually enriching meditations to lift the souls of Catholics worldwide to God this Advent season. From his place in retirement, this prince of the Church invites the wider world to wait with him for the coming of the Messiah to redeem humanity and restore all things to Himself.Collected from Cardinal Zen's homilies and pastoral letters during a time of social and political tension, these reflections bring hope to Christians searching for peace and serenity. His Eminence will help you appreciate the Advent and Christmas seasons as never before and deepen your relationship with the Holy Spirit while awaiting Christ's return to break the chains oppressing mankind.You will discover the priorities to focus on during Advent and the attitudes to cultivate for your salvation. You will encounter the Holy Family and delight in the Epiphany, the "outburst" of our salvation. You will come to see how the Magi model the reverence and worship we owe to our Eucharistic Lord and how to approach Our Lady with childlike trust and total surrender.Cardinal Zen's inspired reflections will fill you with joyful expectation, prayerful penance, and spiritual preparation as you look to the salvation history of the past, and your present redemption being accomplished now.

The mystery of death strikes at the core of the human soul. We instinctively recoil at the pain of losing loved ones, and as we grapple, we are quick to seek remedies to console ourselves. There is no one better suited to assuage our grief than the translator of the Bible, St. Jerome (ca. 347-420). This book presents -- for the first time in English -- a fresh translation of seven of his most moving letters that sought to soothe his friends who suffered the loss of spouses, children, relatives, and loved ones.You will be struck by the relevance of St. Jerome's words to your experiences of grief today. You will learn how to find peace after the death of a dear one as St. Jerome, with palpable emotion, points to the hope promised in Christ's Resurrection. You'll also learn to transform your loss into a new opportunity to follow the Lord more closely through deeper Christian living, a union that St. Jerome explains powerfully to his friends.This book begins with an introduction that presents the challenge of providing solace to the suffering along with a summary of St. Jerome's long life and of his theology of consolation. Each of the seven letters is contextualized with a brief paragraph about the people and the situation at hand as well as key themes for the contemporary reader's focus.These precious letters reveal the compassionate heart of this enigmatic and eminent Church Father. By reflecting on the words that he used to hearten his spiritual children, you will be comforted in your own grief and fortified to support others in theirs. In these invaluable letters, you will encounter: A mother whose daughter led a worldly life until just a few months before her deathAn elderly bishop mourning the death of his young priest nephewAn influential and holy widow and widower grieving the deaths of their spousesA wealthy man who lost two of his little daughters and his wife in close successionEarly Christians who converted, led lives of heroic charity, and became saintsSt. Jerome also encourages those who remain in their grief to consider the blessings they received from the lives of their loved ones and to look forward to a happy eternity together with them in Heaven. After reading his letters, you will never think of death in the same way again.

"Every marriage is an event in human history," declared renowned preacher Msgr. Ronald Knox, articulating the animating principle of Bridegroom and Bride. "In the tapestry that Divine Providence weaves out of our lives, love of man for woman and love of woman for man" is the underlying structure. Msgr. Knox delivered a treasure trove of wedding homilies -- whether at the marriages of earls or those of numerous former students whom he served as chaplain. The result is this classic spiritual gem of a collection containing twenty-four wedding sermons befitting for both engaged and married couples as well as all seekers of genuine human affection. Each chapter is "the kind of thing for which five minutes is too short and ten minutes is too long." With his customary charm, wisdom, and assurance, Msgr. Knox underscores the goodness and beauty of human love. Taking its cues from the features and Scripture readings of the nuptial liturgy, these precious pages i

His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke unpacks in a clear, concise way the history and significance of the Catholic Church's long-held teaching regarding who is worthy to receive Holy Communion -- and who is not.

Murder, a true crime scene, controversies, leading scientists' investigations, and a startling NASA study. "An incredibly detailed image of the man on the Shroud shocks the world and befuddles believer and skeptic alike. How to explain such a phenomenon?" writes Robert Orlando, award-winning writer, filmmaker, and director.When Orlando was first approached about making a documentary about the Shroud of Turin, he was skeptical of the project--and the Shroud itself. Then he came across conflicting opinions in history and science. This, along with his desire to learn more about the life of Jesus and make sense about the final things, led him to investigate "a new crime scene." This book was inspired by his new documentary with the same title."The murder of Jesus of Nazareth, a carpenter from a small town outside Jerusalem, became the most historically debated crime scene in all recorded history," Orlando explains. "Not only do people debate the historicity of the event, but unlike most other crime scenes, there's a religious element. The murder of this simple carpenter somehow launches the largest, most widespread religion of modern times."Through his scholarly research and his detective work, Orlando fascinatingly connects historical, archaeological, scientific, art, and theological research to unveil: Evidence that dates back to the time and place of ChristThe results of a startling NASA study and leading scientists' researchA biblical clue to where the Shroud may have been hiddenWhat Jesus really experienced according to science, history, and ScriptureA miraculous healing from the Shroud following the Resurrection Also included is a timeline of the Shroud's history and an introduction to the key witnesses of Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection. While retelling the story of Christ through the lens of ancient customs and traditions, Orlando breaks open the mysterious discovery of the Shroud.In these gripping pages, Orlando lays out numerous opinions and fact-based arguments, and systematically separates fact from fiction. He raises the question: Is the Shroud the connection between faith and science? If the Shroud really is the burial cloth of Jesus, it is the key to unlocking the world's greatest mystery and shedding light in an age of disbelief. In the words of Orlando, "The death of Jesus is the most consequential death in human history."

Sometimes real breakthroughs in your spiritual life come about only after searing self-examination. Dom Hubert van Zeller encourages "seeking the face of the Lord always," adding that "the whole of our effort of faith, exercised throughout life, amounts precisely to this." When it is pursued properly and consistently, countless benefits, spiritual and otherwise, soon follow.A Carthusian monk, Dom van Zeller produced works that became exceedingly popular in the 1950s. He had the rare gift of translating monastic spiritual wisdom, developed over centuries, into clear, practical advice for ordinary Catholics seeking to deepen their prayer lives. The Inner Search, one of his most enduring and readable books, takes as its point of departure the psalmist's exhortation to seek the Lord's face continually and reveals: The single most powerful "vitalizing factor" in the spiritual lifeFive things that foster the gift of spiritual "discernment"What spiritual "over eagerness" is, and how it can hamper the action of grace The bad habit to which almost every excess in the spiritual life can be traced The worldview that leads to perpetual frustration -- and the worldview that leads to happiness Three ways God "exactly fits" our spiritual sufferings to our souls' specific needs and capacitiesDom van Zeller explores false ideas about God's will that impede our progress toward sanctity and explains how to recognize and correct them. He also explains the root cause of unhappiness and the single issue on which our lives will be judged. (Can you guess?)You will come to understand the relationship between the ascetical life and mystical life and the importance of mental prayer and charity. You will also be consoled by the way the Holy Spirit works to make us contemplatives in the midst of the world. Moreover, you will see what it means to "discover Godpresent in the soul" (an important step in spiritual progress) and how best to attain this union with the Holy Trinity here on earth."The saints are those in whom there is least obstacle to the life of Christ within the soul," van Zeller reflects. In this profound and penetrating classic, you will find out how to open your heart more fully to receive all the graces God wants to give you.

This classic book has a uniquely rich history of helping people learn how to recognize -- and eliminate -- common obstacles to their spiritual development. In this groundbreaking work, Dr. Rudolf Allers, a pioneer psychologist and a contemporary of Freud, proves the importance of religion -- and Catholicism in particular -- by arguing that only the Catholic view of man can explain abnormalities and produce positive personality changes. Among all the psychologists of his time, Allers alone linked moral and spiritual growth to mental health. In this gem of a book, you will find an in-depth yet accessible explanation of how character is shaped in childhood and afterward. This trusty guide will help you in rooting out character defects, curing (and preventing) developmental problems, strengthening virtues, and recognizing dormant potential in both children and adults. You will discover keys to spiritual growth that is steady and lasting, including: Three forces that shape character Four factors that lead to antisocial behavior in children The virtue most critical to -- and the vice most destructive of -- steady personal growth Common personality types and their problems Typical ways we deceive ourselves and inhibit real self-knowledge The roles environment and heredity play in the formation of character Do you, or does your child, have a faulty "character ideal"? If so, you will learn how this can cause misdirection and poor decision-making. You will also find out character differences between males and females and discover why the formation of character is linked with the nature of moral and religious life. Dr. Allers, an esteemed friend of Edith Stein and mentor of Hans Urs von Balthasar and Viktor E. Frankl, also unpacks how a widely held Protestant belief about man's nature -- shared by some Catholics -- can stunt psychological growth. He specifies mistakes to avoid in child-rearing (early childhood and adolescence) and the proper family environment in which to foster high achievement in children. Additionally, he explores leniency versus severity in child-rearing, what to do about "difficult" children, and the essential ingredient of effective punishment. Central to Allers's unique approach is his certainty that dramatic character transformation comes despite fixed habits and past mistakes. He proves this, placing the highest value on the Church's accumulated wisdom about human nature and drawing freely from Scripture, the lives and writings of the saints, and the teachings of great theologians. Significantly, you will grasp the root causes of common problems such as anxiety, bed-wetting, compulsiveness, daydreaming, defiance, discouragement, disillusionment, effeminacy, gossip, homosexuality, impulsiveness, indecisiveness, insecurity, loneliness, dishonesty, oversensitivity, pridefulness, scrupulosity, promiscuity, speech impediments, suicidal tendencies, superstition, vengefulness, and weakness of will.

Due to the advancement of observable evil in our society, the topic of exorcism has increasingly come to the forefront in the West in this century. In Hollywood movies, exorcism has often been sensationalized and misconstrued. Although volumes have been written about demons and exorcism, little has been explained about what solemn exorcism really is within the larger context of deliverance ministry. But now, Church-decreed expert on demonology and exorcism Adam Blai thoroughly explores the roots of exorcism and breaks open its significance for you.You will find answers to wide-ranging questions such as: Is possession an exclusively Christian phenomenon, or is it a universal problem? Did exorcism exist before Jesus, or did He introduce it? If it predated Christianity, how did other cultures see it and deal with it? How do other world religions view the phenomenon of possession and exorcism? Are there other methods of confronting it besides the Catholic rite?Blai lays out how exorcisms were performed in the earliest days of the Church. Over time, a liturgical rite was developed and teachings were provided to safeguard the faithful in the practice of exorcisms.In these pages, Blai reveals: Twenty-one guidelines for exorcists, produced under St. Charles BorromeoFascinating examples of actual exorcisms (some made famous in movies!)Astounding examples of how saints helped drive out demons (even from the great beyond!)Which psalm is known for offering protection and deliverance from evil spirits (Can you guess?)The revolutionary way in which Jesus performed exorcismsYou will learn about how a harpist helped deliver King Saul of an evil spirit and how the spirits of giants tormented people. As you read about the evolution of exorcism, you will observe how strange practices sometimes occurred through the use of magic and superstition. You will also find five exorcism guidelines from the Middle Ages and four signs of genuine possession today.Additionally, you will see how the 1614 rite of exorcism differs from the 1998 rite. You will also find a helpful appendix about how to determine whether a disturbance is spiritual, mental, or medical. Extensive references are included throughout the book.

St. Paul asked some disciples, "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?" They replied, "We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Spirit" (see Acts 19:1-2). Incredible as it might seem after twenty centuries of Christianity, were St. Paul to ask the same question of a great many Christians today, he would receive an answer similar to that of those first disciples in Ephesus. Though the name "Holy Spirit" may be familiar to them, the vast majority of Christians today know very little of Him. But thanks to Fr. Marín, that is about to change. In these illuminating pages, you will discover the reason for this tragic forgetfulness, the sad result of the mass neglecting of the third Person of the Holy Trinity, and the way to cultivate a fruitful devotion to the Holy Spirit in your life. You will learn the rich theology of the Holy Spirit as set in Scripture and passed down through Church Fathers, Doctors, and mystics such as Bl. Columba Marmion. Additionally, you will come to fully understand and appreciate the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christ and the mission of the Church. As you discover His gifts and charisms, you will also learn: Four ways the Spirit of God appears in the Old Testament Practical methods to help you grow in docility to the Holy Spirit Three reasons the Holy Spirit is so unknown Ways the Spirit is revealed in the New Testament and through the sacraments Three harmful effects of not knowing and worshipping the Holy Spirit The one way for your soul to be practically and profoundly Christian Most significantly, you will experience the sweetness of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in your soul and how He showers you with sanctifying grace. You will take a deep dive into the mystery of the Holy Spirit's gifts and the means of fostering them in your life for your salvation. As you allow yourself to bask in the presence of the Spirit, you will grow in fidelity and adoring love and behold His fruits in your life. Above all, you will see how the Holy Spirit is the reciprocal love of the Father and the Son.

From prophecy to fulfillment, the Incarnation is the center of our holy Faith. This awe-inspiring classic will help you take a breath and ponder the hidden yet stupendous events surrounding this great mystery. You will be spiritually uplifted as you reflect upon insightful and stirring meditations -- thirty each for Advent and Christmas. Although the short reflections may be read in less than ten minutes per day, you may wish to spend time contemplating the mysteries and allowing them to nourish you again and again. Archbishop Alban Goodier provides a handy three-point summary for each meditation, as well as: Meditations on an event in Jesus' life that baffles human comprehension An explanation of how God bestows His favors on you, as He did on the Holy Family Popular prayers and devotions that sprang from Advent and Christmas Ways in which Our Lady shows you how to live both the contemplative and the active life Advent is a time to slow your pace of life, to be receptive, docile, and still, and to gaze at the beauty before you -- Almighty God, present, waiting in the womb of His chosen Mother. The Christmas season, likewise, is a time to rejoice in tranquil adoration before our newborn Savior's manger. Archbishop Goodier's masterful meditations on these sacred moments will awaken in you the powerful mystery of the Word made flesh. Archbishop Goodier guides you along from the Old Testament prophecies to the pure yes of Mary, from the stable birth to the daily life of Jesus in Nazareth. These soul-stirring meditations, drawing from the customs of the time, enliven the Gospel stories in a way that will enrich both your emotional and intellectual experience of the ultimate mystery of God's love for you. This keepsake book is a treasure for contemplating Our Lord as the Incarnate God who came to us little, poor, and vulnerable. Archbishop Goodier's reflections will aid you in raising your mind and heart to God and will nourish your prayers to the Infant Savior. You will grow in knowledge and devotion as you contemplate Jesus' hidden life and God's mercy in dwelling among us.

Here is the book that will help you climb St. Paul's "eight steps," to attain happiness, holiness, and Heaven. Best selling author Kevin Vost breaks open St. Paul's life and spirituality through the lens of St. Thomas Aquinas as well as other saintly and noble men and women. You will see how human knowledge (e.g. science and philosophy) point to the truth of the Divine and how the virtues St. Paul proposes in his letter to the Philippians lead to abiding joy.In this gem of a book, Dr. Kevin Vost reveals hidden treasures such as: Why St. Paul is a "four-in-one special" (You will never guess!)Three intellectual virtues that help us discover important truthsTwo fundamental senses of truth, and three vices opposed to truthEight aspects of the nature of truth according to AquinasEight types of justice and how you can exercise them in your lifeThe link between modesty and latria, dulia, and hyperdulia (Do you know?)Each chapter unpacks one of these outstanding virtues and contains an invaluable "Summing Up" section. Further highlighted are exemplary individuals to imitate in their exercise of the heroic virtue, from St. Dominic to Our Lady and St. Joseph to St. Agnes of Rome and St. Brigid to Aristotle and Cicero. Also contained are several handy tables that break down the teachings of St. Paul and St. Thomas in connection to the Sacred Scriptures and your daily life for easy referencing.You will find the six types of grace and their effects that God is waiting to pour into your life. Most significantly, you will find our practical ways to develop each virtue, the fruits that result, and how to reap them in your daily life. Thus you will see how loveliness begets friendship and much more.

Fr. Ed Broom has developed this powerful retreat that culminates in the total consecration to Jesus through Mary - and all it takes is a few moments each day!

Sometimes our best prayers can be the questions we ask. Bishop Robert J. Baker, S.T.D., explains powerful ways to pray when facing the pain of abandonment, serious illness or addiction, loss of a loved one, or large-scale disaster. He points to the growth that occurs when, in our darkest moments, we turn to God in humility and ask such authentic questions as "Why me, Lord?"; "Why now?"; "When will this pain subside, my God?"; and "How can I possibly get through this?" Prayers of Desperation ushers us through the fog of turmoil and helps us place our faith and trust firmly in God, despite our despair or lack of understanding. When we begin the prayer dialogue with God that Bishop Baker gently explains, God will answer. This engaging, comforting, easy-to-read prayer and meditation book is invaluable for those who are beginning their search for meaning in life as well as for those further along on their journey of faith. Bishop Baker masterfully guides you to the core of your relationship with God by offering: Solutions to help you unite your sufferings to those of Christ, including a stirring meditation on His Passion An understanding of the Real Presence that will enlighten you, inspire you with charity, and rid you of anxieties A solid answer and guidance to the question of what God's plan is for your life Lessons from St. Teresa of Calcutta's real-life experiences on the question "Where are you, God?" The spiritually intense avenues for human-divine encounters that bring you God's healing Explanations on why the Holy Mass, sacramentals, and devotions are key tools for getting your existential questions answered You will also learn important techniques for navigating through unplanned or unwanted situations, and the proper spirit in which to pray the "How?" prayer. Moreover, you will gain the confidence and ability to ask questions of God daily as you look to Him for motivation, inspiration, and understanding. Most significantly, you will find out who can be saved and the means through which redemption is attained. Bishop Baker includes at the end of each chapter a prayer, Scripture passages, quotes from St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, and a list of recommended readings on each topic. Far from suggesting a lack of faith, authentic questions asked of our Lord open our hearts to receive great graces and the gift of deeper wisdom during times of hardship. When we are receptive to listening to God, especially during challenging times, He speaks to us and reveals the truth of His healing love so that we can confidently and assuredly answer Jesus' question: "Who do you say that I am?"

Here is the book that shows you the road to happiness through the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle. It proves the relationship between the science of faith and human reason and how the truth will set you free in the hereafter and now. This book is invaluable for anyone who wants a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles of Catholic moral teaching. In these powerful pages, Fr. Mullady unpacks how the Church is called to help form the culture and not vice versa. He explains a spectrum of truths, from man's ultimate end, to the role of the will, to conscience and responsibility, to types of sins, virtues, and laws, and ultimately, to grace. Fr. Mullady soundly refutes relativism and explains the consistency in Church teachings using examples, such as Her teachings on birth control and capital punishment. He explains the connection between the intellect, the will, and the passions. He shows how moral teaching and theology must include a healthy respect for the law while encouraging interior formation in love, which the truth of the law seeks to foster. You will come to understand how authentic Catholic teaching applies to writings ranging from Karl Rahner's works to Pope Francis' Amoris Laetitia in light of the Catechismof the Catholic Church and St. John Paul II's Veritatis Splendor. From the sentimental morality in Hume's philosophy to the dutiful morality in Kant's, you will see how these philosophies led to errors in thinking from hedonism to voluntarism to rationalism. Moreover, you will learn about the correct understanding of the formation of passions and freedom and discover: The "feet" of the soul (and how to use them!) Two passions that aid in the attainment of a desired good Four qualities of actions subject to moral responsibility Aquinas's six arguments about what satisfies our intellect The key truth denied in modern psychology that leads to immorality Four reasons why human destiny cannot exist in exterior goods

Beloved spiritual master and psychologist Fr. Benedict Groeschel tackles an array of personal questions in his refreshingly frank, conversational way. With his characteristic wit and wisdom, Fr. Groeschel addresses everything from hot-button topics in the Church to ways to explain what Catholics believe to advice on increasing your devotion to our Eucharistic Lord.In answering more than a hundred questions selected from Fr. Groeschel's epochal EWTN Sunday Night Live show, he candidly, concisely, and compassionately shares insights from his clinical and practical experiences about: Divorce, remarriage, and same-sex attractionWho is really allowed to receive Holy Communion at MassWhat to do when you're at your wits' end over family discordHow best to approach forgiveness -- of others and of selfHow you can help restore reverence and awe at MassDepression and fruitful ways to combat itInterestingly, Fr. Groeschel also reveals what happened when he almost died and how you should approach the afterlife. He further explains the sacraments and the mystery of God's grace in your life. You will find tips on how to discern God's will, assess the value of literature and other media, and arm yourself against the devil's tactics.You will also learn how to make better confessions (it's easier than you may think!), overcome grief, and hold on to hope in times of suffering and darkness. Fr. Groeschel discusses crises from liberalism to vocation shortages to abuse, and elucidates the mindset behind abortion, other life issues, and attacks against the Church.Through examples of various saints' astounding confidence in God, Fr. Groeschel explains why you should trust in God's mercy. You will also learn the secret to keeping the Faith in a dying culture and how to win your loved ones back to the Faith (you will be surprised!). Fr. Groeschel also breaks open Marian devotion, the roles of science and religion, and how to show in your daily living what it means to be a true Christian.

"In his lighthearted style, Dr. Ray explains that the secret of a good marriage is applying a handful of commonsense, time-tested ideas practiced by others who have done it well. Each chapter in this book presents a baby step you can take, encouragement to overcome resistance to taking that step, and a fictional couple in a dialogue with an anonymous therapist (guess who!)."--Back cover.

En estas páginas, Madre Angélica responde a estas y a muchas otras preguntas de otro mundo, no Madre Angélica como maestra, sino Madre Angélica como mística.

"In times of escalating evil, exorcists fine themselves in greater demand. Here is a never-before-published collection of questions and answers that takes you beyond Hollywood hyperbole and deep into Fr. Amorth's real-life private world, giving you a harrowing vision of his daily battles with the devil and a fascinating glimpse into his sacred ministry." [taken from back cover]

Above all other blessings, the most precious gifts of the Trinity to us are the Mass and the Eucharist. In this book, Sr. Mary Ann Fatula will sit with you at the feet of the saints and ponder with them these sacred Mysteries. The saints will become your friends and companions, teaching you about the immeasurable blessings the Lord gives us at Mass and through the most precious sacrament of the Eucharist.

This book provides the directions and indications needed to carry out the various rites found in the liturgical books of the Catholic Church. Its scope is limited to those sacraments and sacramentals which the typical parish clergy are most likely to celebrate on a regular basis. Msgr. Caron's approach draws upon the traditional practice of the Roman rite as it pertains to the postures and gestures of the various rites. It is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to all the options or choices found in each rite. Rather, it is meant to provide a picture of what the celebration of each sacrament or sacramental could look like when taking into consideration the immemorial customs which have grown up around the public worship of the Roman Catholic Church.

In this beautiful thirteen page booklet, you will learn what the Sacred Scriptures and Church Fathers said about wearing a veil, as well as the rich theological and symbolic meanings behind the tradition.

Here is a joy-filled book about God's personal love of each and every person. Servant of God Madeleine Delbrel, was a model for Christian living in the world, choosing to live the Good News among poor and unbelieving people. Every person interested in lived-Christianity in today's atheistic culture should find this book worth reading over and over again.