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An Exorcist Explains the Demonic: The Antics of Satan and His Army of Fallen Angels is a gripping and insightful book written by Gabriele Amorth. Published by SOPHIA INST PR in 2016, this book delves into the genre of supernatural and religious beliefs. Gabriele Amorth, a renowned exorcist, shares his knowledge and experiences on the demonic world, providing a comprehensive understanding of Satan and his fallen angels. This book is not just a fascinating read, but also a guide for those seeking to understand the complex world of the supernatural. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the dynamics of good versus evil. From the publisher SOPHIA INST PR, this is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, while expanding your understanding of the unseen world.

"'The world is too small,' Saint Frances Cabrini (1850-1917) once declared. 'I would like to embrace it all, to reach every corner.' This compelling, authoritative biography chronicles the astounding life of a petite Italian-born religious sister who, with the heart of a missionary, conquered all odds to become the first American citizen canonized a saint. Theodore Maynard traces Cabrini's journey from her humble beginnings in northern Italy to her pioneering mission across the United States serving the poor and the sick on a massive scale. Between her work with immigrants (in New York, Denver, Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans, and beyond), her building of schools, orphanages, and hospitals, and her founding of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Cabrini's entrepreneurial work would change the course of American history, marking it with Christ's mercy. Maynard draws his material directly from the official files for Cabrini's canonization, from her letters, and from interviews with Missionary Sisters who were close to her. What emerges from this complex portrait is a woman of boundless compassion, courage, and energy, whose legacy continues to inspire people around the world today"--Amazon.co

A humble prayer calls down fire from above, and as we learn to live a life rooted in prayer, this heavenly fire grows into a profound awareness of the presence of God. This is the deepest purpose of prayer, and making this journey is essential for reaching the heights of holiness for which we were made. In "Fire From Above," Dr. Anthony Lilles, Academic Dean at St. John's Seminary in California, shows you how to put your whole life in conversation with the Risen Lord within the Catholic tradition of spirituality. The wisdom of great saints and mystics will help you discover how to surrender your pride and appeal to God with humble trust, and how prayer addresses your deepest human needs. Dr. Lilles then shows you how the mystery of prayer unfolds, and how God provides heroic levels of courage and deep internal resolve through humble and persevering devotion. You'll examine how spiritual battles and dryness in prayer are essential to reaching communion with God, including the dark night of the soul. In these remarkable pages, you'll also explore: Why finding time to pray is always possible and necessary even when life is busy How the proper use of sacramentals can render the heart more vulnerable to God's saving power while protecting it from evil. Practical ways to confront self-deception and other challenges to contemplative prayer. How forgiveness and bearing hardships are means for spiritual maturity The indispensible role of Our Lady in the life of faith Read these pages, and you'll soon embark on the epic adventure which is the life of prayer, and you'll find encouragement to desire neither the goods nor the experiences of this world, but instead to pursue alone the Lord and His divine plan for your life.

In wise and consoling letters written to a mother sorrowing over the death of her child, Fr. Franois Ren Blot, S.J., summons the Church's greatest saints who testify with one voice that death's wound, though grievous, separates us but a short while from those who have died before us. Acknowledging that profound sorrow at the death of a loved one is appropriate, Fr. Blot nonetheless gives us reasons to be joyful even in the midst of our sorrow: not only will we be reunited with our loved ones in heaven, but we can also look forward to our friendships being perfect, free of all selfishness and regrets. Moreover, the saints say, in heaven we will love and know the love of countless souls we never met on earth, our Guardian Angel, and all the choirs of angels! Soon after it was written, a Catholic Cardinal called this book "a pearl set in the fine gold of the doctrine of the Fathers" and a newspaper declared that it "deserves a distinguished place in all Christian libraries and should be on the table of every pious family that faithfully preserves the memory of its deceased members." Let the saints' testimonies in these beautiful pages assuage your grief and renew your hope! Let them increase your gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ whose death on the Cross opened heaven for us, and made these heavenly reunions possible!

In its mother's womb, a tiny baby grows, explores the waters, and talks with the angel who is there. These gentle illustrations and wise words tell the story of that baby and the angel in the waters . . . a story that delights all children, because the journey from conception to birth is their story, too.

She's the simple peasant girl they call the Queen of Heaven. She's the Lord's humble servant, yet an icon of womanly strength. She's ever virgin and the mother of all. Sinners fly to her, but an angel bowed! She's Mary, the mother of Jesus: the most recognized woman in history. And the most misunderstood! Many Protestants grudgingly acknowledge that someone had to bear the Savior, but they otherwise regard Mary as an ordinary, sinful woman. Even if you're a Catholic who grew up with a statue of Mary next to your bed, you probably don't understand her as well as you think or should. Do you know the Church's four essential Marian doctrines? Do you know how these doctrines are rooted in Scripture and Sacred Tradition? Can you explain to others the difference between the Immaculate Conception and the Virgin Birth? Can you share the messages and secrets of Mary's most famous apparitions? Meet Mary: Getting to Know the Mother of God is a slim volume written by renowned Marian expert Mark Miravalle, and it will help you answer these questions and more! After reading these pages, you'll know the faithful truth about this woman of contradictions: everything the Bible says about her, what the early Christians believed, and each of the key teachings the Church has proclaimed about her for 2,000 years! Even more important for Mary herself desires to be known intimately, not academically you'll learn how to enter into a personal relationship with her. You'll come to regard her not as a distant and unapproachable figure in the heavens, but as a real friend and mother. Most of all, you'll become a better disciple of Jesus. For the Son commands us to imitate Him in all things including perfect love of His Mother.

St. Francis de Sales carried a copy of this book in his pocket for 18 years! Its wisdom formed his soul; it inspired him to a life of the deepest devotion, and ultimately it helped him become one of the Church's greatest saints. Now this book can do the same thing for you. It's no longer fashionable to speak of the Christian life as a "battle," but there's actually no better way to describe the tug-of-war for your soul that's raging right now between the forces of light and darkness. Here, Dom Lorenzo Scupoli helps you take your proper part in this spiritual battle so that you can win decisively the war for your soul. This book has been loved by saints and sinners alike ever since it was written four hundred years ago. Why? Because it offers sensible advice to help you overcome spiritual obstacles and achieve spiritual perfection. Not only what, but how! Best of all, Spiritual Combat doesn't just tell you what you ought to be doing in order to live a truly Christian life it also shows you how to do it. These directions include: -Seven reflections to help you be sorry for sinning -Twelve ways to think about death they'll help you live better today! -Prayer: seven ways to achieve its full benefits -What to do when prayer is dry and burdensome . . . or simply impossible -With wise spiritual guidance like this and much more, you'll soon be winning all your spiritual battles battles that most people concede without a fight!

Rescued from obscurity after a full century out-of-print, My Daily Visit with the Saints brings you the sure, strong voices of over 65 saints and servants of God, spiritual giants who guided the Faithful from the time of the Apostles to the late 1800s and will help guide you today. In their days, soundbites had not yet drowned out the authentic voice of the Church and saints could preach boldly and without compromise Her unadulterated, perennial teachings. Rare are such occasions today, which is why, for your spiritual well-being (and for ours!), we have rescued from obscurity this grand collection of brief but telling passages from so many saints and servants of God, gathering them into 139 vital topics that serve not only as material for daily meditation but also constitute a monumental compendium of Catholic faith and life. In its nearly 400 eloquent pages, the strong, clear voices of the saints clarify doctrine and instruct in the authentic ways of devotion those who yearn to serve God wholeheartedly. Before your regular prayers, open for just a few moments My Daily Visit with the Saints or turn to it anytime you can carve out a moment or two for God. Therein you will find prayerful meditations, sure protection against sudden temptations, and lucid answers to sharp questions about the Faith. In a word, this one rich volume will serve you as a deep catechism, a spur to conscience, and a call to prayer. Let your daily visit with God's faithful servants breathe into you a strong new spirit of piety and devotion, and bring you the everlasting consolation known only to those who stay close to Jesus in all that they do.

Few books can provide such a penetrating, close encounter with a major Catholic event as Fr. McGlynn's Vision of Fatima. In these fascinating pages, Fr. McGlynn tells the remarkable story of his time with Sr. Lucia one of three witnesses of Our Lady's apparition near Fatima as she directed him in his sculpting the famed statue we know as Our Lady of Fatima. Fr. Tom's first encounter with Sr. Lucia was in 1947, thirty years after she and two other shepherd children witnessed the apparition of our Blessed Mother. He brought to her his initial sculpture which he had created in the United States, asking for her blessing and approval. But she refused, claiming it was all wrong. Fr. McGlynn protested that he be allowed to show artistic expression in the statue, but Sr. Lucia would have none of it. Fr. Tom remained at the Convent of Coimbra in Portugal to sculpt a new statue under Sr. Lucia's direction. She insisted Our Lady's hands be positioned just so, the tunic fall exactly the way she remembered, the star placed on the proper spot on the tunic, and the ball of light around her neck reaching almost to her waist. She would make corrections as he worked, and at times would even take one of the tools and make changes to his model. This book is Fr. Tom's account of his time with Sr. Lucia, her explanation of the messages of Fatima, and the spiritual meaning of the apparitions. There is no more fascinating and insightful book than this first-hand account of the Dominican priest who worked under the direction of a poor Portuguese nun who saw and spoke to Our Lady.

EWTN television host, Johnnette Benkovic, offers strategies to help you fulfill your most fundamental vocation in life: to grow in holiness and to be conformed to the image of God. Using Scripture and the teachings of Church, as well as the writings of the greatest saints and popes, Johnnette offers practical advice for developing a strategy that integrates into your life those spiritual principles that mark the interior life and will lead your soul to heaven.

"Do we believe that Jesus can heal us and bring us back from the dead?"Pope Francis Healing, in a word, is resurrection. "He forgives all your inequities, He heals all your diseases, He redeems your life from the pit, He crowns you with steadfast love and mercy" (Ps 103:3-4). Here retreat master, Ignatian trained spiritual director and author Kathleen Beckman offers a guide for a personal or group healing retreat based on Divine Mercy in Scripture and in the lives of the Saints. Beckman skillfully helps us to see how the "rays of divine mercy" heal families, marriages, the sick, poor, suffering, friends, enemies, laity, clergy, our vocations, doubters, believers, those with diabolical suffering, sinners, saints, the unborn, the elderly, children, the Church and the whole world. Each chapter concludes with a "profile in mercy" a reflection on a saint who was a vessel of mercy including Blessed Mother Teresa, St. John Paul II, Cardinal Francis-Xavier Nguyen, Venerable Conchita Cabrera, St. Maria Goretti, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Gianna Molla, St. Faustina, St. Peter and the Virgin Mary. Also contained in this book are scriptural spiritual exercises for healing: From unforgiveness to forgiveness From fear to trust From anxiety to peace From shame to mercy From pride to humility From powerlessness to prayer From sin-sickness to the Eucharist From spiritual weakness to the Beatitudes From worldliness to works of mercy From spiritual warfare to Christ's victory Healing the culture through works of mercy Believers long and desperately need to encounter the living, joyful, truthful majestic face of the Father of Mercyhealer and lover of humanity. These pages lead to a healing encounter.

Based on his study of great theologians and philosophers dating back to Aristotle, eminent philosopher and physicist Rev. Dr. Robert Spitzer devised his Four Levels of Happiness, asserting that whichever level dominates our lives will dictate our actions and determine the depth and endurance of our happiness. Incorporating examples from science, philosophy, psychology, and everyday life, Spitzer engagingly lays out achievable ways to ascend the ladder of happiness and find the fulfillment of all your desires.Whether you are religiously minded or a skeptic, you will explore the fascinating relationship between science and the transcendent and gain keys to attaining the heights of joy. You will discover: Four questions that will help you determine where you are on the happiness scale The essential ingredient for level-one happiness The endless loop people get stuck in with level-two happiness The keys to level-three happiness and what goes into deciding to move to level four Nine questions to ask yourself about others that will enlighten your mind and change your lifeYou will also learn about five transcendental desires that pull you up toward the fourth level of happiness and five cosmic inadequacies that drive you beyond the world of the senses.Through the lens of science, Spitzer sheds light on the origins of the universe and man and the benefits of supernatural faith. Additionally, he explains three types of prayer and methods for developing a personal relationship with the Creator to find lasting and authentic joy.Most significantly, you will find what it truly means to reach the level of transcendence. As you learn practical tips based on Ignatius of Loyola's Rules of Discernment, you will be empowered to live an enlightened, purposeful, joyous life. Above all, through Spitzer's logical, systematic reasoning you will see the beauty of Providence at work in you and how to open your heart to the power of love.

After the Holy Land and Rome, Santiago de Compostela draws more pilgrims than any other place in the world. For the first time for English-speaking readers, a priest-pastor chronicles the month-long life and times of a pilgrim on this storied walk. In an account both profound and delightful, Fr. Greg Markey relates the challenges he endured and the consolations he enjoyed along the much-celebrated Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James). Fr. Markey's peaceful journey along the five-hundred-mile trail -- Web-free, phone-free, and television-free -- generated an astonishing array of brief but potent spiritual reflections. Then forty-one years old, Father did not conceal his priesthood, choosing on the contrary to wear the traditional Roman collar. And, unsurprisingly, the fruitful conversations that resulted with pilgrims were reflective, sometimes serious, comforting, and practical. Throughout his arduous trek, as recounted in this book, Fr. Markey displayed both a keen mind and a pastoral heart. His mission was successful but not without incident, as he encountered a wide variety of Christians and unbelievers struggling or lost in personal crises, some reflecting upon great loss or rediscovering Christ as the focus of their lives. There was plenty of private time along the trail as well. Fr. Markey gleaned spiritual lessons for himself and his flock, to whom he wrote, and he chronicled them in a journal. Through his life-changing witness, you will discover: Stories of searching souls who were touched by a word of faith or a small gift Life lessons from the physical difficulties and temptations he endured on the Way How God unexpectedly speaks to us in our need through His Word and through others Why the Camino is a metaphor for life and the ways in which it attunes the soul to Divine Providence The encouraging bond that exists between Catholics from all places, ages, and walks of life You will also learn about the fascinating life of St. James the Greater and miracles of his intercession -- including more than twenty interventions on the battlefield -- as well as the discovery and authentication of his relics. Pope Benedict XVI's 2010 homily at Santiago Cathedral is also featured. "If there is a powerful lesson on the Camino, it is that I am no longer in control; and just when I have no more strength and no more options, He catches me, reminding me He is ultimately in control." -- Fr. Greg Markey

"A valuable contribution to the reflection on the relationship between science and religion, presenting very sound arguments with abundant documentation and a casual style that makes for an enriching and gratifying read." --Fernando Sols, professor of condensed matter physics, Complutense University of Madrid Here is the book you need to challenge atheists and agnostics to defend their ideologies logically and rationally and to fortify your own beliefs. In this distinctive book, which draws from all fields of science, José Carlos González-Hurtado presents a preponderance of empirical evidence for theism in a way that you can easily understand and explains how atheism twists reality to justify its view by "selective skepticism." This thoroughly documented incisive work will strengthen your view of the existence of God, regardless of your beliefs about evolution or lack of religious affiliation. González-Hurtado explains how the majority of mathematicians and scientists who are remembered for remarkable discoveries in mathematics, physics, quantum mechanics, chemistry, cosmology, biology, and more were theists -- and he provides many of their accounts. In these enlightening pages, you will find: How the Second Law of Thermodynamics, cited by Albert Einstein as the most important, points to God Answers about the Big Bang Theory, evolution, and other much-debated questions How NASA explorers confirmed the standard cosmological argument Ways in which mathematical theorems, statistics, and probabilities indicate God's existence Twenty constants that allow us to exist, and seven aspects of St. Anselm's ontological argument for God How St. Augustine's words were verified by scienceIn addition, González-Hurtado illustrates why string theory and multiverses are best left for Hollywood movies, how verified results in cosmic microwave background and other observations verify the creation of the universe, and how multiple attempts to support the "theory of the bouncing universe" are disproved.Although the science behind a Necessary Being is irrefutable, a small but vocal number of scientists refuse to accept the evidence. Some oppressive regimes have gone so far as to persecute or kill those who espouse cosmology, but Hurtado exposes these crimes and debunks their illogical thinking. You will learn the difference between creationism and Intelligent Design and what it really means to live by Darwinian laws. As even Stephen Hawking admitted, "The universe has not always existed; on the contrary, the universe, and time itself, had a beginning with the Big Bang."

Since the turn of the twenty-first century, there has been a heightened fascination with "Celtic Christianity," construed by some as a spirituality of semi-pagan sensibilities -- without rules, never united with Rome, and aligned with ecological and feminist concerns. Celtic prayers and "Celtic liturgies" continue to be fashionable in certain circles. This groundbreaking book presents a comprehensive authentic history of Christianity in Ireland in late antiquity for the first time.It is a little-known fact that there were Christians in Ireland before St. Patrick. In 2006, an astonishing discovery was made in Ireland. Found by accident in a peat bog was an early medieval Irish manuscript with Egyptian papyrus in the binding of the manuscript! How did that get there? This is tangible proof that Egyptian monks were in Ireland in the days of Late Antiquity -- proof of what art historians had long believed and archaeologists had recently concluded.This easily read book documents art, architecture, monastic traditions, manuscript writing, and liturgy from the time of the earliest Christians in Ireland -- and finds the evidence of influence from Egypt and Armenia.As you read about the origins and legacy of the first Christians in Ireland, you will learn: How the faith actually came to Ireland and who visited the Emerald Isle, according to artifacts left behind Where the first Christians in Ireland came from (you will be surprised!) and how they lived the Faith Who wrote the earliest non-liturgical hymns to Mary in Western Europe How great devotion to the Holy Eucharist there led to the construction of the first tabernacle The identity of the real St. Patrick For centuries, scholars denied the possibility of links between Ireland and the Mediterranean. However, some early Irish practices and customs were known only in the Mediterranean and not in Europe. For instance, author Connie Marshner reveals how Irish monasticism -- which eventually led to the Sacrament of Confession as we know it -- came from Egypt. She rediscovers magnificent hymns and prayers to Mary -- the earliest ever written. Additionally, she unveils the development of the celebration of the Mass and other liturgical prayers in Irish history, with roots in Eastern Christianity.Monastery and High Cross presents convincing evidence that the earliest Christians in Ireland came from the Mediterranean and brought with them deep asceticism, fervent devotion to the Mother of God, and the Gallican liturgy -- along with beehive huts, high crosses, and manuscript decoration. Careful footnotes and a collection of resources are presented for further exploration.

"Dr. Chaloux shows us that the Church's teachings on the Four Last Things (death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell) and the last day gives us hope and the perspective that God has our best interests at heart and will extend His love and mercy to all those who seek to follow Him in good faith. With suffering as his principal focus, Dr. Chaloux dives deeply into the underlying reasons for painful times and debunks common misconceptions that often result in applying false attributes to God. Moreover, he presents the various ways people experience love in their lives, oftentimes in unexpected ways, and shows how they ultimately lead to salvation. He recounts real-life stories of those who experienced brokenness and found healing and joy through God's love, even in moments of great distress. This study of the mystery of divine love explains the nature of love and how it is manifested in seven relationships known to us since antiquity. It shows how all these ways that we love have their foundation in charity, divine love, and depend on God for the spark that we all see when a friendship turns to love. Heaven's Currency explains that love is a capability to be grown, not a commodity to be accumulated -- and, hence, it increases rather than diminishes with use, and it can be lost forever if we choose not to share it. Jesus used parables, the Beatitudes, and the Commandments, as well as His life, Passion, death, and Resurrection, to teach us how to love divinely with sufficient intensity to share in His eternal life. Through the teachings of St. Paul, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and other saints, you will discover how divine love (or charity) is the true currency of Heaven. It emanates from God and is indeed the only thing that can be shared by both the living and the dead and that endures even beyond death. In Heaven's Currency, you will discover: How all love in infused into us by God, to be shared as widely as possible; How to recognize God's love in our lives, even in times of distress; How sharing God's love with others is part of God's plan for us and is the source of our happiness; How St. Thomas describes the order of love, what makes us more or less lovable in the eyes of God and of those around us; How following the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and the Works of Mercy teach us to love and become the best versions of ourselves. By following the true way of all your loves on earth and by being who God created you to be, you will also experience a taste of peace and happiness now and lasting joy in Heaven."--

St. Manuel González García, renowned as the Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle and acclaimed the greatest Eucharistic priest since the Curé of Ars, reflected: "I intend to awaken the curiosity, which in this case can truly be called holy, to understand and uncover what the Heart of Jesus in the Tabernacle does, says, and feels. I promise delightful surprises, invaluable discoveries, unimagined horizons, to those who allow themselves to be piqued by this curiosity."Through these profound yet practical meditations, sometimes written from the perspective of Jesus speaking to you, you will be guided into deeper intimacy with our Eucharistic Lord and inspired to share His love with others. Through this refreshing and transformative experience, you will discover: Why the Gospels lead us to the tabernacle, and the tabernacle leads us to the GospelsThe mission of those closest to Jesus in the Gospels and how to imitate themGreater fervor in receiving Holy Communion and praying in Eucharistic AdorationHow Jesus is neither idle nor silent in His Eucharistic PresenceThe three ways the Heart of Jesus looks at souls -- and how He looks at youThe secret to touching the Heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to receive healingThere is also a stirring section at the end of the book about what the Heart of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist says to priests.St. Manuel tirelessly wrote these reflections, originally published as articles, to "preach to active souls the necessity, importance, and fruitfulness of staying in the tabernacle because the Love who dwells there is not loved but is abandoned!" St. Manuel will show you how to cultivate awe and reverence as you bask in our Lord's Eucharistic Presence and let His power permeate your life. As your love of Jesus' Eucharistic Heart deepens, you will learn how to console Him as He consoles you and be inflamed to offer your life in witness to your faith.Above all, in the Holy Eucharist, you will encounter the Friend who always waits to listen to you with His Heart and always speaks to your heart. In the light of the tabernacle, you will learn how to grow in virtue, overcome temptation, and live without fear.

"Be converted and do penance for all your iniquities, and iniquity shall not be your ruin," wrote the Holy Spirit by the mouth of the prophet Ezekiel. The Magdalena Prayer Book provides you with ways to practice conversion through perfect contrition -- in the footsteps of St. Mary Magdalene, "Queen of Penitents" -- and to unite yourself spiritually to our Lord in the Holy Eucharist as often as possible throughout the day to help you in your struggle against sin.In this powerful devotional, you will uncover the theology and devotions that encompass the essentials of perfect contrition and spiritual communion. You will thus discover: The difference between perfect and imperfect contrition What to do when sacramental Confession isn't available The conditions for perfect contrition, according to the Church Why the habit of frequently examining your conscience is fruitful How God longs to shower you with His mercy for your salvationScriptural quotes on repentance and restoration are included and arranged by topic to help you develop a hatred for sin and the desire to confess and atone for your sins. Traditional prayers from the liturgy and the saints are also included to help you prayerfully cultivate the conditions for perfect contrition. Other features include a helpful examination of conscience, acts of spiritual communion, meditations on God's mercy, and guidance on making a good thanksgiving after Holy Communion.As you learn how to embrace the model of St. Mary Magdalene, The Magdalena Prayer Book will help you reach deep into your heart and develop a genuine sorrow for past and present sins. This vital resource presents a holistic approach to contrition and spiritual communion. It offers insights that complement the journey of a repentant sinner, providing solace and guidance in the absence of, or as a supplement for, sacramental Confession and Communion. These timeless devotions will benefit the repentant soul at every step along the spiritual journey -- from nurturing a profound love for God and a firm purpose of amendment to seeking unwavering confidence in the Divine Mercy of God.

In this game-changing book, Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., reveals how you can actively listen and open yourself to receive God's personal love for you in the Mass, where our Lord waits to quench your deepest longing and heal your wounds. Drawing from the wisdom of the saints, modern-day spiritual giants, and his own penetrating reflections, you will learn how to quiet your mind, stretch your heart, and become childlike in the sense of experiencing the sacred mysteries with wonder and awe.The Mass, as most Catholics are aware, consists of words and gestures through which the Church worships the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. But as far fewer Catholics know, the periods of silence are more than pauses or empty spaces, as Fr. Hicks explains. They are beautifully textured with prescribed prayers spoken quietly by the priest, meaningful images such as incense and chalice veils, and expectant faith ready to surrender or receive from God in particular ways. Learning how to attune our hearts to these silences can greatly increase the fruitfulness of our reception of grace at Mass. In these soul-enriching pages, you will explore the various textures of silence in general, the ways in which silence affects your interior life, and how silence can draw you into more intimate prayer. You will also find: How our Lady is the supreme model on how to cultivate active and receptive silence The secret to settling slowly into silence, relaxing, and entering into an inner dialogue with God Tips on how to commune with God in your heart and on practicing lectio divina What St. Benedict teaches on developing silence in prayer, speech, activities, and thoughtsFr. Hicks further guides you through each of the nine silent (secreto) prayers of the priest, the silent gestures in the Mass, such as the use of incense and the unveiling of the chalice, and the intentional periods of silence, including during the Liturgy of the Word and after receiving Holy Communion.You will discover the pattern through which divine life came to earth and how the fire of Christ's merciful love comes to the soul. Moreover, you will come to understand how your physical silence at Mass fosters your spiritual silence and becomes an "act of love" through self-offering, adoration, communion, and resting in the inexpressible mystery.Each chapter includes reflection questions designed to foster group discussions so parish members can reflect on and grow together in the way they pray during Mass.Through such intimate encounter, you will learn to enjoy praying at Mass with your whole heart, mind, and soul and will arrive at a more conscious, active, and fruitful participation in the sacred liturgy.

Modern society has forgotten that the joie de vivre and the liturgical life are intertwined. Drawing from his experiences growing up in the Catholic culture of New Orleans, author Daniel Fitzpatrick juxtaposes the beauty of taking time to celebrate the Faith with the ongoing cultural drift toward eliminating the Sabbath. The result is a book that will awaken Christians from their spiritual sloth and enable them to appreciate the Lord's Day more deeply as a means of attaining happiness -- in the here and in the hereafter. Fitzpatrick masterfully breaks open Scripture, philosophy, psychology, and literature -- from Homer to Dante, from St. John Cassian to Evelyn Waugh -- positing that we have become Pharaohs within, consumed as we are with anxiety and work. The lines for commerce on Sundays, he points out, stretch out further than those for Holy Communion, while inertia blankets us and idleness saps us of our vitality and zeal. Through his fresh insights and contemporary examples, you will discover: How to honor the Lord's Day and reclaim the freedom to truly worship God Three aspects of the noonday devil's approach, and how to recognize and defeat them Five ways to reorder your Sunday activities to restore Sabbath festivity and holiness How the Holy Eucharist strengthens and enlightens us on our journey to Heaven Techniques for cultivating the silence of contemplation Additionally, you will see why Aquinas, Augustine, and the Desert Fathers identified acedia as an obstacle to advancement in the spiritual life -- a sin against the Lord's Day that often leads people to experience Sunday as a day of anxiety. You will also see how one comes to neglect the dignity of the human person and risks falling prey to immorality when one loses sight of what is holy. Conversely, you will see how living a holy family life, particularly on Sunday, trains us for the heavenly banquet. Fitzpatrick also explains how the liturgy is meant to be celebrated in light of the writings of Pope Benedict XVI and other spiritual authors, and how it invites us to partake of the true "heavenly festivity" here on earth while preparing us for everlasting joy with God in Heaven.

At a time when the profound significance of Easter is often overshadowed by commercialism, The Story of the First Easter Bunny is a refreshing and heartwarming reminder of the true meaning of this most holy of Christian holidays. Best-selling author Anthony DeStefano tells the tale of a pint-size bunny with enormous ears who seeks healing for his sick mother by searching for Jesus and listening to His words. The bunny shows courage and compassion on his selfless journey. When all seems dark and he is afraid, the bunny remembers Christ's words and takes refuge in God's promise by calmly waiting for the light. After the bunny witnesses the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection, he and his mother experience a life-changing miracle, and the bunny goes on to spread the message of salvation to all who will listen. His inspiring example is a reminder to readers -- both the young and the young at heart -- that God's love is ever present and that when we trust Him with the confidence of a child, we find redemption, fulfillment, and lasting joy. This instant classic, told in charming rhyming verse and wonderfully illustrated by New York Times best-selling artist Richard Cowdrey, adopts the Easter Bunny as a symbol of hope in the Risen Lord, of the transformative power of faith, and of the reality of Heaven. It offers an inspiring alternative to our culture's obsession with chocolate treats, dyed eggs, and cartoon characters of little substance. The moving tale of this endearing bunny who refused to give up hope will fill your heart with a song of praise and be a favorite in your home, classroom, and church for years to come.

Popular author and TV and radio host John Martignoni has written a book that highlights the flaws in Protestant teaching -- using something that is in rather short supply in today's culture: common sense. He throws in a little simple logic too. He uses the Bible as the background for his plain yet provocative analysis of numerous underlying problems with Protestantism as a whole and then focuses on specific Bible passages to ask a number of tough questions regarding individual Protestant doctrines and dogmas.Catholics can use this book not only to respond effectively to questions from family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and even strangers about why they believe what they believe but also to ask questions of their own -- questions that will leave the Protestants in their lives struggling to come up with logically and scripturally consistent answers and will, hopefully, led them to some serious introspection.With simple, clear-cut explanations, Martignoni lays out the reasons why Protestantism, as a whole and in its individual parts, is illogical and lacking in both common sense and biblical sense. In page after page, you will find concise, candid, power-packed arguments from Scripture, history, and just plain rational thinking, along with thirty questions to ask Protestants about what they believe and why. This treasure trove of apologetics will teach you about: The two pillars of Protestantism and why they cannot standWhat happens when everyone has authority to bind and loose (personal interpretation)How Protestants view sin and infallibility (brace yourself!)The rebellion against the ministerial priesthood and the rejection of doctrinal consistencyHow forensic justification makes God a liar (saved by faith alone?)Additionally, you will learn four reasons why the Catholic Church is indisputably the Church that Jesus founded, which beliefs are essential to authentic Christianity, and how to prove that Jesus is really present in the Holy Eucharist. You will also discover insights into relevant and fascinating questions on faith and works, what the "Catechism of the Protestant Church" teaches, what is required to attain salvation, who wrote the Bible and decided which books to include, when the Church was founded, and much more.

Amid a wide range of spiritualities and charisms, the saints shared two consistent devotions: love for the Holy Eucharist and love for Our Lady. Here is the book that will immerse you deeply in both and inflame your heart with love for Jesus' Eucharistic Heart through the heart of His Mother. The relational reflections contained in this volume will restore or increase your faith in the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. They will help you enter into meditation with Jesus and Mary as never before and will open your heart to receive the graces available from the Sacred Mysteries. Each Marian Eucharistic Visit presented in these pages, similar in format to Lectio Divina, guides you through four parts: ponder (a short prayer or quote from a saint or spiritual writer), reflect (a meditation on the grace you are seeking from your visit), pray (a guided reflection with traditional Marian Eucharistic prayers), and savor (keys to resting in the presence of the Lord). Space is provided at the end of each meditation to journal about the resolutions, affections, and inspirations you receive during your time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Scripture passages are peppered throughout, as are scenes from the lives of Jesus and Mary to contemplate. In page after page, you will find ways to rekindle the fire of divine love in your prayer life and to grow in loving communion with our Lord in the miracle of the Eucharist. Through the Blessed Virgin's intercession, you will grow in virtue and discover spiritual treasures such as these: What St. Louis de Montfort said is the shortest, surest, and most perfect way to JesusFour types of prayer to incorporate during Eucharistic AdorationThe one thing that wounds Jesus' Heart even more than our sinsThe Marian virtue that thwarts the evil one's tricksThe medicine Our Lady uses to intercede for the spiritual healing of our soulsYou will be inspired by moving stories of saints such as Faustina, the Fátima children, and Pope John Paul II and will see how to apply them to your daily faith journey. With the chapters modeled on particular virtues in the life of Mary to imitate, these precious pages convey the Church's teachings on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, Adoration, Spiritual Communion, and much more.

As you journey through Credo: Compendium of the Catholic Faith -- the most up-to-date "catechism" in print -- this study journal will help you absorb the riches of the Church's teaching to fruitfully contemplate, pray, and live as Christ taught. This companion resource to Credo is suitable for individuals or study groups, classroom instructors, retreat programs, and large-format presentations. Features include recurring elements such as: Study: Key terms and concepts that highlight each chapter's main doctrinal points Reflect: Prompts to help readers apply chapter themes to their own lives Discuss: Topically related questions to encourage group discussion Lex Orandi: Prayer excerpt from the Mass illustrating a chapter topic Lex Credendi: Excerpt from Credo reflecting the same topic Ample space for notes is provided throughout this study journal, helping you synthesize and personalize your exploration of this wide-ranging summary of Catholic belief and morals. The structure of the journal is carefully designed to enrich the reader's experience of Credo, promoting better study, deeper insight, and more effective use in both private and group settings. Each journal chapter is aligned with the corresponding chapter in Credo to highlight its key aspects, while the beautifully paired excerpts from the Roman Missal will help you discover how the Catholic Church truly "prays as she believes"--lex orandi, lex credendi--helping you draw closer to God. Through reflection and discussion on Christian identity, doctrine, morals, and worship, you will be empowered to testify to the truths of the Faith and equipped to apply and explain the principles of right moral action in an increasingly confused and anti-Christian world. This journal will help you break open the treasures of divine revelation as reflected in Credo, grow in your faith, enrich your catechism class, or shape your homilies.

"Convert us, O God; and shew us thy face, and we shall be saved" (Psalm 80:3).Although many are familiar with the Holy Face Devotion, key fruits and wonders remain untold, and various of its most important spiritual treasures have yet to be discovered -- until now. In these extraordinary pages, Mary Jane Zuzolo unveils for you how this devotion is prefigured in the book of Job, complements Fátima and other Marian apparitions, encompasses the spirituality of St. Thérèse, crowns the insights of the great Carmelite mystics, affirms the Mariology of St. Louis de Montfort, and has generated more miracles than the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Words of Christ from approved private revelations describe the Holy Face Devotion as "the most beautiful work under the sun" and "the greatest source of grace second to the sacraments." Zuzolo further reveals: The Miracle of the Vatican, in which the Holy Face image became enlivened, serving as catalyst for the related wonder-working at the hands of Ven. Leo Dupont. The woman in the Gospel who was designated by Christ in private revelations as the model of reparation to His wounded Countenance -- and whose "reward" prefigured that which He promises for devotees of the Holy Face Devotion. How reparation to the Holy Face relates to the Holy Sacrament of the Altar and is complementary to the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy devotions. How St. Joan of Arc was the forebearer of the Holy Face Devotion in her dramatic assistance of the preservation of Catholicism in France. How the Holy Face Devotion serves as an antidote to communism and modernism. The Holy Face Devotion, Zuzolo explains, was bestowed by Christ "as a new pledge of mercy." Its graces flowing though "Our Lady of the Holy Name of God" and its preference by God to all other devotions together give the affectionate title "Mother of All Devotions" dual significance. In our time of heightened sin and darkness, the Holy Face Devotion is a means of imploring the Countenance of Christ to "turn toward us" and restore life and light to the world through conversion of the masses. Unlike any other, the Holy Face Devotion is centered on reparation to the Godhead Itself. In recompense, Our Lord promises to imprint His Image, the very "seal of the Divinity," upon the soul of the devotee. Practicing this devotion is therefore an invaluable aid to our individual salvation, as well as that of our brethren. It is spiritual armament to assist Our Lady in the celestial battle of the age.

"Many are well aware of St. Thomas Aquinas' intellectual prowess - his genius in metaphysics and supernatural theology - that pierced the depths of truth. However, few know about the spiritual life of this illustrious Doctor of the Church. This work, written by Msgr. Martin Grabman, a foremost authority on his life, is unique in its revelation of the sanctity and holiness of St. Thomas' priestly soul. Neither a purely devotional nor a strictly scientific treatment of the interior life of St. Thomas, this book combines the two to help you appreciate the character of the Angelic Doctor. In St. Thomas' own words, you will come to understand how and why he learned more from the feet of the Crucified than from the innumerable books he read. You will further be convinced that sanctity precedes science, and that life precedes knowledge, even in the scientific personality of Aquinas. In this gem, you will find insights into Aquinas' heart, brilliantly aglow with Divine love, through his works and the Acts of his Canonization Process. Msgr. Grabmann highlights three areas in the interior life of Aquinas: wisdom, charity, and peace. The soul of St. Thomas was ordered after the soul of Jesus Christ and his writings on intimacy with God flowed from his own experience of this communion. All St. Thomas' actions during his life were oriented toward Jesus Christ; St. Thomas asked God that he might think like Christ, love like Christ, and be at peace like Christ. St. Thomas spent his life in contemplative prayer, study, writing, and preaching. It is said that he began his writings with prayer and was often moved to tears. Through testimonies about the Angelic Doctor, you will learn about his untold mysticism and discover: The secret to develop fervent charity and attain spiritual delight; His self-sacrifice, kindness, and charity; His exemplary purity and temperance, and how he ordered his whole life toward God; The three-fold wisdom in which St. Thomas found the meaning and happiness of life; The two-fold way that helps us find truth; Why St. Thomas was called the Cherubim of the Eucharistic mystery. Revered as one of the greatest thinkers of all time, St. Thomas also possessed the faith of a child. You will be astounded by true stories of humility and patience that St. Thomas showed in instructing beginners in the spiritual life, along with his mercy and compassion toward others"--

"At this moment, I see the Church on the edge of a precipice. . . . What happened during the sack of Constantinople comes to mind, when the Turks besieged the city, and at the moment of greatest danger, the theologians were caught up in debating among themselves about the color of Our Lady's eyes." Thus states Cardinal Gerhard Müller, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under Benedict XVI and foremost defender of the traditional Church, who, for the first time, narrates from the inside some of the most significant episodes of the last two pontificates.In this riveting, thorough, and uncensored interview by Vatican correspondent Franca Giansoldati, the German theologian explains the doctrinal confusion wrought by various themes of the Francis papacy that risks fanning the flames of heresies old and new. With a magnifying glass, he examines topics ranging from Vatican foreign policy to the handling of the pedophilia scandals, from gender, abortion, and end of life to the abdication of Benedict XVI, from the Ukraine war to the risk of schism and predictions for the next conclave.In these pages, you will discover: What was behind Cardinal Müller's being distanced from the Holy OfficeWhether the nomination of new cardinals is linked to a papal attempt at centralizing powerThe limits of the encyclical Praedicate Evangelium, which redesigned the Roman CuriaWhether there is a gay lobby at the Vatican, and the true roles of women in the ChurchWhy the College of Cardinals never intervened in the controversial Becciu caseWhat is happening to the Church in Germany, America, and ChinaThe candid and revelatory answers to these and many other questions enliven Cardinal Müller's reflections and provide an antidote to the twenty-first century's profound crisis of religion. Readers will come to appreciate the balance required between obedience in the Church and defense of the truth, how attempts to protestantize the Church are destroying faith in the true Christ and the sacraments, and the bold solutions the cardinal offers to set the Church on a path to authentic reform.