We're on a journey. Our destination: Heaven. The entrance fee? Paid with Jesus's blood. We are his. Our challenge? Allow ourselves to be loved by God and find our place in the ultimate love story. But will we surrender to the transforming fire of that love? If we do, we will be changed. Consider Through the Seasons with Jesus and Mary a companion for your journey from someone who has been touched by the fire of God and wants you to know the hope and peace that faith in God brings. Starting with Advent and traveling through the liturgical year, Through the Seasons will help you experience the excitement, and the ordinariness, of the events which shaped Christianity and the world. In short, easy-to-read reflections, the author shares how even the smallest events can be infused with the Holy Spirit. Discover how God not only wants to be part of your life but will help you find your place in an ever-unfolding love story between you and Him.
St. Louis-Marie de Montfort wrote in his True Devotion to Mary: “By this practice, faithfully observed, you will give Jesus more glory in a month than by any other practice, however difficult, in many years.” This newly-translated book, written by a Montfort Father, contains thirty-one essays, which show you precisely how to do this with in-depth information. This veritable goldmine is the most thorough explanation on how to apply the True Devotion. Among other things, you will happily discover: (1) how the True Devotion puts the power of Mary at our disposal; (2) why the True Devotion is the supreme and most perfect expression of our love for Mary; (3) how to live this devotion faithfully throughout the day; (4) how to increase your merit for Heaven at every moment of your day; (5) why every Saturday is dedicated to Mary; (6) much greater insights into the holiness, greatness, and dignity of Mary, and why they are beyond anything we can imagine; (7) a brief biography of St. Louis-Marie, and the history of the development of Marian devotion in his life; (8) the fullness of grace in Mary; (9) how Mary is the ideal Mother of God and men; (10) why this devotion is not only the best, but the easiest to practice; (11) how God wants this devotion; (12) the essence of the True Devotion; (13) the clearest explanation of Mary's dwelling in the faithful soul (answers many objections); (14) why this is the best and easiest devotion to deliver souls from Purgatory and for avoiding it altogether; (15) why this devotion to Mary surpasses all others; (16) why it is not necessary to do extraordinary things or great works in order to give the greatest glory to God; (17) the benefits that will come to you by living this devotion; (18) why Mary cannot be an obstacle to union with God, but the most efficacious way to attain it; (19) why the holy slavery is the supreme and most perfect expression of our love toward Mary; (20) how we can never have enough respect for Mary; and, (21) why to reject the practice of the True Devotion is to reject the foundations of Christianity. This book is very important because St. Louis-Marie describes the True Devotion as “a mystery of grace unknown to even the wisest and most spiritual among Christians,” “a mystery of grace, unknown to the reprobate, and but little known even to the predestinate,” “one of these secrets of grace, unknown by the greater number of Christians, known even to few of the devout, and practiced and relished by a far less number still,” and, “a secret unknown to almost all Christians even the most devout.” He found it necessary to stress this point FOUR times! Everyone, the beginners and the more advanced, those with a spiritual director, and especially those without, will find this book very helpful. This is the ultimate insider's guide to understanding the true devotion, and a perfect complement to the True Devotion to Mary.
This stirring book by renowned spiritual writer Groeschel will enlarge and deepen knowledge of, and appreciation for, Jesus and Mary by exploring a selection of the many and varied names and titles attributed to them.
The liturgical year invites us to walk with Jesus through the most wonderful story ever told: the Gospel. In Through the Year with Jesus: Gospel Readings and Reflections for Children, catechist and popular blogger Katherine Bogner reveals the rich mystery of the seasons we celebrate in the Church. With Gospel readings for each week of the liturgical year, along with tools for reflection, discussion, and prayer, Through the Year with Jesus offers endless opportunities for discovering who Jesus is and better understanding Catholic teaching about his life and mission. Promote prayer and conversation about the life of Christ with children through Weekly readings from the Gospels Lectio Divina prompts to nurture personal prayer or journaling Sacred art to accompany the Gospel reading Stories of saints and many rich Catholic traditions for the liturgical year The easy-to-use format of Through the Year with Jesus helps adults lead children to an intimate encounter with the heart of Jesus through the rhythm of the liturgical year and the powerful words of Scripture.
Mary appears only a few times in the Bible, but those few passages come at crucial moments. Catholics believe that Mary is the ever-virgin Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven and Earth. But she also was a human being--a woman who made a journey of faith through various trials and uncertainties and endured her share of suffering. Even with her unique graces and vocation, Mary remains a woman we can relate to and from whom we have much to learn. In Walking with Mary, Edward Sri looks at the crucial passages in the Bible concerning Mary and offers insight about the Blessed Mother's faith and devotion that we can apply in our daily lives. We follow her step-by-step through the New Testament account of her life, reflecting on what the Scriptures tell us about how she responded to the dramatic events unfolding around her. “This book is the fruit of my personal journey of studying Mary through the Scriptures, from her initial calling in Nazareth to her painful experience at the cross,” writes Edward Sri “It is intended to be a highly readable, accessible work that draws on wisdom from the Catholic tradition, recent popes, and biblical scholars of a variety of perspectives and traditions. With the riches of these insights, we will ponder what her journey of faith may have been like in order to draw out spiritual lessons for our own walk with God.” He add, “It is my hope, therefore, that whether you are of a Catholic, Protestant, or other faith background, this book may help you to know, understand, and love Mary more, and that it may inspire you to walk in her footsteps as a faithful disciple of the Lord in your own pilgrimage of faith.”
For two-thousand years, Christians around the world have sought the Blessed Virgin Mary as a guide to growing closer to her Son, Jesus. Through Scripture, Catholic teaching, devotions, and countless works of art, we come to see Mary as our Mother, too. Through the Year with Mary by Katherine Bogner brings together the Church’s traditions in one place and provides a year-long plan for coming to know and love the Mother of God through Weekly passages from Scripture, saints, and scholars Reflections to nurture your understanding of Marian teaching and devotion Sacred art from around the world Marian prayers to teach you to grow closer to Jesus through Mary This comprehensive resource will help adults and children alike to entrust themselves to the most loving Mother of Jesus. Through the Year with Mary has received the nihil obstat and imprimatur. Nihil obstat: Msgr. Philip D. Halfacre, V.G. Censor Librorum Imprimatur: Most Rev. Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C. Bishop of Peoria September 15, 2021
There's an unspoken tension between happiness and discontentment. You love your family and friends, but complicated relationships drain and discourage you. You're grateful for work but sometimes feel overlooked. You want to follow Jesus yet feel pulled in a dozen different directions. You know God loves you, yet insecurities bully you. The voices of this world are so loud, how can someone possibly hear God's still small voice? The injustice and wounds of this world are so great, how can someone possibly experience lasting joy? Your friends at (in)courage know how you feel and have grappled with these questions too. Find the answers you're looking for in Courageous Joy, a six-week Bible study that celebrates God's goodness and shows you how to experience true joy right where you are. If you want to be able to "rejoice in the Lord always" not just in theory but in everyday practice, if you long for a profound sense of calm and confidence in every season and situation of life, this study will light the way.
"I don't write this book as a condemnation or as a sermon. The last thing I want to do is provide a 'how to be the best Christian in ten easy steps' guide. I pen these words as a fellow struggler who is learning that what we think about God matters, how we allow Him to reign in our hearts matters, and how we obey Him in the moment matters. It all matters. Everything." Author and speaker Mary DeMuth has been abused, foreclosed, abandoned, and betrayed. She has been pressed and drained till it was too much . . . But it was just enough to bring her to a place of surrender, piece by precious piece. In that surrender, she found the freedom of giving everything to God. And through Scripture, community, and the work of the Holy Spirit, she gives it all over again, every day. In this gentle and challenging book, DeMuth describes the process and the nuances that shape us to be more like Christ. Her words are clear, vulnerable, and thought provoking, and every chapter is infused with Scripture. Most of all, DeMuth provides personal and practical evidence that there is no greater pursuit than Christ. We must surrender everything, but it does not compare to the Everything He is, the Everything He gives.
In this book, Sheen explores the connection between the seven words spoken by Mary in the Gospels, and the seven last words of Jesus on the Cross. Sheen was unparalleled in his ability to combine theology, devotion, and the profoundest reflections on the central events of the Christian narrative. Displayed here in full are the literary and rhetorical skills of one of the greatest preachers of the 20th century. Sheen's meditations help address the spiritual yearning of all who desire a fuller understanding of the Gospels and seek to draw closer to Christ and Mary.
