Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience
Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience

Author: Mother Mary Francis

Publisher: Ignatius Press

Published: 2007-01-01

Total Pages: 144

ISBN-13: 1586171194

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ÊAmong the many topics addressed by the Second Vatican Council was the need for the renewal of religious life. Some forty years later, many religious orders of women are dying out, begging the question: Did the reforms of Vatican II help the religious orders become more fruitful, or did they plant the seeds of destruction? In writing this work, Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C., carefully and prayerfully examined the decree on religious life promulgated by the Council Fathers and uncovered its noble meaning and purpose. With her penetrating eye and thoughtful reflection, Mother goes to the heart of the document,ÊPerfectae Caritatis,Êand finds there the calling to pursue perfect loveÑthough chastity, poverty and obedienceÑthat Christ himself extends to those disciples who would follow him more closely. This book is a timely volume on this important topic for religious life in the Church. For Catholics who want to discover how the religious life can be restored, this is a fine place to start.

Chastity, Poverty and Obedience
Chastity, Poverty and Obedience

Author: Mary Francis

Publisher: Ignatius Press

Published: 2010-05-26

Total Pages: 144

ISBN-13: 1681490870

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Among the many topics addressed by the Second Vatican Council was the need for the renewal of religious life. Some forty years later, many religious orders of women are dying out, begging the question: Did the reforms of Vatican II help the religious orders become more fruitful, or did they plant the seeds of destruction? In writing this work, Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C., carefully and prayerfully examined the decree on religious life promulgated by the Council Fathers and uncovered its noble meaning and purpose. With her penetrating eye and thoughtful reflection, Mother goes to the heart of the document, Perfectae Caritatis, and finds there the calling to pursue perfect love though chastity, poverty and obedience that Christ himself extends to those disciples who would follow him more closely. This book is a timely volume on this important topic for religious life in the Church. For Catholics who want to discover how the religious life can be restored, this is a fine place to start.

The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything
The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

Author: James Martin

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2010-03-09

Total Pages: 438

ISBN-13: 0061981400

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. WINNER OF THE CHRISTOPHER AWARD. The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by the Revered James Martin, SJ (bestselling author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage) is a practical spiritual guidebook that shows you how to manage relationships, money, work, prayer, and decision-making, all while keeping a sense of humor. Inspired by the life and teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, this book will help you realize the Ignatian goal of “finding God in all things.” Filled with relatable examples, humorous stories, and anecdotes from the heroic and inspiring lives of Jesuit saints and average priests and brothers, The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything will enrich your everyday life with spiritual guidance and history. Inspired by the life and teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus and centered around the Ignatian goal of “finding God in all things,” The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything is filled with user-friendly examples, humorous stories, and anecdotes from the heroic and inspiring lives of Jesuit saints and average priests and brothers, The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything is sure to appeal to fans of Kathleen Norris, Richard Rohr, Anne Lamott, and other Christian Spiritual writers.

God Moments
God Moments

Author: Andy Otto

Publisher: Ave Maria Press

Published: 2017-04-07

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 159471648X

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Where do you seek God? Are you waiting for him to appear in a monumental, life-altering event? In God Moments, Catholic blogger Andy Otto shows you how to discover the unexpected beauty of God’s presence in the story of ordinary things and in everyday routines like preparing breakfast or walking in the woods. Drawing on the Ignatian principles of awareness, prayer, and discernment, Otto will help you discover the transforming power of God’s presence in your life and better understand your place in the world. Andy Otto found God’s presence in surprising moments during his life—when, as a Jesuit scholastic, he taught children in Jamaica and also as he discerned the call to marriage with his wife. By combining elements of Ignatian spirituality with the lessons that came from his experiences, Otto identified three practices that helped him find God in all things: Awareness—Gain an understanding that God is present in the ordinary messiness of our lives such as battle with depression or sharing in the struggle of a friend. Prayer—Develop a prayer life using Ignatian practices such as asking for a morning grace and examining how your prayer was answered at the end of the day. That way you can focus on a personal relationship with God that finds everyday physical activities such as making a meal as an opportunity to talk to him. Discernment—The more you are aware of God’s presence and draw closer to him in prayer, the better you can learn how to plug into God’s narrative of the world in a way that enables you to participate in the divine story through the use of your gifts and talents. With God Moments as a guide, you’ll have a better understanding of how to seek personal wholeness in the reality of God’s presence in the ordinary and learn to accept his invitation to participate in his transformation of the world.

The Virtues
The Virtues

Author: Pope Benedict XVI

Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor

Published: 2010-10-22

Total Pages: 91

ISBN-13: 161278108X

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"The truly great thing in Christianity, which does not dispense one from small, daily things but must not be concealed by them either, is this ability to come into contact with God." -- Pope Benedict XVI One of the greatest spiritual teachers of our day, Pope Benedict XVI has frequently spoken about the pursuit of virtue. In this series of excerpts from his homilies, addresses, and encyclicals, the Holy Father draws on the lives of saints, the Catechism, and common experiences to bring us into a deeper understanding of the virtues and how to cultivate them in our lives so that we can grow closer to the Lord.

Radical Discipleship
Radical Discipleship

Author: Francis Cardinal Arinze

Publisher: Ignatius Press

Published: 2014-12-16

Total Pages: 81

ISBN-13: 1681493969

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Since 2015 has been ; deemed the Year of the Consecrated Life by Pope Francis, ; this work by Cardinal Arinze is a very timely one-for this ; year, and for any time. A reflection on the consecrated ; life, Radical Discipleship represents a beautiful ; way for faithful Catholics to participate in this ; Church-wide theme and celebration by coming to a deeper ; understanding of the consecrated life. Radical ; Discipleship illuminates the vocation of the ; consecrated state and its presence in the Body of Christ, ; beginning with a brief look at its origins in Scripture and ; the early Church. The work then reflects upon the ; following: The different forms this radical ; life takes The population of consecrated persons ; in the Church today The recognition that the ; consecrated life has received from the Church The ; vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience taken by all ; consecrated persons Community life as it pertains ; to consecrated life The prophetic aspect of the ; consecrated life The impact of the consecrated ; state on the Church community and on ; society Alongside these fascinating topics, ; Cardinal Arinze addresses some of the problems faced by ; consecrated people, and how these difficulties have led ; some to abandon this vocation. In examining the struggles ; specific to the consecrated state, the Cardinal seeks to ; encourage other consecrated persons to persevere in their ; vocation. He further calls the entire Church to support the ; consecrated life and those who have dedicated themselves to ; Christ in this way. Although filled with substantive ; information, even the most involved sections are presented ; in an engaging, readable and reflective style. The book is ; not, as the Cardinal explains, "a dissertation based on ; deep research on the theology and canon law on the ; consecrated life". Radical Discipleship is ; rather a reflection, written for consecrated people, other ; laity and clergy alike, and offers wonderful material for ; thought and prayer. It is Cardinal Arinze's hope that his ; work will make the consecrated life "better understood, ; loved, lived and promoted".

In Good Company
In Good Company

Author: James S. J. Martin

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 218

ISBN-13: 1580512364

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James Martin takes readers on a journey from his Catholic childhood through his success and ultimate dissatisfaction with the business world, to his novitiate and profession of vows as a Jesuit.

Christ the Ideal of the Monk
Christ the Ideal of the Monk

Author: Columba Marmion

Publisher: Paraclete Press

Published: 2014-11-01

Total Pages: 152

ISBN-13: 1612616704

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Columba Marmion believes that Christian discipleship means imitating Christ the Monk no matter your walk or way of life. Christ is the divine model presented by God himself , the ideal of all holiness. By faith, we accept this holiness into our lives—but we must also allow Christ Jesus to become “the very life of our souls.” This book, an abridged edition of the original, explores how this is possible by examining the writings of St. Paul and St. John in the light of the Gospels and, offering spiritual understanding to any Christian’s religious life. Christ, the Ideal of the Monk sold 100,000 copies when it was published 90 years ago, one of many bestselling books written by the popular Irish-born monk, Columba Marmion, OSB, (1858-1923). He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

The Cost of Discipleship
The Cost of Discipleship

Author: Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Publisher: Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 292

ISBN-13: 9780334028567

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Before his arrest by the Nazis in 1943, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was head of a seminary of the German Confessing Church. In "The Cost of Discipleship", he focuses on the most treasured part of Christ's teaching, the Sermon on the Mount.