As a spiritual director Saint Claude, canonized by Pope John Paul II, ranks among the masters of the spiritual life. He gave guidance to countless souls, including Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, the seventeenth-century French visionary who received the Sacred Heart revelations. In prayer she heard Jesus say of Father Claude that his "talent is to lead souls to God". Saint Claude was a clever psychologist who easily read the hearts of others. His sure judgment, aided by grace, enabled him to understand the difficulties of people and to give them sound advice. Readers of this spiritual gem, which contains excerpts from his notes, letters, and retreats, will find it full of practical wisdom on confession, Mass and Communion, confidence in God, peace of soul, love of neighbor, and much more.
"To remain indifferent to good fortune or to adversity by accepting it all from the hand of God without questioning, not to ask for things to be done as we would like them but as God wishes, to make the intention of all our prayers that God's will should be perfectly accomplished in ourselves and in all creatures is to find the secret of happiness and content."
This volume presents for the first time English-language translations of twelve sermons by St. Claude La Colombière. Canonized in 1992 by Pope John Paul II, Claude was a 17th-century Jesuit priest who authenticated the visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart. Like St. Francis of Assisi, Claude had been a man of privilege, and was a literary figure with a reputation as a master of Christian eloquence. He died a martyr at the age of forty-one. Each sermon in this volume addresses a different issue under the general theme of Christian conduct. Together these sermons present the notions central to Claude's preaching and general attitude, above all the ideas of habituation and confidence in God. Preaching during Claude's lifetime developed under a variety of influences, most notably the thematic sermons of the late medieval period and the humanistic retrieval of classical letters during the Renaissance. Claude worked within and helped to create the stylistic conventions of the day by drawing on scripture and the Church Fathers in an attempt to convert his listeners. Taking a hybrid approach to his craft, he brought a balanced use of rhetorical art into the pulpit so as to please as well as to instruct and move his audience, hereby promoting the development of French classicism in the second half of the seventeenth century. In his commentary on the sermons William O'Brien examines the dynamic vision of the human person that emerges from St. Claude's preaching and considers what this might mean for readers of today. While offering a historical-literary study of his preaching, the work is located firmly in the contemporary quest for a new unity between the theoretical and the practical in Christianity. What results is a book with a unique appeal. General readers interested in their own spiritual growth, as well as scholars and students of religious history, theology, and French literature, will find this book to be a valuable resource.
Focusing on key writings by three of the most important representatives of the Jesuit order, Louis Lallement, Jean Pierre Caussade and Claude de la Columbiere, this work takes the reader to the heart of one of the most influential spiritual traditions within the Catholic Church.
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. 8 Large Sections that cover all major aspects of our Faith: The God’s Attributes, Gifts, and GracesGod the Son and God the Holy SpiritThe Blessed Virgin Mary and Her FeastsThe Holy Mother Church and Her SacramentsThe World and SinThe Vices We Should Flee fromThe Virtues We Should PracticeThe Last Four Things 139 topics that include scores of Scripture quotations and concise meditations on each of the following topics: Abstinence * Ambition * Anger * The Annunciation * The Ascension * The Assumption * Atheism * Avarice * Baptism * Blasphemy * The Catholic Church * Chastity * The Commandments * Communion * Confession * Confidence in God * Conscience * Dangers of the world * Death * Discord * Envy * The Epiphany * The Eucharist * Fashion * Fasting * Fear of God * Flattery * Friendship * Gambling * Good works * Grace * Habitual Sin * Hardness of Heart * Heaven * Hell * The Hidden life of Jesus * Holiness * The Holy Name of Jesus * The Holy Name of Mary * The Holy Rosary * The Holy Spirit * The Holy Trinity * Human Respect * Humility * Hypocrisy * Idleness * Ignorance * The Immaculate Conception * The Incarnation * The Infancy of Jesus * Intemperance * Jealousy * The Last Judgment * The Law of God * Love of Enemies * Love of God * Love of Neighbor * Lying and Trickery * Marriage * Meditation * Meekness * Mental Prayer * The Mercy of God * Mortal Sin * Obedience * Occasions of Sin * The Particular Judgment * The Passion of Our Lord * Passions * Peace of Soul * Penance * Perseverance * Piety * Poverty * Prayer * Predestination * The Presence of God * The Prosperity of the Wicked * Providence * Prudence * Purgatory * Purity * Rash Judgments * The Resurrection * Retreats * Riches * The Risen Jesus * Salvation * Scandals * Self-love * The Service of God * Slander * Temptations * Theft * The Transfiguration * Venial Sin * The Virgin Mary * The Visitation * Vocation * The Will of God * The Wounds of Jesus * plus many more!
The prayers compiled in this unique book are gleaned from the rich tradition of Jesuit reflection on the human hunger for God. Hundreds of prayers are included, many written by the most illustrious Jesuits, including Ignatius Loyola, Francis Xavier, Peter Canisius, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and others.
Reveals much about both the Heart of Our Lord and the heart of this great Saint! Shows her amazing ardor and the mysterious connection between suffering and holy love. The most powerful writings on the Sacred Heart devotion!
