Spirituality

Laurence Freeman shares insights into understanding Jesus in order to better understand ourselves. He teaches that the goal of life is to know fully who we are, and that self-transcendence is the way to self-knowledge. In this state, the centre of consciousness no longer resides in the ego.

To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, three of the most important authors in the field of Spanish religious and theological thinking offer their reflections on the subject of faith.

There are critical times in our lives, moments of profound loss, grief and fear in which our frameworks of sense seem to collapse and no longer enable us to convey meaning to overwhelming events or even to life itself.

The first part, which only examines one theme, the Name of Christ, offers a general and contemporary Christology. The next two parts offer a priestly Christology, firstly more general and then more specific. Finally, the last two parts show the result of this for the Christian life, lived out in faith, hope and charity. 

We live in a technical society and we are used to thinking that everything that happens has an external cause, every movement an impetus from another force. The positivist psychologists have taught us that a child s soul is a tabula rasa, in which we will find only what other people will write there. 

The Great Cistercian Mystics is an in-depth analysis of the mystical theology of the major Cistercian mystics of the 12th century, Bernard of Clairvaux, William of Saint-Thierry, Guerric of Igny, Isaac of Stella, and Aelred of Rievaulx, as well as the continuators of Bernard's sermons on the Song of Songs. It also contains a survey of the Cistercian women mystics of the 13th century.

This volume is a careful exploration of Ignatius's own words and a methodology for exemplifying them through concrete spiritual experience. By hosting retreats for spiritual directors teaching Ignatian spirituality in their own communities, Fr. Tim is fulfilling the admonition of Paul to Timothy, "…and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well." 

Following central chapters of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Fr. Sherwood's stories bring its teachings alive and give new meaning to its core messages. Referring directly to CCC sections, this book makes for inspiring reading and wonderful teaching material, highlighting concrete human experiences of Catholic life. An increasingly secular world has made humanity's search for God more challenging. But the basic message of this little book is that God also searches for humanity; that the eyes and ears of faith reveal manifestations of the Divine Presence. Parish priests are privileged to have a front-row seat to observe Divine Presence in action.

Voices of Christianity invites readers to explore the key documents that shaped the history of Christianity over the course of 2,000 years. Using liturgy, poetry, sermons, and more, the book introduces readers to key concepts, figures, and developments in this major world religion. The story of Christianity unfolds in analyses and readings that reveal the struggles, events, and achievements that contributed to its beliefs and practices.

The impetus for this book was a request from a group of Christian retreat directors who wanted to know what they could learn from Eastern spiritual traditions. Bruteau's response was a series of five easily accessible, nontechnical reflections on various aspects of Hinduism and Buddhism offered generally as interpretations of Christian practices or texts.