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The Canticle of the Creatures "is Francis's love song. It is Franciscan wholeness, for in it is contained the depth of his prayer and of his life in Christ. In its singing he was singing his dying and his rising, for his song was a journey of praise and thanksgiving for his place of origin and his destination, the Most High, All-Powerful, Good Lord."--Murray Bodo Using St. Francis's canticle as a framework, Murray Bodo, a Franciscan friar, and Susan Saint Sing, a secular Franciscan, reflect on the vision of Francis and Clare as it has played out over the course of their own lives. Susan's experiences of healing during trips to Assisi and praying in nature and Murray's deep understanding of Francis and Clare as poets and mystics come together in a duet that brings God's love song to life. These deeply personal reflections explore the power of prayer and meditation, the sacredness of all creation, and the pull of sacred places. This meditative, reflective reading experience conveys what a lifetime of Franciscan spirituality looks like and will draw you into exploring your own experience of the vision of Francis and Clare.

The classic bestseller by Father Richard Rohr, O.F.M., is available in a new revised and expanded edition. It's described as "a provocative experience for Christian men who are looking for an affirmation of their maleness from their tradition."--"The Journal of Men's Studies" Saint Anthony Messenger Press

The Bible teaches that angels are available to assist us in nearly everything we do. Specific angels perform specific tasks but all of them are available for the asking because the Bible says they are all ministering spirits sent to minister for those who will inherit salvation. Even so, we cannot take their ministry for granted. There are certain things we must do to qualify for their help. This book teaches how to gain their assistance in all of our endeavors, and how to minister with them for the Lord.

"St. Marianne shows us that this world's ways can lead us to the Most High in both darkness and light."--Sr. Margaret Carney, from the foreword "I am hungry for the work. I am not afraid of any disease." Mother Marianne Cope, July 12, 1883 A letter of invitation in 1883 beckoned her to travel from Syracuse, New York to the islands now known as Hawai`i. Surprised by grace, she gave an emphatic yes to God, even after she learned that her work would be among persons stricken with Hansen's disease, known then as leprosy. After ministering on several of the islands, she finally came to the settlement at Kalaupapa on the island of Moloka`i, where Fr. Damien de Veuster worked with those afflicted with the disease. With other sisters from her community, she cared for the residents and was instrumental in administering hospitals and schools until her death in 1918. In Mission of Grace, Sr. Fran Gangloff tells the inspiring story of a woman committed to serving God's neediest children with love, compassion, respect, and grace, often in the face of both hardship and resistance from authorities blind to the needs. At her canonization in 2012, St. Marianne was called the "beloved mother of outcasts."

"Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure inspire us to re-enchant and heal our spiritual practices and religious institutions and to reclaim our vocation as God's companions in healing the world." Francis was inspired by the simple goal of living a gospel life in the footprints of Jesus. Clare took that vision into a deep, contemplative spirituality. A few decades later, Bonaventure explored the theological structure of Francis's ideal and put the simplicity and spirituality of Francis and Clare in the service of the Franciscan order, the church, and the world. Their timeless wisdom and unique contributions can guide Christians today in finding ways to be, in the words of Francis's first biographer, "always new, always fresh, always beginning again." As he did in Walking with Francis of Assisi, Bruce Epperly shows us how the lives of three saints from the thirteenth century offer wisdom, insight, and practical solutions to our challenges in the twenty-first century. Many of those challenges they never could have imagined; others would be very familiar: healing divisions among people, caring for God's creation in a time of climate change, renewing the church's gospel commitment to the poor and vulnerable, valuing the human person in an increasingly technological society, recognizing the presence of God in an expanding universe. Faithfulness to Franciscan spirituality involves inviting other companions to join us on the journey. Epperly brings Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure in dialogue with figures such as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Pope Francis, Joshua Heschel, Leonardo Boff, Albert Schweitzer, Dorothy Day. Some of these were influenced by Francis; all of them witness to the need for a world formed, sustained, and sanctified by God's love.

Reflect. Pray. Act. These simple directions can help you integrate the power of prayer into your daily life. Pause and Pray: Reflections, Prayers, and Actions for Everyday Life by Franciscan Media is a transformative book and the ultimate resource for those who want to integrate their prayer life into their everyday actions. It includes dozens of prayers, each with a brief reflection and a simple action, allowing your spirituality to flourish every day. Adapted from the popular online feature pause+pray (franciscanmedia.org/pausepray), this book is designed to help you integrate your prayer life into your everyday actions, allowing your spirituality to flourish. If you've been seeking a way to make your entire day more prayerful, Pause and Pray is the resource you've been looking for.

In Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality, Franciscan friar and bestselling author Richard Rohr lays out his case for a view of the Bible as a living text that can transform your way of seeing the world. This companion to Things Hidden offers questions for journaling and private reflection as well as meditation prompts and other physical practices in order to focus the reader's mind on both action and contemplation. It also contains suggestions for adapting the study to groups.

Three Minutes with God features hundreds of inspiring reflections and prayers that will remind you to rejoice and praise God! Each day's entry includes a scripture passage, a thoughtful reflection, and a brief prayer to revive your spirit.

Get ready to discover Franciscan flora and fauna! This handy reference book provides a complete overview of the history, major figures and locations, and most influential texts of the Franciscan tradition. From Pica Bernardone to the ';Prayer to the Trinity,' Sister Rosemary Stets has compiled an at-your-fingertips guide to the people, places, practices, and prayers that comprise the Franciscan tradition.Whether you're a new member of the order, a layperson working for a Franciscan organization, or simply someone with a Franciscan heart, you will be inspired by the rich history and deep spirituality of the Franciscan way of life.Franciscan Field Guideincludes sections on: The Franciscan family of religious orders and congregationsFranciscan gospel valuesPlaces, symbols, and topics key to understanding the Franciscan traditionPeople whose lives shaped the Franciscan storySelected Franciscan writings and sourcesFranciscan prayers

Idealism and reality meet in this inspirational guide. Kyle Kramer shares with us his ongoing adventures and misadventures on the path to greater emotional, mental, and material freedom.

St. Francis had a deep and lifelong devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, committing his order to her care. Franciscan Murray Bodo explores that relationship in this evocative and deeply spiritual encounter with Marian devotion across the centuries.

When you hit rock bottom, it isn't rainbows and butterflies that you need--it's the words to express your deepest emotions without being judged for them. In this spiritual memoir, author Maureen O'Brien finds her words in the psalms. As a cancer survivor and heartbroken divorcee, O'Brien made a seemingly simple commitment to praying one psalm a day, no matter how uninspired she felt. And as she returned to the ancient poems day after day, she discovered something surprising: while the psalms did give her comfort, solace, and hope, they also gave her permission to rage, cry, and grieve. And what she found was that her most honest emotions pulled her nearer to God, not further away. This, O'Brien writes, is the gift of the psalms. At once relatable and inspiring, What Was Lost stands like a lighthouse on a stormy night, offering the reader a clear path to be led home.

From a pilgrimage through the streets of Assisi to contemplative walks on the beaches near his home, Bruce Epperly has pondered the questions of privilege, prayer, and social justice while walking with the teachings of Francis of Assisi.

"In an age of body workouts and exercise regimens, training the soul for peace may be one of the most important routines we take up on a committed basis. For there can be no peace in the world unless there is peace in the heart."--Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF, Josephine Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology, Villanova UniversityAfter reading Soul Training with the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis, you'll know why pontiffs, presidents, politicians, paralegals, plumbers, and proofreaders keep turning to the Peace Prayer. This simple prayer can train the soul and keep you in shape until you cross the finish line into eternal life. Think of this book as your workout manual that offers encouragement to condition all the muscles of the virtues to help you stay spiritually fit: faith, hope, love, forgiveness, joy, consolation, understanding, and selflessness."The Peace Prayer gets you in the zone where God's grace shapes and stretches your soul, transforming you into a saint who shimmers and shines."--from the introduction

Christianity is a mysterious faith. Some of these mysteries can be described with Scripture or doctrine, but others can only be experienced. Those graced with these experiences, these intimate glimpses of God, are called mystics.

"My way is one that is full of confidence and love." --St. Thérèse of Lisieux Through her autobiography and an extensive collection of letters, St. Thérèse helped people understand nothing was too little to give Jesus, and nothing done out of love for him was insignificant. Perhaps this is why so many lives still resonate with hers. It is easy to feel insignificant and unimportant. Yet, the clear and compelling language of her story and her letters remains the perfect antidote to such feelings. Fr. Gary Caster writes, "While the language she uses might be new to you, the insights she offers are as eternal as the God who loves us and longs for each of us to be united with him, in the Son, through the Holy Spirit, for all eternity." These inspiring words from her writings have been selected and arranged according to important themes of the spiritual life: confidence, holiness, humility, abandonment, obedience, the love of God, mercy, charity, and suffering. Her devotion to Jesus, Mary, and the Eucharist shine through all of her writings.

Advent is a fresh start, a welcome into the silence and the mystery of whatever is waiting to be born or reborn in our lives. At the very time when we are most immersed in activity--shopping, parties, baking and cleaning in preparation for the noise and merriment of Christmas--Advent is an invitation to slow down, to come away to the quiet. It's a reminder that the promise of Christ is "already but not yet." We are called to prepare a place for Jesus in our hearts and our lives, just as the people of the Hebrew Scriptures longed for the Messiah, and as Mary and Joseph prepared for the birth of their first child. Life as we know it is going to change if we live Advent well. In Simple Gifts, author Diane Houdek offers a series of daily Advent meditations that are very different from the commodified, candy-filled calendars we find in stores. This one calls us to rest, to step back, to learn to appreciate the small events and simple gifts that flow through our days. These reflections remind us of the life-changing truths that lie deep within our own hearts. Gathering wisdom from Scripture, from saints and spiritual writers, and from the author's own deceptively profound insights about everyday life, Simple Giftsis a way to seek a sense of peace and wholeness in our hearts and in our daily lives. It's an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and the God who loved us enough to become one of us and share our journey. If we do that even in small ways this year, we will have an immeasurable gift to share with our loved ones--and possibly even with our world.

Franciscan Murray Bodo illuminates seven key teachings from St. Francis and shows how these teachings are the foundation for Franciscan spirituality today. Beginning with the wonder of the incarnation, he moves through the paradox of evangelical poverty, living the Gospel, repairing God's house, making peace, the recognition that we are one with all of creation, and the joy and humble service of God. All of these teachings have their roots and destination in the love of God that surrounds all of creation and each individual person.

Dr. Ray Guarendi believes that parenting is too important to be taken seriously--and that goes double for grandparenting. As a father of ten, clinical psychologist, radio host and author of many books about marriage and parenting, Dr. Ray has spent his career helping to strengthen families through a combination of Catholic theology, common-sense insights and wry humor. Now, having become a new grandpa himself, Dr. Ray is turning his attention to the joyful, rejuvenating and sometimes complicated subject of grandparenting. In Being a Grandparent: Just Like Being a Parent...Only Different, he answers real questions from grands. Some wonder how being a grandparent will differ from being a parent, and want to mature into it with as few wrinkles as possible. Some are a daily presence in their grandchildren's lives, perhaps even sharing a home with them and wanting their interactions to be as smooth as possible. Others live many miles away and fear yielding to the temptation of bribery to endear their distant grandbabies to them. Some are baffled as to why their own children are raising the grandkids so unlike they were raised--in practice, discipline or morals. Others see their grandchildren as difficult to be around, and ask what, if anything, they can do about it. Whether you're a "Grandma," a "Poppy," an "Opa" or a "Nana," Dr. Ray can help you navigate this second go-round with children in a way that mirrors God's own unconditional love for us. You'll learn to balance the expertise you've banked during decades as a parent with the emotional dynamics of this new stage of life. And best of all, you'll get a little extra insight into savoring the true, unabashed joy of grandparenthood. Being a Grandparent makes a great gift for new grandparents and seasoned matriarchs and patriarchs alike. The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via Audible.

Forgiving Mother offers you practical guidance and spiritual wisdom to begin your journey to wholeness of spirit. Highly recommended! -- Lisa M. Hendey, author, The Grace of Yes Marge Steinhage Fenelon knows the pain, fear, hopelessness, insecurity, resentment and anger of being raised by a troubled mother. She also knows the way out: Mary. In Forgiving Mother, Fenelon deftly explores the ways the Blessed Virgin can provide comfort and healing if you truly desire it. Drawing from personal experience as well as wisdom from Church documents, Scripture, and the saints, Fenelon sketches a path from despair to peace. She offers concrete steps and prayers to help you deal with the painful memories, emotions and fears that are rooted in your past. Part memoir, part spiritual guide, Forgiving Mother is a workbook for healing even the most deeply rooted pain. It also includes a novena, which you can pray alongside each chapter or as a final step in the healing process. You will likely find solace from going through the novena again and again, as you'll find healing is a cyclical process--not a linear one. You are a child of Mary and she loves you tenderly. She really, truly is your mother--given to you by our Lord as he hung dying on the cross. Jesus wants you to accept his mother as your own and to develop a deepening relationship with her so that she can fill the void that the past has left inside of you. And in her kind, motherly way, she will. What's more, she will lead you to her son who, as God, is the ultimate source of all healing and peace. Pray through it, meditate on it, and let Mary's love sink into your heart and soul. Above all, be gentle with yourself. This is your healing process, and no one else's. With the Blessed Mother's help, you can become the whole, healed and truly cherished person you were meant to be. The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via Audible.

"We are walking back to the Garden of Eden together and trying to remember who were when we were Eve." In When We Were Eve, Colleen Mitchell draws on the creation story in Genesis to show women God's gracious plan for their whole being: body and soul in harmony with themselves, others, creation and their Creator. Through her own story and those of other women, she explores the many ways women struggle with their bodies and the way a biblical understanding of what it means to be a woman can bring them peace and joy. "Eve in Eden is woman in her perfection," writes Mitchell. "The last note of the creation song states that the man and his wife were both naked and they were not ashamed.... This is the perfected state of our humanity--vulnerable, open, aware of our bodies and ourselves and understanding of others. Intimately free to be who we are before God." Through the stories of Eve (before and after the Fall), Bathsheba, Hannah, the woman of Proverbs 31, Sarah from the Book of Tobit, the hemorrhaging woman in Mark's Gospel, the synagogue leader's daughter, and the bride from the Song of Songs, she helps readers find new perspectives on what it means to be a woman: young, old, single, married, mothers, nurturers, strong and vulnerable, loving and being loved. Questions for reflection encourage readers to deepen their own awareness and a final section offers prayers for the many seasons and circumstances of a woman's life. The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via Audible.

Reading Robert Ellsberg's profiles of holy men and women is like throwing open a window in a stuffy old church and taking in great gulps of fresh air. Henri Nouwen has described his writing as "evocative without being pious." He broadens the traditional vision of sanctity and calls modern readers of all stripes to claim their potential for moral and spiritual growth, courage and action. By choosing relevant models and contemporary heroes, he makes holiness accessible and attractive to ordinary people. These 101 spiritual trailblazers span the centuries from Francis and Clare to Solanus Casey and Mychal Judge, with representatives from every walk of life and corner of the world. Each entry features the essential biographical facts and adds the insight and depth only Ellsberg can provide. The author's sharp eye for signs and stories of holiness in the gritty, messy real world informs his selections, making his work unique. Obscure lay peasants, married activists, and controversial social reformers take pride of place alongside better-known theologians, founders, and canonized saints. The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via Audible.