May-June 2013
Hope and Help for Living with Illness
Karen Zielinski, OSF | Foreword by Richard Rohr
Franciscan Media $12.99
As we age, we must be prepared to face new health issues—either our own or those of loved ones—more and more often. Medications, treatments, and paperwork become stressful burdens, relationships often become strained, and God sometimes seems very far away. Hope and Help for Living with Illness offers a heartening antidote to feelings of isolation, frustration, and helplessness experienced by those dealing with sickness and disability as well as a unique approach to issues of health and spirituality. The author has lived with multiple sclerosis for more than thirty years, and she draws on her own and others’ experiences to provide guidance and inspiration for developing a healthy and holistic plan for life.
The Professional’s Pursuit of a Meaningful Life
Randy Hain | Foreword by Chester Elton
Liguori Publications $14.99
For people mired in the daily grind who are searching for more from life than just work, this book shows how they can rediscover their passions and align them with different spheres of activity. Something More encourages readers to take stock of where they’ve been and what they’ve accomplished—and then imagine where they want to go and how they intend to get there. Influenced by Catholic and secular material, Randy Hain appeals to an ecumenical audience with his real-world insights into leading a life of engagement. He addresses issues such as seeking authenticity, establishing work/life balance, recalibrating your thinking, serving others, finding job satisfaction, using your gifts, and recognizing the roles that crisis, courage, and faith play in a meaningful life. The provocative discussion questions at the end of each chapter will encourage readers to think differently about their lives.
Catholic Spiritual Practices
A Treasury of Old & New
Edited by Colleen M. Griffith & Thomas H. Groome
Paraclete Press $18.99
With a true eye and an attuned ear, editors Colleen Griffith and Thomas Groome have assembled a compendium of traditional and contemporary spiritual practices that are a wonderful introduction to the beauty and richness of Catholic prayer life. Divided into three sections—Practices of Prayer, Practices of Care, and Practices of Spiritual Growth—this book features short articles and instruction by some of today’s most respected spiritual writers on more than thirty spiritual practices. Two noteworthy benefits of this lovely little book are its size and the way it’s organized. It’s small enough to slip in a purse or briefcase or sit on a night table. It can be read and absorbed during an extended reading period or taken one essay at a time. And it’s direct and relevant enough to allow readers to apply its lessons and practices to their lives immediately.
Jesus
Joseph F. Girzone
Orbis Books $20.00
In contrast to his immensely popular Joshua novels, which use fiction to illuminate Jesus’ message and teachings, Joseph Girzone’s latest book gives us a powerful nonfiction perspective on Jesus. Combining the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, personal anecdotes, tales from the Bible, and stories he has gathered from people around the world, Girzone creates a unique and profoundly inspiring portrait in Jesus. He writes in a simple, descriptive prose about the revelations that shape his beliefs and the mysteries that continue to intrigue him. His narrative style gives readers a "you were there" experience has he paints a word picture that stays with the reader. His pastor’s touch reveals the spiritual and personal life implications of stories and incidents in Jesus’ life.
Mary’s Song
Lee Bennett Hopkins | Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn
Eerdmans $17.00
With its melodic language and rich illustrations, Mary’s Song is a lovely reminder of the meaning of the incarnation and a welcome pause in the midst of a constantly moving, hustling world. For everyone who has heard the story of God’s coming on earth, Lee Bennett Hopkins and Stephen Alcorn give us a further peek into the manger to see the stirring of Mary’s thoughts and expressions of love for her newborn baby. Through Hopkins’s gentle verse and Alcorn’s soft illustrations, readers perceive the poignancy of the unfolding mother/child relationship as they glimpse the playfulness within the holy. The gentle “quietness” of Mary’s Song should make it an instant classic.
Introducing Children to Silence and Prayer
Luis M. Benavides
Liguori Publications $7.99
In this simple and direct book, Luis Benavides presents a series of easy guidelines and helpful suggestions for introducing children to prayer and for helping them see it as a delight rather than a penance. Teaching children to pray is a vital part of introducing them to Jesus and reinforcing their relationship with God. Jesus taught us to pray so we could communicate with God directly; getting children comfortable with prayer helps them understand that God is always close and accessible. Benavides tells us that just as a mother teaches her baby with gestures, tenderness, and words to awaken all the things the human spirit is capable of, so catechists, parents, grandparents, and others who mentor little children can teach them in age-appropriate ways to speak to God.