Paraclete Press

By Lisa Hamilton As heat and pressure make diamonds out of coal, so pain and prayer have made this book a priceless gem." —Robert Owens Scott, Editor in Chief, Spirituality and Health Prayers for all in the midst of grief and sadness. As fixed-hour prayer gains inpopularity among Christians of all persuasions, it is only natural that they should want to adapt this ancient practice to particular life circumstances. Drawing on her own experience of losing her young husband to cancer, in this poignant offering, Lisa B. Hamilton accommodates the practice of fixed-hour prayer for those who mourn. For anyone coping with sadness and grief. SKU: 46559

Pope Francis as Spiritual Companion Good spiritual directors can be difficult to come by; this book offers Pope Francis to be yours. Ever wonder what advice the Pope would give you to help you grow in holiness, deepen your prayer life, know God’s will? In Practical Holiness you’ll find the keys to discovering the answers to those questions. With anecdotes about people and stories about saints, this exploration of Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation, Rejoice and Be Glad: On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World,reminds you that there is no cookie-cutter approach to holiness and encourages you to rediscover your unique way of living out the Beatitudes and Jesus’s two-fold command of love. You’ll navigate through the “five great expressions of love of God and neighbor” - essential for any Christian in our self-absorbed, digital culture. Reflection questions at the end of each chapter, as well as forty personal questions at the end of the book, make this ideal for reflection, adult faith formation, book clubs, spiritual directors and their directees, and further catechesis during the RCIA’s Mystogogia period between Easter and Pentecost. Format: Paperback Trim size: 5.5 x 7.5 inches Weight: 7.2 ounces. Pages: 160. SKU: 57856

By Br. Benet TvedtenOriginally written for monks, the principles in the Rule of St. Benedict may be applied by anyone _ and in today's hectic, changing world, following its principles offers a rich spiritual connection to the stability and wisdom of monastic life. This essential guide explains how people who live and work in "the world" are still invited to balance work with prayer, cultivate interdependence with others, practice hospitality, and otherwise practice theirspirituality like monks. SKU: 46513

By With Sybil MacBeth, Author of Praying in ColorWe're always looking for new ways to encounter Scripture—to go beyond the usual format of reading, reflection and questions. Many people have been rediscovering lectio divina, a way of contemplating Scripture practiced by monks since the Middle Ages. As an aid to lectio, or just a fun new way to pray with Bible verses, this book combines contemplating Scripture with coloring, helping the reader go into a sacred space where they can encounter and connect with the reading more deeply. This coloring book was created with the bestselling author of Praying in Color, Sybil MacBeth. Sybil writes and leads workshops about using doodling to contemplate Scripture. This book will help readers, doodlers, and colorers hear what God might be saying to them personally in a specific passage and then meditate further on it. It is a perfect way for individuals, families, and groups to learn more about this ancient practice, paired with coloring."Readers of all ages, experience, andreligions will find this a fresh, invigorating and even exhilarating way to spend time with themselves and their Creator." — Publisher's Weekly Starred Review. SKU: 46537

Centering Prayers for Women is a collection of 365 daily prayers for moments of silence and meditation, in a beautiful new edition especially for women. In the midst of busyness and noise, and being pulled in many different directions, Centering Prayers for Women provides a moment of deep quiet, to draw closer to the love of God. The love, warmth, and peace that radiate from these brief daily prayers spring from the ancient Christian practice of contemplative prayer. Centering Prayers for Women is: A book of simple, gentle daily devotions to grow our awareness of God’s presence An invitation to find peace and stillness, to listen and just be Ideal for centering your mind and heart at the beginning of the day, or at bedtime, to calm anxiety An ideal gift for anyone who feels lost, doubting, or fearful, anxious, or needs reassurance of the intimate love of God A helpful tool for letting the noise of the world recede and entering a prayerful space Structured by the natural seasons of the year, and includes special prayers for holy days Rooted in Scripture and timeless Christian wisdom, these open-hearted prayers are rich in imagery, helping us connect with God as Living Water, Source, Sustainer, Living Gate, Love, Wisdom, Beauty, Strength in Life, Abba, Eternal Listener, Grace-giver, God of Gentle Power, Beloved Source of Security, and more. Centering Prayers for Women is a perfect companion for a personal retreat, or to pray with others in community.

By Tim J. Myers Illustrated by Necdet Yilmaz A wonderful story for children that is about taking, but also giving—about stubbornness, but also a change of heart. The spoiled prince learns well from his wise grandmother who knew that all he really needed... A stick. It was sturdy, and as long as he was tall. But it was just a stick. This simple gift opens the prince to the power of imagination, the pleasure of doing, and eventually, theheart-soothing, joy-inducing warmth of not only being loved—but loving. With his gift of storytelling, Tim Myers' Christmas story for kids can teach hearts of allages. Tim J. Myers is a writer, songwriter, storyteller, and university lecturer. He's been nominated for two Pushcarts, won a poetry contest judged by John Updike, and is the author of a dozen children's books. His Basho and the Fox was a New York Times Children's Bestseller and was read aloud on NPR. www. TimMyersStorySong. Com. Necdet Yilmaz was born and raised in Istanbul, where he attended Marmara University School of Fine Arts and Design. He has illustrated dozens of books for children and lives in New York. . SKU: 46487

By Paul Sabatier, Edited and Introduction and Annotations by Jon M. SweeneyOriginally published in French in 1894, Sabatier's was the first modern biography of Francis of Assisi. It was a worldwide bestseller, and in 2003 when this new edition was first published, it again sold more than 60,000 copies and was a selection of History Book Club. This new 120thanniversary edition includes a dozen additional annotations and a new preface bythe editor, putting Sabatier's influential work into its historical context, showing why it is still the most essential life of the saint."This new and updated edition . . . is nothing short of astonishing in its power to touch the heart and revive the soul."—St. Anthony Messenger "This book brings forth this popular saint in a way in which we come to know him more intimately than ever before. Everyone touched by this 'perpetual outsider' will want to read it."—M. Basil Pennington, O. C. S. O."The Road to Assisi . . . offers an excellent introduction to the text, helpful sidebars and notes, and fascinating illustrations, [aiding readers] in engaging 'personally with Francis, the human being."'—Publishers Weekly"Paul Sabatier's groundbreaking 1894 biography Vie de S. Fran_ois d'Assise is essential reading for anyoneinterested in the life and times of the great charismatic of Assisi. The Road to Assisi offers a clear and temperate introduction to Sabatier's passionate, often controversial engagement with the radical life and message of St. Francis. Highly recommended."—Valerie Martin, author of Salvation: Scenes from the Life of St. Francis"Today, under the editorial guidance of Sweeney, this balanced, longout-of-print work isagain in the hands of readers." —Library Journal "Sabatier's 19th century biography still reads like the classic it is. One could hardly ask for a better combination to introduce Francis to a larger public."—Mark Galli, author of Francis and His World and managing editor for Christianity Today"[This] remarkable new publicationfrom Paraclete Press has something to say to you . . . a refreshing and eye- opening work."—The Episcopal New Yorker"The Road to Assisi presents Sabatier's biography for today's reader. With helpful explanations and annotations by Jon M. Sweeney, Sabatier's narrative is supplemented with the insights of many other scholars and writers."—The Presbyterian Outlook. SKU: 46509

By Enzo Bianchi, Foreword by Rowan WilliamsThe Bible is ancient, enigmatic, and from a culture vastly different from our own. That's why most of us find it hard to read. So how can we understand its importance in thechurch, and how can it enrich our lives? Central to lectio divina is the conviction that to read the Bible faithfully and prayerfully is to learn an ancient art—by entering into dialogue with the God who speaks to each of us through the biblical page. Enzo Bianchi touches on the essentials of the history of lectio, from the brilliantthinker Origen in the third century to the development of historical criticism in the modern era. He explains how to do lectio and how to understand and implement its four "moments"—lectio, meditatio, oratio, and contemplatio. This is not simply a book about how to approach the Bible, because Scripture ultimately wants to lead us beyond itself, to the truth and mystery of Christ that can never be captured fully in the written word."Withhis deep biblical wisdom, Bianchi is able to explore the whole Christian tradition of prayerful reading. St. Benedict mandates at least two hours of lectio divina a day for his monks, which is a considerable challenge for the modern person. But with Enzo as our guide, we can do it!" —Terrence G. Kardong, osb, editor of American Benedictine Review"Enzo Bianchi was born in Castel Boglione, Piedmont, Italy, in 1943. In 1965, after graduating from the University of Turin, he founded an ecumenical monastic community—the Bose Community—of which he is still the prior. Friar Bianchi is a well-known author of books on lectio divina and the spiritual life, which have been translated intomany languages. He has dedicated himself to the search for spirituality capable of giving life to Christians today and furthering communion among all people. The Bose Community now numbers over eighty brothers and sisters of variousChristian traditions, and receives thousands of visitors annually. Enzo Bianchi is one of the most significant Christian voices in Europe. He shows what can be achieved by an immersion in Scripture that involves both intellect and imagination alike, and—in common with all themost serious Christian voices of our day—he cannot be labeled as a partisan "liberal" or "traditionalist." Heoffers exactly what the monastic voice at its truest has always offered: a way into the heart of our ecclesial and social questions that is honest, patient, and sensitive. His is a perspective that the English-speaking Christian world should welcome enthusiastically." —Rowan Williams, Magdalene College, Cambridge"I hope that these pages may be heard asa simple yet faithful echo of my personal experience, my community's path and my journey with the church. For years, I have broken the bread of the Word for the brothers and sisters in my community. Much of what I say here comes from that experience. It also comes from many years of preaching the Word to listeners from all walks of life. I would like to see this book ultimately as no more than a small gesture of gratitude to those witnesses of the Word whom the Lord has allowed me to meet, those "martyrs" of faith who have found ways to express all the richness of the Gospel intheir lives. Only those people who put God's Word into practice have really heard it. They are the ones who truly understand the biblical text, because they obey withoutdelay the word Christ never tires of speaking to us. The sequential sancti evangelii for today—today's Gospel—is not the product of brilliant scholarly research. It is the life and witness of God's holy people, those who are faithful disciples of the Word made flesh, their Lord." —Enzo Bianchi. SKU: 46514