In September 2010 Brazos Press published Adventures in Daily Prayer. In
this book I share in detail my practice and understanding of daily prayer. I offer my experiences as a series of mirrors in
which you can reflect on your own prayer life. I tell of the ways the Lord has worked in me to trigger your memories of the
ways he has worked in you. Each chapter explains an element that characterizes my prayer times, such practices as praying
in God’s presence, listening to God, and interceding for others. In order to help you connect with my message and explore
its value for you. I have provided Think, Pray, and Act questions at the end of each chapter. You may also use these questions—especially
those labeled “Think”—for group discussions.
Even
before we may be aware of it, the Lord engages us in an adventure of prayer. Moment by moment he beckons us, creating opportunities
for us to communicate with him. All prayer rises up in us as God’s gift. He is coming to us more than we are going to
him. The classic Baltimore Catechism popularized the definition of prayer as “raising the mind and heart to God.”
Jesuit spiritual writer Thomas H. Green says that this description goes too far because it makes it seem as though we are
initiators of the communication. Alternatively, he suggests that we characterize prayer as an “opening the mind and
heart to God” because the idea of opening emphasizes responsiveness and receptivity.
Whether we are beginners, experienced pray-ers, or in-betweeners, we are always the receivers of God’s gift of prayer.
I hope this book will help you respond more fully to God’s invitation to pray and grow even closer to him.
VOICES OF THE SAINTS NOW AVAILABLE IN AN UPDATED AND REVISED EDITION FROM LOYOLA PRESS
Loyola Press has published a revised and updated edition of Voices of the Saints. The 2000 edition presented the saints in
alphabetical order. The new 2009 edition is arranged in historical order, which gives you the benefit of taking a journey
through church history with the saints.
Voices of the Saints involves you with 365 saints as spiritual companions on your daily journey. Each two-page selection provides
a long quote by or about the saint that gives a sense of his or her voice. This feature reveals the saint's ideals and spirituality.
For far too long Catholics have regarded saints as extraordinary people, almost as though they were made of some superhuman
substance. For this reason many feel that they could never become a saint because they are weak and sinful. I wanted to write
a book that would change their mind. I hope to convince you that holiness is possible for all. So I take the saints down from
their pedestals. In Voices of the Saints I show that saints are ordinary people by describing their faults as well as their
strengths. I hope you will take away the conviction that you can become a saint if you choose to and if you respond to God's
grace.
You can read Voices of the Saints in a variety of ways. Saints are arranged from Mary in the first century to Teresa of Calcutta
in the twentieth century, allowing you to read the book in chronological order. The book is numbered from 1 to 365, so you
can read one selection a day through a year and easily keep track. You can also read the book topically by choosing from the
chart of ninety-six themes and going to the saints that are listed for each topic. By using the Calendar of Saints, you can
read the book through the year from January to December. Or if you just want to find a saint that interests you, you can consult
the Index.
May these stories encourage you to decide to be a saint-after all that's why God made you.
Breakfast with Benedict: Daily Readings by Pope Benedict XVI
Selected and edited by Bert Ghezzi
This little book creates an opportunity for you to start your day with Pope Benedict XVI. Imagine that you have been invited
to breakfast with the pope. As you sip your first cup of coffee, he will talk to you about an important and interesting topic.
Today he may reflect with you on the Face of God, one of his favorite themes. Tomorrow he may share about his personal experience
of going to Confession. And the next day he may express his concern that we care for the environment. The wide range of his
interests and depth of his understanding will fascinate you. His savvy grasp of what’s going on in the world will cause
you to shake your head in agreement. Some mornings what he says will make you think. On other days he may provoke to change
something in your life. And on most days
So take this book with you to your table and enjoy your breakfast with Benedict, our Holy Father.
Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R. and Bert Ghezzi
Everyday Encounters with God
What Our Experience Teaches About the Divine
In Everyday Encounters with God, Benedict Groeschel,
CFR and Bert Ghezzi alert readers to the many-faceted ways you can learn about God by observing your ordinary experiences.
In thirty short chapters that range over a diversity of subjects, they show readers how we can meet God in our daily circumstances
and realize what he is like. For example, the witness of the heavens, our births, and bodies tell of God’s extravagant
providence, generosity, and his preoccupation with beauty. We see his image in our parents, his creativity in artists and
laborers, his justice in people committed to set things right. We find truths about him everywhere—in novels, random
kindnesses, architecture, recovered addicts, and acts of forgiveness. The book contains five sections, each with six short
chapters. Each chapter concludes with a question for personal reflection. Each section concludes with questions for group
discussions.
About the Co-Author : Benedict
Groeschel, CFR. is the founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. He is a well-known teacher, conference speaker,
and retreat master. Fr. Benedict is the author of many books, including most recently, Praying with the Creed. His
weekly TV program, “Fr. Benedict Groeschel Live,” airs every Sunday evening on EWTN.
The Sign of the Cross: Recovering the Power of the Ancient Prayer 120 pages Presents six dynamic perspectives that enable readers
to experience more fully the graces and blessings that come from making the sign of the cross. Signing yourself with faith
and reverence opens you to God, activates baptismal graces, affirms your decision to follow Christ, accepts suffering on God's
terms, protects you from the devil, and helps you replace faults with virtues.
Look inside this book!
Mystics and Miracles: True Stories of Lives Touched by God. 189 pages Inspiring introduction to lives of 24 saints who
shared our struggles and weaknesses and who also experienced miracles because of their obedient relationship to God. Ideal
reading for all ages.
Look inside this book!
The New Jerusalem Bible: Saints Devotional Edition Presents 200 reflections by saints on Bible texts to enhance your
prayer and spiritual reading. Includes a mini-course in the saints' own words teaching how to read, study, pray, and apply
Scripture; 100 themes for guided reading; brief biographies of 90 saints; dictionary of patron saints; and a calendar of the
saints.
Look inside this book!
Sacred Passages: Bringing the Sacraments to
Life 176 pages Explores eight
eye-opening truths that expand our perspectives on the ways God uses the sacraments to touch and strengthen us at the transitional
stages of our lives from our birth on earth to our birth into heaven.
Being Catholic Today: Your Personal Guide 166 pages This book is a primer on putting the Catholic faith
into practice. An introduction to what Catholics do for young Catholics and converts and a refresher course for others. Includes
questions for reflection and discussion, as well as action ideas.
Keeping Your Kids Catholic 228 pages A practical guide about handing on the faith to children written by experienced parents, teachers, and
pastors. Suitable for personal or group use. Helps parents prioritize, select, and implement action ideas.
Guiltless Catholic Parenting from A to Y* 270 pages A handbook that helps parents fulfill their vocation to raise kids Catholic without guilt or fear of failure.
A companion to Keeping Your Kids Catholic. Designed both for personal or group use.
50 Ways to Tap the Power of the Sacraments 196 pages How individuals and families can meet Jesus in the sacraments and apply his graces to daily life. 50 practical,
personal short reads. Questions for reflection and discussion and many application ideas.
