Search results for ""Messenger Publications""
Messenger Publications The Ireland of Edward Cahill SJ 1868-1941: A Secular or a Christian State?
Edward Cahill SJ was a well-known and influential figure in Ireland during the early decades of the new Irish state. As Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Sociology at the Jesuit House of Studies in Dublin, his research led him to view liberalism as the great enemy of the faith and spiritual values of the majority of the Irish people. He identified with liberalism the exclusion of God from public life and a strong emphasis on secularism, and also the excesses of laissez-faire capitalism. He sought to counter this by teaching a Christian sociology based on the papal social encyclicals. Cahill gathered around him a lay organisation of men and women drawn from all walks of life, known as An Ríoghacht, which became influential in the 1930s. Mr and Mrs de Valera were good friends of Cahill and shared many of his views. His magnum opus, widely read at the time, was entitled The Framework of a Christian State.
£16.99
Messenger Publications Brothers in Arms
The summer of 2022 saw an unprecedented heatwave in Spain and the author, a Jesuit priest was accompanying a Dublin taxi driver on a walking retreat on the Ignatian Camino to Manresa, near Barcelona. This book tells the story of that testing pilgrimage: trying to find a way through severe heat; the challenges of walking together, finding accommodation and negotiating unexpected hurdles; and the retreat that they did together that looked at faith, prayer and blocks to progress. On one level it is a story of friendship between two very different personalities, and also a story of two souls on a spiritual search for God. As in his other books, Brendan highlights the Ignatian learning points (e.g. how to discern in a heatwave), outlines the spiritual journeys of the people they came across including a contemplative nun, and narrates the many adventures they went through to cope with exceptional circumstances. The pressure of the intense heat forces them to adapt their walking and find balance and discernment in making good decisions on the road. The pilgrimage took in some key Ignatian sites such as Montserrat and Manresa, but readers are given a unique perspective into the experience of St Ignatius Loyola through the eyes of these two pilgrims’ unique journey, as well as illustrating how a customised Ignatian retreat works. This is a pilgrimage story of finding God in the messiness of less than ideal situations, developing a heartwarming friendship, and finding a way through using Ignatian principles of reflection and flexibility.
£12.06
Messenger Publications Sacred Space for Lent 2023
The Sacred Space website, an inspiration of the Irish Jesuits, continues to be one of the most popular prayer sites worldwide. Twenty years ago a group of Jesuits saw the potential of the "new" world wide web as a way of helping and encouraging people to pray. The books followed soon after and have been consistent bestsellers. Sacred Space Lent 2023 continues the tradition of Scripture reading, points of reflection, a weekly topic and six steps of prayer and meditation. The handy format makes this an idea book for pocket, brief case, handbag or even the glove compartment of the car!
£8.44
Messenger Publications Willie Doyle SJ: Much in the Presence of God
Willie Doyle SJ was born in Dalkey on 3 March 1873 to an affluent Catholic family. Willie entered the Society of Jesus in 1891. taking vows, Fr. Doyle embarked on a period of Jesuit formation known as Regency. Fr. Doyle worked in two Jesuit schools Clongowes Wood College and Belvedere College. He was ordained in 1908. His prayerful nature took him into Retreat Ministry after ordination. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola are a popular way of praying in our time. At the turn of the Twentieth Century, they were almost the exclusive preserve of priests brothers and religious sisters. The Exercises made such a profound impact on Fr. Doyle that he felt they should be available to the largest audience possible. Fr. Doyle also had a great interest in vocations to religious life, and produced two bestselling pamphlets on the priesthood which were published by the Sacred Heart Messenger. In 1915 he volunteered as a Chaplain in the First World War. His time in the war saw him demonstrate great acts of heroism. His death in August 1917 came as a great blow to those who had known him. He died attempting to save injured soldiers from the battlefield at Ypres. His body was initially recovered, but subsequently obliterated by a German shell. Interest in his life was sparked by a book written by Professor Alfred O’Rahilly, which became a bestseller. The book went on to inspire future saints, like Mother Teresa. The desire to have Fr. Doyle declared a saint received much traction in the 1930s, but it lapsed as the Irish Jesuits preferred to give their energies to the cause of Fr. John Sullivan. In recent years the cause has begun to get traction and a lay Association of the Faithful is working to have it promoted.
£6.99
Messenger Publications Discover God Daily: Seven Life-Changing Moments from the Journey of St Ignatius
One of the traps in the spiritual life is assuming that things will happen miraculously in one dramatic, unrepeatable moment. The authors illustrate the “slow work of God” (Teilhard de Chardin), an unfolding of God’s plan for our lives over time, as a much more helpful and humanising way to look at faith. Using details from the life of St Ignatius Loyola. The 7 stages of Ignatius’ life that reflect this slow process of growth in the Spirit are: Lack of awareness and superficial religion (being ‘asleep’: his life as a courtier & soldier); Waking up (his dreams shattered at Pamplona, the painful convalescing at Loyola); Extremes (initial over-enthusiasm of being a pilgrim on the road to Manresa); Eyes Opened (deepening in faith at Montserrat, Manresa & the Cave); Gaining wisdom (beginning again, studying in Barcelona); Gathering a group (spiritual conversations about what to do, deliberations in Venice & Rome) and Embracing leadership (going against his pilgrim instincts to head up the Society in Rome) The Ignatian spirituality points from each are drawn out and explained in imagined conversations with God, reflections, scripture pieces and real-life applications. The authors have established a very popular style of conveying the essentials of Ignatian spirituality and readers will find the book both accessible and enjoyable.
£9.89
Messenger Publications Ignatian Spirituality and Interreligious Dialogue: Reading Love's Mystery
This is a book about dialogue, specifically about the dialogue between religions. But it is also a book formed in dialogue. I seek to bring together the two sides of my experience as an academic teacher and pastoral worker: on the one hand, the extraordinary world of the religions that is such an important feature of contemporary Western culture; on the other, my spiritual formation and religious practice which has acted as the primary motivation for everything that I do as a Jesuit priest. The book can be read both as a practical correlate to what I have written elsewhere on the theology of religions, and, at a more personal level, as a reflection on my experience ‘on the streets’, as it were. I am guided throughout by the conviction that Christian faith comes truly alive when it is communicated, brought into dialogue with what is ‘other’, different, even strange. God’s own story, what God seeks to reveal of God’s own self through the witness of the Bible, enters into dialogue with the story of one Jesuit who seeks to respond to the mystery of a loving God through the lens of Ignatian spirituality. The twelve linked chapters form a personal introduction, with a degree of autobiography and illustrative anecdote, to an interior dialogue between Christian faith and the challenging context of contemporary religious pluralism. Michael Barnes is the author of Religions in Conversation (SPCK 1989) , God East and West (SPCK 1991), Theology and the Dialogue of Religions (CUP 2002), Interreligious Learning: Dialogue, Spirituality and the Christian Imagination (CUP 2012), Waiting on Grace: a Theology of Dialogue (OUP 2020).
£22.95
Messenger Publications The Quiet Revolution of Pope Francis: A Synodal Catholic Church in Ireland?
Pope Francis wants to bring about a quiet revolution within the Catholic Church. He wants a reformed church in which the `sense of the faithful’, the instinct of baptised men and women, is given a role in the formation and reception of church teaching and governance. The model is one of Jesus conversing with his male and female disciples in Palestine – a walking together of the People of God, a `synodal’ church. Irish Jesuit theologian Gerry O’Hanlon examines this ecclesiological project of Francis and the new roles within it of pope and bishops, theologians, and all the baptised. He considers the Pope's strategy of a changed ecclesial structure that would out-live his own pontificate. Francis advocates a critical openness to contemporary culture, a culture of consultation and open debate, and communal discernment practised at every level of `an entirely synodal church'. O’Hanlon argues that this project offers new hope of a better reading of the `signs of the times’ by the Catholic Church, not least in areas of sexuality of gender. The author applies this analysis to our situation in Ireland and suggests that whatever about the desirable spiritual renewal which a papal visit may inspire, it is to be hoped that the more lasting long-term effects might be the realisation of a synodal Irish Catholic Church.
£12.78
Messenger Publications Hearers of the Word: Praying and Exploring the Readings for Lent to Pentecost Year A
The growing hunger for the Word of God is an unexpected development in our time. This book sets out to nourish those who desire something deeper and richer than is possible in the usual setting of worship. By exploring the context and background to all three readings, the author hopes to make the readings available for personal prayer and as a preparation for taking part in the Sunday liturgy. A very useful resource for all who wish to get more out the Sunday readings. Fr Kieran is very well-known for his regular emailings of resources on the readings. These are hugely popular amongst clergy and others. Now, for the first time, these readings are brought together in a series of books. This is the second volume covering Lent to Pentecost.
£17.95
Messenger Publications Newman: A Short Biography
John Henry Newman was an important and controversial figure in the religious history of England in the 19th century. An esteemed academic, prolific author and convert from the Church of England to Catholicism, Newman was a complex and conflicted individual. Intensely loyal to his friends, highly-strung, kind-hearted and tenacious, Newman combined the best of both the Anglican and Catholic traditions. His volume of lectures entitled The Idea of a University, explained his philosophy of education. During the four years he spent in Dublin he was was instrumental in the founding of the Catholic University of Ireland in 1854; this later evolved into University College Dublin, now the largest university in Ireland. John Henry Newman was declared a saint on 13th October 2019.
£12.06
Messenger Publications Bursting Out in Praise: Spirituality and Mental Health
The author draws on his own hard-earned wisdom for this series of reflections on spirituality and mental health. He covers a range of experiences including: upsides (unexpected blessings along the mental health journey), downsides (challenges along the mental health journey), recovery (steps and considerations for getting back on track), balance (modern and contemplative wisdom for life), loving life (through fully embracing the mental health journey) and spirituality (an inner dynamism toward fullness of life). Bringing together wisdom from psychology and spirituality, he acknowledges the enormous benefit of psychological tools for wellness as well as a spirituality that aims to tell a different story. Ignatian Spirituality is a consistent thread throughout that offers a psycho-spirituality of great depth and awareness. This is a gentle introduction to spirituality and mental health. The real-life examples show that there is no dividing line between mental illness and normality. Everyone is somewhere along the mental health continuum and God is with them every step of the way.
£6.99
Messenger Publications Travelling on Titanic
As a passenger on the first two legs of Titanic''s ill fated voyage, Father Francis Browne SJ''s photographs are an immensely important record. As well as taking a unique set of photos, Father Browne also assembled an incredibly valuable album of Titanic material such as an original deck plan, menus, letters to him from fellow passengers, contemporary newspaper cuttings and other documents, many of which are reproduced here. Thanks to the gift of a ticket from his uncle, a young Jesuit named Francis Browne travelled on the Titanic during her maiden voyage from Southampton, to Cherbourg to Cork. Invited to remain with the ship as it crossed the Atlantic, Fr Browne was saved from possible disaster by a telegram from his Jesuit superior ordering him to get off that ship. When the unthinkable happened and the Titanic sank, Fr Browne''s photographs appeared on the front pages of newspapers all around the world. For many years the photographs of Fr Browne were forgotten until 1985 when Fr
£23.00
Messenger Publications Emerging from the Mess
At the darkest hour the dawn arrives again anew, just like always, but we forget so easily. This post-pandemic world of uncertainty, drought, war and death is not the end. It's not all of reality as it proposes to be but just a temporary place of growth and purification. We need to be open to learn about humility, compassion and grace. A person, the Christ, has lifted us up. Our true destiny is revealed, to be with the Light, breaking open the clouds of weary, often isolated existence.Emerging from the Mess is essentially the experience of how suffering and pain alternates with great joy and fulfilment. Especially when we reach the limits of our strength and endurance (Richard Rohr calls this liminal space'), we need to remember to hang on, to be patient and faithful in prayer. This book's challenge is to live every day like a resurrection day. It is all about gratitude: to see the absolute giftedness of every moment, the wonder of every encounter, the silver lining
£12.10
Messenger Publications The Life and Times of Daniel Murray: Esteemed Archbishop of Dublin 1823-1852
Daniel Murray was undoubtedly the outstanding Irish Catholic archbishop of the nineteenth century. He was a man of elegance and charm, ready to listen to others and to find good in them. To the redoubtable Bishop Doyle of Kildare and Leighlin, the archbishop was `an angel of a man’.His concern for the education of the poor led to the founding of the Irish Sisters of Charity and the invitation to Dublin of the Sisters of Mercy and the Irish Christian Brothers. His interest in the education of the middle class was manifested in the foundation of the Sisters of Loreto and in his support for the schools of the Jesuits and the Vincentians. A man of great pastoral energy, he built numerous churches and readily encouraged lay involvement in the work of the diocese. He was actively involved in assisting the Holy See in the appointment of priests and bishops around the world and his efforts to provide aid to the needy during the Great Famine, and the veneration and respect he inspired in his clergy, further contributed to the high esteem in which he was held. And yet, he is a virtually forgotten figure in Irish history.This neglect is related to the stance he took on some issues of the day – his support for certain government initiatives, his opposition to his clergy’s involvement in politics, and his caution about openly supporting Repeal.
£27.00
Messenger Publications Stations of the Soul: An Artist's Journey
Hand painted on canvas, this set of Stations resulted from the artist's two great loves, the passion of Christ and art. These modern illustrations of the Stations of the Cross are open to personal interpretation and it is the artist's hope that each individual will find their own meaningful insights. The paintings evolved slowly, over a long period of years, with many breaks between, but the spiritual, reflective element was unbroken, ongoing and intense. The authors shares her thoughts about each station and some of the reasons she painted them in the ways she did.
£6.99
Messenger Publications Irish Jesuit Chaplains: in the First World War
"Standing as I was between the guns and the trenches..." Henry Gill SJ "Life here is very pleasant and interesting, provided one does not mind being killed..." John Gwynn SJ Catholic chaplains in the First World War served alongside the troops at the Front, both in the trenches and on the battlefields, exposed to the same dangers. Many Jesuit chaplains were highly decorated and recognised for their exceptional bravery by both men and commanding officers Irish Jesuit Chaplains in the First World War, edited by Damien Burke, is a collection of articles describing the wartime experiences of eleven of these brave men. Illustrated with letters, photographs and telegrams from the Irish Jesuit Archives, this is a fascinating insight into the experiences and thoughts of men who expected to spend their lives in priestly ministry in schools, parishes, churches and universities - not on the battlefield.
£18.95
Messenger Publications Christ's Seven Words from the Cross
As the Church Year passes, we anticipate the next festival and season, in much the same way as gardeners look for the first signs of spring or the first frosts of winter, as they plan their planting activities. So, in the Church, Advent passes into Christmas and Epiphany with a speed that seems driven by activity as much as reflection; but the approach of Ash Wednesday can catch us unawares, especially in a year with an early Easter. St Brigid’s Day and Candlemas, set at the beginning of February, warn us that we need to think about how to make the most of the weeks to pray our way, once more, through the days of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ. By taking the Cross, and even more specifically, the words Jesus spoke while nailed to that Cross, over the course of some weeks, rather than a few hours on Good Friday, we have time to consider more deeply the inner themes and conclusions. This meditation will help us to prepare for Holy Week, with a mind and heart familiar with the readings and ready to be filled with our own prayerful reflections. If this small book can prompt a mindset of deliberately slowing the pace of the contemplation of Christ’s words, and especially those from the Cross, then it has fulfilled its purpose.
£11.33
Messenger Publications Sacred Space The Prayerbook 2024
Our bestselling annual - sales continue to grow year on year! The Scripture, prayers, and reflections in Sacred Space: The Prayer Book will inspire you to a richer daily spiritual experience throughout the liturgical year and invite you to develop a closer relationship with God. Each day of Sacred Space: The Prayer Book includes Scripture reading and points of reflection, as well as a weekly topic enhanced by six steps of prayer and reflection: The Presence of God, Freedom, Consciousness, The Word, Conversation, and Conclusion. Sacred Space: The Prayer Book is designed to help you stay faithful to your intention to deepen your spiritual journey. It is the perfect gift for your parish, campus ministry program, small group, friend, family member, or yourself.
£12.95
Messenger Publications Reimagining Religion: A Jesuit Vision
Many people are open to spirituality but closed to religion. Biblical wisdom reminds us that we are persons-in-relationship. We relate to ourselves, others, the planet and God. Rejecting the wisdom of the biblical lodestar can facilitate a rejection of our identity. The effects are only too prevalent. If we are unaware that we are in a relationship of stewardship with the planet, we will continue to destroy it. If we forget that we are in solidarity with others, social injustice will continue. If we forget that we are living in graced dependence we will exploit others. Our world has reached a critical stage and we stand at a crossroads where huge decisions need to be urgently made. This book attempts to highlight the value of spirituality and religion and how they complement one another. It tries to promote biblical and eucharistic literacy in a more contemporary idiom. But most of all, this book discusses the four Jesuit priorities as the way to redress the implosion of our world and in reimagining Christianity in a modern guise, as it’s clear that the ways we always did things is no longer an option. There is no place for passive bystanders when our world is falling apart. The Jesuit priorities urge us to be reflective, paying attention to our experience of life and learning from it. They stress the urgency of social and climate justice. They challenge us to promote a hope-filled world for our children. There is an urgency in the air that the four Jesuit priorities address.
£18.95
Messenger Publications Our Wounded God: Beyond, Beside and Within Us
The Stations of the Cross etch a story of pain and humiliation in the life of Jesus. There are parallels closer to home as well as across our world, be it in Ukraine, Nicaragua, Iraq or Pakistan that are ‘twinned’ with Gethsemane and Golgotha. This book invites us on a journey as we discern and dialogue for new horizons of gospel service as a church on a Synod path. We are part of a body that is greater than our own individual bodies. We have hearts and souls. Through Baptism, the Eucharist, the shared commitment of our resources, the living out of radical forgiveness, the inclusive service of compassion to all and the willingness to make sacrifices with the lowest, the least and the lost will lead us to be called the ‘body of Christ.’ This book invites you to consider, if as a church, we are part of the un-noticed, the un-recognised and the forgotten that makes us feel their pain and humiliation. This book helps us to discover the paschal (‘pass over’) significance of the cross as a response to the suffering that sears many lives today. Here we can embody the words of Jesus: ‘This is my body given for you.’ Through this proclamation, we can call ourselves the Church. This book sees Jesus as the guardian of the wounded and the tortured. It invites us, like Simon of Cyrene and Veronica to embrace and caress the open wounds that scar innocent lives. The Stations of the Cross lead us, like the Centurion who pierces the side of Christ, to recognise divinity at the heart of humanity.
£7.38
Messenger Publications Judge John O'Hagan 1825-1890
Born in Newry, educated at a Jesuit school in Dublin, John O’Hagan studied Law and Arts at Dublin University. There he became friendly with Thomas Davis, Gavan Duffy, and other Young Irelanders. He wrote for the Nation newspaper and was the author of some of its best known ballads. He toured Munster with Duffy and the poet Denis Florence McCarthy, and Ulster with Duffy and John Mitchel, and published accounts of both adventures, which cast light on the country side and people during the 1840s. After the 1848 revolution, O’Hagan worked as a lawyer on the Munster Circuit. Subsequently, he became friendly with John Henry Newman and lectured in Law, Literature and the Arts in Newman’s Catholic University. He stayed in touch with Newman after the latter had returned to England. In the 1860s, O’Hagan was appointed a Commissioner for National Education, a post and subject of great interest to him up to his death. In that decade also he married Frances O’Hagan, who was much younger than him. They had a happy marriage and their house on the hill of Howth was a welcome centre for poets such as Gerard Manley Hopkins and Aubrey de Vere, and a range of friends, writers, educationists, lawyers, and clergy. John O’Hagan prospered in a career in equity law, and he was appointed in turn chairman of the court of quarter sessions in Leitrim and in Clare. While in Clare, the title was raised to that of Judge. In 1880 he was appointed to take charge of the land commission arising from Mr Gladstone’s Land Act of 1881. He died in 1890 widely mourned and praised as a man of integrity who, in the words of The Spectator magazine, was ‘known to all not only as a most learned and experienced lawyer with a serene temper and a judgement of rare balance, but as a scholar of wide and liberal culture, a man beloved and respected by all who knew him’.
£18.95
Messenger Publications Maynooth College Reflects on Facing Life's End: Perspectives on Dying and Death
This volume of essays adopts a multi-faceted approach to questions surrounding dying and death. It features contributions from those working within the areas of palliative care, healthcare chaplaincy, philosophy, and theology. Among the topics covered are: the transformative power of palliative care; spiritual care at the end of life; a philosophical perspective on dying, death, and dignity; prudential judgment in end-of-life decision making; perinatal death; compassionate accompaniment of the bereaved; honoring the sacred story of the dying; reflecting on the Order of Christian Funerals; scriptural perspectives on mortality; the significance of music in the funeral liturgy; how the afterlife has been imagined within the Christian tradition; and the ‘liturgy’ of the Irish Wake. With questions for further discussion and reflection at the end of each chapter, all who wish to think more deeply about issues surrounding dying, death, and the care of the terminally ill, will find this collection timely and thought-provoking.
£12.95
Messenger Publications Random Reflections
An inspiring and entertaining collection of short and pithy pieces by one of Ireland's most popular religious writers. With the passing years, one of my major learnings has been that, to live a full life in the modern world, it is necessary to grow into conscious critical awareness of what one is experiencing. The speed of modern life, makes it necessary to pause often and to reflect. Otherwise, life flows over us and away from us when we live with surface feelings and emotions but without deep thought or consciousness. Throughout my later years, I have developed the practice of writing down my thoughts and some phrases that nourished my mind. This little booklet contains 700 of these that I consider creative. I offer them to the reader, not to amuse or to entertain, but as invitations to think, to reflect or to learn and maybe to be fruitfully confused. The full meaning of each one may not be immediately obvious. In fact, some of them could disturb the person willing to be stretched in their beliefs, in their style of thinking and perhaps in their behaviour.
£6.99
Messenger Publications Hearers of the Word: Praying and Exploring the Readings Easter and Pentecost Year B
The growing hunger for the Word of God is an unexpected development in our time. This book sets out to nourish those who desire something deeper and richer than is possible in the usual setting of worship. By exploring the context and background to all three readings, the author hopes to make the readings available for personal prayer and as a preparation for taking part in the Sunday liturgy. A very useful resource for all who wish to get more out the Sunday readings. Fr Kieran is very well-known for his regular emailings of resources on the readings. These are hugely popular amongst clergy and others. Now, for the first time, these readings are brought together in a series of books. This is the third volume covering Easter Week to Pentecost.
£18.95
Messenger Publications Counsels of the Holy Spirit: A Reading of St Ignatius's Letters
Many books have already been written on spiritual counselling, especially in the Ignatian tradition. But very few consider how Ignatius gave spiritual advice in his letters, directed to various and specific situations. If God really leads us in our spiritual journey, as Ignatius believed, what is the role of the spiritual adviser? What part is played by the numerous rules given in the Spiritual Exercises? The letters show that Ignatius really wanted to give scope to his correspondents and to their awareness of the work of the Holy Spirit within them. Ignatius deployed a “Pedagogy of Consolation” in which his correspondents were trained to exercise their own spiritual agency by discovering God’s abundant gifts. It was clear to Ignatius that a counselling relationship was first grounded in God’s freedom but also in the freedom of the person who asks for assistance. In six chapters, Patrick C. Goujon focuses on eight letters. He offers a careful reading which emphasizes what makes giving spiritual help possible in a conversation. We are shown how Ignatius deals with decision-making and with obstacles in the spiritual life. He is also revealed giving encouragement and correction and advising about how to offer these to others. His aim is to help people grow in freedom which, in turn, permits them to live according to God’s will. Through his letters, we are allowed to enter not only Ignatius’s study, the famous camerata in Rome, but also into his heart. “This volume is an excellent introduction to the letters of Ignatius of Loyola (…) making it an important scholarly contribution not only for those interested in Ignatian spirituality, but also for those interested in the history of spirituality more broadly”, Mark Rotsaert, ARSI
£12.95
Messenger Publications Theology and Ecology in Dialogue: The Wisdom of Laudato Si'
Ecology challenges theology to reimagine who we are, who the Spirit of God is, who Christ is, where creation is going, and what is the role of liturgy in society-- all in the glare of the ecological crisis. This book also mines the theology within and behind the ground-breaking encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home. In listening to ecology, Lane seeks to open a conversation between religion and science in the context of climate change, to develop a theology of the natural world, and to recover the lost link between creation and liturgy. A new theology of the Spirit permeates most chapters as the key to addressing the current ecological crisis as well as engaging with the increasing number of people who describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious”. Until fairly recently, climate change was left to the scientists, politicians, and activists. More is needed. Now is the time to hear voice of religion in that debate in the public forum with a view to initiating new, transformative practices in society, in politics, and in religions. This new book will be of interest to activists, politicians, priests, christian educators, and theologians. The book is born out of the conviction that climate change is not just one more problem to be addressed by politicians; rather it is the challenge facing humanity in the 21st century and as such is the challenge underlying all other challenges at this moment in history.
£18.95
Messenger Publications Hearers of the Word: Praying and exploring the readings for Advent and Christmas, Year B
By exploring the context and background to all three readings, the author hopes to make the readings available for personal prayer and as a preparation for taking part in the Sunday liturgy. This book is a very useful resource for all who wish to get more out of the season's readings. Fr Kieran is very well-known for his hugely popular 'Weekly Notes' – an email resource for each week's readings throughout the year.
£18.95
Messenger Publications Deeper into the Mess: Praying Through Tough Times
This is the eagerly awaited follow up to the best selling, Finding God in the Mess. In this new collection the authors address tough issues such as fear, anxiety, suicide, anger etc. They have received much feedback from workshops based on the first book, and these are some of the topics on which people have asked for help. As well as offering a meditation or a way of praying, in the book the authors suggest scripture and a simple ritual. Once again the book is based on Jim and Brendan's own unique combination of practical prayer and Ignatian spirituality. Like the previous volume, this book is illustrated with their beautiful photographs. This is sure to fly off the shelves.
£13.35
Messenger Publications Does Christ Matter?: An Anglican and a Jesuit in Dialogue
This book is a dialogue between members of two Irish Churches. Although their communities in N. Ireland are divided the authors have worked together for over 40 years on issues of theology, conflict, reconciliation and the relevance of Christ in a pluralist society. The book starts with a fresh look at Christ's life and teaching in the Gospels, asking critically about its relevance to today's world. With this as a base they then engage in a critique of their own churches against the standard set by the Gospels: that Christian churches should reflect the love of the Three persons in God for God and for all human beings. They ask and suggest answers to the question why Churches are relevant to tough questions of conflict, politics and social issues. The book is of particular relevance to people who no longer accept soft theologies that ignore tough questions about the existence of God, or who can find no connections between churches and their own search for meaning, individually and communally. The book is written in popular language, but draws on a wealth of diverse experience and learning.
£12.95
Messenger Publications Ignatius Loyola - Christian Mystic
Interest in mysticism is increasing at a time when commitment to religious institutions is in decline. Mysticism, in the eyes of many, evokes the free workings of the Spirit, while churches as institutions evoke rigidity and control. That this is a distorted picture is somehow beside the point – perception often sways people more powerfully than reality. And reading the mystics, it is being discovered, benefits everyone, whether Church member or agnostic. Not too long ago Ignatius Loyola would not have appeared on a list of Christian mystics. He would have been described as a soldier-saint, the author of the Spiritual Exercises, the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), a skilful organizer whose principles of governance are still studied in schools of management. If his inner life were being spoken of, he would have been placed among the ascetics rather than the mystics. Even the Spiritual Exercises were given a predominantly ascetical interpretation. Today, all that is changed. Ignatius is recognised as a major mystic in the western Christian tradition. He is now given a place beside Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. His other qualities and achievements are not downplayed as a result, but they are seen in a new light -- as flowing from the deep inner fountain that is his mystical relationship with God. The texts in which he speaks of these mystical experiences are given renewed attention – what happened at Loyola, Manresa, La Storta, and Rome. The Autobiography and Spiritual Diary, in particular, describe the events and their context, while in a more indirect way, the Spiritual Exercises are an invaluable source to be mined. In his new book, O’Leary offers a clear and accessible account of what we now know about Ignatius as a mystic. Drawing on his own familiarity with the sources, he opens up for us the inner life of Ignatius in so far as it can be known. He also hopes that the reader will resonate with something of what Ignatius is describing, thus making their reading truly transformative.
£12.95
Messenger Publications Ignatius in the Holy Land - A Guided Pilgrimage
Experience the sacred sites of the Holy Land through the eyes of Ignatius and his fellow sixteenth-century pilgrims with Josef Briffa’s fascinating guide. Jesuit priest and archaeologist Josef Briffa is your knowledgeable guide on this profound physical and spiritual journey, marking 500 years since the Ignatian pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This momentous anniversary offers an opportunity for new insight and understanding of this journey, which the author presents with absorbing detail. With this project, Briffa sets out to aid the pilgrim by providing detailed itineraries and maps for each leg of the Holy Land pilgrimage, with insights into Ignatius’ movements and experiences as he made his way to Jerusalem biblical perspectives and input from Ignatius’ own writings. This comprehensive and beautifully photographed guide is perfectly suited both to delving into the Ignatian journey from the comfort of your own home, or bringing along as a companion on your own pilgrimage. Ignatius in the Holy Land is essential reading for anyone who is planning a pilgrimage of their own and keen to follow in the footsteps of Ignatius, or anyone who simply finds themselves curious about Ignatius’ life and journey; a worthy source for both present and future pilgrims and followers of Ignatius.
£18.95
Messenger Publications Pedro Arrupe: A Heart Larger than the World
This book tells the life of Pedro Arrupe SJ, 1907-1991, whose cause for beatification was introduced in 2019. Arrupe played a central role in the Church of the twentieth century and his influence endures in the many who are fired by his idealism, vision and way of life. A tiny man with a heart truly larger than the world, he lived like a church mouse, prayed for four hours daily, and had a vibrant relationship with the three divine Persons through his sixteen years as General of the Jesuits. Born in Bilbao, he experienced the poverty of the Madrid slums while pursuing medical studies, and witnessed miracles at Lourdes which led him to join the Jesuit Order in 1927. He was expelled from Spain with his fellow-Jesuits in 1931 and began working in Japan in 1938 only to endure thirty-three days of solitary confinement on charges of espionage, and was a first responder in the oven of Hiroshima when the atom bomb fell there in 1945. He was elected in 1965 as superior general of the Jesuits, then numbering 36,000, and led them fearlessly for sixteen challenging years as the Church grappled with the decrees of the Vatican Council, 1962-1965. He made a refreshed Ignatian spirituality available not only to the Society but to Christians everywhere who try to find God in their daily lives. His renewal of Jesuit life and mission crystallised around the faith that does justice, and he challenged Jesuit alumni worldwide to become ‘men and women for and with others’. In 1980 he founded the Jesuit Refugee Service which has now spread globally.
£18.95
Messenger Publications Channelling the Inner Fire: Ignatian Spirituality in 15 Points
Many people are good people and genuine “searchers”, but often lack the practical methods and ‘tools’ to know how to deepen their faith. Often the idea about ‘faith’ that they have inherited is not helpful, and they need something real and experiential that helps with the complexity of contemporary living. This book redefines spirituality as about “channelling the inner fire”; there is some God given desire within us that seeks expression. Our goal is to become fully alive and human, just like Jesus was, by tuning into our inner world of feelings and desires. We are called to live like Christ, tuning into God’s plan for us and how we could serve the world. This book synthesizes the Ignatian system into 15 easy to understand concrete aspects. God is at work in each of our lives right now. Our job is to uncover the subtle messages that God is communicating to us, to be in dynamic relationship with God, and engaged with the world. It is a lot more about “letting go” and abandoning ourselves to the reality of what is, rather than trying to make things happen through our efforts. This is a personal journey that everyone has to make for themselves, though having companions and support is crucial to making it possible. This book spells out the practical steps and techniques developed by St Ignatius Loyola that allow us to find God in our experience and change our lives to be active agents for change.
£6.99
Messenger Publications A Short History of the Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland traces its history back to the coming of Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. Kenneth Milne here outlines briefly and simply that history from the beginning, down through the Reformation period, when the church was established as the State church. There followed centuries of plantations and penal laws until eventually, in the nineteenth century, the church was disestablished. The final chapter brings the story through changing times to our own day. The book attempts to tell the story of the Church in the context of Irish history, helping the reader to understand some of the situations in which the Church found itself, and still finds itself. Dr Milne is aware of the importance of writing about the Church’s past in the context of the wider context of Irish history. This is particularly vital given the Church of Ireland’s role as the Established (State) Church for several hundred years and its political role in Irish life from the Reformation onwards. The text begins with the origins of Christianity in Ireland and the latest revision brings the story to the present with some attention to the ecumenical movement, Prayer Book revision and the ordination of women to priesthood and the episcopate .While he revised each edition with the general reader in mind I tried to ensure that I kept abreast of developments in Irish historiography, and included a bibliography for whose who might wish to read more deeply. With the inclusion in recent years of Religious Studies in the state examinations in the Republic and emphasis on students becoming conversant with the beliefs and practices of at least one Christian tradition other than their own, later editions have borne in mind a possible readership beyond members of the Church of Ireland.
£12.06
Messenger Publications God in Every Day: A Whispered Prayer
This book is intended as a guide to help each person in their prayer life. The book explores various images of God and how He may be found in everyday life. Reflections with suitable scripture references are provided. Some of the images of God are very familiar ones, such as God as Parent and God as Shepherd. However, other images of God are explored that may be less familiar to the reader, such as God as Chef (where we find God in food); God as Artist (where we find God in art); and God as Gardener (where we find God in the garden). The idea is to explore various images of God that are drawn from everyday life, in order to bring home the notion that God is present in the everyday. For example, in the chapter that details finding God in Art (God as Artist), the reflections relate to God as artist (painter), musician and writer, and the examples of art, music and writing are drawn from everyday life. Specifically, the art work was available to view at the local art gallery (NGI) at the time of writing; the four pieces of music are easily accessible online, as are the two poems. It is hoped that this book will aid the reader in their prayer life and help them to experience God in ordinary life by exploring usual and unusual images of God.
£12.06
Messenger Publications Hearers of the Word: Praying & exploring the readings Lent & Holy Week: Year B
The growing hunger for the Word of God is an unexpected development in our time. This book sets out to nourish those who desire something deeper and richer than is possible in the usual setting of worship. By exploring the context and background to all three readings, the author hopes to make the readings available for personal prayer and as a preparation for taking part in the Sunday liturgy. A very useful resource for all who wish to get more out the Sunday readings. Fr Kieran is very well-known for his regular email resources of resources on the readings. These are hugely popular amongst clergy and others. Now, for the first time, these readings are brought together in a series of books. This is the second volume covering Lent and Holy Week.
£19.32
Messenger Publications Maynooth College reflects on COVID 19: New Realities in Uncertain Times
Where is God in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic? This volume offers a variety of reflections from the perspectives of theology, scripture, philosophy, ethics, liturgy, pastoral, and canon law. The chapters are addressed to anyone seeking understanding, whatever the level of faith. The book will be helpful for those in parish ministry and interested laypersons, especially in the Irish context. Besides being valuable for personal reading, the volume is also a welcome resource for parish councils or small parish groups, because each chapter concludes with questions for reflection and discussion. This book seeks to offer the beginnings of a theological reflection that will doubtless take years to complete. Contributors to the volume include Tom Casey SJ, Anne Codd PBVM, Pádraig Corkery, Jeremy Corley, Philip Gonzales, Michael Hurley, Gaven Kerr, Nóirín Lynch, Michael Mullaney, Neil Xavier O’Donoghue, Kevin O’Gorman SMA, Noel O’Sullivan, Jessie Rogers, Salvador Ryan, and Michael Shortall. The volume also includes an interview on the pandemic originally given to the Tablet by Pope Francis.
£9.89
Messenger Publications Living Words: Readings and Reflections on Inspiring Faith Communities
A collection of readings and reflections for participants in the Inspiring Faith Communities programme.
£6.66
Messenger Publications Mary in Different Traditions: Seeing the Mother of Jesus with New Eyes
Catholicism in the Western world has moved from a situation where Mary and Marian devotion were simply taken for granted to a new situation where it now demands real effort to turn to Our Lady in any meaningful way. The Rosary used to play a big part in the lives of many Catholics. Now, they are more likely to carry iPods instead of Rosary beads, and to sport a tattoo instead of wearing the Miraculous Medal. The trouble is not simply that we have stopped thinking about Mary in the way our ancestors did, but that we no longer feel about her in the same way they did either. How can we learn to see Mary in a new way? The author explores the insights of other faiths – Protestantism, Orthodoxy, Islam, and Judaism; and also the insights of the `other’ within the Catholic tradition – the Eastern-rite Catholics who, despite their full communion with Rome, have a distinct approach to Mary based on their unique liturgical and spiritual tradition. Perhaps the novelty of their viewpoints on Mary can bring us to the joy of surprise about her once again. If we can learn to wonder anew about this woman from Nazareth, maybe we’ll be brought to enjoy the even greater wonder of her son, Jesus.
£11.95
Messenger Publications Hope in All Things
The reflections in Hope in All Things are based on the Ignatian insight that in prayer and life we can 'find God in all things'. Through these pieces, Fr Paul shows us how to find hope in all the experiences of joy and sorrow, thanks and petition, and in all of life. Join Paul on his first flight to Guyana aboard a rundown plane, on his journey to Spain as a penniless Jesuit novice, on his cycle of a thousand miles across England and his trips to the bedsides of the many patients he has treated in his career as a doctor. Formed from this rich experience Hope in All Things offers a unique perspective on the faith of a Catholic, a priest and a Jesuit as he seeks to follow Christ. With each step and misstep Paul learns more, finding that even in the face of the suffering he witnesses he has hope in all things.
£9.89
Messenger Publications Living with Ignatius
What makes a successful life, and how do I decide what do with mine? What does it mean to believe in God? Does God still hold the same meaning and relevance in our time, and if so, how can I tap into that meaning? These are just some of the questions addressed in this new book on how the lived experience of St Ignatius Loyola can be used as a guiding principle towards a more intensely and consciously lived life. This concise guide provides an insight into the life of Ignatius, as well as an introduction to Ignatian spirituality, presenting it not as a doctrine, but as a spiritual toolkit from which we can draw strength and knowledge. While an illuminating read for those already familiar with Ignatius, no prior knowledge is required to reap the benefits of this fascinating book.
£9.89
Messenger Publications Sacred Space the Companion
Spanning both the highly successful Sacred Space: The Prayerbook series and the multilingual, globalsacredspace.com, Sacred Space moves with the modern world to create both a personal and globally collective space for reflection. In one braid it binds the instant connectivity of the twenty-first century and the prayerful practices of two thousand years of Christianity.For the first time, The Sacred Space Companion brings together reflections on the story of Sacred Space thus far with a wealth of seasonal reflections by Irish Jesuits and all those connected to the work of the Irish Province. Including contemporary prayers by Irish Jesuits, an introduction to Ignatian spirituality, a collection of Ignatian prayers, and an Advent and Lent retreat, The Sacred Space Companion is a companion for a whole year of reflection in the Ignatian tradition.
£12.95
Messenger Publications Saints for the Family
Best-selling author of `Saints for Our Time’ and `Saints for the Journey’ Fr John Murray introduces us to a selection of saints for the family , to mark the World Meeting of Families which takes place in Dublin in August. Among those included are traditional Biblical figures like Joseph husband of Mary as well as Elizabeth and Zechariah. There are classical saints too from the Church’s past such as Margaret of Scotland and Bernadette of Lourdes. However the author wanted to show also that many who came from families also experienced difficulties and trauma – people like Laura Vicuna who suffered abuse and Antonia Brenner who had two failed marriages before befriending prisoners in a maximum security complex. There too is Sr Ignatia who helped in the founding of the AA organisation and Bartolo Longo who at one time was a Satanist priest but became in time a great devotee of the rosary. There are also couples included like the parents of St Therese of Lisieux as well as the parents of Pope Saint John Paul and couples like Felip and Maria Barreda who died during the Nicaraguan civil war as well as Jacques and Raissa Maritain who blazed a path for the intellectual life in the 20th century.
£12.06
Messenger Publications Ignatian Spirituality A-Z
What is discernment? Who was Peter Faber? Why do the Jesuits exude such optimism? Awareness. Emotions. Love. Work. We use such words every day in normal conversation, but those same words take on special meaning when used in the context of Ignatian spirituality. Other words and phrases, such as finding God in all things, are distinctly associated with the Ignatian approach to spiritual development. Acquiring a general grasp of these terms will prove invaluable to those who desire a better understanding of the Jesuit / Ignatian way of life. With Ignatian Spirituality A to Z, Jim Manney has provided a brief, informative, and entertaining guide to key concepts of Ignatian spirituality and essential characters and events in Jesuit history. The lexicon format allows readers to find terms quickly, and the concise descriptions are ideal for those new to the Ignatian story. From Pedro Arrupe to Francis Xavier, from Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam to Zeal, this book uncovers the rich language of the Jesuits. It will be an indispensable tool to anyone interested in Ignatian spirituality, to staff, faculty, and students at Jesuit institutions and schools, and to clergy and spiritual directors who advise others about prayer and spiritual matters.
£12.95
Messenger Publications With Christ in Service: Jesuit Lives through the Ages
In an ever-changing and unpredictable world, Ignatius wanted Jesuits to be alert to the needs of people in the concrete circumstances of their lives, and to be free to respond appropriately. Rooted in the practice of discernment and united through the vow of obedience, the Jesuits were to be flexible and creative, going wherever there was ‘the greater need’, always keeping in mind ‘the greater service of God and the more universal good’. This little book tries to encapsulate some of the responses the Jesuits have made through the ages, by focusing on the lives of a few remarkable individuals. The variety is suggestive of the Jesuits’ range of activities: from the hidden ministry of John Sullivan to the public protests of Dan Berrigan; from the unimaginable journeys of Francis Xavier to the theological insights of Karl Rahner; from the heroism of Edmund Campion to the inspiring leadership of Pedro Arrupe. There are many other striking stories that need to be told, of course, that are not included here: the mission to Ethiopia in the sixteenth century; the initiatives of the Jesuits in China, the South America and present-day Canada in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; the vast educational network that made the Jesuits ‘the schoolmasters of Europe’; and the numerous Jesuit astronomers, scientists, artists and poets who have enriched human learning and culture down to the present day.
£12.06
Messenger Publications So You Can't Forgive: Moving Towards Freedom
Brian Lennon SJ considers the challenge of forgiveness, with all its varying complications, in different real-life scenarios. He challenges the myths and misunderstandings around forgiving and tries to be both compassionate and challenging to those who wish to make this journey. This book includes some scriptural passages and reflections on this theme and asks; Are the Christian scriptures a burden or can they assist in the process of forgiving? This book will be of interest to anyone who is finding it difficult to forgive, in all sorts of different circumstances. It will also be useful to spiritual guides, counsellors and carers who assisting those who are trying to move towards forgiving.
£9.89
Messenger Publications A Dialogue of Hope: Critical Thinking for Critical Times
We live in an Ireland, and a world, where conventional economic models have failed, politics is fractured, what it means to be human is contested, and opposition between secularists and believers is conducted like some kind of Punch-and-Judy show. The dominant narrative of our time is spent. What might replace it? A group of individuals, with expertise in different fields of Irish life, have come together to make a case for constructive engagement and dialogue between secularists and religious believers, in order to imagine an alternative narrative for our day. This narrative, involving a more participatory democracy, would be in service of social and ecological justice and human flourishing. It is a narrative that would welcome input from secular sources and religious voices, from poor and rich people, from atheists and believers, from scientists and philosophers, from poets and theologians. The present book is the fruit of their sharing and deliberations. It is their hope that they can contribute to a more widespread `dialogue of hope’ that will champion an inclusive vision of society where all can flourish and feel at home.
£12.95
Messenger Publications The Great Dreamer: The Life and Mission of St. Francis Xavier
A short but fascinating biography of this most courageous and adventurous of saints. One of Ignatius of Loyola’s original companions, St Francis was central to the formation of the Society of Jesus. Quoting extensively from his letters, the author describes in detail the works he did throughout Europe in the 1530s. There are many stories and anecdotes which bring Xavier to life and we begin to feel we know him well as we learn about his personality, his interactions with the poor, priests, bishops and kings. On April 7th, 1541, Xavier’s thirty-fifth birthday, he set sail for India, arriving in Goa just over a year later. He spent about 8 years in both India and Indonesia, baptising thousands and working to set up churches and communities. In 1549 he arrived in Japan where he spent a couple of years, before travelling to China where he died in 1552 just six miles from the Chinese coast. This well researched account is readable and entertaining and give a lively picture of life as a missionary in the sixteenth century.
£12.06
Messenger Publications Lift Up Their Hearts: Visiting Older People: Guidelines & Resources
When an older person is living on their own or in a nursing home, loneliness and a feeling of loss, especially the loss of independence and familiar company, as well as reduced choices, can be keenly felt. The joy of a visit from a familiar person can mean such a lot to them. In this very practical resource, Sr Mary provides guidelines and practical resources for those visiting older people in nursing homes, or their own homes on a long term basis. As well as information for visiting those who are mentally alert, there are also sections about visiting those in the later stages of dementia, those coming towards the end of life and when visiting restrictions are in place, such as in a pandemic. Part 1 is for general use, while Part 2 is for those for whom spirituality is particularly valued.
£7.71