Search results for ""longman""

These amazing little books are potential life-savers. Using simple text and bold design, each book meets the reader at a point of low mood or unhelpful thinking, and guides them through rational thought processes to a more positive mood and a healthier outlook on life. Based on CBT, which aims to change patterns of thinking or behaviour that are behind people’s difficulties and so change the way they feel (and currently the subject of major government investment), Pick Me Ups can enable readers to feel happier, to sleep better, to do more and to feel more confident. A royalty from each sale goes to Anxiety UK.

Read more less

These amazing little books are potential life-savers. Using simple text and bold design, each book meets the reader at a point of low mood or unhelpful thinking, and guides them through rational thought processes to a more positive mood and a healthier outlook on life. Based on CBT, which aims to change patterns of thinking or behaviour that are behind people’s difficulties and so change the way they feel (and currently the subject of major government investment), Pick Me Ups can enable readers to feel happier, to sleep better, to do more and to feel more confident. A royalty from each sale goes to Anxiety UK.

Read more less

Prior to writing his great classic, The Return of the Prodigal Son, Henri Nouwen suffered an enormous personal loss and breakdown that took him away from his home in the L'Arche Daybreak community for a period of seven months. His thoughts were intense, raw and deeply private, and ultimately revealed to him the passionate drama of parenthood, filial duty, rivalry, anger and unconditional love on display in Rembrandt's painting. On his return from solitude, Henri held small, private workshops on his revelations that were recorded in audio. The material of those extremely personal talks has now been formed into a unique work. Home Tonight brings to light Nouwen's lectures on the Prodigal Son in a powerful guide for spiritual reflection. Providing exercises, suggestions for times of solitude, questions for pondering, simple prayers, and aides for personal journaling, Home Tonight leads readers to commune with God through spiritual listening. A practical guide for the inner journey home, this important book will give those who adore Nouwen's works the chance to hear his voice anew on his most popular topic.

Read more less

I Loved Jesus in the Night is one priest’s compelling memories of the icon of compassion. Sharing anecdote and firsthand experiences, Fr. Paul Murray gives a glimpse into why Mother Teresa had feelings of being a “saint of darkness.” This very personal, yet powerful book is an attempt to understand the dark night experiences that she endured in the light of the Gospel and of the mystical teachings of St. John of the Cross. And something else as well…revelations of Mother Teresa’s sense of humour! Through this intimate look at her “private writings,” Paul Murray illumines the meaning of a life that is only now beginning to be understood.

Read more less

In this well-argued and timely book, Bauckham considers the relationship of humans to the rest of creation. He argues that there is much more to the Bible’s understanding of this relationship than the mandate of human dominion given in Genesis 1, which has too often been used as a justification for domination and exploitation of the earth’s resources. He also critiques the notion of stewardship as being on the one hand presumptuous, and on the other too general a term to explain our key responsibilities in caring for the earth. In countering this, he considers other biblical perspectives, including the book of Job, the Psalms and the Gospels, and re-evaluates the biblical tradition of ‘dominion’, in favour of a ‘community of creation’. With its clear analysis and thought-provoking conclusions, The Bible and Ecology is an essential read for anyone interested in a biblically grounded approach to ecology.

Read more less

Bestselling author Scott Hahn explains the 'how and why' of the Catholic faith, drawing from Scripture, his own struggles and those of other converts, as well as from everyday life and natural science. Hahn shows that reason and revelation, nature and the supernatural, are not opposed to one another; rather they offer complementary evidence that God exists. Reasons to Believe unravels mysteries, corrects misunderstandings, and offers thoughtful, straightforward responses to common objections about the Catholic faith. It is the ideal book both for Christians who want to grow stronger in their faith and to share it with others, and for enquirers in search of a belief that satisfies both the mind and the heart.

Read more less

In The Selfless Way of Christ, Henri Nouwen explores selflessness, vocation, and how downward mobility is a key to the spiritual path. Downward mobility, says Nouwen, is the way of Christ, and we are constantly tempted away from it by the lures of success, of power, of being needed and important. Originally serialised in the magazine Sojourners, Nouwen wrote the articles that comprise this book during his years as a professor at Yale Divinity School. There he enjoyed academic success and found fame as a spiritual writer, but was struggling to find his true vocation. Here he seeks to explain for himself and his readers how choosing the downwardly mobile path can, conversely, be the means of growth and new life in Christ.

Read more less

Exploring God-talk maps the contours of religious language. It surveys the variety of ways in which religious believers both speak to God and speak about God, and tries to respond to the serious criticisms that have been raised of different aspects of our 'God-talk'. Beginning with an overview of the variety of ways in which language is used in faith and religion, the book moves on to consider the functions of language in religious experience and the religious life, particularly in prayer and worship. Two chapters are the devoted to a consideration of the important area of 'descriptive' God-talk, both figurative and literal. Problems relating to the meaningfulness of religious language and the interpretation of the Scripture are also addressed, and the pastoral and ethical significance of God-talk explored. Illustrations are drawn throughout from both everyday speech and the Christian tradition.

Read more less

Reveals a long-lost secret of the Church: the early Christians' key to understanding the mysteries of the Mass was the New Testament's Book of Revelation.

Read more less

In Sharing the Darkness, Sheila Cassidy – a leading figure of the hospice movement, and survivor, as a young doctor, of torture for daring to give medical care to an opponent of the Pinochet regime in Chile – meditates on the mystery of our wounded humanity, trying to wrest meaning and a spirituality of caring out of the reality of suffering. The Pocket Library of Spiritual Wisdom comprises some of the very best Christian writing published by Darton, Longman and Todd since its foundation in 1959.

Read more less

From one of the UK's most widely-respected gay Christians comes a powerful faith memoir of overcoming inner conflict and taking a stand against one of the greatest institutional injustices of our time. Just Love is the autobiography of Jayne Ozanne, a prominent gay Anglican, who struggled for over 40 years to reconcile her faith with her sexuality before becoming one of the leading figures that is ushering in a new era of LGBTI acceptance in the Church. Her journey incorporates a range of powerful faith encounters with people across the world, from Argentina to Moscow and from the jungles of Burma to the White House. She gives an inside view of what it was to be a founding member of the Church of England's Archbishops' Council to working alongside international figures such as Tony Blair and the Vicar of Baghdad. At times both raw and shocking, she explains what led her to be hospitalized after seeking healing for her sexuality before becoming ostracised by many Christians after she finally deciding she had no choice but to come out. Jayne's story serves as a lifeline for LGBTI Christians struggling to reconcile their faith with their sexuality, and forces the Church to reflect on the impact of its current teaching.

Read more less

The Dog Walker’s Guide to God contains 52 five-minute-reads to inspire dog walkers to ponder the mysteries of faith and the wonders of God. In each chapter, Henry Martin offers a simple reflection and an illustration to be read just before setting out and then chewed over while you and your dog walk together. He invites you to consider: the everyday (house-training, basic obedience, toys and instructions), the profound (crime, punishment, rejection, adoption, ageing, death and the afterlife), the theological (salvation, the Scriptures and prayer), the psychological (and physiological) differences between humans and dogs, the disgusting (including why your dog might scoot its rear across your new carpet!) and, underlying all of these, love (human, Divine and canine). These are universal themes, and the reflections are just as valuable as resources for anyone who is housebound, or those without a dog in their lives.

Read more less

LGBTQI people in the church have spent a long time being told what God expects of them and how they should behave. From prohibitions on who they might love or marry, to erasure and denial, the theological record is one in which LGBTQI people are far too often objectified and their lives seen as the property of others. In no other significant religious question are ‘theological’ arguments made that so clearly reject overwhelming scientific and experiential knowledge about the human person. This book seeks to find a better way to do theology – not about, but with and of LGBTQI people – taking insights from the sciences and personal narratives as it seeks to answer the question: ‘What does human flourishing look like?’

Read more less

Published in English for the first time, this is the full text of Che cosa è l’uomo?, the official 2019 statement of the Pontifical Biblical Commission on aspects of biblical anthropology. It focuses on four themes: human beings created by God; human beings in the garden; the human family; human beings in history.

Read more less

Ineffable Love asks what we can learn about life and some of the big questions of the Christian faith from the award-winning television adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s Good Omens, starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant. ‘It’s really hard to avoid the fact that the fundamentals of Good Omens are incredibly Jesus-y,’ write authors Alex Booer and Emma Hinds. ‘The story is about the frustrations of longing for justice in an unjust world and what it means to be Good or Bad, Right or Wrong. Like much of Jesus’ teaching, it is subversive and challenging.’ And it’s all about love. Based on key video clips from the show, the book offers Bible verses, discussion prompts, prayers, poetry and creative reflections, to help you delve deeper into themes of: • Justice • Body and Matter • Power • Belief • Hope • Love and Renewal. Ineffable Love has been written for personal reading, but can easily be adapted into a six-session course for groups.

Read more less

The World According to Theologygrams offers a unique way of looking at the world around us and the meaning of the Christian faith as presented in the Bible. Rich Wyld’s diagrams present the story of Jesus and its meaning for our lives today as you may never have seen them before. This book collects 79 full colour diagrams and enlightening commentary by Rich, and can be read either as a companion to his first book, Theologygrams, or as an introduction to his singular way of visualising life and faith. Clever, cheeky and genuinely instructive, it will be appreciated by theologians, non-academics, churchgoers and non-churchgoers alike.

Read more less

True solitude is a rare experience in today’s busy world. For many people it has negative connotations, but for the Carthusian monks it is a blessing. They have given up everything in order to share in the desert experience of Jesus and to continue the ancient traditions of the Desert Fathers, who searched for God in the realms of silence. When Silence Speaks uncovers the deep spiritual foundations on which this remarkable and mysterious order of hermits has built for more than nine centuries: solitude and silence, separation and simplicity, contemplation and prayer, asceticism and perseverance. It includes an anthology of the original spiritual literature of the Carthusian tradition, the testimonies of monks who still follow the Carthusian way today, and a selection of photographs that provide a rare window into their world away from the world. ‘To understand what is almost incomprehensible,’ writes author Tim Peeters, ‘we will take a walk with Saint Bruno and the Carthusian monks. We will climb into the high mountains of the Chartreuse massif near Grenoble [in France] where the origins of the order are situated. We will watch over the walls of the monasteries and enter into the cells and the hearts of the monks. And we hope you will taste something of the ultimate goal of this solitary and silent life: God, who speaks when the Carthusian listens and keeps quiet.’ The original Dutch version of this book received the award for Religious Book of the Year in Belgium. It has also been published in French and Italian.

Read more less

Guided by Ignatian principles, this book looks at techniques for prayer, ways of focusing prayer, problems in prayer and ways of moving on.

Read more less

Christian Bobin is one of the most prolific and best-selling inspirational writers in France. His ‘lyric essays’, neither prose nor poetry, utilise a limited vocabulary manipulated with the precision of a watchmaker. Bobin often obtains his effects through startling juxtapositions of the ordinary, aimed straight at the heart and not without the intention of drawing blood. Prevalent themes in his work include the natural world, the perspectives of the very old and the very young, and the distilled wisdom of his contemplative Catholic faith. A lifelong sufferer from ‘persuasive melancholy’, Bobin mines the narrow seam of joy and wonder in the dank rock face of depression, and writing has been the tool he has employed to chip it out. The Eighth Day comprises – in an original English translation – a superb collection of Bobin’s writings from the last 30 years. A guaranteed best-selling author in France – his books can sell up to 200,000 copies per edition – he is an inspirational writer yet to be discovered in the English-speaking world. This anthology is designed to introduce him to a new readership, and includes fresh introductions to each chapter by translator and compiler Pauline Matarasso.

Read more less

From cathedral choirs, football chanting, and birdsong, to castrati, protest songs and artificial intelligence, On Voice explores the world of the voice that exists between the mouth and the ear. This is a book about the sound that journeys from the lips to the heart; how we speak it, how we hear it and how we embody it as people made in the image of the God whose voice created the heavens and the earth. Victoria Johnson, the new Dean of St John's College, Cambridge, was previously Precentor of York Minster, the first woman to inhabit that role in a history which reaches back over a thousand years. A Precentor is someone who orchestrates worship and sings first', hers is the voice which invokes God to open our lips, so that our mouth can show forth praise. When a new voice inhabits such an ancient role does anything change? Do the stones resound in a different way? This book aims to explore the sonics of voice - human and divine expressed through speech, song and silence. Through the

Read more less

A bestselling Catholic author pens this deeply personal introduction to the biblical theology and spirituality of Opus Dei, a highly secretive and powerful international organization. Hahn, a member of Opus Dei, describes the organization's founding, its mission, and its profound influence on his life.

Read more less

In this Church Times ''Top 100 Best Christian Book'', a chance encounter with a reproduction of Rembrandt's painting, The Return of the Prodigal Son, catapulted Henri Nouwen into a long spiritual adventure. He shares the deeply personal meditation that led him to discover the place within which God has chosen to dwell.In seizing the inspiraton that came to him through Rembrandt's depiction of the powerful Gospel story, Nouwen probes the several movements of the parable: the younger son's return, the father's resoration of sonship, the elder son's vengefulness, and the father's compassion. In his reflection on Rembrandt in light of his own life journey, the author evokes the powerful drama of the parable in a rich, captivating way.The themes of homecoming, affirmation, and reconciliation will be newly discovered by all who have known loneliness, dejection, jealousy, or anger. The challenge to love as the father and be loved as the son is represented with new freshness and vigour for our

Read more less

In Faiths Lost and Found ten people tell the story of their personal, often traumatic, experiences of apostasy. Each person left one iteration of Christianity, found themselves ostracised by the community they left, and found a new spiritual home. Editors Martyn Percy and Charles Foster introduce these stories and conclude with personal, theological and spiritual reflections. They examine the social, psychological and theological dynamics of apostasy. What makes someone renounce one faith tradition and embrace another? Why does the subsequent ostracism by the community they have left often seem so harsh? The book ends with suggested questions and other points for reflection in a Study Guide for groups or individuals.

Read more less

The Universe Provides collects stories of hope, miracles and uplifting personal encounters from Eddie Gilmore’s travels around a global community rediscovering itself following the isolations of the coronavirus pandemic. Following the course of a calendar year, gently guided by the waymarkers of the natural and liturgical seasons, Eddie records countless moments of friendship, kindness and connection, often accompanied by laughter, tears and music. Some of his encounters are planned, through his ministry as CEO for the Irish Chaplaincy, a charity which supports Irish people in Britain, including prisoners, Travellers and Seniors; other moments, perhaps the most fulfilling, arrive unexpectedly – gifts from the universe, which truly provides when we open our hearts.

Read more less

South African author, pastor and activist, Mpho Tuti van Furth argues that while we think of reparations in relation to the colonial powers and the colonised as both a remunerative act and a punitive one, reparations rightly engaged should be part of a spiritual process of forgiveness and reconciliation. Reparations would be an element in a process of atonement and restorative justice and that sees the need for acknowledgement of the damage done to the enslaved and colonised; healing and restoration of the lost humanity of the perpetrators; and repair of the violated relationships between the human and ecological victims and the human perpetrators.

Read more less

How does a scientist find God in the universe? My Theology: Finding God in the Universe is the personal reflection of a Jesuit brother and astronomer, the director of the Vatican Observatory. Br. Guy Consolmagno SJ insists that science is more than observing the universe; it’s learning how to pay attention, how to concentrate on one aspect while setting aside, at least momentarily, all the other interesting aspects that can distract us from a deeper knowledge of the universe…. or of God. In his telling, Joy is our compass, Truth is our goal; and Imagination weaves the story where we situate the joy that leads us to truth. Most importantly, both science and theology are done within a community of fellow seekers, where we share the stories that teach us how to explore, and with whom we can try to make sense of what we think we have found.

Read more less

Reflecting on the particular challenges facing a schoolgirl of the 1950s attracted to the possibility of going to university to read Theology, and her path to becoming the first woman to be given a personal Chair at the University of Durham, Professor Emerita of Divinity at the same, an Honorary Professor at the University of St Andrews, and a CBE for services to Theology, Ann Loades introduces some of the key tenets of her theological thinking, including: theodicy; women in theology; worship; engagement with actual living; biography and theology in various writers.

Read more less

The very first full-text Readers editions of the Revised New Jerusalem Bible (RNJB) - a Bible for study and proclamation. The text of the Revised New Jerusalem Bible and the accompanying footnotes have been granted the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, declaring that they are considered to be free from doctrinal or moral error. This exciting new text presents anew the scholarship, character and clarity of the 1966 Jerusalem Bible (the first modern English version) and the 1985 New Jerusalem Bible. The RNJB prioritises accuracy of translation and richness of tone, capturing the rigour and poetry of the original JB for new generations. This volume contains the entire biblical text with introductions by Revd Henry Wansbrough OSB to every book. Other features include - * A clear, easy-to-read typeface and original setting. * Prose-dominant books are set in two-column format; poetry dominant books are set in single format. * Formal equivalence. Accurate translation of the language, concepts and imagery of the original scriptures. * 'Clear read' style. Uses linguistic style and speech patterns best suited for being read out loud. * Gender inclusion. Remains faithful to the meaning of the original scriptures while avoiding traditional male bias of the English language.

Read more less

My Theology: The world’s leading Christian thinkers explain some of the principal tenets of their theological beliefs. ‘I never expected to be a Christian theologian, mainly because I never expected to be a Christian,’ writes Alister McGrath. ‘I assumed that scientific atheism would be my permanent intellectual homeland; in fact, it turned out to be a temporary place of exile, from which I would later return, wiser and somewhat chastened.’ In this fascinating book, McGrath describes his journey into faith and his vision of Christian theology, focussing on the distinct role of historical theology; the importance of engaging the relation of science and faith; the need for theologians to engage in major public debates; and the significance of theological education.

Read more less

A comprehensively revised and expanded new edition of Danu Morrigan’s #1 bestselling book, which has helped tens of thousands of daughters of narcissistic mothers around the world. Do you find yourself emotionally bruised, upset and confused after being in touch with your mother? Do you somehow feel like you’re not a real person in her company? If so, you are far from alone. Millions of daughters experience the same hall-of-mirrors dizziness. Many of them have come to the conclusion that their mother has Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and that explains all that they have suffered. This book explores this – maybe it will resonate for you the same way and make you feel understood and validated as never before. This new edition includes a wealth of new insight and understanding learned by Danu over the last ten years, including: Clarity about escaping the toxic dynamic, through The Four Steps to Freedom; managing our fear of regretting our decisions; how Stories steer us without us realising; the NM’s performative kindness and performative love; overcoming the trap of The Silent Treatment; distinguishing narcissistic ‘niceness’ from genuine decency; how to recognise, get, and contribute to healthy relationships.

Read more less

God is Green examines what the Bible has to say about humanity’s relationship with and responsibility for the environment, and how Church traditions over the centuries have interpreted this. Ian Bradley argues that Christianity at its essence is a ‘green faith’ which has been distorted over the years. First published in 1990, this new edition of the book is revised for the contemporary state of our climate, and includes a chapter-by-chapter study guide for individuals and small groups.

Read more less

‘About the months leading up to Evie’s death, indeed, about the aftermath, I made a solemn vow to keep silent, and I like to think I take promises seriously. Despite what happened to Evie, I still think of those months I spent in the company of her and Richard, Ivo, Charlie and Piers as fondly as I remember anything. That we swore an oath to silence is not, necessarily, a sign of guilt. You should remember that we are the kind of people who take oaths seriously and we had more things binding us together than mere promises.’ ~ Littlemore College is in a picturesque village just outside Oxford. Its calm surroundings have seen generations of aspirant priests pray and train. As far as the outside world is concerned, human passions are restrained by devotion to a higher calling. But this is the 1990s and women are training for the priesthood for the very first time. Passions are running high and at Littlemore College’s enclosed and febrile heart, a small group of brilliant young ordinands, the favoured students of the charismatic and controversial Medievalist, Professor Albertus Loewe, are asking themselves some very dangerous questions. When Catherine Bolton arrives with her freshly-minted doctorate on Chaucer and the Church, Dr Loewe and his secretive group of students represent an irresistible challenge to her and her new friend Evie Kirkland. But just as Evie is not quite the friend she seems to be, so too the medieval passions of Dr Loewe’s group are more far reaching and intense than she could ever have imagined.

Read more less

Life is an intricate tapestry of stories. Stories help us better to understand the world around us, our relationships with other people, and even ourselves. We use them in our daily life and work; churches and other communities use them to build from within and to reach out to others; and stories enrich our knowledge of God and help us grow in faith. What can we learn from other people’s stories? How can we better express our own story, and hold it alongside the stories of God? How can a deep engagement with all these stories be helpful to our life and witness, and on what occasions can they be unhelpful? This inspiring new book explores these questions, and can be studied privately or in groups. Each chapter includes points for reflection, points for connection, and a suggested prayer.

Read more less

** As featured on BBC Radio 4 this Christmas, narrated by Alex Jennings ** Although we are all familiar with Joseph – from a legion of retellings of the Christmas story – he remains, for many, a shadowy figure about whom we know very little and who is rarely given much thought, if any. This beautiful meditative fable, imagined as it might be told by the archangel Gabriel, helps us to understand who Joseph was and how he might have felt about the part he was called to play in the Greatest Story Ever Told. Joseph and the Three Gifts follows Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, in hiding in Egypt and a return to his carpentry in Nazareth as Jesus grows from boy to man to messiah. And it asks what Joseph might have done with the Magi’s gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh. A wonderful story for all ages, perfect for Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. The cover and interior illustrations for Joseph and the Three Gifts are by Henry Martin, an artist, ordained Anglican minister and author of Eavesdropping.

Read more less

Thérèse of Lisieux is among today’s most popular and best-loved saints. Yet she entered a Carmelite convent when she was just 15, and died from tuberculosis in 1897 when she was only 24. Her spiritual autobiography, The Story of a Soul, and other writings including letters and poetry, became widely read after Thérèse’s death. Throughout the Christian world, word spread of the ‘Little Way’ of love that she set out in her writing. In words simple yet profound, she taught ‘trust and absolute self-surrender’ to God, and showed how holiness lies within the reach of us all. By Love Alone offers short extracts from Thérèse’s writings, arranged for daily devotional reading. First published in 1986, this wonderful collection has brought comfort and spiritual guidance to tens of thousands of people around the world.This new edition curated by Fr Luke Penkett, archivist and librarian of the Julian Centre, presents her words anew for a modern generation. The original edition was edited by Fr Michael Hollings, a priest, writer and broadcaster.

Read more less

In her captivating, trademark weave of theology and memoir, Sarah Bessey tells us the story of the car crash that changed her body and how it ultimately changed her life. The road of healing led to Rome where she met the Pope (it’s complicated) and encountered the Holy Spirit in the last place she expected. Insightful, profound, and unexpected, Miracles and Other Reasonable Things is a wild, spirit-filled story of what it means to live with both grief and faith, suffering and joy, as we wrestle with God.

Read more less

Teresa of Ávila presents herself to us as a woman originally caught between her passion for the things of the world and an equal passion for God. Born to a marginalised family in sixteenth-century Spain, at the age of 20 she entered a Carmelite convent, surrendering totally to God and pursuing a life of contemplative prayer and intimate union with God. Teresa understood prayer as a living relationship with God, and wrote several books describing her discoveries and revelations about the Christ-centred life, including her Life and The Way of Perfection, from which the readings in this collection are drawn. She was canonized in 1622 and made a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Living Water offers short extracts from St Teresa’s writings, arranged for daily devotional reading. First published in 1985, this wonderful collection has brought comfort and spiritual direction to tens of thousands of people around the world. This new edition curated by Fr Luke Penkett, archivist and librarian of the Julian Centre, presents her words anew for a modern generation. The original edition was edited by Sister Mary of the Carmelite order.

Read more less

Millions of photos are taken every day across the world. Some are just snapshots. Others are more carefully crafted and have the capacity to deepen our vision and sharpen our sense of what life is truly about. Spirituality in Photography explores how photography can offer unique perspectives on the self, the world and what we live by. Readers are invited to take photos more slowly, reframe their gaze, allow themselves to be fully present, and let their photos tell a story - this includes a section on how photography can offer new perspectives on the Bible. The book also explores how photography can help readers meditate on mystery and tune into their own ‘rule of life’. Spirituality in Photography offers a range of ideas for readers to try out with their camera or camera phone and invites them on a journey of discovery, as they allow their photography and their spirituality to inspire each other.

Read more less

Sometimes, it can feel as though we are living in the worst of times – a world of chaos, uncertainty and breakdown. But could this also be the best of times – a crucible of change in which a wiser and more spiritually mature future is being forged? The stars are most clearly visible in the deepest darkness. The butterfly emerges out of the worst meltdown of the chrysalis. In Born to Fly, Margaret Silf helps us to explore what it would mean for each of us to be such an emerging butterfly – to be an agent of spiritual transformation in our own lives and in the world around us. What kind of future do we desire for ourselves, for those who follow after us, and for the whole of creation? And, if the choices we make today are shaping that future, how might we learn to make those choices more wisely? The second part of the book takes us on a gentle journey in five stages through the process of transformation mapped out for us by the caterpillar as it changes from a pesky garden grub, taking what it wants without regard for the rest of creation, to a butterfly, giving life wherever it lands. Born to Fly is designed to be read for personal reflection and inspiration, or alongside fellow readers, with suggestions for further discussion. It is a companion book to Margaret’s Hidden Wings.

Read more less

Through the teachings of Jesus, and Christian mystics such as St Augustine and Meister Eckhart, Stefan Gillow Reynolds demonstrates that the practice of Mindfulness leading to silent meditation, recommended by many therapists, is not a modern fad but has always had a place within contemplative Christianity.

Read more less

A collection of talks and sermons from Rowan Williams, one of the finest theological minds of our day, covering a range of issues from war, social justice and sexuality to prayer, spirituality and evangelism. Williams shows the connections between contemporary issues, biblical texts and the Christian tradition, each element drawing new and often surprising things out of the others, and challenges us to make our own connections between the gospel, contemporary problems and our personal struggles.

Read more less

Mental Health: The Inclusive Church Resource is written to help your own church to be equipped to welcome all people who live with mental health issues. It contains first-hand personal experiences of people who have felt excluded from churches because of their mental health, a Theology of Mental Health by Jean Vanier and John Swinton and a resource section containing addresses, websites and practical advice. Other books in the Inclusive Church Resource series include Disability and forthcoming titles on Poverty, Sexuality, Gender and Ethnicity.

Read more less

From St Fillan of Munster, patron saint of the mentally ill, who read by the light of his miraculously glowing arm, to Santa Lucia, who tore out her eyes to dismiss the lascivious attentions of her would-be husband, here are nearly two hundred classic stories of the saints of Christian legend. Richard Coles, former half of 80s pop duo The Communards, now a Church of England priest and presenter of Radio 4’s Saturday Live, has collected these wonderful tales from around the world. Despite their bizarre, colourful and sometimes grotesque stories, many of these saints are still celebrated and prayed to today. Every page illustrated by cartoonist Ted Harrison, giving the book a saintly Horrible Histories feel.

Read more less

The most important journey in life is the journey inwards, to the depths of our own being. It is a journey we are all invited to make. It takes us beyond words and images into silence. The silence allows the restless mind to become still and in the stillness we enter a new world. We return to our hearts. Here we find our true selves. We discover an ancient way of finding God that has almost become lost. Slowly, we realise that we are in union with the source of life and love itself. Our whole life changes. Our goal now is to take God's love to others in our everyday lives.

Read more less

International bestselling author Scott Hahn guides readers through the Catholic Church's rites, customs and traditional prayers. The book is divided into forty reflections each examining a traditional Catholic devotion or custom, including the Rosary, holy water, sign of the cross, guardian angels.The chapters are not simply a definition or explanation, but the author's reflections, borrowed from saints and popes and combined in his own inimitable style into a lucid and enlightening examination of each custom and its grounding in scripture and tradition.

Read more less

Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated on 24 March 1980 while celebrating the Eucharist. In these powerful and moving selections from his broadcast talks Romero invites us each day to move into the 'intimate space' of our conscience, to encounter ourselves there, and then to go out to create a more just world.

Read more less

If society and churches are in crisis, it may be because we are losing our ability to keep our promises. Scott Hahn restores the connection between sacred words and human action, promises and commitment. Scott Hahn argues that every society - be it nation, neighbourhood, family or Church - is held together by the power of personal commitments. When we really want to change our lives, when we want to make love endure, we mark the transition by an oath. The words we say bind us to a course of action. But the most powerful oaths of all are those that mark the Christian sacraments. In Swear to God, Hahn restores the connection between sacred words and human action, promises and commitment.

Read more less