Search results for ""Messenger Publications""

The role that spirituality can play in recovery from addiction is poorly understood. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung described alcoholism as a ‘spiritual disease’ that demanded a spiritual awakening. How do you have a spiritual awakening, however? How, when you are suffering with addiction, do you find time in everyday life for spirituality? In Freedom from the Prison of Addiction, Martina Killeavy marries the genius of St Ignatius to the famous Twelve-Step Programme of Alcoholics Anonymous. The result is that a pattern of gratitude, an ability to stay anchored in the present and a facility to find God in all things enters daily life. In that pattern of gratitude and that relationship with God is one path to freedom.

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Founded in 1795, Maynooth College has a singular place in the history of the Irish Church, and indeed the Catholic Church globally. Its beginning was as a small seminary of thirty students and ten professors, most of whom were fleeing the ravages of the French Revolution. It has been the subject of riots in the streets of London and has played host to kings and popes. Its buildings have created one of the loveliest of university campuses and its chapel is among the highest free- standing structures in Ireland. It expanded rapidly, becoming a Pontifical University, a constituent college of the National University of Ireland and, at one time, the largest seminary in world. It has educated many thousands of students and led the way in many branches of the arts and sciences. But, beyond that, for its large number of alumni, found across all sectors of society internationally, it is a tapestry of rich memories. Th

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This book has been written in a year when Parish Pastoral Councils (PPC) could not meet physically due to the Covid 19 pandemic. For many PPCs this meant that some stopped meeting or met on zoom, or at least re-grouped to form the backbone of the parish sanitising committee. It is hoped that those who read this book will have an "aha" moment, where they find that the purpose of PPC’s becomes more clear to them, and they can begin to imagine the part they can play in the pastoral development of their parish. The role of the PPC is explored relating this to the purpose of the parish community, debunking the myth that the PPC is a committee. It also looks at what can be called the five P’s of the PPC: Pastoral, Prayerful, Partnership, Planning and Participation. The whole notion of discernment for pastoral action is explored and how this relates to the ongoing prayer-filled reflection of the PPC and the parish community. Then there is an in-depth exploration into the whole notion of partnership and the implications for how the PPC relates to the parish community. There are some very practical helps about what makes planning in the PPC pastoral, and how that can be developed as a way of working in all parish groups. The purpose of mission statements is examined and how these can provide a platform for parish renewal and reflection, connecting them to parish assembly and listening together.

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Born in 1491, Ignatius’s early ambition was to be a knight, in imitation of the heroes he read about in the popular romances of the day. Following his dramatic conversion, his plans changed radically, and he decided to renounce all his previous hopes and become a penniless beggar. Living a life of intense prayer and penance, he received extraordinary mystical graces, experiencing the reality of God, not only in the depths of his heart but also in the concrete world around him. Sought by many people for his wisdom, he became an outstanding spiritual guide and the author of one of the great introductions to Christian living, The Spiritual Exercises. As he moved into mid-life, he became a committed student in the University of Paris, where he gathered a small group of enthusiastic followers around him who shared his vision. That small group quickly attracted more recruits and, with papal approval, became the Society of Jesus, more commonly known as the Jesuits. Initially ambitious for his own glory and honour, Ignatius worked only for ‘the greater glory of God’, becoming the inspirational founder of one of the Church’s most influential religious orders.

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Since Fr Jorge Bergoglio S.J. became Pope, many people have wondered what Jesuits are. Are they Catholics? How are they different to other religious orders? Ignatius of Loyola, the co-founder of the Jesuits, developed a spirituality which has helped countless numbers of people since the sixteenth century. This book presents some of Ignatius’ key insights which inspire Jesuits and others all over the world. For those associated with the Jesuits or those who want to find out more about their spirituality, this basic introduction will be helpful. Ignatius emphasizes how God is always close to us. God speaks individually to us through our feelings, desires, thoughts and actions in unexpected place and at unexpected times. Ignatius gives us the tools to identify God’s presence and to make good decisions that help welcome God into our lives through the ordinary daily routine.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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).

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Brian O’Leary, an Irish Jesuit, has been researching and writing on Ignatian spirituality since the 1970s. Over that period he has authored five books, the last of which (God Ever Greater, 2018) was a selection of his lectures and talks. His new offering, To Love and To Serve, is also a selection – this time of essays that have appeared in spirituality journals in a number of countries. Since these are not easily accessible, O’Leary made the decision to gather together the best of his work in this genre into one book, so making that work more widely available. The essays vary considerably in content, purpose, and style. Some are short and aimed at a popular readership, others tend to be more academic or written with practitioners of Ignatian spirituality in mind. All are eminently readable and display great clarity of style. Ignatian spirituality is most commonly associated with the Spiritual Exercises. Consequently these figure largely in O’Leary’s writings. However, the Exercises do not represent the totality of Ignatian spirituality and so there are a number of pieces on the Jesuit Constitutions – a spiritual classic that is surprisingly relevant outside its original context. The Constitutions are frequently quoted today in the context of spiritual formation and of leadership. And then there is spiritual direction – is there a specifically Ignatian model of this ministry? There are also intriguing questions around St. Ignatius Loyola himself, perhaps most of all around his mysticism. And what would such mysticism look like if lived out in the post-modern world? The range of topics is remarkable.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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This is the seventh volume in this popular series, and the first for Year C, the Year of Luke. 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. Praise for previous volumes in the series: "...concise and helpful, useful both to the preacher preparing his thoughts and to the reader who wishes to contemplate the scriptures." - Church Review "...all you need to know to enrich your experience of reading and hearing the Scriptures ... a book that you can select from, finding what speaks to you." - The Tablet

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This booklet offers an unique presentation of the unfolding of our universe. It interweaves the insights of contemporary science with Christian faith, and reveals the divine orchestration of the Creation Story in a dramatic, fresh and appealing way. Part One offers a brief background to the new story of creation which has emerged over the past century with the discovery of the expanding universe. We now know that the universe is 13.8 billion years old. Part Two takes the reader through thirty stages of the development of the cosmos and of our Earth from the big bang to the present day. Each stage is succinctly outlined and offers material for prayerful pondering.

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God, Pope Francis affirms, is present in nature, and he wants us to share that perspective, because he believes that it can generate in us a sense of wonder, awe, reverence and love for nature in all its aspects. This sense will make us strong enough to dedicate ourselves to the demanding task of caring for what he calls ‘our common home.’ When my home is under threat I will fight tooth and nail to protect it and those living in it, because I love it. Such commitment is needed today if our small and fragile planet is to be brought back to health. Brian Grogan brings the background of Ignatian spirituality and a lived appreciation of God’s creation to his book of meditations on Pope Francis’ Encyclical, Laudato Si. Rather than an exhaustive explanation of the encyclical, this book serves as a daily invitation to notice in ordinary creation the invitation of God to love and care for all God’s creation. Read slowly each morning, it could give a focus for living the day in recognising God in all things, and the call of God to be a co-creator of his beautiful world each day.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The reflections in this book are based predominantly on the gospel readings for the weekdays of the coming liturgical year, 2023/24, with occasional references to the first reading. They follow the sequence of the weekdays of the liturgical year, beginning with the Monday of the first week of Advent on the 4th of December. In the course of the liturgical year, the gospel readings present us with a significant selection of the words and deeds of Jesus from all four gospels. In and through these gospel readings we encounter the living word of the risen Lord to his church. There is rich fare here to nourish our faith life and to help us to grow in our knowledge and love of the Lord. These short reflections attempt to listen to the gospel readings on their own terms while showing how they can continue to speak to our lives today. Many people feel drawn to basing their prayer on the Scriptures, in particular the gospels. It is hoped that these reflections will serve as a help to prayer. They may also be of service to priests who seek to offer a short reflection on the gospel reading of the day in the context of the Eucharist. Where there is a weekday Liturgy of the Word, with or without Holy Communion, they can be read as a reflection on the readings. On most week days, the same gospel reading is proclaimed in the church throughout the world. To read and reflect upon the gospels for the weekdays of the liturgical year is to go on a spiritual journey with the universal church.Those who travel this journey will discover that the Lord is very near to them in and through his word. Our baptismal calling is to allow the Lord's word to take root in our hearts and to bear fruit in our lives.

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The Deep End invites readers to come on a journey through the story of Mark’s Gospel, and follows on from the first two books in this series which explored Luke and Matthew. Through a series of reflections on the Sunday Gospels of Year B, it offers a fresh perspective for anyone who wants to explore how the Word of God is relevant for today. The first of the Gospels to be written, Mark urges readers to remain faithful during difficult times. Mark’s community were likely being persecuted because of their faith in Jesus; the community was struggling, crumbling, with many giving up their Christian faith. Mark’s Gospel is written to console them, but it also has a critical view of those who claim to be disciples of Jesus; Mark is clear that following Jesus involves self-sacrifice and service for the sake of God’s Kingdom. As a result, it is not the disciples who are the heroes of this story but a cast of minor characters who shine through the narrative, unexpectedly demonstrating a greater understanding. True discipleship is the gradual unfolding of greater insight or ‘seeing’. Mark invites us all to see more clearly. From the outset Mark proclaims Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, but he is not the Messiah that people were expecting. Mark proclaims a crucified Messiah, something that was a scandal to Jesus’ contemporaries, Mark’s readers, and perhaps to us today. Jesus profoundly models a different way, transgressing boundaries and fast becoming a threat to the establishment. Mark’s Gospel is not for the faint hearted, written to challenge and disturb, it tells the story of what it really means to be a follower of Jesus. The book includes tips for prayer and meditation to nourish ourselves throughout the liturgical year, as well as practical suggestions for living out our faith in the modern world. Following on from our inclusion of the Season of Creation in previous editions, we continue to focus on the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. As we navigate Mark’s Gospel, we hope to address the question of how this Gospel is relevant for everyday life in all its complexities and in doing so, offer a nourishing spirituality grounded in the Word of God.

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Every year millions of people celebrate St Patrick. He is Ireland’s most famous ambassador. Yet, what do we really know about him, about his spirituality, his mission, his vocation? Can we really only say that he was no friend to snakes? Few people know that Patrick’s own writings have survived to the present day. Fewer still understand the connection between Patrick and the Church Fathers. Ironically, it is perhaps his universal popularity and connection to generations of Irish immigrants that has set him apart from his peers and obscured his very real contribution to the Church. To the broader world he is more famous than Augustine and more recognisable than Paul, but unlike them his writings and spirituality have been neglected. In The Spiritual Journey of St Patrick, Aidan Larkin SCC brings the academic rediscovery of Patrick to a lay audience, passionately arguing the case for recognising and engaging with Patrick’s spiritual legacy to the Church. Uncovering the wealth of references to the Fathers of the Church in Patrick’s own writings, Larkin encourages us to reframe Patrick as a religious thinker in dialogue with the Church’s past and future. Patrick’s vocation him brought him to the Irish, and the Irish brought him to the world. Now The Spiritual Journey of St Patrick retells that great story in the history of Christianity in a way that restores Patrick’s own voice so that he can speak to us and guide us in this synodal moment in the life of the Church.

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Loneliness and connection are not enemies, rather two facets of everyone’s life. We just need to get to know them. That’s especially true of loneliness, so that, far from being oppressive or a threat, it can become an opportunity or a learning point. Through loneliness we can learn to bond with ourselves and with others. Far from consuming our self-esteem or wearing us out, aloneness can prove an ally in the exciting and complicated battles of life. All we need to do is to discern the heart song of loneliness, so we can learn how to guide our emotions to cope with it. This heart song consists of our acceptance and desire, our lucidity and awareness, our memory and hope, our faith and inner turmoil. All of that is in this book: loneliness and connection. Silence and music.

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Modern lives can be very busy, saturated by technology and media, but there isn't always time for happiness. As this book proves, it is the time out, the ability to look back and understand life events that brings about deeper, more satisfying living. Life is difficult but not impossible, and can be rich and fulfilling. Difficult situations of conflict, stress and worry arise, as do pleasant situations, but there are ways through the challenges. It is essential to believe that there is something positive in everything, that God is in it somewhere, and that we can get through with help. The spirituality of St Ignatius teaches us that God holds us close, loves us and desires the best for us. It is a solid foundation that we can build our lives on, it is an anchor in the storms of life, and it brings me though even the darkest hours. These mediations can be used by readers as a daily prayer source, for morning, daytime or evening prayer. They are also ideal for parish groups who might read a reflection and then come together for discussion. The book's accessibility makes it an excellent step on the spiritual path for someone seeking or returning to acknowledge God in their lives. In this way it would make a perfect gift for someone inviting another to consider "God in all things".

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The Parish as Oasis is a practical and accessible introduction to how local churches can contribute to the healing the environmental crisis. A notable feature of this book is that it does not engage with that crisis. “Climate change” can be a contentious cultural issue. And “climate despair” can be a pressing pastoral issue. By focusing on practical and accessible “experiments” that any parish can explore according to their own context and capacities, this book seeks to equip people with a hands-on understanding of the ideas unpacked in Laudato Si’. It is a book that aspires to inspire congregations to get their hands dirty, but it also plants those initiatives within a coherent eco-theology and re-locates how we think about faith and the role of church to the margins, serving as an oasis in those parts of our society that are parched and denuded. It consists of three parts: an introductory essay that situates the theological vision of the book, a practical array of experiments that congregations can undertake to care for our common home, and a conclusion pointing people to further resources. While being intellectually rigorous, it is written in an accessible, non-technical fashion. The practical experiments draw on real-world examples, including interviews, to give each of these sections an easy magazine-like feel.

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Contemplative prayer and the contemplative way of life are the central themes of this book. Against the backdrop of their rich experience of accompanying those coming on retreat to House Gries, Germany, the authors talk about what happens in silence: healing and wholeness, suffering and consolation, forgiveness and reconciliation, gratitude and joy... This originated from a desire to make more widely available the experiences that emerge through conversations between retreatants and guides. The individual chapters of the book, each based on a particular theme have a clear and consistent structure. A short introduction to the theme is followed by a conversation. Scripture, the writings of St. Ignatius, experiences from spiritual accompaniment as well as the authors’ own personal experiences form the basis for these conversations. Through using the questions, “Where was my heart burning?” “Where were my eyes opened?” the authors pick out aspects in the conversation which triggered a particular resonance within them. Finally, each chapter concludes with short exercises for the reader, relevant to the theme.

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This book is an attempt by the author to give us a brief human insight into life behind bars in one of our penal institutions. It is written from the perspective of someone who has walked the walk with the prisoner for twenty years and now questions the effectiveness of our criminal justice system. She is an advocate for a Restorative Justice System and sees this model as the way forward. She argues that true justice lies in healing for all involved in criminal behaviour, including victim, perpetrator and society. The second part of the book hears the voices of the prisoners in emotionally charged reflections on the reality of life within a prison cell. The author challenges the use of prisons to deal with addictions, mental health issues and homelessness.Where prisons are needed, as they are for a small cohort of people, they should be open institutions dedicated to rehabilitation based on the needs of the individual and on societal needs of the time.

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“I love my robot lawn mowers, my laptop, wifi, Google, Facetime, Whatsapp and the possibility of drone postal deliveries and more.. Yet worries nag about being overwhelmed by an artificial intelligence revolution whose ethical and moral parameters are less clear than its rampant profiteering from and monetising of your lives and mine. This hugely informative book shakes us out of our massage armchairs and demands that we engage immediately with these galloping advances so we can shape them to the benefit of the many and not leave them to the enrichment of the few at the awful cost of the impoverishment of swathes of humanity”. Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland. "Robots, Ethics and The Future of Jobs is a wakeup call for political, civic, media and church leaders, urging a response to the deepening and accelerating pace of technological change and its potential consequences. Artificial Intelligence, robotics, drones, the internet of things and 3D printing are the building blocks of the 4th industrial revolution. These technologies offer great potential but also carry real risks and are reaching into every corner of our lives, civilian and military. Who will win and who will lose? Who will set the rules and the ethical boundaries within which they should develop and operate? Will the displaced be included, if so, how; or ignored and, if so, with what political, social and economic consequences? That these questions cannot be avoided and should not be postponed - and that we do not need to wait for change to happen because it is already upon us - are central messages of this thought provoking text." Pat Cox, former President European Parliament.

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The Stations of the Cross unfold for us a story of the passion and pain – where all sources of evil are connected: jealousy, betrayal, cowardice, injustice, cruelty and weakness. Jesus takes everything on himself and assumes all human suffering. The Stations of the Cross are in the present tense: Jesus is condemned, Jesus takes his Cross, Jesus meets, Simon carries, Veronica wipes and Jesus is stripped. It is our tears that flow down his cheek, our pain that is felt in his bruised, battered body. The Stations of the Cross is a prayer in motion. They spell out for us that suffering and death do not have the last word because God cares for all creation.

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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.

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Through the passing of the beads of the Rosary through our fingers, we cross over two thousand years of history to connect with the story of Christ, as it is told by his mother Mary. At one and the same time a treasured part of Catholic tradition and a vital means of telling the story of Christ in the contemporary world, the telling of the Rosary is a distinctly Catholic practice that helps us step into the mystery of Christ. In Telling the Rosary, Vincent Sherlock provides a bead-by-bead guide to the Rosary, taking us through the joyful, luminous – added by Pope St John Paul II – sorrowful, and glorious mysteries, grounding them in Scripture and explaining their significance. With a prayer guide tailored to each mystery, Telling the Rosary is a book that renews a living Catholic tradition.

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In 2012 the author was invited by the Parish Pastoral Council in Newcastle, Co Down to help establish a Bereavement Ministry in the Parish. Unable to find exactly the course structure he was looking for, he designed his own course. He has divided it into five sections: The Human Experience of Grief. (drawing on my own experiences and what some of the leading experts in grief have written) The Liturgy of Mourning. (as used in the Catholic Church) Grief in the Scriptures. (setting elements of section 1 within a scriptural context) A selection of suggested Scripture readings with reflections and some sample prayers of intercession. (These are intended to be used by ordained and lay ministers for their personal reflection and in preparing funeral homilies. They may also be of solace to grieving people.) A selection of prose, poems and prayers. This book is directed primarily to those involved in bereavement ministry.

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The readings for Lent in year C are mostly from Luke, with the emphasis falling on conversion and reconciliation (even the “stray” reading from John 8:1-11 is Lukan in tone). This year, the narrative arc from the Old Testament begins with a very ancient Israelite creed, “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor,” a mysteriously inspiring narrative. In a markedly consistent way, the middle readings, all from the undisputed letters of Paul, link with other readings and help to bring them into our present moment. 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.

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How can we know what it is to be holy? What difference can holiness make in our lives? Far from being a matter for only the `Holy Joes’ among us, holiness is the concern of all Christians, and is intimately connected to a life of Christian Joy. In How to be Holy: The Practice of Joy in Pope Francis’s Gaudete et Exsultate, Fr Alan Hilliard takes us on a journey through Pope Francis’ latest Apostolic Exhortation. Chapter by chapter he explains the significance of Pope Francis’ remarks in an illuminating, and accessible way. Included are extracts from Gaudete et Exsultate, personal introductions to each chapter, and sets of questions to encourage you on your own spiritual journey. Pope Francis wants to help tune us in to God, and in How to be Holy: A Guide to Pope Francis’s message Gaudete et Exsultate Fr Alan Hilliard wants to help us tune in to Pope Francis! Rejoice and be glad!

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It’s amazing to think that the first smile Jesus ever gave was in response to Mary’s smile. It must have been an extraordinary moment: her son was smiling at her, and it was God smiling at her too. This book looks at Mary, this extraordinary woman who is “the cause of our joy” because she brought us the greatest joy of all: Jesus. She was full of joy because she was full of gratitude, gladly acknowledging the fullness of grace that God had given her. Her deep joy overflowed when she visited her cousin Elizabeth: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit exults in God my Saviour”. But this Magnificat song wasn’t just a once-off song of praise: the reason it came to Mary’s lips so easily was because it was her usual way of praying. She constantly thanked God for the gifts he had given her. Whatever the circumstances, Mary had the deep inner conviction that “all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well” as Julian of Norwich was later to express it. Many of us seek joy outside of ourselves, in food and drink, or in riches and reputations. But Mary found an inner joy that came from encountering God, a joy that was immeasurably greater than any material joy. And by giving Mary a place in our hearts, we can find true joy in God as well.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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