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How would the history of Roman Catholic worship look if it were viewed first from the perspective of the people in the pews rather than through the deliberations of popes and church councils or the writings of theologians? How did the common people down through the ages understand what they were doing when they came together in worshipand was this understanding always the same as the official interpretation of the church authorities?  In Local Worship, Global Church, Mark Francis explores the history of the liturgy from the bottom up rather than from the top down and comes to conclusions that complement our understanding of the history of the liturgy and its relationship to faithful Christians from the first century CE to our own time.

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Joined by the Church, Sealed by a Blessing

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Couples and Communities Called to Conversion Together

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Joined by the Church, Sealed by a Blessing does more than help parish leaders plan excellent wedding liturgies and prepare engaged couples well. It enables parish leaders to address the challenges of increased divorce, fewer Catholic weddings, empty pews on Sundays, and the increasing number of people who choose no faith. This is the one book that will give you a comprehensive plan to address these concerns with confidence, creativity, and clarity.            With over fifty years of combined hands-on experience in parish and diocesan liturgy preparation and catechumenate formation, Diana Macalintal and Nick Wagner give you more than just another marriage preparation resource. They give you a parish transformation tool. 

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In Liturgy and the New Evangelization, Timothy OMalley provides a liturgical foundation to the churchs New Evangelization. He examines questions pastoral ministers must treat in order to foster the renewal of humanity that the New Evangelization seeks to promote. Drawing on narrative, as well as theological concepts in biblical, patristic, and systematic theology, OMalley invites readers into a renewed experience of the liturgical life of the church, learning to practice the art of self-giving love for the renewal of the world.

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In Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting Laura Kelly Fanucci sees the Catholic sacraments through the smudged and sticky lens of life with little ones. From dinnertime chaos to bath-time giggles to never-ending loads of laundry, Laura stumbles into the surprising truth of what the seven sacraments really mean: that God is present always, even in the messes of motherhood.A spiritual memoir of parentings early years and a sacramental theology rooted in family life, Everyday Sacrament offers an honest, humorous, and hopeful look at ordinary moments as full of grace.

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Breaking Open the Conversation about Catholic Preaching

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Whether you preach from a pulpit or sit in a pew, you hope (and pray) for a homily that connects the Good News with life. But what does it mean to connect? In a world that buzzes with the synapses of technological connection, can the human touch of preaching make a difference anymore? Connecting Pulpit and Pew is a fresh look at the conundrum of Catholic preaching, asking six key questions: Why does Sunday preaching matter and to whom? Why is Catholic preaching such an uphill climb? How can we connect the gospel message with our young people? What are the struggles of clergy-on-the-ground in preaching? What is going on in the listeners head during the homily? And finally, what can each of us do to help connection in preaching become more common? New research speaks to those questions from the voices of youth, the experiences of lay leaders, and the words of priests and deacons. Karla Bellinger offers concrete ways to connect the pulpit and the pew so that preaching becomes an act of love within a community of caring. This practical book breaks open an important and necessary conversation.

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Biblical Reflections on Serving the Physically and Mentally Impaired

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In I Was Ill and You Cared for Me, John F. Craghan offers readers a variety of biblical reflections to help family members, friends, and health care workers deal with the diminished physical and mental conditions of those they love and serve. These reflections will help these relationships become more meaningful, enriching, and helpful for all involved. They will also serve as an engaging invitation to further biblical study.

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Open up your everyday experiences by considering them through a Benedictine lens with this accessible collection of reflections. Meaningful and insightful at any time of the year, this companion offers Benedictine and scriptural wisdom to the timeless themes of our lives. Each reflection is coupled with thoughtful contemplative questions and meaningful and integrative actions for daily life.  The reflections are organized by themes from the Rule of Saint Benedict and include: Awareness of God, Listening, Hospitality, Humility, Moderation, Community for Ordinary People, Community Living, Obedience, Authority, Peace, Prayer, Stability, and Stewardship.

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Reflections on the Fourth Chapter of Benedict's Rule

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There is more in Benedicts Rule than meets the eye.  Based on the rules of life of John Cassian and Saint Basil, Benedict  invites us to go further back to the scriptural basis of all Christian  and monastic living and pursue our spiritual journey by the guidance of  the Gospel.This book of  reflections on the tools for good living is intended to be read very  slowly, one section at a time. In addition to communicating reflections  on each verse of chapter 4, Casey invites readers to:         continue the process of reflection for themselves         apply what is written to their own lives         draw on their own wisdom and insight         and, ultimately, broaden their experience of monastic spirituality

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How does the Catholic tradition understand the significance of the environment, and what are the implications for our daily lives? In Walking Gods Earth, David Cloutier provides a concise, accessible, and spiritually engaging introduction to these questions. Cloutier emphasizes the importance of finding our place within Gods created order, showing how spiritual experiences and scriptural narratives guide us to a humble and realistic perspective, one that often clashes with the presumptions of society. In its focus on practical ways of living out this message, the book identifies key areasfood, fuel, dwelling places, work, and leisurewhere Catholics can bring their faith convictions into daily living.We are called to handle the things of Gods creation in holy, sacramental ways, as an essential part of our vocation to live out our faith. Walking Gods Earth emphasizes the importance of connecting both spiritually and morally, our environmental lives with the basics of our faith in hope that Gods desire for the renewal of the earth may be realized in our own desires and in the practices of our communities.

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Prose poems, chants, litanies, simple songs, cadenced prayers, brief bursts of rhythmic observation, elegies to little moments that are not little at all in the least whatsoeverwelcome to the melodic world of Brian Doyles proems, swirling with voices unreeling tales, souls telling stories, moments photographed with ink. Accessible, easy to read, blunt, brief, and sometimes unforgettable, these are not poems, says the author, but life set to the music of poetry. In A Shimmer of Something, Brian Doyles characteristic humor and sincerity combine to make this collection a delight to read. From his conviction that miracles breed ripples that do not cease, to his lack of faith about the life of an elderberry bush, to the amusing story of a friends experience of driving the Dalai Lama to Seattle, to the humorous experience of his second Confession, to an intimate story of love and loss, Doyles lean stories of spiritual substance inspire, entertain, and captivate.

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The fourth gospel addresses the thirst for life that lies at the depth of every human heart. The life in question is not just physical life but the more abundant life (John 10:10) that is nothing less than a share in the eternal life of the divine communion of love. In Life Abounding, Brendan Byrne, SJ, facilitates a reading of John for readers today so that it may move them from mere existence to a conscious sense of sharing the divine eternal lifeand the joy that goes with it.The reading of the Fourth Gospel offered here remains conscious of the difficulties John presents on several fronts for contemporary readers. Byrne explains the text in a way that is critical yet sensitive to the gospels distinctive character and the untapped treasures it may yet contain for theology and spirituality today. This volume represents the completion of Byrnes highly successful series of books on the four gospels, which have proven to be rich resources for preachers, teachers, and all who desire a more profound understanding of the life of Jesus as it is presented in the gospels. 

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We all have moments of grace in our lives, glimpses of Gods presence and Gods mystery. The Word made flesh, God-with-us, inspires these moments and sometimes lets us see and feel that transformation in grace. In 100 Days Closer to Christ, Father William C. Graham invites us to consider these moments and experience the transforming presence of God in our lives. These compelling essays invite you to immersion in joyful hope: dreams, disciplines, and promises; fond embraces and quiet satisfaction; plans and prospects; awe and wonder. The chapters consider moments of grace through encounters that resemble lectio divina, inviting reflections flowing from Gods word or the churchs life of prayer, giving flashes of insight and meaning on a pilgrims way. The essays in 100 Days Closer to Christ are meant to inspire thoughtful prayer. Whether they are seasonal or attitudinal, each seeks to stand before Mystery in awe, wonder, praise, and thanksgiving.

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And Other Burning Questions about the Liturgy

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What are Vespers? Where have the consecration bells gone? Why do some liturgical ministers vest and others dont? Blinking sneakers on altar servers, Christmas trees in January . . . what is that all about? These are some of the candid questions that Catholics and others often wonder about the liturgy. In Whats the Smoke For? expert liturgist Johan van Parys offers helpful and engaging answers. Based on church teaching and rooted in sound theology, Johans responses invite inquiring minds to continue to think about what is happening in the church and to be engaged in learning more about liturgy and the arts.

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People of God is a brand new series of inspiring biographies for the general reader. Each volume offers a compelling and honest narrative of the life of an important twentieth or twenty-first century Catholic. Some living and some now deceased, each of these women and men have known challenges and weaknesses familiar to most of us, but responded to them in ways that call us to our own forms of heroism. Each of them offers a credible and concrete witness of faith, hope, and love to people of our own day. Thomas Merton was the consummate post-modern holy one: flawed, anti-institutional, a voice for the voiceless. But he was also a classical traditionalist: centered, obedient, in search of stability. He was a religious thinker of remarkable insight, a social commentator of courage and conviction, and a writer of startling virtuosity. Michael W. Higgins recounts the life of this insatiable wanderer. He explores the various layers of influence and evolution in Mertons thought and spirituality. This book tells the remarkable story of a life that remains to be understood from its beginnings and long after its premature ending.

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Open the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible and feel at home with the Word of God. Through accessibly written information and engaging visuals that highlight and clarify significant areas of Scripture, readers will easily gain an understanding of these ancient texts that can be carried into today's world. Using the authorized translation in the New American Bible Revised Edition, this lasting volume is ideal for both personal use and group Bible study.   The valuable information in the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible is offered in small notes and inserts that accompany the Bible texts as well as in expanded essays, articles, and graphics. Key symbols help readers quickly identify the type of information they need, such as explanations, definitions, dates, character and author profiles, archaeological insights, personal prayer starters, and insights connecting Scripture and its use in today's church. Colorful maps, timelines, photographs, and charts further enhance the study experience. Longer articles are dedicated to explaining study Bible fundamentals, the Catholic Church's use of the Bible, and the people and places of the biblical world. General Editor: Catherine Upchurch serves as the director of Little Rock Scripture Study. Her work in adult faith formation involves writing, editing, lecturing, leading retreats and days of reflection. She is the editor of A Year of Sundays and an associate editor of The Bible Today, a journal of biblical spirituality.Old Testament Editor: Irene Nowell, OSB, is a Benedictine of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas. She is an adjunct professor at St. John's University School of Theology, has published two books and numerous articles, and is a past president of the Catholic Biblical Association. She is also a member of the Committee on Illuminations and Texts for The Saint John's Bible. New Testament Editor: Ronald D. Witherup, SS, is Superior General of the Sulpicians and lives in Paris, France. He holds a doctorate in biblical studies and is the author of numerous books and articles on Scripture. His current interest is in the letters of Saint Paul and the Acts of the Apostles.

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Catherine Upchurch, Irene Nowell, Ronald D. Witherup

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Contemplation and the Healing of the Self

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Eight hundred years ago, Clare of Assisi advised a correspondent to gaze into the mirror of the crucified Christ and study her own face within it. A hundred years ago, sociologist Charles Horton Cooley said we can know our self only as it is reflected to us by others. Contemplation is the choice to find our reflection in the divine Mirror. In The Sacred Gaze, Susan Pitchford explores how a false self is created by distortions in the mirrors around us. Drawing from the mystical and sociological traditions, and with practical suggestions for how to begin, Pitchford shows how gazing into the face of Christ can reveal to us who we really are. When the true self is known, and known as Gods beloved, the way is opened to radical freedom and joy.

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Lent, the Sacred Paschal Triduum, Easter Time

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When Adrien Nocent's The Liturgical Year was published in the 1970s,  it was the very first comprehensive commentary on the three-year lectionary in  relation to the Sacramentary/Missal as these were revised following the Second  Vatican Council. Expressed on nearly every page was Nocent's conviction that    the liturgy and the Word of God proclaimed within it have something important to say to real people of every culture and time. He constantly returns to the question: What does this passage have to say to us today? Now this extraordinary work of applied, postconciliar liturgical scholarship has  been emended and annotated by one of today's leading liturgical scholars. Paul  Turner    has provided many helpful explanatory notes on history, culture, language, and, of   course, liturgy. He has also updated the liturgical texts to conform to The  Roman Missal, Third Edition. The result is a resource that promises to enrich    and inspire a new generation of presiders, preachers, liturgy planners, and students.On the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican II's Sacrosanctum Concilium,   encounter the vibrant scholarship and pastoral wisdom of Adrien Nocent's The Liturgical Year again or for the first time!Volume 2 covers Lent, the Paschal Triduum, and the season of Easter.

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Theological Meditations for the New Evangelization

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The Second Vatican Council marked the beginning of the New  Evangelization. It sought to communicate the Gospel's perennial newness  to the contemporary world in a spirit of joy and hope. Yet despite the  exhortations of Paul VI and John Paul II, a number of ecclesial and  cultural factors deflected the church's evangelical energies, so that  the council's radiant Christocentric vision faded in an increasingly  polarized church.In this important new work, Robert Imbelli  probes the council's comprehensive Christocentric vision and its  evangelical imperative. It maintains that Jesus Christ cannot be  separated from his body, the church, and that the Eucharist effects the  ongoing intimate communion between Head and members. It is this  life-giving communion that the church desires to share with the wider  world as the world's truth and salvation. Drawing on the writings of  Pope Benedict and the witness of Pope Francis, Imbelli's insights will  help transform what is merely notional for the reader into a vivid  reality through the lure of beauty. Includes four-color illustrations.

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Biblical Preaching and The Roman Missal, Year B

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The publication of The Roman Missal, Third  Edition offers an opportunity for homilists to explore  the relationship between the Sunday readings and the new    Roman Missal. Between the Ambo and the Altar is the second book (Year B) in a three-volume series that presents   scriptural, liturgical, and preaching commentary for   Sundays, solemnities, and feasts throughout the year.Each Sunday's resources are presented in three sections: exploring the Scripture, connecting the Lectionary with the liturgy, and a homiletic strategy. DeBona takes the    preacher through a meditation on the language of the   Missal, suggests parallels to the Sunday Lectionary, and    gives practical homiletic strategies, using core themes and images. It is hoped that the commentary advances a framework for homily preparation, so that preachers might   "savor the deep meaning of the word of God which unfolds    each year in the liturgy" (Benedict XVI, Verbum   Domini 52).

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The Vatican IIs Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation is universally acclaimed as one of the councils most important documents. Published in 1965 after a long and circuitous route throughout all four years of the council, Dei Verbum sets forth the Catholic Churchs official teaching about divine revelation and the complex interrelationship between Scripture and Tradition. With the approach of the fiftieth anniversary of the constitution, this bookintended for general audiencessummarizes the history and principal teaching of this groundbreaking document. Accompanying the text of The Word of God at Vatican II is a paragraph-by-paragraph commentary and an exploration of the impact the constitution has had in the churchs life. Readers will be amazed at how influential Dei Verbum continues to be, even today.  