Commonsense approach to spiritual direction according to one of its most accomplished practitioners.

If St. Paul of the CrossPaul Danei, founder of the Passionistswere to accompany you through Lent Im sure he would come to you as you are and the world you live in as it is. He was never afraid of darkness or dark places, so you may find him a helpful spiritual guide. He trusted in Jesus Christ and his cross, the wisdom and power of God. Im sure he may bring some of that wisdom to you. Accept the invitation to journey through Lent with Jesus Christ and one of the great spiritual writers of the Catholic Church, St. Paul of the Cross. Inside you will find an Invitation from St. Paul of the Cross, a short biography of St. Paul of the Cross, a description of the Writings and Spirituality of St. Paul of the Cross, and more. Each day of Lent, weekdays and Sundays, begins with: a Gospel Reading, a Reflection, a selection from the Writings of St. Paul of the Cross, and a Prayer. May Jesus Christ and the wisdom of St. Paul of the Cross enrich your Lenten Journey, and lead you to Gods Holy Easter of Peace, Love and Joy.

"The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God."" -- St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 1: 18"St. Paul returned to the theme of the Cross over and over again as he taught Christians about salvation and exhorted them to worship. As Bible scholar and popular EWTN host Fr. Mitch Pacwa unveils St. Paul's words, you'll discover just how profoundly the Cross affected this apostle, equipping him for evangelization and helping him overcome strife.With the help of Fr. Pacwa's focus and modern applications, you'll learn how Jesus Christ crucified is the wisdom of God, how the Cross itself reflects the power of God, and what this means for you: What is your cross, and how can you use it to better follow Jesus?How can you follow St. Paul's example in offering up sufferings to be united with Christ's Cross?How can the centrality of Jesus dying on the Cross help overcome divisions in the Christian Church today?Whether used for small-group study, interactive journaling, or personal spiritual growth, the easy-to-follow format of this study guide will inspire and enlighten you.

The need for spiritual direction—or the accompaniment of a spiritual guide—is becoming more prominent in a world where so many are suffering from so many wounds. With a harmonious integration of both timeless spiritual wisdom from the Catholic Church’s tradition of prayer and direction, and the insight of the psychological sciences, Fathers Thomas Acklin and Boniface Hicks offer a comprehensive guide for all who provide or seek spiritual direction. Spiritual Direction: A Guide for Sharing the Father’s Love fortifies priests, religious, and lay faithful who embrace the ministry of spiritual direction and accompany the wounded, assist men and women in hearing the voice of God, and model the love and mercy of the Father for the many who are seeking Him but do not know Him or have false images of Him. This book also shows how various aspects of the spiritual life can emerge from and be fostered by a one-on-one relationship with a spiritual director. Together with concrete guidelines and numerous examples from personal experience, this book refers extensively to Sacred Scripture as the foundation for spiritual direction. Furthermore, since the practice of spiritual direction goes back to the first centuries of the Church, the authors turn for guidance to the Doctors of the Church, the writings of the saints, and the papal magisterium in developing and supporting their insights. Spiritual Direction will call spiritual directors to deeper holiness even as they assist others in growing closer to the Father through His loving gaze of mercy.

Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Directors is a collection of teachings from four spiritual masters who have a world-wide reputation in the field of spiritual development: St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, Thomas a Kempis, and St. Francis de Sales.i

‘A brilliant introduction to prayer’ Richard Rohr, Author of Everything Belongs

He descended into hell. Hans Urs von Balthasar, one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century, placed this affirmation of the Nicene Creed at the heart of his reflection on the world-altering events of Holy Week, asserting that this identification of God with the human experience is at the "absolute center" of the Christian faith. Yet is such a descent to suffering really the essence of Catholic belief about the mystery of Holy Saturday? Alyssa Lyra Pitstick's Light in Darkness -- the first comprehensive treatment of Balthasar's theology of Holy Saturday -- draws on the multiple yet unified resources of authoritative Catholic teaching on Christ's descent to challenge Balthasar's conclusions. Pitstick conducts a thorough investigation of Balthasar's position that Christ suffered in his descent into hell and asks whether that is compatible with traditional teaching about Christ. Light in Darkness is a thorough argument for the existence and authority of a traditional Catholic doctrine of Christ's descent as manifested in creeds, statements of popes and councils, Scripture, and art from Eastern and Western traditions. Pitstick's carefully argued, contrarian work is sure to spur debate across the theological spectrum.