For thirteenth-century preacher, exorcist, and hagiographer Thomas of Cantimpré, the Southern Low Countries were a harbinger of the New Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit, he believed, was manifesting itself in the lives of lay and religious people alike. Thomas avidly sought out these new kinds of saints, writing accounts of their lives so that these models of sanctity might astound, teach, and trouble the convictions of his day. In Excessive Saints, Rachel J. D. Smith combines historical, literary, and theological approaches to offer a new interpretation of Thomas’s hagiographies, showing how they employ vivid narrative portrayals of typically female bodies to perform theological work in a rhetorically specific way. Written in an era of great religious experimentation, Thomas’s texts think with and through the bodies of particular figures: the narrative of the holy person’s life becomes a site of theological invention in a variety of registers, particularly the devotional, the mystical, and the dogmatic. Smith examines how these texts represent the lives and bodies of holy women to render them desirable objects of devotion for readers and how Thomas passionately narrates these lives even as he works through his uncertainties about the opportunities and dangers that these emerging forms of holiness present. Excessive Saints is the first book to consider Thomas’s narrative craft in relation to his theological projects, offering new visions for the study of theology, medieval Christianity, and medieval women’s history.

Explores the role of the nobility and analogous traditional elites in contemporary society.

“Between Heaven and Mirth will make any reader smile. . . . Father Martin reminds us that happiness is the good God’s own goal for us.” —Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York From The Colbert Report’s “official chaplain” James Martin, SJ, author of the New York Times bestselling The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, comes a revolutionary look at how joy, humor, and laughter can change our lives and save our spirits. A Jesuit priest with a busy media ministry, Martin understands the intersections between spirituality and daily life. In Between Heaven and Mirth, he uses scriptural passages, the lives of the saints, the spiritual teachings of other traditions, and his own personal reflections to show us why joy is the inevitable result of faith, because a healthy spirituality and a healthy sense of humor go hand-in-hand with God's great plan for humankind.

“In the heart of this world, the Lord of life, who loves us so much, is always present. He does not abandon us, he does not leave us alone, for he has united himself definitively to our earth, and his love constantly impels us to find new ways forward. Praise be to him!” – Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ In his second encyclical, Laudato Si’: On the Care of Our Common Home, Pope Francis draws all Christians into a dialogue with every person on the planet about our common home. We as human beings are united by the concern for our planet, and every living thing that dwells on it, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. Pope Francis’ letter joins the body of the Church’s social and moral teaching, draws on the best scientific research, providing the foundation for “the ethical and spiritual itinerary that follows.” Laudato Si’ outlines: The current state of our “common home” The Gospel message as seen through creation The human causes of the ecological crisis Ecology and the common good Pope Francis’ call to action for each of us Our Sunday Visitor has included discussion questions, making it perfect for individual or group study, leading all Catholics and Christians into a deeper understanding of the importance of this teaching.

Bill Atkinson was the front rider on a toboggan racing down a snow-covered hill in New York state. Four young men were enjoying an exhilarating ride in the crisp air when, suddenly, they careened into a tree¿the devastating collision broke Bill¿s neck. Coming out of a coma, Bill found himself in a hospital bed, unable to feel his body. Trapped, helpless and totally dependent on friends and family, he was to begin a 40-year saga that would include his becoming the first quadriplegic ordained as a priest in the 2000-year history of the Catholic Church. He would go on to teach for many years at Monsignor Bonner High School in Upper Darby, PA¿in the suburbs of Philadelphia¿and provide counsel and inspiration to thousands of students...and he does so again in this wonderful book. Some had thought that Bill might become an athlete and that his brother, Al, might one day join the priesthood. A few years later, as Bill watched from his wheelchair, Al Atkinson, a superb linebacker, walked off the field of Super Bowl III having helped the New York Jets beat the mighty Baltimore Colts. Steve McWilliams volunteered to help Bill Atkinson. He thought that this good deed would give him ¿cred¿ with God¿if God existed¿and Steve was also too nice a guy to say ¿No¿ when a friend asked him to help out with the care of a ¿Father Bill.¿ After 18 years of visiting and helping, two days a week, with hardly a deep word spoken between them, Steve and Bill slowly began a conversation that would change both of their lives. They broke through a wall of silence¿that lack of deep communication which typifies the relationships between so many men¿and developed a true, nurturing friendship. It began with Bill¿s sharing of his poetry and ended with Steve¿s commitment to share his conversations with and love of this remarkable and inspiring Augustinian priest. This is not just a story for Catholics, although many will find their faith strengthened by the humility and wisdom of Father Bill. Others, who have doubted and felt that churchmen have strayed from the path of Christ, will find renewed hope and belief in their fellow man¿all of us will be inspired by a man who endured and accepted crushing adversity with rare courage and who said: Love God by loving your neighbor...¿Give and Receive Love¿ is the big Christian message¿the rest is just buildings and ceremonies...Love is our pipeline to the divine and God¿s waiting for us to ¿get that¿ one of these days...and in the meantime, he¿s being very patient with us! On dealing with an awful co-worker, he advised Steve to ¿Love him no matter what he did and you¿ll find peace; that¿s God¿s way. All of your anger is just going to make you sick. Give in to God¿s love, you¿ll be surprised what appears in your life.¿ That was Father Bill: Love & Acceptance personified.