"A profound and lively reflection on the seven joys of Mary: the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Epiphany, the Resurrection, the Ascension, Pentecost, and the Assumption"--P. [4] of cover.

How can joy and sorrow go together? After all, you usually don't find grieving widows laughing, nor newlyweds weeping. Joy and sorrow are so far removed from each other on the spectrum of human emotion that it seems illogical to stick them together. Yet there is a deep mystery here to unlock... Your life has sorrows. You are meant for joy. Facing the reality of sorrow, we can either live in denial of the pain or dig deeper for meaning... and joy. In contemplating the seven sorrows of the Mother of Jesus, we can discover what so many Christians over the centuries have found: in Mary's sorrows we find a model of faith and how to discover happiness in the midst of suffering. A way to transform sadness into gladness? That is revolutionary! Discovering Mary's method for converting sorrow to joy may just be the single most important step in your spiritual life. Launch into these pages and begin your journey to joy: to the meaning, peace, and happiness for which you thirst.

This little booklet gives instruction in how to use passages from Scripture to meditate while saying the Diving Mercy Chaplet, the Franciscan Crown, the Seven Sorrows of Mary, or the Rosary, including the Mysteries of Light. All four of these traditional Catholic devotions can be made using traditional rosary beads. A short history of each of the four devotions is given, followed by detailed instructions on how to say them on the beads of a rosary. Different scriptural passages are suggested as biblical reflections relating to each topic and bead.

From the manger of Jesus Christ to the 21st century, this encyclopedia explores more than 2,000 years of Christmas past and present through 966 entries packed with a wide variety of historical and pop-culture subjects. Entries detail customs and traditions from around the world as well as classic Christmas movies, TV series/specials and animated cartoons. Arranged alphabetically by entry name, the book includes the historical background of popular sacred and secular songs as well as accounts of beloved literary works with Christmas themes from such noted authors as Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Hans Christian Andersen, Pearl Buck, Henry Van Dyke and others. All things Christmas are available here in one comprehensive volume.

History books sometime forget that the bloody and painful history of America begins here in Florida long before Jamestown and Plymouth were even thoughts. Florida is the location of the first American Thanksgiving, that was celebrated in 1564 with the landing of the French Protestant pilgrims as well as the first Christmas observance by Hernando de Soto and his army during their 1539 winter encampment. During this most early time in American history, the explorers were besieged with tropical diseases, poisonous snakes, alligators, pirates, starvation and even cannibalism. It is hard to find a more exciting story than that even in an adventure novel.

Includes the best-loved traditional carols from the hymn books and carol sheets, plus the best of the new carols which have become popular through radio and TV or schools.

Storey's new compilation of "The Liturgy of the Hours" is presented in language that is both dignified and contemporary, crafted in accordance with Vatican II's liturgical emphasis and promotion of scriptural prayer.