In the latest addition to Liguori's popular series of seasonal meditation books provides not only Scripture readings for the seasons of Advent and Christmas, but pairs them with a daily selection from the cherished writings of Saint Alphonsus Liguori.

This book encourages the reader to set aside time each day to reflect upon a specific Scripture passage while providing a suggested activity for Christian living during the Christmas season.

In the season when we focus on Christ's birth, let us follow the example of St. Alphonsus and his unwavering love of Jesus Christ.

This book is the product of a relatively long history of pilgrimage research in a Dutch theological setting. It is intended as a report for an international audience on this long-running programme. Two lines are followed in the book. The first is the track of liturgical studies, in which an historical, European ethnological and anthropological approach has predominated. The second is a social science track, with specific content coming from psychology of religion. The combination of these two lines has been extremely fruitful. In addition to results of various surveys of contemporary pilgrimage practice and the expansion of research into ritual and cultural context in which modern pilgrims find themselves, special attention is also bestowed on historiographic issues involved in orienting pilgrimage research, and its theoretical and methodological aspects. The places of pilgrimage examined here are Wittem, Dokkum and Amsterdam in The Netherlands, Banneux in Belgium, Lourdes and La Salette in France, and Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The central question which informs the whole study is to what extent one can perhaps speak of a new type of pilgrim today, the "modern pilgrim".

Used successfully in Episcopal dioceses and congregations, Total Ministry describes a new way for local congregations (especially small ones) and judicatories to organize their response to God's call and to provide resources, support, and encouragement for ministry-a way that is not dependent only on full-time, seminary-trained, ordained leaders.

In this collection of original art and reflections, the Carmelites of Indianapolis share some of the insight and wisdom they have gleaned fro years of praying with the many 'hidden friends' of their tradition. Well-known saints such as Therese of Lisieus, Teresa of Avila, and John of the Cross, as well as some lesser-known holy people, such as Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, Nicholas the Frenchman, and Teresa of Jesus of the Andes, come alive in these pages to enrich and inspired your own life of prayer and spirituality.

*THE PROPHECIES OF ABRAHAM IS A COMPELLING WORK OF PROPHETIC REVELATION WHICH WILL KEEP ANY SERIOUS SEEKER AFTER TRUTH GLUED TO HIS OR HER SEAT. THIS BOOK SOUNDS THE ALARM FOR OUR DECADENT SOCIETY LIKE NO OTHER BOOK BEFORE IT. THIS WORK IS DYNAMITE AS IT WILL SURELY BLOW MOST OF YOUR CHERISHED PRECONCEPTIONS APART. JOSEPH DUMOND TAKES HIS READERS ON A UNIQUE JOURNEY THAT IS JAMPACKED WITH THE MOST ASTOUNDING TRUTHS YOU WILL NEVER BEFORE HAVE SEEN OR UNDERSTOOD IN THE SAME WAY. ONCE I STARTED TO READ THE PROPHECIES OF ABRAHAM, I SIMPLY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. IT KEEPS YOU GOING LIKE A VERITABLE EXPRESSTRAIN AND YOU FIND YOU SIMPLY MUST GET TO THE END DESTINATION. IT IS A MUST READ FOR ANY SANE PERSON WHO VALUES THEIR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILY. THE PROPHECIES OF ABRAHAM CONTAINS AN AWESOME AND MOST SPECIFIC SERIES OF WARNINGS TO AMERICA AND THE WESTERN WORLD. DO NOT MISS IT, AS YOU NEED TO READ THIS, BECAUSE IT CONTAINS A PROPHETIC MESSAGE THAT IS OF UPPERMOST IMPORTANCE FOR YOU AND YOU'RE FAMILY. STEPHEN J SPYKERMAN MOUNT EPHRAIM PUBLISHING UNITED KINGDOM This book is based on a deep understanding of the Chronological Order of the Sabbatical and Jubilee Years and why terrorism, severe weather, and now Pestilence dominate the nightly news-all promised events that were told to us thousands of years ago. There is more to come, like famines, eartquakes, war and slavery. Most people have no idea about any of this. Sadly many do not even want to know. The Prophecies of Abraham will show you a pattern that the Creator has used since creation. Once you see it, you can no longer deny it. You will then know exactly when these events are to come. Welcome to The Prophecies of Abraham

Young children and their parents will delight in this colorful, lovingly illustrated, and simple rendition of the traditional Christmas story. This lift-the-flap book brings the well-known characters of Christmas--angels, shepherds, wise men, Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus--to life for little ones. Sturdily constructed to last for years, this book invites children to take an active role in discovering the mysteries of Our Lord's birth.

Someone's hiding behind the door.
Who it is we can't be sure.
Open the doors and you'll find out.
What Christmas-time is all about
The answer lies on a bed of hay.
An angel will help you on your way

This book makes an excellent gift or family keepsake.

"board book"

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

This illustrated workbook arises out of many years of leading retreats, study and quiet days on the theme of the cross in many contexts from an English Cathedral city to a South African township. The symbol of suffering and sacrifice, the cross also stands for the triumph of love over hate, life over death, hope over despair.
This includes complete outlines with prayers, readings, guided meditations and instructions for making crosses on the following themes: Crosses from around the world, Holy People, Holy Places & Crosses: Bridget, Francis, Andrew and others, Good Friday Pilgrims: living the cross, Making Crosses: yours and mine, Meditating with Crosses, and Following The Way of the Cross.

Rudolf Steiner, the often undervalued, multifaceted genius of modern times, contributed much to the regeneration of culture. In addition to his philosophical teachings, he provided ideas for the development of many practical activities, including education - both general and special - agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, religion and the arts. Steiner's original contribution to human knowledge was based on his ability to conduct 'spiritual research', the investigation of metaphysical dimensions of existence. With his scientific and philosophical training, he brought a new systematic discipline to the field, allowing for conscious methods and comprehensive results. A natural seer from childhood, he cultivated his spiritual vision to a high degree, enabling him to speak with authority on previously veiled mysteries of life. Samples of Steiner's work are to be found in this introductory reader in which Matthew Barton brings together excerpts from Steiner's many talks and writings on Easter. The volume also features an editorial introduction, afterword, commentary and notes.

This is a book about making musical choices. But not just any choices. This is a book about making musical choices that are deliberately informed by the Word of God. It is about making choices that are discerning, wise, beneficial, and edifying. This book is about making musical choices that will bring glory to God. Six brief, engaging chapters will help you answer the most significant questions influencing our musical choices today.

We are apt to forget how much people traveled in the Middle Ages. Not only merchants, friars, soldiers and official messengers, but crowds of pilgrims were a familiar sight on the roads of Western Europe. In this engaging work of history, Jonathan Sumption brings alive the traditions of pilgrimage prevalent in Europe from the beginning of Christianity to the end of the fifteenth century. Vividly describing such major destinations as Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago de Compostela and Canterbury, he examines both major figures -- popes, kings, queens, scholars, villains -- and the common people of their day.

A fascinating entertaining read, this book:

-- addresses what motivated such extraordinary quests.

-- offers a snapshot of those worldly pilgrims, who were among the first "package tour" travelers.

-- brings alive the traditions of pilgrimage prevalent in Europe from the beginning of Christianity to the end of the fifteenth century.

While Russian Orthodox theologians celebrated saints as paragons of virtue and piety whose lives were to be emulated in the search for salvation, ordinary believers routinely sought the assistance of the holy dead for commonplace and earthly matters. The Orthodox faithful were more likely to pray to the saints for help in the everyday concerns of health and home than for salvation. Evidence from miracle stories, devotional literature, parish records, diocesan reports, religious newspapers and magazines, and archival documents demonstrates how Orthodox men and women cultivated direct and literally hands-on relationships with their heavenly intercessors by visiting saintly shrines, touching and kissing miracle-working relics, and making pledges to repay the saints for miracles rendered. Exploring patterns of popular devotion to the cult of the saints in both late imperial and early Soviet Russia, Greene argues for an interpretation of Orthodoxy as a proactive faith grounded in the needs and realities of everyday life. Bodies like Bright Stars makes two significant contributions to the fields of Russian history and religious studies. First, it straddles the customary historiographical dividing line of 1917, illustrating how the devotional practices associated with the cult of the saints evolved from the mid-nineteenth century to the end of the first decade of Soviet power. Greene shows that it was the adaptability of the cult of the saints that allowed Orthodoxy to remain relevant amid great political, social, and economic change. Secondly, the book underscores the role of materiality in Russian Orthodox religious practices and emphasizes what anthropologists of religion have described as the sacrality of place. Bodies like Bright Stars, the first book in NIU Press' Orthodox Christian Studies Series, will be of interest to Russian historians, anthropologists, and scholars of religion. Written in a clear and lively style, the book is suitable for both survey courses and advanced courses in Russian history and will also appeal to general readers of religious studies.

This missal is a brand-new way of looking at the Traditional Latin Mass
* Instead of switching back and forth between the Latin and English sides of a traditional Missal, this one has subtitles for each and every Latin word. In this way, you can hear what the priest is saying AND understand it too
* If you do get lost, a special chart in the front helps you look for clues in order to find your place.
* Each page has notes to aid in comprehension.
* Full color illustrations on every page appeal to young children--even if they are not readers, they can follow along using the pictures that show what the priest is doing at each point.
* Accessible and affordable: it contains the entire common of the Mass--add each week's propers (which can be downloaded and printed from several different websites) and this Missal is all you need
NOTE: This edition is an economy softcover version of our original book. To purchase the original version with thicker, glossier pages and stapled binding, visit the St. Augustine Academy Press website at www.staugustineacademypress.com .

For all Sundays, Solemnities, Major Feasts, and Other Occasions Edited by Bishop Peter J. Elliott. This new edition reflects the themes of both Pope John Paul II and the vision of Pope Benedict XVI. The style of the prayers anticipates the dignity, accuracy, and quality of the new ICEL translation of the Roman Missal.

The process of living is a journey, and this book is a vehicle that evokes the inner life. Boldly step into the life of the Spirit through this journal workbook.

Of the many works he wrote during 1848, his "richest and most fruitful year," Kierkegaard specified "Practice in Christianity" as "the most perfect and truest thing." In his reflections on such topics as Christ's invitation to the burdened, the imitatio Christi, the possibility of offense, and the exalted Christ, he takes as his theme the requirement of Christian ideality in the context of divine grace. Addressing clergy and laity alike, Kierkegaard asserts the need for institutional and personal admission of the accommodation of Christianity to the culture and to the individual misuse of grace. As a corrective defense, the book is an attempt to find, ideally, a basis for the established order, which would involve the order's ability to acknowledge the Christian requirement, confess its own distance from it, and resort to grace for support in its continued existence. At the same time the book can be read as the beginning of Kierkegaard's attack on Christendom. Because of the high ideality of the contents and in order to prevent the misunderstanding that he himself represented that ideality, Kierkegaard writes under a new pseudonym, Anti-Climacus.

A Pilgrim's Jounral is a spiritual travelogue in which the author tells us much about the union between Christian faith and living in the word, the union between grace and nature. This book helps us to understand that the story of each of us is a journey in faith.

Is there one correct way for the people of God to worship him? It turns out that Scripture offers many models and forms for worship, all of which are acceptable but not necessarily appropriate or functional in a particular setting. Barry Liesch, a professor of music at Biola University, helps his readers to grasp that fact and it's implications for worship in the church today. This is a one-of-a-kind book for many kinds of readers in all kinds of churches. It offers biblical perspective, historical awareness, musical and artistic sensitivity, authentic reverence, and creative stimulation for worship leaders, church musicians, study groups, pastors, worship committees, and a host of others who are interested in appreciating and renewing worship according to biblical models. Within each of the twenty chapters the author shares many suggestions for enhancing and transforming worship in the church today. Not only does he present the various biblical models and offer a wealth of suggestions, he takes up some of the major concerns of worship leaders, planners, and participants -- concerns such as the role of music, uses of symbolism, the appropriateness of dance, modes of celebration, expressions of reverence, and many others.

Uniquely authoritative and wide-ranging in its scope, The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church is the indispensable reference work on all aspects of the Christian Church. It contains over 6,500 cross-referenced A-Z entries, and offers unrivalled coverage of all aspects of this vast and often complex subject, from theology; churches and denominations; patristic scholarship; and the bible; to the church calendar and its organization; popes; archbishops; other church leaders; saints; and mystics. In this new edition, great efforts have been made to increase and strengthen coverage of non-Anglican denominations (for example non-Western European Christianity), as well as broadening the focus on Christianity and the history of churches in areas beyond Western Europe. In particular, there have been extensive additions with regards to the Christian Church in Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, and Australasia. Significant updates have also been included on topics such as liturgy, Canon Law, recent international developments, non-Anglican missionary activity, and the increasingly important area of moral and pastoral theology, among many others. Since its first appearance in 1957, the ODCC has established itself as an essential resource for ordinands, clergy, and members of religious orders, and an invaluable tool for academics, teachers, and students of church history and theology, as well as for the general reader.

In an age when religious radicalism was regarded as socially subversive, Bunyan's Grace Abounding describes the spiritual regeneration of one who came from 'that rank that is meanest and most despised'. God and Satan are the chief protagonists in Bunyan's drama: they exist not as theological concepts but as terrifyingly immediate adversaries in the competition for Bunyan's soul. 'What care I,' says Satan to Bunyan, 'though I be seven years in chilling your heart, if I can do it at last?' Bunyan finds his spiritual defences not so much in God as in the Bible, and Grace Abounding charts his passionate and imaginative involvement with this ultimate source of spiritual wisdom.

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

The word liturgy is packed with power. For some, it evokes the grandeur and mystery of the church's rich tradition. For others it evokes a rigid and confusing form of obsolete practice. Dan Benedict provides us with a deeper and more satisfying way to understand liturgy and to discuss issues related to worship. In his understanding, readers come to see liturgy as God's means of uniting with the heart, mind, and work of Christ. Liturgy, Benedict says, carries us into the presence of the holy in the same way that those friends in the Gospel story carried their paralyzed friend into the presence of Christ. When our spiritual life is dry and we have difficulty experiencing that presence, liturgy holds that meaning for us until we are ready to return. Liturgy connects us with the communion of the saints and allows us to worship with other believers across time and place. Over time, given faithful participation, the liturgy works to shape our perceptions and create more space for God's grace to find expression. This volume, with original prayers and reflection questions, is an excellent text for a new members' studying worship, or for a congregation's worship committee to read as a preparation for its work. Topics include corporate liturgical practices like Baptism, Communion, and the Christian year, as well as personal practices of daily prayer and scriptural reading.

Good News of Great Joy by John Piper invites Christians to make Jesus the center of the Advent season through 25 devotional readings.