Spiritual Life

The Holyday Book
by Fr Francis X. Weiser, S.J.

Why do we wear our best clothes on Sunday?  What was the Holy Ghost Hole in medieval churches?  How did a Belgian nun originate the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament?  Where did the Halloween mask and the jack-o’-lantern come from?

Learn the answer to these questions, as well as the history behind our traditional celebration of Thanksgiving, in this gem of a book by Fr Weiser.

Paperback, size 5.5" x 8.5", 218 pages

Christian Self-Mastery
How to Govern Your Thoughts, Discipline Your Will, and Achieve Balance in Your Spiritual Life
by Fr Basil W. Maturin

This is the book you need for those times in your life when even your most strenuous efforts to follow Christ end in frustration. Christian Self-Mastery explains why following Him can be so difficult — and how you can start now to make progress even in the most vexing areas of your life.

Author Fr. Basil W. Maturin insists that no matter how hard you're trying now, you can have a better relationship with God and greater self-mastery — if you follow his simple steps to getting your passions in check and improving your knowledge of your own motives, desires, and fears.

Fr. Maturin emphasizes the crucial role that self-discipline plays in your spiritual life and gives you solid ways you can distinguish it from counterfeits and avoid common mistakes people make when they try to change their habits and live for God.

This extraordinary book will help you in myriad ways to rise above your limitations and truly meet God!

Start on the way to true self-mastery as you learn:

• Two things you must know in order to make any progress at all in your spiritual life
• Why it's dangerous for you to try to adopt a large number of spiritual disciplines all at once
• Self-knowledge: why it involves so much more than its contemporary counterfeit, self-analysis
• Two ways to avoid self-deception when you look at yourself (caution: you'll probably be surprised at who you really are!)
• Why self-control and self-denial are not morbid and gloomy, but hopeful and even joyful - when undertaken properly
• Self-discipline: how it will restore your soul to its full power. Three things you must have in order to gain this power
• The mistake many people make when trying to rid themselves of evil thoughts: are you falling into this trap too?
• Love: the holy school that will purify and ennoble yours - and help you steer clear of prevalent modern counterfeits
• And more that will show you the value of self-mastery - and give you solid directions for attaining it!

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 224 pages

Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola
by St Ignatius of Loyola

This great classic has been changing lives for over 400 years. This is a rare self-taught edition that does not require a retreat master. Designed to make a person re-examine the direction his life is taking and seriously direct himself away from Hell and toward Heaven. Inspires one to make a new beginning.

Paperback, 344 pages

An Introduction to the Devout Life
by St Francis de Sales

"You aim at true devotion, my dear Philothea, because, as a Christian, you know how acceptable it is to the Divine Majesty. But inasmuch as trifling errors at the outset of any undertaking are wont to increase rapidly as we advance, frequently becoming almost irreparable, it is needful that, first of all, you should ascertain wherein lies the virtue of devotion.”  — St. Francis de Sales

Everyone wants to go to Heaven, but how many of us actually know how to get there? 

Learn from the writings of St. Francis de Sales, the Doctor of Charity, on this very matter in his work that specifically addresses this most important question. The knowledgeable and holy Doctor of the Church writes in a way that is at once easy to read and suited to all readers, yet thorough, authoritative, reliable, kind, and gentle. He guides us to the knowledge that we are all called to the devout life. True devotion to God, as St. Francis de Sales points out, adorns every vocation. Additionally, St. Francis will explain that the devout life is a choice worthy for its own sake: “And our blessed Lord Himself assure[s] us that a devout life is a lovely, a pleasant, and a happy life.”

Addressed as a personal letter to Philothea (which means “lover of God”) this book covers all the parts of a devout life:

• Our desire to lead a devout life 
• Our full resolution to do so
• How we should approach God in prayer and the Sacraments
• The practice of 16 important virtues
• Remedies against ordinary temptations
• And confirmation in our practice of devotion

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 360 pages

The Little Catechism of the Cure of Ars
Selected Passages from the Writings of The Cure of Ars
by St John Vianney

Catholic wisdom stated in a simple, sublime, penetrating way. St. Jean-Marie Vianney's sage counsel on 36 important topics, including the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin, Prayer, Suffering, Hope, Envy, Grace, and Paradise.

Probably the most persuasive exhortation ever urging us to renounce sin. Highly recommended for every Catholic!

Paperback, size 7" x 4.25", 184 pages

Spiritual Steps to Christmas
by Rev. Msgr. Aloysius F. Coogan,

Today, Christmas is celebrated without Christ in many quarters. Christmas is the season when God became man in the form of a child, and yet, unhappily, in how many homes, because Christ is uninvited, children, too, are no longer welcome. Christmas, like Emmanuel, means “God with us.” If we celebrate Christmas without God, we have lost its meaning. If we refuse an inn to God’s children as the fruit of marriage, we repeat the sad tale of Bethlehem that refused an inn to Mary and Joseph and the Child.

This book was written with the hope and intention of bringing to our minds the thoughts of Advent that we may think and pray with Mary who brought Christ to us. Advent, like Lent, is a time of preparation in thought and deed for a great event.

Spiritual Steps to Christmas, provide a daily meditiation throughout Advent to prepare well for the coming of the Christ Babe.

Paperback, size 8" x 5.25", 116 pages, Impr 1953

Meditations for Advent
by Bishop Jacques-Benigne Bossuet

Keep Christ in Christmas this year by turning to this slim volume of daily Advent meditations by Bishop Jacques-Benigne Bossuet, one of the greatest homilists in the history of the Church.

Carefully selected to lift your soul to God in those hectic days that stretch from Thanksgiving to Christmas, these forty daily meditations will keep you mindful of the real meaning of Christmas while affording you an admirable distillation of the doctrines and piety of our Holy Catholic Church.

With the help of Bishop Bossuet and the sense of God's grandeur and love that permeates his every word all through the rush toward Christmas you'll stay mindful of the holy words of Isaiah foretelling the birth of our savior; you'll find yourself marveling at the Annunciation and the Visitation; you'll rejoice in anticipation of the coming birth of Jesus; and, finally, you ll look forward to kneeling with St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin in silent adoration of the incarnate Son of God. This year, you won't (as so often happens) arrive at Midnight Mass distracted, exhausted, and frazzled, having neglected your Advent devotions and your ordinary prayers, too. Instead, you'll find yourself stepping lightly into church, ready and eager to adore the newborn King, your soul what it should be: a fit dwelling place for the Redeemer.

Don't waste another Advent! Let Meditations for Advent keep you prayerful amidst the worst distractions of the holiday season. Let it draw you daily closer to Jesus, whose birth the season celebrates, and whose birth your soul yearns to celebrate, too.

Paperback, size 7" x 5", 173 pages

Thy Will be Done
Letters to Persons in the World
by St Francis de Sales

Three centuries ago, people flocked to St. Francis de Sales, seeking his help for their problems. St. Francis spent countless hours ministering to them face-to-face and wrote over 20,000 letters! From these letters to persons in many countries and in all walks of life, we've selected the ones which will be most helpful to you today.

Each is a hand-written response to someone like you seeking help with an actual problem. You'll be consoled by the warmth, the wisdom, and the holy sympathy you'll find in these pages as the love of this great saint reaches out to us across the centuries. Whatever your circumstances may be, there's wisdom here to make your life holier . . . and happier.

Wisdom for difficult situations . . .

• To a pious wife: how to be devout without irritating your husband
• To an old man, preparing for death
• To a woman who judges herself harshly
• To a woman distressed by her lack of spiritual progress
• To a newlywed, teaching the duties of married life and how to fulfill them
• To a new widow who finds life alone a terrible burden
• To a young man, showing him how to treat his parents better
• To a nun, on placing ourselves in the presence of God
• To a married woman trying to bear patiently her live-in parents-in-law
• To a pregnant woman, tired, sick, and discouraged, who thinks she doesn't pray enough
• To a childless woman, helping her to accept this sorrow
• To a priest, on staying faithful to his calling
• To a nervous woman, showing her how to be less troubled
• To a woman troubled by sinfulness in the world
• To a businessman, showing him how to find God in his busy life
• To an overworked woman
• . . . plus help for dozens of other problems we all face!

Solutions to common troubles . . .

• Family problems — how to keep calm, and even use troubles to improve your family
• Anxiety about the future: your job, your children, anything at all. It can be overcome!
• Your flaws — the right response to them. Plus, ways to bear those you can't overcome
• Family, work, prayer: which should come first? How to set your priorities
• Three criteria for judging pastimes. Do you really know which are spiritually healthy and which are dangerous?
• Helplessness: coping when you're not in control, especially during times of sickness or loneliness
• The roots of heresy — why you must understand Scripture in light of Church teachings
• Temptation and sin: how to turn them into spiritual victories

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 264 pages

The Christmas Book
by Fr Francis X. Weiser, S.J.

This book unfolds the story of the celebration of Christmas.  Beginning with its gospel and history, the author leads us through the festivities of the Middle Ages, to the decline and eventual revival of Christmas customs in Europe and in America.

Paperback, size 5.5" x 8.5", 188 pages

St. Augustine's view of history and humanity reflect his dedication to Christian thought and theology 892pp

The Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart
by Rev. John J. Thilges, S.V.D.

It was the privilege of St. Gertrude to rest on the breast of Jesus, but it was the mission of St. Margaret Mary to give the devotion of the Sacred Heart to the world. It was to her that Christ confided twelve promises in behalf of those who would honor and love His Sacred Heart.

Booklet, size 8.5" x 5.3", 56 pages, Impr 1945

Perfect Contrition
A Golden Key of Heaven
by Rev. J. Von Den Driesch

“Acts of perfect Contrition and Charity are the great means of salvation; they are more closely related to the attaining of salvation than prayer alone. I desire this little booklet be in the hands of all – convinced that by the attentive reading of it, and by practicing its maxims, the gates of Heaven will be opened to many, very many for whom otherwise they might have been closed forever; and that many more remaining in God’s grace, will preserve their right to Heaven, and their eternal happiness will grow and be increased immeasurably.” Fr. Lehmkuhl, S.J., Preface.

Booklet, size 8x.5”x5.5”, 32 pages, Impr 1904

The Dialogue of St Catherine Of Siena
by St Catherine of Siena

St. Catherine of Siena's Dialogue describes the entire spiritual life through a series of conversations between God and the soul, represented by Catherine herself. Readers of The Dialogue of Saint Catherine of Siena will find her revelations from God as informative—and formative—as those who recognized her sanctity during her life.

The universally applicable yet intimately personal messages she received from God are as much for us as they were for Catherine. We can read God's communications to His beloved daughter with detached awe, or we can receive His messages to us through her writings.

Do you long for certainty that Divine Providence exists in the midst of our chaotic world? Does your prayer seem too dry, or too routine? Have you sought guidance for the challenges of your life from unhelpful people or things? Or has pride kept you from humble obedience to the Church? If so, St. Catherine's Dialogue will provide consolation, encouragement, and hope.

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 215 pages

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How to Be Happy, How to Be Holy
by Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, EDM OP, STL 

Everyone wants to be happy. While not everyone wants to be holy, we all should—especially because this is the surest way to become happy. Christ Himself gave us very clear directions on how to be happy when He sat down and pronounced the Beatitudes. Since then, all the Saints have sought to follow the advice of their Divine Creator and Redeemer in the way of true joy.

In How to Be Happy; How to Be Holy, Fr. Paul O'Sullivan offers guidance on how to achieve both sanctity and happiness, showing how the two go hand in hand. Providing lovely anecdotes from the lives of the Saints, Fr. O'Sullivan shows us in a warm, encouraging, and inspiring way the importance of prayer and the ease with which we can all derive great benefits therefrom. While not yet Saints ourselves, we will surely make it there following the advice of this little book. Among the contents are expositions on all the major prayers (and some lesser-known ones), explanations of the Mass, meditations on the mysteries of the Rosary, and more. This book is a pocket method for approaching heaven and thus true happiness.

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 234 pages

Mental Prayer According to the Principles of St. Thomas
by Fr Denis Fahey, C.S.Sp

Mental prayer is, in a certain sense, the most important exercise of the spiritual life. Fidelity to it (saints tell us) will ensure salvation; its complete abandonment may lead to perdition; progress therein means a corresponding progress in the interior life of union with God. Hence, the special value of books which treat of mental prayer. The excellence of the present work lies in the source from which it is drawn. St. Thomas Aquinas holds a unique place among the Doctors of the Church. He has become the official theologian of Christ s Mystical Spouse, her Universal Doctor. She has canonized his teaching, making it her own in all its essential elements.

This is the first of Fr. Fahey's books to be published, and it remains one of his most important for it presents the foundation of his spiritual life of prayer that was so fruitful.

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 58 pages