Saints

Throughout the journey of life, we all have moments of feeling lost. Experiences where we feel tested. It's at these times we need a signpost to point the way through the darkness and confusion to a clearer and better path. A PILGRIM'S JOURNEY is composed of 20 signposts, excerpts from the full-length work by Kampmann entitled SIGNPOSTS: A DEVOTIONAL, which shares the insights and wisdom he discovered as he journeyed through the pages of the New and Old Testaments. Designed as a daily devotional, it is built page by page on the assumption that the meaning and purpose of our lives is available to be discovered if only we take the time and trouble to look. Prepare yourself for the journey and keep your eyes open to the signposts along the way. You too will discover that God is always near and available for those who seek him.

In his newest book, Casting Nets with the Saints, Chris Stewart uses entertaining stories of saints to demonstrate "The Seven Characteristics of Effective Evangelizers."

In this study, Michael W. Maher, S.J., assistant professor of History at Saint Louis University and a member of the Jesuit Historical Institute in Rome, explores the Jesuits contribution to the evolution of veneration of St. Joseph. Fr. Maher sees this contribution as closely linked to the spiritual practices and methods found in St. Ignatius Loyola s Spiritual Exercises, as well as to the congregations or sodalities founded by the Jesuits. The former encouraged using the imagination to fill in the scarcity of information about Joseph in the Gospels, while the latter promoted the saint as a model of Christian living to be imitated by husbands and fathers and as the patron of Christian dying since he died in the presence of and comforted by Jesus and Mary.

The famous French author's unique writing style captivates the reader with the heroic story of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a modern apostle of Catholic evangelization, Marian spirituality, and a martyr of charity. With the encouragement of Pope John Paul II and the help of documentation (some unpublished) given to him by the Vatican, Frossard chronicles the dramatic and moving life of this Polish Franciscan who volunteered to die in place of a fellow prisoner in Auschwitz.

While his heroic martyr's death is well known, Frossard shows how Kolbe's whole life was one of extraordinary generosity in devotion to his ideal of "love without limits." Kolbe was that rare combination of mystic, intellectual genius, theologian, and down-to-earth practicality. His tremendous creative energies (despite constant bouts of tuberculosis and less than one lung) enhanced the lives of all those who knew him, the millions who read his publications, and the countless persons inspired by his example. Forget Not Love reveals the interesting and impressive details of Kolbe's childhood, vision of Mary, brilliance in his studies, his founding of the largest monastery in the world (700 Franciscans), massive printing apostolate, missionary journeys to Japan, and his final act of love in Auschwitz. Frossard has captured the heart of the man whom Pope John Paul II declared "the patron saint of this difficult century."

Grow closer to Jesus as you learn about Saint Joseph and his care for the Son of God. This engaging question-and-answer format presents a fascinating collection of facts, insights, observations, and reflections. Saint Joseph is more than a carpenter and a figure in a Nativity set. He has much to teach us about integrity, strength, faith, and humility. Indeed, Joseph is also the master craftsman in God's workshop of human life--after all, it's the trade he knows best.

Regine Pernoud, the highly acclaimed French medieval historian, and author of best-selling titles on Joan of Arc and Hildegard of Bingen, as well as the book Those Terrible Middle Ages, presents an enlighteneing biography of one of France's most revered saints, and man whose impact on France, and Europe, continues to this days. Martin of Tours lived in the 4th century, at that great turning point in history when the Roman Empire fell and the Church took charge in the West. He left a successful career in the military life to become a monk, and later a Bishop who traveled extensively, evangelizing the countryside and creatiung that particular sort of community life in a village that is now called a "parish." More than four hundred towns and some four thousand parished in France are named after St. Martin. The term "chapel" is derived from the actual church where pilgrims venerate Martin's "cape" or cloak. Martin of Tours was a servant of the common man, as well as the nobility, and a very humble man who responded to the needs of his times and and opened up vast perspectives for ordinary, everyday life. Given the crisis of the Christian Faith now facing France and all of Europe, the story of this solider and great apostle and Christian evangelist is a timely one indeed.

Rescued from obscurity after a full century out-of-print, My Daily Visit with the Saints brings you the sure, strong voices of over 65 saints and servants of God, spiritual giants who guided the Faithful from the time of the Apostles to the late 1800s and will help guide you today.

In their days, soundbites had not yet drowned out the authentic voice of the Church and saints could preach boldly and without compromise Her unadulterated, perennial teachings.

Rare are such occasions today, which is why, for your spiritual well-being (and for ours!), we have rescued from obscurity this grand collection of brief but telling passages from so many saints and servants of God, gathering them into 139 vital topics that serve not only as material for daily meditation but also constitute a monumental compendium of Catholic faith and life.

Renowned scholar Dr. Tim Gray masterfully guides you through the tumultuous and inspiring life of Peter--from his call to discipleship to his eventual martyrdom in Rome. Using Sacred Scripture and tradition, Dr. Gray highlights these important lessons from Peter's life, including:

Come to better know, love, and follow Jesus through the Rock on whom he built his Church.

St. Maria Goretti was only a child when she died a martyr's death. Yet today, she inspires millions who find in her a perfect model of purity and holiness. Read here about her great holiness in the midst of tremendous suffering, how she died at the hands of a vicious murderer who tried to defile her purity, and how she visited this very same murderer years later in his jail cell to forgive him. Fr. Jeffrey Kirby examines the life of this little saint as he reflects on the Beatitudes and how she, along with her family, lived them each day. In a world where purity is corrupted in the darkness of the night and mercy is abandoned in the name of vengeance, let us turn to St. Maria Goretti and see her as the dawn of a new day, where the light of Christ shines on each of us and guides us into His Kingdom.

"The stories of saints reaffirm that holiness is not restricted by age, sex, nationality, geography, or time in which a person lives. Saints represent almost every occupation and family background. Holy women and men use their diverse, God-given talents by witnessing in their unique way to God's compassionate love; there are no clones among the saints." -- from the Introduction

For more than forty years, Saint of the Day has been a trusted guide, and this latest edition continues the tradition.

Like his predecessors, Pope Francis continues to recognize and acclaim people from all walks of life. Newly added saints and blesseds include Oscar Romero, Marie of the Incarnation, François de Laval, Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, Stanley Rother, Pope Paul VI, and Solanus Casey.

Gnawing worms, unquenchable fire, utter darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth. With these fearful words, Jesus warned that hell is real ... and that we could end up there.

Since the Early Church, Catholic saints and other visionaries have reported horrific scenes of eternal punishment. Dozens of saints throughout history have described the terrors of hell, and relayed horror of being separated from God for eternity so that we may see for ourselves and repent.

In Saints Who Saw Hell, you'll find ...

The scenes in these pages, varying in detail and source, all testify to one harrowing truth:
Hell is the final guarantee that what we do really matters.

For us here on earth, a peak at the grisly tortures of hell is sometimes what we really need to redouble our efforts at achieving the glorious sweetness of heaven.