Fr. Jacques Philippe

The Gospel of St. Matthew Shares with us astonishing words of Jesus: a promise of everlasting happiness, far removed from the usual recipes for gratification. Blessed are the poor in spirit! Blessed are those who mourn! Happy are the meek!... Fr. Jacques shares with us a profound clarity to the full scope of meaning behind Christ's eight beatitudes, and in turn, outlines for us a way in which we can live them in our daily lives. We learn how each beatitude gives insight into how we can situate ourselves in an honest and fulfilling relationship with God, with oneself, and with others, and how to confront head-on the difficult realities of life. Author Bio Fr. Jacques Philippe is a member of the Community of the Beatitudes, founded in France in 1973. After studying in Nazareth, Jerusalem, and Rome, he was ordained a priest in 1985. He primarily devotes himself to spiritual direction and preaching retreats internationally, and his published books on spirituality are the consolidated result of such work. His books Real Mercy, Interior Freedom, Fire & Light, and Thirsting for Prayer, among others, are also available from Scepter.

Interior Freedom leads one to discover that even in the most difficult circumstances we possess within ourselves a space of freedom that nobody can take away, because God is its source and guarantee. Without this discovery we will always be restricted in some way and will never taste true happiness. Author Jacques Philippe develops a simple but important theme: we gain possession of our interior freedom in exact proportion to our growth in faith, hope, and love. He explains that the dynamism between these three theological virtues is the heart of the spiritual life, and he underlines the key role of the virtue of hope in our inner growth.

Faith, simply put, places us in real contact with God. Faith is our strength as Christians, because it teaches us to rely on Him in all things. Often lived most fervently when experiencing spiritual desolation, faith bears the fruit of peace, hope, and love. Take nine days with Fr. Jacques to meditate on your faith and learn how to deepen and strengthen it, so that through both times of ease and times of burden, your faith can keep you focused on God, as he faithfully keeps his focus on you.

Every era of spiritual renewal begins with a renewal of prayer.

Where do we find the answers to the challenges of our time?

Fr. Jacques Philippe asserts that the answers – which can renew the Church and save the world – can be found in the “living contact with the mystery of God in prayer.” Drawing on quotes from the saints, scripture, and the Catechism, the authors “communicate the thirst for an encounter with God in prayer” and “provide the means to persevere faithfully in the practice of meditation.” In this short book packed with spiritual wisdom, you’ll gain practical knowledge to help awaken your desire for personal prayer and truly encounter our living God, including: Why we should pray – even when it’s full of poverty, pitfalls, and dark nights Awakening your thirst for God’s love – and recognizing his thirst for yours Overcoming obstacles to receiving God’s grace The high-stakes role of prayer in spiritual combat Strategies for salvaging a “failed” prayer session Written to encourage and nourish the life of prayer, this book has been adapted to apply to anyone interested in fostering a deeper relationship with God. FR. JACQUES PHILIPPE and SR. ANNE OF JESUS collaborated with other members of The Community of the Beatitudes to create this book. The Community of the Beatitudes is a Catholic community, found in twenty-six countries, which consists of what they call “one spiritual family of sisters, brothers, priests, and lay people, married or single, who share a fraternal life, a life of prayer, and mission.” Their goal is to live a life of holiness through the Beatitudes given to us by Christ in his Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew.

How does God bestow his mercy? What do I have to do to receive his mercy? How can I show mercy to others? And what is Mary’s role in the workings of God’s mercy in the world? These are just a few topics that are covered by Fr. Jacques Philippe in this new collection of homilies which delve into the breadth and depth of God’s transcendent mercy. With his extraordinary insight into the workings of the human relationship with the Living God, Fr. Philippe helps us to discover how God’s loving mercy is present and active in our lives. Exploring the themes of Our Blessed Mother, familial forgiveness, and essential trust in God, we are given a comprehensive understanding of our need to accept and bestow mercy.

The Way of Trust and Love A Retreat Guided By St. Thérèse of Lisieux Jacques Philippe St. Thérèse of Lisieux sought a new way to Heaven: “a little way that is quite straight, quite short: a completely new little way.” Blessed with personal limitations that might have discouraged another, Thérèse believed God would not have given her a desire for holiness if He did not intend for her to achieve it. She learned to humbly accept herself as she was and trust completely in God’s love. First given as a retreat by renowned author Father Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love navigates excerpts of St. Thérèse’s writings phrase by phrase, extracting powerful, resonating insights. To Thérèse, the journey seemed “little” as she traveled it. A hundred and fifteen years after her death, the message of the young saint and Doctor of the Church has traveled around the world inspiring millions. With this newly translated study of her spirituality, many today will rediscover—or find for the first time—the relevance of “the little way,” in all seasons of life. Fr. Jacques Philippe is well-known for his books on prayer and spirituality. A member of the Community of the Beatitudes, he regularly preaches retreats in France and abroad. He also spends much of his time giving spiritual direction and working for the development of the Community in Asia and Oceania where he travels frequently.