Healing, Health

The Christian response to the problem of evil and suffering began with the cross of Christ. Our answer is inseparable from the cross-from Jesus' own encounter with evil and his triumph over it. In this light, Fr. Benedict recalls some of our most frequently encountered sorrows and griefs: the failure of friends, financial and personal insecurity, the failure of some in the Church, our own inconsistent behaviors and weaknesses, and the death of loved ones. As we examine these painful experiences, he shows that we can find solutions in the Gospel and in the lives of saints, heroes, and very brave ordinary people.

"Many guides have been written for people struggling with the mystery of evil. But each generation, each age has its own dark background in front of which the struggle to keep going must be worked out. In every age, men ask 'how am I going to go on to arise from darkness?' It is that which my book will address."
ùFr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR

Foreword by Shauna Niequist

In the midst of beauty and mess, chaos and monotony, celebrations and mourning, Jerusalem Greer tells her story of finding redemption in what is rather than what could be, by practicing the presence of God through rediscovering ancient contemplative teachings and practices (solitude, study, work, prayer, and service) and pairing them with domestic arts (baking, gardening, sewing). Jerusalem writes with a raw honesty that reassures readers they are not alone in feeling not good enough, not wise enough, not Christian enough to figure out God's plans. Jerusalem is active on Facebook and Pinterest and regularly posts on her blog 'Slow Living in a Fast World' where she records what she calls her "beautymess" attempts at living a sacramental life.

For anyone who thinks that comfort is equivalent to pity and that it is only priceless to those who need an emotional crutch, best-selling author Warren Wiersbe applies the words of the prophet Isaiah to prove that God's comfort is no such thing. The word comfort actually translates "to repent" in Hebrew; our English translation, however, adds another dimension to the word since it originated from two Latin words meaning "with strength."

With definitions and insights like this, the "pastor of pastors" and phenomenal author Warren Wiersbe continues to enliven the Scriptures as he weaves the words of Isaiah with historical explanations and thought-provoking questions for every chapter, creating a study guide that can be used in personal Bible study or with a group. With over 4 million copies of his "Be" series alone in circulation, he is a man who has given his life to a deep examination of the Word of God, to communicating it in such a way that the masses see its relevance for today.

Winner of a 2018 Catholic Press Association Award: Sacraments. (First Place).

How can Christians grow spiritually in the midst of our sinfulness? How can we transform our lives in a way that allows us to share in the resurrection of Jesus?

God has already given us the perfect solution--the sacraments.

Whether it is the wound of past hurts, the strain in our relationships, or the stress of daily life, we all need to be comforted and made whole by Christ. In this follow-up to his bestselling Be Healed, Bob Schuchts explains how the sacraments can fuel your emotional and spiritual healing and bring you closer to God.

Based on more than thirty-five years of experience as a therapist and decades spent in parish ministry, Schuchts demonstrates how each of the seven sacraments can be a life-changing encounter with Christ, communicated through the power of the Holy Spirit. He pairs each healing sacrament with one of the seven deadly wounds that emanated from original sin in the Garden of Eden. We perpetuate and deepen those wounds each time we sin, but the sacraments are God's remedy for sin. They give us a way to restore us to wholeness in Christ.

In Be Transformed, You'll discover how each sacrament can help you heal from wounds that can impede your relationships and sense of self-worth. With Schuchts's help, you'll learn how:

Be Transformed offers all of the tools you need for a fresh understanding of the sacraments, including reflection questions, scripture meditations, prayers, and inspiring stories. You'll come away hungry for the sacraments in a way you never knew possible.

We all know what it's like to be lied to, cheated, tricked, or swindled. Whether you want revenge or to protect yourself from future harm, Phil Waldrep understands your pain.

Waldrep had no idea of the steep journey that lay ahead of him when two men walked into his office and revealed an unfolding story of a friend turned colleague who was living what amounted to a second life. For years following, Waldrep sought to heal the wounds of this broken relationship and confront the pain he felt in the aftermath of this betrayal. Along the way, he discovered God's solutions to overcoming resentment.

In Beyond Betrayal, you'll learn about the biblical principles and practical tools that can help you

In The Catholic Guide to Loneliness, Dr. Kevin Vost-- prolific author, lecturer, and veteran Catholic psychologist-- offers a comprehensive guide to loneliness affording men and women the deepest possible answers to the pain of loneliness.

Rooted in ancient philosophical and Biblical wisdom, and buttressed by modern theory and research, these pages bring you to an understanding of the root causes of loneliness and teach you remedies-- secular and religious.

This resource does not promise a universal cure to the pain of loneliness. It does, however, provide the wisdom-- old and new-- to unveil how our loneliness may be aggravated by our sins and shortcomings, and how if our loneliness is indeed unavoidable, we may bear it gracefully, indeed, even joyfully and with much fruit for the salvation of neighbor and ourselves.

Conscious Contact with God is a new paraphrase of the Psalms that reflects the experience of addiction and living in recovery. It will speak powerfully to anyone who shares those experiences and struggles to find God present in the midst of them. Ideal for personal prayer, reflection, and meditation, as well as for praying and reflecting in groups, these thoughtful and inspiring texts are rich in the vocabulary and vision of the Twelve Steps.

This new resource fills a gap that has unfortunately existed until now for anyone addicted to alcohol, drugs, food, sex, or other substances or experiences. Here they will find compassion, understanding, and strength.

"Do you want to be healed?"

Jesus asks that question several times in the Bible--of the woman at the well, Bartimaeus the blind man, the woman caught in adultery, the rich young man--and he asks the same of you as well.

Do You Want to Be Healed? is a 10-day personal retreat that uses a healing process similar to the one found in the author Bob Schuchts's bestselling book Be Healed.

Each day of the do-it-yourself retreat engages you with a question Jesus asked his followers and uses the traditional practice of lectiodivina (divine reading) to dive into a scriptural scene where Jesus heals the spiritually and physically sick.

Through the five movements of reading, meditation, prayer, contemplation, and action, you will encounter the biblical figures who received the healing words of Jesus, you will undergo your own spiritual healing and discover your personal response to Jesus's most probing questions, including:

Through these questions and the healing answering them brings about, you will come to understand the principles of spiritual healing--such as facing your brokenness, acknowledging your sin and shame, and discovering the healing power of the sacraments--Schuchts shares in Be Healed.

Those who have already read Be Healed will be drawn deeper into their healing with a refresher on the core principles of Schuchts's work. The book is also perfect for those who want to begin the process of spiritual healing. Do You Want to Be Healed? also is an essential resource for pastors, spiritual directors, therapists, and those who help lead others in an integration of their human and spiritual formation.

Grief, like a fingerprint, is unique to every person. The circumstances that cause grief are particular -- losing a loved one; losing a job or home; losing trust or a dream -- and can develop suddenly or over a long, painful period of time.

When we grieve, we all long for light in the dark places. We need a light to warm our hearts when they are chilled by grief. For Those Who Grieve includes 22 brief devotions and prayers, drawing on the saints, Scripture, and modern reflections to encourage readers to turn to God each day and find the light of hope, healing, and wholeness.

Part of the Companion in Faith series.

This revised and expanded edition of Forgiveness: A Catholic Approach will equip and inspire you to move toward forgiving those who have hurt you. With the power of God's grace, you can work through the process of forgiveness and find freedom in Christ.

This book teaches all about forgiveness: what forgiveness is and what it isn't; how to forgive and why. It addresses questions that Catholics grapple with today more than ever before: forgiving the Church; working with anger; forgiving when we can't reconcile; forgiving and not condoning behavior; and how forgiveness doesn't mean we forget, but helps us remember differently.

Filled with many vignettes of contemporary transgressions that have been transformed through acts of forgiveness-including situations of domestic violence, the Rwandan genocide, and the attacks of September 11, 2001-author Scott Hurd insightfully includes a chapter on Forgiving the Church, which many believers will find helpful as we continue to struggle with the revelations of sexual abuse by clergy and its cover-up.

Hurd's Forgiveness: A Catholic Approach faithfully reveals the many misunderstood dimensions of forgiveness: it's not something to be earned, forced, or deadline-driven. Forgiving is a decision, a process, and often a lifelong journey.

Forgiving Mother

offers you practical guidance and spiritual wisdom to begin your journey to wholeness of spirit. Highly recommended! --

Lisa M. Hendey

, author,

The Grace of Yes

Marge Steinhage Fenelon knows the pain, fear, hopelessness, insecurity, resentment and anger of being raised by a troubled mother. She also knows the way out: Mary.

In Forgiving Mother, Fenelon deftly explores the ways the Blessed Virgin can provide comfort and healing if you truly desire it. Drawing from personal experience as well as wisdom from Church documents, Scripture, and the saints, Fenelon sketches a path from despair to peace. She offers concrete steps and prayers to help you deal with the painful memories, emotions and fears that are rooted in your past.

Part memoir, part spiritual guide, Forgiving Mother is a workbook for healing even the most deeply rooted pain. It also includes a novena, which you can pray alongside each chapter or as a final step in the healing process. You will likely find solace from going through the novena again and again, as you'll find healing is a cyclical process--not a linear one.

You are a child of Mary and she loves you tenderly. She really, truly is your mother--given to you by our Lord as he hung dying on the cross. Jesus wants you to accept his mother as your own and to develop a deepening relationship with her so that she can fill the void that the past has left inside of you. And in her kind, motherly way, she will. What's more, she will lead you to her son who, as God, is the ultimate source of all healing and peace.

Pray through it, meditate on it, and let Mary's love sink into your heart and soul. Above all, be gentle with yourself. This is your healing process, and no one else's. With the Blessed Mother's help, you can become the whole, healed and truly cherished person you were meant to be.

The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via Audible.