Spirituality

In this second volume of the Called Out of Darkness trilogy, Father Robert Spitzer, S.J., draws together some of the best advice given by Catholic spiritual masters across the ages and brings it into harmony with modern scientific research, offering practical ways to live out the gospel in our busy days. It is a roadmap to a deeper relationship with the Lord and to authentic transformation through the imitation of Christ.

Giving evidence that Jesus established just one Church, with Peter as its head, Spitzer shows that the Catholic Church--with its rich array of sacraments, teachings, prayer traditions, and lived examples of holiness--continues to be fertile ground for profound Christian conversion.

But no true conversion is purely spiritual; it must bear fruit in our daily lives. Father Spitzer guides readers through the workings of moral transformation, with detailed sketches of all the cardinal and theological virtues, especially love. Using insights from Saint Ignatius of Loyola, as well as from modern psychology, Escape from Evil's Darkness concludes with an in-depth study of the sacrament of confession and the staggering power of God's loving mercy.

Can time be our friend? At first glance the question seems ridiculous, because the apparent scarcity of time is a constant source of stress in our busy lives. There are not enough hours in the day, we say as we collapse late at night. Deep down we know that we cannot go on like this.

Father Stinnisen's book dares us to see time with new eyes. The insight that eternity is written in the depths of our hearts helps us to live in time in a way that leads us deeper into God's joy. We are like children in a land of fairy tales where everything is exciting and exploration never ends.We therefore should rejoice that everything around us is great and mysterious and that we can live in eternal wonder.

His intention is not to explain what time is and thus take away its mystery. Instead, his aim is to show us how to see time from different perspectives and to discover how rich and multifaceted it is. Above all, he demonstrates how we can make use of the tremendous possibilities that time offers to us.

Terrible noises, screeching voices, objects moving inexplicably, and the sense of a presence lurking, though there is no one to be seen. Modern man tends to fall into two traps when considering Satan: many either ignore his existence or become enthralled with demonology.

This classic book, heralded as one of the best ever written on demonic possession, offers chilling accounts of possessions, both dated and recent, and exorcisms that are strikingly similar, whether conducted in France, Italy, Vietnam, or elsewhere.

You will discover the signs of possession and how they differ from those of obsession and psychological illnesses. You will also learn the variety of evil spirits and how our minds are maliciously influenced through the media, eroticism, and "art."

In these fascinating pages, you will also learn:

You will read about the gripping case of a young boy who, once freed from evil, was cured of deafness -- and how his brother was delivered from possession through the intercession of the Immaculate Conception.

You will learn how the evil one attacked St. John Vianney -- a master in prayer and one of the holiest confessors in Church history -- with temptations and demonic infestations. Many witnessed his presbytery shake and heard horrifying sounds, especially when he would hear the confession of a great sinner the following day.

In this book, Msgr. Cristiani also describes diabolical attacks that occurred during Our Lady's apparitions to St. Bernadette at Lourdes. Many at the grotto claimed to see visions that were, in fact, demonic manifestations intended to sow confusion to discredit the authentic appearance of Our Lady to St. Bernadette.

Amid our current crisis of truth, the father of lies is at work promoting various forms of atheism, which all lead to death. But Christ came to defeat the devil, wielding a crushing authority over evil spirits that is employed by His exorcists to this day.

Drawing from his extensive experience in assisting with cases of demonic oppression and possession, in The Exorcism Files, Adam Blai presents readers with enlightening true stories and traces their causation. Whether people provided a gateway through Ouija boards, tarot cards, Reiki, Yoga, or martial arts, Blai reports from firsthand observation how they were lured into the occult.

Blai also recounts shocking cases of participation in covens and cults under the guise of knowledge, empowerment, and liberation. This is sometimes accompanied by crimes and hauntings, which Blai also documents. An essential guide for ourtime, The Exorcism Files reveals numerous striking truths about the supernatural, including:

Blai demonstrates that there is a supernatural enemy in this world who is trying to destroy us. Our defenses are the Precious Blood of Jesus, the sacraments of the Catholic Church, Holy Scripture, and Church Tradition.

From Fr. Gabriele Amorth, the renowned exorcist in Rome, comes this powerful, eye-opening book on the deadly antics of Satan and his fallen angels, as well as spiritual remedies for each.

These pages provide a basic orientation in dark phenomena, succinctly explaining Catholic doctrine on the fallen angels and the innumerable manifestations. Among the many questions Fr. Amorth answers in this book are:

Following up his international best-selling book, An Exorcist Tells His Story, Fr. Gabriele Amorth, the renowned chief exorcist of Rome, expands on some of the key topics of his previous book, covering important details about demonic or occult issues. He uses concrete examples from his own experiences and those of other exorcists to illustrate and substantiate his points.

Since satanic sects, occultism, sTances, fortune-tellers and astrologers are so widespread today, Father Amorth asks the question why is it so difficult today to find an exorcist, or a priest who is an expert in this field? The example and the teaching of Christ is very clear, as is the tradition of the Church. But today's Catholics are often misinformed.

Exorcisms are reserved for appointed priests, while all believers can make prayers of liberation. What is the difference? What norms must be followed? What problems are still open and unresolved in this field?

The new book by Father Amorth answers these and many other questions, supporting his discourse with a rich exposition of recent facts. A valuable, practical and instructive manual for priests and lay people, on how to help many who are suffering.

The authors of this document supply much-needed clarification of baptism in the Holy Spirit. They also provide evidence that baptism in the Spirit belongs not to the personal experience of the few, not at all to private piety, but to the public official liturgy of the Church. Baptism in the Spirit is therefore normative. The authors, supported by letters of encouragement from two bishops, suggest ways in which the baptism in the Holy Spirit can be reappropriated by the local parish.

Here are the sources of renewal, of on-going conversion, of the power of evangelization. For this reason, this document is of interest to pastors, liturgists, RCIA teams, people involved in the catechumenate, spiritual directors and those in spiritual formation.

One chilly November morning in 1927, a slender young priest stood before a firing squad in Mexico City. Five shots cracked through the air, and he fell lifeless on the ground. The man was Miguel Agustin Pro, S.J. His crime? Being a Catholic priest.

As a member of the Society of Jesus, Father Pro had worked hard and patiently to bring bread to the poor and the Holy Eucharist to the faithful. Like all Catholic priests in his day, he was deeply hated and viciously hunted by the secret police and the army of the anti-clerical government of Mexico. After Father Pro eluded them many times with disguises and hiding places, when he was finally captured, he was promptly executed without a trial.

Father Pro's generous love for the poor, the young, the sick, the tempted, and the spiritually weak attracted many hearts to him, and through him to Christ. In addition to his charity, his wit and courage make him a model for all Christians, especially those being persecuted for their faith and young people, who are inspired by his heroism.

Learn why St. Faustina is so vitally important to us today as Fr. Kosicki explores why she is the saint of the new millennium and how her mission of mercy continues today. Read why it's a mission that the papacies of John Paul II and now Benedict XVI have embraced.

Favorite Novenas to The Holy Spirit is a helpful, illustrated booklet filled with the most popular Novenas honoring the Holy Spirit. Purse- or pocket-sized and printed in two colors for anywhere, anytime prayer, Favorite Novenas to The Holy Spirit, by popular Catholic Book Publishing author Rev. Lawrence Lovasik, S.V.D., is a 64-page, easy-to-use source of inspiring Novenas to the Holy Spirit.

What do we really know about Saint Francis of Assisi? Much has been written about this medieval saint from Umbria in present-day central Italy. Yet the image we have of him does not always correspond to reality, as his fame is often linked to legends and texts that have no historical basis.

Francis was an exceptional man, as his own contemporaries testified. Too often, though, this emphasis has obscured his humanity. Francis immersed himself with all his heart in daily life because he was certain that the Son of God had become man to share our full human experience.

This was the central fact of Francis' life: He burned with love of God. This love was a boundless love that flowed from his fiery heart. He admitted that he could not explain such an abundance of love, except through the words of Jesus, who came to cast fire upon the earth (Lk 12:49).

The perennial relevance of Francis, even in our increasingly secular world, lies in the perennial newness of the Gospel. The Gospel always communicates Jesus Christ, who is beyond, always ahead of us, and never outdated. Francis' radical evangelism consistently reminds us of the absolute nature of the Gospel.

If your life seems to make no sense, or if you don't know which path to take, St. Francis de Sales will console and inform you. In this warm little book, he explains to you what God's will is and how He reveals it -- yes, even to you, and even in the seemingly random events of your life.

No matter what you're going through now (or may have gone through), you'll see why you should love and trust in God's will -- and long for its fulfillment. Best of all, you'll learn a sure method for discovering God's will in any situation -- today!

As you begin to discern God's loving hand even in seemingly chaotic events, St. Francis de Sales will lead your mind and your heart to the still waters of God's gentle consolation.

From St. Francis de Sales you'll learn: