Winner of a third-place award in the memoir category from the Catholic Media Association. “This is your cross, and I am not going to take it away from you. I will be with you, and I will help you, but it is yours to carry.” Christy Wilkens heard Jesus speak those words after she prayed for her son Oscar’s healing in her parish adoration chapel one bright September day. Almost a year later she would find herself in Lourdes, France, seeking a miracle. The grotto at Lourdes is known as a place of healing. But sometimes the miracle that occurs is not physical, but something much deeper. Wilkens made the long trek to Lourdes with her husband, Todd, and their toddler—who is plagued by mysterious seizures—through a program with the Order of Malta. In Awakening at Lourdes, Wilkens shares that while Oscar’s condition did improve after their visit, the real healing took place between she and her husband. Through their time at Lourdes, they discovered a deeper love for each other, a renewed sense of appreciation for their faith community, and an abiding confidence in God’s mercy. Persuaded by her husband to take the trip, Wilkens summoned her faith– faith in God, faith in her husband, and faith in the doctors and other helpers who surrounded them every step of the way—to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Recording their experiences with deeply personal yet highly relatable language, Wilkens offers a firsthand account of the traditions and culture of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes and the shrine’s special servers, the Order of Malta. She also captures her own doubts, questions, and fears as she attempted to process the family’s physical and emotional journey. The Wilkens family’s story will help you learn to be open to what God has in store for you and to see that if you surrender control, open yourself to God’s grace, and lean on your community, you are never alone. The book includes a study guide for individual or group use.

Lourdes was at the very centre of nineteenth century debates on religion, science and medicine. Both the Church and secularists championed the 'miracle' town as crucial in shaping how society should think about the mind, body and spirit. Since the ‘visions’ of Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 transformed the quiet Pyrenean town into an international tourist and pilgrimage destination, it has been a site for controversy. In her well-crafted and carefully researched book, Harris deftly places Lourdes and its attendant spiritual movement firmly at the centre of French history and shows its significance in the country’s development.

To carve a path in the wilderness in the area of disability and to bring change, requires a compassionate heart and a suit of armour to deflect the arrows. When faced with a problem that others call totally impossible, there is always some part of it within your ability to handle, and often you will be surprised to find that dealing with one insignificant aspect in the complexity of the problem will turn the tide. New forces and sources from out of the blue will rescue you. Step out in faith, one step at a time and you will see a miracle. Katherine Steele is one of the most amazing women I have ever spoken to. Katherines knowledge of Aspergers syndrome is like no other account I have ever read. Katherine brings her reader with her throughout the heart wrenching hills and valleys of a mothers journey through her childs pain as well as a mothers despair. I have never met a woman such as Katherine, and consider myself a lucky person to have been able to read her words as she was creating them. Katherine is an amazing woman who will inspire others when they feel I cant with Oh yes you can love, I did. So many children fall into the autism spectrum, this mothers journey can help so many mothers through theirs. Katherines words tell the reader Yes I understand, I have been there and I am here with you now. A Must Read. Tina Colbert Balboa Press There are heroes in life and having known Katherine and Lourdes, they are my heroes. Their story is captivating, informative and uplifting. Professor Tony Attwood

Lama Surya Das, author of the bestselling Awakening the Buddha Within, is the most highly trained American lama in the Tibetan tradition. In this elegant, inspiring book, he integrates essential Buddhist practices with a variety of other spiritual philosophies and wisdom traditions, to show you how to create a personalized spiritual practice based on your own individual beliefs, aspirations, and needs. Through reflections on his own life quest, thoughtful essays, and entertaining stories, Surya Das examines the common themes at the heart of any spiritual path, including faith, doubt, love, compassion, creativity, self-inquiry, and transformation. He then explores prayer, yoga, chanting, guided meditations, breathing exercises, and myriad other rituals, providing practical examples of each that we can use day-to-day to nurture our inner spirit.

The resource is designed to help spiritual directors and others use expressive arts in the context of spiritual direction. It is the latest book in the unique SDI series, designed for professional spiritual directors, but also useful for clergy, therapists, and Christian formation specialists. The Spiritual Directors International Series – This book is part of a special series produced by Morehouse Publishing in cooperation with Spiritual Directors International (SDI), a global network of some 6,000 spiritual directors and members.

Left at the doorstep of an orphanage, Jordan Frost has been living a mundane life as he works and goes to high school with his best friend and fellow orphan Steve Chambers. One night while at work, Jordan meets a mysterious woman named Fran who turns Jordan’s world upside down. Jordan discovers that his parents were members of a secret society called The Shadows and were killed by a former member named Krieg. Fran recruits and trains Jordan so that one day he can avenge the death of his parents. Jordan is thrust into a completely new world where he learns of his past, forges new friendships, and finds out who he is really meant to be.

BEFORE perusing this work, it is as well that the reader should understand M. Zola's aim in writing it, and his views—as distinct from those of his characters—upon Lourdes, its Grotto, and its cures. A short time before the book appeared M. Zola was interviewed upon the subject by his friend and biographer, Mr. Robert H. Sherard, to whom he spoke as follows: "'Lourdes' came to be written by mere accident. In 1891 I happened to be travelling for my pleasure, with my wife, in the Basque country and by the Pyrenees, and being in the neighbourhood of Lourdes, included it in my tour. I spent fifteen days there, and was greatly struck by what I saw, and it then occurred to me that there was material here for just the sort of novel that I like to write—a novel in which great masses of men can be shown in motion—un grand mouvement de foule—a novel the subject of which stirred up my philosophical ideas...

Winner of a third-place award in the collection of prayers category from the Catholic Media Association. Every mother is looking for a spiritual lifeline—words that help bring you closer to God when you need him the most. The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers is your go-to resource to find the perfect words to lift up in prayer for almost any occasion or need. This beautiful, full-color, hardcover book includes a collection of original and traditional prayers and reflections from dozens of moms just like you. You might need “A Kitchen Sink Offering,” “The Nine Annoying Things Novena,” “The Rosary for Warriors,” or “A Birthday Prayer.” Or you might want to read about more traditional prayers such as the Angelus, the Jesus Prayer, or the Memorare. Join familiar moms including Jackie Francois Angel, Karianna Frey, Rachel Bulman, Sarah Christmyer, Jenna Guizar, Lisa M. Hendey, Haley S. Stewart, Kathryn Whitaker, Kendra Tierney, Michele Faehnle, Emily Jaminet, and Kelly M. Wahlquist as they share their favorite prayers and stories as a way to help you refresh your prayer life, leading you into God’s presence. In this unique and extensive compilation you will find: short reflections for Adoration or holy hour; heartfelt prayers of praise, contrition, petition, and thanksgiving paired with meaningful connections to scripture; a special section dedicated to praying the Rosary, including variations for specific needs; prayers for spouses, children, extended family, and friends; and simple litanies and novenas to encourage family prayer. Whether you work your way from beginning to end or use the thematic index to target specific needs, these prayers and reflections will inspire you to make your life an ongoing conversation with God. Buy one for a friend and keep a copy on the counter, in your bag, or in the car for those times you want to spend a few precious minutes with God.

In this trilogy, translated by Ernest Alfred Vizetelly (1853-1922), Zola delves into the history and politics of the Catholic church. The protagonist of all three novels is Abbé Pierre Froment. In Lourdes Pierre seemed in danger of losing his faith, but Rome opens with the young priest experiencing a newfound fervor toward his calling. Lourdes Lourdes, originally published in 1894, is the first volume in Emile Zola's Three Cities Trilogy. Zola examines the phenomena of the Lourdes shrine in southern France, and the pilgrims who go there. Based on his own trip to the fabled grotto, the novel follows a simple five-part structure corresponding to the five-day train trip from Paris to Lourdes and back. Rome Originally published in 1896, Rome is the second volume in the Three Cities Trilogy. The story takes place in the late 19th century, shortly after Italy has gained its independence and absorbed the former Papal States. Zola repeatedly contrasts the former glory of Imperial Rome with the city's present state of financial ruin and decay. The populace of Rome is split between two factions, the "black" and the "white"—those faithful to the Vatican and those loyal to the new Italian government. The church in turn is divided among those who adamantly cling to time-honored dogma and those who think the church must make concessions and broaden its appeal in order to survive in the modern world. Paris Paris is the third volume of the Three Cities trilogy. Published in 1898, Paris is Zola's summation of the 19th Century and his predictions and hopes for the 20th Century. In this work Zola gives a splendid portrayal of social life in Paris at the end of the century. He takes us into the lives of men and women of the upper classes, the working class, and even revolutionary Anarchists.