Books Published by Ave Maria Press

Wilderness Within invites you to journey with Sr. Josephine Garrett through the interior wilderness of your heart this Lent, allowing Jesus to heal you with his love and lead you to peace. Drawing on her experience as both a religious sister and a licensed mental health counselor, Sr. Josephine explores the wilderness not as a place of fear or desolation, but as a sacred space of encounter and renewal. She reflects on the belief that Jesus entered the wilderness to rescue us—transforming it i...

Opening the Holy Door invites you to step into the heart of the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope—a time marked by renewal, grace, and the rediscovery of faith. With the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica open and pilgrims traveling from every corner of the world, this book offers a spiritual pilgrimage for all who seek deeper understanding of this ancient tradition, whether in Rome or at home. Scripture teacher and veteran Rome guide Joan Watson leads readers panel by panel through the sixte...

We all face moments when the weight of life feels unbearable. In times of doubt, fear, or hopelessness, finding the right words to pray can seem impossible. Lord, Save Me! offers wisdom, encouragement, and heartfelt prayers to guide you through life’s storms and lead you closer to the peace that only Christ can give. Bestselling author Gary Zimak, known for his practical, faith-filled approach to overcoming anxiety, offers a treasury of 120 original prayers drawn from scripture and grounded i...

Preparing your child for First Reconciliation can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the sacrament or haven’t been to confession in years. First Reconciliation and Beyond: A Family’s Guide for Learning and Living Forgiveness offers parents the guidance, confidence, and encouragement they need to make this moment a joyful encounter with God’s mercy—for both children and adults alike. Written by Tommy and Katie McGrady, hosts of Family Mass Prep on the Hallow app, this warm...

Join Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR—founder of Corazón Puro—on a multimedia Advent journey guided by the saints and the Holy Family. Prepare Your Heart invites you to enter into the story of Christ’s birth through prayer, charity, and joyful acts of service. Featuring stunning original artwork by Valerie Delgado of Pax.Valerie, this devotional includes daily scripture reflections, meditation questions, prayers, and generous space for journaling. Each week of Advent follows a distinct Franciscan-ins...

Discover what it means to become a man of faith through the lives of ten male saints and their experiences pursuing holiness. In Holy Grit, Catholic life coach Paul George invites men to confront the challenges of modern life—struggles in marriage, parenting, suffering, and purpose—and take concrete steps toward the life God created them to live. Many men grow up with an image of masculinity shaped by tough guys on TV—boxers, cowboys, gangsters, fighter pilots—the fastest gun in the West. The...

There has been no greater promoter of the family Rosary than Venerable Patrick Peyton. Known around the world as “the Rosary Priest,” he dedicated his life to the Blessed Mother and to the prayer that most powerfully unites families in faith. In The Family That Prays Together Stays Together, readers are invited to pray the Rosary along with Peyton, entering into the rhythms and mysteries of this devotion to deepen their relationship with Mary and strengthen their bond with her Son, Jesus Chri...

Winner of a second-place award in the contemporary spirituality category from the Catholic Media Association. Eight modern saints invite you to follow their example and live the Beatitudes—the heart of Jesus’s teaching—in your own life. Through her beautiful full-color art, scripture passages, journaling prompts, and original prayers inspired by the Our Father, Catholic artist Jen Norton guides readers to put the Beatitudes into practice, challenging them to examine the state of their hearts ...

The Notre Dame Book of Prayer is a treasured collection of prayers and reflections created for alumni, parents, and friends of the University of Notre Dame. First published in 2010 and now expanded with dozens of new prayers, it captures the university’s vibrant Catholic spiritual life. Arranged around twelve stunning full-color photographs of beloved campus landmarks—including the Grotto, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, St. Joseph and St. Mary’s Lakes, Touchdown Jesus, and Notre Dame Stadi...

Winner of an honorable mention award in the collections of prayers category from the Catholic Media Association. The Ave Guide to the Scriptural Rosary is a beautifully designed resource that helps you pray the Rosary more deeply by incorporating short scripture passages into each decade. This hardcover keepsake includes everything you need to pray a Scriptural Rosary for all four sets of mysteries—Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious. It contains all the directions, prayers, and Bible v...

Winner of a third-place award in the front cover artwork category from the Catholic Media Association. When a child dies, a father’s grief is often overlooked or misunderstood. Cultural expectations, a man’s traditional role in the family, and a lack of emotional support can push his pain into the background. The Grief of Dads was written by Catholic fathers who have experienced this loss at every stage and circumstance, offering companionship, spiritual guidance, and honest support for men w...

Video games tap into a deep human drive for adventure and greatness, whether it is an epic quest to slay zombies, a mission to rescue the princess, or teaming up with a clan to defeat the final boss. But what if that same desire could shape more than just your gameplay? What if it could transform your entire life? In Gaming and the Heroic Life, Catholic author and lifelong gamer Bobby Angel invites readers to see gaming not simply as entertainment but as preparation for a real-life adventure ...

The Ave Treasury of Catholic Prayers is an indispensable keepsake collection of classic and contemporary prayers that every Catholic should know. This timeless resource gathers a wide range of devotions, psalms, and litanies that reflect the beauty and diversity of the Church’s prayer tradition over more than two thousand years. The hardcover, full-color volume includes both beloved favorites and prayers that will become familiar through continued devotion, such as: Essential prayers, inclu...

In Jesus, Guide of My Life, bestselling author and retreat leader Joyce Rupp invites readers on a forty-day Lenten journey to encounter Jesus more deeply through the Gospels. Each day’s reflection explores the words and actions of Christ so that his teachings and living presence can inspire true spiritual transformation. In this third volume of her Lenten reflection trilogy, Rupp shares her insight and personal experience of how the Gospel shapes everyday life. She describes Jesus as both com...

As life enters a new rhythm in later years, many Catholics find themselves with more time for reflection and spiritual growth. The responsibilities of work, parenting, and daily obligations give way to new opportunities to focus on what truly matters: preparing for eternal life and growing closer to God. In Reaching for Heaven, Michael Amodei, a lifelong Catholic and seasoned editor at Ave Maria Press, offers fourteen practical ways to enrich your faith as you strive for heaven. Blending humo...

Winner of a 2025 Excellence in Publishing Award from the Association of Catholic Publishers: Inspirational (Second Place). Every educator needs encouragement and support when facing the challenges of teaching—whether it’s managing a noisy classroom, handling a tough parent conference, or navigating staff meetings and lesson planning. In A Saint Squad for Teachers, veteran teacher Amy Cattapan introduces forty-five saints ready to accompany and intercede for educators through every season of t...

Winner of a 2025 Excellence in Publishing Award from the Association of Catholic Publishers: Spirituality (Third Place [tie]). Let the Holy Spirit lead you to the Living Water that renews and strengthens faith. When asked about his spiritual gifts of healing, bilocation, prophecy, and the stigmata, Padre Pio once replied, “You know, they are a mystery to me, too.” In that humility lies a key truth: the Holy Spirit works mysteriously in every Christian’s life, bestowing gifts we may not fully ...

Winner of a 2025 CMA Book Award from the Catholic Media Association: Healing and Self Help (First Place). The wounds we carry from childhood—whether from trauma, neglect, or unmet needs—often remain hidden, yet they continue to affect how we relate to ourselves, others, and God. No matter how much time has passed, our “inner child” remembers. In Befriending Your Inner Child: A Catholic Approach to Inner Healing, licensed marriage and family therapist Brya Hanan offers a gentle and faith-cente...

Winner of a 2025 CMA Book Award from the Catholic Media Association: Catholic Social Teaching (First Place). In an age defined by isolation and digital distraction, We Are Only Saved Together offers a timely reminder that true joy and meaning are found in authentic community, shared life, and friendship with the poor. Drawing on the spirit of the Catholic Worker movement, Colin Miller calls readers to rediscover the Gospel’s communal heart and the Church’s tradition of solidarity. While compl...

St. Maximilian Kolbe is one of the most beloved saints of modern times, remembered for his heroic sacrifice at Auschwitz when he offered his life to save another man. Yet behind that act of love stood a lifelong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom Kolbe called “the Immaculata.” He believed that by consecrating his life entirely to her, his will would be united perfectly to the will of God. In Led by the Immaculata, Joshua Mazrin, a Kolbe devotee and Mariology expert, invites readers to ...

Winner of a 2025 CMA Book Award from the Catholic Media Association: Religious Book Series (Honorable Mention). Born to Do This is a thirty-day personal retreat inspired by the courage and faith of St. Joan of Arc. Six centuries after her birth and one hundred years after her canonization, the Maid of Orléans continues to captivate believers as a model of conviction, obedience, and unwavering trust in God. In this devotional, readers will encounter St. Joan through her own words and the stori...

A Journey through the Catechism: Unveiling the Truth, Beauty, and Goodness of the Catholic Faith is an award-winning and timely resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Catholicism. Recognized as the number-one faith formation book by the Catholic Media Association, it serves as an essential guide for catechumens, catechists, and lifelong learners of the faith. Across dioceses, parishes, and campuses, an increasing number of adults are entering the Church through the OCIA process...

Intensive Caring: A Practical Handbook for Catholics about Serious Illness and End-of-Life Care is an invaluable guide for navigating the most difficult medical and moral decisions of life with clarity, compassion, and faith. Dr. Natalie King, a palliative care physician, combines medical expertise with deep Catholic conviction to help patients and families face serious illness and end-of-life care without fear or confusion. Drawing on real patient stories, she offers practical tools for unde...

When Tara McMullen said “yes” to marrying an Air Force fighter pilot, she knew she was entering a life defined by unpredictability, sacrifice, and separation. Between constant relocations, long deployments, and raising children far from family, military life quickly became more than a job—it was a calling that demanded faith, resilience, and trust in God. In The Homefront Devotional: Navigate Military Life with Courage, Hope, and Faith, McMullen offers heartfelt reflections and spiritual enco...

Are you ready to stop suffering from fear and unworthiness? To heal the pain in your closest relationships? To finally love and be loved as God intended? For more than a decade, “Scripture Evangelista” Sonja Corbitt has helped Catholics encounter the transforming power of God’s Word. In Love Heals, she draws on her years of biblical study and ministry to reveal how the commandment to love God, neighbor, and self (Mark 12:30) holds the key to total healing—emotional, spiritual, and even physic...

The Recovery Rosary teaches you how to pray and meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary as a source of strength, healing, and renewal for Catholics walking the Twelve Steps of recovery—or accompanying loved ones who are. Designed for individuals or small groups, this devotional unites the rich spiritual tradition of the Rosary with the transformative power of recovery. Each meditation connects the mysteries of Jesus and Mary’s lives with real stories from those overcoming addiction, compulsio...

With Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati’s motto Verso l’alto (“To the Heights”) as its inspiration, The Frassati Field Guide challenges you to rise above mediocrity and live your Catholic faith with courage, joy, and action. Are you ready to take your faith to new heights? In this eight-day journey, author and retreat leader Bobby Angel invites you to walk in the footsteps of Pier Giorgio Frassati—a passionate mountain climber, servant to the poor, and fearless witness to Christ. Each day focuses ...

Praying with the Saints invites you to embark on a spiritual journey through the words and prayers of one hundred beloved saints. Spanning two millennia, this beautifully curated anthology offers encouragement, solace, and inspiration from holy men and women whose lives continue to illuminate the path to God. Through their heartfelt prayers and reflections, you’ll discover a bridge to the divine and a companion for every season of life—times of joy, suffering, and contemplation alike. Prais...

Remember when prayer felt peaceful? You'd find a quiet corner, light a candle, and take your time with God. Now, as a mom, life looks a little different. Your prayers might sound more like “Lord, please just get me through dinner!” Between carpools, snack requests, temper tantrums, nonstop Nerf battles—the list goes on—finding time for intentional prayer feels impossible. In Sacred Chaos, Ablaze Families missionary Jennifer Stavinoha invites you to rediscover intimacy with God right where you...

Muffet McGraw coached hundreds of amazing, smart, and talented young women in her thirty-three seasons as the head coach of the University of Notre Dame women's basketball team, yet she says almost all of them struggled with their confidence. In Expect More!, McGraw motivates women to fly past all barriers that limit their confidence so they can attain the highest positions of leadership.In a comment at the 2019 NCAA Final Four press conference that went viral, McGraw said, "We don't have eno...

Lent can be a time of bearing heavy burdens, of carrying the worries, pains, and sorrows that weigh on our hearts. Joyce Rupp reminds us that even though we may feel alone during these times of personal distress, we have the loving, empathetic, and ever-present companionship of Jesus by our side. In Jesus, Companion in My Suffering, Rupp--bestselling author of several books on grief, loss, and suffering, including Praying Our Goodbyes and Jesus, Friend of My Soul--will guide you to see Jesus ...