Meditations

"O my soul, contemplate the surpassing beauty of these citizens of paradise! They shine like a vast constellation of radiant stars, or even like the sun itself, in the splendid city of God."--St. Aloysius Gonzaga In the history of the Church, there are few saints who wrote with such angelic purity and devotion on the subject of angels as Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. Much has been written on this Jesuit novice who died at the young age of twenty-three while caring for plague victims, but little has...

These meditations and devotions by St. John Henry Newman, spanning poetry from his Anglican period (including his most famous and well-beloved poem, "Pillar of Cloud"/"Lead, Kindly Light"), to reflections on God’s Divine Providence from his later period as a Catholic and founder of the Oratory in England, expresses a profoundly confident but deeply human faith that resonates with the very real experiences of modern Christians from all walks of life. These poems intimately show a personal side...

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...

This Tremendous Lover was first published in 1946 and has since become known as a classic of Catholic spirituality and a heartfelt guide to strengthening our relationship with Christ. Author Dom Eugene Boylan introduces us to a love story between God and man, revealing how various aspects of day-to-day life shed light on Christ's all-consuming love. Boylan guides the reader through a series of meditations on how Christ can be found through prayer, humility, the sacraments, and even such munda...

Like all this contemplative's writings, the collection of meditations gathered here was never intended as a book. They began life as short meditations, only written down because he found it helpful to commit his thoughts to paper while they were fresh in his mind. The sermons which follow, although delivered as such to the lay-brothers of the Grande Chartreuse, were really meditations made aloud. Those who assisted at these never forgot them, not so much for what they said but for what they r...

Venerable Louis of Granada was the favorite author of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John on the Cross, St. Francis de Sales and many others. Among the hundreds of eminent ascetical writers of Spain, Louis of Granada remains unsurpassed in the beauty and purity of his style, the solidity of his doctrine, and the popularity and influence of his writings. Besides ascetical theology, his published works treat of Scripture, dogma, ethics, biography, and history. He is best known, however, for his ascet...

For six years, before becoming a well-regarded retreat master, Fr. Wayne Sattler lived as a diocesan hermit in a one-room cabin on an abandoned farmstead in rural North Dakota, striving to avail himself of the mystery of what God can do in prayer, clinging to the wisdom of the sixteenth-century Carmelite saints John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila as his trusted guides.Fr. Sattler was asked many times to write a book sharing the fruits of his time in solitude to help others progress in the s...

Does your mind often wander when you recite the Holy Rosary? Spiritual master Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo― called “a saint” by Padre Pio― will teach you to deepen your powers of recollection as you reflect upon the sacred mysteries. Here is the Rosary companion that will help you develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by entering into the events of His life through the prism of your own. These brief, compelling reflections― written as conversations between Jesus and the soul― will move you...

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 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...

This Spiritual Life Series title offers minute meditations for each day of the year. Each daily entry provides a quote on the life and legacy of St. Francis from the writings of either the Saint himself or one of his early brothers or from the Papal Bull Mira Circa Nos of Pope Gregory IX, which proclaimed the canonization of St. Francis; a reflection; and a scriptural prayer.

The two great commandments are to love God above all things and one’s neighbor as oneself. One of the highest acts of charity toward our neighbor is to remember him after death—especially the poor souls in Purgatory, who rely on our prayers and sacrifices. For this reason, the Church gives us the liturgical month of November. As autumn’s harvest is gathered and stored, the faithful are invited to draw from a different harvest: the graces and indulgences God offers for the relief of the souls ...

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the revelation of God's love for man, made flesh. The heart is a symbol of our passions, desires, and will. Meditating upon Jesus' heart can transform our own hearts so we might be one with him.Make Our Hearts Like Yours is a comprehensive collection of meditations on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, drawn from saints and scholars of every age of Church history. Arranged according to the liturgical calendar, this daily devotional highlights the centrality of the Incarna...

Glorious Encounters with Mary: A Guide to Living the Mysteries of the Rosary offers personal reflections and Scriptural meditations to enhance your appreciation of the Glorious Mysteries. It also provides some strategies for growing in the various virtues associated with each Mystery. You will also learn about various saints who experienced a special connection with the Blessed Mother. My hope and prayer are that you will come to see the ribbon that runs through your life and connects you wit...

"It is very good and holy to consider the Passion of our Lord and to meditate on it, for by this sacred path we reach union with God." -- St. Paul of the Cross In Passion Gems: Daily Wisdom on the Suffering, Cross, and Death of Jesus, you will discover a treasure trove of quotes on the Passion of Jesus from Sacred Scripture, saints, popes, mystics, and revered laymen. On every day of the year you can meditate and ponder a particular thought or theme, shedding light on the life-changing power ...

Communing with God by meditating on Scripture, writings of the saints, and other spiritual texts is a fruitful practice that mystics have enjoyed throughout the centuries and that spiritual masters continue to recommend today. This ninety-day journal includes a treasure trove of wisdom from the Doctors of the Church and contemporary examples of holiness to help you strengthen your prayer life and grow in union with God.By spending time each day with God's Word and sitting at the feet of the s...

Discover the Seraphic Doctor's Profound Reflections on Our Blessed Mother In Mirror of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Bonaventure, the "Seraphic Doctor," offers a profound investigation into the Blessed Virgin Mary's distinctive role in humanity's redemption. Originally penned as a humble tribute to Mary's virtues and divine favor, this work illuminates the depths of her sanctity and her pivotal role in the salvation of souls. Beginning with meditations on the angelic salutation, this endurin...

Experience the profound wisdom of Venerable Louis of Granada in The Book of Prayer and Meditation. Journey into the depths of your soul and discover the transformative power of prayer and meditation as you explore the pages of this timeless masterpiece. The Book of Prayer and Meditation was first published in Spanish in 1554, translated into English in 1584, and transliterated from Middle English for the first time into a more readable form in 2023. Before Granada guides the reader through fo...

"Many of us give up on prayer when we don't get the answer we want WHEN we want it." For nearly two decades, Saint Monica prayed for her wayward son. Years and years of prayers, seemingly unanswered. Countless tears shed with no relief. Yet she would not give up. That very act of persistent prayer blessed the entire Church, for we have all benefitted from the conversion of her son, Augustine, who became one of the most revered saints of all time. Parents of any age or at any stage can cultiva...

A Summary of the Spiritual Life: Simplified and Arranged for Daily Reading, Reflection and Prayer Written with loving care by Father Anthony Paone, as a dialogue with Christ himself, this devotional will strengthen your love for Christ and his teachings. Father Paone leads the reader through the three ways of the spiritual life: Purification, Imitation, and Union. My Daily Bread overflows with reflections and prayers specifically designed to help you grow in the spiritual life and overcome fa...

A translator, comments Monsignor Ronald Knox in his On Englishing the Bible, has two methods at his disposal: the literal and the literary. In translating Sacred Scripture "for the benefit of a person who wants to be able to read the word of God for ten minutes on end without laying it aside in sheer boredom or bewilderment," then only a literary translation will suffice. And such is the "Knox Bible," the fruit of nine years' solitary labor to craft a fresh translation of the sacred texts. Th...

The words of Jesus form the very heart of St. Faustinas Diary, as the Merciful Savior calls her and each of us to an intimacy with Him and the mission of bringing mercy to the whole world. Jesus tells her, I see your efforts to please Me, and they delight My Heart (Diary, 1061). He also instructs her, My daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart and I will fill it with ...

At the beginning of every Mass, the priest-celebrant says, "Let us pray" and then offers a prayer to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit. This Opening Prayer is called the Collect. During Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, this prayer is specific to the day; in the season of Ordinary Time, the Collect for each Sunday is repeated during the following weekday Masses. In Praying with the Church through Advent, Fr. Edward Looney offers a short daily meditation an...

Thought-provoking words from renowned spiritual writer, Henri J. M. Nouwen, lead readers along a journey of conversion during Lent and Easter week. These periods of penance and celebration, lavish with rituals, help us become more sensitive to our own weaknesses and Christ's victory over sin. Through it all, Father Nouwen comforts and reassures us with reminders that God loves and accepts us even in our human state. Each daily reflection--from Ash Wednesday through the Second Sunday of Easter...

Make Lent and Holy Week even more meaningful with brief daily meditations that will help you focus on Our Lord's passion, death, and resurrection. Scripture readings, personal reflection, a question to ponder or an act to consider, and a short prayer to Saint Joseph are sure to lead you to a deeper relationship with Jesus and his foster father, Joseph.

This book consists of a series of daily meditations written by the eminent Latinist Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1885-1971) who served as the Vatican's chief Latinist for over 40 years. The English edition has been out-of-print since 1965. In it, Cardinal Bacci explores vast areas of Catholic principles on the spiritual life using such sources as: Sacred Scripture, the writings of the Saints with particular emphasis on St. Thomas Aquinas, the Church Fathers, many passages from Thomas a Kempis' "Th...