Stories about Purgatory & What They Reveal: 30 Days for the Holy Souls Compiled from Traditional Sources by An Ursuline Nun of Sligo, Ireland Arranged as 30 Days for the Holy Souls , This book was written to engrave on the minds and hearts of its readers an indelible understanding about Purgatory—first, that it exists; second, that the souls detained there suffer long and excruciating …

Cardinal Francis Xavier Ngyuen Van Thuan In 1975, Cardinal Francis Xavier Ngyuen Van Thuan was arrested by the Communist government of Vietnam and imprisoned for thirteen years, nine of the in solitary confinement, and then finally exiled from Vietnam in 1991. Always reticent about speaking of himself, Cardinal Van Thuan slowly began to realize that his prison experience of suffering and hope …

Crossing The Threshold Of Hope Pope John Paul II Fifteen years into his Papacy, and on the eve of the third millennium, Pope John Paul II goes to the heart of his personal beliefs and speaks with passion about the existence of God; about pain, suffering, and evil; about "salvation"; and about the relationship of Catholicism to other branches of the Christian faith. With the humility and …

The Art of Dying Well: (or, How to be a Saint, Now and Forever) St. Robert Bellarmine Rather than turning away from death, great saints like Robert Bellarmine, the author of this book, use it as a lens through which to view life from the right perspective — God’s perspective. Seen this way, death becomes for them — and can become for you — not so much a reason for fear …

God's Mercy Revealed: Healing for a Broken World by Peter Magee "One of the worst effects of sin," Msgr. Magee tells us, "is to make us think that God stops loving us." In turn we resist him, giving into a gnawing reluctance to believe that his love is unrelenting, forgiving, ever faithful, always persistent. We have "a crazy distrust of the mercy of God." At the same time, we want to dodge …

Fr. Frederick William Faber, D.D. Describes and analyzes with the precision of a theologian and the artistry of a poet each of Our Lady's Seven Sorrows, relating them to our own spiritual life.  Says, "We never advance more rapidly in love of the Son than when we travel by the Mother, and that what we have built most solidly in Jesus has been built with Mary.  There is no time lost …

At the very beginning of his famous spiritual classic The Imitation of Christ , Thomas a Kempis reminds the reader that in order to become a follower of Christ one must imitate his life, and, urging the reader to accomplish this, Thomas adds: "Let it then be our main concern to meditate on the life of Jesus Christ." Thomas firmly believed that whoever "meditates devoutely on the most holy life …

Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR Well-known author, psychologist and priest Fr. Benedict Groeschel draws on his own years of personal experiences in dealing with people's problems, tragedies and "darkness" as he offers help and guidance for any Christian troubled or burdened by life. If you are struggling with fear, anxiety, grief, loss of loved ones, hurt, anger or anything that makes life …

John H. Hampsch The mercy of God is mentioned directly in the Bible in more than 400 places.  It is mentioned indirectly in hundreds more, from parables to prayers.  Too often, though, we fail to acknowledge God's enduring mercy.  Sometimes this is because we are confused or depressed; sometimes because we fear our sins have placed us beyond His reach.  Fr. Hampsch tells …

Do You Love Me? Dr. John Barger A guaranteed way to improve your marriage — immediately! Late in 1987, married couples began circulating copies of a talk that had transformed their marriages overnight. Soon they convinced us to publish it as a pamphlet. Years have passed, and that modest marriage-saving talk has helped more than 100,000 couples heal the wounds in their marriages and grow …

Being Born into Eternal Life:  Prayers for the Dying Sr. Anne Sophie Philippe Meaney Sr. Anne Sophie Meaney, author of On the Front Lines, has the unique privilege of praying at the bedside of the dying. Through her beautiful and prayerful ministry, many have had the benefit of her loving prayers as they are Beiong Born into Eternal Life. Sr. Anne Sophie has compiled a collection of the …

Salvifici Doloris On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering Apostolic Letter of John Paul II

"Grief is an experience common to all humanity. It transcends culture and time. It is 'catholic' - that is, 'universal.' Grief is also Catholic. It is a well-charted experience in the Scriptures, in the lives of the saints, as well as in our common life in the Body of Christ ... Our task is to live this universal, or catholic, pattern of grief as Catholics." In this handbook for those who …

Peter Kreeft "God whispers in our pleasures but shouts in our pains. Pain is His megaphone to rouse a dulled world." C.S. Lewis By the time you finish reading this book, many people will have died violent deaths, many others will have suffered the ravages of a terminal illness, and thousands of innocent children will have been abused by their parents. And it is not only innocent children and …

The Truth About Trouble: How Hard Times Can Draw You Closer to God Michael Scanlan, T.O.R., with Jim Manney There's Only One Good Thing About Trouble— It may be the best thing that ever happened to you. Sound outrageous? The plain truth is you might be right where God can help you most—whether you're facing financial trouble, grief, illness, a wrenching personal situation or even a to-do list …

C.S. Lewis C. S. Lewis, the master apologist, tackles the question that has plagued humanity for centuries. If God is both omnipotent and good, how can we explain the pain and suffering that people experience daily? And what of the suffering of animals, who neither deserve pain nor can be improved by it? With compassion and insight, C. S. Lewis proposes reasonable answers to these critical …

On the Front Lines Sister Anne Sophie Philippe Meaney The author, Sister Anne Sophie Philippe Meaney, is truly a person called to a difficult ministry. Her work with the sick and dying is so touching that many of the stories will bring tears to the eyes. This book will give a greater hope as to how God uses our suffering to bring us closer to Him, in life as well as in dying. The ministry of …

  Back in print: cherished guidebook for distressed souls, and their loved ones, by the late Monsignor Edmund J. Goebel “…Belongs in Catholic homes…for the sick and the dying and for those who minister to them. The wonder is that such a helpful, consoling and instructive companion did not appear long ago. When anyone is sick or dying, a priest present or not, what …

Dr. Pat Fosarelli Whatever You Do to the Least of These introduces pastoral visitors, both ordained and non-ordained, to the main issues confronting children and adolescents of different ages when they are faced with illness, injury, or dying. It also highlights the issues faced by parents and siblings in these same circumstances. Part I of this book focuses on the various developmental …