The Blessed Mother and the twelve apostles remained in the Upper Room in prayer for nine days after the Lord's Ascension. From those nine days of prayer, the tradition of novenas — praying for a specific period of time for a special intention — was born. The word "novena" is derived from the Latin novem, meaning nine. The Handy Little Guide to Novenas is your easy-to-read, down-to-earth introduction to this beautiful devotion. In this brief booklet, author and novena enthusiast Allison Gingras helps you understand and practice this ancient, yet totally relevant, form of prayer. You'll learn: The fundamentals of novenas — when to pray them, for how long, and to whom The biblical connections of novenas The proper mindset for praying a novena, including what not to do Recommendations for tried-and-true novenas

Many Catholics view fasting as hard, burdensome, weird, or only for Lent. This little book demonstrates that fasting can be so much more than that! It's an opportunity for prayer, reflection, and solidarity with the suffering of the world. The Handy Little Guide to Fasting is your easy-to-read, down-to-earth introduction to this ancient practice. Author, speaker, and award-winning journalist Deacon Greg Kandra presents a way to blend faith and fortitude to make fasting more spiritually fulfilling. You'll learn: Some practical pointers when fasting The difference between fasting and abstinence What the Church teaches about fasting The various options for fasting (hint: It's not just about food!) Each brief chapter concludes with reflection questions and a prayer for your fasting journey.

God knows what's on our minds and in our hearts, but we still need to verbalize our innermost thoughts, feelings, and intentions. That's prayer. In this easy-to-read, down-to-earth introduction to conversation with God, you'll discover, or rediscover, what you need to be able to "pray without ceasing." In this brief booklet, author, mom, wife, and Secular Franciscan Barb Szyszkiewicz helps you strengthen your connection to God through prayer. You'll learn: How to pray alone and establish an intimate connection with God How to pray with the whole Church What the saints teach us about prayer When to pray, including formal and informal times for prayer Different styles and methods of prayer, including the prayers of the Church, adoration, meditation, music, art, and journaling Your connection to God in prayer can happen anywhere, at any time. No special equipment is needed, and no dress code, no reservation, no admission fee. All you need is an open heart and a willingness to engage with our Creator.

Many devout Catholics make novenas. This book is published to accomodate those who would like to make various novenas and who would like to have them in a single volume. A brief instruction or meditation precedes each entry.

Pray in a new and creative way this Lent by joining the women of WINE: Women In the New Evangelization on a journey through Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. What if you could have been a witness to the events of the last days of Jesus’ life—walking with him as he entered Jerusalem, observing his crucifixion, and embracing him on Easter? Walk in Her Sandals, edited by popular Catholic author and speaker Kelly M. Wahlquist, takes you deeper into your relationship with Jesus by helping you relate to him in a profoundly intimate way. Looking at six universal gifts of women through the eyes of women in the gospels, the book guides you on a prayerful and creative journey through the days of Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost. As you imagine the experience of the women who met Jesus, you will discover how each of them expressed one of six, distinctive, feminine gifts identified in the writings of St. John Paul II. Through the eyes of an imagined woman who watched Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, you will understand how she conveyed the gift of receptivity. Through the hands of Veronica, who reached out to wipe the face of Jesus, you will discover how sensitivity is present and can grow in your own life. These gifts, along with generosity, prayer, maternity, and the Holy Spirit, come to life through the vivid portrayal of women who walked with Jesus. Their imagined stories are complemented by the real accounts of contemporary women who share their own stories of receiving and cultivating these gifts. Walk in Her Sandals is a collaborative effort, edited by Wahlquist with contributions from twelve leading Catholic women writers, all of whom are associated with the organization she founded—WINE: Women In the New Evangelization. The contributors will help you break open the scripture, reflect upon it and apply it to your own life, and share those insights in a small-group setting through the use of questions and challenges. Each chapter unfolds in eight movements: A Moment to Ponder: Wahlquist sets the stage for the theme of that chapter. Entering the Scripture: Sarah Christmyer, codeveloper of The Great Adventure Catholic Bible Study, reveals the riches of the scripture that corresponds with the day, both in the biblical narrative and in the liturgical year. Walk in Her Sandals: Stephanie Landsem, author of the biblical fiction series The Living Water, draws you into the story and allows you to experience what it may have been like for women who lived and walked with Jesus. Unwrapping the Gift: Catholic author, speaker, and faith-formation leader Pat Gohn shows how each woman demonstrates a particular feminine gift and invites you to nurture that gift in yourself and understand anew the beauty of your dignity and vocation. Reflect on the Meaning: Writers including CatholicMom.com founder Lisa M. Hendey and popular media personality Teresa Tomeo offer insight, encouragement, and inspiration for your own journey through their personal stories. Lectio and Meditatio: A prayerful reading of the scripture and a guided meditation to draw you more deeply into an intimate relationship with Jesus. Questions for Group Discussion: Carol Younger, senior fellow at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, offers a helpful tool to share your experience with other women. Walking in the New Evangelization: Wahlquist offers two ways to contribute to the New Evangelization—first by growing in your contemplative spiritual life and then by giving you practical suggestions to enhance your active spiritual life. Walk in Her Sandals will allow you to enter more fully into life in Christ by praying over his passion, death, and resurrection. It will help you experience a conversion of heart and recognize your own giftedness.

... ʺHow can prayers said over and over again like that be any good?ʺ Mistress Margaret was silent for a moment. ʺI saw young Mrs. Martin last week,ʺ she said, ʺwith her little girl in her lap. She had her arms around her motherʹs neck, and was being rocked to and fro; and every time she rocked she said ʹOh, mother.ʹ ʺ ʺBut, then,ʺ said Isabel, after a momentʹs silence, ʺshe was only a child.ʺ ʺ 'Except ye become as little children --' ʺ quoted Mistress Margaret softly ‐ ʺyou see, my Isabel, we are nothing more than children with God and His Blessed Mother. To say, ʹHail Mary, Hail Mary,ʹ is the best way of telling her how much we love her. And, then, this string of beads is like Our Ladyʹs girdle, and her children love to finger it, and whisper to her. And then we say our Our Fathers too; and all the while we are talking, she is showing us pictures of her dear Child, and we look at all the great things He did for us, one by one; and then we turn the page and begin again. ...

The Church encourages us to ask for the intercession of the saints, to locate our prayer within the annual round of the Church's year, and to make our prayer in the tradition of the great figures of Scripture. The novenas in this beautifully bound collection help us to pray in all of these ways. It contains a rich selection for many different needs and intentions, including popular novenas to our Lady and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus counted many women among his closest followers during his earthly ministry. He encountered, forgave, and healed women, including the woman at the well, the hemorrhaging woman, and the woman caught in adultery. And their lives were changed forever. Our lives are also changed when we spend time with Jesus in Eucharistic adoration. In Draw Close to Jesus: A Woman’s Guide to Eucharistic Adoration, Merridith Frediani offers women heartfelt, practical guidance for meeting Jesus in adoration and allowing him to transform us. Containing reflections, encouragement, passages from Sacred Scripture and the Catechism, as well as stories from the saints, this book is divided into five helpful sections that can be read in any order: An introduction to Eucharistic adoration for beginners Going deeper in understanding God’s greatness, his mercy, and his abundant love The fruits received from a closer relationship with Jesus Facing obstacles in our prayer life The richness of the Catholic Faith God calls to us in the depths of our hearts. He wants us to come to him and rest. We do not need to bring anything; we just need to show up. He knows the world is pulling us in many directions, and our many responsibilities can be overwhelming. He knows we make mistakes, yet he keeps inviting us. When we come to him, we open ourselves to the one who loves us most deeply. We bring him our empty vessel, and he fills it. We adore him, and he loves us back — wholly and completely — for no other reason than that we are his.

Discover the seven powerful invitations Jesus extends to you and how accepting them can change your life. Perfect for individual or group study, the seven chapters includes reflections and scripture, with space for journaling.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven ... sicut in caelo et in terra The saints were not picture perfect. But they were real men and women who loved Jesus in the midst of their struggles with sin and suffering. In the most difficult moments in history, these men and women were lights in the darkness, prophets of hope, and beacons of peace. Joyfully persevering through life's trials, they lived the Gospel in unique, fascinating, and inspiring ways. The Daughters of St. Paul at Pauline Books and Media noticed that most books on the lives of the saints are paperback and do not have a presentation as timeless or as beautiful as we believe the lives of the saints deserve. For this reason, we decided to take on the monumental project to write, design, and illustrate a volume of 365 saints and blesseds. Supported by the prayers of our sisters in convents and Pauline Books and Media bookstores around the world, over thirty of our sisters worked on all aspects of this timeless volume for over a decade. It's our hope that it will reflect the striking beauty of the saints' lives--a meeting of heaven and earth. Through the beautiful reflections and exquisite artwork, may you forge deeper bonds with these holy men and women in heaven who show us how to live in Christ. Let's become saints! Features & Benefits - daily reflections on the saints and blesseds, written by the Daughters of St. Paul - original illustrations by Sr. Danielle Victoria Lussier, FSP - includes indices of names, patron saints, feast days - includes prayers written by the saints - keepsake quality with durable hardcover - gold-stamped cover - includes a ribbon