More art, music and literature have been devoted to Mary than to any other woman in history, and millions of believers make hard pilgrimages to visit her shrines every day. But why do Catholics pray to Mary in times of sorrow or need? And how does she help them develop a closer relationship to Christ? In Grieving with Mary, author Mary K. Doyle finds comfort and healing in devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Doyle walks readers through the illustrious history of the many ways Catholics have of approaching Mary, and encourages readers to use one or more of the following to nurture their own personal relationship with the Mother of God: [[Hymns and prayers [[Devotional art [[Shrines [[Rosary beads [[Labyrinths [[Feasts and processions When Catholics pray to Mary (or any other saint), they ask for her intercession. In prose that is clear and precise, Doyle makes clear that adoration of Mary does not replace worshipping God, but rather draws believers closer to God. Ultimately, devo

Every person while lives will experience loss. Who will be a source of strength and solace to see us through? The daily Scripture or quote, brief reflection and the prayer in the 29th book in our Spiritual Life Series will help you respond with hope and faith to the inevitable suffering and sorrow that come our way and help to heal the brokenness.

For anyone who has to comfort the grieving, this book is an essential reference.

"Grief is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape." C.S. Lewis Lorene Duquin, an experienced grief counselor was no stranger to understanding and explaining grief, and had helped many people work through it. But when she lost her mother she found herself living in an entirely new space. Grieving the Loss of a Loved One contains 52 powerful, one-page meditations that will help you work through the various aspects of grieving as they did for Lorene herself. The meditations are wide-ranging: they are deeply personal, but yet they address the emotional, physical, mental, spiritual, and social aspects of grief. Rooted in prayer, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and conveying important life lessons, each meditation features: A quote from a well-known figure that speaks to the meditation A brief reflection that expands upon the topic at hand A prayer Sidebar with a timely quote or anecdote Walk hand in hand with Lorene and experience the gift of a companion who can walk this painful walk at your side, through this unknown territory, where each passing day seems to reveal a new dimension of pain, loss, confusion but eventually transforms to healing and peace.

Winner of a second-place award in the general interest category from the Association of Catholic Publishers and and honorable mention in grief and bereavement from the Catholic Media Association. When someone you love dies by suicide, confusion, shame, and guilt often add to the emotional upheaval and spiritual turmoil in your life. When a Loved One Dies by Suicide was written by Catholics who have lost a loved one due to suicide. The contributors share their personal stories of loss, of learning to cope with the crushing grief, of finding comfort in faith and community, and of discovering hope as they began to move forward again. Suicide, although common, too often is hidden in our culture and in the Catholic Church. When a Loved One Dies by Suicide dispels the misconceptions about what the Church teaches about suicide and offers a wealth of guidance and support to help you find your own path toward healing. The contributors include Deacon Ed Shoener, Bishop John P. Dolan, Msgr. Charles Pope, Leticia Adams, Tom and Fran Smith, and clinical experts in the field of mental health and suicide. In this book, you will find: encouragement with practical matters such as taking care of yourself emotionally, physically, and spiritually; ways to let others know what you need and find a network of support; guidance to tell your story when you’re ready to share it; prayers of comfort and encouragement; solace, hope, and healing from within the rich traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church; and information for how to help others experiencing a similar loss, if and when you are drawn to do so.

Losing a loved one is perhaps the most painful and overwhelming of life's experiences. It challenges you physically and emotionally and raises tough questions about the future -- about where God is in the midst of your pain. Your key to understanding all these issues -- and healing -- is your Catholic Faith. Grieving with the Help of Your Catholic Faith gives Catholics a meaningful way to help themselves or others through this challenging time. With personal stories, reassuring prayers, and spiritual wisdom, it provides: An understanding of how grief affects -- and can be lightened by -- the heart, soul, and mind The perspective to sort through difficult physical, emotional, and spiritual feelings Positive ways to deal with sorrow Empowering wisdom for building a stronger faith Tips for providing comfort to adults, teens, and children who are grieving A perfect resource for individuals, grief support groups, clergy, and lay ministers alike, Grieving with the Help of Your Catholic Faith offers comfort, empathy, and inspiration that will be relied upon time and time again.

A childs guide through grief that is formed by the truths of our Catholic faith and by what bereavement professionals have found helpful. This book helps children ages 7 to 12 understand death, funeral rituals, the grieving process, and what to expect during the first year after the loss of a loved one. Schuler gives reassuring voice to a childs feelings of loss, and provides a safe space where hopes can be expressed and memories can be treasured.

In an age where the dying are increasingly seen as a burden on society--where euthanasia is being touted by some as the "moral," as well as convenient choice--this guide will provide fortitude for your journey. The rich tradition of the Catholic Church and the wisdom of others who have been through this experience before you will provide comfort and encouragement. Use this practical guide to help you: See that your fears, worries, and even the odd moments of humor are perfectly normal and all are part of this process of letting go Understand what resources are available through the Church Find the right words to answer honest and practical questions Discover the beauty, grace, and even the joy, that can come from departing this earth on God's time. Part of the With the Help of Your Catholic Faith... series, Caring for the Dying With the Help of Your Catholic Faith is an excellent resource for family members, friends, hospice volunteers, and other concerned caregivers.

We all face stress and tension in our daily lives. We might even wonder why our God of abundant goodness doesn’t remove the everyday struggles we face. Jesus’ interactions with Martha and Mary in the Gospel provide us the key to understanding how God shows us his love by allowing tensions in our lives. As we follow the sisters’ transformative journeys through their own struggles, reflecting on what transpires between Scripture verses, we see their initial tension become the catalyst that drives both Mary and Martha to the feet of Jesus — the place where all discover peace. Grace in Tension explores the areas where stress arises in our own lives. Each chapter ends with a thought-provoking prayer to inspire us to go to God with our problems, followed by questions for reflection to help us see all the ways he’s working for our good. God doesn’t create any of it, but he does show up amid life’s difficulties, ready to lead us through. No matter how big or small our struggle, when we seek him out, he reveals what we need to do to resolve our tension, transforming it into grace. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Claire McGarry is the founder of MOSAIC of Faith, a ministry for mothers of infants to school-aged children to explore their faith through motherhood. She contributes regularly to CatholicMom.com and blogs at ShiftingMyPerspective.com. She is the author of Lenten devotional With Our Savior, and her work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, Keys for Kids, These Days, and Focus on the Family magazine. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three children.

Winner of the Resource of the Year award and a first-place award in resources for ministry from the Association of Catholic Publishers and a third-place award in pastoral ministry books from the Catholic Media Association. Many pastoral leaders feel ill-equipped to respond to the turmoil of those who face the death by suicide of a loved one. Responding to Suicide is the first book written for Catholic leaders that takes a holistic approach to understanding suicide and ministering effectively in its aftermath. More than a dozen leading mental health practitioners, Catholic theologians, and pastoral care experts share how best to respond to suicide as leaders in parishes, schools, healthcare systems, and other Church settings. The book offers a cross-disciplinary approach that provides basic information about the central role of mental health in suicide and clarifies Church teaching about suicide, funerals and burials for those who have died by suicide, and their afterlife. The National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that suicide was the tenth most common cause of death among Americans of all ages in 2017 and the second leading cause of death among fifteen to twenty-four year-olds. Death by suicide is usually sudden, often violent, and frequently comes at the end of a long and difficult struggle with a mental illness. Heaped on top of that is a social stigma that leaves loved ones in shock and often burdened with shame. Responding to Suicide addresses common concerns of the bereaved following a suicide: skepticism that Catholic leaders will understand; fear that the Church teaches that their loved one is in hell; and belief that they will find little if any support in the Church. More than a dozen contributors from across the spectrum of Catholic life provide rich guidance rooted in firsthand experience of suicide loss. Contributors include Deacon Ed Shoener, Bishop John P. Dolan, Msgr. Charles Pope, Leticia Adams, Archbishop Wilton Gregory, Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, and clinical experts in the field of mental health and suicide. They share personal stories of loss, grief, hope, and healing, and clear up misconceptions about Church teaching. They offer practical takeaways for pastoral leaders: dos and don’ts when talking about suicide guidance for preaching and planning funerals information on the role of mental illnesses in suicide resource lists for those who grieve as well as for your own professional development suggested protocols for ministering to a school or parish community following a suicide ideas about forming parish outreach ministries to the bereaved that address the needs of suicide loss