Messenger Publications – förlag

God, Pope Francis affirms, is present in nature, and he wants us to share that perspective, because he believes that it can generate in us a sense of wonder, awe, reverence and love for nature in all its aspects. This sense will make us strong enough to dedicate ourselves to the demanding task of caring for what he calls ‘our common home.’ When my home is under threat I will fight tooth and nail to protect it and those living in it, because I love it. Such commitment is needed today if our small and fragile planet is to be brought back to health. Brian Grogan brings the background of Ignatian spirituality and a lived appreciation of God’s creation to his book of meditations on Pope Francis’ Encyclical, Laudato Si. Rather than an exhaustive explanation of the encyclical, this book serves as a daily invitation to notice in ordinary creation the invitation of God to love and care for all God’s creation. Read slowly each morning, it could give a focus for living the day in recognising God in all things, and the call of God to be a co-creator of his beautiful world each day.

the Jesuits have always defined themselves, not by any particular place or specific ministry, but by a universal outreach. they were ready to go wherever the needs were great and the opportunities promising. Adaptability became their hallmark. From early on the Jesuits spread rapidly: to the Far East, starting with Francis Xavier in 1540, to North and South America, to Africa and eventually to Australasia. In their reports to Rome, they spoke about the different situations they faced, their successes and failures, their frustrations and hopes. This little volume tells the stories of a few of these Jesuits, from different continents and eras. In the hope that their commitment and struggles will prove inspirational once again today.

Pope Francis wants to bring about a quiet revolution within the Catholic Church. He wants a reformed church in which the `sense of the faithful’, the instinct of baptised men and women, is given a role in the formation and reception of church teaching and governance. The model is one of Jesus conversing with his male and female disciples in Palestine – a walking together of the People of God, a `synodal’ church.Irish Jesuit theologian Gerry O’Hanlon examines this ecclesiological project of Francis and the new roles within it of pope and bishops, theologians, and all the baptised. He considers the Pope's strategy of a changed ecclesial structure that would out-live his own pontificate.Francis advocates a critical openness to contemporary culture, a culture of consultation and open debate, and communal discernment practised at every level of `an entirely synodal church'. O’Hanlon argues that this project offers new hope of a better reading of the `signs of the times’ by the Catholic Church, not least in areas of sexuality of gender.The author applies this analysis to our situation in Ireland and suggests that whatever about the desirable spiritual renewal which a papal visit may inspire, it is to be hoped that the more lasting long-term effects might be the realisation of a synodal Irish Catholic Church.

This booklet offers an unique presentation of the unfolding of our universe. It interweaves the insights of contemporary science with Christian faith, and reveals the divine orchestration of the Creation Story in a dramatic, fresh and appealing way.Part One offers a brief background to the new story of creation which has emerged over the past century with the discovery of the expanding universe. We now know that the universe is 13.8 billion years old.Part Two takes the reader through thirty stages of the development of the cosmos and of our Earth from the big bang to the present day. Each stage is succinctly outlined and offers material for prayerful pondering.

Brian O’Leary, an Irish Jesuit, has been researching and writing on Ignatian spirituality since the 1970s. Over that period he has authored five books, the last of which (God Ever Greater, 2018) was a selection of his lectures and talks. His new offering, To Love and To Serve, is also a selection – this time of essays that have appeared in spirituality journals in a number of countries. Since these are not easily accessible, O’Leary made the decision to gather together the best of his work in this genre into one book, so making that work more widely available. The essays vary considerably in content, purpose, and style. Some are short and aimed at a popular readership, others tend to be more academic or written with practitioners of Ignatian spirituality in mind. All are eminently readable and display great clarity of style. Ignatian spirituality is most commonly associated with the Spiritual Exercises. Consequently these figure largely in O’Leary’s writings. However, the Exercises do not represent the totality of Ignatian spirituality and so there are a number of pieces on the Jesuit Constitutions – a spiritual classic that is surprisingly relevant outside its original context.  The Constitutions are frequently quoted today in the context of spiritual formation and of leadership. And then there is spiritual direction – is there a specifically Ignatian model of this ministry? There are also intriguing questions around St. Ignatius Loyola himself, perhaps most of all around his mysticism. And what would such mysticism look like if lived out in the post-modern world? The range of topics is remarkable.

Change is an essential part of life. How we meet that change is where it can get interesting. When a person goes through a conversion experience, there is an automatic assumption that they have it all figured out immediately, and they know exactly what God wants them to do. This is not the case. We only have to look at St. Paul. While his conversion was dramatic, Paul tells us in his letters that he had to spend considerable time in the wilderness pondering what had happened to him, and figuring out what exactly God wanted him to do. The same is true of St. Ignatius of Loyola.  St. Ignatius had a dramatic conversion which shattered not only his leg but all his previous dreams and aspirations. Such a change was not easy to get his head around, and he was forced to enter into his own period in the wilderness. This time of reflection not only brought him closer to God, but it also gave him a greater insight into himself. In this booklet, you will be able to witness the transformation which took place in the life of Ignatius from a vainglorious young man obsessed with his own success, to one who put the service of God and other people before anything else. This transformation, while dramatic, was not immediate. It took time and reflection and took him across various locations. In all of his travels, Ignatius was focused on one thing, what was God calling him to do? Ignatius conversion will allow the reader to get a perspective on how Ignatius faced the challenges which transformed his life, and hopefully, the reader may be able to make time in their own life to explore things which brought about changes in their life and see how God was operating within this change.

In 16th and 17th century Ireland religion and nationality fused together in a people’s struggle to survive.  In that struggle the country’s links with Europe provided a life line.  Members of religious orders, with their international roots, played an important role. Among them were the Irish Jesuits, who adapted to a variety of situations – from quiet work in Irish towns to serving as an emissary for Hugh O’Neill in the south of Ireland and in the courts of Rome and Spain, and then founding seminary colleges in Spain and Portugal from which young Irishmen returned to keep faith and hope alive. In the seventeenth century persecution was more haphazard.  There were opportunities for preaching and teaching and, at time, especially during the Confederation of Kilkenny in the 1640s, for the open celebration of one’s religion. This freedom gave way to the savage persecution under Cromwell, which resulted in the killing of some Jesuits and others being forced to find shelter in caves, sepulchres, and bogs, the Jesuit superior dying alone in a shepherd’s hut on an island off Galway. There followed a time of more relaxed laws during which Irish Jesuits publicly ran schools in New Ross and, for Oliver Plunkett, in Drogheda, but persecution soon resumed and Oliver Plunkett was arrested and martyred. At the end of the century, as the forces of King James II were finally defeated, some Jesuits lived and worked through the sieges of Limerick and then nerved themselves to face the Penal Laws in the new century.

This is the seventh volume in this popular series, and the first for Year C, the Year of Luke.By exploring the context and background to all three readings, the author hopes to make the readings available for personal prayer and as a preparation for taking part in the Sunday liturgy.  This book is a very useful resource for all who wish to get more out of the season's readings. Fr Kieran is very well-known for his hugely popular 'Weekly Notes' – an email resource for each week's readings throughout the year.Praise for previous volumes in the series:"...concise and helpful, useful both to the preacher preparing his thoughts and to the reader who wishes to contemplate the scriptures." - Church Review"...all you need to know to enrich your experience of reading and hearing the Scriptures ... a book that you can select from, finding what speaks to you." - The Tablet

The reflections in this book are based predominantly on the gospel readings for the weekdays of the coming liturgical year, 2021/22, with occasional references to the first reading. They follow the sequence of the weeks of the calendar year.

The contributors to this unique and timely book present an overview of the range of chaplaincies within the Church’s mission. The publication provides various theoretical frameworks to support the inspiring work of Chaplains. The book’s origin lies in a tribute to the work of one’s of Ireland’s longest serving chaplains, Fr Gerry Byrne, who ministered in The Blackrock Clinic. Tributes to  Fr Byrne are offered by a consultant and the relative of a patient at the Clinic. Chaplains: Ministers of Hope presents chaplaincy as a living out of the utterly gratuitous love of God as seen in the resurrection of Jesus and it is an invitation to acknowledge and celebrate God’s love in the various chapters and events of life. The background to chaplaincy is covered in contributions that focus on the theological evolution of chaplaincy, its ecclesial history and its place in a contemporary ecclesial model. Further consideration is given to the scriptural origins of the ministry and its role in contemporary society. The practical evolution of chaplaincy is well covered in various contributions. The final section of the book contains contributions from Chaplains who go about their daily work as Ministers of Hope. There are contributions from a variety of chaplaincy perspectives:  hospital, prison, hospice, sea-port, army, school, university, migrants, those with special needs, Travellers  and the homeless.

The Gospel of John (‘the Fourth Gospel’) is presented through the symbol of a diamond. With the motif of light dominant from the opening Prologue culminating in the saying of Jesus, ‘I am the light of the world’, the symbol of diamond draws on this to indicate the constant inter-flow of its method and style. Like light falling on a diamond and flowing from facet to facet the themes of the Gospel of John are highlighted and held together. This creates a dynamic which is circular, drawing those who read and pray the Gospel into a deeper understanding of its spirituality and theology.After an Introduction ten themes are chosen. These are Light, Life, Truth, Home, Joy, Peace, Freedom, Glory, Mission, Love.Together they represent the revelation that the evangelist elucidates, expressing  the relationship that God the Father wishes to have with people through  His Son in the Holy Spirit. While drawing on the commentaries of scripture scholars and writings of theologians to interpret the import of particular passages and verses, this is a study of the so-called ‘Spiritual Gospel’, an appellation that has been attributed from the time of the Alexandrian school in the third century. Called to believe in Jesus the Word made flesh and come to belong to the Father through the bond of love borne by the Holy Spirit the spirituality of the Gospel of John is an invitation to intimacy with the triune God which issues in (as indicated by words of the Second Vatican Council) bringing ‘forth fruit in charity for the life of the world’.The book concludes with A Prayer to Jesus of John’s Gospel which gathers together the ten themes that have been the focus (facets) of the study.

This book is about discernment. To discern means to look for clues in your innermost experience in order to know what to do or what not to do. More precisely, discernment means paying attention to what is happening in the very depths of your heart. Christians believe that a careful reading of our deepest emotions can reveal what God is inviting us to do. The language that God speaks today is that of human experience.The book opens with a general overview about the practice of discernment and examines the role of our heart, our intelligence and our will. It then explains how discernment can be practiced in daily life, how discernment can help in making choices, and in knowing whether something is good or bad. Then ten different emotionally charged situations are explored. Finally, the book addresses the question of whether or not discernment is reserved for Christians, and also briefly discusses discernment in a community setting. The book concludes with a reflection on discernment as a way of life.

Many people are good people and genuine “searchers”, but often lack the practical methods and ‘tools’ to know how to deepen their faith.  Often the idea about ‘faith’ that they have inherited is not helpful, and they need something real and experiential that helps with the complexity of contemporary living.This book redefines spirituality as about “channelling the inner fire”; there is some God given desire within us that seeks expression. Our goal is to become fully alive and human, just like Jesus was, by tuning into our inner world of feelings and desires. We are called to live like Christ, tuning into God’s plan for us and how we could serve the world. This book synthesizes the Ignatian system into 15 easy to understand concrete aspects.God is at work in each of our lives right now. Our job is to uncover the subtle messages that God is communicating to us, to be in dynamic relationship with God, and engaged with the world. It is a lot more about “letting go” and abandoning ourselves to the reality of what is, rather than trying to make things happen through our efforts. This is a personal journey that everyone has to make for themselves, though having companions and support is crucial to making it possible. This book spells out the practical steps and techniques developed by St Ignatius Loyola that allow us to find God in our experience and change our lives to be active agents for change.

This book is intended as a guide to help each person in their prayer life. The book explores various images of God and how He may be found in everyday life. Reflections with suitable scripture references are provided. Some of the images of God are very familiar ones, such as God as Parent and God as Shepherd. However, other images of God are explored that may be less familiar to the reader, such as God as Chef (where we find God in food); God as Artist (where we find God in art); and God as Gardener (where we find God in the garden). The idea is to explore various images of God that are drawn from everyday life, in order to bring home the notion that God is present in the everyday. For example, in the chapter that details finding God in Art (God as Artist), the reflections relate to God as artist (painter), musician and writer, and the examples of art, music and writing are drawn from everyday life. Specifically, the art work was available to view at the local art gallery (NGI) at the time of writing; the four pieces of music are easily accessible online, as are the two poems. It is hoped that this book will aid the reader in their prayer life and help them to experience God in ordinary life by exploring usual and unusual images of God.

The Church of Ireland traces its history back to the coming of Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. Kenneth Milne here outlines briefly and simply that history from the beginning, down through the Reformation period, when the church was established as the State church. There followed centuries of plantations and penal laws until eventually, in the nineteenth century, the church was disestablished. The final chapter brings the story through changing times to our own day.The book attempts to tell the story of the Church in the context of Irish history, helping the reader to understand some of the situations in which the Church found itself, and still finds itself. Dr Milne is aware of the importance of writing about the Church’s past in the context of the wider context of Irish history. This is particularly vital given the Church of Ireland’s role as the Established (State) Church for several hundred years and its political role in Irish life from the Reformation onwards.  The text begins with the origins of Christianity in Ireland and the latest revision brings the story to the present with some attention to the ecumenical movement, Prayer Book revision and the ordination of women to priesthood and the episcopate .While he revised each edition with the general reader in mind I tried to ensure that I kept abreast of developments in Irish historiography, and included a bibliography for whose who might wish to read more deeply.   With the inclusion in recent years of Religious Studies in the state examinations in the Republic and emphasis on students becoming conversant with the beliefs and practices of at least one Christian tradition other than their own, later editions have borne in mind a possible readership beyond members of the Church of Ireland.

One of the traps in the spiritual life is assuming that things will happen miraculously in one dramatic, unrepeatable moment. The authors illustrate the “slow work of God” (Teilhard de Chardin), an unfolding of God’s plan for our lives over time, as a much more helpful and humanising way to look at faith. Using details from the life of St Ignatius Loyola. The 7 stages of Ignatius’ life that reflect this slow process of growth in the Spirit are:Lack of awareness and superficial religion (being ‘asleep’: his life as a courtier & soldier); Waking up (his dreams shattered at Pamplona, the painful convalescing at Loyola); Extremes (initial over-enthusiasm of being a pilgrim on the road to Manresa); Eyes Opened (deepening in faith at Montserrat, Manresa & the Cave); Gaining wisdom (beginning again, studying in Barcelona); Gathering a group (spiritual conversations about what to do, deliberations in Venice & Rome) and Embracing leadership (going against his pilgrim instincts to head up the Society in Rome)The Ignatian spirituality points from each are drawn out and explained in imagined conversations with God, reflections, scripture pieces and real-life applications. The authors have established a very popular style of conveying the essentials of Ignatian spirituality and readers will find the book both accessible and enjoyable.

Willie Doyle SJ was born in Dalkey on 3 March 1873 to an affluent Catholic family. Willie entered the Society of Jesus in 1891. taking vows, Fr. Doyle embarked on a period of Jesuit formation known as Regency. Fr. Doyle worked in two Jesuit schools Clongowes Wood College and Belvedere College. He was ordained in 1908. His prayerful nature took him into Retreat Ministry after ordination. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola are a popular way of praying in our time. At the turn of the Twentieth Century, they were almost the exclusive preserve of priests brothers and religious sisters. The Exercises made such a profound impact on Fr. Doyle that he felt they should be available to the largest audience possible. Fr. Doyle also had a great interest in vocations to religious life, and produced two bestselling pamphlets on the priesthood which were published by the Sacred Heart Messenger.    In 1915 he volunteered as a Chaplain in the First World War. His time in the war saw him demonstrate great acts of heroism. His death in August 1917 came as a great blow to those who had known him. He died attempting to save injured soldiers from the battlefield at Ypres. His body was initially recovered, but subsequently obliterated by a German shell. Interest in his life was sparked by a book written by Professor Alfred O’Rahilly, which became a bestseller. The book went on to inspire future saints, like Mother Teresa. The desire to have Fr. Doyle declared a saint received much traction in the 1930s, but it lapsed as the Irish Jesuits preferred to give their energies to the cause of Fr. John Sullivan. In recent years the cause has begun to get traction and a lay Association of the Faithful is working to have it promoted.

This book was written during the lockdown caused by the Covid crisis: streets were emptied, churches closed down, and all of a sudden we began to hear the sounds of nature. A new relationship with nature developed in which new questions arose: is God present in nature? Is communion with God in nature possible? Is there a relationship between the God of creation, the God of history and the God we worship in Sunday liturgies.This book seeks to explore some of these questions by going back to the Bible. In the Old Testament it discovers texts that talk about Nature praising God. In the Christian tradition it shows that nature is understood as a living community, is graced by God, and has a sacramental character to it.More particularly the Incarnation of the Word made flesh in Jesus is of profound significance for a new understanding of nature and the way we worship. The Incarnation reveals the integrity of nature, the sacred character of the natural world and the presence of some form of ‘interiority’ in the life of natureAn awareness of nature praising God stands out as a rebuke of humanity’s self-absorption at the expense of other creatures, a critique of a man-centred view of liturgy, and an invitation to join the cosmic choir in giving glory to God  .The overall result of these explorations is the outline of a new theology of nature praising God, with lessons for the way we worship God in our churches today.

The Lord’s Prayer is a simple prayer that goes back to Jesus. But even though it has been around for a long time, we no longer know how to pray it as it should be prayed. We grow up saying this prayer in a hurried way, we continue to recite it in a rush, and we risk dying without ever waking up to its richness. This book slows things down, in order to help us recognize something of the richness of this great prayer. There is a real need to reflect and meditate on each phrase of the Our Father, to ‘chew’ on the words as a cow would chew on the cud, to find the marrow of meaning, and so discover true nourishment. It is like digging for hidden treasure. Each chapter approaches a particular phrase of the Our Father from multiple perspectives, in order to facilitate a deepening level of engagement with its richness. By going through the Lord’s Prayer phrase by phrase, it is possible to taste something of the unique flavour of each line. Every chapter includes moving stories which throw a new spotlight on the marvellous riches concealed in this familiar prayer. Each chapter also includes short prayers based on the Lord’s Prayer, prayers that get us in touch with the depth and breadth of this foundational prayer. Once we translate the spiritual wisdom of the Lord’s Prayer into the personal language of our experience, we shall be led to a unique encounter with the God who yearns for us more than we could ever yearn for him.

This book tells the life of Pedro Arrupe SJ, 1907-1991, whose cause for beatification was introduced in 2019.  Arrupe played a central role in the Church of the twentieth century and his influence endures in the many who are fired by his idealism, vision and way of life. A tiny man with a heart truly larger than the world, he lived like a church mouse, prayed for four hours daily, and had a vibrant relationship with the three divine Persons through his sixteen years as General of the Jesuits.Born in Bilbao, he experienced the poverty of the Madrid slums while pursuing medical studies, and witnessed miracles at Lourdes which led him to join the Jesuit Order in 1927. He was expelled from Spain with his fellow-Jesuits in 1931 and began working in Japan in 1938 only to endure thirty-three days of solitary confinement on charges of espionage, and was a first responder in the oven of Hiroshima when the atom bomb fell there in 1945. He was elected in 1965 as superior general of the Jesuits, then numbering 36,000, and led them fearlessly for sixteen challenging years as the Church grappled with the decrees of the Vatican Council, 1962-1965. He made a refreshed Ignatian spirituality available not only to the Society but to Christians everywhere who try to find God in their daily lives. His renewal of Jesuit life and mission crystallised around the faith that does justice, and he challenged Jesuit alumni worldwide to become ‘men and women for and with others’. In 1980 he founded the Jesuit Refugee Service which has now spread globally.

The Sacred Space website, an inspiration of the Irish Jesuits, continues to be one of the most popular prayer sites worldwide. Twenty years ago a group of Jesuits saw the potential of the "new" world wide web as a way of helping and encouraging people to pray. The books followed soon after and have been consistent bestsellers.Sacred Space Lent 2023 continues the tradition of Scripture reading, points of reflection, a weekly topic and six steps of prayer and meditation. The handy format makes this an idea book for pocket, brief case, handbag or even the glove compartment of the car!

What makes a successful life, and how do I decide what do with mine? What does it mean to believe in God? Does God still hold the same meaning and relevance in our time, and if so, how can I tap into that meaning? These are just some of the questions addressed in this new book on how the lived experience of St Ignatius Loyola can be used as a guiding principle towards a more intensely and consciously lived life. This concise guide provides an insight into the life of Ignatius, as well as an introduction to Ignatian spirituality, presenting it not as a doctrine, but as a spiritual toolkit from which we can draw strength and knowledge. While an illuminating read for those already familiar with Ignatius, no prior knowledge is required to reap the benefits of this fascinating book.

Modern lives can be very busy, saturated by technology and media, but there isn't always time for happiness. As this book proves, it is the time out, the ability to look back and understand life events that brings about deeper, more satisfying living. Life is difficult but not impossible, and can be rich and fulfilling. Difficult situations of conflict, stress and worry arise, as do pleasant situations, but there are ways through the challenges. It is essential to believe that there is something positive in everything, that God is in it somewhere, and that we can get through with help. The spirituality of St Ignatius teaches us that God holds us close, loves us and desires the best for us. It is a solid foundation that we can build our lives on, it is an anchor in the storms of life, and it brings me though even the darkest hours. These mediations can be used by readers as a daily prayer source, for morning, daytime or evening prayer. They are also ideal for parish groups who might read a reflection and then come together for discussion. The book's accessibility makes it an excellent step on the spiritual path for someone seeking or returning to acknowledge God in their lives. In this way it would make a perfect gift for someone inviting another to consider "God in all things".

Many people are open to spirituality but closed to religion. Biblical wisdom reminds us that we are persons-in-relationship. We relate to ourselves, others, the planet and God.Rejecting the wisdom of the biblical lodestar can facilitate a rejection of our identity. The effects are only too prevalent. If we are unaware that we are in a relationship of stewardship with the planet, we will continue to destroy it. If we forget that we are in solidarity with others, social injustice will continue. If we forget that we are living in graced dependence we will exploit others.Our world has reached a critical stage and we stand at a crossroads where huge decisions need to be urgently made. This book attempts to highlight the value of spirituality and religion and how they complement one another. It tries to promote biblical and eucharistic literacy in a more contemporary idiom. But most of all, this book discusses the four Jesuit priorities as the way to redress the implosion of our world and in reimagining Christianity in a modern guise, as it’s clear that the ways we always did things is no longer an option.There is no place for passive bystanders when our world is falling apart. The Jesuit priorities urge us to be reflective, paying attention to our experience of life and learning from it. They stress the urgency of social and climate justice. They challenge us to promote a hope-filled world for our children. There is an urgency in the air that the four Jesuit priorities address.

Space is all around us – and we constantly refer to it. He is taking my space! This place is homely! This room is very impersonal! We need more room!  We need to de-clutter! I was lost in the vastness of the hall! I felt locked in and had to go outside!We also know that how space is arranged affects us: we want ‘round table talks’ and we do not want to be put in the back row! Churchill captured the importance of built space in a couplet: We shape our buildings, then our buildings shape us. And in every society buildings have been used to project power and authority, to regulate society, and to project an image of how that group sees itself.Strangely, we out do not think about this aspect of space when it comes to liturgy – yet every religion (and every Christian denomination) has used buildings as part of their worship: from Newgrange to classical temples to churches build of steel, concrete and glass. And it was this concern of the Second Vatican Council that led to the changes in the arrangements in Catholic Churches in the 1960s and 70s. But this religious use of space – just as with the changes mandated by Vatican II – are little appreciated or understood.This book brings together nineteen Christians – liturgists, pastors, architects, artists – from several churches and from around the world who all try to answer the question of how space affects us in worship.The topics covered include the role of light in a religious building, the need for space to appreciate dance as part of worship, the varying needs of spaces for different liturgies, accounts of how communities have become creative with space, and questions about how the liturgical renewal begun in Vatican II should continue today.

The summer of 2022 saw an unprecedented heatwave in Spain and the author, a Jesuit priest was accompanying a Dublin taxi driver on a walking retreat on the Ignatian Camino to Manresa, near Barcelona. This book tells the story of that testing pilgrimage: trying to find a way through severe heat; the challenges of walking together, finding accommodation and negotiating unexpected hurdles; and the retreat that they did together that looked at faith, prayer and blocks to progress. On one level it is a story of friendship between two very different personalities, and also a story of two souls on a spiritual search for God.As in his other books, Brendan highlights the Ignatian learning points (e.g. how to discern in a heatwave), outlines the spiritual journeys of the people they came across including a contemplative nun, and narrates the many adventures they went through to cope with exceptional circumstances. The pressure of the intense heat forces them to adapt their walking and find balance and discernment in making good decisions on the road. The pilgrimage took in some key Ignatian sites such as Montserrat and Manresa, but readers are given a unique perspective into the experience of St Ignatius Loyola through the eyes of these two pilgrims’ unique journey, as well as illustrating how a customised Ignatian retreat works. This is a pilgrimage story of finding God in the messiness of less than ideal situations, developing a heartwarming friendship, and finding a way through using Ignatian principles of reflection and flexibility.

Experience the sacred sites of the Holy Land through the eyes of Ignatius and his fellow sixteenth-century pilgrims with Josef Briffa’s fascinating guide.Jesuit priest and archaeologist Josef Briffa is your knowledgeable guide on this profound physical and spiritual journey, marking 500 years since the Ignatian pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This momentous anniversary offers an opportunity for new insight and understanding of this journey, which the author presents with absorbing detail.With this project, Briffa sets out to aid the pilgrim by providing detailed itineraries and maps for each leg of the Holy Land pilgrimage, with insights into Ignatius’ movements and experiences as he made his way to Jerusalem biblical perspectives and input from Ignatius’ own writings.This comprehensive and beautifully photographed guide is  perfectly suited both to delving into the Ignatian journey from the comfort of your own home, or bringing along as a companion on your own pilgrimage.Ignatius in the Holy Land is essential reading for anyone who is planning a pilgrimage of their own and keen to follow in the footsteps of Ignatius, or anyone who simply finds themselves curious about Ignatius’ life and journey; a worthy source for both present and future pilgrims and followers of Ignatius.

Loneliness and connection are not enemies, rather two facets of everyone’s life. We just need to get to know them. That’s especially true of loneliness, so that, far from being oppressive or a threat, it can become an opportunity or a learning point. Through loneliness we can learn to bond with ourselves and with others. Far from consuming our self-esteem or wearing us out, aloneness can prove an ally in the exciting and complicated battles of life. All we need to do is to discern the heart song of loneliness, so we can learn how to guide our emotions to cope with it. This heart song consists of our acceptance and desire, our lucidity and awareness, our memory and hope, our faith and inner turmoil. All of that is in this book: loneliness and connection. Silence and music.

The Deep End invites readers to come on a journey through the story of Mark’s Gospel, and follows on from the first two books in this series which explored Luke and Matthew. Through a series of reflections on the Sunday Gospels of Year B, it offers a fresh perspective for anyone who wants to explore how the Word of God is relevant for today.The first of the Gospels to be written, Mark urges readers to remain faithful during difficult times. Mark’s community were likely being persecuted because of their faith in Jesus; the community was struggling, crumbling, with many giving up their Christian faith. Mark’s Gospel is written to console them, but it also has a critical view of those who claim to be disciples of Jesus; Mark is clear that following Jesus involves self-sacrifice and service for the sake of God’s Kingdom. As a result, it is not the disciples who are the heroes of this story but a cast of minor characters who shine through the narrative, unexpectedly demonstrating a greater understanding. True discipleship is the gradual unfolding of greater insight or ‘seeing’. Mark invites us all to see more clearly. From the outset Mark proclaims Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, but he is not the Messiah that people were expecting. Mark proclaims a crucified Messiah, something that was a scandal to Jesus’ contemporaries, Mark’s readers, and perhaps to us today. Jesus profoundly models a different way, transgressing boundaries and fast becoming a threat to the establishment. Mark’s Gospel is not for the faint hearted, written to challenge and disturb, it tells the story of what it really means to be a follower of Jesus.The book includes tips for prayer and meditation to nourish ourselves throughout the liturgical year, as well as practical suggestions for living out our faith in the modern world. Following on from our inclusion of the Season of Creation in previous editions, we continue to focus on the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.As we navigate Mark’s Gospel, we hope to address the question of how this Gospel is relevant for everyday life in all its complexities and in doing so, offer a nourishing spirituality grounded in the Word of God.