Paulist Press International,U.S. – förlag

In a world marked by division, indifference, and suffering, mercy can seem like a fragile or even outdated ideal. Yet in this profound and timely work, Cardinal Walter Kasper argues that mercy is not only relevant—it is essential. Indeed, it is the very heart of the Gospel and the key to understanding Christian life today.Building on his landmark study Mercy: The Essence of the Gospel and the Key to Christian Life—a work that Pope Francis praised, saying, "This book has done me so much good"—Kasper here offers a clear, accessible presentation of his central insight: that mercy is the defining attribute of God and the foundation of authentic human existence.Drawing deeply from Scripture, theology, and the lived experience of the Church, The Challenge of Mercy traces the biblical vision of a God who hears the cry of his people and, in Jesus Christ, reveals mercy as the fullness of divine love. Mercy is not opposed to justice, Kasper shows, but fulfills it.At once intellectually rigorous and pastorally compelling, this book offers a vision of Christianity that is both faithful to tradition and responsive to the needs of our time. It is an invitation to encounter the God who is rich in mercy—and to become, in turn, agents of that mercy in a wounded world.Walter Kasper is a German cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. He is the author of Accepting the Mystery: Scriptural Reflections for Advent and Christmas and A Path into Life: Reflections for Lent and Easter.

An introduction to Catholic theological ethics through the lens of its historical development from the beginning of the church until today. Starting with the Scriptures, and in particular the New Testament, the author looks at the inspiration and foundational values and virtues that emerge from its moral instruction.This is a comprehensive study of every period in the history of the tradition, from the early Patristic period to the history of the Penitentials and Confessionals, to the founding of religious orders and universities, the emergence of scholasticism, the birth of modern casuistry, the Council of Trent and the subsequent moral manuals, to contemporary Reformers within the Global Church.“The task of writing a history of moral theology is daunting. James Keenan has written a superb history. The breadth and depth of this work are stunning. The narrative is clear, logically developed, and convincing. We are all in his debt.”—Charles Curran. author, Sixty Years of Moral Theology (Paulist Press, 2021)“James F. Keenan, SJ, is among the most important Catholics in the world today writing on theological ethics. In this book, he displays his dazzling knowledge of the breadth of the Catholic tradition as it stretches from the New Testament to the present, and he combines that knowledge with compelling insights into its relevance for our times. Indispensable for the professional, the book is, despite its great learning, accessible to the general reader. I congratulate James Keenan on the landmark achievement of A History of Catholic Theological Ethics.”—John W. O’Malley, SJ, University Professor Emeritus, Georgetown University“The inimitable James Keenan has provided us with another moral-theological tour de force—surfacing twenty centuries of theological innovation in a tradition better known for its attachments to the past. Carried by Keenan’s signature themes of mercy, conscience, spirituality, and virtue, this history moves ever forward into the diversity of perspectives, emergence of women, and reverse of direction from the local to the universal, that characterize this century’s global church. This far-reaching and learned work will educate, stimulate, and provoke, all in a highly readable style with existential power.”—Lisa Sowle Cahill, Donald Monan, SJ, Professor of Theology, Boston College†

Jewish Foundations of the New Testament is a scholarly exploration of the deep-rooted connections between Judaism and early Christianity, focusing on the Jewish context of the New Testament. The author delves into the historical, cultural, and theological intersections between the two faiths, addressing the complex relationship that has shaped Christian theology and biblical interpretation over centuries. The book offers strategies for readers seeking to avoid anti-Jewish readings of the New Testament, thereby fostering improved Jewish-Christian relations.Presenting thirty New Testament passages that have historically and adversely influenced Jewish-Christian relations, each chapter discusses various interpretations, emphasizing the need for contextual awareness to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes. The book focuses on four key challenges that contribute to anti-Jewish bias in New Testament interpretation: the portrayal of Pharisees, the term "Jews" in the Gospel of John, the role of the Law in Pauline theology, and the notion of the "New Covenant" in the Epistle to the Hebrews.Most powerfully, Svartvik critiques the longstanding theological approach known as supersessionism, or replacement theology, which claims that Christianity has replaced Judaism as the true faith. Svartvik suggests that this framework has led to a misinterpretation of key biblical passages, fueling anti-Jewish rhetoric and contributing to theological triumphalism.The book serves as a resource for scholars, clergy, and lay readers who wish to approach the New Testament with sensitivity toward the Jewish tradition. It encourages an interpretive shift that recognizes the Jewish roots of Christianity and aims to foster a more respectful and constructive engagement with the biblical texts.Jesper Svartvik is the former Krister Stendahl Chair of Theology of Religions, which included teaching and research both in Jerusalem and Lund, Sweden. He is currently canon theologian in the Diocese of Karlstad, Church of Sweden.†

This companion to the Spiritual Exercises, in an anniversary edition, does justice to women’s experience across contexts and social locations. While acknowledging obstacles that the Exercises hold for women in various contexts, the authors provide fresh interpretations of every aspect of this spiritual classic. They bring together feminist consciousness, a broad knowledge of psychology and theology, and the compassionate insight of experienced spiritual guides.The situation of women making and giving the Spiritual Exercises has changed radically in the past two decades since the publication of the previous edition, which highlights the variety women’s experience of the Spiritual Exercises from different cultural contexts. It also draws from new and younger women's voices, thus extending the reach of the original text to another generation over wider geographic and cultural spread. The revised book opens up new ways in which the Exercises may offer liberating possibilities for women world-wide.†

Psychological and spiritual adulthood does not come automatically with age. It requires ongoing and ardent work on ourselves. It involves articulating our own truth and acting in accord with its challenges.In this best-selling work, David Richo provides a hand-book for achieving psychological and spiritual health. Based on his many years' experience as a psychotherapist and workshop leader, the author uses the metaphor of the heroic journey, whose three phases—departure, struggle, and return—explain what happens in us as we evolve from neurotic ego through healthy ego to the spiritual self. First, he discusses the three challenges to adulthood: fear, anger, and guilt, as well as the self-esteem that comes from meeting those challenges. Then he discusses the dual problem of maintaining personal boundaries and establishing appropriate intimacy. Finally, he discusses the techniques of integration and the return to wholeness and love.How to Be an Adult is a thoughtful, accessible guide filled with useful quotations and reflections for meditation, as well as other techniques and concrete advice on the process of growth. The new appendix provides readers with practical ways to show integrity and loving-kindness.David Richo, PhD, is a psychotherapist, teacher, and retreat leader in Santa Barbara and San Francisco, California. He is the author of many books and emphasizes spiritual perspectives in all his work. His website is www.davericho.com.†

"This series is a testimony to the Spirit breathing where He wills."AmericaJohn Climacus: The Ladder of Divine Ascent edited and translated by Colm Luibheid and Norman Russellnotes on translation by Norman Russell, preface by Kallistos Ware"Prayer is the mother and daughter of tears. It is an expiation of sin, a bridge across temptation, a bulwark against affliction. It wipes out conflict, is the work of angels, and is the nourishment of everything spiritual."John Climacus (c. 579-649)The Ladder of Divine Ascent was the most widely used handbook of the ascetic life in the ancient Greek Church. Popular among both lay and monastics, it was translated into Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Armenian, Old Slavonic, and many modern languages. It was written while the author (who received his surname from this book) was abbot of the monastery of Catherine on Mount Sinai. As reflected in the title, the ascetical life is portrayed as a ladder which each aspirant must ascend, each step being a virtue to be acquired, or a vice to be surrendered. Its thirty steps reflect the hidden life of Christ himself. This work had a fundamental influence in the particularly the Hesychastic, Jesus Prayer, or Prayer of the Heart movement. Pierre Pourrat in his History of Christian Spirituality calls John Climacus the "most important ascetical theologian of the East, at this epoch, who enjoyed a great reputation and exercised and important influence on future centuries."†

In The Lord's Prayer, Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk and beloved spiritual teacher, reflects on Christianity's most universal prayer in a way that transcends tradition, inviting all people into a deeper experience of gratitude, trust, and hope. Drawing from his lifetime of spiritual insight, Brother David explores each line of the prayer as a profound pathway toward inner peace and global compassion. Through meditative reflections and engaging conversations, he reveals how this ancient prayer speaks powerfully to the human condition today.Joining Brother David in this work is Brigitte Kwizda-Gredler, a medical sociologist and spiritual director whose presence enriches the book with fresh perspectives and lived wisdom. Their dialogue opens new insights into the prayer's timeless message, inviting readers of all backgrounds to see the Lord's Prayer not only as a sacred Christian tradition but as a prayer for all people. Perfect for personal reflection or group study, this book is a gentle yet powerful guide for anyone seeking to live with greater mindfulness, love, and connection.Brother David Steindl-Rast was born in 1926 in Vienna, Austria. He immigrated to the United States in 1952, joined a Benedictine monastery, and practiced Zen. He is cofounder of the Center for Spiritual Studies and a recipient of the 1975 Martin Buber Award. At present, Brother David serves a worldwide Network for Grateful Living through gratefulness.org, an interactive website with thousands of participants daily from more than 240 countries and territories. He currently resides in a monastery in his home country of Austria.

In The Forgotten Desert Mothers, Second Edition, Laura Swan introduces readers to the sayings, lives, stories, and spirituality of women in the early Christian desert and monastic movement, from the third century on. In doing so, she finally sets the record straight that women played an important and influential role in early Christianity, indeed a role that has been long overshadowed by men.She begins with an exploration of the historical context and spirituality of the desert ascetics. Then she weaves together the sayings of the major desert ammas, or mothers, along with commentary that invites readers to reflect on their own spiritual journey as they share their wisdom. The book then journeys between desert, monastery and city to reveal the stories of ascetics and solitaries whose stories are rarely heard, organized in the author's own alphabetical collection. This book demonstrates, like no other work, that women have long had a history of leadership in Christianity. This engaging, eye-opening, and insightful work targets all faith seekers looking to reclaim the history and spirituality of the women who came before them, as well as to understand their own inner journey. It will be a welcome addition to courses on early church history, women's studies, and religious studies.†

Owen Cummings explores the traditions regarding Mary that have developed since New Testament times. In addition to the patristic themes usually covered, he includes other traditions such as Syriac and Celtic. He includes Islam since their tradition comes from Christian sources such as the Protoevangelium of James, and more is written about Mary in the Qu’ran than there is in the New Testament. After surveying church history, especially in Europe and including the Reformation, he examines Vatican II, the relatively recently defined Marian doctrines, and devotion to Mary. †

Richard Viladesau's book takes a look at an inviting topic that has come into increasing prominence in a number of fields lately—including theology. Theology and the Arts explores, in a timely and engaging manner, several aspects of the relations between theology and aesthetics, in both the pastoral and academic realms. The underlying motif of this work is that beauty is a means of divine revelation, and that art is the human mediation that both enables and limits its revelatory power.Using examples from music, pictorial art and rhetoric, the five chapters explore different aspects of the ways that art enters into theology and theology into art, both in pastoral practice, e.g., liturgical music, sacred art and preaching, and in the area of systematic reflection, where, Viladesau contends, art must be recognized as a genuine theological text. A reader-friendly feature of this work is the addition, after the central chapters, of a discography of illustrative musical works and lists of internet sights of sacred art and art history resources-a virtual museum—that will complement the text. These enhance the value of this well-written, provocative text. Although aimed at undergraduate theology students, it will certainly capture the interest of art students, pastoral ministers and anyone who appreciates the arts.†

An examination of the feminine and masculine qualities in every person.†

There are libraries of books on theodicy—the branch of philosophy and theology that wrestles with how God can allow a world to exist within which there is suffering and pain. The problem with these libraries is that they contain books that are generally written by professionals for their peers. Where the Hell Is God? combines the best of the professional’s insights with the author’s own experience and insights to speculate on how believers can make sense of their Christian faith when experiencing tragedy and suffering. Starting with a very personal story of the author's sister being left a quadriplegic from a car accident twenty years ago, Where the Hell Is God? gently leads the reader through some “take-home” messages that are sane, sound, and practical. Among these messages are: God does not directly send pain, suffering, and disease. God does not punish us; God does not send accidents to teach us things, though we can learn from them; and God does not will earthquakes, floods, droughts, or other natural disasters.This concise, accessible, and experience-based book will help people who are suffering as well as those who minister to them and their families.†

In the Exhortation's first chapter, Pope Leo underlines that love of God is inseparable from love for the poor. He urges Catholics to relentlessly identify and denounce structural injustices, "even at the cost of appearing foolish or naïve." Pope Leo concludes that "a Church that sets no limits to love, that knows no enemies to fight but only men and women to love, is the Church that the world needs today."†

Now revised, Beginning to Read the Fathers is an introduction to the church's earliest writers, preachers and theologians. It presupposes no more knowledge on the part of the reader than that the fathers existed and that their ideas might be important and perhaps even interesting. The book does not restrict itself to such topics as Christology and ecclesiology but includes other areas like martyrdom and prayer, which were highly important in shaping the mind and heart of the early church.The material in this book is arranged thematically and follows a natural progression. Each chapter attempts to give a real taste of the subject in question by providing numerous selections from the writings of the fathers, some of them classic statements and some relatively obscure. Fathers from nearly all periods and traditions are cited. The author's opinions, although not nonexistent, are subordinate to the presentation of the fathers themselves. The work was written in a nontechnical style to be read both by beginners and by people with some expertise in the field. It concludes with suggestions for a patristics reading program for those who wish to pursue a study of the fathers in more depth. †

Halík reflects an inclusive, accessible spirit that will appeal to general spirituality readers in the Catholic market. His presentation of this ancient devotion will also find interest among more traditional readers.Tomáš Halík challenges us with this new Via Crucis, rooted in the Gospel and addressed to believers and nonbelievers alike. He invites readers to a real encounter, one with Jesus in our present world. "Jesus and his cross are not something external to our lives, they are not an event that ended in the past, they must not be the object of our sentimental piety. Jesus does not invite us on the Way of the Cross to regret, but to change our mentality and our actions."Endorsements"Tomáš Halík is one of the most insightful voices in contemporary Catholicism."―Massimo Faggioli, author of The Rising Laity"The world needs more Tomáš Halík."―Charles TaylorTomáš Halík PhD, DD, is professor of sociology at Charles University, Prague. Pope John Paul II appointed him advisor to the Pontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers, and Pope Benedict XVI granted him the title of Monsignor-Honorary Prelate of His Holiness. He was awarded the Templeton Prize in 2014.†

Retrieves from obscurity the lost art of contemplative prayer as practiced for sixteen centuries in monastic tradition, and provides 500 thematically arranged scripture texts as rich resources for this intimate prayer. †

An ideal Bible for anyone who desires to reflect on the individual stories and chapters of just one, or even all, of the biblical books, while being led to prayer through meditation on that biblical passage.†

Now in a new edition, this thought-provoking book by popular author Richard Rohr offers a critique of religion as a system that often creates an alternative, pious world without really challenging oppression, materialism, and sectarianism in our modern world. Religion, he says, without this contemplative stance, is often part of the problem. Drawing from Jesus’ parable of the rich man, Rohr believes that religion can only rediscover itself as a transformational system if it passes through the eye of a needle, if it overcomes its own temptation to power, wealth, and fundamentalism. A true contemplative stance crosses boundaries, is not concerned with who’s in and who’s out. It is not a worthiness competition. In fact, the accessibility of the contemplative awareness to all is, Rohr believes, the key to the Gospel message: The kingdom of heaven is hidden in plain sight.†

A practical and prayerful guide to healing the hurt that may have occurred in the eight stages of life as described by psychologist Erik Erikson.†

"Should do much to open up his hidden source of spiritual richness."George Malone, S.J.Fordham UniversityGregory Palamas: The Triads edited with an introduction by John Meyendorfftranslated by Nicholas Gendlepreface by Jaroslav Pelikan"For God is not only beyond knowledge, but also beyond unknowing."Gregory Palamas (1296-1359)Gregory Palamas (1296-1359) -monk, archbishop, and eminent theologian- was a major figure in fourteenth-century Orthodox Byzantium. His greatest work, In Defense of the Holy Hesychasts (known commonly as The Triads), was written between 1338 and 1341 as a response to the charges of the Calabrian philosopher Barlaam against the monastic groups known as hesychasts. Barlaam denied the legitimacy of their spiritual methods, which included the famous "Jesus Prayer," and discredited their claims to experience the divine presence. Palamas devoted his career as a theologian to the defense of the truth central to hesychasm: God is accessible to personal experience, because he shared His own life with humanity.This book contains extensive excerpts from Palamas' famous work that, in the words of the book's distinguished editor John Meyendorff, "introduce the reader into the very substance of the religious experience of the Christian East."†

Saint Teresa of Avila is one of the 33 "Doctors of the Church"—and one of only four women. This devotional book is made up of her sayings from her masterpiece The Interior Castle, which Paulist Press publishes in its Classics of Western Spirituality Series. For each day of the year there is a thought on which to dwell, pray, or meditate. What makes this book unique is that it can can be picked up on ANY day of the year and the reader can appreciate the chosen thought. If you miss a day, the book will always be applicable for ANY and EVERY day of the year regardless of your circumstances.This is the perfect pocket-/purse-sized gift book for those who have a devotion to St. Teresa and to Carmelite spirituality in general.†

The Classics series, which has inspired many less-successful imitations over the years, has fulfilled its promise and given us an invaluable resource of the soul.The Catholic Historical ReviewMarguerite Porete: The Mirror of Simple Soulstranslated and introduced by Ellen L. Babinskypreface by Robert E. LernerLOVE: This Soul has within her the mistress of the Virtues, whom one calls Divine Love, who has transformed her completely into herself, is united to her, and which is why this Soul belongs neither to herself nor to the Virtues.Reason: But who are you, Love? says Reason. Are not you one of the Virtues with us even though you be above us?Love: I am God, says Love, for Love is God and God is Love, and this Soul is God by the condition of Love. Thus this precious beloved of mine is taught and guided by me, without herself, for she is transformed into me, and such a perfect one, says Love, takes my nourishment.Marguerite Porete (?-1310)We know very little about Marguerite Porete, only that she was a beguine from Hainaut who was burned at the stake as a relapsed heretic in 1310. She might have been a solitary itinerant beguine who expounded her teachings to interested listeners. She wrote The Mirror of Simple Souls in Old French sometime between 1296 and 1306.The format of the text is a dialogue among allegorical figures who represent the nature of the relation between the soul and God. The fundamental structure of the discourse is grounded in traditional Neoplatonist philosophy, and courtly language is used to express theological abstractions. The Mirror is a theological treatise which analyzes how love in human beings is related to divine love, and how the human soul by means of this relation may experience a lasting union of indistinct ion with God in this life.This is the first modern English translation of the complete text. The translation is based on a critical edition of the Old French and Latin versions of The Mirror. The introduction sets The Mirror in the maelstrom of political and ecclesiastical tensions and conflicts, and offers an analysis of the French beguine's thought. †

Explores the ways in which our best choices, our most wholesome choices, can help us grow inwardly into healthier, actualizing human beings.†

"indispensable for most libraries."Library JournalMaximus the Confessor: Selected Writings translation and notes by George C. Bertholdintroduction by Jaroslav Pelikanpreface by Irénée-Henri Dalmais, O.P."The perfect mind is the one that through genuine faith knows in supreme ignorance the supremely unknowable, and in gazing on the universe of his handiwork has received from God comprehensive knowledge of his Providence and judgment in it, as far as allowable to men."Maximus Confessor (c.580-662)Maximus is called the Confessor because of his sufferings and labors for the true faith. During the seventh century when the monothelite heresy (belief that Christ had only one will—a divine one) plagued the Church, Maximus eloquentlydemonstrated that Christ had both human and divine natures.Writing in the introduction to this volume Jaroslav Pelikan highlights the relevance of Maximus' writings for today: "It was the genius of Maximus Confessor that, in a measure that has been granted only to a few, he was fully bilingual, affirming by means of negation and speaking both the language of spirituality and the language of theology with equal fluency.From the looks of things within both Western and Eastern Christendom—and beyond—that gift of being bilingual is one that people of faith will need more than ever in the years to come."†

"Each volume has been critically chosen, lucidly translated and excellently introduced by internationally acknowledged scholars. (The publisher) must be praised for its selectivity, overall book format, original cover designs by contemporary artists, and indexes for each volume."Theological StudiesHadewijch: The Complete Works translation and introduction by Mother Columbia Hart,O.S.B., preface by Paul Mummers, S.J."May God give us a renewed mind For noble and free love,To make us so new in our life That Love may bless usAnd renew, with new taste, Those to whom she can give new fullness;Love is the new and powerful recompense Of those whose life renews itself for Love alone." Hadewijch (A Beguine of the 13th Century)Belonging to the early thirteenth century, Hadewijch brings us a spiritual message of extraordinary power. She was endowed in no less degree than St. Teresa of Avila with the gifts of visionary mysticism and literary genius. She felt herself strongly a woman, as can be seen from her choosing to join the women's movement of her day, that of the Beguines, who dedicated themselves to a life of true spirituality without taking the veil.Hadewijch understood that she was called to communicate to others the profound knowledge of the things of God granted to her in her mystical life. She directed her apostolate to some younger Beguines, and nearly all her writings, both prose and poetry, were intended for them. She mentions other spiritual friends, some in distant countries. Her experiences and her message, however , however, remained hidden; she attained to no celebrity among her contemporaries. The way of immediate fame was for other women mystics. St. Hildegard (1098-1179), the visionary and writer, enjoyed high reputation Clairvaux, and crowned heads. Hadewijch's contemporary, St. Lutgard (1183-1246), was widely known for her visions of the Sacred Heart, which won her the friendship of persons like the Master General of the Dominican Order and Duchess Marie of Brabant (daughter of King Louis VIII of France), and after her death made her tomb a place of pilgrimage. Where Hadewijch was buried, however, no one knows and her writings, after passing through the hands of John of Ruusbroec and his circle, were lost to sight until the nineteenth century.Since the rediscovery of Hadewijch, her importance has been progressively appreciated, and the hidden dimension of her life is now open so that we may share it according to the particular needs of our own day.†

Based on first-hand information. Here is the first English biography for middle graders on Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish Franciscan who, at Auschwitz, offered himself in exchange for the life of a man with two children. The biography covers Kolbe's early life, his work as a journalist, and his founding of Niepokalanow, the world's largest friary. Kolbe's act of love and faith teaches young readers important lessons that Christianity means more than just going to church, that the Holocaust actually happened, and that saints can be as real and modern as the person standing next to you in line. For first-hand research, the author traveled to Poland to visit where Kolbe lived and to interview people who actually knew him, including his cousin, his secretary, and one of his students. In addition, the foreword is by Ted Wojtkowski, a fellow camp prisoner and now a well-known Polish American who was standing close to Kolbe when he made his offer of self-sacrifice. Kolbe's story is ideal for children of Polish descent, parochial schools, parish libraries, classes in cultural diversity, and classes on World War II or the Holocaust. And, while written simply enough for children, this book will move all readers showing just how much the human spirit can achieve. †

This collection of essays is a testimony to the spiritual, theological and scientific legacy of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. The contributors, both scientists and theologians, are all well-known scholars who have made significant contributions through their research. In their essays, they share their own insights about the nature and continuing influence of Teilhard’s writings. The book provides reflections by acknowledged authorities on Teilhard’s spiritual life, on the friends with whom he corresponded, on his spiritual and philosophical theological orientations, and on the continuing significance of his scientific interests.†

Everyone is afraid. Sometimes fear is inappropriate and unnecessary. At other times, we have good reason to be afraid. But in every case, fear reduces our ability to be ourselves. It convinces us we shouldn’t take chances or risks.This book is for people who want to let go of unreasonable fear or act more creatively in the face of reasonable fear. It explores the roots of fear—the fear of change, of self-disclosure, of giving and receiving, of being alone. Beneath all of these is the greatest fear of all: the fear of loving and being loved.This 25th anniversary edition speaks of the enduring message of the book and this new edition has been greatly updated and expanded to include more contemporary developments in psychology and current events. Every chapter of the book has been rewritten and revised with a new audience in mind. Some new sections have been added and existing sections revised.This revised and updated edition reflects the author’s growing understanding of the ageless concern in our lives—becoming free from fear so that we can be more resourceful in our life.†

St. Cyprian's writings portray vividly the life of the Christian church in the middle of the third century. The two pastoral addresses of this intensely devout bishop reveal the aftermath of the persecution by the Emperor Decius.†