LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS - December Newsletter

Finding Inspiration Every Day

“Liguori Publications. My name is Marjorie, how may I help you?” That’s how I answer when customers call to place orders or ask for help using our Web site, www.liguori.org.

As you may have guessed, I work in customer service and sales. I also frequently write for Liguorian magazine. I have a doctor of ministry degree in pastoral psychotherapy, and I began working at Liguori in 1998 after retiring from counseling groups, individuals, and couples.

The best part of my job at Liguori is working with people who are as dedicated as I am to helping the Redemptorist congregation spread the Gospel message through parish, catechetical, and trade materials that are grounded in our Catholic faith, well written, and easy to understand.

At this time of year it’s not unusual for someone to ask about inspirational materials they can use every day of the new year. One book I always suggest is Daily Strength for Daily Needs: One Year of Biblical Inspiration by Victor M. Parachin. I keep a copy of it at my desk for personal use. Each of the 365 one-page meditations relates a Scripture passage to practical living and concludes with a short prayer or thought. For instance, the January 1 meditation suggests ways for “Being Faithful Where We Are.” Parachin counsels, “So, as a new year begins, let us resolve to be faithful. When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, let us remember that God has planted us in a certain place at a certain time and told us to be dependable and reliable in whatever responsibilities we have.” I certainly take that to heart as I fulfill my duties here at Liguori! This book makes a thoughtful gift: One customer bought a copy for every person in her wedding party.

This year Lent begins early (February 6), so soon we’ll have many requests for Lenten and Easter materials. Our new book Stations of the Resurrection: The Way to Life by Terry Tastard invites us to enter into the joy of Christ’s resurrection. Each of the fourteen beautiful icons of the Risen Lord is accompanied by a meditation and prayer. And like most of our inspirational and devotional titles, Stations of the Resurrection is suitable for personal use and as a gift.

Liguori Publications will be closed from December 24 through January 1, but our Web site is always open. If you have a few spare moments, please visit www.liguori.org. I’m sure you’ll be pleased at the variety of materials you’ll find. You can place your order on the Web site, but if you have any questions, we’ll be back open for business on January 2 and eager to take your call. I’ll be spending my time off with friends and family, and I’ll be sure to take a few extra moments to thank God for the wonderful gift of his son and for the privilege of being part of the Liguori family.

I hope to hear from you often during 2008. My number is 800-325-9521, extension 1407.

Marjorie Kolb

LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS - November Newsletter

This Wonderful Season

Hello, my name is Pat DeClue.

In my official capacity as assistant to the president of Liguori Publications, I work closely with Father Mat Kessler, take care of the employee payroll, and administer the business of our board of directors. In my unofficial capacity as “mother of Liguori,” as I’m known among my coworkers, I keep my door open to anyone who needs help, information, or a listening ear. But that’s not all! For the past fifteen years, I’ve served as project editor of the Scrupulous Anonymous newsletter (sent free to anyone who sends an e-mail to sa@liguori.org) as well as other pastoral newsletters, and I worked with Father Thomas Santa as he wrote Understanding Scrupulosity: Questions, Helps, and Encouragement.

My faith has grown deeper through my friendships with the Redemptorist priests and brothers. Like them, I have a strong devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, my guide in difficult times. I carry Devotions in Honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in my purse and quite often say the prayers when I have a spare moment. Other Liguori products play a role in the weekly prayer time I share with my ninety-year-old mom at our parish’s perpetual adoration chapel. Right now we’re reading Risking Hope: Fragile Faith in the Healing Process by my friend and fellow grandmother Kathleen O’Connell Chesto and Come, Healing God by Joan Guntzelman and Lou Guntzelman. We have many friends with life-threatening illnesses, so it’s a comfort for both of us to have this special time to pray for them.


This Thanksgiving I’ll have special visitors: my two children, their spouses, and their seven beautiful children—the oldest is seven and the youngest nine months. They’re the greatest joys in my life! When the twins (now three years old) were infants, we included their picture in Welcome! Prayers for New and Pregnant Parents. I always give this beautiful little book to friends when they have a baby.

Just because Thanksgiving’s still a couple of weeks away doesn’t mean it’s too early to start Christmas shopping! I’m planning to give meaningful presents this year. To the young families on my list I’m giving Keep Talking: Daily Conversation Starters for the Family Meal, a really neat spiral-bound flip chart that’s small enough to stand on the dinner table for easy reference. Each page has a different topic, some serious (“Name two people you respect and tell why”) and some not so serious (“If you were a cat, what would you think about all day?”). My son and son-in-law are active in their churches as well as great baseball and football fans, so they’ll love And God Said, “Play Ball!” and And God Said, “It’s Good!”. But you don’t have to be a young man to enjoy them—even my mother enjoyed them and bought copies for friends.

November is a special time of any year with Thanksgiving and preparations for Christmas, but it’s even more special this year as Liguori Publications marks its 60th anniversary of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for so many things, but this year I’m especially grateful to be part of this wonderful family called Liguori Publications.

Thanks for spending time with me during this wonderful season!

4 a.m. Madonnas

Available NOW!


4 a.m. Madonnas

Spiritual Guide for Christian Mothers

Rachel Barton

Written out of the author’s experience of pregnancy, birth, and the development of family life, 4 a.m. Madonnas is a must for all mothers. Using artwork, journaling, and many other exercises, this guide helps mothers to find the inner calm during the usual madness that constantly surrounds them.

This book includes actual experiences from many different mothers, eloquent and easy-to-read treatments of important topics from various Christian perspectives, and many exercises and illustrations for individual or group study. These reflections and other inspiring thoughts will enrich your spiritual life and enhance your relationship with God and your family by helping you to:

Pay positive attention to your feelings
Enjoy exploring your experiences and
Distinguish what’s right for you and your growing family.

As a “4 a.m. Madonna,” with a new life depending on you for imaginative support and inspiration, you will need to find these important aspects of your faith-life for yourself, too.

Rachel Barton, who lives in England with her husband Stephen and two young sons, Thomas and Luke, draws on her personal pregnancy and “new Mom” experiences to help others share the joy and wonder of God’s ultimate gift to us—our children. Her book reflects her previous work in religious education. She is currently studying to be a spiritual director.

144-page paperback
5½ x 8¼
978-0-7648-1648-2
$14.95

The God Questions

Available NOW!

The God Questions

What Forms and Shapes Us

Patrick J. Russell

This book is about the questions everyone seems to encounter in life – the God Questions. These are the questions that we need to help our children, and ourselves, to “see” in the life around us if we are to have any hope of discovering the Answer (God).

We encounter an infinite number of questions on our journey to God, but four of them in particular, symbolized here by separate trips down the Wisconsin River with each of the author’s four sons, propel us:

What is our place in the world?
Who is God calling us to be?
How is God caring for us?
Where is God’s love?

This book is not just a compilation of experiences but also the questions and answers that were discovered on the way that allow us to teach our children and ourselves about God.

Patrick J. Russell, Ph. D., is an Assistant Professor of Scripture Studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology, a national seminary located in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, run by the Priests of the Sacred Heart. He and his wife Stephanie have four sons, David, Ryan, Micah, and Ian.

192-page paperback
5 ½ x 8 ¼
978-0-7648-1629-1
$18.95

LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS - September Newsletter

Service, Dedication, and Commitment

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Feast Day September 5th

I'm Wendy Barnes, senior designer/illustrator at Liguori Publications. My life has been abundantly blessed since I joined Liguori Publications, the namesake of the founder of the Redemptorist congregation, in 1981. Since then I've gone from typesetting to copy marking to working with photostats and hot-wax paste-up, and today I create designs and illustrations using a Macintosh Power PC G5 with a dual processor. Many other things have changed over the last twenty-six years, but the most important thing hasn't: Saint Alphonsus Liguori's charism is still reflected in the service, dedication, and commitment to our mission shown by all who work here.

A designer/illustrator puts type and images together to catch your eye and convey a feeling about a product. I do this by imagining the person who will buy and/or use the product. Sometimes it's a very specific audience, sometimes not. For example, I put myself in the shoes of an eight-year-old when I illustrate the covers of our Liguori Kids pamphlet series. One of my favorites is Do I Have to Go to Church? (note the bunny slippers!). A product with broader appeal is Journey of Faith, our program for the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA). This top seller combines catechesis, theology, and Scripture study with just the right amount of lightheartedness.

I was born and raised Catholic about five miles from Liguori, Missouri, in a small town on the Mississippi River. Liguori's Sunday bulletins—especially the Dear Padre letters—were a huge part of my Catholic formation. Back then I didn't imagine I would one day design bulletin pages on a computer in the office next to the Padre's. (Just to let you know, the Padre loves chocolate!)



I've always been inspired by the saints and, just like you, I have my favorites. A fan of the “Little Flower,” Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, I chose Therese as my confirmation name. Another favorite is Teresa of Avila. So is Mother Teresa, whose feast day is September 5; our Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Memoir is one of many products we've published in tribute to her. She and Saint Thérèse are featured in our An Hour With… series of pamphlets, which are perfect for people who don't have much time but would like to spiritually connect with their favorite saints.


It's time to take my daily walk along the drive of our beautiful campus, so I'll close now, but I'm glad we had a chance to visit. I'm sure you'll find something here at Liguori Publications to inspire you as much as our products inspire me.

I wish you blessings and peace,
Wendy Barnes

LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS - August Newsletter

The Feast of Saint Alphonsus Liguori

August is a very special month for members of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (also known as the Redemptorists) and the folks associated with them.

In the liturgical calendar, August 1 is the feast of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church. It is a day Redemptorists celebrate with great gusto, because Saint Alphonsus is our founder. Before the liturgical reforms that followed the Second Vatican Council, August 2 was the feast day of Saint Alphonsus and the day new members of the Congregation made their initial public vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as well as an oath of perseverance. Their profession of vows culminated the year of preparation that began on August 1 of the previous year, the day they wore the distinctive religious habit of the spiritual sons of Alphonsus for the first time. So, as you can see, the first couple of days of August are chock full of graced memories for us.

August also has particular significance for Redemptorists because August 15 is the great feast of the Assumption of Mary. Alphonsus' middle name was Mary, and any Redemptorist will tell you that love for and dedication to Mary play a major role in our charism.

Alphonsus was a great preacher of the Gospel. He wanted his brothers and sisters in the faith to realize through his writings how real, how applicable the Good News that is Jesus Christ is intended to be in their everyday lives. He wrote over a hundred books and other works, and references to Sacred Scripture are liberally sprinkled throughout.

Redemptorist brothers and priests identify with the way Alphonsus accepted, lived, and proclaimed the Gospel. We are called by the Lord to share in the Alphonsian charism that expresses the meaning of the Good News of Jesus Christ in the life of believers, namely "With Him there is plentiful redemption." One way we do so is through the publications ministry here in Liguori, Missouri. In collaboration with dedicated lay men and women, we take great care and give loving attention to the production of "simple, straightforward devotional and catechetical resources and books" (to quote Liguori Publications' President/Publisher, Father Mat Kessler, C.Ss.R.). Each effort and product gives modern-day expression and emphasis to the "plentiful redemption" offered always and to all.

The materials we produce at Liguori Publications are designed to help you arrive at a renewed conviction of God's overwhelming and overflowing love. And, maybe...just maybe...a side effect of your use of Liguori products will be that August becomes a very special time for you as well.

May his and his mother's love overwhelm you,

In the spirit of Saint Alphonsus,

Father Tom Danielsen, C.Ss.R.

Keep Talking

Celebrate Family Day 2007 – September 24, 2007...Pass the Potatoes… and the Family Values

Family Day — A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children™

Keep Talking

Daily Conversation Starters for the Family Meal

Maureen Treacy Lahr and Julie Pfitzinger

Many families today seldom take time to eat together. When they do, they often have difficulty starting a conversation or may even discover that they have little in common to talk about. Written by mothers of school age kids, here are 288 discussion points for mealtime with your family. The book stands on your supper table like a flip chart with its own built-in easel. Some of the points are religiously oriented; all are based on important values for modern family living. A wonderful gift for any family you know who would like to get to know each other better but just needs a little help getting started.

National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA*) at Columbia University launched Family Day — A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children™ in 2001, as a national movement that encourages parents to frequently eat dinner with their kids and be involved in their children’s lives as simple, effective ways to reduce substance abuse among children and teens. This year, Family Day will be celebrated Monday, September 24, 2007.

288-page spiral-bound with easel
5 x 4
978-0-7648-1307-8
$9.95

Why God Loves Us...No Matter What

Did You Ever Wonder --

Why God Loves Us...No Matter What

Ken Sedlak, C.Ss.R.

If you're looking for a book that addresses spirituality in general - and the revelation that we're all loved absolutely and unconditionally or we wouldn't exist - this is the book you'll truly enjoy.

"Why God Loves Us...No Matter What"
details the secret of God's unconditional love in terms everyone can understand. In a sensitive, pastoral manner, the reader is welcomed into a thoughtful, contemporary discussion easily and without pretense. The author moves us through common phases in our life, explains how our feelings of frustration, loneliness and even dissatisfaction are really our true self holding out for something more, all-the-while being guided by Jesus and God's plan for our complete and total happiness. You'll find this book will be worthy of conversation - at home, with your study group, even at small faith sharing groups such as Theology on Tap! If you - or someone you know - is on a spiritual journey, this book may turn out to be an important guidepost along the way.

The author is Ken Sedlak, C.Ss.R. a Redemptorist priest serving at the Redemptorist Apostolic Center at St. Michael's in Old Town Chicago, Illinois.

Available October, 2007

ISBN: 978-0-7648-1627-7

144-page paperback

$14.95

LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS - June Newsletter

A Large Part Of My Life

Hi!

My name is Cecelia Portlock, and I'm senior production editor at Liguori Publications. I have been asked to tell you a little about my career here at Liguori, which began more than 45 years ago. I think they thought they should get me to write something before I retire in a few weeks, figuring that some of the history will be lost forever.

*Editor's Note: Cecelia's retirement from Liguori Publications became official on April 20. She is enjoying her long-awaited “free time” by traveling with her husband Dennis and spending time with her five grandchildren. Her hobbies include gardening and creating beautiful hand-crafted quilts for her family and friends.

I started working at Liguori right after graduation from Herculaneum [Missouri] High School, which is located near Liguori's headquarters. My first job was working on the St. Gerard magazine and the League of St. Gerard. At that time, there were only four of us—all in one office—typing, proofing, and even working in the mailroom sending out the Liguorian and the other magazines that Liguori published.

After I married and had two children, I became a stay-at-home mom for ten years. But once the kids were in school, I definitely had too much time on my hands. For about a year or so, I worked part-time wherever they needed me at Liguori. Finally, when a full-time position opened in the Bulletin Department, I jumped at the chance. That was the year we started publishing the children's bulletins, Explaining God's Word. It was so much fun being involved in a new venture, and when it succeeded, it made all the hard work so worthwhile. Later we developed our nested bulletins, which also proved to be a winner.

Although the Bulletin Department was a great place to learn and I felt lucky to work with such dedicated people, my real interest was in books. When a position opened in our Book Department, I applied immediately. I'll never forget the day I got the job; it was then that I knew I had really found my place at Liguori!

For the past 15 years I have worked on our trade books. It has been my privilege to work on books about Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, and Thomas Merton. I have also worked with some of Liguori's best-selling authors like Father Lukefahr (whose books really appeal to the average Catholic) and Bernadette McCarver Snyder, who wrote our “Fun Facts” series and many prayer books. I also enjoyed working with Father Kevin O'Neil and Brother Victor and his wonderful, faith-filled cookbooks.

It would be very difficult to name all my favorite books over the years—there's not enough room. But it is important for me to say that each book was a unique creation, a labor of love for the author and for Liguori, and a gift to the Church. It is nice to know that many will live on long after I retire.

Here are some of my current favorite books. Since I am a sports fan, the first two were very easy. We first published And God Said, “Play Ball!” in 2004. It had an interesting concept—comparing baseball and the Bible. To complement that title, we are publishing And God Said, “It's Good!”, which continues this same theme but with the game of football. Now, when checking Bible quotes on other projects, I come across different verses and think, “Gee, that would make a good football quote!”

“...Liguori Drive on a bright, clear autumn morning with all the trees in full color is a breathtaking sight.”

We recently revised Sister Joan Chittister's In Search of Belief. When it was first published in 1999, it gave a very powerful message. The new revision reads like a whole new book. I'd like to think that we get wiser as we age instead of just becoming more forgetful. One of the most beautiful books we have published in many years has to be Mary, Mother of God. It tells the story of Mary through stunning four-color icons of the Blessed Mother. It's a keepsake if ever there was one. Finally, I love all of Bernadette McCarver Snyder's books because they are sprinkled with her own special brand of humor and are great for kids and adults. Last year we released Paper Bag Prayers, which is both prayerful and practical while also making me chuckle. Bernadette's personality comes through in all her books. She is a delightful person and fun to work with.

I am sure I will miss the work at Liguori; it has been a large part of my life and has truly helped make me the person I am today. I am grateful to the Redemptorists, all my fellow employees, and our dear customers for the opportunity. I wish all our readers could visit us in the fall. Driving up Liguori Drive on a bright, clear autumn morning with all the trees in full color is a breathtaking sight. You just want to stop and enjoy God's handiwork. I live close enough to continue to do that after my retirement. And this fall I won't have to worry about being late for work. I might just bring a lunch!

Sincerely,

Cecelia Portlock
Senior Production Editor

__________________________________________________
Liguori Publications - Suggested Reading:
And God Said, "Play Ball!"
And God Said, "It's Good!"
In Search of Belief
Mary, Mother of God
Paper Bag Prayers

Liguori Publications Hires Two New Directors

Liguori Publications welcomes Suann Fields and Pamela Brown.

Suann Fields has been appointed the Director of Finance/Business Operations and Pamela Brown is the new Director of Marketing/Sales.

Suann Fields comes to Liguori with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, most recently as Chief Financial Officer of the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate in Belleville, Illinois. She started her career in public accounting transitioning into the nonprofit sector. Fields held numerous positions with the Missionary Oblates gaining responsibility and experience including comprehensive financial, mailroom, and donor services. Fields received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois-Champaign and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Suann lives in Breese, Illinois, received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois-Champaign, and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Pam Brown has served in a variety of marketing roles in Christian publishing over the past nineteen years. Brown began her career as a children’s book product manager, served as director of consumer products, and, most recently, as an officer of the company and as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Christian Board of Publication/Chalice Press. Brown received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and an MBA from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The unique challenge of a marketer is to serve as a bridge between community--those we serve--and the publishing house in order to identify needs, and to develop and publish resources that will support those in ministry, those in the pew, and those seeking to learn more about the Catholic faith. Pam added, "I am looking forward to this new calling with Liguori Publications, and I am certain that it will be a joy and a challenge."

Pam was born in St. Charles, Missouri, where she graduated from the Academy of the Sacred Heart, received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and an MBA from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Fr. Mat Kessler, President/Publisher, believes the significant influence of an educated laity will continue to impact the Church and expressed his enthusiasm that these two talented individuals are joining the Liguori family. The Redemptorist legacy of announcing God's plentiful redemption to all will continue as Liguori responds to these challenges.

Liguori Publications is located 24 miles south of St. Louis, Missouri. The Redemptorists in the Midwest began their publishing venture in 1913. Liguori Publications itself dates to 1947, when the Redemptorists moved its headquarters to south suburban St. Louis. Among its products is Liguorian magazine, one of America’s leading Catholic periodicals. Other products include parish Sunday bulletins, youth and adult catechetical materials for parishes and religious-education programs, devotional and educational pamphlets, and trade books. Materials are sold throughout North America. Liguori Publications has more than ninety full-time employees.

_______________________________________________________
For more information contact: Liguori Publications


Julie Miller

Marketing Communications Specialist

Liguori Publications

636-223-1517

Structured Prayer for Those With Addictions

Liguori Publications is proud to release:

Praying Throughout the Day
A Book of Hours for Those With Addictions

Harriet Roberts

Combating their distorted sense of time and space, anyone with addictions will find comfort in this hourly structure that nourishes them from the start of the day, through their working hours, and into the safety and peace of nighttime. Praying Throughout the Day uses the format of the Church’s Liturgy of the Hours as a framework for people with addictions to pray their way through each day, hour by hour. Guided by Scripture and the saints, readers will become immersed in salvation history and empowered to move from one struggle to the next.


This book combines the best wisdom of spiritual formation, i.e., regularity in prayer, with modern methods of addiction recovery, and will appeal to those with addictions of all kinds. In addition,this book will be most useful to counselors, retreat directors, pastoral ministers, chaplains, and all healing professionals.


Harriet Roberts is at the Institute of Pastoral Studies, Loyola University, Chicago, in the Pastoral Counseling program. Her primary focus is addiction, how it relates to depression, and how ‘addictive thinking’ is transmitted through generations even when ‘addictive behaviors’ are not apparently present. She is particularly interested in how spiritual practices support healing and recovery.

224-page paperback
3-7/8 x 6-1/4
978-0-7648- 1479-2
$15.95

LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS - May Newsletter

The Best Service Possible

Making sure your order arrives on time, in good condition, and with everything included is my job here at Liguori. If any of those things don't happen, I will know about it and do everything I can to correct our mistake.

My name is Tom Houseworth and I am the Operations Manager for Liguori Publications. I work with many dedicated employees committed to taking care of our valued customers. We do the purchasing of all materials for all our printed and audio products. I also manage our warehouse and shipping departments. In an average month we ship over 8,000 orders. It amazes me to think about how many people we will touch all over the world through our printed products in the course of just one year.

I've been with Liguori Publications for almost 29 years and a lot has changed during that time...besides me getting older and grayer! I remember when I applied for this position. Liguori had just recently published the Handbook for Today's Catholic. Since then we have printed and sold several million copies of that title in addition to publishing other handbooks in this series for the family, children, and teens.

In those days all orders came to us by mail (called “snail” mail today). As our business grew, we opened our Telephone Sales department and began taking orders over the phone. A few years later we started receiving orders by fax machine, then email, and now through our Liguori website. I guess the next step will be by text messaging from cell phones! Whatever method you use, our employees are standing by to serve you.

Like every business or parish or family, prices always seem to be going up. Of course, paper costs are climbing all the time, but a lot of our increases in the past few years have come from higher postage costs. All of us here at Liguori are always looking for creative ways to stay competitive and continue to offer high quality products while keeping our prices down. Our Purchasing Department looks for the best vendors we can find. Many of these companies have been with us for years and work very hard to control their costs so we can pass these savings on to you.

This month we are featuring a 60 percent off sale on the website to celebrate our 60th anniversary. Some of the products are featured in this newsletter, the rest you can find at Liguori Publications.

I really enjoy the variety and challenges of my job. My department's number one goal is to take care of our customers by providing them with the best service possible. Be sure to let us know if there is anything we can do serve you better.

Thank you for giving us a chance to provide you with our Liguori products.

Sincerely,

Tom Houseworth

Operations Manager

Liguori Publications Featured Titles:
Married White Male in Search Of...
Merton: A Biography
My Hope for the Church
Nourished by the Word
Nurturing Your Blended Family
Handbook for Today's Catholic: Revised Edition

Liguori Publications

One Liguori Drive

Liguori, MO 63057

Toll-Free 800-325-9521

LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS - April Newsletter (Español)

sud

A Letter From José Antonio Medina

María Madre de la Iglesia

En mi servicio y ministerio pastoral he tenido la oportunidad de vivir en diferentes países y de compartir la fe de muchas comunidades cristianas. Desde esa experiencia he podido comprobar que cada pueblo tiene sus propias peculiaridades y cada comunidad expresa su fe desde su propia cultura. En América Latina y en España la devoción mariana es un elemento muy importante tanto en la vida interna de las comunidades cristianas como en el lenguaje y en la cultura popular. Veamos algunos ejemplos: todos conocemos el vnculo que existe entre el pueblo mexicano y la Virgen de Guadalupe, casi cinco millones de personas visitan su santuario en los das previos a su fiesta. Algo semejante sucede con Nuestra Señora de Lujan y el pueblo argentino, nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles y los costarricenses o la Virgen de Chinchinquirá y los colombianos. Todos los pases de AL han aprendido a vivir y a expresar su fe de la mano de María, la Madre de Dios.

Hemos oído hablar de cómo ha ido decayendo la participación de los católicos europeos en la misa dominical o en otros ritos católicos, sin embargo, las devociones marianas se siguen celebrando con mucho entusiasmo y profunda fe. La procesión de la Macarena en Sevilla, la fiesta de la Virgen del Pilar, en Madrid, la procesión al santuario de la Virgen de Montserrat, en Cataluña, atraen a miles de personas tanto locales como de otros países y regiones. En Francia la Virgen de Lourdes, en Irlanda nuestra Señora de Knock, y las Madonas que con tanta devoción se veneran en los pueblos de Italia, son ejemplos de la importancia de María en la fe de los católicos europeos.

No he tenido oportunidad de visitar países orientales, pero la fe y devoción a Mara de la comunidad vietnamita y de la comunidad coreana en Estados Unidos, nos muestran que María fue un elemento muy importante en la fundación de esas iglesias.

Esas devociones, quizás en menor escala también están presentes en Estados Unidos, pues muchas parroquias fueron fundadas por católicos inmigrantes. Sin embargo y quizás por la cercanía con nuestros hermanos protestantes, no se han hecho populares. Es muy importante que los que vivimos aquí entendamos cuál es la función de María en la vida de la Iglesia católica.

Desde los orígenes de la Iglesia, narrados en el Nuevo Testamento hasta los escritos de los últimos papas, todos han visto en María dos elementos fundamentales: María es la Madre de Dios y María es seguidora de Cristo. El primer título nos invita a venerarla por su participación en el misterio de la Encarnación del Verbo de Dios y el segundo nos la presenta como una mujer de su tiempo, una discípula de Jesús, un modelo de fe para nosotros.

La Iglesia nos enseña que María es la "Madre de Dios", la "llena de gracia". Con estos títulos reconocemos la especial y extraordinaria misión de María en la obra de la redención. San Pablo nos dice: "En la plenitud de los tiempos Dios envió a su Hijo nacido de mujer", y con estas palabras entendemos la extraordinaria función que María desempeñó al traernos al autor de la vida. Ningún ser humano ha realizado una obra más grande que esa, por eso afirmamos que ella fue preparada por Dios para esa especial misión. Pero al venerarla como Madre de Dios no cerramos nuestros ojos a su realidad humana. Ella fue una mujer de su tiempo que supo ser madre y esposa, que se hizo solidaria con los pobres de la tierra y que supo seguir a Jesús y continuar su misión. Por eso la vemos como nuestro modelo, como alguien cercano a nosotros.

A fin de entender toda la riqueza espiritual que brota de las devociones y de la Mariología, le invito a que lea las siguientes obras: María en Latinoamerica , que nos ofrece las imágenes de María más veneradas en América Latina con una breve explicación de los símbolos que las adornan. The Essential Mary Handbook nos ofrece una reflexión teológica y espiritual sobre María. Las Glorias de María, escrito por San Alfonso, el doctor mariano, nos invita a la devoción y a la oración de la mano de María y finalmente, The Marian Album CD nos ofrece música y cantos a María que se han hecho clásicos en el mundo. Le recomiendo además que revise este sito en la red o que pida un catálogo por teléfono donde encontrará muchos otros libros y devocionarios que le ayudarán a acrecentar su amor a nuestra Madre María.

Que Dios te bendiga,

José Antonio Medina,
S.T.D.Managing Editor,
Libros Liguori Liguori Publications


© 2007 Liguori Publications

LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS - April Newsletter

A Letter From José Antonio Medina

Mary, Mother of the Church

In my pastoral service and ministry I have had the opportunity to live in different countries and to share in the faith of many Christian communities. From those experiences I have been able to confirm that each town has its own characteristics and that each community expresses their faith according to their own culture. In Latin America and Spain, Marian devotion is such an important component not only in the internal life of the Christian communities but also within the language and popular culture. For example, we all know of the ties that exist between the Mexican public and the Virgin of Guadalupe, nearly five million people visit her sanctuary on the days prior to her Holy feast. Something similar happens with Our Lady of Lujan and the Argentine public, Our Lady of the Angels and the Costa Ricans, or the Virgin of Chinchinquir and the Colombians. All of the Latin American countries have learned to live and express their faith with Mary, the Mother of God.

We have heard talk of the decline of European Catholics in Sunday mass attendance or in other Catholic rites, however, Marian devotions continue to be celebrated with much enthusiasm and profound faith. The procession of Our Lady of Hope (La Macarena) in Seville, the feast of the Our Lady of the Pillar (Virgen del Pilar) in Madrid, the procession to the sanctuary of the Virgin of Montserrat in Catalonia, attract thousands of people, locally as well as from other countries and regions. In France, the Virgin of Lourdes, in Ireland, Our Lady of Knock, and the Madonnas that are venerated with such devotion in the towns of Italy are examples of the importance of Mary in the faith of European Catholics.

I have not had the opportunity to visit eastern countries but the faith and devotion to Mary in the Vietnamese and Korean communities of the United States show us that Mary was an important component in the establishment of these Churches.

Those devotions are perhaps present on a smaller scale in the United States, since many parishes were established by Catholic immigrants. However, and maybe because of our closeness with our Protestant brothers, they have not gained popularity. It is very important for those of us who live here to understand the function of Mary in the life of the Catholic Church.

From the origins of the Church, from the narrations in the New Testament to the writings of our latest popes, all have seen two fundamental elements in Mary: Mary is the "Mother of God" and Mary is a follower of Christ. Her first title invites us to venerate Her for Her participation in the mystery of the Incarnation, and the second presents Her to us as a woman of her time, a disciple of Christ, a model of faith for us.

The Church teaches us that Mary is the "Mother of God," "full of grace." With such titles, we recognize Mary's special and extraordinary mission in the act of redemption. St. Paul tell us "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman," and these words help us understand the extraordinary duty that Mary carried out when she brought us the creator of life. No human being has accomplished a feat greater than that, which is why we affirm that God prepared Her for that special mission. But when we venerate Her as the "Mother of God", we do not close our eyes to her human reality. She was a woman of her time who knew how to be a mother and wife, who joined the poor of the land and who knew how to follow Christ and continue his mission. That is why we see Her as our model, as someone close to us.

With the end in mind of understanding the spiritual richness that blossoms from these devotions and from Mariology, I invite you to read the following works: Mary Throughout Latin America, which gives us the most venerated images of Mary in Latin America, with a brief explanation of the symbols which adorn them. The Essential Mary Handbook gives us a theological and spiritual reflection on Mary. The Glories of Mary, written by the Marian doctor Saint Alphonsus, invites us to devotion and prayer, and finally, The Marian Album CD, gives us music and songs to Mary which have become classics worldwide. I recommend that you browse our website, where you will find many other books and prayer books that will help you to increase your love for our Mother Mary.

God Bless,

José Antonio Medina, S.T.D.
Managing Editor, Libros Liguori
Liguori Publications

© 2007 Liguori Publications

And God Said, "It's Good!"

Available September 2007

And God Said, “It’s Good!”

Gary Graf

And God Said, “It’s Good!” takes the sport of football and compares this favorite Sunday pastime to The Bible—and it works. Once again, Gary Graf combines his love of sports with The Bible, resulting in an amusing and fun-loving book that delights any sports fan.

Comparisons include Hail Mary passes and answered prayers; immaculate receptions and Immaculate Conceptions; football stadiums and cathedrals; biblical verses and double reverses plus good books and playbooks. These and many more parallels fill this entertaining and lively 192-page paperback.

On any Sunday, you can bet some are brought closer to the spirit of the sport while others are more connected to the bible. The twenty chapters in this book compare football and the bible—with remarkable results!

“Forgiveness and good works were just pre-game drills for the Lord’s true purpose here on earth.”

“God rested on Sunday. Football is mostly played on Sunday. Coincidence? I think not.”

Any author who can find similarities between the dazzling colors of a football team and the colorful vestments of a priest—needs to have his book read cover to cover!

A delightful read for everyone—even if you’re not remotely interested in football!

192-page hardcover
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
978-0-7648-1578-2
$19.95

LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS - March Newsletter

Dear Readers,

Hello!

My name is Mike Ramsey and I'm a parish sales consultant for Liguori Publications. My job is to contact parishes across the country and talk with them about our latest products and specials. When I was asked to write this month's letter I was thrilled about the opportunity to let you know what we do, why we do it, and how it relates to our mission in the Catholic Church. This all brought to mind something one of my sons said to a friend about what I do for a living, "Dad sells stuff over the phone."Let me elaborate a little!

Visit the "About Us" page on our website http://www.liguori.org/ to find out more about Liguori Publications. You'll learn that Liguori is a community of priests, brothers, lay people, and nuns dedicated to spreading the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Most people know us because they have heard of or read Liguorian magazine. We also publish Sunday bulletins, youth and adult catechetical materials, education programs, informational pamphlets, and hard and soft cover books that inform and inspire the heart.

Liguori takes its name from Saint Alphonsus Liguori, a lawyer who worked among the poor in 18th century Italy. He founded the Redemptorist congregation in 1732. Saint Alphonsus was a prolific and gifted spiritual writer. The Redemptorist order carried forth his ministry of writing and communicating with the people of God when it established Liguorian magazine in 1913 and Liguori Publications in 1947. After 60 years we've built a reputation of trust among Catholics all over the world, producing quality, easily accessible, reasonably priced Catholic materials approved by the Church for use in our parish communities.

Liguori is known for its outstanding customer service. One of the great things about my job is that I've been able to build strong relationships - even friendships - with our customers. We have a team of consultants trained to handle your questions and concerns. They are knowledgeable about the resources you need in your parish. We are as concerned as you are that the Catholic Church remains strong and vibrant.

We want to help you in your ministry. Some of our more popular products that will help you do this include our Journey of Faith program for RCIA and our series of Handbooks for Today's Catholics. Other popular materials include What Do You Ask of God's Church, Your Baby's Baptism and sacramental programs for First Penance and First Communion along with supplemental material for parents such as Your Child's First Confession and Your Child's First Communion.Take a moment and check our website http://www.liguori.org/. We have hundreds of other products and materials that may be available at your local diocesan media or resource centers. If they don't have our materials on display, let us know or have their office give us a call. If you want a free sample, just call and we will send it out that day. To discuss your specific needs or to help you find an appropriate program for your parish, call us toll free at 1-800-325-9521.

Now that you know more about us we'd like to know more about you. If you have questions about Liguori Publications please call me or send me an email. I'd be happy to hear from you! In the meantime I'm going to make a copy of this letter for my son.

God Bless,

Mike Ramsey
1-800-325-9521 Ext:1406
mramsey@liguori.org
Parish Sales Consultant
Liguori Publications

Abortion: A Mother’s Plea for Maternity & Unborn

Abortion: A Mother’s Plea
for Maternity and the Unborn

Marybeth T. Hagan

Abortion: A Mother's Plea for Maternity and the Unborn is the story of the author's personal realization of the wrongfulness of abortion. Marybeth Hagan details her decades spent as a "fence-sitter" on the issue. After becoming a mother, she knew that ending a pregnancy would make her melancholy. Still, she was not every woman.

Hagan's internal battle with ambivalence about abortion continued for years until she concluded that "abortion is too wrong to be a right." Sensing God's intervention, she also realized that it was time to address the issue. Thus, the author penned this book in hopes of stirring the hearts of readers so that they might contemplate the morality of abortion and develop well-informed opinions on the subject.

One reader writes “…Here, you will NOT find the dull drone of dogma, the offensive rhetoric of a fanatical extremist, or endless, mind-numbing, dissection of every possible legal, moral and ethical issue surrounding the subject of abortion.”

The author will be signing books at The National Shrine Bookstore in Washington DC on Sunday, January 21, 2007 from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. during the annual March for Life.

Pages: 116 page paperback
Size: 5 1/8 x 7 3/8
ISBN: 978-0-7648-1279-8
Price: $12.95

Pláticas sobre el Bautismo

Pláticas sobre el Bautismo
Engaging Parents in Baptism
Baptism Classes

Antonio Danoz Fernández

4 booklets, 16 pages each, topics include:
• Baptism in the New Testament
• Theology and Spirituality of Baptism
• Baptism of Infants
• Mission of Family and Godparents

These baptismal preparation booklets will deepen the faith of parents and godparents by engaging them in the process. Ministers/catechists can give them as homework or use them in class. Each booklet invites the parents and godparents to research scripture passages that deal with Baptism and provides space for participants to take notes as they read Bible passages. Discussion questions on the Catholic faith, the faith into which they want to baptize their children, are included to help make Baptism preparation more lively and challenging to the participants.

Pláticas sobre el Bautismo can be used along with El Bautismo de su Bebé (which explains the Baptism ritual and its symbols) to offer a more in-depth study of Baptism. These classes build on El Bautismo de su Bebé by showing how Baptism is rooted in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. They also anchor Baptism in the ministry of Jesus and show how, via the family, the promises made at Baptism are kept. They can be used in any order and it is not necessary to use them all to have a “complete Baptism class.”

Available in Spanish only.

4 libritos 16 pp. c/u • 5½ x 8½
ISBN 10: 0-7648-1400-1
ISBN 13: 978-0-7648-1400-6
ID Number: 80750
Price: $4.95

In Search of Belief

In Search of Belief
Revised Edition

A New Way of Understanding Familiar Beliefs

Joan Chittister

Contemporary political venues have put religious belief at the forefront of our thinking. Yet, we live in a world where religion has become a tool people can use to their advantage rather than a means of growing closer to God. In this revised edition of In Search of Belief, Sister Joan Chittister challenges readers to reflect upon whether they truly live what they say they believe or whether they have created their own images of God to suit whatever is convenient for their personal and/or social situations.

Joan Chittister, a Benedictine nun, is a best-selling author and a well-known national and international lecturer and columnist. She is founder and executive director of Benetvision, a research center for contemporary spirituality, and past president of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Sister Joan has been recognized by universities and national organizations for her work for justice, peace, and equality for women in Church and society. She is an active member of the International Peace Council.

Pages: 232 Paperback
Size: 5 ½ x 8 ¼
ISBN: 978-07648-1484-6
Price: $15.95

Stories of Hope on Chicago’s Streets

Stories of Hope on Chicago’s Streets

Liguori, MO – “Society makes invisible both the people of the margins and the powers that trap them there. It was the same in the time of Christ. Given his preferential love of those on society’s boundaries, he dared to encourage them to speak for themselves. Justice begins by listening to those who know about injustice.”

Gerald A. Arbuckle, SM
Refounding and Pastoral Development Research Unit
Sydney, Australia

Getting to know these twelve homeless women will change your perception of the poor on our streets. Here, you will encounter them in their own voices. You will also discover their pain while recognizing their beauty and strength. But “good will” alone is never enough. Thus, the book provides a theological framework to free us from fear and prejudice and allow us to share more fully the hope offered to all.
These stories help us identify more closely with homeless and forgotten people who are not far from any of us. They are not meant to elicit guilt or pity, but to evoke compassionate understanding and a concrete response. As you fall in love with these women you will realize above all that, where there’s hope, there’s life.

Anthony J. Gittins, CSSp, has taught Missiology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago for the last twenty years and is currently the Bishop Francis X. Ford, M.M., Professor of Missiology. He earned an MA and PhD from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He has taught and ministered in thirty-five countries from Africa to the Pacific, including Chicago’s disenfranchised, especially homeless women. He is the author of numerous books and articles.



192-page paperback 5½ x 8¼
978-0-7648-1410-5 $16.95

The Challenge and the Choice To Forgive

How to Forgive Yourself and Others
Steps to Reconciliation

Father Eamon Tobin

Description:

How to Forgive Yourself & Others has been revised and given a new foreword. This sensitive and important booklet offers guidelines for forgiveness of all sorts of people in all kinds of situations. Most notably, it describes a process for forgiving a deceased person (crucial in the grieving process), forgiving God and the Church, and forgiving yourself, which is the greatest challenge of all.

From the author:

In my 34 years of priesthood, I have become deeply aware of the large number of people that carry lots of resentments and hurts due to some negative experience in their lives. Many will carry their hurts to the grave. Many simply do not have a clue on how to go about letting go of their hurt. In my newly revised and expanded book on Forgiveness of Others, Self, God and Church, I offer the reader lots of concrete suggestions of how to pray ones way through a hurt or injustice. A quick look at the back cover of the book will give you a good idea of what I seek to accomplish in this small book.

I have received positive recommendations on the book from Frs. Richard Rohr (see back cover), Matt Linn S.J., Joseph Champlin and Patricia Livingston and Sr. Melanie Svoboda I will appreciate it if you would consider reviewing this book in your newspaper or magazine.

Yours in Christ,

Father Eamon Tobin

Endorsements:

“The chemistry and grace of the “mystery” of forgiveness deserves this kind of full treatment. If this wisdom could be heard, we would have a very different and wonderful world. Leave this book on coffee tables and in doctors’ offices! ”Father Richard Rohr, O.F.M. Center of Action and Contemplation Albuquerque, New Mexico

“This book is a treasure! In a clear and engaging style, Father Tobin offers the distilled wisdom of his years of pastoral and personal experience on the crucial subje