Catholic Spiritual Journey The

“In this post-pandemic world, reliance upon our Catholic traditions provides both comfort and challenge in daily living. Father Bacik is skilled at presenting the richness of our faith perspective in a manner that is accessible to all…. Each chapter distills the essence of Catholic belief, a refreshing return to the heart of our faith.” —from the foreword Through the lens of “spirituality,” and more specifically the idea of “spiritual journey,” the Nicene Creed, the theological and moral virtues, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Beatitudes, major liturgical feasts, and holy people, The Catholic Spiritual Journey explores how the Catholic spiritual tradition offers hope in challenging times. “Fr. Bacik fuses a classical and contemporary pathway toward spiritual enlightenment. This catechetical masterpiece offers a rich meditation for anyone looking for a fresh interpretation of Catholic Christian teachings.” —Rev. Richard S. Vosko, Hon. AIA, author of Art and Architecture for Congregational Worship: A Search for a Common Ground

The purpose of this book is to share with whomever wants to read it, my simple spiritual journey from childhood through today. This is a journey with numerous peaks and valleys, but with no burning bushes, awesome spiritual experiences, or extraordinary miracles. I am a convinced and passionate Catholic who profoundly respects people who have chosen other Christian denominations, non-Christian religions, or no religion at all. They may be close members of my family, relatives or friends. I unconditionally love them and will never destroy a bridge, build a wall or close a gate that unite us; and I expect to be treated the same way. I am no better or worse than anyone else, and my spiritual journey is no different from other peoples journey who were in similar circumstances, such as living in a country where an aggressive, official atheism was an integral part of the political structure and later becoming immigrant in another country, learning a new language, adapting to a new way of life and continuing this earthly pilgrimage. In this journey, I havenow as beforethe support and companionship of my loving, compassionate and spiritually correct wife.

A compelling exploration of the biblical foundations, contemplative practices, and spiritual path of Jesus himself—from the bestselling author of The Case for Jesus “What happens when a biblical theologian explores classic spirituality? This book. Pitre’s students have asked, Why have we never heard this before? The reader wonders the same.”—Dr. David Fagerberg, author of Liturgical Mysticism The path of following Jesus is an ancient and storied spiritual tradition. Yet many believers are not familiar with the three major forms of prayer and the three stages of spiritual growth that exist to bring them closer to God. In his most personal book yet, Brant Pitre, PhD, draws on the riches of the Bible, the words of Jesus, and the writings of mystics across the centuries to shed light on the mystery—and wonder—of the spiritual life. Starting with the age-old belief that the path of prayer is not only informative but transformative, Dr. Pitre explores • the scriptural roots of the major forms of prayer: vocal prayer, meditation, and contemplation • the purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages of spiritual growth • the spiritual exercises of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving • the Jewish roots of the Lord’s Prayer • Lectio Divina: how to pray with the Bible • seven vices and their seven opposing virtues • the battle of prayer: how to deal with difficulty and distractions • the “dark night of the soul” in the Scriptures Full of sacred truths, contemplative insights, and practical steps, Introduction to the Spiritual Life is a biblical road map of the spiritual landscape that enables us to follow Jesus as our primary guide.

Timmis, a prominent leader in both the evangelical and Catholic communities, shares his story that unites two very different expressions of faith. With an honest and open-minded approach, he seeks to answer a crucial question: can evangelical faith and Catholicism be reconciled?

A religious eddy hurled seventeen-year-old Patty into a convent in the 1960s, to please her earthly father, and say yes to her heavenly Father. Her time in the convent parallels changes wrought in religious life by Vatican II, including changes of names and attire. After leaving the convent following seven years of service, she assumes she can pick up her life and move on. She finally broke out of the debilitating patterns learned in the convent, and now she shares the seven secrets to guilt-free living learned on her journey.

What if you could improve your physical health while deepening your spiritual life? In Running for a Higher Purpose, Most Rev. Thomas John Paprocki, Catholic bishop of Springfield--a marathon runner and hockey player--shares how the simple discipline of running can help you unlock profound spiritual benefits. Paprocki took up running as a teenager for his health; he ran his first marathon in his forties. Along the way he discovered that improving your physical health through running is a way to honor God and grow deeper in your spiritual life. Perfect for those who want to try running for the first time as well as for more experienced runners who want to set goals for a new challenge, Running for a Higher Purpose offers eight steps to reach spiritual and physical fitness. Review - Review where you are. Reform - Identify how to improve. Resolve - Resolve to put change into effect. Repeat - Don't quit. Renew - Renew your physical and spiritual wellness. Relax - Balance physical and spiritual exercise with the need to rest. Reward - Feel personal satisfaction and reward by achieving your goals. Rejoice - Integrating a sound mind in a sound body leads to eternal happiness. Each chapter includes an inspirational quotation, a personal promise statement, and a prayer.