Rooted In Love

When Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin were canonized in 2015, they were the first spouses to be declared saints as a couple. Their lives are proof that God works through ordinary families to draw his future saints—like St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Louis and Zélie’s youngest daughter—toward holiness. Even before their first encounter in the small town of Alençon, France, God was preparing Louis and Zélie for marriage. Later, he continued to sustain them powerfully in their married love and family life. Rooted in Love: Louis and Zélie Martin: Models of Married Love, Family Life, and Everyday Holiness explores the stages of Louis and Zélie’s marriage, from the joys of parenthood, through the sorrows of bereavement, and ultimately to the challenges of single parenthood—experiences which many families face today. Author Annette Goulden demonstrates how, amid both the joys and the sorrows of family life, these saints grew in their understanding of God’s love for them. From the initial urge to earn God’s favor with sacrifices and sufferings to a deeper understanding of God’s unconditional love even in the minutiae of daily life, God was their guide on the path to holiness, a path that is open to all married couples. This book is for both families and individuals—to offer them light and guidance to live their ordinary everyday life in closeness with God. No matter one’s vocation in life, Louis and Zélie exemplify how everyday experiences, such as being a working parent, running a business, or raising a difficult child, can be sacramental if one is open to a trusting relationship with God, even when he seems to be absent. Whatever the situation a married couple find themselves in, this saintly couple shows how daily actions and choices—however small and ordinary—are highly valued by God and can lead to holiness, to a close relationship with him, and to forming children who are strong in faith, maturity, and joy. The book contains a fully linked index and 41 photos. About the Author Annette Goulden, O.C.D.S., is a Secular Discalced Carmelite from Newbury, England. In 2002, she helped found a new Secular Order community in Oxford. She has served the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order in numerous capacities, including as national president and as a member of the O.C.D.S. National Council. She has written articles and book reviews for Mount Carmel magazine and gives talks and individually guided retreats. Until her recent retirement, Annette worked as a doctor, specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry. She gained an additional qualification in psychoanalytical psychotherapy and has trained in spiritual direction. Her extensive background in both Carmelite spirituality and psychology, combined with her life experience as a mother and grandmother, makes Annette Goulden ideally placed to have written this insightful study of Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin.

Who is the Christ we serve? What does it mean to be part of the body of Christ? How can we live more Christ-centred lives? Introduced and edited by Bishop Sarah Mullally, here are forty reflections that lead us deeper into the meaning and practice of life in Christ today. Drawing on the collective wisdom of all the area bishops in the Diocese of London. each reflection includes a Bible reading, a prayer and a suggestion for action based on the reading. The result is an exceptionally helpful Lent book, offering a rich array of biblical insight and spiritual guidance that Christians of all traditions will warmly welcome and appreciate.

Donna-Marie Cooper OBoyle, popular author and EWTN television and radio personality, shares with candor and warmth the very personal, sometimes-unexpected story of her life and struggles as a Catholic woman. Like a trusted friend, OBoyle accompanies her readers through the ups and downs of their lives, encouraging them to be reflections of Christ in all things.

In addition to having a foreword written by well known author Margaret Silf, this book has been endorsed by William Barry SJ, Tim Muldoon, Trevor Hudson, Tracy Williamson, Fran Rossi Szpylcyn and Michelle Francl Donnay. In her foreword Margaret Silf describes the book as being an intimate guidebook to Ignatian spirituality. Suited to all readers - those familiar with Ignatian spirituality will find well known themes presented in a new perspective! and those new to the field will find an accessible guide. This is not a book to be read so much as it is a book to be prayed through. It offers a blend of life experience and the principles of Ignatian spirituality. Any person seeking meaning through the Christian faith will find this book a useful and life giving resource.

Discover the Magic of Growing Together in "Rooted in Love: The Couple's Guide to Gardening Together" Welcome to a journey that intertwines the essence of love with the nurturing of a garden. "Rooted in Love: The Couple's Guide to Gardening Together" invites you and your loved one to explore the unique parallels between tending to your relationship and cultivating a garden side by side. This guide is more than just about gardening; it's about planting seeds of connection, understanding, and enduring love. Delve into the roots of your connection by uncovering the rich history and psychology behind shared hobbies, especially gardening. Understand how these activities can fortify your bond, setting a solid foundation for your shared journey. The book's initial chapters serve as the fertile ground from which your relationship can flourish. As you progress, you will discover how to prepare the soil of your relationship, selecting the right seeds that align with your coupled goals. The metaphorical representation of annuals, perennials, and biennials in relation to love will give you a fresh perspective on your partnership's growth potential. With practical advice on planning your garden layout, sharing responsibilities, and overcoming challenges, this guide ensures that both your garden and love life bloom. Experience the seasons of gardening and love, learning to cherish new beginnings, nurture growth, reap the rewards, and find rest and reflection in quieter times. Each season brings with it lessons on perseverance, patience, and the importance of celebration, enriching your relationship as you journey through life together. "Rooted in Love" also equips you with the tools of the trade, from essential gardening tools for couples to DIY projects that encourage togetherness. Further, explore organic gardening principles, garden design, and creating sanctuaries for wildlife, extending the analogy to fostering a sustainable, eco-friendly relationship. By the book's close, you and your partner will not only have a thriving garden but a fortified, evergreen relationship. "Rooted in Love" guides you in cultivating a shared space of growth, harmony, and endless possibility. Embark on this transformative journey together, and let your love and garden flourish side by side.

When Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin were canonized in 2015, they were the first spouses to be declared saints as a couple. Their lives are proof that God works through ordinary families to draw his future saints—like St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Louis and Zélie’s youngest daughter—toward holiness. Even before their first encounter in the small town of Alençon, France, God was preparing Louis and Zélie for marriage. Later, he continued to sustain them powerfully in their married love and family life. Rooted in Love: Louis and Zélie Martin: Models of Married Love, Family Life, and Everyday Holiness explores the stages of Louis and Zélie’s marriage, from the joys of parenthood, through the sorrows of bereavement, and ultimately to the challenges of single parenthood—experiences which many families face today. Author Annette Goulden demonstrates how, amid both the joys and the sorrows of family life, these saints grew in their understanding of God’s love for them. From the initial urge to earn God’s favor with sacrifices and sufferings to a deeper understanding of God’s unconditional love even in the minutiae of daily life, God was their guide on the path to holiness, a path that is open to all married couples. This book is for both families and individuals—to offer them light and guidance to live their ordinary everyday life in closeness with God. No matter one’s vocation in life, Louis and Zélie exemplify how everyday experiences, such as being a working parent, running a business, or raising a difficult child, can be sacramental if one is open to a trusting relationship with God, even when he seems to be absent. Whatever the situation a married couple find themselves in, this saintly couple shows how daily actions and choices—however small and ordinary—are highly valued by God and can lead to holiness, to a close relationship with him, and to forming children who are strong in faith, maturity, and joy.

The Christian story, from Genesis until now, is fundamentally about people on the move—outgrowing old, broken religious systems and embracing new, more redemptive ways of life. It’s time to move again. Brian McLaren, a leading voice in contemporary religion, argues that— notwithstanding the dire headlines about the demise of faith and drop in church attendance—Christian faith is not dying. Rather, it is embarking on a once-in-an-era spiritual shift. For millions, the journey has already begun. Drawing from his work as global activist, pastor, and public theologian, McLaren challenges readers to stop worrying, waiting, and indulging in nostalgia, and instead, to embrace the powerful new understandings that are reshaping the church. In The Great Spiritual Migration, he explores three profound shifts that define the change: ∙ Spiritually, growing numbers of Christians are moving away from defining themselves by lists of beliefs and toward a way of life defined by love ∙ Theologically, believers are increasingly rejecting the image of God as a violent Supreme Being and embracing the image of God as the renewing Spirit at work in our world for the common good ∙ Missionally, the faithful are identifying less with organized religion and more with organizing religion—spiritual activists dedicated to healing the planet, building peace, overcoming poverty and injustice, and collaborating with other faiths to ensure a better future for all of us With his trademark brilliance and compassion, McLaren invites readers to seize the moment and set out on the most significant spiritual pilgrimage of our time: to help Christianity become more Christian.