Shower Of Heavenly Roses

Stories about Therese of the Little Flower--recognized as one of the most influential saints of recent times. Since her death countless miracles, healings, and life changes have been attributed to her inspiration and grace.

Miracles give hope to the hopeless and exemplify the intersection of the divine and the mundane. They have shaped world history and continue to influence us through their presence in films, television, novels, and popular culture. This encyclopedia provides a unique resource on the philosophical, historical, religious, and cross-cultural conceptions of miracles that cut across denominational lines. Multidisciplinary in approach, this informative yet entertaining encyclopedia covers major aspects of miraculous phenomena through more than 150 alphabetically arranged entries that document how humanity's belief in religious miracles over multiple places, periods, and faiths have affected society—even changed the course of history. Written for high school students and general readers, the coverage enables readers to learn about different civilizations and cultures, the controversies surrounding different beliefs, and the often uncomfortable engagement of religion with science. This single-volume book provides a one-stop ready-reference that addresses a broad variety of subject matter on miraculous phenomena and guides further investigations into the subject. Helpful illustrations and lucid explanations of the ancillary concepts associated with miraculous phenomena make learning about this topic more engaging. Readers will be able to link the doctrinal concepts, such as "grace" or "prayer," with the descriptions of miraculous events, especially those associated with saints or holy objects. The examination of the controversial aspects of different belief systems along with the book's balanced coverage of the interpretation of miracles will encourage students to weigh different explanations, thus fostering the development of their critical thinking skills.

The Carmelite nun Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897) lived a contemplative monastic life. Through her writings, she continues to help people who live in completely different contexts to discover that God is always present in the middle of everyday life. Like Martin Luther (1483-1546), Thérèse clearly distances herself from the idea that we can earn our salvation from God. This book begins by highlighting the extensive similarities between Thérèse's teaching and Martin Luther's theology. With the help of the three Carmelite Doctors of the Church – Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) and John of the Cross (1542-1591) – the discussion develops further, and a receptive ecumenical study is carried out. The overall question is how the Carmelite tradition can enrich the Evangelical-Lutheran tradition in a way that contributes to the renewal of the church. It is argued that such a renewal is of vital importance if people today are to receive the spiritual guidance that they are longing for.

"If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire.” —St. Catherine of Siena God created each person for a specific purpose and with a specific mission. How do I find out what that mission is? Every saint in heaven once asked this question. Their path to discovering God’s will was often frustrating and tedious, but their reward for perseverance is eternity in heaven. In Discover Your Next Mission from God, author and retreat-leader Julie Onderko uncovers the lives of countless saints to show how they searched for — and ultimately discovered — God’s will for their lives. By reflecting on the decisions, circumstances, and ever-guiding love of God in the saints’ lives, you’ll come to a greater knowledge of how to see and live the plan He has for your life. You’ll learn how Maximillian Kolbe got God’s plan wrong before he got it right. You’ll read about St. Helena who persevered under the most challenging circumstances, including watching her son murder her grandson. You’ll discover how St. Andre Bessette found his calling to heal physical afflictions through devotion to St. Joseph. Time after time, Julie shows us, God doesn’t call the holy and qualified. Instead, he calls sinners like you and me, lifts them up to greatness, and sets them out to do His will. Read these pages, and you’ll be armed with saintly strategies and examples as you begin the greatest adventure of your life. God is calling you right now, and He stands ready to fill your soul with the grace needed to achieve His mission for you on earth.

Just in time for the 25th anniversary of the first apparition of the Virgin Mary in the village of Medjugorje (on June 25th), this volume provides readers with a collection of compelling firsthand accounts of visits to the site and how Medjugorje genuinely and permanently transformed people's lives.

Dear St. Antony Come around Something's lost and can't be found It's three A.M. and you're wide awake. Worrying. You may seek solace in snacking, or in a late-night call to your best friend. The problem is, even your closest friends need to sleep, and, let's face it, the snacking only adds to the worries. Where's a worrier to turn? To the patron saints, that's who. According to centuries-old tradition, a host of heavenly helpers is standing by, ready and eager to take a personal interest in you. Heaven Help Us shows you how to take your petitions straight to the top--to the martyrs and holy men and women who can intercede according to their particular areas of expertise: --Is true love eluding you? Light a candle to St. Anne on a Tuesday night --Are you suffering from a sore throat? Bake bread for St. Blaise --Is your wallet feeling light? Donate coins to St. Expiditus Categorized by anxiety for easy reference, and filled with lively biographies of dozens of saints as well as step-by-step instructions for performing the long-established rituals to enlist their aid, Heaven Help Us has the remedies to cure all your modern-day woes.

In Thérèse, Faustina, and Bernadette: Three Saints Who Challenged My Faith, Gave Me Hope, and Taught Me How to Love author, speaker, and retreat leader Elizabeth Ficocelli introduces her readers to three remarkable women saints who became not only her role models, but also her life-changing friends. Thérèse, Faustina, and Bernadette taught Ficocelli about faith, hope, and love, and showed her what true Catholic womanhood looks like. Some of the best saint stories are not about wonder-workers, but rather the everyday saints—friends who understand the challenges of marriage and motherhood and the banalities of day-to-day life. Bestselling author Elizabeth Ficocelli discovered three such friends in Thérèse of Lisieux, Faustina of the Divine Mercy, and Bernadette of Lourdes. The witness of their lives moved Ficocelli to cultivate the virtues of faith, hope, and love as she journeyed from a successful career as a marketing executive to what she found was a more authentic, even counter-cultural Catholic womanhood. Ficocelli offers women the wisdom of these saints for their own spiritual journeys.

Think how often you have heard these questions and negative comments:I really have doubts that there is any God at all.Is going to church every week really necessary? Maybe just going on Easter and Christmas are good enough.Prayers seem unanswered, useless, and a waste of time.Are there really miracles--or can they usually be explained when thoroughly investigated?Why do we still talk about the Shroud of Turin when carbon-14 testing proved it was a fake?Angels and heaven are just feel-good fantasies to keep us from dreading death, right?Confession just seems like a way that Catholics can wipe the slate clean so they can go out and sin again.Adoration is a waste of time just sitting there in church doing nothing for an hour. What's the point?John Carpenter returns with his fourth book to address these doubts and misinformed ideas in a dynamic and educational manner. Utilizing defiant dialogues between an informed teacher and doubting students creates a lively debate that teaches truth and brings forth facts rather than opinions. Responses to the misinformed students come from medical, scientific, professionally investigated, and well-documented events. So if you have had any of these doubts or beliefs, you need to join the classroom and follow along in these enlightening debates! The actual truth may surprise you! What you learn might brighten your own spiritual path.