It is with great sorrow that Paulist Press mourns the passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis had a welcoming and groundbreaking pontificate as he worked tirelessly to make the Catholic Church more inclusive, committed to the poor and marginalized, and care for our environment. As a pastor of mercy, Francis believed that the church's future depended on going to the margins to embrace the modern culture and engage in open discussion with clergy, religious, and laity. Paulist Press pays tribute to his legacy, and we are grateful to have published many of his writings.
"There is a mysterious solidarity in Christ between those who have already passed to the other life and we pilgrims in this one: our deceased loved ones continue to take care of us from Heaven. They pray for us, and we pray for them and we pray with them."
—From Pope Francis's book A Wound Full of Hope: Remembering Those Who Have Gone Before Us
Art of Kindness
Relating with Self, Others, and God
Robert J. Wicks
One hundred briefly-framed themes from both psychology and spirituality are provided so that persons, with even the busiest of schedules at work and home, can avail themselves of the approach of this book which is designed to increase self-awareness and self-care in these challenging times. To make the most of the entries, a clear way of reflecting on the points being made and stories shared is provided. An emphasis on combining clarity and kindness in seeking to understanding and applying the topics is offered as well.
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"Robert Wicks has a unique, gifted spiritual vocabulary. Very few writers have his ability to weave together the special and the common, the academic and the street, the reverent and the humorous, and depth of spiritual insight with robust common sense. You won't be disappointed." —Ronald Rolheiser, author, The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality
"The Art of Kindness is like a set of prayer beads, each story an invitation to pause and be with the joys and sorrows of life in ways that call forth strength and possibility—an ideal resource for daily prayer and reflection." —Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, author, A Midwinter God: Encountering the Divine in Seasons of Darkness
"These short reflections give readers a glimpse into the life and work of Robert Wicks and serve as a springboard for deeper meditation on life lessons and spiritual growth. The Art of Kindness takes us to different parts of the world, introduces us to a broad range of people, and shares with us wisdom and insight at the intersection of psychology and spirituality. There is something here for everyone." —Daniel P. Horan, professor of philosophy, religious studies, and theology at Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana, and author of Fear and Faith: Hope and Wholeness in a Fractured World
"The Art of Kindness is an act of kindness in itself. Again, like the author's other works have shown, this wonderful book offers readers practical guides to greater wellness and wholeness that can benefit everyone. I highly recommend it." —Edward Sellner, author, Celtic Saints and Their Animal Friends
Dr. Robert J. Wicks is professor emeritus, Loyola University Maryland. He has lectured on resilience, self-care, maintaining a healthy perspective and the prevention of secondary stress, in the United States and internationally. His latest books include Quiet Dangers: Navigating the Psychological Challenges of Spiritual Intimacy, Do You Have a Moment?, and his bestselling, Riding the Dragon.
"The prayer is the ladder to paradise, a soul-prayer that gives relief, a pious, lime-white, pure prayer, a bridge for the children of Eve."
A Ladder to Paradise is a rich treasury of prayers from the Irish oral tradition, passed down over hundreds of years, especially within Irish-speaking communities. Many of these prayers are centuries old and reflect a profound spirituality and a strong emphasis on prayerfulness.
This collection encompasses a wide range of occasions, including blessings and petitions, as well as prayers dedicated to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and Mary. It features prayers for Christmas and Easter, daily life, and the saints of Ireland. The prayers convey a belief in a loving and forgiving God, with Mary depicted as a familiar and helpful intercessor. Additionally, Irish saints are often mentioned alongside renowned saints from the Roman Catholic tradition. The prayers emphasize hope and the promise of salvation.
Drawing on his long experience of having lectured, written on and taught the topic, Kenneth Himes has gathered here some of the most frequently asked questions on Catholic social teaching. Using the always popular Responses to 101 Questions format, he introduces this important part of the Catholic tradition to students as well as inquiring believers.
Some of the topics covered in the questions are: human dignity and human rights; the kinds of justice; family and social structures; justice and political life; the meaning of human work; labor unions and the rights of labor; the just wage; capitalism, socialism and communism; the just war tradition; pacifism; the arms race; debt forgiveness; women in society; racism; immigration and the death penalty.
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"Jim Bacik knows both his theological material and his flock. He has not simply written a book about Catholic social teaching; he has written a book that urges readers to reflect for themselves upon that tradition and to do so in the pastoral settings in which they live and work as American Catholics. The theologian and the pastor have both been at work in crafting this brief yet rewarding book." —from the foreword
"This book illuminates the Catholic social tradition anew, situating its documents and themes in key historical, social, and cultural contexts and inviting readers into its moral and spiritual implications. This accessible yet substantive volume offers valuable insights for urgent signs of our times." —Kristin E. Heyer, Joseph Chair in Theology, Boston College
"Catholic Social Teaching crosses the gaps existing for many Catholics between faith today and Catholic social tradition. Bacik sharpens that tradition's key themes, then engages it with U.S. life and politics. This work will be an enriching discovery for teachers, pastors, students, and every Catholic who wonders how their Church can speak effectively to the dilemmas and rifts we now face, both ecclesially and socially." —Lisa Sowle Cahill, J. Donald Monan, SJ, Professor of Theology, Boston College
Fr. Jim Bacik is a priest of the Diocese of Toledo, ordained in 1962, and is the former pastor of Corpus Christi University Parish in Toledo. He has his doctorate in theology from the University of Oxford and has published numerous articles and fifteen books. Fr. Bacik has taught graduate theology courses at Notre Dame University, Fordham University, the University of San Francisco, and the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He has also lectured widely around the United States and internationally.
