Book News

Success, writes Fr. Ron Rolheiser in his new book Sacred Fire, has little to teach us in the second half of life. Where we learn as we mature is through our disappointments, boredom, resentment and frustration.

Archbishop offers a unique 12 steps to recovery

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The man behind this book is perhaps just as important as the book’s content. Retired Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie is a northern Canadian bishop and a missionary Oblate priest. He has spent most of his life and ministry working among Canada’s aboriginal people. He has extensive experience and an incredible reputation with those who have struggled with addictions, generational trauma and abuse. He is in demand as a retreat leader, spiritual director and pastoral presence.

World is making progress in ending war

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Cynicism is tempting because it’s easy. Hope is hard work. At 85 peace activist, retired ambassador to the United Nations, former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister and Senator Douglas Roche refuses to take the easy way.

Spirituality at ease with life’s mysteries

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Prayer can be carried by the simplest of words. For American author Anne Lamott, those words are help, thanks and wow.

Church can do much more for human rights

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A significant Catholic scholar of the post-Vatican II era is struggling to be heard on a deeply Catholic subject — human rights.

Scarboro Mission priest recounts the days of People Power

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TORONTO - When the Filipino revolution happened Fr. Charlie Gervais was there, in the middle, talking to soldiers and rebels, peasants and potentates. History unfolded in his parish, in the prayers and struggles of his people.

Some reading to help bolster the Lenten spirit

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If you’re not ready, you can lose track of Lent. After Ash Wednesday slips by, the Thursdays and Fridays of Lent can seem a lot like any other Thursday or Friday.

Papacy, despite its warts, is all good

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Behind the anecdotes and centuries-long ups and downs presented here, Mike Aquilina constantly drives home his central point — the papacy never erred theologically.

The Golden Rule: a Magna Carta for God’s kingdom

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If there’s any such thing as Christian ethics (and there is), most of us would imagine it might be based on the Golden Rule. But few moral theologians spare more than a passing thought on the crowning lines of the Sermon on the Mount: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

Atheism and the sins of the father

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A once-popular book that links atheism with shoddy fathering is getting a second life with a new publisher, thanks, in part, to the rise of non-belief in the United States.

Trading the condo for the convent

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Moses saw a burning bush and heard a voice. Samuel heard his name called three times. Saul also heard the voice of God after having been struck and temporarily blinded by lightning. In the modern age a select few can echo these Old and New Testament stories of an unequivocal call to service from God. But for most, discerning God’s call is a much trickier business. This was the case for Jane Christmas.