CMI Materials: 2010-2011

This official biography is written by an Australian priest of the Oratoire de France. Fr. Beaumont's biography gives a clear account of all the major themes of Newman's life and work, with judicious use of citations from this work so that Newman's thought is in almost every case conveyed in his own words. Fr Beaumont also directs us to some lesser known sources to give us a balanced and complete view of the subtlety of Newman's thought. Lavishly illustrated with photos and art on every page.

Developed by the Subcommittee on the Third Millennium, and published: Washington, D.C. : National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Christianity has long been regarded as viewing the body as a threat to a person's spiritual nature and of denying its sexual dimension. In 1979, Pope John Paul II departed from this traditional dichotomy and offered an integrated vision of the human body and soul. In a series of talks that came to be known as “the theology of the body,” he explained the divine meaning of human sexuality and why the body provides answers to fundamental questions about our lives. In CALLED TO LOVE, Carl Anderson, chairman of the world’s largest catholic service organization, and Fr. Jose Granados discuss the philosophical and religious significance of “the theology of the body” in language at once poetic and profound. As they explain, the body speaks of God, it reveals His goodness, and it also speaks of man and women and their vocation to love. CALLED TO LOVE brings to life the tremendous gift John Paul II bestowed on humanity and gives readers a new understanding of the Christian way of love and how to embrace it fully in their lives.

Contents:
The public as a problem / John F. Wilson -- Changing contexts of church-state relations in America, 1880-1920 / Robert T. Handy -- Beyond the pursuit of happiness : religion and public discourse in liberalism's fourth century / Robin Lovin -- Reconstituting Paideia in public education / James W. Fowler -- Theology as doxology : reflections on theological education / Henri Nouwen -- On the religious education of American rabbis / Neil Gillman -- The tragic dilemma of church education / Edward Farley -- "All the way down" : a spirituality of public life / Parker J. Palmer -- "Experiments with truth" : education for leadership / Sara Little -- Protestants, Paideia, and pioneers : Protestantism's first great cause / Glenn Miller -- Revolutions, quiet and otherwise : Protestants and higher education during the 1960s / Dorothy C. Bass -- Public happiness and higher education / William F. May -- The education of Robert Lynn / Elizabeth Lynn.


Recommended by Visiting Scholar in Catholic Thought: André L. Delbecq

Provides a welcome look at the issues that Catholic schools face today in order to fulfill their religious as well as their academic mission.

This book builds on a simple premise: good teaching cannot be reduced to technique but is rooted in the identity and integrity of the teacher. Good teaching takes myriad forms but good teachers share one trait: they are authentically present in the classroom, in community with their students and their subject. They possess "a capacity for connectedness" and are able to weave a complex web of connections between themselves, their subjects, and their students, helping their students weave a world for themselves. The connections made by good teachers are held not in their methods but in their hearts — the place where intellect, emotion, spirit, and will converge in the human self — supported by the community that emerges among us when we choose to live authentic lives.

Recommended by Visiting Scholar in Catholic Thought: André L. Delbecq

This new Instruction from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) provides guidance on how to respect human life and human procreation in our heavily scientific age. Includes commentary on the Instruction, an address from Pope Benedict XVI on stem cells, select bibliography, and glossary.

St. Dominic took to heart Jesus’ charge to make disciples of all nations. He founded a religious community, the Order of Preachers, which differed from most orders of his day. Instead of insisting that the faithful come to church institutions to be fed spiritually, Dominic trained preachers who traveled to spread the Gospel. The Dominicans continue to flourish today. The Dominic Tradition, the first in a spirituality anthology series, provides readers a window into Dominican spirituality. You will learn the core values that shape their way of life. Mostly, you will come to realize that the spiritual legacy established by Dominic is as vibrant today as it was centuries ago.

This groundbreaking book provides a comprehensive resource that addresses the growing movement for incorporating spirituality as an important aspect of the meaning and purpose of higher education. The book shows how to encourage increased authenticity and spiritual growth among students and education professionals by offering alternative ways of knowing, being, and doing. It includes a rich array of examples to guide the integration of authenticity and spirituality in curriculum, student affairs, community partnerships, assessment, and policy issues. Many of these illustrative examples represent specific policies and programs that have successfully been put in place at diverse institutions across the country. In addition, the authors cover the theoretical, historical, and social perspectives on religion and higher education and examine the implications for practice. They include the results of recent court cases that deal with church-state issues and offer recommendations that pose no legal barrier to implementation.

“This magnificent sequel to George Weigel's Witness to Hope includes a compelling account of John Paul II's last years as well as an insightful assessment of the great Pope's legacy. But the most fascinating section of the book is a detailed and well-documented study of John Paul's long struggle against Communism, from his days as a seminarian through the dramatic events of the 1980's. Throughout this study, Weigel's intellectual acuity, his fine prose style, and his passion for the church are on clear display. If there was any doubt on the matter, The End and the Beginning proves that George Weigel is the great singer of the song of Karol Wojtyla.”

– Robert Barron, The Catholicism Project

Through anecdote and example,Enkindledbrings the Holy Spirit into the lives of ordinary people. This treatment of the “neglected middle child” of the Blessed Trinity is for people who reflect while commuting to work, for those who pray while the baby is sleeping, for those who belong to parish discussion groups and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, for those preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and for those who celebrate the divine generosity of the Gift-giving Spirit. Small groups or individuals will find valuable the prayers and reflection questions at the end of each chapter.

A collection of the reflections and meditations of the Holy Father on the Holy Eucharist .

This collection of essays by a variety of educators, scholars, and theologians lays out some of the content behind the term Catholic intellectual tradition, a tradition that is both a treasury of classic and contemporary texts, including religious and aesthetic products, and a way of doing things borne of experience, prayer, and critical reflection. Contributions focus on such topics as the ideal of the Catholic mind, the relationship between Catholicism and other faith traditions, notions of the Catholic artist and intellectual, and future directions for Catholic universities.

A series of brief Benedictine meditations related to familiar preparations for Christmas - shopping, welcoming guests, hanging lights, and more.

In July 1996, Buddhist and Christian monks met at the Abbey of Gethsemani, Kentucky, and held a five-day conference to discuss aspects of their spirituality and worship. Donald W. Mitchell (philosophy, Purdue) and James Wiseman, (O.S.B., chair of Monastic Interreligious Dialogue) have done a masterful job of distilling from this conference a remarkably rich document, encompassing vast areas of Christian/Buddhist monastic concerns. Part 1 offers presentations on ultimate reality and spirituality, prayer and meditation, spiritual growth and development, community and spiritual guidance. Part 2, the real treasure, contains dialog between Buddhist and Christian monks, including the Dalai Lama, on subjects from mind and virtue to grace, the nature of tragedy and violence, and the importance of social action.

This landmark contribution to everyday spirituality draws on the wisdom and rituals of the world's great spiritual traditions to show how contemplative practice can enrich our lives. A superbly practical resource, it gathers the wisdom of the greatest spiritual teachers and experts from the major religious traditions in America today. Those contributing their expertise include Jon Kabat-Zinn, Dean Ornish, David Steindl-Rast, Ram Dass, Joseph Bruchac, Joan Halifax, Robert Thurman, Edward Espe Brown, Rabbi Jonathan Omer-Man, and Sharon Salzberg. Focusing on the essentials of human life that range from daily activities (such as waking, eating, and working) to major life transitions (birth, marriage, and death), Gifts of the Spirit offers an illuminating and authoritative tour through a variety of religious customs that will inspire readers toward their unique spiritual paths.

Recommended by Visiting Scholar in Catholic Thought: André L. Delbecq

This is a lovely, engaging, insightful conversation between two important contemporary spiritual teachers and practitioners, one (Aitken) an American-born Zen master and the other (Steindl-Rast) a Benedictine monk. The conversation is drawn from a week-long retreat that Aitkin and Steindl-Rast shared in Hawaii in 1991. They agree quickly to focus on 'everyday practice' rather than on abstract conceptions of Buddhism and Christianity. The result is not a formal contribution to the growing body of Buddhist-Christian dialogue so much as an illuminating and multifaceted exploration of common ground—the sacred heart that beats at the center of a world shared by Christians and Buddhists. This volume offers a rare opportunity to eavesdrop on a conversation between compassionate believers comfortable with their differences, fully engaged with each other, and fully engaged in the world. --Booklist

Recommended by Visiting Scholar in Catholic Thought: André L. Delbecq

This new edition of a classic anthology of the writings and sermons of the great John Henry Newman is a rare treasure house of Newman’s thought and inspiration. This collection shows the timeless wisdom of Newman and how strong an appeal his writings have for the modern Christian. In his sermons, often praised for their freshness and originality, Newman had a style of relating the plain truths of the Gospel in a realistic and empathic way. He saw the great importance of the individual differences in human souls, and a unique feature of his approach was always to speak to people as individuals. In this outstanding anthology, Fr. Erich Przywara, S.J., organizes Newman’s thought systematically and in its completeness. He divides the writings and sermons into twenty-one categories by such themes as God, Miracles, Faith, Scripture, the Church, Body of Christ, Eternal Life, etc., drawn from 25 works by or about Newman. Unlike some spiritual books, which were written in foreign languages, Newman's works were originally written in modern English. His style is very familiar and readable. This volume is an excellent combination of Newman’s insights on spirituality, prayer, doctrine, philosophy, and it probes into the nature of God and his Church.

The celebration of the Eucharist, in which Jesus Christ becomes present, is the center of the Catholic faith. This volume brings together substantive texts of the Holy Father on the many aspects and dimensions of the Mass and the Mystery of the Eucharist, a rich source for every Christian and a spur to reflection and personal prayer. Delivered in addresses and homilies to a wide variety of audiences, these reflections reveal the depth and breadth of Pope Benedict XVI's profound and life-long love for the Holy Eucharist>

Ignatian spirituality is a dynamic and ever-evolving practice that has great relevance in the twenty-first century. In Ignatian Humanism, author Ronald Modras explains the importance of a sixteenth-century spirituality in a post-modern world and reveals the impact Renaissance humanism had on Ignatian spirituality and the Society of Jesus.
In this vividly written and meticulously researched book, Modras explores the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, his founding of the Society of Jesus, and the development of the Spiritual Exercises. He also outlines the characteristics of Renaissance humanism and its influence on Ignatian spirituality and the Jesuits. This impact is made tangible in five compelling biographies of Jesuit heroes and humanists: Matteo Ricci, Frederic Spee, Karl Rahner, Pierre Theilard de Chardin, and Pedro Arrupe.

Recommended by Visiting Scholar in Catholic Thought: André L. Delbecq

This refurbished edition of Margaret Silf's Inner Compass marks the tenth anniversary of the acclaimed English-language primer on Ignatian spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises. The new edition features a new introduction and personal invitation to the reader, a greatly expanded resource section, and a new design aimed at the next generation of spiritual readers. Silf brings to the book both a laywoman's perspective and a gifted writer's literary skill. The entire work exudes a congenial, practical outlook and a thoroughly modern sensibility. As Silf says, the book "grew out of questions rather than certainty, discovery rather than doctrine, the experience of everyday living rather than academic study." All readers seeking to deepen their relationship with God will benefit from Silf's dynamic presentation of Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises.

Recommended by Visiting Scholar in Catholic Thought: André L. Delbecq

A collection of documents specifically related to interreligious relations from the time of the Second Vatican Council until 1995.

A collection of the finest short essays on the mission, challenge, and state of Jesuit education. The thirty-five offerings are conveniently organized by theme and include an introduction, suggested further readings, and a short glossary of key terms for each section.

This volume of interdisciplinary essays focuses on the shifting points of intersection between the changing historical definitions of laity and sanctity. It features an examination of a series of individual lay "saints", in order to explore how these figures perceived their own lay status.

Never has a Pope, in a book-length interview, dealt so directly with such wide-ranging and controversial issues as Pope Benedict XVI does in Light of the World. Taken from a recent week-long series of interviews with veteran journalist Peter Seewald, this book tackles head-on some of the greatest issues facing the world of our time.

British author Joseph Pearce has firmly established himself as the premier literary biographer of our time, especially in interpreting the spiritual depths of the Catholic literary tradition. In this new book, Pearce examines a plethora of authors, taking the reader through a dazzling tour of the creative landscape of Catholic prose and poetry. Literary Giants, Literary Catholics covers the vast terrain from Dante to Tolkien, from Shakespeare to Waugh. Focusing on the literary revival of the 20th century, Joseph Pearce touches on well-known authors like G.K. Chesterton and J.R.R. Tolkien, but also introduces readers to lesser-known writers like Roy Campell, Maurice Baring, and Owen Barfield. Anyone who appreciates English literature will be entranced by the wealth and depth of this new masterpiece.

10th anniversary edition of the classic text, updated, revised, and featuring a Mindful Living Journal. Buddha and Christ, perhaps the two most pivotal figures in the history of humankind, each left behind a legacy of teachings and practices that have shaped the lives of billions of people over two millennia. If they were to meet on the road today, what would each think of the other's spiritual views and practices? In this classic text for spiritual seekers, Thich Nhat Hanh explores the crossroads of compassion and holiness at which the two traditions meet, and he reawakens our understanding of both.

Recommended by Visiting Scholar in Catholic Thought: André L. Delbecq

Drawing from his own pastoral experience as a priest and bishop before he became Pope John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla has produced a remarkably eloquent and resourceful defense of Catholic tradition in the sphere of family life and sexual morality.

“In this truly remarkable work, from both scholarly and practical perspectives, Mitchell clearly articulates the central role of a unique devotion in the life of the Roman Catholic Church. . . . In providing a solid historical foundation, Mitchell also shows how art, liturgy, and ritual have influenced and been influenced by this prayer over the past five centuries.”
- Library Journal

This book presents the majority of Pope John Paul II's popular and profound talks on love and sexuality, paraphrased in easy-to-read English. It collects three books in one: "Body and Gift" and "Purity of Heart" (previously available in hardcover) and the previously-unpublished "Heaven and Earth." According to the National Catholic Register, this paraphrase is "The perfect introduction to Pope John Paul II's theology of the body--pithy and simple, yet never simplistic."

The product of a three-year Lilly Foundation Seminar on Religion and Higher Education, this well-edited book is comprised of short, thought-provoking pieces from some of the country's leading lights in the humanities and social sciences. Divided into parts, the book addresses foundational issues, the theme of religion and scholarship, and teaching.

In this book the author shares his personal practice of the rosary in a book that is both inspiring and refreshing. His approach excels chiefly in the reflections he has written on the gospel stories that are used as subjects of contemplation for each section of the rosary beads. In these, Wills relies extensively on the work of the late scripture scholar Raymond Brown to expand upon passages that have become overly familiar to many. The author's own translations of the Christian scriptures are a further enhancement, as is the inclusion of images by Renaissance artist Tintoretto. Though the rosary is often viewed as part of the life of Catholics before the sweeping changes wrought by the Second Vatican Council, Wills considers the devotion to be both timely and timeless. It is timely, he writes, quoting Pope John Paul II, because of its usefulness as a tool for quiet and regeneration in an increasingly noisy society, and timeless because its repetition of prayers said on a strand of beads is an ancient aid to contemplation. Wills begins the book with a brief history of the devotion and carefully explains how to take it up. His guide will be helpful to anyone interested in the rosary, but especially to those seeking new insights into its practice.

Stories from Catholics in all walks of life, including college students, married persons, professionals, and clergy. The conversions include struggles with pornography, abortion, sexuality, same sex attraction, and issues in married life and the priesthood, revealing how the theology of the body brought about extraordinary change in each person's life.

Mysticism, in the sense of a “longing for God,” has been present in all times, cultures, and religions. But Soelle believes it has never been more important than in this age of materialism and fundamentalism. The antiauthoritarian mystical element in each religion leads to a community of free spirits and resistance to the death-dealing aspects of our contemporary culture. Religion in the third millennium, Soelle argues, either will be mystical or it will be dead.
Therefore, Soelle identifies strongly with the hunger of New Age searchers but laments the “religious fast food” they devour. Today, a kind of “democratized mysticism” of those without much religious background flourishes. This mystical experience is not drawn so much of the tradition as out of contemporary experiences. In that sense, each of us is a mystic, and Soelle’s work seeks to give theological depth, clarity, and direction.

Recommended by Visiting Scholar in Catholic Thought: André L. Delbecq

Christopher West is a well-established name as an expert on John Paul II's Theology of the Body. This book differs from West's other works in being a systematic commentary on the pope's 129 noontime talks on the meaning of the human body according to Catholic Christianity, which were given over five years early in his pontificate (1979-1984).

A short and popular summary of the Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body. Topics include: What is the meaning of life?. Why did God create us male and female?. How do we attain true happiness on earth?. What kind of joys await us in heaven?. Why is there evil in the world and how do we overcome it?. How can we experience the love we long for in the depth of our hearts?.

Opening the pages of this book is like entering a holy place. You meet wise teachers through their quotes, comforting and challenging biblical texts, simple words for your pocket, prayers for the heart, and the author weaves it all together with her own story so we can approach the manger with an uncluttered heart and kneel. Recommended by Dr. John Kloos.

Selections from the world s greatest spiritual writers provide inspiration for the most widely-celebrated holiday of the year. Writers include: Johann Christoph Arnold, C.S. Lewis, Thomas Merton, Philip Yancey, Madeleine L Engle, Henri Nouwen, Kathleen Norris, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Annie Dillard, Dorothy Day, and many others. Recommended by Dr. John Kloos.

I
n her Introduction, Mazzoni invites the reader "to seek out and savor with me...the food concocted, dished out, bitten into, tasted, and swallowed in the writings of holy women: food that may be mundane, unexceptional, and commonplace, but food that may also be delicious, nutritious, indulgent, or healthful. Whether in the form of stockfish and stew or chocolate and jam, whether cooked as lasagna with greens or curdled into a fine or bitter cheese, this food - through metaphors and similes, through anecdotes and memories - leads to mystical connections, underlines the presence of meaning even, or especially, in the midst of seeming meaninglessness, and leads us to share in the pleasure of cooking, eating, and learning at a divine table in God's kitchen."

According to the studies Richmond cites, the average American works 150 more hours per year than she or he did 80 years ago. As the dominant force in our lives, work brings with it stress, worry and other pressures that cause us to lose focus on our inner selves and to be controlled by the external forces of the workplace. Zen monk and business entrepreneur Richmond contends that approaching work as an expression of one's spiritual life, rather than as simply a job that one must slog through, will make a difference in the quality of our lives. (When we see our work through spiritual lenses, we might even quit our jobs and find a better one, says Richmond.) Recommended by Visiting Scholar in Catholic Thought: André L. Delbecq