Daily Meds

Why are we so insistent on taking our daily meds? What keeps us loading that weekly pill box with all our daily doses? Easy answers right? They make us feel better. They keep us going. Give us energy.  Maybe even keep us alive. Many of us organize them at the beginning of each week so they are at our fingertips every morning and so we do not miss taking one or the other. Wait...now this is what happens when I shorten words. I was not writing this about daily medication. I was writing about daily meditation. But actually, this is perfect. Let's check on some of those questions.

Why should we be so insistent on taking time for daily meditation? What keeps us opening that book filled with daily reflections? Easy questions right? It makes us feel better. Daily prayer and meditation keep us going. Give us energy. Maybe even keeps us alive in the Spirit by strengthening the love in our hearts. Many of us organize them at the beginning of the week so they are at our fingertips every morning, so we do not miss. Let's be real. Once you put yourself on daily meds and form a habit reading them, they are difficult to go without. So, here are some suggestions for 2017. Let's get started if you haven't already.

I Will Praise Your Name Forever - 2017 Journal With Scripture Meditations
This journal lists the readings for each day and allows space for us to write our personal thoughts and prayers.Updated every year, it is a wonderful way to read and meditate on the Word of God.

Saints Calendar and 16 Month Planner - 2017
If you want to spend a year with the saints, this calendar is loaded with lists of Saints and feast days. Each week highlights a special Saint and the patronage of many other Saints are listed within.




Blessed Among Us - Day by Day with Saintly Witnesses
"Two stories per day for a full calendar year, Ellsberg sketches figures from biblical times to the present age and from all corners of the world." Learn more about the spiritual lives of holy people who have not quite made it to Sainthood but who genuinely have touched the lives of millions. This rather large volume is worth it's weight and is one of my choices for daily reading this year thanks to a nice Christmas gift from my daughter.

A Year of Daily Offerings
Read daily from the National Director of the Apostleship of Prayer, Fr. James Kubicki. Based on Ignatian spirituality, we are offered the chance to get closer to God through prayer and shown a way to live our "Eucharistic offering".

Graceful Living: Meditations to Help you Grow Closer to God Day by Day
Johnnette Benkovic "brings a sample of the truth of the Catholic faith to each day as well as practical questions to stimulate prayer and reflection".

The Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion: A Book of Daily Reflections
"In this new book, authors Lisa Hendey and Sarah Reinhard bring together more than eighty moms, dads, and trusted spiritual companions to provide fresh, uplifting meditations for every day of the year. Created for moms by moms."

Pope Francis Family Devotional: 365 Reflections to Share with Your Kids
"Now with the Pope Francis Family Devotional, you can take a few short minutes every day to grow in faith together as a family. You’ll be inspired by a quote from the Holy Father, and a simple reflection to spark discussion. Use at dinner time to guide prayer and conversation. Or at breakfast or bedtime as the perfect start or close to each day’s activities."


  Through the Year with Pope Francis

"Now you can start - or finish - every day encouraged by the same engaging spirit alive in these 365 short meditations written by Pope Francis.
Let his words inspire and challenge you, push you deeper into Scripture, raise your prayer to new heights, or simply fill you with gratitude for God's personal love for you.
Join Pope Francis and let the flame of faith catch fire within you, as it slowly catches fire across the world."





Jesus at My Side: 365 Reflections on His Words
Ever think about just reading His words? This year take time with me and reflect every day on the words of Jesus in Scripture. What do His words say to you today, in your daily life, at work, with family, in your community? His words are current. His words are pertinent. His words are for us today. Read His words. Listen to Him in your heart and reflect on what He is telling you in your personal daily encounter with Him.




Please share your favorite Daily Meds. We love new ideas!

Hounds of the Lord Book Review

I cannot help but love the title of this book as well as the beautiful cover depicting many of the great Dominican Saints who by their preaching and their teaching and their example "enlighten and enflame the world". "For eight hundred years, the 'hounds of the Lord' have barked out Christ's message, saving countless souls and showing us how to live in the glory of God."

Author Kevin Vost tells a little of the life of each Saint but most importantly examines them as "thinkers, doers and lovers". I think the format of his writing is important, in that, many of the extreme penances of these Saints are difficult for us to relate to but their reasoning, their actions toward others and their intentions are things for which we can strive in our own lives. We are each made in the image and likeness of God and each called to "put on the mind of Christ" and to "go out to all the world" and preach the Good News of Salvation and to love one another. These Dominican Saints truly loved and their lives teach us how we too can love. These Dominican Saints were truly joyful as they served the Lord by serving others. The Hounds of the Lord is a beautiful glimpse inside the lives of souls on fire with the Spirit, of souls willing to carry that flame out and ignite the world, of souls whose energy and zeal for life is contagious. Consider reading this a little at a time on your own or, as I did, with a book club. Regardless, as you enjoy these Dominican Saints, "Let their example serve as inspiration, and (dare to) let loose the hound of the Lord within you."

The View From Above

Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” John 15:9-11

Today's Gospel spells out what is expected to obtain complete joy. Well who doesn't want that? Let's get to it.

I've been reading this small book by Fr. Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love, and I must say that it truly packs a powerful punch. From lessons on Faith and Hope and Trust to quotes from St. Therese's letters and prayers and writings from the last moments before she died, this book is loaded with ways to live a life of love, even in the midst of great trial.

In the bookstore as many of you know, there are balconies that overlook the front of the store and we can often see and hear great things in that "view from above". That makes me think today, along with the reading and the excerpt below from "The Way of Trust and Love", what does God see and hear from us as we go about our day to day work? Are we "scattering flowers"?

"'Love brings about love in return,' St. Therese said, quoting St. John of the Cross.  The love was already there, obviously, permeating all the attitudes we have talked about up till now - trust, humility, and abandonment. To those should be added all the little acts of love we choose to make in response to an invitation of the Spirit. These powerfully attract God's grace. What matters, as I said, is not to do extraordinary things, but for love to do the little things that form the fabric of our lives, to please God, to make our neighbors, parents, and friends happy. Therese called that 'scattering flowers.' The surest way of loving God is loving the people around us-loving them in a considerate way, accepting them as they are. This is an essential point."

Consider adding this book to your list of "must reads". It is phenomenal! Oh, and today, try "scattering flowers" so we can share "complete joy" and the "view from above" can be "something to behold."

Touching Hearts - Gifts with Meaning

 I just love this display put together with Studio pieces as well as the artwork of Kelly Rae Roberts. Crosses, Angel figurines for special occasions, canvases with Scripture, plaques, medals and mini journals make fantastic gift suggestions for Confirmation, Graduation, Birthdays or Occasions of Sympathy.  As you can see from the close up of the canvas, many pieces shown are two-dimensional, bringing out a richness in quality and yet still reasonably priced. 

We just love the work of many of the artists we display around the bookstore, intermingled with great book selections, movies and music. We find it more difficult and yet even more important to stay on top of trends in the marketplace. We love to shop with our customers in mind and certainly appreciate the positive feedback as they browse through the store. 

 

We may not have the manpower to put everything on our website but we do spend many hours hand picking just the right items that we believe will not only enhance homes but also touch hearts. We believe in gifts that brings us closer to Christ and we hope that the bookstore continues to have the atmosphere that touches the soul, warms the heart and passes on the love we all should have for one another, the love of Christ.

God bless us all as we continue together through the Lenten Season. May joy fill our hearts so that we may pass His love to all we meet along the way. Let's work to change the world. One Heart at a time.

St. Valentine

Writings on St. Valentine usually begin, "Very little is known about this Saint". And yet, people all over the world celebrate this day every year, thinking about the ones they love and possibly marking the day with gifts of flowers or candy or dinner. Why? Could it be possible that a bishop in the Third Century was martyred because he believed in the sanctity of marriage? Could there have been a bishop who performed weddings for those in love despite the mandates of the Emperor Claudius? Claudius, constantly at war, was desperately in need of soldiers. He felt that men would never enlist if they feared having to leave a wife and family. So, he cancelled all marriages in hopes of strengthening his army. Valentine had to perform weddings in secret. He was determined to keep the Sacrament of Marriage, well, sacred. Captured and thrown in jail to be sentenced, could he have possibly had mercy on one of the Judge's daughters who were blind? Legends tell that Valentine prayed for God to heal the little girl then left a note that read, "your Valentine" before he was put to death.

I can certainly believe that there was and still are those who believe in love. The love of Christ. The love between two young people. The love of one man or one woman for others. And, I certainly believe that there was and still are those who believe in the journey of life and love, the struggle of the journey and the need to go against the grain of society. I certainly believe that even when our beliefs are tainted by laws there is still a basic good in man, there is still love and that good and that love is God. And I can certainly believe that there was once a man of God who believed in the power of love and the sacredness of Marriage and was willing to die for his beliefs, for his faithfulness, for love. All for love!

Happy St. Valentine's Day to all! We love our customers!