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Inspirational |
AdèleClick on Image to Order
Born in 1789, the same year the French Revolution began, Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon was a woman of great zeal. She empowered many women to grow in faith, community, and service to others while deepening their relationship with God. This biography by Father Joseph Stefanelli, SM, allows the reader to truly know Adèle by walking through her childhood experiences, her spiritual journey, her visioning of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, and her faith-filled years. Father Stefanelli uses her abundant letters to support the successes and challenges of her life's ministry. Her collaboration with Blessed William Joseph Chaminade and Marie Thérèse de Lamourous was fundamental for the Marianist Family. Father Stefanelli includes significant details of their shared mission. This biography offers an in-depth look at Adèle's spirituality, personality, and the numerous ways she responded to God's call.
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Adèle, Aristocrat for the PoorClick on Image to Order
Father Joseph Stefanelli, SM writes a brief yet encompassing story of the intriguing life of Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon. Adèle's biography takes the reader from her early years as the child of wealthy aristocrats to her shared work [the formation of the Daughters of Mary] with Marie Thérèse de Lamourous and William Joseph Chaminade, to her untimely death at age 38. It concludes with a brief statement of the mission of today's Daughters of Mary as they continue Adeles work in the modern world.
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Blessed Jakob Gapp, MarianistClick on Image to Order
The story of Jakob Gapp is a compelling real-life drama of a flawed man's discovery of the Gospel and the journey where it led him. His prophetic opposition to Nazi Socialism, which led to his martyrdom, serves as a clarion call for us to evaluate our own time and to oppose oppression. While we today might not take such radical steps, Blessed Gapp's life is a witness that we must follow the Gospel and not the trendy politics of the day.
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The Blesseds Carlos, Jesús, Fidel, MarianistsClick on Image to Order
Father Thomas Thompson’s translation of Con la Lúmpara Encendida by Father Emilio Ortego, SM, is a compilation of individual biographies of three Spanish martyrs—Brothers Carlos, Eraña, Jesús Hita, and Fidel Fuidio, who were martyred in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. Father Ortega traces the lives of these brothers and highlights their humble beginnings growing up in working-class families; their deep faith lives; and their apostolic involvement in Marianist schools. Key to their stories is their humanity and how God called them to become disciples of Christ and instruments of religious education. As Brother Fidel said, “The happiest moment of my life is when I open the door to my classroom, sent on mission to the students.”
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Bro. Charles Biehler, SM: Marianist Mathematician, 1845-1906Click on Image to Order
This book features the religious life and ministry of a special Marianist. In addition, the history of the Society of Mary as it struggled against anticlericalism in France and in Germany during Brother Charles Biehler’s lifetime is presented in detail. These various events had a direct bearing on Marianist education in the United States.
That Brother Charles Biehler, SM, is a Marianist mathematics genius who needs to be acknowledged, is sufficient reason for publishing his life. However, there are two other equally significant reasons for this work.. . . more
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Chaminade Pragmatist with a VisionClick on Image to Order
In this short biography, Father Stefanelli highlights key moments in the life of William Joseph Chaminade. The reader enjoys glimpses along his faith-filled (and at times rocky) path as the Marianist Founder traveled from his life as a young child in Mussidan, France; his exile in Saragossa, Spain; to his beatification 150 years after his death. Chaminade's inspired mission to rechristianize France is as viable today as it was at his first Sodality meeting on December 8th, 1800.
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Chaminade's Message TodayClick on Image to Order
Late in the 18th century, during the French Revolution, Blessed William Joseph Chaminade was inspired at the feet of Our Lady of Pillar in Saragossa to found the Marianist family. Are the aspirations and inspirations of William Joseph Chaminade still relevant in the 21st century? This question is thoroughly addressed in Father Eduardo Benlloch’s Chaminade’s Message Today. Father Benlloch explores the influences and experiences of Father Chaminade’s lifetime, but not in a biographical context. Father Benlloch’s purpose is far more long reaching. Father Chaminade’s unfailing faith, devotion to Mary and dedication to prayer life are timeless qualities that are inspiring, and Benlloch suggests even necessary, for today’s Marianists. Father Benlloch unites Father Chaminade’s message with the problems facing the world as the 21st century precariously unfolds. Blessed William Joseph Chaminade was unique in his forethought and devotion to sharing Christ’s message with future generations. Chaminade’s Message Today inspires today’s Marianists to continue in this mission.
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Reading Guide
Enfleshing the Word: Prayer and the Marianist Spiritual Journey
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This is a book for all Marianists, lay and religious, and can be of help individually or in preparing for a meeting. It uses the metaphor of a journey: we listen to God’s call, we are to become like Jesus, and we set out. Each section contains suggestions on prayer for individual or group use, including several scripture passages and various suggestions for praying in the way of Chaminade developed in clear, modern language. Spirituality, prayer, scripture, the Marianist charism, and the writings of William Joseph Chaminade are at your fingertips.
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Fullness of Life Through PrayerClick on Image to Order
This booklet, inspired by William Joseph Chaminade’s principles of prayer, is meant to help us use prayer to live life to the fullest. This little book, with its reflections and corresponding scriptural references, is a guide to learning how to pray.
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God Alone: Thoughts from AdèleClick on Image to Order
Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon is well known in the Marianist Family as the founder of the Marianist Sisters. Perhaps not as well known is her gift of staying in community and communication through writing letters. In God Alone we have published quotes from these letters in a daily calendar format. A blank page has been provided in this publication to encourage the reader to write his/her own thoughts and prayers that are inspired by Adèle’s words.
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The Grain of WheatClick on Image to Order
Father Hackenewerth states in his preface: “The Grain of Wheat is
meant for anyone who wants to grow in virtue and develop an
effective personality for dealing with the daily challenges of life.
It begins with what is within the scope of everyone and moves
gradually to what is totally within the power of the Holy Spirit.”
This book was first published in 1967, but especially in its
revision, speaks to us today. We are a society plugged into our
computers and maintaining schedules that keep us withdrawn from
society. A Grain of Wheat reminds and shows us that we need
to reach out to others. “Our defenses and protective habits must die
so that our love can reach out to others. The redemptive message of
the Gospel reminds us if the grain dies ‘it bears much fruit’
(Jn 12:24).”
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The Great Design of God's LoveClick on Image to Order
The Venerable William Joseph Chaminade, founder of the Marianists, received the gift of Charism from the Holy Spirit. It is this same charism that Father Hakenewerth integrates with the virtues of Jesus to aid us in living our lives more fully in our faith. Each chapter begins with a teaching of Marianist charism, continues with themes for prayer and meditation, and concludes with questions for personal reflection or group sharing. This book guides its readers through many facets of Marianist charism, while encouraging us to be missionaries of good works in the name of Jesus and Mary.
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Growing in the Virtues of JesusClick on Image to Order
The term “virtues” can conjure up feelings of outdated dogmas, old-fashioned guilt, and impossible moral standards. Father Quentin Hakenewerth provides a gentle, clear opportunity for us to grow in the virtues of Jesus together. His assumption is that we all have positive capacities in our personalities that can be magnified if we become aware of our true potential through self-awareness and prayer. In our fast-paced, success oriented world, Father Hakenewerth guides us on a journey of inner-peace and a union with Jesus, enabling us to face life in a Christ-oriented manner.
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Letters of Adèle de Batz de TrenquelléonClick on Image to Order
Father Joe Stefanelli, SM, says the number of letters from Adèle was “certainly in the thousands. Of them, only 737 have come down to us.” Because her companions in service were scattered over a large geographical area, she developed a system of letter writing. She wrote, “It is not so much the style that should preoccupy us, but rather our own improvement.”
We gain insights into Adèle’s personality, her spirituality, her deep faith, her mission, and her desire to live for God alone. Although her life was short—she died when not quite 39—Adèle worked diligently to spread the faith to all around her. The primary work of the Daughters of Mary continued to be the development and guidance of young women of the Sodality and the Association. During her life as a religious, she founded convents at Tonneins, Condom, Agen, Arbois, and Bordeaux.
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A Living Faith: Meditation on the Apostles’ CreedClick on Image to Order
Fr. Paul Landolfi, SM, offers an extended understanding of the ways in which we can further pray the Apostles' Creed as we proclaim our faith. He begins by simply describing prayer as being in contact with God. Fr. Landolfi continues by explaining that there are many methods to do this, but we should always ask ourselves if our chosen method strengthens our relationship, or contact, with God. The Creed is broken down, piece by piece, to offer an understanding of what we believe, as outlined by the Creed, and challenge us to meditate on what that means in our times and faith.
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Marie Thérèse de Lamourous, Firm of Hand, Loving of HeartClick on Image to Order
The title of this short biography succinctly captures the life of Marie Thérèse de Lamourous. The reader will get swept away in the trials and adventures of life during the French Revolution, as you learn of Marie Thérèse’s unflinching faith and courage in this tumultuous time of history. Father Stefanelli paints a portrait of a rather unwilling heroine who eventually embraces her God-graced mission in life and adopts the prostitutes of Revolutionary France,creating a place of refuge, safety,and prayer at the Miséricorde. Marie Thérèse’s devotion to her faith and to the women she served is a positive lesson for women of and for all ages.
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The Promised Woman
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If one wishes to know the wide array of perspectives in the Marianist world about our common spirituality, this collection of papers will be of interest. Some are remarkable for their scholarship; others are touching in their ability to capture the spirit of a particular culture and how Marianist spirit interfaces with it. While the richness of the work lies in the expansive scope of thought and experience contained in its pages, individuals and groups might find that focusing on a set of papers from a cluster of writers will provide much grist for the reflective mill. . . . more
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Reading the Signs of the Times, Speaking to a Changing World: An
Overview of Catholic Theology from 1800 to 2000Click on Image to Order
Father John A. McGrath has surveyed the main elements of Catholic theology of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in this book. He concentrates on currents in Western Europe, especially France, Germany, and Italy, to show connections with Marianist life in this period. He begins with the stream of French traditionalism after the French Revolution and then follows the liberal line of thought of Felicité de Lamennais. He treats the Tübingen School and the developments in English Catholicism, especially as seen in the work of Cardinal Newman. . . . more
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Retreat With AdèleClick on Image to Order
A Retreat with Adèle is a spiritual guide which takes readers on a seven-day retreat. The booklet is filled with scripture passages centering on Jesus and Mary; the words of Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon, Foundress of the Marianist Sisters; and reflection questions which can be used for personal or group activities. It is geared toward anyone making a personal retreat or for someone seeking moments of quiet away from the "busyness" of life.
This 24-page booklet has been published as part of the 50th Anniversary of the foundation of the Marianist Sisters in the United States.
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Scripture and the Marian Writings of Father William Joseph ChaminadeClick on Image to Order
This book is a thoroughgoing development of the topic by a Marianist priest and well-known scripture scholar. He reveals the background out of which Father Chaminade developed his Marian teaching and devotion to the Bible, including the French School of Spirituality and his reading of the Fathers of the Church. Father Buby tells us that while Father Chaminade was not a Mariologist, his love for and devotion to Mary prompted him to use the whole of the Bible to teach about Mary in a practical, wisdom-like manner. He observes that Father Chaminade gave us a Marianist heritage that is close to Vatican II’s synthesis of Mary in chapter 8 of the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church (Lumen Gentium, §§ 52-68), thus affirming just how far Father Chaminade had tapped into the roots that later flourished in the 1960’s. The book is thoroughly researched, using Marianist sources and contains numerous direct quotations from Father Chaminade. A bonus is a page-long prayer by the author that begins each of the ten chapters to help the reader focus on the spiritual content.
Father Buby’s genius is his ability to use his talent and education as a scripture scholar to lay the foundation of his books on solid research. Yet, his work is never lofty or up in the clouds cut loose from his pastoral, practical, work of using scripture to inspire the reader to greater devotion to Jesus and Mary and to greater response to the demands of discipleship.
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Writings on FaithClick on Image to Order
Throughout his lifetime, Father William Joseph Chaminade continually made references to faith, so NACMS is pleased to announce a new two-volume set in English devoted to the words of the Founder in this area, Writings on Faith.
This work, produced by Jean-Baptiste Armbruster, SM, has been translated from the original French by Joseph Roy, SM.
The first volume contains selections from Chaminade’s letters from 1796 to 1849, 53 years of his active life in the service of the Church. Time and time again he urges his correspondents to allow the spirit of faith to transform their entire being, their intelligence, their heart, their will, and their decisions.
Volume two is divided into two sections: faith in the writings for lay people and faith in the writings for religious life. Beginning with his writings on the Marian Sodality, the collection then moves to extracts from Manual of the Servant of Mary and selections from retreats for sodalists in which Father Chaminade often developed ideas to strengthen them in their Christian faith. Notes d’Instruction were brief texts he used for preaching and teaching. Many biblical texts on faith enrich these passages and allow us to realize more fully to what extent Father Chaminade knew, used, and taught the Bible. This section includes writings from 1801 to 1844 . . . more
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