January New Releases

New Books For January

A Time to Plant

 A Time to Plant is a deeply human story of one man's attempt to make simple living a reality as a spiritual discipline for himself, as a model for his children, & for the good of creation.

Encounter the Cross:Meditations on the Seven Last Words of Jesus

This book presents thoughtful meditations on each of Christ's sayings from the cross, followed by questions for further reflection and a simple heartfelt prayer

The Lion, the Mouse and the Dawn Treader

This book will delight fans of C. S. Lewis with new insights into one of his classic stories, & will also help the more casual reader (& movie-goer) to understand the rich meaning behind this charming children's adventure

Good Food for Life

The perfect gift for yourself or anyone on your list who enjoys good food & needs a burst of inspiration & how-to for making meals healthy AND enjoyable.

Holding on to Hope

Depression, burn-out, financial disaster, death of a family member, or emotional chaos come to us all. We get through, but we want something beyond mere survival. This book is about the something more: the unexpected, refreshingly, surprisingly new things God wants to do for you.

Praying with Women of the Bible

Scripture scholar Bosetti leads the reader in a lectio divina on the women featured in the Old & New Testaments. Utilizing scripture, meditation, prayer, & questions for the reader's own life, Bosetti crafts an insightful & enlightening analysis of the compelling women mentioned throughout scripture.

Angels: Help from on High

Drawing from the official teaching of the Church, popular devotion, & the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas, this book provides information about the angels. It also contains stories of encountering the angels, & a collection of prayers for their intercession.

Motherless

Motherless takes the reader on a riveting behind-the-scenes journey around the globe to the boardrooms &laboratories where the architects of The Life Sciences Revolution are preparing Mankind's Final Solution... & into the confessionals & chanceries where the Church's response is being challenged.

Fatima for Today

Fr Apostoli carefully analyzes the events that took place in Fatima & clears up lingering questions & doubts about their meaning. He challenges the reader to hear anew the call of Our Lady to prayer & sacrifice, for the world is ever in need of generous hearts willing to make reparation for those in danger of losing their way to God.

Lent & Easter Wisdom from St. Benedict

The latest addition to Liguori's popular series of seasonal meditation books provides not only Scripture readings for the seasons of Lent & Easter, but pairs them with a daily selection from the cherished writings of St. Benedict.

Liturgy 101

Liturgy 101 will empower you to more fruitfully participate in sacred liturgy by helping you to understand, appreciate, love, & celebrate the sacraments that Christ has entrusted to the Church.

Mindful Meditations for Every Day of Lent & Easter

The true meaning of Lent and Easter finds its voice in Mindful Meditations. This Lectionary-based volume of reflections, prayers, questions to ponder--plus ways to put each daily Scripture reading into practice--brings this season to life. 

Jesse Tree: 4th Wednesday- Zechariah, Anticipation

Fourth Wednesday of Advent
Zechariah, Anticipation

Image credit: Carolyn Pikoulas and the Diocese of Erie

Today we remember Zechariah, husband to Elizabeth and father of John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in his old age to announce that he was going to be a father. Zechariah did not believe the angel, and because of this was made unable to speak. When the baby was born, Elizabeth wanted to name him John as the angel had told her. The Jews have a tradition in which a baby can only be named after a relative, and since there was no one by that name in their family, the neighbors and relatives argued that she could not name the baby John. Zechariah wrote on a tablet, "His name is John." and was again able to speak.

Today's story is another that parallels the coming of the kingdom and the promises of God with the waiting and anticipation of pregnancy. As we saw with Abraham, and as we will see with Mary, God brings his gifts to his people in his own time, and against all odds. This joyful waiting for blessings mirrors the waiting for a baby, and we can reflect this in our own Advent waiting as well.

Today, think of blessings or opportunities that you are waiting for. Offer your time of waiting up to God in joyful prayer of anticipation. If the wait is long, pray for patience to wait for God's time.

Today's Focus: Zechariah, Anticipation
Symbol: Writing tablet
Scripture: Luke 1:57-80

Yesterday's Focus: Elizabeth, Joy
Tomorrow's Focus: Joseph, Trust

Jesse Tree: 4th Tuesday- Elizabeth, Joy

Fourth Tuesday of Advent
Elizabeth, Joy

Image credit: Carolyn Pikoulas and the Diocese of Erie

Today we place the image of mother and child on the Jesse tree as we remember Mary sharing her joyful news with her kinswoman, Elizabeth. In today's scripture we read the words we now say in the Hail Mary and the Magnificat as the two women sing their joy over their pregnancies. We feel a great sense of blessing in this short scripture. Both Mary and Elizabeth know that they are doing the will of God, and that their sons are special. They know that with the coming of these children, the world will never be the same. What happiness! What joy!

Today, remember your own mother. Imagine the joy she must have felt in knowing that you were about to enter the world. Imagine her nervous excitement. If you are a parent, recall your anticipation as you waited for your own child. Think about the amazing mystery that God chose to be manifest to the world in such a commonly extraordinary way.

Today's Focus: Elizabeth, Joy
Symbol: Mother and Child
Scripture:  Luke 1:39-56

Yesterday's Focus: Mary, Hope for the Future
Tomorrow's Focus: Zechariah, Anticipation

Jesse Tree: 4th Monday- Mary, Hope for the Future

Fourth Monday of Advent
Mary, Hope for the Future

Image credit: Carolyn Pikoulas and the Diocese of Erie

The white lily symbolizes Mary, mother of Jesus. As we near Christmas day in the this fourth week of Advent, we remember the immediate family of Jesus.

In today's scripture, we read of the Annunciation to Mary by the angel Gabriel. We recall Mary's, "yes" to God's call in a story of joy and expectancy. We see the coming of the Messiah who has been foretold and foreshadowed every step of the way in scripture up until this point. It is in this story that we realize that we are on the brink of the culmination of our Biblical story, a love story in which God sends into the world, through Mary, his only son. Mary's yes opens the door to joy and excitement as we realize that this is it, the savior is coming. Mary opened her heart to God's will, humbly accepting the great responsibility that He asked her to bear. Thanks to her acceptance, we are about to embark on the story of Jesus, the Messiah and redeemer.

Today, take a moment to quiet the stress and preparations for Christmas from your mind, and allow the joy and anticipation for the culmination of the Christmas story to fill your heart. Jesus is coming! Rejoice!

Today's Focus: Mary, Hope for the Future
Symbol: The white lily
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Yesterday's Focus: John the Baptist, Repentance
Tomorrow's Focus: Elizabeth, Joy

Jesse Tree: 4th Sunday- John the Baptist, Repentance

Fourth Sunday of Advent
John the Baptist, Repentance

Image credit: Carolyn Pikoulas and the Diocese of Erie

Today we begin reading scriptures from the New Testament as we meditate on the Jesse Tree, and we place the shell as a symbol of the last prophet, John the Baptist. Today's scripture tells us of the birth and ministry of John as he prepared the people for the coming of Jesus.

We can see John as a prophet in the tradition of the other great prophets on our tree, Isaiah, Elijah, and Jeremiah, among others. John called the people to repentance, and he called them to service. Even as he baptized them in the Jordan, he rebuked the people and spurned them on to love the poor and act justly. We see John linking the prophets of the past with the message of love that Jesus brings.

We also read in these chapters the family lineage of Jesus, tracing back to Adam and Eve. We see in Luke 3:23-38 many of the names that we have remembered in our Advent journey. We are almost to Christmas, and we are nearing the time of Christ in our meditation.

Today, look for a time this week to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.

Today's Focus: John the Baptist, Repentance
Symbol: The shell
Scripture: Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-207:18-30

Yesterday's Focus: Nehemiah, Return & Rebuilding
Tomorrow's Focus: Mary, Hope for the Future

Jesse Tree: 3rd Saturday-Nehemiah, Return & Rebuilding

Third Saturday of Advent
Nehemiah, Return and Rebuilding

Image credit: Carolyn Pikoulas and the Diocese of Erie

Today we place the image of the city wall on the Jesse Tree in remembrance of Nehemiah. The people of Judah had been dispersed in captivity until there was only a remnant left. Nehemiah prayed to God, asking Him to allow the people to be gathered together again, if they would return to follow Mosaic law. Nehemiah begged permission from the current king to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, and he gathered the people together to rebuild. With much prayer, faithfulness, and hard work (even in the face of enemies) the people of Judah succeeded in rebuilding the city. Once the walls were rebuilt, Nehemiah took steps to make sure that the people kept the sabbath holy, and followed the law of Moses so that they would remain faithful to their covenant with God.

Today, look for areas of your life, ministries you are in, or work you do that is struggling, or has fallen apart. How can you begin to bring your work in line with what God wants? Are there areas in your life that need to be brought back into faithfulness with God?

Today's Focus: Nehemiah, Return and Rebuilding

Symbol: City Wall

Scripture: Neh 1:1-2:8, 6:15-16, 13:10-22

Yesterday's Focus: Habakkuk, Waiting

Tomorrow's Focus: John the Baptist, Repentance

Jesse Tree: 3rd Friday- Habakkuk, Waiting

Third Friday of Advent
Habakkuk, Waiting

Image credit: Carolyn Pikoulas and the Diocese of Erie

 The stone watchtower symbolizes Habakkuk today. The book of Habakkuk is a short one, and slightly difficult to ready, but one that carries an important message.

Habakkuk cries out to God, asking why He does not intervene against the enemies of judah, as well as against the evil people from Judah. Habakkuk is especially distraught over the destruction the Chaldea has brought. God answers Habakkuk as he answered Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Elijah: the people are being punished for their wrong doing. The twist in Habakkuk is that the people are not just being punished for idol worship, but also the destruction and harm they have visited on other nations. God includes all of creation in this explanation, even citing the destruction of the forests in Lebanon as a reason for His anger. We see in this book destruction and violence against people and against creation as sinful. God tells Habakkuk that it is the job of just and righteous people to keep their faith in God through the trials they are facing, and they will weather the storm against their enemies, eventually returning to the Promised Land.

Today, with one week left until Christmas, focus on waiting prayerfully and faithfully. Make every preparation a gift of prayer. Pray for the recipients of gifts as you wrap them, pray for the hungry as you prepare food. Make your Advent waiting a gift of love.

Today's Focus: Habakkuk, Waiting
Symbol: Stone Watchtower
Scripture: Hab 1:1-2:1, 3:16-19

Yesterday's Focus: Jeremiah, The Exile
Tomorrow's Focus: Nehemiah, Return and Rebuilding