Nikos Kazantzakis

John Michael Talbot

Saint Francis

The spirituality and lives of the desert fathers and mothers are often seen as the beginning and end of Christian monastic life. Their stories and messages inspire not only the most devout Christians but also the “nones” and the “dones.” In Desert Dangers and Delights John Michael Talbot reflects on his experience as a spiritual father and a popularizer of Catholic Christian spirituality through his music and teaching. He uses his own stories, Scripture, and the stories and sayings of the desert fathers and mothers to show a radically alternative way of living and thinking in Christ. With questions for reflection at the end of each chapter, this book will aid all readers, from experienced monastics to those just beginning a spiritual journey with Christ.

Stories, Teachings, and Sources

Desert Dangers and Delights

Steve Rabey

Offers excerpts on subjects from St. Francis's writings, and includes simplicity, humility, compassion, creativity, community, and prayer

How to Bring Simplicity and Spirituality Into Your Daily Life

The Lessons of St. Francis

The Fire of God

In The Way of the Mystics we are invited to take a journey to the heart of our faith by examining the stories of thirteen of Christian history's most revered mystics. These spiritual pioneers devoted their lives to exploring a deeper communion with God and through their examples show us how we can apply spiritual wisdom to our own lives. The mystics featured in this book are from different centuries, countries, and Christian traditions but all have been divinely blessed to transcend the limitations of worldly concerns and fully enter the spiritual realm¾a place that so often seems closed off to us. The Way of the Mystics offers insights into the lives of such familiar figures as St. Francis of Assisi, Hildegard of Bingen, Thomas Merton, and others. The authors explore these spiritual giants' experiences, the movements they founded or influenced, and the controversies they generated, offering nuggets of truth distilled from their voluminous and often enigmatic writings. In addition, the book offers practical suggestions for applying the mystics' wisdom to our lives, enabling us to better pursue a deeper relationship with God.

Ancient Wisdom for Experiencing God Today

The Way of the Mystics

I n this new book by John Michael Talbot readers are invited to meditate on the twelve simple words that lie at the heart of the Christian East. Complete with historical context and exercises for self-reflection, this book shows how a single prayer could sustain the spiritual life of a civilization.

A Cry for Mercy, a Path of Renewal

The Jesus Prayer

The life of St. Francis of Assisi was a paradigm of simplicity, humanity, and love. In today's busy world, his practices have enormous appeal, described in this inspiring work by John Michael Talbot, the founder of The Brothers and Sisters of Charity, a lay order based on the Franciscan principles of simplicity and self-sufficiency. In The Lessons Of St. Francis, Talbot and co-author Steve Rabey demonstrate the enduring significance of Franciscan wisdom. Organized by topic, such as Simplicity, Humility, Compassion, Solitude, Service, and Prayer, each chapter includes excerpts from the writings of St. Francis, as well as those of his followers and biographers. Combining deep spiritual insights with the offer of a saner, less chaotic way of living, The Lessons Of St. Francis offers wise advice on how to incorporate these virtues into our own lives today.

How to Bring Simplicity and Spirituality into Your Daily Life

The Lessons of Saint Francis

Mike Aquilina

In Ancient Wisdom, Living Fire, bestselling author and multiplatinum recording artist John Michael Talbot reveals how the Church fathers—great martyrs, saints, theologians, and mystics—helped him to become closer to Jesus. Talbot weaves his own spiritual journey with thirteen lessons he learned from Church Fathers including Sts. Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, and Gregory the Great, explaining how their witness became part of the sure foundation of his own faith and ministry. The early Church Fathers built on the foundation of Christianity passed down to them by Jesus through the apostles. In this powerful work, John Michael Talbot introduces readers to both well-known and less familiar but highly influential Church Fathers of the first through eighth centuries. These are the great minds and hearts of ancient discipleship that have deeply influenced Talbot’s own spiritual, professional, personal, and religious life. Their words and witness have drawn Talbot closer to Jesus, giving him, and all of us, the guidance, assurance, and wisdom we all seek as we walk with the Lord. In Ancient Wisdom, Living Fire, Talbot highlights thirteen essential lessons that will show us how to grow closer to Jesus, including: how to be true children of our fathers in faith why prayer is non-negotiable how to choose Christ over everything else why we look to the Virgin Mary how to make room for all in need You, too, can walk along the path of the ancient fathers with Talbot to become closer to Christ.

Lessons I Learned from the Fathers of the Church

Ancient Wisdom, Living Fire

People often imagine that the Church Fathers looked like their icons and smelled of incense, heroic figures wrapped in fine liturgical vestments of silk and lace, engulfed in billows of smoke from their golden censers. Yet, truth be told, even in their writings they resemble more the tattered cloak of Jesus or the dusty sweat-soaked habits of the early Desert Fathers and Mothers. Theirs is an utterly incarnational spirituality. It is heaven-sent, but it moves forward with both feet on the ground of the earth. In this powerful work, John Michael Talbot tells the story of how these men deeply influenced his spiritual, professional and personal life. Coming to the Christian faith as a young man during the turbulent 1960s, he soon grew a fond of the Church Fathers, including St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, St. Augustine and Gregory the Great and found guidance, reassurance and wisdom on his path to Jesus. “The First Epistle of Saint Peter,” writes Talbot, “tells us that we are ‘a spiritual temple built of living stones.’ The early Church Fathers represent the first rows built upon the foundation of the Apostles. And that sacred building project continues throughout history to our time today. But it rests on the Fathers. It depends on them.”

Old Lessons from the Church Fathers for a New Life Today

The Ancient Path

Blessings of St. Benedict is a devotional that brings the Rule of St. Benedict to al people of every state of life. In these brief and accessible reflections on this ancient monastic rule, John Michael Talbot offers simple and timeless monastic wisdom for everyone. Dipping into the well of spirituality that is both practical and mystical, this book is designed for both monastics and monastics at heart. John Michael Talbot was born in Oklahoma City in 1954 and grew up in Indianapolis. He moved to Arkansas and founded the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage in 1982, an integrated monastic community of celibates, singles who can marry, families, and domestics who live in their own homes. He still serves as minister general. He was a founding artist of Sparrow Records in 1976. After a successful career with Sparrow, in 1992 John Michael founded his own record label, Troubadour for the Lord, and is now recognized as one of Catholic music's most popular artists. Talbot is author of Reflections on St. Francis (Liturgical Press, 2009) and The Universal Monk (Liturgical Press, 2011). He has been married to Viola Talbot since 1989 and leads an active concert and teaching ministry from his home at Little Portion Hermitage Monastery.

John Michael Talbot

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