Summary of The Soul of the Apostolate by Fr. Jean-Baptiste Chautard

The Soul of the Apostolate by Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard, O.C.S.O., Tan Books, 1946. Who should read this book?  “This book is addressed to such active workers as are animated with a burning desire to spend themselves, but who are liable to … [Read more...]

Summary of Verbum Domini by Pope Benedict XVI

Introduction In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI wrote a post-synodal apostolic exhortation titled Verbum Domini to emphasize the importance of the Word of God in the life of the Church. He expressed a desire for the Word to be "ever more fully at the heart … [Read more...]

St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s Tips on Love

St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was a French Cistercian abbot during the "middle ages" and made a tremendous impact in Christendom through his reform of Benedictine monasticism (thus causing the formation of the Cistercian order) and his … [Read more...]

Summary of Sacramentum Caritatis by Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI's 2007 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation  Sacramentum Caritatis: "On the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Church's Life and Mission." Introduction: "The Sacrament of Charity" The Holy Eucharist, according to St. Thomas … [Read more...]

Summary of Opening to God: A Guide to Prayer by Thomas Green

The purpose of this book "The purpose of this book is to describe the life of prayer, at least in its initial stages, for those who truly want to learn to pray. It thus attempts to be not an attempt to convince the doubter of the value of prayer … [Read more...]

4 Practical Tips to Make Lectio Divina a Daily Habit

 #1: Make it a "mini habit" "Mini habits" are small & easy versions of the desired habits you wish to form. They are great because they (1) bypass any motivation issue (which is an unreliable source to establish a new habit) and they (2) do … [Read more...]

Catholic Summary of Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg

BJ Fogg is the director of the Persuasive Tech Lab at Stanford University.  Click here for his free online week-long program that teaches you how to pick small goals and then support you as you work toward them using scientifically-sound, behavior … [Read more...]

Summary of Contemplative Prayer Leading to Spiritual and Moral Conversion by Fr. Spitzer, SJ

(Click here for a link to this resource) WHAT IS CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER?  According to Fr. Spitzer, contemplative prayer is "any form of prayer that is open to direct connection with the Lord for enough time to establish intimacy." This "intimacy" is a … [Read more...]

4 Great Questions to Ask During Lectio Divina

Lectio divina, or  "divine reading", is a form of Christian meditation that makes full use of the intellect in an effort to understand God's Word, hear God's voice, and encounter God's transformative love. In order to help facilitate this encounter … [Read more...]

10 Practical Ways to Grow in Gratitude

What is gratitude?  A virtue by which we acknowledge, both interiorly and exteriorly, gifts received and seek to make at least some return for the gift conferred. Gratitude should be seen as a life choice, a decision we make, a discipline that can … [Read more...]