Monday, 13 April 2026

John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross - Amy Welborn, Michael Dubruiel, and Michael D. O'Brien

John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross 
Amy Welborn 
Michael Dubruiel
Michael D. O'Brien (Illustrator)
ISBN 9781594711282

John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross - Amy Welborn, Michael Dubruiel, and Michael D. O'Brien

Over the years I have developed the habit of trying to pray a Stations of the Cross each Friday throughout the year and each day through let. I am not certain if I have ever completed it for a whole year. But I try. Recently I went through the collection of Stations I had and found I had about 10 I have never read or reviewed and have made the commitment to try and make it through them this Lent. I have loved everything I have read from the pens of Welborn and Dubruiel. I have enjoyed the book I have read by O'Brien and this and the other stations I have read that he has illustrated. This also appears to be 1 of 2 versions of the Biblical Way by Amy and Michael D.

The description of this volume is:

“In 1991, Pope John Paul II introduced a new Bible-based interpretation of the Stations of the Cross. This devotional guide to invite readers to prayerfully walk in solidarity with Jesus on his agonizing way of the cross-- from his last torturous moments in the Garden of Gethsemane to his death and burial. Now with full-color station images from previously unpublished paintings by Michael OBrien, this booklet creates an ideal resource for individual or group devotional use, particularly during the Lenten season.”

About the authors we are informed:

“Amy Welborn is a freelance writer and active blogger Charlotte Was Both for the Catholic press and has authored many books for children, youth, and adults, including The Words We Pray: Discovering the Richness of Traditional Catholic Prayer. Welborn holds a bachelor's degree in honors history and a master's degree in church history. She has worked as a teacher in Catholic high schools and also as director of religious education in a parish.”

and

“Michael Dubruiel (1958-2009) was a Roman Catholic author and speaker. Born in Keene, New Hampshire, Dubruiel served for four years in the US Army before receiving a bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. Meinrad College, a master's of divinity from St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, and a master's degree in Christian spirituality from Creighton University. During the 1980s and 1990s, he served in Catholic parishes in Jacksonville, Orange Park, and Gainesville, and taught homiletics and spirituality at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary. He taught theology at Tampa Jesuit High School from 1994 to 1998.

From 1999 to 2008, Dubruiel worked as acquisitions editor at Our Sunday Visitor Publishing in Huntington, Indiana. In the summer of 2008 he began work as director of the Office of the New Evangelization and Stewardship for the Diocese of Birmingham. Like his wife, Amy Welborn, Dubruiel became a widely read Catholic blogger. He was the author of eleven popular Catholic books, including two that he coauthored with his wife.”

The info about the illustrator is:

“Michael O'Brien is a Catholic novelist and liturgical artist from Combermere, Ontario. His paintings cover a range from liturgical commissions to work reflecting on the meaning of the human person, transcendence, and immanence.”

In the introduction we are informed:

“The Way of the Cross has been an integral part of the devotional life of Catholics for centuries. The roots of the devotion can be found m the early Chrrst1an practice of retracing the path Jesus walked from the genesis of his passion in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, through the Valley of Kidron, along the streets of Jerusalem, and finally to the summit of Calvary. This ancient path of pilgrimage was more inclusive of the entire passion of Christ than later versions. Rather than beginning in the Garden of Gethsemane, later versions, including the arrangement found in most Catholic churches today, begin with the condemnation of Jesus and include a number of stations that are based more on tradition than on the scriptures.”

“John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross is composed in a liturgical format, using responses and ministries evocative of those experienced during the eucharistic liturgy. It offers an opportunity for many to be involved in helping to lead the assembly in prayer: a lector to proclaim the scripture passage, a leader (either lay or ordained) to offer the meditation, and a cantor or choir to lead the assembly in singing the "Lord Have Mercy" as a penitential response after each station as well as an appropriate hymn between the stations.”

“Praying John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross can lead to an experience of the deep love of God revealed through the suffering and death of the Lord. It can also provide an opportunity for reflection on how God's love is revealed through our experiences of loss, betrayal, and death. Praying these stations, whether in private or as a public prayer, should help a person draw closer to Jesus Christ. It is our hope that as you follow this Way of the Cross you will experience the same certitude of faith in the love that God has for you as Jesus did when he accepted his cross, and that you will be rewarded with a share in his resurrection.”

The chapters in the volume are:

Introduction
I Jesus prays in the garden.
II Jesus is betrayed and arrested.
III Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin.
IV Peter denies knowing Jesus.
V Jesus is condemned by Pilate.
VI Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns,
VII Jesus takes up his cross.
VIII Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus .
IX Jesus meets the weeping women.
X Jesus is crucified.
XI Jesus promises paradise to the crucified thief.
XII Jesus cares for his mother.
XIII Jesus dies.
XIV Jesus is buried.
Closing Prayer 

There is no Stabat Mater, and no prayers at the end of each station, but they can easily by added personally. Each station has three parts:

Station 
Tile
Prayers
Scripture Text
Reflection
Response
Kyrie Eleison

A sample station is:

“THIRD STATION
JESUS IS CONDEMNED BY THE SANHEDRIN

Station Site: At the Foot of the Altar

Leader: We praise you, Jesus, and give you thanks!
People: By your cross and resurrection you have set us free/
Lector: A reading from the Gospel of Matthew. (Mt 26:62-66)

The high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?" But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?" They answered, "He deserves death."

     All Kneel

Leader: Jesus, your words are blasphemy to the ears of the high priest. He tears his garments, unable to see the presence of God in the one who stands before him arrested and accused. He cannot believe in a God who, because of such great love, would willingly become so powerless.

People: O Jesus, we can be so limited in our vision. We find it difficult to look beyond our narrow expectations and see you as you are. Give us the grace to hear your words clearly and to follow you in truth. We love you, Jesus; reveal to us what God is like.

     All Stand

Leader: Lord, have mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy.

Leader: Christ, have mercy.
People: Christ, have mercy.

Leader: Lord, have mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy.”

I hope that sample meditation and the quotes from the  introduction gives you a feel for this volume. This was a Way of the Cross I am very thankful I have worked through and look forward to praying it again. If it was available as an eBook it would be one I used often. I have prayed a few versions of Biblical Stations over the years. But this one is an excellent resource.

This is a great Lenten resource, a wonderful version of this devotion. I can easily recommend that Way of the Cross. I encourage you to pick it up and give it a try, if you can track it down! This is an excellent resource, I just really wish a digital edition was available.

John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross - Amy Welborn, Michael Dubruiel, and Michael D. O'Brien sample 1

John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross - Amy Welborn, Michael Dubruiel, and Michael D. O'Brien sample 2

John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross - Amy Welborn, Michael Dubruiel, and Michael D. O'Brien sample 3

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!  For all Stations of the Cross review click here.  

Books by Amy Welborn:
Reconciled to God Daily Lenten Devotions
Wish You Were Here: Travels Through Loss and Hope
A Catholic Woman's Book of Days
de-Coding Da Vinci: The Facts Behind the Fiction of the Da Vinci Code
Loyola Kids Book of Saints
Loyola Kids Book of Heroes: Stories of Catholic Heroes and Saints throughout History
Here. Now. a Catholic Guide to the Good Life
The Words We Pray
Praying the Rosary: With the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries
Decoding Mary Magdalene: Truth, Legend, and Lies
Come Meet Jesus: An Invitation from Pope Benedict XVI
Be Saints! An Invitation from Pope Benedict XVI
Friendship with Jesus: Pope Benedict XVI talks to Children on Their First Holy Communion
Mary and the Christian Life: Scriptural Reflections on the First Disciple
Adventures in Assisi: On the Path with St. Francis: On the Path with St. Francis
Prepare Him Room: Advent Family Devotions
Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter 
Parables: Stories of the Kingdom
The Absence of War
Relatable and Authentic, Transparent, So Real
All Will Be Well
Nothing Else Occurs To Me
A Reason for Everything
...

Books by Michael's Dubruiel:
John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross - with Amy Welborn
A Pocket Guide to Confession - 2009 Review
A Pocket Guide to Confession - 2025 Review
A Pocket Guide to the Mass
The How-to Book of the Mass: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You
The Church's Most Powerful Novenas
How To Get The Most Out Of The Eucharist
Praying the Rosary: With the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries - with Amy Welborn
The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life
Praying the Rosary: With the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, & Glorious Mysteries - with Amy Welborn
Praying in the Presence of Our Lord with Fulton J. Sheen
...


Books by Michael D. O'Brien:
The Small Angel (1993)
A Landscape with Dragons (1998)
The Island of the World (2007)
The Father's Tale (2011)
Theophilos (2012)
Voyage to Alpha Centauri (2013)
Elijah in Jerusalem (2015)
The Fool of New York City (2016)
The Lighthouse (2020)
The Sabbatical (2021)
By the Rivers of Babylon (2022)
…

Children of the Last Days Series:
Father Elijah (1996)
Strangers and Sojourners (1997)
Eclipse of the Sun (1997)
Plague Journal (1999)
A Cry of Stone (2003)
Sophia House (2005)
…

Contributed to:
…

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Sunday, 12 April 2026

A Prayer of the Day St. Raphael Prayer for Healing

St. Raphael Prayer for Healing   
Prayer of the Day  


Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the “medicine of God” I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favour (here mention your special intention), and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.  

Amen. 
  
Note: Every so often I post a prayer I use as part of my daily prayers. I went looking for another prayer to Saint Raphael as I already had a few to St. Michael and I found this one online.


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Saturday, 11 April 2026

Stations of the Cross with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus - Fr. William F. Prospero and Fr. James Kubicki

Stations of the Cross with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus 
Fr. William F. Prospero 
Fr. James Kubicki (Editor)
Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network
ISBN 9781594716386
eISBN 9781594716393
ASIN B01N1MY5GL

Stations of the Cross with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus - Fr. William F. Prospero and Fr. James Kubicki

I had never encountered this version of this devotion previously. I stumbled upon it while working on a review of a different one. I picked it up immediately after reading the description. Every Friday during the year I try and pray a Stations of the Cross, and also each day through Lent. I am not sure I have every actually hit the whole year but I try. At the beginning of lent in 2026 I went through my collection of Stations and found I had 10 I had not got around to praying yet. I have read 5 so far and now have 12 I have not read … I have a found a few others while researching reviews including this volume. 

The description of this volume states:

“This personal Way of the Cross from the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network beautifully expresses the deep connection between the Eucharist and the Cross. At each of the fourteen stations, readers are encouraged to offer themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by uniting their sufferings with his in the Eucharist.

The spirituality of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network comes to life in meditations on the classic Catholic Lenten devotion, the Stations of the Cross. Recalling the dramatic events of Jesus’ passion and death helps readers enter more fully into the celebration of the Mass that makes these events present in a real way. Focusing on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the stations affirm how he gave up his body—his very heart—out of love for all.

Originally written by Rev. Will Prospero, S.J. (1965-2014), and edited by Rev. James Kubicki, S.J., former national director of the Apostleship of Prayer (now the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network), these stations are already beloved by followers of the ministry. Stations of the Cross with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus is beautifully illustrated with artwork of the Stations of the Cross located in the School Sisters of St. Francis’s St. Joseph Chapel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.”

The chapters in the volume are:

Introduction
Opening Reflection
First Station
Second Station
Third Station
Fourth Station
Fifth Station
Sixth Station
Seventh Station
Eighth Station
Ninth Station
Tenth Station
Eleventh Station
Twelfth Station
Thirteenth Station
Fourteenth Station
Concluding Reflection

A sample day is:

“Third Station
Jesus Falls the First Time

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
Hebrews 4:15–16

I adore you, O Christ, and I bless you,
Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Jesus falls under the heavy Cross, which overcomes his weakened body. Jesus’ heart falls in disappointment. The weight of the ingratitude and indifference toward his mission finally overcomes him. His heart aches with frustration. Jesus remembers how carefully he communicated the teachings of the kingdom of God. He remembers how much effort he put into listening to people’s concerns and into healing and helping them. All this seems a waste now as he lies facedown on the ground.

Yet Jesus does not despair. His aching heart grasps for the promise of his Father—a promise that somehow still holds true. He picks himself up and continues on the way.

How easily my heart falls. I fall under the weight of the smallest temptation. I grasp for what does not belong to me. I easily despair when things don’t go my way. I complain at the smallest inconvenience. I have a heart of stone. I ignore the blessings of God and fail to believe his promises.

The Eucharist is nourishment that gives me strength to persevere in facing life’s challenges and the temptations that come my way. The Sacred Heart of Jesus, present in the Eucharist, gives me the courage and hope to keep going when I feel weak and overwhelmed.

Prayer: Jesus, change my heart! Make it strong in difficult times. Open my heart to receive faith; help me trust in your promise and your strength. Fill my heart with hope in you, not in my own accomplishments or power. Fill my heart with pure love so that I may desire you alone in all things.

Heart of Jesus, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament,
I offer myself with you for the salvation of all.”

I highlighted a number of passages while reading and praying my way through his volume. Some of them are:

“These reflections, which Fr. Will shared with me some years ago, are an expression of that love. During Holy Week 2014, while Fr. Will was suffering from kidney cancer and chemotherapy, which compromised his immune system and allowed an incipient fungal pneumonia to attack, I offered them on the weekly Apostleship of Prayer radio show. A listener was so moved that he asked me to get them published. I asked Fr. Will’s permission to edit them for publication, and he agreed. Ave Maria Press also saw their value and graciously agreed to publish them.”

“Fr. Will lived these reflections. He walked the Way of the Cross with Jesus, surrendering himself to the incomprehensible and perfect will of the Father. He made his final surrender on a feast of Mary, the woman of his life, the one whom St. John Paul II called “the Woman of the Eucharist.” Fr. Will died on September 8, 2014. These reflections are intended for private rather than public or group use. They are the fruit of eucharistic adoration and are an ideal prayer for holy hours and visits to the Blessed Sacrament.”

“This meditation on the Stations of the Cross provides a way to appreciate what Jesus did out of love for each of us. Nothing is more insulting to our Lord than when those who profess faith in him take for granted what he did and what he continues to do at each celebration of the Eucharist.”

“Thank you, Lord Jesus, for every moment of your passion, offered for the salvation of the world. Increase my awareness and appreciation of the wounds you suffered for love of me, and help me to gratefully offer myself back to you. Amen.”

“The Sacred Heart of Jesus, present in the Eucharist, gives me the courage and hope to keep going when I feel weak and overwhelmed.”

“Living life to the full means living every moment in the heart of God.”

“Mary breaks through difficult situations to be with me in my suffering. Human suffering attracts the attentive heart of our Blessed Mother. Her motherly care cannot be stifled by evil. Her Immaculate Heart intensely suffers Jesus’ passion and continues to suffer my passion with me. She shows me how to find meaning in my sufferings by uniting them with the sufferings of Jesus, which bring salvation to the world.”

“Highlight(pink) - Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross > Page 20 · Location 206
When I come to know that Jesus’ heart suffers for love of me, I am changed. I realize that my suffering has a meaningful purpose in God’s heart.”

“Fear stifles faith; courage, in the midst of suffering, builds up faith.”

“In the midst of my suffering, there is a temptation to fear that God will abandon me to misery. It is particularly difficult to trust God when I am down on the ground, unable to look up. Jesus wants to come to me and give me courage.”

“Of what barriers do I need to be stripped? What fears prevent my full exposure to Jesus? In Holy Communion I receive the Real Presence of Jesus Christ. Does Jesus receive in return my real presence, or do I try to hide parts of myself or my day from him?”

“Faith, hope, and love all reside in the human heart. Jesus’ heart, sacred and pure, was so totally conformed to the will of God that it embodied the seeds of eternal life, which were poured out in every thought, word, and deed of Jesus. Jesus’ whole life was a living sacrifice of praise, a pouring out of himself in love of God and humanity. In my meditation on Jesus’ Way of the Cross, I try to relate my own struggles and sacrifices to the suffering Christ. This happens through prayer. When I pray, I make present in my memory all the sacrifices of my day and unite them to the offering of Jesus’ heart in Holy Mass. In this way, my prayer can change the world. Prayer joined to sacrifice constitutes the most powerful force in human history.” 

I hope that sample station and quotes give you a feel for this version of this devotion. This one is recommended for personal devotion but I could see it working well with a small group or family setting. I was really blessed by reading this stations. And I know it is one that will make it into my rotation regularly.

This is a great version of this devotional practice. A version of this devotion I can easily recommend. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! For all Stations of the Cross review click here. 
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Friday, 10 April 2026

Conspiracy 365 April - Gabrielle Lord

Conspiracy 365 April
Gabrielle Lord
Scholastic
ISBN 9780340996478
ISBN 9781935279532
ASIN B00ZPT4LT2

Conspiracy 365 April - Gabrielle Lord

I read the first two volumes in this series back in 2011, I had planned on reading them one a month as they were released. But that did not happen. My son just started reading them in his late teens so I decided to pick them back up and finish the series. IO read March last month and this month ripped through April.

When I read the first 2 it was a new series from Scholastic, Conspiracy 365, is another unique approach to books that will draw readers in and keep them addicted. Much like the 39 Clues or Skeleton Creek books, it approaches storytelling in a new and different way that with draw an addicted following of readers. The story is about the life of Callum (Cal) Ormond. Almost like a year-long version of the TV series 24. The story will be told over 12 books, one released each month. And we now know the story continued with a shorter follow up series.

The description of this volume states:

“On New Year's Eve Cal is chased down the street by a staggering, sick man with a deadly warning...

"They killed your father. They'll kill you. You must survive the next 365 days!"

Hurled into a life on the run, with a price on his head, the 15-year-old fugitive is isolated and alone. Hunted by the law and ruthless criminals, Cal must somehow uncover the truth about his father's mysterious death and a history-changing secret.

Who can he turn to, who can he trust, when the whole world seems to want him dead?

The clock is tinking. Any second could be his last.

It's a do-or-die when a high speed chase goes wrong, and leaves Cal exposed to his enemies.

If he survives he must decipher the Ormond Riddle, and risk emerging from hiding to save his family. But even if he makes it to December 31 alive, will his family ever be the same again?

The clock is ticking. He has 245 days left.”

This fourth instalment keeps up the fast-pace and the plot becomes even more entangled even more so as the story progresses. Cal is a fugitive on the run. He realizes that the threats against him and his family are even more than he had previously suspected. He finds out they are planning on taking his sister off life support. So no matter the risk he has to try and get to her and stop it. But that s after a crazy car chase. Stories are being told about him, and what he has done that are complete fabrications. He has one friend he can trust and a girl he is hoping he can trust. But the risks are so high and the danger so real. Can cal find a way to figure out the mystery? He only has 246 days left to figure it out.

These books were originally published in Australia and North America by Scholastic, unfortunately it appears eBook editions were never released in Canada. An intense instalment in a great series.

These books have a few cool features. In each book, the page numbers start at the highest and count down. The chapter and section headings are Dates and Time. This was an excellent fourth instalment in the series and I know I will have to read all 12 books; the story is so good I cannot put it down. Give them a try you will not be disappointed.

Books by Gabrielle Lord:
Conspiracy 365:
Series Overview
January (2011)
February (2011)
March (2011)
April (2011)
May (2011)
June (2011)
July (2011)
August (2011)
September (2011)
October (2011)
November (2011)
December (2011)
…

Conspiracy 365 Black Ops:
Missing (2013)
Hunted (2013)
Endgame (2013)
…

48 Hours Series:
The Vanishing (2017)
The Medusa Curse (2017)
…

Gemma Lincoln:
Feeding the Demons (1999)
Baby Did a Bad Thing (2002)
Spiking the Girl (2004)
Shattered (2007)
Death by Beauty (2012)
…

Jack McCain:
Death Delights (2001)
Lethal Factor (2003)
Dirty Weekend (2005)
…

Other Books:
Fortress (1980)
Tooth and Claw (1983)
Jumbo (1986)
Salt (1990)
Whipping Boy (1992)
The Stranger Inside: An Erotic Adventure (1994)
Bones (1995)
The Sharp End (1998)
Monkey Undercover (2006)
…
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Thursday, 9 April 2026

The Ruling Class - Jennifer Lynn Barnes - The Fixer Book 1

The Ruling Class
aka: The Fixer
The Fixer Book 1
Bloomsbury YA
ISBN 9781547618743
eISBN 9781547620159
ASIN B0FCBKHDPM

The Ruling Class - Jennifer Lynn Barnes - The Fixer Book 1

Three year my daughter and I read The Naturals together. Or rather I read them, and she was reading one in class and had to wait before moving on. We both really enjoyed the series. Then my daughter was reading Nobody and again wanted me to read it so I could be a sounding board for her theories while she was working through it. Now we have started this. She is reading the rebranded edition in a physical copy called ‘The Ruling Class’  I have the eBook of the older edition I picked up when we were reading her other books called ‘The Fixer’. And when I stopped at the local bookstore to pick up book 2 for my daughter they had both the earlier and current titled versions of it in stock. But no matter which version you pick up it is a great read!

The description of this volume states:

“When Tess Kendrick is sent to stay with her older sister in Washington, D.C. she has no idea that Ivy is the Capitol's go-to "fixer," a person who can make powerful people's scandals disappear with a snap of her fingers. Tess never thought she and Ivy had much in common, but when she enrolls at the exclusive Hardwicke School, she soon finds herself thrust into the role of high school fixer, solving problems for the children of the D.C. elite.

Secrets pile up as each sister lives a double life, and their worlds come crashing together when a scandal from the halls of Hardwicke reaches Capitol Hill. As the stakes turn deadly, Tess must uncover who's behind the power play before she becomes a target herself.

Previously published as The Fixer.”

About the author we are informed:

“Is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty acclaimed young adult novels, including the Inheritance Games, the Naturals, and the Debutantes series, and The Lovely and the Lost. Jen is also a Fulbright Scholar with advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science. She received her PhD from Yale University in 2012 and was a professor of psychology and professional writing for many years.”

In the older edition it is:

“JENNIFER LYNN BARNES has written more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Fixer, The Long Game, the Raised by Wolves series, and the Naturals series. She has advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science. She received her PhD from Yale University and is now a professor of psychology and writing.”

It had been almost 2 years to the day since I list finished a volume from Barnes. Even though this is a different series and different characters the writing style was such that it was almost like a visit with an old friend. In some ways this has a fell of a Ray Donovan for teens and young adults. I ripped thought it one afternoon, and my daughter loves it. She has come up with some pretty sound theories and even dismissed some earlier ones as she progresses through the book. It is in some way a school story, but one with some pretty series twists in the beltway inner circle in Washington. But not all things are as they appear and Tess lands right in the middle of it while being yanked from the only home she has ever really known. The story is filled with layers of plots and secrets galore. And unfortunately Tess and her sister both appear to be natural fixers and are working the same issues from different sides. Will it bring them together or pull them apart? 

The story moves at a quick pace. Both Tess and Ivy have had their lives upended, and with more than one body they might just be in grave danger. Find out if they can find a way to work together, and with the help of those who care about them come out of this? 

Parts of this story are very moving and the action is intense. I know a few people who have gone through what Tess finds out and Barnes does an excellent job capturing it. A great little read, that leaves you desperate for the second volume! 

Well done Barnes! Well Done.

Books by Jennifer Lynn Barnes:
The Lovely and the Lost (2019)
Nobody (2013)
     formerly At First Sight
Every Other Day (2011)
…

The Naturals Series:
The Naturals (2013)
All In (2015)
Bad Blood (2016)
Twelve (2017)
…

The Inheritance Games Series:
The Inheritance Games (2020)
The Hawthorne Legacy (2021)
The Final Gambit (2022)
The Brothers Hawthorne (2023)
…

Debutantes Series:
Little White Lies (2018)
Deadly Little Scandals (2019)
…

The Fixer Series:
     formerly The Fixer (2015)
Lessons in Power
     Formerly The Long Game (2016)
…

Raised by Wolves Series:
Raised by Wolves (2010)
Sweet Sixteen (2015)
Trial by Fire (2011)
Taken by Storm (2012)
…

The Squad Series:
Perfect Cover (2008)
Killer Spirit (2008)
…

Tattoo Series:
Tattoo (2007)
Fate (2009)
…

Golden Series:
Golden (2006)
Platinum (2007)
…
The Fixer Series - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Wednesday, 8 April 2026

Living in the Presence of God The Everyday Spirituality of Brother Lawrence - John J. Kirvan - Great Spiritual Teachers Series

Living in the Presence of God The Everyday Spirituality of Brother Lawrence
Great Spiritual Teachers
John J. Kirvan
ISBN 9780877936015
ISBN 0877936013

Living in the Presence of God The Everyday Spirituality of Brother Lawrence - John J. Kirvan - Great Spiritual Teachers Series

This is the sixteenth volume in the Great Spiritual Teachers series I have read, It is one of the ones that is currently out of print. It is one of the oldest titles in the series, it was originally released in 1997, and I believe it was not part of either rebranding’s the series has gone through. Two Years ago I read my first book in the series, it was Born to Do This: 30 Days with Joan of Arc by Jaymie Stuart Wolfe, and loved it and the concept of the series. I have read one almost every month since that first one, and if I can track down all the out of print, will do so until I finish all 24 released to date in the series. This one was harder to track down but well worth the effort.

The description of this volume states:

“Living in the Presence of God is a thirty-day spiritual journey based on the classic work of Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God. For over three centuries those who have pursued their soul’s dreams amidst unremitting demands on their time have welcomed the wisdom of this simple Carmelite cook and sandal-maker. Discover how Brother Lawrence can guide you in the midst of the hectic pace of your life.

If I were a preacher I would, above all other things preach the practice of the presence of God. For there is nothing in the world sweeter or more delightful than a continual conversation with God. Brother Lawrence.”

Another states:

“This book maps out a thirty-day spiritual journey based on the classic work of Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God. Discover how Brother Lawrence's insights can guide you in the midst of the hectic pace of your life.”

About the series we are informed:

“Each book in the Great Spiritual Teachers series provides a month of daily readings from one of Christianity's most beloved spiritual guides. For each day there is a brief and accessible morning meditation drawn from the mystic's writings, a simple mantra for use throughout the day, and a night prayer to focus one's thoughts as the day ends. These easy-to-use books are the perfect prayer companion for busy people who want to root their spiritual practice in the solid ground of these great spiritual teachers.”

I believe there are 17 volumes in this series currently in print, but only 15 of those have digital editions. There are also a number that are currently out of print, The oldest I have seen are from the late 1080’s and it looks like they went through a rebranding and format change in the mid 00’s, and they have undergone yet another rebranding in the 2020’s including some new titles available in the series. I must admit I do not recall running across this series prior to that first volume on Joan. I have however added all of them to my ‘to be read list’. I love the most recent rebranding, and hope Ave Maria completes the rebranding across all volumes, and brings back into print some of the volumes currently not available; specifically the volumes on John of the Cross, Evelyn Underhill, Mother Theresa and others. This specific volume was released in 2021, making it one of the oldest in the series. 

The sections in this volume are:

Brother Lawrence 
How to Pray This Book 
Thirty Days with Brother Lawrence 
One Final Word 

While reading this I numerous passages, some of them are:

“If I were a preacher I would, above all other things, preach the practice of the presence of God. For there is nothing in the world sweeter or more delightful than a continual conversation with God. I would advise the whole world to take it up, so necessary do I consider it, and so easy.”

“There is something deeply encouraging and reassuring about a spirituality born in the steamy air of a kitchen and honed at a shoemaker's bench. It carries no trace of a hothouse world of spiritual luxury, exotic experience and leisure for the soul. It blossoms in a world where time is itself a luxury and the only space is where you find yourself.”

“He began by reading all the right spiritual books, but each, he said, sent him off in a different direction, confusing his search for God rather than aiding it. So out of sheer need-and deep insight – he reduced his spiritual life to setting out to love God above all else, nurturing that love by consciously staying in God's presence, thinking about God as often as possible, and praying all the while he fulfilled the pedestrian but life-supporting duties of a cook and sandal- maker.”

“In over three centuries there have been hundreds of editions in many languages of the work generally called The Practice of the Presence of God. It is not a book conceived and written by Lawrence, but a compilation of various materials. As a result, one edition can vary quite greatly from another in its contents. Generally speaking, you will find the sixteen letters from Lawrence to persons seeking his spiritual advice. There is also a gathering of maxims in which Lawrence sums up in his own words the basics of a spiritual life lived in the presence of God. You may also find a eulogy composed in the year following his death by someone who had great access to Lawrence while he was alive.”

“The thirty meditations in this book are designed to provide a concentrated, meditative exposure to the principle ideas that characterized the life and teachings of Brother Lawrence. Any one meditation may bring together passages from several sources and each has been composed in the first person so that Lawrence is presented as speaking directly to you, a seeker after his hard won wisdom.”

“A word of advice: read slowly. Very slowly. The meditation has been broken down into sense lines to help you do just this. Don't read just to get to the end, but to savor each part of the meditation. You never know what short phrase, what word, will trigger a response in your spirit. Give the words a chance. After all, you are not just reading this passage, you are praying it. You are establishing a mood of serenity for your whole day. What's the rush?”

“Forgive my sins.
Accept all that I am,
all that I could be,
that in return
I might have nothing but you,
only you,
all of you.”

“Without the continuous help of God
we cannot escape the dangers
that abound in this life.
So how can you expect his continuous help
unless you pray for it continually?
But how can you pray to him continually
unless you are in his presence?
And how can you be in his presence
unless you think of him often?
And how can you think of him often
unless you develop
the habit of living in his presence?”

“Stay with me Lord
as another day living in your presence
fades into darkness
and silence.”

“Walk with God
in simple faith,
with humility and with love,
and try diligently
to do nothing and think nothing
that would displease hi1n.
Make it your goal to persevere
simply and solely in his presence,
maintaining
habitual,
silent,
and secret
conversation of your soul with God.
And trust that when you have done
all you can do,
he will do
what is best for you.”

“There is no great art or science
to living in the presence of God.
You need only a heart
determined to apply itself
to no one or no thing but God.”

“The key to living in the presence of God
is putting behind you everything
that you realize is not leading to him.
Only then will you become aware of
his presence within you.”

“My mind wanders.
So will yours.
But do not allow yourself
to become upset and worried.
Rather go on working
to keep out of your mind
anything and everything
that might interrupt
your sense of his presence,
your thoughts of him.”

“Prayer is nothing else
but being aware of the presence of God.
It does not end
when the appointed times for "prayer" have passed.
For we pray whenever we do our ordinary tasks,
not with a view of pleasing others,
but as far as we are capable,
in order to please God.”

“All the fine speeches I hear about God,
everything I have read about him,
all that I have come to feel about him,
have never been enough to satisfy me.”

“This is the time
to make good and effective
acts of resignation to his will,
for even one such act
could lead to spiritual growth.”

“For despite my sinfulness
you will, I know and trust,
continue to bestow
your blessings on me.
Help 1ny unbelief.
Replace my fear with joy.”

“Let your infinite graciousness
fill the night,
hearing my prayers before they are said,
knowing what I want and need
before I know myself.”

“Let us make way for grace.
And let us not lose any time.
For we know not
how much time is left to us.”

“For in whatever place I find myself,
I can always do little things,
indeed all things,
for the love of God.
So can you.”

“So if you cannot serve him
where you are,
you will serve him
where he wants you to be.”

“If you turn inward
and faithfully practice the presence of God
it is possible
that your soul will become so intimate with God
that you will find yourself
spending practically all your time
in one continual act of prayer.”

Each day follows the same format with three main sections:

MY DAY BEGINS: “As the day begins set aside a quiet moment in a quiet place to do the reading provided for the day

The passages are short; they never run more than a couple of hundred words. They have been carefully selected, though, to give a spiritual focus, a spiritual center to your whole day. They are designed to remind you, as another day begins, of your own existence at a spiritual level. They are meant to put you in the presence of the spiritual master who is your companion and teacher on this journey. This is especially true of this journey with Catherine of Siena. The readings are her report of God’s words to her, God’s side of the dialogue. And since the purpose of the passage is to remind you that at every moment during you are in the presence of a God who invites you continually, but quietly, to live in and through him, what better source than the words of God himself?”

ALL THROUGH YOUR DAY: “Immediately following the day’s reading you will find a single sentence, a meditation in the form of a mantra, a phrase meant as a companion for your spirit as it moves through a busy day. Write it down on a 3" x 5" card or on the appropriate page of your daybook. Look at it as often as you can. Repeat it quietly to yourself, and go on your way.

It is not meant to stop you in your tracks or to distract you from responsibilities but simply, gently, to remind you of the presence of God and your desire to respond to this presence.”

MY DAY IS ENDING: “This is a time for letting go of the day, for entering a world of imaginative prayer … This exercise is not meant to last more than a few minutes. End it when you are comfortable doing so. It has two parts. The first, in keeping with Catherine’s model, is a personal response to the words spoken by God in the day’s reading. Just as God has spoken to you, so you speak to God. Second, you are invited to turn to the familiarity of a prayer based on Catherine’s own words. It is an act of trust and confidence, an entryway into peaceful sleep, a simple evening prayer that gathers together the spiritual character of the day that is now ending as it began—in the presence of God.

It is a time for summary and closure.”

A sample day is:

“DAY 13
 My Day Begins 

When you pray,
don't multiply your words.
Many words and long speeches
are an excuse for your mind to wander.
Instead, present yourself to God
like a speechless beggar
at a rich man's gate.
Your only task is
to stay in the presence of God.

But when you pray,
if your mind does wander from God,
do not get upset.
Trouble and disquiet
are more likely to distract your soul
than bring it back to prayer.
Tranquillity is the key.
Just persevere
and God will have pity on you.

All Through The Day

Just persevere.

My Day Is Ending

Stay with me Lord
as another day living in your presence
fades into darkness
and silence.

Now is not the time
to search for words,
or to conjure up great thoughts,
but for silence.
I am a speechless beggar
at a rich man's gate.
My only task is
to stay in your presence.
Hear, I beg you,
what I cannot say,
what I need not say.”

I wanted to share the One Final Word section:

“Towards the end of his life, looking back over decades of single minded attention to the presence of God, Brother Lawrence confessed to being surprised:

I came to the monastery these many years ago
thinking that I would pay
for my awkwardness and faults
by sacrificing to Cod
my life and all its pleasures.
But God has disappointed me.
I have n1et with nothing
but satisfaction.

You can expect the same.

God always surprises, never disappoints, whatever spiritual path you take, whether it is that lived and recommended by Brother Lawrence or by some other great spiritual teacher.

If you decide that the path of Brother Lawrence is one that you wish to follow more closely and deeply, read and study the entire text of The Practice of the Presence of God, one that contains his letters, his maxims and other supplementary material.

You may, however, decide that his experience has not helped you. There are many other teachers. Somewhere there is the right teacher for your own, very special, absolutely unique journey of the spirit. You will find your teacher; you will discover your path.

We would not be searching, as St. Augustine reminds us, if we had not already been found.”

I really loved this volume and really wish it was in print and available digitally. I know a half dozen people I would give it to immediately! And that final section or something like it is in all the volumes. I hope those quotes and the sample days give you a feel for this excellent volume. I am very thankful I was able to track a copy of this one down. I have been reading The Practice of the Presence of God, for over thirty years now, since I first encountered it in Campus Ministry. It was really inspiring and encouraging to read this volume. It draws heavily from Brother Lawrence’s own words.

I have benefited from every volume I have read and I have completed more than half of the series. I have now read 16 volumes in this series, and currently working on a seventeenth I can state this is another great offering in the series. I find that some speak to me more than others. I can also state I benefited from the month with each person being profiled. And if I went back and did a volume again at a different point or season in life I might interact with it differently. And if this became available digitally would be one of the first I returned to after finishing them all. I already plan to circle back to both this volume and the volume on Joan and reread them once I have completed the series.

This is a great read, it is one I really enjoyed reading. I can easily recommend this volume, if you can track it down, and the series as a whole, and I look forward to reading others in the series. If you have not given any in this series a try this would be an excellent starting point or whichever one seems to call to you.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Great Spiritual Teachers Series from Ave Maria Press




Books in the Great Spiritual Teachers Series:
Abide in love: the Gospel spirituality of John the Evangelist – John Kirvan 
Fear Not the Night - John of the Cross and John Kirvan 
God Awaits You Based on the Classic Spirituality of Meister - Richard Chilson 
Grace Through Simplicity - Evelyn Underhill and John Kirvan 
Love Without Measure - Mother Teresa and John Kirvan 
That you may have life: let the mystics be your guide for Lent - John Kirvan 
Where Only Love Can Go - The Cloud of Unknowing and John Kirvan  

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