In our increasingly secular world, what good are the church’s sacred practices, and why do they even matter anymore? With insight, wit, and unsparing honesty, Benjamin Dueholm in this book explores the crucial place and power of Christian practices in ordinary, everyday life. Drawing on modern-day realities and ancient roots, firsthand experience and centuries of history, pop culture and high theology, Dueholm offers a visionary account of the critical, radical, life-affirming role that seven “sacred signposts” play in today’s post-Christian world.

In Signs of the Holy One, Uwe Michael Lang addresses crucial questions which are just now coming to the fore concerning the sacred liturgy. His point of departure is that the Catholic liturgy is a synthesis of elements, far more than just its texts—gesture, motion, architecture, art, music—and that these elements are integral to the solemn liturgy and not just incidental. They are aspects of the non-verbal language of the sacred; they are what makes the liturgy beautiful. His consideration of the beauty of the liturgy poses the problem that the modern notion of beauty is subjective, which makes it difficult to articulate criteria for what is beautiful. But sacred beauty has criteria for each of its principal elements; these are the subject of extended discussion of architecture, art, and music, showing why and how they contribute to the total liturgy. Pope Benedict XVI, who wrote extensively about the liturgy, said, “The greatness of the liturgy depends – we shall have to repeat this frequently – on its non-spontaneity". Modern man needs to learn that banality and repetitious "novelty" are no substitute for the sacred and are unable to induce any sense of meaning, purpose and peace. The yearning for the Transcendent is always felt within the human psyche and is rarely far from the surface, especially among young adults. A Church that forgets this is heading in the wrong direction.

If you’re unhappy because the Mass has become for you routine – or even boring and tedious – these pages are for you. They teach you eight simple ways to make your every Mass a joyful time of piety and intense devotion. Explaining the spiritual meanings behind the signs and symbols, words and actions of the Mass, author Christopher Carstens teaches you spiritually-enriching ways to enter the church building, make the Sign of the Cross, pray the Opening Prayer, listen to the Readings, prepare your soul at the Offertory, participate in the Eucharistic Prayer, receive Communion, and even respond to the Dismissal. Soon – with the help of author Carstens wise suggestions – you will be surprised to find each Eucharistic Celebration a fountain of peace for you, a profound refreshment for your soul. Among other things you’ll learn from these pages: The meaning of the “sacramental principle”: if you don’t understand it, then Mass is almost surely flat for youHow each element of the Liturgy has a sacramental quality about it, and can be for you a grace-filled encounter with JesusHow to transform your prayers at Mass into a conversation with GodWhy silence – both within the liturgy and outside of it – is a necessary element of that conversation with GodThere’s a proper spiritual way to make the Sign of the Cross (do you know what it is?)How the Creed can be for you the highpoint of the Liturgy of the WordWhy, during the collection, you should also explicitly offer Christ your heartThe best way in the Mass to participate in Jesus’ saving work: do you know what it is?What you should desire in order to receive the Eucharist most efficaciously (and what that desire presupposes in you)Coming and going through the church doors: what, each time, it should mean for you spiritually Plus, at the end of each chapter, a list of action items for the next time you go to Mass, and much, much more to awaken in you the bright spirit of joyful devotion that we are all called to have at Mass.

Whether we are conscious of it or not, the universe is communicating to us through signs. Native peoples have always known how to interpret these powerful messages, but with the development of technology and the increasing stress of our modern lives, we have become more and more removed from our connection to the earth and from our inner wisdom. We have lost our ability to decipher the signs that surround us and that appear in our dreams, and we are largely unable to tap in to our innate intuition. Drawing on her Cherokee Indian heritage and her experience with the native tribes of Africa, Australia and New Zealand, international healer Denise Linn helps us to reconnect with the magic of our inner selves so that we may properly interpret these signs and the true meanings of our dreams - and make the right decisions and choices in our lives. Including a comprehensive dictionary of signs and dreams for ease of reference, SIGNPOSTS is essential reading for anyone who wishes to truly hear the `whispers of the universe'.

Evangelism is about reaching out to others. Really? You think? Brace yourself. In Nudge, author Leonard Sweet sets out to revolutionize our understanding of evangelism. He defines evangelism as “nudge” – awakening each other to the God who is already there. Sweet’s revolution promises to affect your encounters with others, as well as shaking the very roots of your own faith. So brace yourself.

The influence of Christianity on 'the history of violence' is often exemplified by famous instances of interfaith conflict, like 'The Crusades'. However, as religions develop, they usually marginalize violence against fellow believers long before they ever, if at all, question violence against 'others'. Through an investigation of spiritual and legal sources, this book details how Christian teachings about charity, sin and purity problematized late medieval parishioners' use of violence, and how parishioners actually tried to reconcile these teachings with cultural norms that often honored violent conduct. By illuminating the impact of lessons concerning the sinfulness of violence and piety of self-restraint, this book provides a fresh perspective on the important role of religion in the 'civilizing process' of European history.