Ann W. Astell

Contemplation and Freedom

Prayer & Spiritual Formation

“‘Contemplation’ is traditionally paired and contrasted with ‘action.’ This wonderful collection of eleven original essays pairs ‘contemplation’ instead with ‘freedom’—a neglected, middle term naming both the transformative effect of the contemplative life and the necessary condition for a person’s virtuous action and suffering in the world. At the beginning and end of the collection, the martyred monks of Tibhirine stand as exemplars for a liberation of mind and soul that is rooted in contemplative spiritual practice.”

How Violence Works

Philosophy

“John Ebrahimian’s introduction to mimetic theory is outstanding for its warm, lively, conversational tone and for its memorable, illustrative examples. Reading it, one is easily drawn into an atmosphere that recalls Ebrahimian’s own life-changing talks with René Girard on topics that affect us all: love, desire, envy, violence, redemption. Highly recommended.”

In the Shadow of Christ

Theology

“Reading the ‘Book of Nature’ interactively with the sacred Scriptures, Wiertel argues persuasively that the violence suffered and inflicted by non-human animals finds its deepest meaning in the mystery of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. Beautifully written and learnedly argued, this is a ‘must read’ book for eco-theologians.”

Seeing All Things Whole

History & Biography

“Focusing on Kagawa's scientific interest and its impact upon his thought, Hastings shows the famous Japanese Christian mystic, novelist, and political activist to have offered a prophetic vision of cosmic wholeness to a tragically divided modern world. In so doing, Hastings reclaims Kagawa's vision for our own troubled time.”

Shoeless

Prayer & Spiritual Formation

“Donald and Megan Wallenfang’s Shoeless gives an arresting introduction to Carmelite spirituality as it is lived both in the cloister by religious and in the world by lay members of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. The word shoeless in the title wonderfully captures the beauty and challenge of the Carmelite vocation, which is not only contemplative, poor, and penitential, but also joyously missionary. The authors share their own inspirational vocation stories after narrating the rich history of the Carmelite tradition, which continues to renew the church. The story they tell is good news, eloquently announced.”

The Mystified Letter

Theology

“Craig Tichelkamp offers a trenchant diagnosis of the weariness, aridity, and incomprehension that too often attend reading today, both in our churches and at the university. Like the educational reformer Ivan Illich, Tichelkamp turns to the medieval school of St. Victor to remind us that the experience of reading was once charged with mystery. He offers hope that reading can again prove to be rejuvenating, personally transformative, and communally rich. Reading Tichelkamp's own stirring book proves the point.”