“The Urgency of the New Evangelization:  Answering the Call” is the latest from Dr. Ralph Martin STD which encourages us to share the Good News with both non-believers and those who are no longer practicing their faith.  Compelling and informative, this is an important work that aids all those who desire to the serve the Lord through the New Evangelization.

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You can find the book here

In The Urgency of the New Evangelization: Answering the Call, Ralph Martin explains:

• It’s not just a churchy buzzword
• It’s not just for priests and missionaries to carry out
• YOU and every individual Catholic play a role
• It is literally a matter of life or death for everyone in your life
• And… it’s not as hard as you think

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a great mystical doctor of the Church.  What a heart for Jesus and the Blessed Virgin (I’m sure he still has).

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, was a Cisterian monk, who lived in France in the 12th century.  Living at a time when the great gothic cathedrals where born, St. Bernard, advocated for simplicity and austerity in life.  He was concerned about the temptations of worldly things and desires.  He wished to focus solely on the love of Christ and the Blessed Mother; everything else was folly.
To read more about the details of his life you can visit here.

What captures my heart is his legacy of prayer and spiritual writings.  He truly deserves the title Doctor of the Church. What a feast he has left us!  Pope John Paul II has said that if we wish to learn to pray, look to the Mystical Doctors…he truly is one of those special souls.  There is so much, where can one begin?  Begin with Mary. Ask the Blessed Mother, she will lead you through his teachings.

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

St. Bernard on the Blessed Mother

St. Bernard on Holy Repentance

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Highly recommended reading introduction to St. Bernard would be – “The Fulfillment of All Desire” by Ralph Martin

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“The Fulfillment of All Desire:  A Guidebook for the Journey to God based on the Wisdom of the Saints” is one of my all time favorite books…period!  What Ralph Martin accomplishes is extraordinary. He synthesizes the teachings of the great mystical doctors of the Church (St. Augustine, St. Francis De Sales, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Therese of Lisieux, with Blessed John Paul II as an “instructor”) and leads on the path towards heaven.  And the great thing is that it begins today, now…holiness is a universal calling for all of us.  If there was one book I would recommend to have, besides the Bible of course, it is this one first and foremost!  Be sure to visit the Renewal Ministries website.

 

Check out the book here

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