Ignatius of Loyola composed the Spiritual Exercises as a pathway to God. He guided others through the Exercises in order to help ordinary women and men grow truly free in seeking and finding what God wishes for their lives. He believed that God wanted every person to live lives of holiness, growing steadily in grace, and spreading divine love.

The fire in lay spirituality has spread remarkably since the Second Vatican Council. The beginning of these movements have left mature disciples wanting to deepen their interior lives in prayer and discernment, and to hand on these experiences to others. Many dedicated believers seek out training in spiritual direction with the hopes of formally handing on this fire of the Holy Spirit. However, this training sometimes has the feel of handing on a technical skill rather than sharing a deeper spiritual formation.

Handing on the Fire: Making Spiritual Direction Ignatian contributes to this deepening spiritual formation—both for those who are already offering Ignatian spiritual direction, and for those aspiring to give it. In this book, Tetlow lays out the theology in action that must inform Ignatian spiritual direction: the principles, norms, and practices that characterize the robust experience of Ignatian spirituality in everyday life.

Price: £16.00

ISBN 978 1 947617 131

These exquisite Psalmic Odes from the second century AD—lost until 1909—were familiar only to Syriac scholars until Cistercian Abbot Francis Acharya made these English translations and commentaries for the general reader’s meditation. Immersed in the same daily poetic theology of southern India’s Malankara liturgical office, Fr Francis’ passion before he died was to disseminate the Odes as the personal or communal prayer they had been. His version was mentored by international scholar Sebastian Brock, who also checked this edition for publication by researcher Bernard Kilroy. The attractive hardback presentation offers the Odes as spiritual resource rather than academic text, enhanced by nine new pictorial illuminations by the distinguished artist-theologian Jyoti Sahi.

‘This is the first translation … by a monk who was using it in his mountain hermitage for his lectio divina—his daily meditative reading.’ Baselios Cardinal Cleemis

Price: £15.00

ISBN 978 93 86516 55 8

An outcast in her own community, and unwelcome in that of Jesus, the Samaritan woman could not have imagined what would happen as she made her daily solitary trip to the well: an ordinary journey turned extraordinary, a meeting with Jesus Christ and the offer of Living Water.

The conversation that takes place between the two (John 4:1–42) is the longest dialogue with Jesus in the Gospels. It is also remarkable as an exemplar of Jesus’ consistent and committed engagement with women.

In Well of Living Water, Magdalen Lawler SND combines Ignatian spirituality and art history in a detailed and prayerful response to the iconic depiction of this encounter, bringing the reader to sit at the well with Jesus and witness the inspiring dialogue that takes place there. With a step-by-step reconstruction of the gospel scene, an Ignatian prayer guide and detailed reproductions of the icon of the Woman at the Well, currently in the care of the Jesuits, Well of Living Water is itself a wellspring of spirituality for those looking to start a dialogue of their own.

Price: £10.00

ISBN 978 0 904717 53 2

Rob Marsh SJ has been a leading light in the ministry of the Spiritual Exercises over the past few decades. His subtle insights have not only been a mainstay of training courses for spiritual directors, but have enlightened the lives of many others who have come into contact with his work. This collection of essays brings together some of his most insightful writings to explain how the techniques of spiritual conversation, discernment and direction can be used to bring people into an encounter with God. Written with humour, accessibility and cultural awareness, the essays outline a much needed world view in which the personhood of God takes its rightful place in our awareness. All those who wish to develop the skill of discernment, especially Spiritual Directors and those who have made the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, will find in this book a treasure trove of spiritual insight.
Philip Harrison SJ

From the Foreword

The essays gathered here all, in their different ways, issue an invitation: to stand still, and vulnerable, in that place where the work of the Spirit of God can be recognised and a response given.
Paul Nicholson SJ

Price: £10.00

ISBN 978 0 904717 52 5

The work of Fr Rory Geoghegan SJ is known and loved by many. His sculptures are especially familiar to those visiting St Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre in north Wales, and can often become an important focus for prayer and contemplation on retreat. Much of his work draws direct inspiration from scripture and the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius, while some pieces reflect prayerful and challenging times in his own life. As Rory himself says: ‘my sculptures are all about God’s love for us’.

This new volume, compiled in honour of Rory’s ninetieth birthday, takes us on a chronological tour of his work across some sixty years. The earliest pieces demonstrate the influence of Eric Gill and Henry Moore, as well as a period in Zimbabwe when Rory was a young Jesuit. Other sculptures respond to specific events, including the oil boom of the 1970s, the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004, as well as the flight and plight of so many refugees. There are also special commissions on themes suggested by retreatants, or on episodes within the life of St Ignatius and other saints.

More than fifty of Rory’s sculptures have been photographed for this collection. The images are enhanced by his own comments and reflections, with related passages from scripture and the Spiritual Exercises, and poems written by three fellow Jesuits (Gerard Manley Hopkins, Patrick Purnell and Brian McClorry).

This book lends itself to quiet prayer and reflection, as well as simple enjoyment of the photographs. As Rory invites us: ‘Spend time with my sculptures. Wander around them in your imagination and explore all sides of them. Make your time with them a time of discovery and personal enquiry.’

‘Fr Rory’s work has drawn me to pray at several points on retreat … the pieces often seem to capture the reaction I’ve felt at different points within my Christian life, challenging me to something new.’ (St Beuno’s retreatant)

Price: £20.00

ISBN 978 1 7881 2318 1