Most Popular Books by Jacques Philippe

Originally published in English in 2008 and now an international bestseller, this new edition includes a helpful study guide for personal or group reflection. Many people today are thirsty for God and feel a desire for a personal prayer life that is deep and ongoing. But they encounter obstacles that prevent them from following the path seriously and with perseverance. Time for God was written with these desires and difficulties in mind. Author Jacques Philippe focuses on mental prayer: prayer that consists of facing God in solitude and silence in order to enter into intimate, loving communion with him. Practicing this kind of prayer regularly is considered by all spiritual masters to be an indispensable path that gives access to genuine Christian life— a path to knowing and loving God that empowers us to respond to his call to holiness addressed to each individual. Philippe draws on years of experience as a spiritual guide to illuminate the fundamental principles of mental prayer and describes some common mistakes and misconceptions that can lead it astray. With simplicity and clarity, he explains the foundational principles for a healthy prayer life and gives advice for overcoming the various obstacles that arise when one sets off on the path of interior prayer.

It''s not always possible to control external events. There are so many things that are outside our control: the past, what others think of us, chronic health issues, other peoples'' actions, the weather, unforeseen events. This list goes on and on. It is possible, though, to gain more control over our interior life. In his book Interior Freedom, Fr. Jacques Phillipe shows us that we possess, each of us, inside of us a space of freedom that no-one can take away. Despite the most unfavorable outward circumstances, we can claim our freedom because God is its source and its guarantee. Without this, we will always be in search for something else to fulfill us, and we will never understand true happiness. Fr. Philippe lays out a simple but important theme in Interior Freedom: " We gain possession of our interior freedom in proportion to our growth in faith, hope, and love." He explains that the dynamism between these three theological virtues is the heart of our spiritual life, and he underscores the key role of the virtue of hope in our spiritual growth. Written in a simple and inviting style, Interior Freedom seeks to liberate the heart and mind to live the true freedom to which God calls each of us. Get the most out of this book with our Interior Freedom Study Guide.

Peace of heart is not only a blessing but also a necessary condition for the growth of our spiritual lives. How do we not only find peace but then keep it? Step by step, in a period of nine days, Fr. Jacques Philippe describes how to welcome this inner peace in all areas of our existence. He shows us how to rest in the deep resonance of God'' s holy peace amidst the highs and lows, ease and struggles of everyday life. Allow your heart to be guided by Fr. Jacques toward a more peaceful existence that penetrates every area of your life and calls you to a deeper relationship with the Lord. Nine Days to Welcome Peace is the second of Fr. Jacques'' books in the " Nine Days To" series.

"Originally published as Appelaes aa la vie"--T.p. verso

In the prayer lives of many Christians there is one person of the Trinity that often goes overlooked - The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is no less involved in our lives than the Father and the Son, yet many are unaware of this. Jesus said about the Holy Spirit, " If I go, I will send you another Comforter." But are we aware of the Holy Spirit in our lives? In the School of the Holy Spirit, by retreat master Jacques Philippe, will lead you to be more attentive to the movements of the Holy Spirit in your life as you learn to value the third person of the Trinity as the Sanctifier of your soul. Philippe explains the rewards of being attentive to the Holy Spirit, and provides simple and concrete ways to grow in this inner sensitivity. In his clear and simple style, he illustrates his points with many examples from modern life. The book can be a valuable aid in your own spiritual journey.

Prayer changes our lives. Through fruitful prayer, God freely graces us with the gifts of joy, peace, courage, and determination. We can often find, however, that, despite our good intentions, prayer doesn'' t come easily. We often have obstacles in our path— distractions from the outside or our own internal weaknesses— that keep us from praying or being faithful to our Christian commitment to Love. Allow your heart to be guided gently by Fr. Jacques Philippe''s Nine Days to Rediscover the Joy of Prayer toward a joyous prayer life that feeds your soul and revitalizes your relationship with the Lord.

Life is always full of new and unexpected challenges, but each challenge is also an opportunity to draw closer to God. Fr. Jacques Philippe, a beloved author and renowned spiritual director, will show you how to maintain peace of heart through turbulent times and discern the choices that will be helpful for you and others. Written in a simple and inviting style, Trusting God in the Present is your spiritual direction manual to trusting God in the midst of difficult times. You’ll find that God is, indeed, with you, and he is inviting you to a new perspective, renewed hope, and a more abundant life.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux sought a new way to Heaven: ¿a little way that is quite straight, quite short: a completely new little way.¿ Blessed with personal limitations that might have discouraged another, Thérèse believed God would not have given her a desire for holiness if He did not intend for her to achieve it. She learned to humbly accept herself as she was and trust completely in God¿s love. First given as a retreat by renowned author Father Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love navigates excerpts of St. Thérèse¿s writings phrase by phrase, extracting powerful, resonating insights. To Thérèse, the journey seemed ¿little¿ as she traveled it. A hundred and fifteen years after her death, the message of the young saint and Doctor of the Church has traveled around the world inspiring millions. With this newly translated study of her spirituality, many today will rediscover¿or find for the first time¿the relevance of ¿the little way,¿ in all seasons of life. Fr. Jacques Philippe is well-known for his books on prayer and spirituality. A member of the Community of the Beatitudes, he regularly preaches retreats in France and abroad. He also spends much of his time giving spiritual direction and working for the development of the Community in Asia and Oceania where he travels frequently.

"What the world most needs today is prayer. It is prayer that will give birth to all the renewals, healings, deep and fruitful transformations we all want for society today.... I am more and more convinced that everything comes from prayer and that, among the calls of the Spirit, this is the first and most urgent one we should respond to." Many have already benefited from Fr. Jacques'' best-selling book on prayer, Time for God. In Thirsting for Prayer, Fr. Jacques revisits some of the themes covered in that book and develops new insights that are both profound and practical. This book of reflections will guide us with simplicity on the path to intimacy with God, helping us to develop an actual taste for personal prayer. This "school of prayer" opens us up to the encounter with God that transforms us from within.

Faith, simply put, places us in real contact with God. Faith is our strength as Christians because it teaches us to rely on Him in all things. Often lived most fervently when experiencing spiritual desolation, faith bears the fruit of peace, hope, and love. This book will cover different ways to strengthen your faith and bring you spiritually closer to God. Take nine days with Fr. Jacques to meditate. Take nine days with Fr. Jacques to meditate on your faith and learn how to deepen and strengthen it, so that through both times of ease and times of burden, your faith can keep you focused on God, as he faithfully keeps his focus on you.

In a series of essays linked by his examination into key areas of spiritual growth, Fr. Jacques Philippe develops themes relating to prayer, freedom, the Holy Eucharist, and man'' s constant struggle for contentment amid the stresses of everyday life. Through spiritual insights of amazing women of the Church— Etty Hillesum, Thé rè se of Lisieux, and Teresa of Avila— Fr. Jacque'' s essays examine topics such as: Why look for interior peace? Knowing God through Mary Touching God through prayer The theological virtues and the Eucharist

Every era of spiritual renewal begins with a renewal of prayer. Where do we find the answers to the challenges of our time? Fr. Jacques Philippe asserts that the answers – which can renew the Church and save the world – can be found in the " living contact with the mystery of God in prayer." Drawing on quotes from the saints, scripture, and the Catechism, the authors " communicate the thirst for an encounter with God in prayer" and " provide the means to persevere faithfully in the practice of meditation." In this short book packed with spiritual wisdom, you'' ll gain practical knowledge to help awaken your desire for personal prayer and truly encounter our living God, including: Why we should pray – even when it'' s full of poverty, pitfalls, and dark nights Awakening your thirst for God'' s love – and recognizing his thirst for yours Overcoming obstacles to receiving God'' s grace The high-stakes role of prayer in spiritual combat Strategies for salvaging a " failed" prayer session Written to encourage and nourish the life of prayer, this book has been adapted to apply to anyone interested in fostering a deeper relationship with God. FR. JACQUES PHILIPPE and SR. ANNE OF JESUS collaborated with other members of The Community of the Beatitudes to create this book. The Community of the Beatitudes is a Catholic community, found in twenty-six countries, which consists of what they call " one spiritual family of sisters, brothers, priests, and lay people, married or single, who share a fraternal life, a life of prayer, and mission." Their goal is to live a life of holiness through the Beatitudes given to us by Christ in his Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew.

Recognizing the strong and gentle fatherhood which our Heavenly Father bestows on us lovingly and daily indefinitely changes the scope of our spiritual lives. Amidst the crisis of fatherhood in today''s society, it is imperative, more than ever, that all men— especially priests— be images of this unfalteringly generous fatherhood of God. What does true fatherhood consist of? How can true fatherhood help a person gain access to the freedom found through the knowledge of his or her identity as a child of God? While answering these questions, Fr. Jacques also presents the spiritual path which allows a priest to guard himself against possible shortcomings and ambiguities as he strives to live out his priestly fatherhood, the gift received by him in ordination. Priestly Fatherhood: Treasure in Earthen Vessels will not only be of interest to priests, but will also help all those who are called to exercise a certain paternity in the Church or in society: fathers of families, spiritual fathers, educators, and leaders.

With simplicity and wisdom, Fr. Jacques Philippe shares how evangelization comes from a deep compassion for others that arises out of our own personal experience of God’s love and a living relationship with Jesus. There is no greater joy than to see a heart transformed!

" Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Prayer is one of the sublime treasures of the Christian tradition, since it places us directly in contact with our Creator. It brings us into an intimacy with the one who transforms us from the inside and directs our life toward the good and the beautiful. Made up of brief chapters informed and nourished by the long Christian tradition, this book will help you discover the different facets of prayer and all the means that the Church gives us to cultivate it, persevere in it, and make this treasure bear fruit.