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The world–it is a place of mystery; religion a matter of faith. Yet all around us in the matrix of creation, animals, people, and personal experience the immanence of the Creator is present. More than that so is the Spirit who shapes the world, and Jesus the Incarnate, the Word of God and Redeemer of shattered relationships between God and all creation. We do not always have the clarity of experiencing God in the beauty or disorder of life, yet God is there, waiting to be praised, encountered, thanked, and experienced.
Every moment is an opportunity to grasp that presence. Simple words of no great import in the world of literature can sometimes capture that experience in a phrase or an image. While that perception is individual we share common experiences and an imagination to envision rapture or difficulty. While my poems may not be memorable, like a key, they can open the realm of possible relationship that is available to everyone as God's invitation to his friendship, a relationship we can call grace as Incarnation.

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Wildflowers and the Call to the Altar is a fascinating story of the history of the St. Francis Altar Society, embedded within the tri-cultural nexus of Santa Fe, New Mexico. For close to a hundred years, the society responded to the call that the church, established in 1610, required a formal Altar Society to care for the sanctuary needs, yet also to address the personal sanctification of the members. Since its inception, the society has served the altar of the church and extended its vision to «the altar of the world» through works of social justice, which are more urgent than ever, along with the care of the altar and the laundry. There is room for the holiness and fidelity of women to serve the church. Under the mantle of humility, and the commitment to mission, the women of the St. Francis Altar Society have persisted like the women at the foot of the cross. They have embraced the call to ministry and discipleship extended to all in the Gospels. Service to the altar extends into the world, where the reality of the love of Christ intersects with everyday life.

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Designed primarily for the layperson, The Catholic Imagination is a journey through the liturgical year by way of weekly reflections on the life of the church. Through reading, thinking, and discussion, the religious imagination is stimulated and structured so the reader can reflect and act upon the richness of our faith to enter into a relationship with God. Reflections on the lives of the saints, their writings, their meaning for our times, the importance and value of creation and the natural world, the significance of the sacraments, sacramental devotions, and the timelessness of the gospel message encourage the reader to coordinate their actions with the weekly topic. Ideas on the church's artistic environment and related Scripture enhance the written materials. Special supplements are provided for Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter, due to their importance in the life of the church. Just as we repeat the themes of the liturgical year over and over again, simple little lessons and readings like this go a long way in the continuing education of the lay Catholic with their straightforward message and inspirational writing style that capture the faith.

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Taming the TigerWhen you grasp the needle, do so with great care, firm strength and caution for the peril, as if holding a tigers tail: one wrong move and great harm could befall.–Huangdi NeijingThis uncommonly useful guidebook presents an overview of all aspects of needling, from the parameters of the needle itself to the importance of treating and anchoring the patients spirit. Skya Abbates clear language and detailed descriptions guide you step-by-step through thirteen categories of disease, ranging from anxiety, geriatric and chronic degenerative diseases to those illnesses thought to be untreatable. Specialized chapters offer insight and guidance for practitioners seeking to enhance their treatment strategies with additional therapeutic techniques, including moxibustion, bleeding techniques, herbal liniments, infrared light, threading, and others. Rounding out the text is a practical appendix with a glossary of Chinese medical terminology, sample instructions for patients, as well as an index with more than 2,000 disorders. Skillfully weaving the time-honored principles of Oriental medicine into the cutting-edge reality of the clinic, Advanced Techniques in Oriental Medicine offers a wealth of simple, yet effective, treatment strategies.