St. John Bosco's spiritual mentor and model in the priesthood, told by St. John Bosco himself. Called "The Priest of the Gallows," because he converted so many condemned criminals. Inspiring! 80pp. PB. Imprimatur.

Myadil writes in his conclusion, "St. John of the Cross can be a bridge to Hinduism for Christians, while the Gita can be the same for the Hindus." I would say it works in the reverse too. This is a wonderful introduction to St. John of the Cross for a Hindu.
His scholarship on St. John and the exposition of his work is great, I never realized what creative, imaginitive discourse was available in the Catholic Canon.
My thought is that St. John of the cross is like Arjuna, except he's telling his own story. Theres a sensual longing, and indentity with the senses and material reality in the Bhagavad Gita, especially in the context of the Mahabharata, the story of a civil war. Same goes for St. John of the Cross, he finds God in the darkness after escaping jail, and the description encompasses deep religious hope in an almost homo-erotic vision.
St. John's "darkness" is different from the Hindu emptiness in its tone, the differences outweigh the similarities. Myadil does not try to historically connect the two, though he summarizes the scholarship that does.
The author betrays his Christian bent only minimally and without any self-consciuos deception. I think its a beautiful book, simply written.
But it leaves something to be desired, I guess, as all religious literature can do sometimes, when it is good. Most importantly, Myladil sees this short study as a beginning, of a conversation between Christians and Hindus to develop mutual respect and appreciation. A great book, also, for those who might be very down on the Catholic Church. I am convinced the Church can rid itself of corruption and be a positive non-repressive model for the world one day.

Organized approach to life, poetry and prose tracing the spiritual journey made by St. John. Life details are summarized into a chronology. The original Spanish and English translation of famous poems such as "Dark Night" are included. The prose focuses on the Saint's explaination of the poems and omits portions written to address the Inquisition.

This book is a much needed INFO booster for people suffering with depression, as well as for individuals interested in herbal medicine. Plus it's an interesting read! Ambitiously researched and creatively presented, Dr. Rosenthal has a talent for drawing from sources such as classic literature, music, poetry, medical research, and philosophy, to pen interesting highlights throughout the book. In this remarkably comprehensive book, the history, mythology, past and current medical research, case studies, experience of physicians, and even the politics of St. John's Wort are smoothly chronicled. The reader is also given crucial information on the self-monitoring of mood, the diagnosis of depression, and specifics on how to use St. Johns Wort and when to consult with a physician. The appendix includes helpful logs that the reader can use to monitor their daily mood and sleep. A special bonus is the chapter on how to develop an anti-depressant lifestyle by making simple behavioral and environmental changes. St. John's Wort: The Herbal Way to Feeling Good, is an important, timely, and superbly written book. Thanks Dr. Rosenthal, we needed that!

This little prayer book is thorough. It contains the Breviary, as well as prayers for all occasions. I especially like the commentaries on spirituality and prayer by those who have formed our heritage--Teresa of Avila, John Henry Newman, and many others. All of this in a compact little book.

John Charles Ryle was a rare man - an evangelical Bishop of the Church of England in England in the last half of the 19th Century. Disrali made him Bishop of Liverpool as a last act of defiance as British Prime Minister.

Ryle was an amazing man whose many books are continually being republished for the next generation. His Expository Thoughts on the Gospels are all the work of a first rate mind - a man who communicates that which he loves so well - Jesus Christ. Of all his writings his passion for Jesus burns most brightly through these Expository Thoughts on the Gospels. Mark's Gospel is no exception. Originally bundled together with Matthew's in Ryle's writings, this recent publication takes the relevent parts for this short Gospel.

Buy his one, then buy the rest.

This well-written book vividly illustrates the various aspects of urban life in Saint Petersburg before World War I. The photographs are stunning. They help the reader see the great contrasts between the various classes of Petersburg's people. While one might enjoy the fine views of the city's palaces and pictures of the Tsars and other members of the upper classes, the vivid pictures of the city's flophouses (dross houses) remind the reader of the hideous gap between the rich and the poor classes. This book is a must read for history buffs who want to see what life was like in pre-World War I Russia. It is entirely suitable for the family--the pictures will surely grab the attention of school-age children, while the older readers will enjoy the highly readable texts which accompany the photographs. The last photograph in this book is quite poignant. It shows Tsar Nicholas II at the balcony of his palace at the start of Russia's participation in World War I. One can tell, from Nicholas' face, that his decision to participate in that war would be, in the end, a fatal one. World War I would help hasten the end of the Russian monarchy and the coming of the Soviet regime.

Star of Light is a beautiful, yet sensitive fictional book (though it seems like non-fiction) . Set in North Africa, this book is about a little boy named Hamid and his blind sister, Kinza. Because Kinza is blind and a girl, a double curse in that part of the world, Hamid's stepfather wants to sell her to a beggar who will use her to make money. But Hamid loves Kinza and is determined to save her from an inevitable life of abuse. So he steals her away and brings her to a strange English nurse who loves all children no matter how they look or what disabilities they have. Truly a spellbinding book. I liked this book because I felt like I was there, in North Africa, years before I was born. If you like this book I would also recommend The Rainbow Garden,also written by Patricia St. John, and The Hidden Jewel.

There is great beauty in David St. John's poems, and this selection contains some of his classics: "Guitar," "Hush," "No Heaven," among many others. There is something delicate and passionate in all his work. This book is haunting.

A classic reference work to really understand the gospel narratives as they relate in similarity and difference. This resource helps the student of the gospels to construct the full picture of Jesus from the complimentary views of each evangelist.