Remembering Forward

Posted on October 11, 2022 by Linda Wolf

Friar Edward J. Ondrako, OFM Conv. noted that English theologian and philosopher Saint John Henry Newman chose the Feast of the Presentation to preach his 15th, and ultimate, Oxford University Sermon. It’s not uncommon for philosophers to choose meaningful dates to celebrate milestones.

Remembering Forward cover So too, on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee, Fr. Ondrako has published Remembering Forward: Critical Engagement with Modernity, his collection of 24 sermons that he preached during his Jubilee year.

Each reflection, any of which can stand on its own, is based on the perspective of Cyril O’Regan’s “Gift of Modernity” that theologically compares and contrasts what he describes as the three positions of theologians: cheerers, weepers, and shadow-seers.

Ten chapters include a reproduction of a fresco, one of a series painted by the thirteenth century Cenni di Pepo (Cimabue), an Italian mural painter and designer of mosaics. These frescoes exist today in the Upper Church of San Francisco in Assisi.

Fr. Edward J. Ondrako, a Franciscan Conventual priest of Our Lady of the Angels Province, is Research Fellow on the Pontifical Faculty of St. Bonaventure, Rome and a Visiting Scholar, at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and, Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.), each in Humanities/Humanistic Studies, Master of Arts (M.A.), Theology/Theological Studies, Master of Social Work (M.S.W.), and a Master of Theology.

Fr. Ondrako is also the author of Rebuild My Church: Peter Damian Fehlner’s Appropriation and Development of the Ecclesiology and Mariology of Vatican II (Lectio Publishing, 2021). Remembering Forward is published as a full-color electronic book, available on either (Apple) iTunes or (Amazon) Kindle. See details »

June CTSA Sale!

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Linda Wolf

Disciple cover At Lectio, we grapple with the question, “Are we to go along with a problem or be a part of the solution?” With the extreme inflation of the past year added to social discontent, families and individuals have been plagued with the worst societal upheaval in several generations. Everywhere we look, prices are rising; and who can blame the companies? Fuel shortages are causing a compounding of sky-high prices for producers and transportation alike. Disruption in multiple supply chains leads to inefficiencies, which then adds to the inflationary pressure.

Honoring this weekend’s Catholic Theological Society of America’ s 76th Annual Convention, Lectio feels that rather than raising our prices to correspond with the increased costs with which we are faced, we’re going to actually lower the prices that we charge for our books. Yes, that’s right! We’re hit with higher prices, yet we are significantly lowering our prices (from 5-30%!) on most titles this month of June celebrating the spirit of the CTSA Convention. This sale pricing is only applicable to sales from our website and includes most of our titles, which range from theology (Eduardo J. Echeverria, Kenan B. Osborne, Peter Phan, Peter Damian Fehlner, etc.) to saints (Oscar Romero, Maximilian Kolbe, Mother Teresa, etc.) to spirituality (Theology of the Body, Resurrection, Grieving, etc.) and even historical studies. Take advantage of this inflationary pushback for your summer reading or as supplemental to your teaching.

An Intentional Way to Deal With Grief

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Linda Wolf

Almost every culture has traditions for mourning the loss of someone they love. In fact, burial grounds have given us some of the earliest insights into cultural traditions going back thousands of years. It seems that no matter who we are, or when and where we live, we all must come to terms with grieving the death of someone we love.

As Christians, we mourn with hope in the knowledge that eternal life in Jesus Christ is our final destination. But if only it was that simple! Mary and Martha grieved at the loss of Lazarus (John 11:33) and we will also weep when someone we loves dies.

The 7 Intentions of Mourning: Carrying the Cross of Grief With Meaning and Hope is authored by John & Sandy O’Shaughnessy, founders of Good Mourning Ministry, a mission-driven healing ministry supporting Catholic parishes throughout the United States.

This insightful and beautifully written book illustrates that when we unite our suffering with the suffering Christ, we learn that it can be redemptive and fruitful as part of His salvific mission. The seven intentions of mourning are each conscious choices, and together they present a unique pathway to healing where our grief finds a meaningful expression. Each intention is strategically positioned to help believers carry their personal cross of grief alongside the risen Lord as they discover that love endures all and that good can come from bad when there is hope.

The pages of the book provide writing space to record prayerful, practical and personal intentions — a unique approach to building bridges toward a new and different life after the loss of a loved one making it ideal for parish bereavement groups, clergy formation, grief counselors and workshops, discussion group, and people mourning the loss of a loved one.

“This powerful book draws us into the natural and supernatural dynamics of grieving, mourning, and suffering that find meaning when united to the grace of Christ’s victory over suffering and death. Highly recommended to all, but especially for support groups dealing with those suffering or struggling to find a path through the pain.” Eduardo J. Echeverria, Ph.D., S.T.L., Professor of Systematic Theology, Graduate School of Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Archdiocese of Detroit.

ISBN 978-1-943901-10-4 from Lectio Publishing and booksellers everywhere.