Saynt Lachmi

A young street child named Lachmi is whisked into prostitution, rescued, and led by her spirit and providence through the use of her extraordinary gifts to the brink of sainthood. The body, she shows us, is a prism, revealing through its gradations the range between depravity and divinity. What the reader sees through Lachmi is a view of this prism through the side that reveals our divinity, that sees the body as a channel of grace in the manner in which St. John Paul II described in his Theology of the Body, a manner that sanctifies our sexuality, which we so often allow our lust to soil and obliterate.

Paperback: $19.95 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

“Stunning!” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, author of The Narrative Spirituality of Dante’s Divine Comedy

“The story of Lachmi is deeply provocative. She even develops intuitive and healing powers or ‘siddhis’ which is not uncommon on the road to spiritual development. A prostitute once sings a song for Swami Vivekananda by the great poet Surdas. The meaning of the song was that a man great in virtue should never fear anything in the world. Then, while in the US, Swami Vivekananda once said, ‘Do not frown at the sight of a prostitute. In fact, they are acting as a shield, safeguarding the chastity of virtuous women. Hence, we should not hate them but be grateful towards them.’ These words ring true as Lachmi moves in her circle of supporters filled with nuns and to-be-nuns, while being exploited by a dubious couple who finally meet their fateful end. It is a story about evil and the fabled victory of good over evil. Our Ultimate Reality is beyond both good and evil says Vedanta. And one final lesson from the book is that Godliness is within everyone’s grasp. As Thomas Aquinas says, ‘God is not just the ideal goal of human longing; it is the ideal possibility for human completeness.'” – Prabhakur Mundkur, Facebook Reviewer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ivan Arthur is the author of seven previous books:

1. The Fourteen Stations (Official book on Pope John Paul’s visit to India)
2. Pavement Prayers. Theological fiction. A prequel to Saynt Lachmi
3. A Village Dies. A novel about social change
4. Once More Upon a Time. Biography
5. Jossie. A biography
6. Brands Under Fire
7. The Chef Executive Officer

Arthur was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Communication Arts Guild, Mumbai, and is a three-times recipient of the WPP Atticus Award for original writing. He lives in Goa, India, with Ingrid, his wife.

OTHER CATHOLIC LITERARY WORKS

La Redención de San Isidro: Una historia de misericordia y amor

by Padre Lorenzo Eduardo Tucker, SOLT

TESTIMONIOS

PREGUNTAS DE ESTUDIO PARA ESTUDIANTES

Mientras leen esta novela, los estudiantes católicos pueden reflexionar sobre las siguientes preguntas para debatir. Tenga en cuenta que las siguientes son solo algunas de las preguntas que se abordan en esta intrigante historia llena de acción que tiene lugar en el misterioso y vasto desierto de Chihuahua, al norte de México. Los estudiantes sacarán a la luz a otros mientras, se involucran en el libro:

• Cuando el hombre hace un mal uso de su libre albedrío y ocasiona graves daños al mundo que lo rodea, ¿responde Dios de otra manera que no sea el ejercicio de su voluntad permisiva?
• ¿No es Dios también libre de ejercer su amor en el mundo?
• ¿Es Dios pasivo ante las debilidades y sufrimientos de sus hijos?
• ¿Dios simplemente se sienta y ve al mundo “irse por un tubo” mientras su creación… la humanidad… contamina el medio ambiente humano y, en consecuencia, el medio ambiente natural al abrazar el mal moral?
• La libertad humana, y el respeto de Dios por esa libertad, es un reflejo de la gran profundidad y autenticidad del amor de Dios por sus hijos. Entonces, ¿por qué el hombre actúa como si estuviera “solo”?
• ¿Puede… debería… “hacerlo solo” para resolver el quebrantamiento dentro de sí mismo, el entorno humano y el entorno natural?
• ¿Hay alguna esperanza para el hombre y el mundo?

“Alzo mis ojos a las colinas, de donde vendrá mi ayuda. ¡Mi ayuda viene del Señor que hizo el cielo y la tierra! ” (Salmo 121 1-2)

Sobre el Autor

Padre Tucker nació el 26 de Mayo de 1955 en Manhattan, Nueva York. Es un sacerdote misionero bilingüe de la Sociedad de Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad y ha servido en México, Belize, Guatemala, Inglaterra, Texas y Nueva York.

Padre Tucker cuenta con un diplomado en los Artes Liberales de Colegio Comunitario de Nassau, Garden City, New York, una licenciatura en Relaciones Humanas de St Joseph’s College, Patchogue, New York, y una Maestría en Divinidad y también en Teología del Seminario de los Santos Apóstoles, Cromwell, CT.

A Quienes El Corazón Decidió Amar

by Padre Lorenzo Eduardo Tucker, SOLT

TESTIMONIALS

SOBRE EL AUTOR

Padre Tucker nació el 26 de Mayo de 1955 en Manhattan, Nueva York. Es un sacerdote misionero bilingüe de la Sociedad de Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad y ha servido en México, Belize, Guatemala, Inglaterra, Texas y Nueva York.

Padre Tucker cuenta con un diplomado en los Artes Liberales de Colegio Comunitario de Nassau, Garden City, New York, una licenciatura en Relaciones Humanas de St Joseph’s College, Patchogue, New York, y una Maestría en Divinidad y también en Teología del Seminario de los Santos Apóstoles, Cromwell, CT.

SOBRE EL TRADUCCIÓN

Cortesía de Adriana y Arturo Campbell — Adriana y Arturo, son Estadounidenses naturalizados nacidos en México, cuya crianza y experiencia de vida les ha permitido gozar de un dominio de los idiomas de Inglés y Español, y un aprecio profundo de ambas culturas.

Coda: American Politics, Personal Loss, and Recovery

A Novel by Dick Bishirjian

CODA Gallery, which provides one of the scenes for this book, was founded by Connie and David Katz in 1987. For a virtual tour, click here. Special thanks to Samuel Heaton, its current owner, for his providing the photograph (shown here on this page and included in the book) of David Katz.

CODA Gallery
73400 El Paseo, Suite B1
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760.346.4661
800.700.4661
760.776.4010 fax

INTERVIEWS

TESTIMONIALS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

​Dick Bishirjian’s career was shaped by the influence of William F. Buckley, Jr. Dr. Russell Kirk and Libertarian economist, Friedrich Hayek. That led him to work on three Presidential campaigns, the staff of a U.S. Senator and service in the Reagan Administration.  He earned a Ph.D. in Government at Notre Dame.

• A Public Philosophy Reader
• The Development of Political Theory
• The Conservative Rebellion
• The Coming Death and Future Resurrection of American Higher Education
• The Imaginative Conservative

The Redemption of San Isidro: A Tale of Mercy and Love

by Fr. Lawrence Tucker, SOLT

TESTIMONIALS

STUDY QUESTIONS FOR STUDENTS

While reading this novel, Catholic students may reflect on the following questions for discussion. Note that the following are just some of the questions that are addressed in this intriguing, action packed story that takes place in the mysterious and vast, Chihuahuan Desert of Northern Mexico. Students will surface others as they engage the book. 

• “When man misuses his free will and brings serious damage into the world around him, does God respond in any way other than the exercise of his permissive will?
• Is God not also free to exercise his love in the world?
• Is God passive in the face of his children’s weaknesses and sufferings?
• Does God just sit back and watch the world ‘go down the tubes’ as his creation… humanity… pollutes the human environment and consequently the natural environment by embracing moral evil?
• Human freedom, and God’s respect for that freedom, is a reflection of the great depth and authenticity of God’s love for his children. So why does man act as if he was ‘on his own’?
• Can he… should he… ‘go it alone’ to resolve the brokenness within himself, the human environment, and the natural environment?
• Is there any hope for man and the world?

“I lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence shall come my help. My help comes from the Lord who made Heaven and Earth!” (Psalm 121 1-2)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fr. Tucker was born on May 26th, 1955, in Manhattan, New York City. He is a bilingual missionary priest in The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity and has served in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, England, Texas, and New York.

Fr. Tucker holds an A.A. in Liberal Arts from Nassau Community College, Garden City, NY; a B.A. in Human Relations from St. Joseph’s College, Patchogue, NY; and a Master of Divinity, as well as an M.A. in Theology, From Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell, CT.

The Rebirth of Nicodemus

by Rick Akins

TESTIMONIALS

“THE REBIRTH OF NICODEMUS…AND ME? I found resonance in Rick Akin’s Rebirth of Nicodemus, a novel, imaginatively put together and chastely written. Akin presents the spiritual struggle of Nicodemus, trying to reconcile the Pharisaic way with the madness of one whom some saw as the Messiah. Jesus had said that he needed to be born again! Madness. It was a madness that in a strange way pointed to a higher truth and challenged the sanity of the Law that governed his life as a member of the Sanhedrin. As a reader, one cannot help but join in that struggle, the journey into that ‘womb’; the spiritual passion, death and eventual resurrection, the re-birth that Jesus talked about. We see Nicodemus not just as another minor actor in the theatre of redemption but as a mirror reflecting one’s own journey — from the sanity of tradition and the world to that divine madness of the Christ’s teaching; from the dictates of the Decalogue to the luminescence of the Beatitudes.” – Ivan Arthur, author of Saynt Lachmi

“I really enjoyed getting to know Nicodemus’s character and found it quite creative how the author had him, in some way, involved with all the critical stages of Christ’s life. Through Nicodemus’s perspective, we see the landscape, learn of the political struggle, and experience life as a Jewish person in this first century. This was particularly evident when Nicodemus takes John to the Temple the first time to tell him about meeting Jesus when he was 12. Those descriptions, smells, details….all well done. I pray this book finds its way into the hands of thousands of people. It’s a beautiful, thoughtful story that I would recommend to any of my friends and family.” – Natalie Hanemann, Owner and Editor, Hanemann Editorial

“The Rebirth of Nicodemus is a story takes you in and takes you back, being a part of the troubled times which include the destruction of the temple. It is one family’s story of being caught up in the violence and finding hope in Jesus the Son of God. Their company and guide is St. John the Beloved. The characters whose names we know from history are made vivid, living, walking souls and we become their contemporaries. It is good company I recommend you walk with them.” – Rev. Dr. Balluff S.T.D., Vicar for Priests Diocese of Joliet

“I will say I was entertained, and it was a powerful finish for sure. I found The Rebirth of Nicodemus an intriguing story which captured my imagination. I could not help but think how many of us are on similar journeys of faith. Many clinging to the past, clinging to possessions, clinging to worldly desires and our pride like an old tradition or faith. Knowing that the joy of our Lord Jesus and God is right in front of us, many times we are too afraid to take the steps forward and truly trust in Christ and his promise to us. I pray we all have this ‘Nicodemus moment.’ ‘Send your Spirit, send your Spirit like the wind Lord, forgive me, take me back!'” – Tim Botka, Director, Fishers of Men, Diocese of Joliet

“The Rebirth of Nicodemus not only gives new life to Nicodemus, it brings back to life on earth to a host of first century Jews and Christians, the beloved disciple John, and Jesus Christ, Who loved him and loves us all. This book is masterful historical and biblical fiction. I can only imagine how many hours Rick Akins spent in research and in weaving this story together, but I know he has provided every reader a few hours of inspiration and delight.” – Kevin Vost, Psy.D., Author of 12 Eternal Life Lessons from St. Thomas Aquinas

“In The Rebirth of Nicodemus, Rick Akins give us a unique and reverent take on a story of a turbulent time – and the timeless story of Jesus – a devotional speculation of beautiful connections told through the conversations of beloved Gospel characters, against the backdrop of the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. A worthy addition to the tradition of biblical historical fiction!” – Jim L. Papandrea, M.Div., Ph.D., Professor of Church History and Historical Theology and author of The Squire’s Journey

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rick Akins is a father of three and currently lives in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He was born and raised Catholic in upstate New York and has an electrical engineering degree and MBA from the University of Illinois.

Rick has been widely published in the technology field and owns six patents in fiber optics. In 2004, he began attending an evangelical church every other weekend for family reasons and wrote several books about the experience.

OTHER CATHOLIC LITERARY WORKS