Jesus’ Ministry of Liberation: A Companion after the Year of Mercy
Fr. Aaron Agorsor
(With a Foreword written by Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael Kodzo Mensah)
This book offers hope both to those in ministry and to those being ministered to. In the image depicting Jesus’ encounter with the Blind Man Bartimaeus, we find a story set within the wider context of Jesus’ final journey from Jericho to Jerusalem where death awaited him. Perhaps, that was the moment in which he should have been preoccupied with misery and anguish given that his death was imminent. Bartimaeus was too insignificant to be noticed by anyone with such a greater commitment and pre-occupation like Jesus had. It may seem absurd at first to think that Jesus would waste his time on someone like Bartimaeus when death awaited him, but it is in this bizarre situation that Jesus bore authentic witness to mercy. Jesus’ encounter with the blind man Bartimaeus is exactly God’s vision for humankind, namely, that ministers of God should not forget the vulnerable in the exercise of ministry because it is one of the greatest opportunities of witnessing to God’s love.
We who are in ministry can easily forget ourselves in ministering to people often at the margins of society. But this is what Jesus will not ignore as these moments unquestionably demonstrate God’s unfailing compassion for all even in obscure circumstances. Like Bishop Barron once intimated, the Divine Mercy is a demanding summons to mission. The 21st century society is characterized by self-centeredness, selfishness, egoism and individualism. There is always the tendency to focus on the powerful and rich at the expense of the poor and vulnerable. Bartimaeus experienced rejection from his own people, but he always remained hopeful that someday his story would change. Indeed, his story did change. We may not be physically blind, but our blindness may be of a different shade or brand. Whatever our circumstances, our story is about to change now. Come to Jesus now.
Paperback $25.00 | Kindle $9.99
TESTIMONIALS
“Fr. Aaron Agorsor has a tremendous and practical way of unpacking the Gospel and growing the spiritual life. His lively writing [and speaking] style is particularly effective with new Christians. This book is a must read.” — Very Rev. Fr. Rob Clements, Director, All Saints Catholic NEWMAN Centre, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
“Please don’t simply read this book but breathe it in deeply, absorb it, and put it into action! Ours is a world that seems to be increasingly divided, contentious, leery of “the other,” and more often than not filled with fear and discouragement. Is there any reason for hope? Fr. Agorsor reminds us that the Gospel offers to this question a resounding, “Yes!” Hope is found in the faithful, extraordinary love and mercy of the God who not only made all that is, but who out of His unfathomable love became flesh to rescue His creation from the powers of sin, division and death. In these rich reflections, Fr. Agorsor pleads with those who have been rescued to go and rescue others with the same love and mercy that we have so graciously received from God.” — Fr. John Riccardo, Executive Director, ACTS XXIX, www.actsxxix.org
“What is mercy? For many contemporary Christians, mercy is a very thin concept, connected perhaps to ideas of God lowering his standards or indulging our selfishness. But as Fr. Agorsor shows in this book, Biblical mercy is an endlessly rich concept and reality: in a sense, it is the very Gospel itself. Quoting generously from the Word of God, the successors of Peter, and contemporary Christian writers, Fr. Agorsor explores all the dimensions of divine mercy from the theoretical to the practical, showing how the practice of mercy can be life-transforming for the disciple of Christ. A rich treatment of an unfathomable topic!” — Dr. John Bergsma, Professor of Theology at Franciscan University, in Steubenville, Ohio
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rev. Fr. Aaron Agbeshie Agorsor is a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Ghana, West Africa. He is currently a Ph.D. student of English Literature at the Arizona State University.
As a Graduate Assistant, he teaches First Year Writing or composition and assists at ASU affiliated All Saints Catholic Newman Centre where he ministers to students from diverse backgrounds.
Aaron is passionate about his ministry as a priest. His experience of God’s tremendous mercy overwhelms him and he wishes to let the whole world know that God’s mercy endures forever. He is also the author of Mary’s Magnificat: A Perfect Model of Faith Expression.
OTHER POPULAR SPIRITUALITY BOOKS
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Revisited by Fr. Ray Introvigne and William Ayles
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Revisited by Fr. Ray Introvigne, M.Div., and William Ayles, D.D. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a “Head to Heart Experience”—and is fully backed by our modern-day Holy Fathers. This book is dedicated to all our fellow Catholic...
La Navidad: Reflexiones a Través de Los Años por Mario Ramos-Reyes
La Navidad: Reflexiones a Través de Los Años por Mario Ramos-Reyes Este es un pequeño libro sobre la Navidad. Es un texto sin pretensiones teológicas que nace de la experiencia de un filósofo cristiano. La de afirmar una enseñanza de más de dos mil años. La de que el...
Bible-Based Catholicism and Spiritual Inspirations by Robert J. Ferretti
Bible-Based Catholicism and Spiritual Inspirations by Robert J. Ferretti, M.D. This book outlines a Catholic perspective on faith, deeply rooted in biblical references and theological reasoning. Dr. Ferretti aims to deepen Catholics' understanding of their faith while...
La disciplina spirituale: Meditazioni sull’insegnamento di Frithjof Schuon por James S. Cutsinger
La disciplina spirituale: Meditazioni sull’insegnamento di Frithjof Schuon Scritto da James S. Cutsinger e tradotto da Marco Toto Si tratta di un'introduzione alla scuola perennialista della filosofia religiosa comparata e di una guida per il lettore generale che...
A Guide to the Liturgy of Holy Week by Rev. Nicholas L. Gregoris
A Guide to the Liturgy of Holy Week by Rev. Nicholas L. Gregoris, STD, EdD Rev. Nicholas L. Gregoris provides in this short volume four categories of reflection (anecdotal, historical, doctrinal, and devotional) on the Liturgy of Holy Week. Paperback: $12.95 | Kindle:...
Minding Mom: A Caregiver’s Devotional Story by Lisa Livezey
Minding Mom: A Caregiver’s Devotional Story by Lisa Livezey Devotional writer Lisa Livezey understands the challenges of full-time caregiving atop an already-full life. Following her father’s sudden death, Lisa was plunged headlong into caring for her mother who was...
My Restless Heart Finds Rest in You by Edward Schallert
My Restless Heart Finds Rest in You By Edward Schallert My Restless Heart Finds Rest in You by Edward Schallert is a reflective exploration inspired by St. Augustine’s Confessions. Schallert, a retired professor and Cursillo participant, revisits the spiritual journey...
Seasons of the Soul: An Intimate God in Liturgical Time by Sr. Carla Mae Streeter, OP
Seasons of the Soul: An Intimate God in Liturgical Time By Sr. Carla Mae Streeter, OP The seasons of the soul are the seasons of the liturgical calendar. The liturgy is about a relationship, and Sr. Carla Mae's gorgeous images, poetry and prose describe how the...
Church of Love by Ronda Chervin
Church of Love By Ronda Chervin The first of Ronda Chervin's more than 80 Catholic books, Church of Love is still many readers' favorite. It is an extended metaphor of how romantic human love is a mirror of the love of Jesus for the Church. Paperback: $12.95 |...
Why Christians Can Wear Pants: Spiritual Lessons from Strange Stories in Papal History by Fr. Conrad Murphy
Why Christians Can Wear Pants: Spiritual Lessons from Strange Stories in Papal History by Fr. Conrad Murphy In the late 9th Century, Pope Nicholas I was asked if Christians were permitted to wear pants. His response was both amusing and wise, extolling the questioners...
Worshiping the Sacramental Christ by Fr. Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R.
Worshiping the Sacramental Christ by Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R. The purpose of this book is to alert us to the multidimensional aspects of our Eucharistic worship and to help us see how this sacrament engages the whole person and the entire People of God. It seeks to open...
A Drawing Book Hermeneutics: Reading the Gospels as a Teenager by Eugen J. Pentiuc
A Drawing Book Hermeneutics: Seeing the Scriptures as a Teenager by Fr. Eugen J. Pentiuc A Drawing Book Hermeneutics: Seeing the Scriptures as a Teenager is the digitized version of a manuscript on which Fr. Eugen Pentiuc began to work in 1972, at the age of 16, while...
Revelationship: Transformative Intimacy with Christ by Cathy Garland and Dr. Randy Colver
Special thanks to Tamara Colver Dixon for designing the cover.Revelationship: Transformative Intimacy with Christ by Cathy Garland and Dr. Randy Colver Revelationship is how God reveals himself as he pursues us for relationship. In a world deconstructing, Christ...
Joseph of Nazareth: Icon of the Father’s Love by Fr. Dennis J. Billy, C.Ss.R.
Joseph of Nazareth: Icon of the Father's Love by Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R. This book is about a humble, courageous man named Joseph who played a pivotal role in the story of our redemption and about whom the Gospels say so very little. It is a series of meditations about...
Holy Exercises: St. Alphonsus de Liguori and the Spirituality of Practice by Fr. Dennis J. Billy, C.Ss.R.
Holy Exercises: St. Alphonsus de Liguori and the Spirituality of Practice by Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R. The purpose of Alphonsian spirituality is to preach the Gospel by our words and actions. The conversion of the world presupposes our own inner conversion of heart which,...
Speaking One’s Soul: Magnifying God’s Word in a Madly Godless World by Patti Hershwitzky and Mary Sobel Ott
Speaking One’s Soul: Magnifying God’s Word in a Madly Godless World by Patti Hershwitzky, Ed.S. and Mary Sobel Ott Innumerous works through the ages have addressed the contradictions and conflicts between religion and government, particularly from the Catholic...
Expressing Spiritual Experiences through Images, Poems, and Prayers
Expressing Spiritual Experiences through Images, Poems, and Prayers Edited by Sr. Adaku Helen Ogbuji, CCVI, PhD As the novice director/formation director for the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Sr. Adaku Helen Ogbuji, CCVI, provides the...
Return to Me: Visits to the Tabernacle by Lynda Rozell
Return to Me: Visits to the Tabernacle by Lynda Rozell with a foreword by George Weigel Return to Me: Visits to the Tabernacle discusses tabernacle images with reflections on their symbolism, encouraging devotion to Jesus in the tabernacle and drawing readers to...
The Comic Catholic
The Comic Catholic By Ronda Chervin In this witty, literary stand-up routine, Ronda Chervin takes a bow to a key property of the human person as understood in our philosophical anthropology, namely, that of risibility. It is a trademark of our humanity that we were...
Imagine the Joy! Reveries on Divine Revelation
Imagine the Joy! Reveries on Divine Revelation by Freddie Stewart, Jr. Compelled by his rich evangelical experience of searching the Scriptures alongside Christian brethren seeking spiritual inspiration and practical wisdom, Freddie has sought to share his enthusiasm...
My Soul Shall Be Healed: A Study Guide on Ecclesia de Eucharistia by Terry Modica
My Soul Shall Be Healed: A Study Guide on Ecclesia de Eucharistia (The Church of the Eucharist) by Terry Modica This easy-to-understand study guide explains in ordinary language how to understand the very important Church document, Ecclesia de Eucharistia (The Church...
The Voices We Hear Daily
The Voices We Hear Daily by Fr. Eugene Azorji The Voices We Hear Daily is written as a simple narrative reflection on the four voices we hear every day--namely the voice of God, the voice of the world, the voice of self, and the voice of the Devil--our responses to...
Lord, do you mean me? A father-Catechist?
Lord, Do You Mean Me? A father-Catechist! by Francis Etheredge Reflecting on the reality of childhood, Francis Etheredge explores what is entailed in being a parent who wants to take up the vocation, as widely and as specifically as possible, of helping to found the...
The Divinized Person
The Divinized Person by Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R. Scripture tells us that man was created in the image and likeness of God (Gn 1:26). This book explores the meaning of this statement, describing each of us as a living, flesh-and-blood icon, a visible representation...
Incarnational Spirituality: Embodying the Love of the Incarnate Word
Incarnational Spirituality: Embodying the Love of the Incarnate Word Edited by Sr. Adaku Helen Ogbuji, CCVI, PhD In this book, two Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, one sister of the Holy Family, and one discalced Carmelite priest expound on these important...
Franciscanism: The Answer to Modernism
Franciscanism: The Answer to Modernism By Bob Sizemore In a culture of death, St. Francis restores us to life. This book invites the reader into Franciscanism as the answer to Modernism. Paperback $7.99 | Kindle $2.99 TESTIMONIALS "Imaginative, creative, inspiring...
His Spoken Words
His Spoken Words by Richard Ruesch This book includes a complete compilation of the spoken words of our Lord Jesus Christ, which are contained in the verses of the New Testament, chronologically arranged from the time when His parents found Him in the temple, sitting...
Walking Humbly with God: How Friendships Build Confidence, Support the Church, and are the Key to the New Evangelization
Walking Humbly with God: How Friendships Build Confidence, Support the Church, and are the Key to the New Evangelization by Deacon Gerard-Marie Anthony This book speaks to the importance of the virtue of friendship/relationship to carrying out the New Evangelization...
Awake with Christ: Living the Catholic Holy Hour in Your Home
Published on the Feast of St. Rose of Lima, a third order Dominican, and Patron of Gardeners. Image courtesy of Joni Seith, author of Cloud of Witnesses.Awake with Christ: Living the Catholic Holy Hour in Your Home by Annabelle Moseley We are about to undertake an...
Из Тьмы… Мэри Клоска
Out of the Darkness by Mary Kloska Данная работа - собрание сокровищ, с которыми Иисус поделился с сердцем Мэри Клоска. Представляя эту книгу для читателя, Мэри надеется засвидетельствовать о Великой Силе, которая находится в Кресте Иисуса. Её сердце застывает при...
Out of the Lips of Infants, Wisdom Comes: Retelling the Bible Stories
Out of the Lips of Infants, Wisdom Comes: Retelling the Bible Stories by Sr. Adaku Helen Ogbuji, CCVI, PhD This book is the fruit of Sr. Helen's years of learning how to reflect on the Word of God, both as a child and as an adult; and how each stage of learning,...
Into the Heart of St. Joseph
Into the Heart of Saint Joseph by Jason Schreder Into the Heart of Saint Joseph immerses the reader through prayerful reflection, Scripture, and art, into Saint Joseph's interior life as the Husband of Mary and Zealous Defender of Christ. Saint Joseph is known to be a...
The Eucharistic Revival Project – Missio Dei
The Eucharistic Revival Project Edited by Phillip Hadden & Jonathon Fessenden Foreword by Rev. Dennis J. Billy, C.Ss.R. The Eucharist Revival Project is Missio Dei’s response to Pope Francis’ call to rediscover "the real and loving presence of the Lord” in the...
“That They May Have Life” (John 10:10): 35 Meditations
"That They May Have Life" (John 10:10): 35 Meditations by Fr. Julius D. Leloczky, O.Cist. This collection of meditations is a rich anthology of writings very much in the spirit and vein of the documents of the Second Vatican Council, and of the ideas represented by...
Consumed by Love: A Missionary Handbook for Priestly and Lay Formation by Mary Kloska
Consumed by Love: A Missionary Handbook for Priestly and Lay Formation by Mary Elizabeth Anne Kloska, Fiat+ “Here I am, Lord, I have come to do your will.” (Hebrews 10:7,9) This should be the heartbeat of every missionary. One is never a missionary for himself or...
“My Darling Joe”: A Reflection on a Personal Relationship with Saint Joseph
"My Darling Joe": A Reflection on a Personal Relationship with Saint Joseph by Sr. Adaku Helen Ogbuji, CCVI, PhD Prayer to St. Joseph Hail Sweet and Darling Joe!Your love for your Son, Jesus and your spouse, Mary is so efficacious!Teach me to love them!Help me to...
77 Soundbytes of Love
The Interactive Blog is not yet in working order. Please email Ronda directly if you have any thoughts. chervinronda@gmail.com77 Soundbytes of Love: The Philosophical Spirituality of Ronda Chervin By Ronda Chervin This book is an anthology of soundbytes -- 77 to be...
Talkaholics: Fate or Work-in-Process?
Talkaholics: Fate or Work-in-Progress By Ronda Chervin Why would I ever think I talk too much? Here are some tiny stories to show you why: “Ronda,” asked my spiritual director, “what would it be like if you joined a table (at the seminary where I was teaching and took...
Charles Rich: Give Me Your Heart–Preparing for Eternal Life by Charles Rich
Charles Rich: Give Me Your Heart--Preparing for Eternal Life Ed. by Ronda Chervin How about a book for the elderly by a sage who was still making disciples in his nineties? Who was this Charles Rich, anyhow? One of the most fascinating Hebrew-Catholics of all times...
Purgatory in the Words of Jesus
Purgatory in the Words of Jesus by Roger Skrenes In this book, Roger Skrenes explains how the teaching that only two possible realms exist after death, that of Heaven and Hell, as argued by many non-Catholic Christians, is not correct. Christ actually spoke of a third...
The Sea Lord’s Bookshelf by Vincent Salamoni, M.S.A.
All profits go to the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles (M.S.A.) LORD, HAVE MERCY: The big ocean and our little boat.The Sea Lord's Bookshelf by Reverend Vincent A. Salamoni, M.S.A. This book is a catalyst, of a beginning voyage. Here it is a short one, yet a long...
For the Love of God: The Sacred Heart and the Divine Mercy
For the Love of God: The Sacred Heart and the Divine Mercy Kristina R. Olsen The purpose of this book is to invite you into the Sacred Heart of Jesus to experience his love, and to introduce you to the Divine Mercy devotion to encounter God's limitless forgiveness. We...
The Book of Love: Brief Meditations
Cover design by Sophia ClementsWhen given the chance to submit cover designs, four out of five of Richard Clements' children submitted drawings. The one selected is from among those four submissions. The other three submissions are featured here above.The Book of...
Les deux principales sources de la prière de Marie de l’Incarnation
Les deux principales sources de la prière de Marie de l'Incarnation par Père Michel Legault, MSA Le 28 octobre 1999, l'Église catholique a célébré le 400e anniversaire de la naissance de Marie Guyard, connue aujourd'hui sous le nom de Sainte Marie de l'Incarnation,...
Target Heaven: What You Didn’t Know about Father Benedict Groeschel
Originally published as Father Benedict Groeschel: A Conversational Biography, © Good Counsel Homes, 2014.Target Heaven: What You Didn't Know About Father Benedict Groeschel by Good Counsel, Inc. Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, SV, opens this book by proclaiming Fr....
Devociones Diarias de LIFE Runners
Devociones Diarias de LIFE Runners Editado por Dr. Patrick Castle and Bernadette Costello ¡DIOS primero, VIDA siempre, EQUIPO para siempre! Corredores de VIDA es el equipo Pro-Vida más grande del mundo, correr es opcional, se requiere camiseta y se necesita fe. Nos...
Nuggets of Wisdom
Nuggets of Wisdom By Bob Sizemore with Ronda Chervin In this handy volume, Bob Sizemore and Ronda Chervin engage in a dialogue intended to deliver nuggets of life's wisdom, offering both specific and general insights on navigating one's way through this world and into...
Rekindling Wonder: Touching Heaven in a Screen Saturated World
Rekindling Wonder: Touching Heaven in a Screen Saturated World by Fr. Chris Seith Our screens are not morally neutral. The devices that we are so attached to affect our perception of the world. Unless we use them in a way contrary to the way in which they are intended...
No Longer I: Sharing Christ’s Gospel Narrative
No Longer I: Sharing Christ's Gospel Narrative by Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R. Christ entered our world and gave himself completely to us to the point of dying for us, to become nourishment for us and a source of hope. In this book, Fr. Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R., demonstrates...
The Blessings of the Beatitudes
The Blessings of the Beatitudes by Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R. This book is about the vision Jesus sets before his hearers of a world ruled by justice and love. The eight beatitudes provide hope to all who listen to and follow the call of the kingdom in their hearts....