The peak body for US Catholic publishing houses, the Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP), has announced that the books of two Australian Jesuit authors have been awarded top prizes in their annual Excellence in Publishing Awards.
Out of the several hundred Catholic religious titles published last year in the USA, Fr Richard Leonard’s Why Bother Praying?, from Paulist Press, and Fr Michael Hansen’s The First Spiritual Exercises, from Ave Maria Press, together with the USA’s Fr Mark Haydu for Meditations on Vatican Art, from Liguori Publications, took the top spots in the strongly contested Prayer & Spirituality section of this year’s Awards.
Fr Leonard’s Why Bother Praying? is an accessible volume that moves the reader to tears and to laughing out loud. But it also enlightens the reader on one the most fundamental aspects of what it means to be a Christian, namely engaging in a real relationship with God, which is what prayer is all about.
The internationally best-selling Catholic author, James Martin SJ, says of this book: ‘Richard Leonard’s Where the Hell is God? was a huge publishing success because it tackled head-on questions about suffering that are often spoken of in hushed terms, and with embarrassment or even guilt.
‘It was a boon to those looking for straight answers to life’s toughest questions. Why Bother Praying? is for everyone who wonders how to pray, everyone who wonders what happens when you pray and everyone who wonders if God hears our prayers. Reading his book is like being able to ask an experienced priest, “Can you say that in a way that I can understand?” But Richard is a learned man, and not someone given to off-the-cuff or shallow comments about something as important as our faith. As such, it’s a wonderful contribution to the rich tradition of writings on Christian prayer, only this one is one you can understand–and use.’
Designed for those who direct The First Spiritual Exercises or train others to direct them, Fr Hansen’s book is a comprehensive introduction to this innovative way of making the Spiritual Exercises, providing a wealth of practical information on the origins and dynamics of these retreats and enabling leaders to have the tools they need to become effective guides: spiritual conversation, the use of the Examen, discernment, the role of the sacraments, and journaling.
Acclaimed spiritual writer, William Barry SJ, says: ‘Michael Hansen SJ helps readers meet the living God who wants a personal relationship with them. From years of experience he knows the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola very well and leads the reader in a creative and easy-to-follow way through them without jargon and with a deft hand. I sense that St Ignatius rejoices that his great work has been made so accessible to modern readers.’
Richard Leonard SJ is the Sydney-based director of the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Office for Film & Broadcasting, a visiting Professor at the Gregorian University in Rome, and has lectured on faith and culture all over the world.Why Bother Praying? is his sixth book.
Michael Hansen SJ is a retreat leader, speaker, spiritual formation teacher, and spiritual director on the retreat team at Campion Centre of Ignatian Spirituality in Melbourne. He is the author of five other books including The Gospels for Prayer, and The Land of Walking Trees.
ACP is the professional body made up of every major Catholic publishing house in the USA and their prestigious annual awards recognise the very best in Catholic writing. [Province Express]