Books published by Paraclete Press

Intellect and emotion both fail in seeking God, who can only be encountered by rejecting of all common earthly means in a "cloud of forgetting" and the discovery of Godself in the dark "cloud of unknowing" which can be pierced only with a "lance of longing love."

Discover the spirituality of St. Clare and how it complements that of St. Francis. Enter into a week of morning and evening prayer centered on themes from Clare's life.

Written by an anonymous fourteenth-century author, The Cloud of Unknowing was originally prepared for cloistered monks. This contemporary English translation with foreword by bestselling author, Robert Benson, helps to put this classic text within reach of everyday Christians.

Happy marriages don't just happen. Despite the abundance of magazines and self-help books available, people continue to struggle with marriageNaked and Unashamed describes the diligent, necessary work to maintain marriage, as well holistic character-that the nakedness asked of each individual extends from how we communicate, to how we grow spiritually, to how we manage our finances, and to how we make love. Every marriage is a snapshot of and testimony to God's covenant relationship with His Church. Without mincing words, Dr. Jerry, Claudia, and Jeremy offer real help through practical and spiritual advice on these topics and more. Undressing for IntimacyUnpacking CommunicationExploring ExpectationsUndressing for SexNaked and Unashamed challenges couples to embrace a holistic, lifelong undressing for marriage. Throughout, the book presents a picture of marriage in which relational and spiritual intimacy may be found in every aspect of the relationship. The book should enrich both marriages and the Christian life of the individuals within marriage. "e;I have performed scores of weddings over the years, and my wife and I have done the premarital counseling. I wish this insightful book had been available for us."e;-LYLE W. DORSETT, PhD, Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism, Beeson Divinity School"e;Naked and Unashamed is a must-read for any couple seeking to do Christian marriage in a way that is glorifying to God. Part master class, part playbook, this frank and easy-to-understand guide is packed with critical insights and practical wisdom that can be applied immediately. This book leaves its readers equipped to engage in their marriage relationship in a truly transformational way. I cannot recommend it highly enough."e;-MICHELLE MOUJAES, Founder and Executive Director, Faithtree Resources"e;This is the premarital resource I have been waiting for! Incredibly rich with wisdom and insight, Naked and Unashamed is for every couple who are more interested in staying married than they are in getting married. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking a deeper, fuller, richer, understanding of biblical marriage."e;-JIMMY DODD, Founder and President of PastorServe, author of Survive or Thrive: Six Relationships Every Pastor Needs

Now in paperback for the first time, this book helps you mark the events of the season.

A companion book for anyone celebrating the season of Easter, prayers and practices from a variety of denominations and traditions.

Welcome to a dinner party in heaven. With a charming blend of imagination and historical detail, the bestselling author of 365 Saints invites you to get to know the saints in food and fellowship. Hinting at one of the traditional images of heaven, the Banquet or Marriage Feast of the Lamb (Revelation 9:9), the author gathers sixteen holy souls, enabling you to better understand what they were like on earth. Combining fictional narrative, fascinating biographies, and mouth-watering dinner party recipes, the book offers a resource for families and other groups to celebrate saints spanning the history of the Church, and to better understand the "people behind the halos." Recipes by classically-trained avid home cook, Celia Murphy.

A personal invitation to walk with God through one of the great classics of Christian spirituality. This book of daily devotions is based upon The Cloud of Unknowing. In this edition Robinson sought to remain as true as possible to the voice of this medieval classic. Cloud Devotion follows the original Middle English text sentence by sentence, with Robinson's own translation and paraphrase, divided work into 366 small portions, with a Scripture passage related to the theme from each daily reading. "My heart has yearned for this book. I wanted a guide to help me savor and reflect on the spiritual classic The Cloud of Unknowing. David has insightfully discerned how we might do this. The partnership of this unknown, ancient writer and this known, living pastor is masterful. I invite you into the clouds with the slow reading of this book." --Dr. MaryKate Morse, author and mentor-professor of formation and leadership

Margaret B. Ingraham's collection Exploring this Terrain bids the reader to join her in a journey of discovery. In a world in which speed is increasingly regarded as a virtue and distraction is its inevitable consequence, each of these poems offers escape and consolation. One by one they invite the reader to be still, to observe, to listen, to "taste and see" - and ultimately to experience the wonder that only attention can discover hiding in the thin places within the various terrains of our everyday lives. "What is the terrain that Margaret Ingraham explores in Exploring this Terrain? It ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to Pluto. The path crosses the trails of memory and illness, the natural world and disintegration, and various parts unseen. Yet it stays, as Margaret says near the end of the book, in the 'secret places of my brokenness.' It is the beautiful landscape of wonder, the uneven country of love, the difficult ground of faith." --Loren Graham, author of Places I Was Dreaming.

A companion book for anyone observing the Christian season of Lent, prayers and practices from a variety of denominations and traditions.

As word of the wisdom and purity of the Desert Fathers and Mothers spread throughout the Roman Empire, Christians streamed to the caves of these hermits, seeking counsel on the interior life. The hermits' ascetic practices and teachings were a shining witness to a living faith - offering wisdom for both monastic and lay Christians. Encouraging humility, patience, prayer, introspection, and love, the Desert Fathers and Mothers have influenced centuries of believers, showing how contemplative practice can reveal the true meaning of everyday life."Let Christians care for nothing that they cannot take away with them. We ought rather to seek after that which will lead us to heaven, namely wisdom, chastity, justice, virtue, an ever watchful mind, care of the poor, firm faith in Christ, a mind that can control anger, and hospitality. Striving after these things, we shall prepare for ourselves a dwelling in the land of the peaceful." (from the book)

A new, lively translation of the most beloved Catholic classic of the twentieth century.

The remarkable author of Girl Meets God and Real Sex shares her quest to enrich faith with daily spiritual disciplines.

All things are possible to one who believes; even more to one who hopes; still more to one who loves.

Previous books - Parched (978-1596090811) and Redeemed (9780670018635)

This enhanced edition of Brother Lawrence's classic work will appeal to anyone who desires to make spirituality a moment-by-moment way of life.