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November 2022

November 23, 2022

Contemplative Books to Read and Savor During Advent and Christmas

A reader of this blog wrote to me last week and asked: I am writing...

November 16, 2022

New From Encountering Silence: Exploring the Lost History of Women Bible Interpreters

It's time for another episode from the Encountering Silence podcast! You can subscribe to Encountering...

September 2022

September 24, 2022

Twelve Mystical Anthologies That Belong in Every Contemplative Library

There are literally hundreds of mystics in the Christian tradition alone — or, should I...

September 15, 2022

Happy Birthday, Dawn Treader!

The year 1952 in England has gotten a lot of attention lately, with the passing...

August 2022

August 20, 2022

“The Friar of Love” — Revisiting Brother Lawrence, Mystic of the Divine Presence

N.B. Today's guest post is by Carmen Acevedo Butcher, Ph.D., renowned for her luminous translation...

May 2022

May 30, 2022

“Do I stay Christian?” A Conversation with Brian D. McLaren on a Significant Question for Our Time

Last Wednesday I had the distinct honor of being part of a group interview with...

December 2021

December 28, 2021

A Great Mystical Book — With a Surprising Title

I've recently been re-reading one of the most fascinating and unusual books of mystical wisdom...

June 2021

June 24, 2021

Come to the Eternal Heart Publication Day Celebration — June 29, 2021!

Friends, you are invited to a special virtual event: the Eternal Heart Book Launch Celebration! We...

June 21, 2021

Companionship as a Key to the Spiritual Life: Therese Schroeder-Sheker Reflects on “Eternal Heart”

N.B. Today's guest post is by noted musician and thanatologist Therese Schroeder-Sheker. She wrote this piece...

May 2021

May 21, 2021

When You Pre-order a Book, It Makes a Difference (Here’s Why)

Please click on the button of your preferred retailer to pre-order Eternal Heart: If you...

May 18, 2021

“He Confuses a Lot of People” — Jon M. Sweeney on Writing About Thomas Merton

N.B. Today's guest post is by Jon M. Sweeney. Jon is the author of numerous books,...

May 04, 2021

So Many Books, So Little Time!

Lately I've been posting a social media a "book of the day." It's a combination...

March 2021

March 23, 2021

Hunting Magic Eels: the Quest for a Re-Enchanted Christianity

Richard Beck, professor of psychology at Abilene Christian University in Texas, has just released a...

February 2021

February 02, 2021

James Martin: Learning to Pray

"Everyone can pray" is the hopeful and helpful opening message of Learning to Pray, the...

October 2020

October 31, 2020

Help Santa Out: Seven Books to Give to Anyone Interested in Learning About Christian Mysticism

Okay, friends, I know we haven't even made it to All Saint's yet, but Christmas is less...

October 26, 2020

Nine Books for Exploring Franciscan Spirituality

This weekend I conducted a retreat on Franciscan spirituality for the Rock Hill Oratory Center...

September 2020

September 09, 2020

Eternal Heart: The Mystical Path to a Joyful Life (Pre-Order Now)

St. Augustine said that the human heart is restless until it rests in God. I...

July 2020

July 23, 2020

Spirit of the Celtic Gods and Goddesses: A New Edition for an “Old Friend”

If you are interested in Celtic mythology — and curious about how to integrate the...

June 2020

June 25, 2020

Dreams, Songs, and Sorrow: Three Celtic Poets to Read Now

Ireland is a land shaped by myth, story, and poetry — and her sister countries...

June 15, 2020

Evelyn Underhill, Baron Friedrich von Hügel, and the Journey of Spiritual Formation

Today (June 15) is a day for remembering the passing of Evelyn Underhill, who died...

November 2019

November 28, 2019

My Christmas Recommendations for 2019: Books to Give to the Contemplatives You Love

Here's a list of books published in the last eighteen months on a variety of...

November 26, 2019

Revisiting Grace: Wisdom and Photography from a Trappist Monk

If you are looking for a wonderful Christmas gift idea, I've got a suggestion for...

September 2019

September 24, 2019

Unteachable Hope, or, My Dream for Readers of My Latest Book

"What is your greatest hope for this book?" This question came to me the other...

August 2019

August 14, 2019

Advance Praise for “Unteachable Lessons”

One of the scariest moments for me, as an author, is when my editor and...

July 2019

July 26, 2019

What Inspired Me to Write About Christian Mysticism

This month marks nine years since The Big Book of Christian Mysticism was published. Hard to believe it's been that...

July 19, 2019

Celebrating Evelyn Underhill

A note from Carl: It was forty years ago this summer — the summer of...

July 04, 2019

“The Big Book of Christian Mysticism” for only 99¢!

Get The Big Book of Christian Mysticism ebook version for your favorite ebook reader for...

June 2019

June 20, 2019

Eight Pagan Books (by a Christian Author)

In my forthcoming book Unteachable Lessons, I tell how I spent a period of time estranged...

April 2019

April 22, 2019

“Now is the Time to Wake Up!”

Note from Carl: Today's guest post is by Phileena Heuertz, and is an excerpt from...

February 2019

February 28, 2019

Answer the Contemplative Call — Here’s a Great Idea for Your Lenten Reading

Update: Sorry, friends, the sale is over. But I hope you'll still consider this book...