Arise to Blessedness

A Journal Retreat with Eight Modern Saints Who Lived the Beatitudes

WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY JEN NORTON

Eight modern saints invite you to follow their example to live the Beatitudes—the heart of Jesus’s teaching—in your own life.

Through her beautiful full-color art, scripture passages, journaling prompts, and original prayers inspired by the Our Father, popular Catholic artist Jen Norton will guide you to put the Beatitudes into practice as she challenges you to examine the state of your own heart and your willingness to grow in holiness.

Norton compares living what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–13) with climbing a mountain—a difficult, irregular, sometimes fear-filled path that eventually leads to a great reward. But she says that like the saints, if you trust God beyond your own understanding, the end of the climb is heaven.

You will learn about each of the Beatitudes from modern saints, including

• St. André Bessette, a brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross, who served as a porter and powerful intercessor for the afflicted—Blessed are the poor in spirit;

• St. Mark Ji Tianxiang, a Chinese doctor who became an opium addict but maintained a strong faith. He died a martyr during the Boxer Rebellion—Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness;

• St. Maria Goretti, who sought the conversion of those who had harmed her—Blessed are the merciful; and

• St. Oscar Romero, the archbishop who embodied radical love as a peacemaker—Blessed are the peacemakers.

This book is perfect for personal or group use.

Features And Benefits

• Jennifer Norton’s first illuminated journal retreat with Ave Maria Press, Surrender All, has sold more than 3,500 copies.

“Jen Norton’s Arise to Blessedness blends the artist’s clear and powerful drawing with rich textures and nuanced colors— a wonderful way to explore depths of meaning in the Beatitudes through art.”

—Elizabeth Lev

Vatican art historian and author of How Catholic Art Saved the Faith

“Arise to Blessedness is a creative masterpiece. Each saint is an accomplished guide; each image, a well-spring of contemplation; and each chapter, an opportunity to delve ever deeper into what it means to be truly blessed.”

—Allison Gingras

Author of Encountering Signs of Faith

“With beautiful artwork, insightful reflections, and stories told in a way to remind us that saints are more like us than not, this journal offers a means of honest reflection that will certainly allow you to go deeper in your journey to the heart of Jesus.”

—Marcia Lane-McGee Cohost of Plaid Skirts and Basic Black podcast

978-1-64680-186-2 · 160 pages · $18.95

On-Sale Date: January 27, 2023

Foreign Rights: World · 6" x 9" · Paperback Category: Catholicism Imprint: Ave Maria Press

JEN NORTON is an award-winning painter and the author and illustrator of Surrender All: An Illuminated Journal Retreat through the Stations of the Cross. Her artwork also has appeared on the covers of books, including Word by Word and The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion.

AUTHOR’S OTHER TITLE

Surrender All

978-1-64680-007-0, $15.95

Concise Guide Series

Updated Edition

A Concise Guide to Canon Law

A Practical Handbook for Pastoral Ministers

KEVIN E. MCKENNA WITH ALDEAN B. HENDRICKSON

For more than twenty years, A Concise Guide to Canon Law has provided priests, deacons, and lay pastoral ministers with essential information about Church laws that regularly impact the lives of everyday Catholics.

This compact reference guide addresses topics such as who can receive the sacraments and when, the responsibilities of pastors and bishops; administration of parishes; and the role of finance and pastoral councils. The book also now includes the teachings of Popes Benedict XVI and Francis on issues such as marriage and annulment, as well as a new chapter on Catholic funerals.

Canon lawyer Aldean Hendrickson, director of the tribunal for the Diocese of New Ulm, also has updated this practical guide with additional material that includes:

• a chapter on the Liturgy of the Hours;

• an index of the canons addressed in the book;

• an updated section of frequently asked questions and answers at the end of each chapter;

• a revised and enhanced glossary of key terms; and

• a suggested reading list for deeper study.

Features And Benefits

• With lifetime sales topping 20,000, A Concise Guide to Canon Law has sold consistently to its specialized audience of those working in pastoral ministry.

“Those curious about the basics of canon law will find here the canons handily organized by topic and accompanied by FAQs as well as a helpful glossary. Aldean Hendrickson’s careful revision of Fr. McKenna’s popular text seamlessly incorporates the many changes made to canon law by Pope Francis.”

—Fr. Peter Mottola

Rochester

—Fr. Joshua J. Whitfield

Author of The Crisis of Bad Preaching