The Three Things Divorced Catholics Needs to Know


Book Description

You find yourself in a profoundly painful position: you’re a Catholic, and you’re divorced. /p> Friends and family probably have lots of opinions and advice. But who do you listen to? You might have searched online or in books for answers, but find the information confusing or unreliable. How can you trust what you’re reading? Or you might be so devastated you’re not sure where to turn. Now in this short, easy-read booklet, divorced Catholics will learn three important things they need to know now: 1. What the Catholic Church really teaches about divorce 2. How and when divorced Catholics can receive the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist 3. What annulment is, how it works, who needs it, and why it matters Using the Catechism of the Catholic Church, papal documents, Scripture, and personal stories, author Mary Lou Rosien provides you with facts that can shape your decisions and actions, along with the encouragement and compassion that can only come from someone who has been through it herself.




The Divorced Catholic's Guide to Parenting


Book Description

In The Divorced Catholic's Guide to Parenting, Catholic author, speaker, and licensed clinical professional counselor and pastoral counselor Lynn Cassella-Kapusinski, herself a child of divorce, takes parents step by step through these challenges. Drawing on her own story and professional experience, she helps Catholic parents walk with their children through the heartbreak of divorce into the healing, peace, and even joy that is possible in their lives. In this groundbreaking work, readers will: Uncover the emotional effects and challenges that divorce or separation may have on children and find concrete, developmentally appropriate ways to address them Understand common problems children face as a result of coparenting difficulties or a parent’s personal issues and learn how to communicate constructively about them Navigate circumstances that arise in the later stages of divorce when a parent is absent, or when one or both parents date or remarry Explore ways to use the divorce as a Catholic teaching tool on God, forgiveness, and the beauty of the Sacrament of Matrimony Find outside resources and additional support Throughout this book, Lynn's thoughtful advice reveals how the Catholic Faith and its teachings are the key to loving your children through divorce and preparing them to live full, joyful lives. "I commend Lynn Cassella-Kapusinski for shining light on a common, but difficult to address, topic. She offers wisdom for parents on how, with God's grace, to raise their children after the pain of separation. Not only does she communicate the teaching of the Church, but she also offers insightful, practical details, stemming from her own experience as a counselor, that will greatly benefit divorced parents in supporting and guiding their children." — Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, Archdiocese of Denver "The Divorced Catholics Guide to Parenting is a welcome follow-up to Lynn's earlier works. Drawing from the best of the psychological sciences, the Church's teachings, and her own experiences, this newest addition demonstrates a thoughtful coincidence of wisdom with approachability and practicality. Lynn's book and ministry are great gifts to the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond." — Archbishop William E. Lori, Baltimore "Lynn Cassella-Kapusinski's book, The Divorced Catholic's Guide to Parenting, is an answer to the calling of the whole Christian community to accompany with attention and care those who have endured the effects of divorce. Offering professional and personal insights, it is a timely resource particularly to help treat and heal the wounds suffered by the most innocent and vulnerable — the children of divorce." — Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. "A very impressive, easy-to-use guide for divorced parents to help with their children's journey. Lynn shares her experience as a child of divorce and counselor to families and provides specific tools and the gifts of our Catholic Church to minimize the trauma of divorce for children. This guide addresses any stage your family is struggling through and can be revisited as dynamics change. As a Family Therapist, I recommend this book for parents who are looking for answers and support to ease the pain." — Kelly Klaus, MA, LMFT, Executive Director of Catholic Divorce Ministry "A remarkable book to aid divorced parents in pastorally walking with their child who has been affected by divorce. Lynn once more writes a great resource for families who seek healing. She provides practical and poignant steps that divorced parents can take to aid their child. Lynn captures the reality that it is faith in God that will be an anchor for all dealing with loss and pain." — Michael Donaldson, MTS, Parish Development Director, Saint Oscar Romero Catholic Community, Eastvale CA ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lynn Cassella-Kapusinski, LCPC, NCC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor, pastoral counselor, and a leading figure in Catholic pastoral care of children from divorced or separated families. Her work has been recognized by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family, the Knights of Columbus, and various dioceses. She has appeared on EWTN and Relevant Radio and speaks at conferences around the country.




Primal Loss


Book Description

Seventy now-adult children of divorce give their candid and often heart-wrenching answers to eight questions (arranged in eight chapters, by question), including: What were the main effects of your parents' divorce on your life? What do you say to those who claim that "children are resilient" and "children are happy when their parents are happy"? What would you like to tell your parents then and now? What do you want adults in our culture to know about divorce? What role has your faith played in your healing? Their simple and poignant responses are difficult to read and yet not without hope. Most of the contributors--women and men, young and old, single and married--have never spoken of the pain and consequences of their parents' divorce until now. They have often never been asked, and they believe that no one really wants to know. Despite vastly different circumstances and details, the similarities in their testimonies are striking; as the reader will discover, the death of a child's family impacts the human heart in universal ways.




The Catholic Guide to Dating After Divorce


Book Description

In the first book written specifically for the 11 million divorced Catholics in the United States, Lisa Duffy—CatholicMatch.com columnist and creator of the “Journey of Hope” divorce recovery program—combines personal experience, Church teaching, and more than twenty years of ministering to those wounded by divorce to offer a guide that shows how faith can be a catalyst for healthy dating and relationships. Encouraging yet forthright, The Catholic Guide to Dating After Divorce offers sound advice to anyone who has experienced the deflating effects of divorce, but is not ready to give up on love. Affirming the universal need for intimacy, Duffy—a relationship expert, CatholicMatch.com columnist, and creator of the "Journey of Hope" divorce recovery program—shows how faith can be a catalyst for healthy relationships, helping to identify and uproot emotionally harmful habits and boosting authenticity and confidence. Duffy identifies five essential characteristics of spiritually healthy people—being available, affectionate, communicative, faithful, and magnanimous—and shows how cultivating these qualities can bring out the best, most confident, and most attractive version of anyone. Quizzes, journaling questions, and action steps will help the reader grow in these areas. The book concludes with an appendix on resources for those who need help working through an annulment or who are in need of other post-divorce resources.




Divorced. Catholic. Now What?: Navigating Life After Divorce


Book Description

A must read for divorced men and women, especially if you are Catholic, and the perfect curriculum for parish groups. This book is an indispensable tool for healing, no matter how long you've been divorced and is completely Catholic. Originally a successful program directed in parishes, "Divorced. Catholic. Now What?" provides answers to the difficult questions that Catholics face because of divorce, practical tools to help move past the pain and loneliness, and hope for the future. Issues Covered: Praying During Times of Distress Anger with Our Spouses, Ourselves and God Why Did God Allow This to Happen? What Does the Church Really Teach about Divorce? What is an Annulment? Stay Close to the Sacraments Dealing with the Ex-Spouse How are the Children? The Healing Begins Our Own Self-Worth The Value of Suffering Letting Go Working on Forgiveness Gratitude Sex and Dating as a Divorced Catholic Mary, Our Mother Hope for the Future and Our Vocation in Life




Three to Get Married


Book Description

One of the greatest and best-loved spokesmen for the Faith here sets out the Church's beautiful understanding of marriage in his trademark clear and entertaining style. Frankly and charitably, Sheen presents the causes of and solutions to common marital crises, and tells touching real-life stories of people whose lives were transformed through marriage. He emphasizes that our Blessed Lord is at the center of every successful and loving marriage. This is a perfect gift for engaged couples, or for married people as a fruitful occasion for self-examination.




From Grief to Grace


Book Description

Grief touches all of our lives, but it does not have to paralyze us with fear or inaction. God allows suffering because He knows how powerful it can be to our spiritual lives and to helping us fully embrace His love and mercy. In this insightful and practical book, you’ll learn how to live a life of redemptive suffering that will draw you through grief into a state of tenacity, meaning, holiness, and joy. Author Jeannie Ewing is no stranger to suffering. Her family has long struggled with bipolar disorder and depression, and her baby daughter was born with a rare genetic disorder that caused her bones to prematurely fuse together. Despite the many layers of sadness, loss, confusion, and anger, Jeannie responded to God’s calling and transformed her life into one with profound purpose and joy. Combining her training in psychology and counseling with real-life examples, Jeannie will show you that there is much life to be lived in the midst of loss, and that all things – even the most painful life experiences – are working together for a greater good. You’ll also learn: The all-too-often misunderstood difference between grief and depression.The spiritual benefits to uniting your crosses with Jesus’s Passion and Death.The counterintuitive notion that grief and joy can coexist.The spiritual danger of internalizing our pain and hiding it from othersHow great saints like St. John of the Cross and St. Therese of Liseux struggled to make sense out of suffering.The six spiritual principles that will assist you on the journey of navigating grief.How to know when you should seek professional help.Ways in which God is calling you to bring hope and joy to those dwelling in darkness.How to confidently confront the nothingness and emptiness you feel in your interior life.And Meditations on the Stations of the Cross, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Seven Sorrows of Mary that will help you reflect on how redemptive suffering can help you embrace God’s love and mercy.




Amoris Laetitia


Book Description

“All of us are called to keep striving towards something greater than ourselves and our families, and every family must feel this constant impulse. Let us make this journey as families, let us keep walking together.” Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia In his groundbreaking work on modern family life, Amoris Laetitia: On Love in the Family, Pope Francis continues to guide and lead the Church, calling us to be a sign of mercy and encouragement for families of all shapes and sizes. The Our Sunday Visitor edition includes exclusive reflection and discussion questions, to help Catholics grow in our understanding of this call, and act upon it. In Amoris Laetitia: On Love in the Family the Holy Father expands on the topics and considerations of the two Synods on the family, and adds his own considerations to help us provide pastoral guidance to support and strengthen today’s families. On Love in the Family guides us through: Scripture – what we can learn from Biblical families and relationships with God and each other Reality – the experiences and challenges we face in today’s world Tradition – essential aspects of Church teaching on marriage and families Love – what it means for all our relationships Ministry – Pope Francis offers pastoral perspectives for helping build strong families Spirituality – the expression of the Gospel message in our relationships




Workbook


Book Description

The companion workbook to "Divorced. Catholic. Now What?" This workbook gives the reader the opportunity to further explore and integrate the issues addressed in each chapter of the book through reflection questions, exercises and journaling. It also provides a wealth of other information including prayers and devotionals to guide and encourage the reader. A great way to implement what you get out of the book and an essential part of the curriculum for parish groups.




Impossible Marriages Redeemed


Book Description

Fifty stories of marriages brought back from the brink of disaster. Fifteen more stories of heroic spouses standing for their marriages after spousal abandonment.