Previously on Word for Word:

Episode #1: A Letter to the Hebrews – The Lives of the Saints

Looking for directions on how to live a life of holiness? Check out the letter to the Hebrews for encouragement, advice, and fearless examples. But don’t stop there - you can also find evidence of the “great cloud of witnesses” in modern-day literature. In this episode of Word for Word, Gillian Kantor interviews Fr. James Martin, author of My Life with the Saints, to find out how we can each reach for sanctity in our own lives.

Featured Books in this episode:

My Life with the Saints
by Fr. James Martin, S.J.
Loyola Press 2006
1 (800) 621-1008

Travelling with the Saints in Italy
by Lucinda Vardey
Castle Quay Books 205
1 (800) 265-6397

A Man of the Beatitudes: Pier Giorgio Frassati
by Luciana Frassati
Novalis 2000
1 (877) 702-7775

Saints and Angels
by Claire Llewellyn
Kingfisher Publications 2003
1 (800)733-1717

Clare and Francis
by Guido Visconti
illustrated by Bimba Landmann
Eerdmann’s Books 2003
1 (800) 253-7521

Holy Cards
by Barbara Calamari
designed by Sandra Di Pasqua
published by Harry N. Abrams 2004
1 (212) 206-7715

The Little Way of Saint Therese of Liseux
by John Nelson
Liguori 1997
1 (800) 387-7164

Letters to a Young Catholic
by George Weigel
Basic Books 2004
1 (800) 343-4499

Episode #2: The Book of Job – A Mourner’s Kaddish

Why do bad thing happen to good people? It’s a question that has been asked again and again and again. But looking for the meaning of suffering is not strictly a modern day quest, and in this episode of Word for Word, we look at its roots in the Book of Job. James Clarke, judge of the Superior Court of Ontario and author of A Mourner’s Kaddish, offers insight into the promise of hope.

Featured Books in this episode:

A Mourner’s Kaddish
James Clarke
Novalis 2006
1 (877) 702-7775

The Man Who was Thursday
G.K. Chesterton
Penguin Books 1990
www.penguin.ca

Holy Anger: Jacob, Job, Jesus
Lytta Basset
Novalis 2006
1 (877) 702-7775

Tear Soup
story by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen
illustrated by Taylor Bills
Grief Watch
1 (503) 284-7426

Suite Française
Irène Némirovsky
Alfred A Knopf Canada 2006
www.randomhouse.ca

Episode #3: Martha and Mary – The Role of Women

Are you a Martha? Or are you a Mary? And who should you be? Women in the church tend to play favourites – siding with Martha and accepting an endless list of projects at home or work or in the church, or looking to Mary and spending time in quiet contemplation. But today’s books propose embracing both roles, and an interview with Anne Giardini, author of The Sad Truth About Happiness, stresses the importance of women working together and supporting each other.

Featured Books in this episode:

Episode #4: Song of Songs – God’s Love Story

Popular romance novels found in your local library or bookstore – you know, the ones with the shirtless men adorning the cover and the damsel in distress in their arms – may tell a passionate story but is it realistic? Probably not. So for a true love story, pick up the Bible, turn to The Song of Songs, and prepare for a romance that is much more passionate, much more real, and much more pure. And, proving that such a genuine love story can still be found in popular literature, we speak to France Itani, author of the best-selling novel, Deafening.

Featured Books in this episode:

Deafening
Frances Itani
Harper Perennial 2004
www.harpercollins.ca

Love Letters to My Husband
Edited by Elio Guerriero
Pauline Books and Media 1999
www.pauline.org

When God Writes Your Love Story
Eric and Leslie Ludy
Multnomah Publishers, Inc. 2004
www.multnomahbooks.com

The Cantata of Love
Blaise Arminjob, S.J.
Ignatius Press 2005
1 (800) 651-1531

Christian Courtship in an Over-Sexed World: A Guide for Young Catholics
Fr. T.G. Morrow
Our Sunday Visitor Publishing 2003
1 (800) 348-2440

Episode #5: Doubting Thomas – Conversion

Many of us are like Thomas, the disciple who needed to place his finger in the mark of the nails in Jesus’ hands and place his hand in his side – we need to touch and see in order to believe. But, like Thomas, many of us also have powerful conversion stories. The books featured on this episode of Word for Word, including the thriller, The Defilers, by first-time novelist, Deborah Gyapong, examine elements of doubt and bring us powerful stories conversion.

Featured Books in this episode:

The Defilers
Deborah Gyapong
Castle Quay Books 2006
www.castlequaybooks.com

Confessions
St. Augustine
Oxford University Press 1998
www.oup.com

Father Joe: The Man Who Saved My Soul
Tony Hendra
Random House 2005
www.atrandom.com

The Seven Storey Mountain
Thomas Merton
Harcourt Brace and Company 1998
www.harcourt.com

The Screwtape Letters
C.S. Lewis
Harper San Francisco 2001
www.harpercollins.com

Episode #6: The Parables - Storytelling

Parables are timeless stories. Told to the disciples and followers of Jesus thousands of years ago, parables continue to relate to our lives and lead us to examine and try to understand the complexities of our faith. But how can stories, told deliberately and carefully, about a mustard seed, a sower, or a good Samaritan, apply to lives lived now amid rapid technologies and up-to-the-minute changes? Well, because of the questions they cause us to ask ourselves. And today we look at a different kind of story that can also raise questions and point us toward a better understanding of our faith. Join us for an interview with Margaret George, author of Mary Called Magdalene, a fictional novel which seeks to answer the question, “Who was Mary Magdalene?”

Featured Books in this episode:

Mary Called Magdalene
Margaret George
Penguin Books 2003
www.penguin.com

The Red Tent
Anita Diamant
Picador 1997
www.picadorusa.com

Fifth Mountain
Paulo Coelho
Harper Perennial 1999
www.harperperennial.com

Testament
Nino Ricci
Anchor Canada 2003
www.randomhouse.ca

Episode #7: Tobit - Journey

Planning a trip means having a purpose. Even if the destination is not a physical, geographical landmark, then perhaps it is a goal – a change of heart, a new lesson learned, a dream made real. The bible is filled with these journeys – with both geographical and spiritual destinations – and today we look at the book of Tobit, in the Old Testament. But stories of journey are not limited to the bible. And in today’s author interview, we meet Mark Sebanc and James Anderson, who have combined their work to write under the pen name Mark James. Together, they have created the ancient world of Ahn Norvys in the novel The Stoneholding. The journey begins.

Featured Books in this episode:

The Stoneholding
Mark James
Stoneharp Press 2004
www.stoneharp.com
1 (866) 661-6624

The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien
Harper Collins 1999
www.harpercollins.com

The Chronicles of Narnia
C.S. Lewis
Harper Collins Canada 2001
www.harpercollins.com

Seven Angels for Seven Days
Angelina Fast-Vlaar
Castle Quay Books 2005
www.castlequaybooks.com
1 (800) 265-6397

The Life of Pi
Yann Martel
Seal Books 2006
www.randomhouse.ca

The Visible World
Pier Giorgio Di Cicco
Mansfield Press 2006
www.mansfieldpress.net

Episode #8: Fishers of Men – Jesus at Work

Walking into the office doesn’t mean walking away from your personality, beliefs, or ideals. In fact, in the Gospel of Luke there is some evidence that Jesus feels the workplace – in this case, the fishing industry - is a platform to spread the good news. John Dalla Costa, author of Magnificence at Work, shares his theories and principles on faith in business and invites you to consider bringing Jesus to work.

Featured Books in this episode:

Magnificence at Work: Living Faith in Business
John Dalla Costa
Novalis 2005
www.novalis.ca
1 (800) 387-7164

Doing God’s Business: Meaning and Motivation for the Marketplace
R. Paul Stevens
Eerdmans Publishing Co. 2006
www.eerdmans.com
1 (800) 253-7521

Heroic Leadership
Chris Lowney
Loyola Press 2003
www.loyolabooks.org
1 (800) 621-1008

The Spirit of Leadership: Optimizing Creativity and Change in Organizations
Robert J. Spitzer
Executive Excellence Publishing 2000
www.eep.com
1 (800) 304-9782

The Ethical Imagination
Margaret Somerville
Anansi Press 2006
www.anansi.ca
1 (800) 387-0117

The White Iris
Sandy MacDonald
DreamCatcher Publishing
www.dreamcatcherpublishing.ca

Episode #9: Finding in the Temple – The Church

The Church is a place of comfort, not only because of the community and moments of prayer experienced within the walls, but because of the walls themselves. Architecture, stained glass, and statues can influence our worship and understanding of church, and this episode’s guests, Fr. Michael Prieur and Margaret Visser, help us to find Jesus in the temple.

Featured Books in this episode:

Panes of Glory
Fr. Michael Prieur
Michael R. Prieur, S.T.D. 2005
1 (519) 432-1824

The Geomentry of Love
Margaret Visser
Harper Collins Publishers
www.harpercanada.com

Christ for All People: Celebrating a World of Christian Art
Edited by Ron O’Grady
Novalis 2001
1 (800) 387-7164
www.novalis.ca

The Passion of Christ: According to St. Matthew
Artwork by William Kurelek
Niagara Falls Art Gallery and Museum 1975
1 (905) 356-1514

Can You Find Saints?
By Philip D. Gallery
Illustrated by Janet L. Harlow
Novalis 2003
1 (800) 387-7164
www.novalis.ca

Sacred Threshold
Paula D’Arcy
The Crossroad Publishing Company 2004
1 (800) 387-7164
www.novalis.ca

Episode #10: Finding in the Temple – Love Thy Neighbour

Jesus’ command to “love thy neighbour” may be an easy thing to say, but a more difficult task to fulfill. How can we love those we may not even know, or whose characteristics we may not even like? In this episode, Fr. Bill Clarke, engages us in the true story of one man who many of us would be inclined not to like, an opinion based solely on appearance and first impressions, but whose heart is entirely worth loving.

Featured Books in this episode:

The Face of Friendship
Fr. Bill Clarke
Novalis 2004
1 (800) 702-7773
www.novalis.ca

The Non-Judgmental Christian
John Kuypers
Present Living and Learning, Inc. 2004
www.presentliving.com

Becoming Human
Jean Vanier
House of Anansi Press Inc. 2003
www.anansi.ca

Life of the Beloved
Henri J.M. Nouwen
Crossroad Publishing Company 2002
www.cpcbooks.com

Bel Canto
Ann Patchett
HarperCollins Publishers 2001
www.harpercollins.ca

Friday Night with the Pope
Jacques Shore
Gefen Publishing House 2006
www.israelbooks.com

Episode #11: Finding in the Temple – Anxiety Turned to Prayer

Anxiety can take a strong hold, choking our dreams and stalling every day life - but imagine turning this anxiety into unconstrained joy and peace. We are encouraged to turn our worry to prayer in St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians and, in this episode of Word for Word, we speak with author Fr. Ron Rolheiser, who challenges us to leave our fears and worries behind – as the title of his book suggests – Forgotten Among the Lilies.

Featured Books in this episode:

Forgotten Among the Lilies: Learning to Love Beyond our Fears
Fr. Ron Rolheiser, O.M.I.
Random House 2004
www.randomhouse.ca

Deep Conversion/Deep Prayer
Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M.
Ignatius Press 2006
www.ignatius.com

Benedict XVI: Spiritual Thoughts in the First Year of His Papacy
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops 2006
www.cccbpublications.ca

The Diary of a Young Girl
Anne Frank
Bantam Books, 1993
www.randomhouse.ca

Wise Choices: A Spiritual Guide to Making Life’s Decisions
Margaret Silf
Novalis 2007
www.novalis.ca
1 (800) 387-7164

Episode #12: Healing Jacob’s Wound

From the book of Genesis, we know Jacob’s wound to be the dislocated hip after he wrestled with an unidentified adversary, often thought to be God or an angel. But Trevor Herriot, author of Jacob’s Wound, suggests the injury is the distance we have put between ourselves and nature. Now society needs to consider the steps toward healing.

Featured Books in this episode:

Jacob’s Wound: A Search for the Spirit of Wildness
Trevor Herriot
McClelland & Stewart Ltd. 2004
www.mcclelland.com

Becoming Fully Human:
Living the Bible with God, each other and the environment
Walter Vogels
Novalis 2003
www.novalis.ca
1 (800) 387-7164

A Mystic Garden: Working with Soil, Attending to Soul
Gunilla Norris
Novalis 2006
www.novalis.ca
1 (800) 387-7164

Solace: A correspondence of Gardening, Friendship and Healing
Diane Sims and Marla Fletcher
Novalis 2005
www.novalis.ca
1 (800) 387-7164

From the Stars to the Street:
Engaged Wisdom for a Brokenhearted World
James Conlon
Novalis 2007
www.novalis.ca
1 (800) 387-7164

The Mystical Rose: Thoughts on the Blessed Virgin from the Writings of John Henry Cardinal Newman
Edited by Joseph Regina
Scepter Publishers, Inc. 1996
www.scepterpublishers.org