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IPF Publications
All of our publications are available for purchase through Saint Joseph Communications, our publications distributor. E-books are also available through Amazon.
The Priest's Communion with Christ: Dispelling Functionalism
By Fr. Eugene Florea
Many diocesan priests today feel overworked, under-appreciated, and lonely. The problem is a crisis in priestly identity that is rooted in a functional approach to the priesthood, wherein the emphasis lies on "doing" rather than on "being." This "functionalism," describes an approach to life in which a priest derives his identity from his activity, his work, his success, his fidelity to his duties, and other such externally based things. The antidote to functionalism is for the priest to place communion with Christ at the very center of his existence. When the priest is properly grounded in his identity, he will have a clearer sense of mission and a more fruitful ministry. Fr. Eugene Florea explores how priests can move from functionalism to being rooted in communion with Christ.
The Hidden Self Grown Strong
By Fr. George Aschenbrenner, S.J.
The Hidden Self Grown Strong is a series of essays by Fr. George Aschenbrenner, S.J., one of the founders of The Institute for Priestly Formation. He explores topics on the interior life and prayer, the importance of the Examen, and ministry/priesthood. It features 13 essays including, "Becoming Whom We Contemplate," "Comparison and Competition: Stifling Spiritual Intimacy," "A Check on Our Availability: The Examen," and "Abandonment That Enlivens and Sets Fire for Mission."
Wonder and the Prayerful Study of Theology: A Meditation for Seminarians
By Dr. John Gresham and Dr. Thomas Neal
It is our hope that these two inspiring essays will be a gift to seminarians to be read with each new academic year. The authors, two seasoned seminary theologians, and academic deans encourage the hearts of seminarians to anchor their study in the Spirit, in wonder, and in the living truths that theology endeavors to prayerfully and rigorously explore.
Saints and Priestly Formation
Edited By Deacon James Keating
This book is a collection of essays presented at a seminar held at Creighton University by The Institute for Priestly Formation. Each essay focuses on a saint and examines how that saint’s life and works have relevance to the formation of priests and their ministry. Some of the saints whose lives are examined in this book include St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, St. John of the Cross, St. Robert Southwell, S.J., Pope St. Pius X, and St. Ignatius of Antioch.
Liturgy and Priestly Formation: Sharing the Life of Christ
Edited By Deacon James Keating
This book is a collection of essays presented at a seminar held at Creighton University by The Institute for Priestly Formation. All of the essays were written in response to David Fagerberg’s book On Liturgical Asceticism and focused on various issues facing clerics in formation. The essays explore how liturgy renders Christ’s sacrifice available for our own deification, allowing seminarians to reflect more deeply on their noble task of bringing this mystery to the people in Sacrament, word, and charity.
The Pastor at Prayer
By Fr. Paul Turner
In this brief book, Father Turner discusses the many facets of a pastor’s prayer life, ranging from his daily prayer to his celebrating Mass and administering the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. Father Turner recognizes the challenges that pastors face as they attempt to keep prayer at the center of their busy lives. He gives helpful advice about how to pray, what to pray, where to pray, when to pray, and why to pray. The book concludes with a set of reflection questions that are meant to deepen the pastor’s prayer life and enhance his experiences of spiritual direction.
Homilies at a First Mass: Joseph Ratzinger's Gift to Priests
Edited by Fr. Emery de Gaál
This book is a collection of homilies delivered by Joseph Ratzinger at the First Masses of newly ordained priests, and on other occasions, during various times in the twentieth century. These homilies are filled with an understanding of priesthood and ecclesial ministry that invites priests to abide in Christ, listen to Him, and draw their identity and mission from Christ’s own shared priesthood.
Christ as the Foundation of Seminary Formation
Edited by Deacon James Keating, Ph.D.
Summary: Christ as the Foundation of Seminary Formation is a compilation of essays that address the integration of human formation in seminarians with their spiritual development. Seminaries are communities that reveal Christ to the seminarians and in so doing facilitate the seminarians spiritual and human maturation. These essays carry practical import for all who minister to seminarians. Within them is found methods for mentoring seminarians into true men of communion, men who have matured in affect and prayer by clinging to Christ and entering deeply into the way of formation each seminary offers. To be a good priest, a man must be emotionally mature and spiritually alive. The experts writing in this book will assist in facilitating this goal.
The Priest and Theological Study
Edited by Deacon James Keating, Ph.D.
Summary: A compilation of essays addressing how the study of theology can more deeply secure the diocesan priestly identity - The Priest and Theological Study is an essential exploration for anyone involved in forming clergy. It is a great resource for seminarians and priests who wish to study theology as a life-long pursuit of truth and knowledge.
The Priest as Beloved Son
Edited by Deacon James Keating, Ph.D.
Summary: The Priest as Beloved Son is a compilation of essays that were written to expound upon one of the five priestly identities, that of Beloved Son. Edited by Deacon James Keating, Ph. D., these essays explore such areas as the Scriptural foundations for the identity of Beloved Son, as well as discussions of affective maturity of priests as sons of God. Together, the essays provide descriptions and details of how a priest truly is a beloved son of God and how he can effectively live out that role as he fulfills his vocation to the priesthood.
Entering into the Mind of Christ: The True Nature of Theology
Edited by Deacon James Keating, Ph.D.
Summary: Entering into the Mind of Christ: The True Nature of Theology is a compilation of essays that were written to address the question: “How does spirituality supply theological study with the correct method?” Edited by Deacon James Keating, Ph. D., these essays affirm the fact that the study of theology necessarily involves spirituality.
The essays explore the definitions of “theology” and “spirituality,” recognizing that the two concepts are often defined incompletely. Furthermore, the role of faith, as well as the importance of dialogue, in the understanding and practice of theology is presented.
Seminary Theology III: Seminary Formation and Psychology
Edited by Deacon James Keating, Ph.D.
Summary: A compilation of essays submitted for a theological seminar focusing on "Priestly Identity and Its Relationship to Human Maturation and Theological Teaching."
Seminar participants were asked to reflect upon the role of the psychological sciences as they interpenetrate with theology to bring forth within priestly formation men of affective maturity.
Seminary Formation and Homosexuality
By Father Earl K. Fernandes, S.T.D.
Summary: This book examines comments by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in Light of the World regarding the recent Vatican instruction “Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with Regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in View of Their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders,” which deals with homosexuality and the priesthood.
This book demonstrates that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's comments on this issue have been consistent both within his pontificate and while he held office at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. As sexual mores have changed in the culture, attempting to 'normalize' homosexuality, the Church has developed guidelines for seminary formators, culminating in the instruction upon which Benedict commented.
Healing Prayer
By Father John Horn, S.J.
Summary: Healing Prayer is a necessary aid to all who guide others into a life of prayer. It is especially meant for spiritual directors and pastors. Several chapters of the book contain interviews with people from various walks of life who share their experiences of praying through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Spousal Prayer: A Way to Marital Happiness
By Deacon James Keating, Ph.D.
Summary: Deacon Keating's book affirms that the sharing of hearts is a necessary commitment in both marriage and prayer. The mingling of the love of spouse, with and in the love of God, is and has always been the foundation for a life of peace, creativity, vibrancy and sanctity. In fact, we cannot even understand what marriage is unless we look at how Christ loved His Bride, the Church, till the end (Jn 13:1).
Spousal Prayer is also available in Spanish.
The Parish as a School of Prayer: Foundations for the New Evangelization
By Father Scott Traynor, JCL
Summary: This book recognizes St. John Paul II's urging for priests to tranform their parishes into powerhouses of prayer. The priest must become a Christian witness of prayer. He should not draw attention to himself but to the utter necessity, goodness, and beauty of deepening intimacy with God in prayer. In calling the parish to the life of prayer, the priest is uniting himself with God's own loving initiative.
WRAP Yourself in Scripture
By Karen Dwyer, Ph.D. & Lawrence A. Dwyer
Summary: This book is designed to help you converse with your Heavenly Father by learning a Scripture study method called WRAP, which is an acronym that stands for Write, Reflect, Apply, and Pray. The goal of WRAP is to foster a personal encounter and conversation with Jesus Christ through the Scriptures. The book contains instructions about how to use this Scripture study method, as well as a WRAP worksheet and suggested Scripture passages to use for reflection.
The Seminary Rector - Forming Priests in Nazareth
By Msgr. Gregory Schlesselmann, S.T.L.
Summary: This book addresses the specific needs of a rector as he pastors his seminary flock. The book is divided into chapters which address the rector's role as it relates to the five identities of the priest, discussed in Blessed John Paul II's Pastores Dabo Vobis and the writings of St. Paul: Beloved Son, Loyal Brother, Chaste Spouse, Loving Father, and Good Shepherd. Each chapter contains Scriptural text, discussion of the chapter's theme, and reflection questions. The basic premise of the book is that Nazareth, the place where Jesus spent His seminal years with Joseph and Mary, was the first seminary, for it was there that Jesus' formation took place.
Only Available as an E-book.
Seminary Theology II: Theology and Spiritual Direction in Dialogue
Edited by Deacon James Keating, Ph.D.
Summary: In this volume, several seminary theologians explore the relationship between teaching theology and the essential ministry of spiritual direction as it is practiced in the seminary. These essays deepen the conversation that was begun in the first volume of this series, Seminary Theology: Teaching in a Contemplative Way. In 2006, the U.S. Bishops invited seminary personnel to consider how they can establish spirituality as the heart of teaching theology in seminary formation.
Spiritual Fathers: A Workbook for Priests and Dads
By Deacon James Keating, Ph.D.
Summary: Together the father and the priest can meet a need in the family and Church today: presenting the spiritual life as a journey to personal happiness. The lack of masculine role modeling in the spiritual life results in boys being ignorant of the true nature and adventure of entering the spiritual life. The best people to introduce this adventure to the boy are his spiritual fathers, the men who already have explored and now enjoy the spiritual life: his dad and his pastor.
Seminary Theology: Teaching in a Contemplative Way
Edited by Deacon James Keating, Ph.D.
"Addressing the pedagogical vocation of the seminary theologian, this fine set of essays draws out the integral relationship between the theological instruction and spiritual formation. It challenges seminary faculty to ask themselves the difficult question: Does my teaching facilitate a deeper love for Christ and commitment to God's will? The essays derserve seious consideration by all who are involved in academic formation at a Catholic seminary." - E. Christian Brugger, D.Phil.
Associate Professor of Moral Theology at Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary
Heart Speaks to Heart
By Father John Horn, S.J.
Summary: This workbook invites readers into the depths of their history, thoughts, and feelings, so that they can be led into prayerful communion with Christ. Through the tools found in this workbook, all believers will find the truth about themselves and their calling to give all and surrender to Christ who desires only the happiness of His followers.
Be Thou My Vision
By Bishop David L. Ricken, D.D., J.C.L.
Summary: This book will deepen a priest's love of his own vocation. In a series of meditations, Bishop Ricken invites the reader not only into a clearer image of priesthood but into a deeper perception of how these images open the mind to healing and prayer. Priests will benefit from prayerfully spending time with these spiritual and practical insights on priestly commitment, prayer and parish life.
Radical Surrender: Letters to Seminarians
By Father Michael J. Najim
Summary: Radical Surrender: Letters to Seminarians will assist vocation directors and seminary formators in helping seminarians recognize the true voice of God and rightfully discern their vocation. Seminary formation must be interiorly appropriated; in other words, formation will be fruitful only if the seminarian allows Christ to transform his heart. This book is a resource for all interested in the spiritual and human formation of the next generation of priests.
Resting on the Heart of Christ: The Vocation and Spirituality of the Seminary Theologian
By Deacon James Keating, Ph.D.
Summary: For seminarians spiritual growth has been hallowed in study, but it can also be developed in the practices of attending to theological content. They want to encounter God in study to draw their parishioners into His Truth which is love. But: How can we serve this longing while also calling seminarians into the ascetics of study? This book answers this question by integrating theological research with the rich intellectual tradition of the Church and the wisdom of the saints.
Reclaiming Our Priestly Character (Revised Edition)
By Msgr. David L. Toups. S.T.D.
Summary: Reclaiming Our Priestly Character offers a review of the present crisis surrounding priestly identity through careful theological scholarship and a wise and practical spirituality, providing a clear path toward the renewal of the priestly character. An essential guide for every priest and seminarian.