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Inspired by Faith Book Club
Join us as we gather together to read a featured inspirational book each month and engage in meaningful discussion!

Want to participate? Just purchase a copy of the book of the month, and share your comments and reflections. As we complete each book, we will host a discussion that you will be welcome to join.

Invite your friends, and spend quality time in fellowship as we, together, share books that Inspire, Heal, and bring Hope.

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Meet Your Host, Gigi!

Gigi is a Certified life coach.

She is retired from a successful career in the insurance business and was employed with the same insurance agency for 25 years.

Gigi is a cradle Catholic who has a love and zeal for Jesus Christ, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. She has a devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary.

She taught third grade religious education.

Gigi has been a volunteer EWTN Media Missionary since 2005.

Gigi was greatly inspired by Saint Pope John Paul II’s strong contemplative prayer practice, and she became a prayer warrior. She carries rosary beads on her person, as she recites prayers for multiple people and causes throughout her day.

Gigi has a great fondness for books that lead the soul closer to God – books that inspire, heal, and bring hope.

She has a natural ability to easily connect with people. Her friendly and caring personality is a blessing. Many of our IBF book club members say that they can feel Gigi’s warm and loving personality.

Gigi makes all of our book club members feel welcome and loved, as she feels that every person is a child of the Most High God and we are all one big family of God’s children. So please come join us on Facebook at: “Inspired By Faith Book Club” as we read our way to a closer relationship to Christ!

 

** If you have any questions about the book club, please feel free to email Gigi @ gigisfaith123@gmail.com.**

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Book of the Month – January

TRAVELERS ALONG THE WAY


by Fr. Benedict Groeschel

In his memoir, Fr. Benedict Groeschel introduces you to the men and women who influenced him. Some are unknown, such as Mr. Graff, a Jewish man who tailored the suit the young man would wear to the seminary.

His advice: "Look, I don't understand about monasteries, but I'll give you a piece of advice. Be a good boy." Some are famous, such as Mother Teresa, Cardinal O'Connor, and Fr. Solanus Casey. All of them changed his life in big and small ways!

Paperback, 159 pages. Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

Get Your Copy

Book of the Month – December

JOY TO THE WORLD


by Scott Hahn

What could be more familiar than the Christmas story -- and yet what could be more extraordinary? The cast of characters is strange and exotic: shepherds and magicians, an emperor and a despot, angels, and a baby who is Almighty God. The strangeness calls for an explanation, and this book provides it by examining the characters and the story in light of the biblical and historical context.
Hardcover, 192 pages. Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

Get Your Copy

Book of the Month – October & November

Give Up Worry for Good!: 8 Weeks to Hopeful Living and Lasting Peace


by Gary Zimak

An 8-week resource you can use anytime of year to help you win the battle against worry

Gary Zimak’s bestselling book Give Up Worry for Lent! has helped countless people tackle their worry habit. Now, Zimak returns with an eight-week resource you can use anytime of year with more insights and habits that will help you win the battle against worry and experience the peace that only Jesus can provide.

Give Up Worry for Good! will help you learn that it is possible to stop worrying. And Zimak will give you the tools you need to do it.

Drawing deeply from scripture, Zimak challenges you to walk in confidence with the Holy Spirit and to share what you’ve discovered with others—even as you continue to work on your own to break that worry habit once and for all. Get rid of the stressful, energy-sapping behaviors that keep you on edge and rob you of joy by cultivating habits of contented, peaceful living every day with promises from the Word of God:

Turn to God for help.
Do what you can.
Expect difficulties.
Surrender.
Look back with thanks and trust.
Interactive questions and daily reflections reinforce each lesson every week.

Whether you are already a Zimak fan or are just discovering his principles of worry-free living for the first time, Give Up Worry for Good! will keep you focused and motivated as you seek victory over anxiety.

This book is perfect for individual or group study.

  • Experience the peace that only Jesus can provide
  • Challenges you to walk in confidence with the Holy Spirit and to share what you’ve discovered with others
  • Includes interactive questions and daily reflections reinforce each lesson every week

    • Paperback, 244 pages. Available from The Catholic Company.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – September

    PADRE PIO: THE TRUE STORY


    by C. Bernard Ruffin

    Before his death in 1968, Padre Pio was known throughout the world as a very holy man - many even called him a living saint. This humble Italian priest who bore the wounds of Christ received thousands of letters and visitors each year, seeking his spiritual counsel, healing, and prayer. Padre Pio's intense spirituality and holiness remain legendary and life-changing. This revised & expanded 3rd edition of C. Bernard Ruffin's popular book includes a 16-page photo section.
    Paperback, 582 pages. Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – August

    THE CATHOLIC GUIDE TO MIRACLES


    SEPARATING THE AUTHENTIC FROM THE COUNTERFEIT
    by Adam Blai

    In this fascinating, eye-opening book, Adam Blai offers a uniquely comprehensive, careful, and thoughtful exploration of miracles, the Church’s process of approving them, and the telltale signs of demonic counterfeits.

    As a certified consultant for exorcists in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and an auxiliary member of the International Association of Exorcists, Blai has spent decades studying and experiencing the supernatural. His confidence in the supernatural is based not only on his faith, but on his extensive experiences and observations. Now he shares in extraordinary detail what he has learned about miracles and their meaning for Catholics today.

    You’ll come to understand why Christ allows miracles to occur in our day and savor a stunning variety of stories of healings, apparitions, Eucharistic miracles, modern-day stigmata, heavenly near-death experiences, angelic apparitions, and other amazing events. You’ll find out how miracles are validated by the Church and why we should believe them. You’ll learn the ranks that St. Thomas Aquinas applies to miracles and how science and modern medicine should increase our belief in miracles. You’ll also discover:

    - The history of miracles in the Old and New Testaments
    - True stories of miraculous healings in our time
    - How miracles prove the true apparitions of Mary
    - The facts and fictions surrounding levitation
    - How to identify false faith healers
    - The most important Eucharistic miracles of our time

    Hardcover, 176 pages. Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – July

    Carlo Acutis - The First Millennial Saint


    by Nicola Gori

    "Carlo Acutis, born May 3, 1991, fully embraced the gift of life. Known as a computer whiz, he also liked to play soccer, video games, and the saxophone. He enjoyed watching his favorite police dramas and making short films with his star cast of cats and dogs. He had many friends and enjoyed spending time with them.

    Yet Carlo was a little “different” at school, in the pizzerias, and on the soccer field. What set Carlo apart was his constant pursuit of holiness. In addition to his fun hobbies, he spent time teaching catechism classes and serving in soup kitchens. Carlo loved to attend daily Mass and frequent Eucharistic adoration. The Word of God and the Eucharist were the center of his life. Carlo’s unwavering devotion to the Eucharist inspired him to tell the story of Eucharistic miracles through a website he created just for fun. He wanted to deepen his own knowledge of these phenomena, to strengthen his devotion to Jesus, and to invite others to grow in love for the Eucharist. The website subsequently caught the attention of people across the globe, introducing countless people to Eucharistic miracles.

    Carlo died from a sudden and violent illness in 2006 at the age of fifteen. In less than a decade, his story spread across Italy and around the world. After Pope Francis declared him venerable in 2018, his beatification was celebrated in Assisi on October 10, 2020. The next step will be canonization, making him the first millennial saint."

    Paperback, 144 pages. Available from The Catholic Company.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – June

    Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality

    by Raymond Arroyo

    Raymond Arroyo presents an inspiring collection of Mother's powerful spiritual insights and no-nonsense advice. The book includes a wide-range of Mother's thoughts and practical teachings on subjects such as: the purpose of life, pain and suffering, seeking God's Will in everyday life and much more. This devotional treasure was created in cooperation with Our Lady of the Angels Monastery.

    Hardcover, 220 pages. Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – May

    The Day Is Now Far Spent


    by Cardinal Robert Sarah

    Robert Cardinal Sarah calls this his most important book. In it he analyzes the spiritual, moral, and political collapse of the Western world and concludes that "the decadence of our time has all the faces of mortal peril."

    He explains that, “A cultural identity crisis is at the root of the problems facing Western societies. "The West no longer knows who it is, because it no longer knows and does not want to know who made it, who established it, as it was and as it is. Many countries today ignore their own history. This self-suffocation naturally leads to a decadence that opens the path to new, barbaric civilizations."

    While making clear the gravity of the present situation, the Cardinal Sarah demonstrates that it absolutely is possible to avoid the hell of a world without God, a world without hope. He calls for a renewal of devotion to Christ through prayer and the practice of virtue.

    Paperback, 349 pages. Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – April

    Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits

    by Dan Burke

    Satan is always at work breeding sadness and anxiety while providing obstacles that prevent souls from making spiritual progress. In this concise yet powerful book, author Dan Burke presents the venerable, time-tested wisdom of Catholic mystics to help you understand the influence of the Enemy on your mind and heart, and the tactics you need to combat him.

    With St. Ignatius as his guide, Burke presents an indispensable, authoritative manual for engaging in daily battle with the Adversary—combat that is both inevitable and winnable. Burke will help you recognize the ebbs and flows of consolation and desolation, and distinguish between the voices of God and of Satan. Best of all, you will come to see the spiritual life not as a science to be learned, but as an intuitive art to be practiced as you move with increasing success from habitual sin to sanctity.

    The battle for our souls is unavoidable. The saints won theirs by learning how to be spiritual warriors and by recognizing that we become stronger through battle and grow weaker from avoidance. With this book as your guide, you’ll grow in strength and contentment as you learn:

  • How to take captive every negative thought and make it obedient to Christ
  • St. Ignatius’s revelations exposing how the Devil seeks to influence us
  • The Paradigm of Ascent and the Five Steps to Sanctity
  • The three ways you can discern “Good Spirits” from “Bad Spirits”
  • The three principal causes of desolation—and what you must do when it afflicts your soul
  • Proven methods for moving away from sin and toward self-giving love of God and neighbor


    • Paperback 120 pages.     Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – March

    FATHER SOLANUS: THE STORY OF SOLANUS CASEY, OFM.


    by Catherine M. Odell

    Wherever he was sent, people flocked to see him: those looking for cures from diseases; those who sought help for broken marriages, broken hearts and broken lives; and those who wanted to find spiritual health and renewal. To each person, Fr. Solanus Casey brought God's goodness and grace. In this revised and updated edition, Catherine M. Odell brings you the fascinating story of a holy Franciscan friar who has become a model of virtue for the modern world.

    Venerable Solanus Casey will be Beatified by Pope Francis on November 18, 2017.

    (Paperback, 256 pages)

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – January

    100 WAYS JOHN PAUL II CHANGED THE WORLD

    by Patrick Novecosky

    "There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us."

    Pope Saint John Paul II embodied these words throughout his life. Born May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, Karol Józef Wojtyla lived in times of political turmoil. As a young man during the Nazi occupation of Poland, he studied in an underground seminary. As pope, he was instrumental in the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. Through it all, he maintained an unwavering hope in the ultimate triumph of love, truth, and beauty. He remains a hero to millions of people for his unflinching defense of the Church and her teachings.

    John Paul II changed the world in many ways; this book describes 100 of the most important. Each of the 100 accomplishments, teachings, or stories about John Paul II is fascinating, providing a glimpse into the astounding life and impact of this great and beloved saint.


    Paperback 192 pages.     Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – December

    Advent with Saint Teresa of Calcutta

    Daily Meditations

    by Heidi Hess Saxton

    Heidi Hess Saxton’s Advent with St. Teresa of Calcutta captures the humble yet faith-filled spirit of this great lady of Calcutta. Each day of the Advent seasons, readers are invited to pray, and to consider what they might offer the Lord as their gift to him during this Christmas season. St. Teresa’s example calls readers to consider how they might love more deeply, surrender more completely, and let go of all the things they do not need, so there is more room to receive from the Lord all he wishes them to have.

    For those who wander in darkness, St. Teresa of Calcutta is a true patron of joy yet to be discovered.

    (Paperback. 144 pages)

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – November

    TRUSTFUL SURRENDER

    STORIES OF GRACE AMIDST CRISIS

    by Jerry Usher & Debbie Georgianni

    One of the most painful experiences of a Catholic parent is to watch your children grow lukewarm in the Faith or walk away from it entirely. It can lead to feelings of abandonment and despair and turn conversations that were once easygoing into painful occasions of testiness and discord.

    In this riveting book, EWTN Radio Personalities Jerry Usher and Debbie Georgianni present deeply moving stories from listeners whose loved ones have left the Catholic Church. They are stories of heartache and sacrifice, but also hope and redemption.

    You will discover how families have coped – successfully and unsuccessfully – with the fallen-away loved ones, prayed for their return, and worked with the grace of God to reach out and touch their hearts. You will learn how they placed their fears and anxieties at the foot of the Cross and implored God with constancy, deep compassion, and unwavering fervor.

    Sadly, almost every Catholic today knows someone who has wavered or fallen away from the Faith. These stories will show you how others have successfully dealt with this age-old but rapidly accelerating problem, and why you should never lose hope.


    Paperback 128 pages.     Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – October

    AN EXORCIST EXPLAINS THE DEMONIC

    THE ANTICS OF SATAN AND HIS ARMY OF FALLEN ANGELS.

    by Fr. Gabriel Amorth

    From Fr. Gabriel Amorth, the renowned exorcist in Rome, comes this powerful, eye-opening book on the deadly antics of Satan and his fallen angels, as well as spiritual remedies for each. This book provides a basic orientation in the dark phenomenology, succinctly explaining Catholic doctrine on the fallen angels and the innumerable manifestations. Fr. Amorth answers many questions including: Where does the Evil One dwell in the human body; How does the Devil appear and what does he look like; What happens in an exorcism; and much more!

    (Paperback. 160 pages) Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – September

    FATIMA FOR TODAY

    by Father Andrew Apostoli

    The Urgent Marian Message of Hope by Father Andrew Apostoli. Though the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima took place almost a hundred years ago, Our Lady's call to prayer and penance for the salvation of souls and peace in the world is as relevant now as when first delivered to three peasant children in 1917. Fr. Apostoli carefully analyzes the events that took place in Fatima and clears up lingering questions and doubts about their meaning. He also asks the reader to heed anew the call of Our Lady to prayer and sacrifice, for the world is in great need of hearts willing to make reparation.

    Paperback 310 pages.     Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – August

    ANGELS AND DEVILS

    by Joan Carroll Cruz

    Joan Carroll Cruz covers the traditional definitions of the angels, asking and answering virtually every conceivable question about them, such as - What are they? How do we know they exist? When were they created? Then Cruz discusses the bad angels... the devils. She covers witchcraft, the occult, the New Age, Scientology and more.

    (Paperback. 302 pages) Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – July

    THE BIBLE IS A CATHOLIC BOOK

    by Jimmy Akin

    Jimmy Akin shows how the Bible cannot exist apart from the Church. In its origins and its formulation, in the truths it contains, in its careful preservation over the centuries and in the prayerful study and elucidation of its mysteries, Scripture is inseparable from Catholicism. This is fitting, since both come from God for our salvation.

    If you’re a Catholic who sometimes gets intimidated by the Bible, this book will help you better understand and take pride in this gift that God gave the world through the Church. Catholics really are the original Bible Christians! Even non-Catholics will appreciate the clear and charitable way that Jimmy explains how the early Church gave us the Bible and how the Church to this day reveres and obeys it.

    {Paperback. 192 pages.}

    Available from the EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – June

    MOTHER ANGELICA: THE REMARKABLE STORY OF A NUN

    by Raymond Arroyo

    MOTHER ANGELICA: THE REMARKABLE STORY OF A NUN
    HER NERVE, AND A NETWORK OF MIRACLES. Through hours of interviews with Mother Angelica, EWTN's Raymond Arroyo brings to light her path from Canton, Ohio, to the Bible Belt, to the perilous heights of television fame. This biography provides her life lessons and priceless reflections. (Paperback. 416 pages) Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy
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    Book of the Month – May

    10 Wonders of The Rosary

    by Father Donald Calloway

    In this easy-to-read introduction to the wondrous power of the holy Rosary, internationally acclaimed Mariologist and speaker Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, shares some of the greatest triumphs and miracles attributed to Our Lady's favorite devotion. Journey with Fr. Calloway from the forests of France, where St. Dominic was first given the Rosary, to the seas where the Battle of Lepanto was fought; from the battlefield of the hearts of lapsed Catholics like Bartolo Longo to the minds of Albigensian heretics. With a foreword by Bishop Athanasius Schneider, this little book will inspire you to take up and spread this most powerful devotion.

    {Paperback. 192 pages.}

    Available from the EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – February/March

    GIVE UP WORRY FOR LENT

    by Gary Zimak

    Catholic author and self-described “recovering worrier” Gary Zimak combines practical spirituality, daily scripture readings, and simple action steps to help you kick the worry habit as part of your Lenten renewal. He shows you how to let go of the anxiety-producing areas of life in order to find the lasting peace that comes from trusting God.

    During the season of Lent, Catholics and other Christians frequently give up something they enjoy as a measure of penance or self-discipline—and often fall back into old habits at the first “Alleluia!” In Give Up Worry for Lent!, Zimak offers fellow worriers practical, scripture-centered advice on how to relinquish the need to control the uncontrollable—not just for Lent but for good—and how to find peace in Christ.

    From Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, Zimak guides you to ponder a scripture passage and to apply it to your own life by following four simple steps:

    • Read
    • Reflect
    • Respond
    • Pray

    As you continue to meditate on scripture and practice the simple action steps at the end of each reflection, you will find it easier to replace old worries with new messages of hope and to change your life forever. {Paperback. 160 pages.}

     

    Get Your Copy
    FaithHopeClarity

    Book of the Month – December

    FAITH, HOPE & CLARITY

    by Gary Zimak

    Gary Zimak looks at tried-and-true methods for discovering God’s will for our lives: prayer, Scripture, the lives of the saints, the teachings of the Church, seeking counsel from trusted friends and mentors, and St. Ignatius’ rules for discernment. This book addresses the big, life-changing decisions and the many small, day-to-day choices that influence the course of our lives. It offers practical advice on accepting difficult circumstances and truly embracing God’s will, even in challenging circumstances. It will help you answer the question all sincere Christians ask: What does God want me to do? {Paperback. 129 pages.}

    Available from the EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy

    Book of the Month – November

    ARISE FROM DARKNESS

    by Fr. Benedict Groeschel

    Fr. Benedict Groeschel a well-known priest and psychologist offers help and guidance for any Christian troubled by fear, loss, anxiety, grief and anything else anything that makes life difficult or the road through it dark. Fr. Benedict offers practical suggestions on how to keep going and even grow with the help of God’s grace, even when this help seems remote. {Paperback. 179 pages.}

    Available from EWTN Religious Catalog.

    Get Your Copy
    AriseFromDarkness
    LambsSupper

    Book of the Month – October

    THE LAMB’S SUPPER: THE MASS AS HEAVEN ON EARTH

    by Scott Hahn

    Scott Hahn sheds new light on the Mass, offering readers a deeper appreciation of the most familiar of Catholic rituals. Beautifully written in clear, direct language, this book will help readers see the Mass with new eyes, pray the liturgy with a renewed heart and enter into the Mass more fully, enthusiastically, intelligently and powerfully than ever before. [Hardcover. 192 pages] Available from EWTN Religious Catalog

    Get Your Copy

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