On November 21st we celebrate the feast of the Presentation of Mary. In the early tradition of the Church, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne, were thought to have been barren. Once finally blessed with a child, they brought her to the temple at the age of three in order to present her to God in thanks for the wonderful gift of their daughter. From this point on, Mary spent much of her life in the temple, serving in whatever capacity she was able while practicing prayer through contemplation. Despite this biography of her life originating in apocryphal literatures, it is nevertheless an important image of her lifelong purity and holiness.
This feast day reminds us of what an exciting time November is for us as we attend theological conferences, host book festival events, and continue our work in the publishing industry which seeks to support the propagation of truth in all areas of academia. During our 75th anniversary we are thrilled to continue our mission as the academic publishing house in service of Our Lady’s University. As we delight in the beauty of liturgical tradition, we offer a list of titles that dive into the rich depths of theological insights. From prayerful meditations to patristic exegesis, we are sure to have the book for you.
The Whole Mystery of Christ by Jordan Daniel Wood
Delving into the thought of one of the most prolific and creative thinkers of the patristic era, Jordan Daniel Wood elucidates the profound and challenging assertions presented by St. Maximus the Confessor in his work, The Whole Mystery of Christ. In this compelling book, Wood seeks to explicate Maximus’s claim that “the Word of God, very God, wills always and in all things to actualize the mystery of his Incarnation.”
Meditations on the Life of Christ by Sarah McNamer
This prolific work of the middle ages made a significant impact on many areas of faith life including devotional practices and meditative literature. The Meditations on the Life of Christ provides an English translation and commentary that possesses a lively dialogue that journeys with the reader through a moving depiction of the Nativity and Passion.
Divine Scripture in Human Understanding by Joseph K. Gordon
This highly meditative work dives into the theology of Scripture by addressing the confusing plurality of contemporary approaches to Christian Scripture. Joseph Gordon examines the theological writings of prolific saints such as Augustine and Aquinas as well as recent scriptural studies, presenting a clear yet nuanced understanding of Scripture.
The Saints Life and the Senses of Scripture by Ann W. Astell
With a keen eye, Ann W. Astell analyzes the modern, medieval, and ancient accounts of the Lives of the saints and in doing so traces the prominent modes of hagiography throughout time. In The Saint’s Life and the Senses of Scripture, Astell combines her expertise concerning both biblical exegesis and the history of Christianity in order to demonstrate how a radical shift in hagiography’s status signals important insights on modern biblical reception.