An Announcement or Two

Well, okay, not really an announcement or two so much as an advertisement or two.  In the absence of being able to put the information on roadside billboards, I am letting anyone who might be interested to know that I have published a few more books, available through Amazon.  Well in time for Christmas—and even for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

       The first is my three-volume commentary on the Psalter entitled The Mystical Psalter.  It consists of a fresh translation (using the Tetragrammaton “Yahweh” as does the Jerusalem Bible) followed by a verse-by-verse commentary explaining what the psalm meant in its original ancient Near Eastern context.  Each historical commentary is then followed by a “mystical commentary” explaining the Christological and devotional meaning of the psalm for Christians today.  It is a bit hefty, consisting of a total of 867 pages.  The three-volumes can be ordered here, here, and here.  The commentaries are also available in Kindle format.

       Secondly, I have written an expanded commentary on The Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians.  This is much larger and fuller than my previous commentary on the epistle available from Ancient Faith Publishing in the Bible Study Companion series.  In fact, it is a completely new study, combining my traditional verse-by-verse exegesis with a number of devotional excursuses. (Please allow me to also add that the volume is dedicated to my friend Fr. Chad Hatfield.)

One can purchase the volume of 123 pages here.  It also is available in Kindle format.

       Next is my slim collection of four akathists that I have written and published under the title “Arise and Sing”, since the word “akathist” means “not sitting”—i.e. something we sing or chant while standing.  The book of 68 pages contains historical sketches of St. Herman of Alaska, St. John the Theologian, and St. Lawrence of Rome, along with introductory essays for all of them—as well as, of course, the actual akathists.  It concludes with an Akathist to God the Father, celebrating (with an abundance of Biblical footnotes) His mighty works from Genesis to Revelation.  It can be ordered here.

       Finally (and hot off the Amazon press) is my book of 70 pages on the early Fathers, bridging the gap between the end of the New Testament and the later Fathers, entitled Fire on the Earth (inset image).  It consists of an overview of the early church and examinations of such writers as St. Clement of Rome, the Didache, St. Ignatius of Antioch, the Letter of Diognetus, St. Justin Martyr, St. Irenaeus, and Tertullian.  Each chapter contains an historical introduction, a “taste” of the writer (i.e. selections from their writings) and “lasting lessons” about what we can learn from them today.  It can be ordered here.

       I hope you will order the books and profit by them.  And please, whether you buy them or not, say a little prayer for their author.