Cross Books

The illustrations add color to the devotional text. This is a must read for Lenten devotions or should at least be read during Holy Week. It is a very moving document.

This book brought me many insights into suffering. It's a very powerful book if you want to understand more Jesus' death on the cross, or learn to rejoice always, especially in your own suffering. READ THIS BOOK!

Fr Henri Nouwen and Sr Helen David Brancato,IHM have combined their talents for this book of the stations of the cross.The Stations comemmorate the 14{or 15 it differs} Stations of the path to the Crucifixion of Jesus. Sr Helen david has updated this byusing contemporary scenes{in striking color drawings} ofa man in prison{ Jesus is condemned} a campesino carrying wood{Jesus cariies his cross}an abandoned vietnamese child{Jesus falls the first time},etc. Fr Nouwen then relates each picture to the station of the cross. Very powerful meditative reading. Simple,honest and quite beautiful.

This book combines the beautiful drawings of Sr. Helen David with the meditations of Henri Nouwen to present a look at the sufferings of Jesus through the experience of human suffering in the world today. From Central America to Katmandu, the human experience is united to the suffering of Jesus Christ for all people of the world, and to the joy of His Resurrection. This is a truly new look at a traditional devotion, and an invitation to the Christians of today to "Walk With Jesus".

There is not a writing by Caryll Houselander that I have not appreciated. One of the best!

I love this book. It is the traditional stations that Caryll writes with depth of heart and spirit with insight only given and received in the power of our Helper, Holy Spirit. Highly recommended for the faithful follower of Christ.

This is a reprinting of an older version that was originally published in the 1950's. This author enjoyed great popularity for her spiritual writings in the 40's and 50's. I came across this one last year but only got around to reading it this year. It has an a meditation between 4 and 8 pages per station. It also has woodcut prints by the author at the beginning of each chapter. Also each chapter ends with a prayer composed to tie the meditation to our own lives. The meditations in this edition go much deeper than some of the others. The reflections lead to deep introspection.

This extraordinary book makes a superb complement to Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.

Houselander was one of England's most popular spiritual writers in the mid-20th century. She was also one of the best, and this is arguably her finest work.

The book is based on the ancient devotional practice of praying The Stations of the Cross. The Stations are 14 incidents in Christ's Passion; for example, Christ is judged; Christ meets his mother while carrying His cross; Christ is stripped; Christ is nailed to the cross; Christ dies.

For each incident, Houselander provides a few pages of profound reflection and a short prayer. Her poignant writing is utterly devoid of sentimentality or flowery ornament. She plunges straight into each moment, showing us how we can walk the painful Way of the Cross with Jesus, and how He in fact walks with us at every moment of suffering in our lives.

Read this book to experience The Passion, to draw nearer to Him, and to recognize how He is still being spit upon, still being put into agony in every man, woman, and child who suffers.

Elizabeth is a Benedictine oblate and a licensed massage therapist, these meditations are written by one who has a great sensitivity to illness, disease and suffering. It is written for those who are undergoing treatment for physical or emotional assessment and treatment. Yet anyone who has suffered or journeyed with those who have suffer with physical or emotional illness can benefit from this version of the Stations of the Cross.

These meditations are surprising because they are hard hitting. The writing is gentle and personal but the ideas shared here are so real they really connect. The book helps express things in prayer that can be surprising. I find it very useful and different. The artwork is strong and the closing prayer is joyful and beautiful praise.

This book provides the reader with a powerful sense of hope and reassurance that Jesus is with us in our time of trouble. The author relates Jesus' suffering to our modern lives in a very honest and inspiring way. After reflecting on this book, I had renewed my understanding of Jesus' suffering and was left with a sense of hope and relief that was uplifting. It is a must read.

These are beautiful meditations. Accompanying the author's thoughts on her own extensive suffering with scripture verses taken from different translations works well - since most of us never find one version of the Bible that has everything the way that speaks to us.

Elizabeth Mauro calls us to bring "dignity, bravery, and strength" to our suffering, as we should. The way that she's combined spiritual comforting with human comforting is nothing short of inspired.

This little booklet may, perhaps, be a small thing. But it is obviously written with great love, the love of a woman who has a great heart and a great love for both her Lord and all mankind, and that love shines forth on every page.

An ideal gift for someone in pain, someone looking for help in dealing with personal suffering.

The title of this book is appropriate because I found this book really implants in one's mind a real vision of what it must have been like to be at the foot of the cross 2000 years ago.

It is a very quick read even when doing so prayerfully, since the imagery provided on each page truly makes one feel he is right there. One can feel the heat, hear the shouts of derision, see the flies as they buzz overhead.

The book beautifully describes the events surrounding the Crucifixion in a loving representation of what Jesus might have seen as he was raised aloft on the cross. As you read this prayerfully, place yourself at the foot of this cross and be with Him as you witness the vista of Jerusalem through His eyes.

The title of this book is appropriate because I found this book really implants in one's mind a real vision of what it must have been like to be at the foot of the cross 2000 years ago.

It is a very quick read even when doing so prayerfully, since the imagery provided on each page truly makes one feel he is right there. One can feel the heat, hear the shouts of derision, see the flies as they buzz overhead.

The book beautifully describes the events from the Last Supper through the Crucifixion in a loving representation of what Jesus might have seen as he was raised aloft on the cross. As you read this prayerfully, place yourself at the foot of this cross and be with Him as you witness the vista of Jerusalem through His eyes.

In Fr. Sertillanges' spiritual classic - the reader is transported to the Holy Land in a way which the reader will not easily forget. The reader sees, through the eyes of Christ, the wedding feast at Cana, his baptism, the Upper Room, Gethsemane, and the Cross.

Fr. Sertillanges, who lived in Jerusalem, presents the Passion of Christ with details that make the events come alive.

Originally published in French in 1930, this book has stood the tests of time. Sophia Institute's version is highly readable.

A retreat, a pilgrimage, and a meditation all wrapped in one - this book should be required reading, along with the Gospels, every Lent.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

This book makes you feel like you are there as Jesus is crucified. You can almost feel the suffering as He weeps in the Garden or the ache as He carries His cross. Very powerful. Should be recommended reading.

In recent years, I have been doing a little research on the topic of men's and women's ministry in the ancient and contemporary Church. While there may still be not enough compelling evidence for the ordination of women as priests, Dr. FitzGerald avails her readers to evidence from liturgical, hagiographical, canonical, historical and theological resources regarding the ministry of women deacons ("deaconesses").

She brings together all of this information in English for the first time from the (frequently overlooked) perspective of eastern Christian theology and spirituality. Many important theological and historical concerns are examined regarding the ordination of women to ministry. There is also a detailed theological analysis of the beautiful ordination rite and prayers. This section in particular, while thoughtful and scholarly, is uplifting and reflects "catholic consciousness". Western Christians still have much to learn from the East!

A number of women deacon saints are identified, as well as their life stories. The book has cover endorsements from two Orthodox patriarchs and has received much scholarly praise from Catholics, Orthodox and others. It is written so that the well-read general reader will also appreciate this study.

This book must be taken seriously by anyone interested in the vocations of men and women, the history of women's ministry and the theology of ordination and ministry.

"Women Deacons in the Orthodox Church" should become a "basic text" serving Catholic and Orthodox male and female candidates for ordained ministry!

"...we take joy in your completed work now in publication, related to patristic sources, Byzantine liturgical texts, as well as to the fundamental characteristics of ordination as a call to holiness and ministry....We wish that your written contribution may encourage and incite others to a broader and deeper understanding both of the tradition of our Church generally and of the development of women's special gifts specifically."

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople

(The above comments are taken from the cover endorsement of this book.)

This is a significant and thought provoking study which will contribute positively towards the future of our Church...Many issues regarding the participation of women in the life of the Church have been addressed by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Antioch...This study is worthy of attention and appreciation."

Ignatius IV, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East

(The above comments are taken from the cover endorsement of this book.)

...Little known marvels constantly surprise the reader, particularly the Orthodox Christian reader, who is generally ignorant of the glorious history of women in the diaconate. The author traces this office from rudimentary New Testament roots through the height of its popularity in Byzantium and its eventual decline, though not final demise. Indeed, Dr. FitzGerald bids the reader to peruse twentieth century documents and debates relating to the female diaconate and welcomes her audience into a world heretofore pondered by select contemporary historians and theologians.

...The author also makes a sound case for the fact that women were 'ordained' rather than 'appointed' to the diaconate. Citing the work of two highly respected and dedicated Orthodox theologians, Professors John Karmiris and Evangelos Theodorou, both of the University of Athens, the author fairly debates the point. Her evidence highly suggests that at least the Byzantine ordination rite for women had essential characteristics which distinguished it as a major order. For example the formula "The Divine Grace..." was used; the ordination took place at the altar during the Eucharist [the same time as the male deacon]; and the deaconess received her stole and Holy Communion at the altar....

...This book is a must read...The dignity and grace and direction it affords a Christian woman can only be welcomed. The author's ecclesial concerns, which are related to the female diaconate but extend to the issues of the diaconate and ordination generally, are handled with patience, refinement, gentleness, and intelligence. Certainly any author who garners the privilege of having both the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Patriarch of Antioch write a cover endorsement deserves attention. Thank you, Dr. FitzGerald for your twenty years of labor. "Axios".

Deborah Malacky Belonick

(These are excerpts taken from a more extensive review which will be published in "The St. Nina Quaterly".)

I just finsished this book and loved it! It is very informative, but also creative in it's format. I definatly recommend reading it if you are interested in mother/child/family relationships in various cultures in various points in history.

this book shows how babies are cared for and in some ways even honoured in seven societies around the world.some manuals are written by family members and others by respected members of the society in question(fictional members of course)
this is a good book,a change from other baby books in the sense that it is not boring and it may even give you a few tips on improving your relationship with you child or caring for them better

I loved this book. They took all dryess out of an anthroplogic look at babies in diffrent cultures.

Wonderful perspective(s) on raising kids! DeLoache and Gottlieb have succeeded in making "A world of Babies" amusing, yet there's that serious undercurrent of promoting understanding. I recommend it for young moms and dads -- there are lots of good ways to bring up babies. This grandma enjoyed it tremendously. As my own mom used to say, you can make all kinds of mistakes rearing children, but as long as you give them lots of love they'll turn out fine.

Excellent book with an overall superb overview on how XSS attacks are delivered. Covered by known blackhat speakers, the content goes from the simple definition of XSS to advanced man in the middle hijacks. Some minor typos in the code and text exist, but on the overall a truly outstanding [...].

I've been through most of this book and found it to be an excellent source of information on cross site scripting (XSS). It starts off with a good introduction of the subject, covers the tools to help you evaluate your site for issues with XSS, and then goes through XSS non-stop to the end. I really liked the discussion of XSS theory in chapter 3. Instead of just covering how to look up and try different exploit methods, the authors spend a lot of time trying to convey the knowledge needed to really understand how XSS takes advantage of web apps and your browser's willingness to try and render as much as possible. This is extremely helpful when trying to craft your defenses, since you will have a more complete understanding of the problem.

The book is a lot to absorb and I'm still wrapping my mind around it, but it has really given me a new perspective on the scope of the issue. The authors are the experts on XSS and they've done a really good job on the book. If you want to get information straight from the guys doing the research on XSS, then this is the book you want.

XSS Attacks earns 4 stars for being the first book devoted to Cross Site Scripting and for rounding up multiple experts on the topic. The authors are synonymous with attacking Web applications and regularly share their vast expertise via their blogs and tools. However, XSS Attacks suffers the same problems found whenever Syngress rushes a book to print -- nonexistent editing and uneven content. I found XSS Attacks to be highly enlightening, but I expect a few other books on the topic arriving later this year could be better.

First, as Tadaka mentioned, ch 3 is the best written part of the book. In fact, the author of ch 3 should have written the entire book. There is a difference between an author of a tool, an author of a blog, and an author of a book. The author of ch 3 clearly knows how to make a clear argument over the course of a long stretch of pages (over 90) and carry the reader. Lucky for non-book-buyers, Syngress posted ch 3 for free on their Web site. You'll get a great foundation on XSS, and learn about CSRF and backdooring Flash and Quicktime.

In terms of readability, ch 2 wasn't bad. I liked trying out various Firefox extensions and the author's examples were good. I think ch 1 should be completely dropped. It mentions terms not defined until ch 2. The language is exceptionally rough, indicating zero editing was done. The DNS pinning examples in ch 5 were confusing; it doesn't help novice readers to discuss [...] and then use [...]. (I think that's an error.) I really didn't get as much from the book past ch 3 as I did from ch 3.

The major take-away from XSS Attacks is that one should never trust clients. Furthermore, far too many vulnerable capabilities exist in applications most people would never dream of fearing, like those that render .pdf or .swf. I really liked the point that browsers constantly interpret and "fix" broken HTML, sometimes to the detriment of the security world. I also liked reading how users can be duped by attacks against the integrity of data, such as adding or removing details of Web sites.

Right now, if you want to learn more about recent XSS attacks in printed form, this book is your main option. Last year I favorably reviewed Lance James' book, Phishing Exposed, which includes some of these techniques. Later this year one of the other book reviewers, Dafydd Stuttard, should be publishing The Web Application Hackers Handbook: Discovering and Exploiting Security Flaws. Syngress claims to be publishing Web Application Vulnerabilities: Detect, Exploit, Prevent by Steven Palmer in the fall. Hacking Exposed Web 2.0 by Himanshu Dwivedi is another option, but I find his security books to be poorly written. I highly recommend visiting the authors' blogs, since they cover a lot of the information in XSS Attacks.

This book is a comprehensive analysis of XSS and related vulnerabilities, and covers everything from a beginner's introduction to XSS through to advanced exploitation and the latest attack techniques.

Overall, the book is well-organised, technically accurate, and full of pertinent examples and code extracts to illustrate the different vulnerabilities and attacks being described. There are plenty of tricks that will benefit even experienced web app hackers, including a wealth of filter bypasses, and coverage of offbeat topics such as injection into style sheets and use of non-standard content encoding.

There is strong coverage of recent research including JavaScript-based port scanning, history stealing and JSON hijacking, as you would expect given that these techniques were largely poineered by some of the authors. All of their explanations are clear and precise, and contain sufficient detail for you to fully understand each issue, and put together working code to exploit it. The book also includes the use of non-standard vehicles such as Flash and PDF for delivery of XSS attacks.

Here and there, the book displays the effects of multiple authorship, notably in the discussion of the best tools for finding XSS flaws. I know that some of the authors have rather opposing views on that question, but it is always good to get different people's perspectives on the tools they find most useful. There are also a few typos and editorial glitches, but that is the price you pay for being quick to market, as they evidently are.

Overall, this is a great book that will benefit a wide range of people, from novices to seasoned hackers. It is fun to read, with plenty of lighter moments punctuating the technical meat. Nothing else currently available is hitting this target - get it while it's hot!

If you like angels, you will love this book. It has a variety of easy to complex projects, one includes ribbon embroidery. There are so many cute projects, you won't know which one to do first.

I bought this book because of the adorable Raphael angel on the cover. The charts are all large enough and easy to read, and all of the finished projects are a manageable size. I've seen charts of the Raphael angel before but I was discouraged from buying them because they were too large which means you would have to special order the fabric and then spend a fortune framing the finished piece, so I never bought any of them. But this book was "an answer to prayer!" The Raphael angel, of course, is my favorite piece, but there are all kinds and types of angels in here of differnt sizes and incorporating different themes. I appreciate that none of them are too large and that none of them would take very long to complete. If you know someone who loves cross stitch and angels, this book would make a very lovely gift. There is also an adorable angel alphabet. Just think of the many ways you could use that to make various gifts. I was also very fortunate to get this book used, in excellent condition, for a very low price. It is worth buying many of these books used because you can get a substantial discount.

This is my favorite cross stitch book, I've used it for so long and so hard it has compleatly fallen apart! All of the angels are adorable. The charts are clear and easy to read and the patters are easy to adapt to other projects. I stitched my moms name, JOY, with the angels on letters pattern, did the small Raphael Cherub on 32 ct brown linen and compleated the Herb Angel, each project was spectacular!! I would never lend out this book, for fear it would not come home again! Happy stitching!

Jan.-New Year's, Feb.-Fastelavn (Denmark), Mar.-St. Patrick's Day, April-Passover, May-May Day, June-Dragon Boat Festival, July-Independence Day, Aug.-Obon, Sept.-Homowo (Ghana), Oct.-Divali, Nov.-Ramadan, Dec.-Las Posadas. Personally, I have used the book more for its details. Besides a script, each holiday also includes background info, follow-up activities, suggestions on how to actually throw a party in your classroom for that specific holiday and suggestions for further activities. These activities include recipes and crafts and detail how each one is curriculum-related (i.e. National Anthem of Mexico -Literacy and Music).

Around The World Through Holidays: Cross Curricular Readers Theatre is an amazing resource for elementary classrooms. A literacy and geography lesson sprinkled with math, science, art and history in each of the twelve plays. The author, Carol Peterson, begins with background information about a specific holiday. She then introduces a reader's theatre connected to the holiday. As if that weren't enough, she includes a plethora of cross curricular activities connected to each holiday. Some of the holidays covered are Passover, Ramadan, the Indian Festival of Lights and Las Posados. Each month brings a new country and a new holiday and endless opportunities for learning and fun!

Readers Theatre is a great way to involve kids in drama, without the pressure of memorizing lines and facing stage fright. Peterson's plays are organized around holidays, one per month, that celebrate different cultures around the world. January is a round-up of New Year's traditions from all over the globe, February is Fastelavn from Denmark, March is St. Patrick's Day, March is Passover, May is May Day, June is the Dragon Boat Fesitval from China, July is Independence Day, August is Obon in Japan, September is Homowo, a Ghanian festival of thanksgiving, October is an Indian festival of lights, November is Ramadan, and December is Las Posadas from Mexico. After each mini-play are a bevy of related activities that cover art, literature, science, history, and math. The author clearly has done her homework and is very respectful of the different beliefs presented, but also keeps a light, kid-friendly touch throughout. All in all, a very valuable teacher and parent resource. It's a great companion to her earlier book, Jump Back in Time.

A heretical concept to some to even suggest it - but for many it's a way to keep touch with a faith where so many of their fellow believers condemn them for the way they were born. "Jesus in Love at the Cross" examines this strange question and asks, "What if Jesus were bisexual?", a sequel to Cherry's previous novel on the subject, Jesus in Love. Using the idea that Jesus's ideas had modern queer sensibilities and mental ideas, "Jesus in Love at the Cross" is a brilliantly written novel sure to open the eyes of whoever sets theirs upon it, and highly recommended for community library gay fiction shelves.

This is a powerfully written sequel to Jesus in Love, continuing the saga of Jesus' ministry through his death and resurrection. It is unlike any other Christian story, presenting Jesus as the embodiment of all men and women, able to love without restrictions, including sensual and erotic components. He is a real man, with human desires, but with a divine connection that makes him unlike any other person. If the reader is wedded to any particular religious interpretation of Jesus, this book will shock. But for an open minded reader this book is a revelation and an affirmation of everyone, no matter your sexual orientation.

Cherry, Kittredge. Jesus in Love: At the Cross", Androgyne Press, 2008.

What If?

Amos Lassen

I have said this before and I will say it again, "Kittredge Cherry is a very brave person". She goes where others dare not tread and she does so with great style. Her first two books about Jesus-"Jesus in Love" and "Art that Dares" also dealt with controversy and are wonderful reads so I had no reason to suspect that that her latest book would be any the less. In fact, I think it may even be better than its predecessors. Cherry looks at the life of Jesus as if he had been a gay man and how he and others would identify him. His connections with others like John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene would unquestionably have been very different.
Cherry has Jesus narrate his own story so we get a first person perspective and what is so interesting is that this novel probes the nature of humanity and not religious or spiritual issues. Cherry advances no agenda, rather she gives us a fictionalized account of what it would have been like had Jesus been queer. Granted that I as a Jewish gay man may see the book differently than others who have grown while being pressured with Jesus stories but that does not, in any way, take away from the elements that Cherry used in order to write a good book. There should also be no question about the nature of what this book says as it is simply an alternative view on a story that seems to have been around forever.
Cherry quite simply takes a good hard look at the traditional story of Jesus and then makes it relevant to us by bringing it to modern consciousness. (And this is no easy task). To depict a gay relationship between Jesus and his disciple, John the Baptist, is not easily done if it is to read as convincing. The novel takes place during the period from Palm Sunday through the Pentecost and has sections on The Last Supper, the arrest of Jesus, his trial and crucifixion and resurrection. Cherry maintains that "Jesus has today's queer sensibilities and psychological sophistication as he reveals the erotic, mystical experiences that may have led to the first Easter".
As in any book of fiction, the storyline is important but here what is equally of importance is the style with which this book was written. I must take my hat off to Ms. Cherry who has been brave enough to go where few dare.