Employee Pick of the Week: Anthony Ryan

May 15th, 2012 marked the debut of the Ignatius Press "Employee Pick of the Week" program which features savings of 40% off a book, movie, or compact disc personally chosen and recommended by an Ignatius Press employee.

Each week, an Ignatius Press employee will select a favorite book, movie, or other Ignatius Press product and will write a few sentences about why he/she thinks customers will enjoy the particular selection. The item will be on sale for 40% off the regular price for a week, and then a new item will be selected by another employee. A short bio of the selecting employee will also be included, giving customers a chance to learn a bit more about the people who are Ignatius Press.

Anthony Ryan's Pick of the Week:

As others at Ignatius Press have said about this "book of the week" pick, especially on our first time around, it's very difficult to pick one title since there are so many wonderful books by so many great writers. I decided to narrow my focus on a specific key area of our spiritual lives for my pick - Prayer.

The recently deceased Fr. Thomas Dubay was considered by many Church leaders as one of the very best contemporary writers and teachers on prayer and the spiritual life. He spent most of his priesthood speaking to religious and laity, and writing, on this topic. Ignatius has many books by this great priest. But the one that stands out the most is easily his masterpiece on prayer, Fire Within. This book on prayer should indeed be read by every Christian. The subtitle helps clarify why - St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer.

Fr. Dubay was an expert on the writings and teachings of these two great Carmelite saints and Doctors of the Church on prayer. The writings of these two mystical writers can be difficult for many to grasp. Fr. Dubay has done us a tremendous service by synthesizing their writings on prayer, and connects them with Sacred Scripture, to present a book that, if read meditatively, will ignite that spiritual "fire within" that the disciples spoke about on the road to Emmaus after being with Jesus.
 
With the beautiful, life-changing insights on prayer from two such great saints like Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, and Fr. Dubay and Scripture as our teachers to understand their insights, we will find, as Fr. Benedict Groeschel said about this book " a gold mine on prayer . . .a work of art by a master of the spiritual life."

This book will change your prayer life forever.

Fire Within is available in print and e-book formats. And don't miss these other inspiring titles by Fr.  Dubay: Deep Prayer/Deep Conversion, Faith and Certitude, Happy Are You Poor, and Prayer Primer.

Anthony J. Ryan has been the Director of Sales & Marketing for Ignatius Press in San Francisco since 1981.

A native of St. Paul, MN., after graduating from the University of St. Thomas with a major in Business Administration, he spent a year working as a volunteer for the Franciscan Friars of Marytown. Anthony then became the Director of Religious Education for Our Lady of Peace Church and Shrine in Santa Clara, CA., and he also directed the Youth Mission for the Immaculata retreat programs for women for 13 years.

He served for several years on the National Board of Directors for the Militia Immaculata, and has spoken often to various Catholic groups on the life and spirituality of St. Maximilan Kolbe, as well as on the story and message of Our Lady of Fatima. Anthony is the founding Board President of Trinity Grammar & Prep school in Napa, CA. (now called Kolbe Academy & Trinity Prep). He and his wife Marcia have four children and reside in Napa, CA. 

  Previous picks of the week:

Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J.

Mark Brumley

Carl Olson