The book will consist of 48 poems written between 1970 and 2021. They are mainly poems about spirituality, the church, and my experiences with religion and God. There are some secular poems but not many. Most of these poems reveal my struggles with the God of my understanding and misunderstanding and especially my experiences as a Roman Catholic priest with a background of study of the readings of Edgar Cayce and world religions. It is my hope that these poems primarily bring beauty into your life but also resonate with those who search for God and the truth of God wherever it may be found. The poems about the priesthood are written as a loving critique of the Church as well as a record of the amazing experiences I had as a priest. All the poems are based on real experiences with names changed and circumstances generalized so as to protect the identities of the people I served, served with, and loved. Finally, these poems and all my writing is meant to be a gift to all the faithful whatever their denomination or station in life. My favorite poem is the one about getting old and having the chance to pray to our God Who is always waiting to hear from us, wanting more than anything for us to trust Him/Her/It/All.
Thomas Merton: Social Critic organizes and critically analyzes the social thought of the Cistercian monk who has become an internationally known symbol of the spiritual element in man. The author evaluated all of Merton's writings, published and unpublished, then discussed his interpretations with Merton personally. The result is a perceptive relation of Merton's social thought to its genesis in his own life experiences and contemplation, a faithful rendering of Merton's thought on the problems of our time. Merton, the author makes clear, called for a spiritual, social, and religious union. It was a poetic and sometimes unimplemented solution to alienation and division, a valid and authentic, if at times limited, response to the contemporary chaos. This study will be greeted by a strong reaction from Mertonians everywhere.
Consul Baker's detailed journal, published here for the first time, describes the exploits and operation of the Barbary corsairs; the diplomatic and naval activities of the English, French, and Dutch in the Mediterranean; and the political, economic, and social life of Tripoli. Comprehensive introduction and appendixes.
The Sacred Causeof Union highlights Iowans’ important role in reuniting the nation when the battle over slavery tore it asunder. In this first-ever survey of the state’s Civil War history, Thomas Baker interweaves economics, politics, army recruitment, battlefield performance, and government administration. Scattered across more than a dozen states and territories, Iowa’s fighting men marched long distances and won battles against larger rebel armies despite having little food or shelter and sometimes poor equipment. On their own initiative, the state’s women ventured south to the battlefields to tend to the sick and injured, and farm families produced mountains of food to feed hungry federal armies. In the absence of a coordinated military supply system, women’s volunteer organizations were instrumental in delivering food, clothing, medicines, and other supplies to those who needed them. All of these efforts contributed mightily to the Union victory and catapulted Iowa into the top circle of most influential states in the nation. To shed light on how individual Iowans experienced the war, the book profiles six state residents. Three were well-known. Annie Wittenmyer, a divorced woman with roots in Virginia, led the state’s efforts to ship clothing and food to the soldiers. Alexander Clark, a Muscatine businessman and the son of former slaves, eloquently championed the rights of African Americans. Cyrus Carpenter, a Pennsylvania-born land surveyor anxious to make his fortune, served in the army and then headed the state’s Radical Republican faction after the war, ultimately being elected governor. Three never became famous. Ben Stevens, a young, unemployed carpenter, fought in an Iowa regiment at Shiloh, and then transferred to a Louisiana African American regiment so that he could lead the former slaves into battle. Farm boy Abner Dunham defended the Sunken Road at the Battle of Shiloh, before spending seven grim months in Confederate prison camps. The young Charles Musser faced pressure from his neighbors to enlist and from his parents to remain at home to work on the farm. Soon after he signed on to serve the Union, he discovered that his older brother had joined the Confederate Army. Through the letters and lives of these six Iowans, Thomas Baker shows how the Civil War transformed the state at the same time that Iowans transformed the nation.
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