BOOKS | Albert Haase, OFM

THE PERSISTENT GOD: A Guide to Deepening Prayer

Do you ever get distracted when you’re trying to pray? Do you ever wonder if you’re praying the right way? Bestselling author Albert Haase, OFM, presents a practical and timely book on discovering how to respond to God’s relentless invitation to a deeper relationship that goes beyond Sunday Mass attendance.

In The Persistent God, you will find answers to many nagging questions you may have, including:
– Why does prayer seem so hard?
– Am I doing enough?
– What should I look for in a spiritual director?
– How can I discern what God is saying to me?

With decades of experience praying and offering spiritual direction, Albert Haase shares his wisdom on nurturing a vibrant, committed, and mature relationship with God.

This book can be purchased at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

You can watch a 26-minute interview with me about the book here.

TOUCHING THE BONES OF ELISHA

In this book, Franciscan priest Fr. Albert Haase, OFM, and Protestant pastor Phil Vestal bring to life nine spiritual practices from the life and ministry of the ancient Hebrew prophet Elisha–practices later promoted by Jesus, Paul, and subsequent figures in the history of Christian spirituality. These spiritual practices point directly to important themes in spiritual formation:

The call of God
Healing
Perseverance in the face of opposition
Gratitude and charity
Prayer, petition, and intercession
The tension between obedience to the law and Jesus’ command to love
Living with the awareness of God’s investment in every human endeavor
God’s ever-present grace and protection in the face of trials and tribulations
Mercy

Based upon incidents in the life of an ancient prophet, these nine practices are life-giving bones that God uses to instill new spirit and creativity in the contemporary believer.

This book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Wipf and Stock

SUNDAYS ON THE GO: 90 Seconds with the Weekly Gospel (Year B)

Got a minute? Thanks to beloved Franciscan priest and retreat leader Fr. Albert Haase, that’s all you need to stay in touch with the Gospel every Sunday through the Church year. Inspired by his early days in a busy urban parish, Sundays on the Go is Fr. Albert’s gift to busy Catholics – just enough to keep you on track with Jesus, even when you’re on the run!

This second edition of Sundays on the Go features:
– A reading for every Sunday of Year B of the liturgical year
– Handy Scriptural references to each Gospel passage
– A brief, direct, and pithy homily from Fr. Albert
– A reflection question and a prayer
– Special readings for Solemnities and Feasts through the year

Fr. Albert’s words will help you to prepare for Sunday Eucharist, and stay in touch with the Gospel all week long. Sundays on the Go is the perfect gift for busy Catholics of all ages – professionals, parents, students, and anyone who’s short on time – in need of spiritual wisdom, encouragement, and a strong connection with the Gospel.

This book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Paraclete Press

CATCHING FIRE, BECOMING FLAME — 10th Anniversary Edition

A new, revised and expanded edition of beloved spiritual director Albert Haase, OFM’s bestselling guide to a vibrant, fulfilling spiritual life!

Ever wonder how some people become enthusiastic and on fire about their relationship with God? In thirty-eight power-packed, concise chapters, Albert Haase gives you the tools and kindling to prepare for the spark of God in your life – and then shows you how to fan it into flame until you are set ablaze. This book glows with time-tested wisdom as an experienced spiritual director shares the secrets of the saints. Feel cold? Or maybe just smoldering? With supplemental reading suggestions and reflection questions, this eminently practical book functions like a personal, spiritual retreat.

This book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Paraclete Press

You can watch the hour-long interview with “Benedictine Conversations” about this edition here.

Catching Fire, Becoming Flame — 10th Anniversary Edition: A Guide for Spiritual Transformation:

Features a new introduction, 5 brand new chapters, and thoroughly revised and updated content throughout the book.
Gives you the practical tools and time-honored techniques to grow your relationship with God.
Shows you how to respond to God’s fiery passion, how to engage it, and, most important, how to be changed by it.
Features purposely short and concise chapters, allowing you ample time in one convenient sitting not only to read it, but also to reflect on its questions or practice the presented technique.

SUNDAYS ON THE GO: 90 Seconds with the Weekly Gospel (Year A)

Got a minute? Thanks to beloved Franciscan priest and retreat leader Fr. Albert Haase, that’s all you need to stay in touch with the Gospel every Sunday through the Church year. Inspired by his early days in a busy urban parish, Sundays on the Go is Fr. Albert’s gift to busy Catholics – just enough to keep you on track with Jesus, even when you’re on the run!

This first edition of Sundays on the Go features:
– A reading for every Sunday of Year A of the liturgical year
– Handy Scriptural references to each Gospel passage
– A brief, direct, and pithy homily from Fr. Albert
– A reflection question and a prayer
– Special readings for Solemnities and Feasts through the year

This book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Paraclete Press

You can watch a 90-second promotional video about this book here.

I did a short television interview about the book on the Catholic Faith Network of New York.

SOUL TRAINING WITH THE PEACE PRAYER OF SAINT FRANCIS

The Peace Prayer, attributed to Francis of Assisi at the beginning of the twentieth century, has seeped into the religious consciousness of every believer and has become one of the most recognizable and beloved prayers ever.

Using stories from the lives of Saint Francis as well as ordinary people, Albert Haase OFM shows how the Peace Prayer shapes the contours of the soul by challenging us to live lives of service (first stanza) and selflessness (second stanza). “Using the Peace Prayer of St. Francis, Albert Haase OFM once again predicts that if we embrace this prayer, we will all begin to embark on a long journey that will result in the fulfillment of our deepest dreams.” (From the Foreword by Murray Bodo, OFM) Reflection questions, a Scripture passage, a Franciscan passage, and a short prayer conclude each chapter, making this quite suitable for book clubs and study groups. The Appendix traces the history of the prayer’s association with the saint from Assisi.

This book can be purchased at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

You’ll find four 3-minute videos about the book here

I did a short television interview about the book on the Catholic Faith Network of New York.

Recipient of the 2021 Second Place Award in the category of “Books on Prayer” by the Catholic Media Association.

The traditional Chinese edition was published by Pauline Books and Media, Hong Kong.

“Inspired. Fr. Albert takes us on a panoramic tour into the human drama using the verses of the Prayer attributed to St. Francis. . . In this volume the reader encounters real people’s stories, including the author’s, the examples of numerous saints, and the spiritual principles that lead to a life of joy in following Jesus.”

-Fr. Dave Scheider, Episcopal priest, spiritual director, and member of the Third Order Society of St. Francis (Episcopal Order)

BECOMING AN ORDINARY MYSTIC: Spirituality for the Rest of Us

I should be further along on the spiritual journey. Why don’t I see any progress? What am I doing wrong?

Do you ever feel like you are walking in spiritual circles? While we might think it would be different for a Franciscan priest, Father Albert Haase shares the same struggles. And yet he also affirms that we are all called to be ordinary mystics, who, in the words of his own spiritual director, are “ordinary Christians who do what we are all called to do: respond to grace.” Learning to be a mystic is about cultivating a life with God in which we draw close, listen, and respond moment to moment. We know we will fail at times, but we can also be certain that we follow a God who never stops reaching out to us. This book offers a daily path to making the connection.

This book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or InterVarsity Press

This book was chosen by US Catholic Magazine as its January 2020 Book Club Selection and reviewed by the Quaker magazine, Friends Journal

The German edition was published by Brendow & Sohn Verlag Gmbh

Pending publication in Portuguese by Paulinas Editora

“This is the book many folks have been waiting for. In ordinary language with great examples and stories of real people, Father Haase leads us to understand the spiritual journey in ways that truly touch the heart.”

-Joseph Tedesco, O.C.S.O., Superior of Mepkin Abbey Trappist Monastery, Moncks Corner, SC

PRACTICAL HOLINESS: Pope Francis as Spiritual Companion

Good spiritual directors can be difficult to come by; this book offers Pope Francis to be yours. Ever wonder what advice the Pope would give you to help you grow in holiness, deepen your prayer life, know God’s will?

In Practical Holiness you’ll find the keys to discovering the answers to those questions. With anecdotes about people and stories about saints, this exploration of Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation, Rejoice and Be Glad: On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World, reminds you that there is no cookie-cutter approach to holiness and encourages you to rediscover your unique way of living out the Beatitudes and Jesus’s two-fold command of love. You’ll navigate through the “five great expressions of love of God and neighbor” – essential for any Christian in our self-absorbed, digital culture.

Reflection questions at the end of each chapter, as well as forty personal questions at the end of the book, make this ideal for reflection, adult faith formation, book clubs, spiritual directors and their directees, and further catechesis during the RCIA’s Mystogogia period between Easter and Pentecost.

This book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Paraclete Press

“Fr. Haase’s illuminating reflections on Gaudete et Exsultate will convince you that you can be a saint. Pope Francis’s down-home message of holiness in action is unfolded with testimonies, anecdotes, and wisdom from Haase’s longtime experience as a spiritual director. As I read the book, I could sense grace tugging at my heart and drawing me closer to the Lord.”

-Bert Ghezzi, author of The Angry Christian and Saints at Heart

SAYING YES: Discovering and Responding to God’s Will in Your Life

Discerning God’s will is an ongoing process–not a static, one-time decision. Albert Haase, OFM, scholar of Christian spirituality and spiritual mentor to hundreds of people, reminds you that your ordinary life is the megaphone through which God communicates to you and to the world. Fr. Albert is known for offering clear, practical spiritual advice. This book, ranked for several weeks as Amazon’s #1 “Hot New Releases for Adult Christian Education,” is short, concise, practical and written with real life examples and reflection questions, making the ancient practice of discernment appealing and understandable.

This book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Paraclete Press

“SAYING YES ‘scratches where we itch.’ Albert Haase, OFM has provided a blueprint and road map for discovering all the places, all the spaces and all the faces through which God speaks to us. Down-to-earth spirituality at its best!”

— Most Reverend Fernand J. Cheri, III, OFM, Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans

CATCHING FIRE, BECOMING FLAME: A Guide for Spiritual Transformation

Ever wonder how some people become enthusiastic and on fire about their relationship with God? In thirty-three short chapters, Albert Haase gives you the tools and kindling to prepare for the spark of God in your life — and then shows you how to fan it into flame until you are set ablaze. This book glows with time-tested wisdom as an experienced spiritual director shares the secrets of the saints.

Feel cold? Or maybe just smoldering? With supplemental reading suggestions and reflection questions, this eminently practical book functions like a personal, spiritual retreat.

You can watch Catholic TV of Boston’s 7-minute interview with Fr. Albert about this book here.

This book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Paraclete Press

“Fr. Albert has the unique ability to grab one’s attention and not let go until you realize you’ve discovered something very profound. He’s an amazing storyteller and preacher who will help you discover the embers of the spiritual life that are smoldering deep within, just waiting to be set ablaze by God with the help of this spiritual master. Catching Fire, Becoming Flame provides essential and inspirational insights about the spiritual life that are guaranteed to set you on fire with love.”

– Don Schneider, Director of Evangelization & Catechesis, Archdiocese of Denver, CO

THIS SACRED MOMENT: Becoming Holy Right Where You Are

What does it mean to be a holy person? The answer might surprise you. Now in its 2nd printing, this delightful yet challenging book from spiritual director Albert Haase provides practical wisdom for becoming holy–right in the midst of “ordinary” life. “Any and every situation holds the grace for the transformation called holiness. . . . [By] imitating Christ and emptying myself for the benefit of another,” Haase writes, “I can become holy right where I am.”

He illustrates how we do this by highlighting real people becoming truly holy as they raise their kids, cope with illness, care for elderly parents or interrupt their day to show kindness to someone in the grocery store.

Haase also guides us in this new way of living, offering practices that help us discern what God is calling us to in each moment, as well as clear direction for living in the Spirit, the source of our holiness. Written in brief, engaging chapters combined with a few reflection questions, this book is designed to fit realistically into our already full lives.

“I believe that holiness is not as elusive or impossible as most of us think,” Haase says. “That’s not to say it’s easy; it certainly is not. But I think there are many people in the world . . . who know that God calls them right where they are. Living in and guided by the Spirit, they imitate Jesus: they selflessly respond to God’s call in this sacred moment for the enrichment of others.”

You can too. Here’s how.

This book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or InterVarsity Press

This was reviewed by the Englewood Review of Books

“Haase has written an engaging book that is both reassuring and challenging for contemporary Christians desiring to become ‘holy right where you are.’

– Teresa Di Biase for Spiritual Directors International

LIVING THE LORD’S PRAYER: The Way of the Disciple

Contained in the Lord’s Prayer is a complete picture of our life with God. Covering topics ranging from our view of God to our most intimate human relationship to how we treat the world around us and the people in it, the Lord’s Prayer is a trustworthy guide for spiritual formation and a compact handbook for holiness. In Living the Lord’s Prayer, Father Albert Haase follows the lines of this greatest of all prayers, showing how the ideas have been understood by great people of faith in the past and revealing how they are useful for our spiritual formation today. With Haase’s counsel plus the wisdom of this great cloud of witnesses that includes Francis of Assisi, Martin Luther, Thérèse of Lisieux and others, you’ll discover how God can use this prayer to shape your very soul.

Including true stories and reflection questions for individual consideration or discussion with a spiritual director or small group, Living the Lord’s Prayer will teach you to live–rather than simply say–the Lord’s Prayer, and thereby to walk in the way of a true disciple.

During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, I collaborated with Pastor Phil Vestal of ruahspace.com on an AT HOME RETREAT WITH THE LORD’S PRAYER. This free retreat consists of twelve, 20-minute presentations and is loosely based upon this book. Each session includes a free PDF with a spiritual practice for the verse we’re discussing.

This book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or InterVarsity Press

“I have rarely been inclined to describe a book as superb, but in this case, no other word will do.”

– Phyllis Tickle, compiler of The Divine Hours and author of The Great Emergence

COMING HOME TO YOUR TRUE SELF: Leaving the Emptiness of False Attractions

In Coming Home to Your True Self, Albert Haase invites you to return home – and shows you the way to get there. “Home,” he writes, “is the sacrament of the present moment. It is only in living right now, right here, that we discover our lives and this world awash in the grace of God.” Using the story of the prodigal son to illustrate the far country of our false self and the way back home to our true self in Christ, Haase introduces us to the spiritual disciplines that can help us find the path to the Father.

Rich with insights from Haase’s experiences as a spiritual director, this is a book for the weary, the lost, the regretful and guilty – essentially, a book for us all. No matter how long you’ve walked – God is still home.

This book can also be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or InterVarsity Press

This was reviewed by Publishers Weekly

Now available in Africa, India, Malaysia and the Philippines from St. Paul’s (Mumbai, India)!

“Extremely practical and inspirational, readers from all walks and stages in the spiritual walk will find this material refreshing and instructional.”

– Michele Howe of faithfulreader.com

INSTRUMENTS OF CHRIST: Reflections on The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Through one of the world’s most beloved and inspirational prayers, the Peace Prayer, Franciscan priest Albert Haase challenges us to look beyond ourselves and towards God, and all of humanity. In the compact but compelling Instruments of Christ: Reflections on the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, Haase reflects on each phrase of the Peace Prayer, offering us ideas about what it means to truly be a peacemaker. He explores six seeds he says we need to sow if Easter Peace is to blossom in this world – love, forgiveness, faith, hope, light and joy. Stories from the author’s life as well as those of friends punctuate each reflection and encourage us to plant these seeds of virtue and send forth the eternal message that we all desire and need peace in our daily lives.

This book can be purchased at Amazon or Barnes and Noble

ENKINDLED: Holy Spirit, Holy Gifts

Enkindled: Holy Spirit, Holy Gifts by Albert Haase, OFM, and Bridget Haase, OSU, brings the Spirit, through anecdote and example, into the lives of ordinary people. This treatment of the “neglected middle child” of the Blessed Trinity is for people who reflect while commuting to work, for those who pray while the baby is sleeping, for those who belong to parish discussion groups and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, for those preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and for those who celebrate the divine generosity of the Gift-giving Spirit. Small groups or individuals will find valuable the prayers and reflection questions at the end of each chapter.

This book can be purchased at Amazon or Barnes and Noble