Showing results for "Holiness" in Literature & Fiction

Award-winning author Jessica Hooten Wilson explains that learning to hear the call of holiness requires cultivating a new imagination-one rooted in the act of reading. Learning to read with eyes attuned to the saints who populate great works of literature moves us toward holiness, where God opens up a way of living that extends far beyond what we can conjure for ourselves. Literature has the power to show us what a holy life looks like, and these depictions often scandalize even as they shape our imagination.

Young Kate Murphy—adopted by a loving Irish couple against the picturesque backdrop of ancient Rome—finds herself tormented by nightmarish visions that defy comprehension. One fateful day, in her mother’s cherished Catholic Church, a compassionate priest lays his hands upon Kate’s brow, invoking a blessing that unleashes a torrent of mystical imagery. The priest is thrown into turmoil as he witnesses chilling visions of an old man hanging upside down on a cross. News of the powerful girl spreads like wildfire, igniting the fears of an extreme sect entrenched in the Vatican.

This fourth volume in Orson Scott Card's five-volume anthology of short stories features six tales with religious and spiritual themes, exploring the mysteries of ritual, sacrifice, faith, and death. Discover why immortal beings seek mortal gods, witness the consequences of a vengeful spirit, enter behind the scenes of the lives of television faith healers, and more.