MSI Press Blog

  Today, October 18th, marks Dhanteras , the first day of the five-day Diwali festival celebrated across Hindu communities. It’s a day of light, healing, and preparation — not just for festivities, but for resilience. Traditionally, families honor Lord Dhanvantari , the deity of health and Ayurveda, and Goddess Lakshmi , who brings prosperity and clarity. Homes are cleaned, lamps are lit, and symbolic items — from gold coins to humble brooms — are purchased to sweep away poverty and invite renewal. But in 2025, Dhanteras feels especially poignant. The world is aching for healing — physical, economic, spiritual. And this day reminds us that ritual is infrastructure . Lighting a lamp isn’t just tradition; it’s a declaration of hope. Buying a broom isn’t just custom; it’s a gesture of stewardship. In our own interfaith household, where Franciscan hospitality meets practical caregiving, Dhanteras becomes a quiet invitation: to honor the tools that sustain us, to bless the systems w...

  Forgiveness is often described as a gift—but rarely as a struggle. And yet, for many, it is both. It asks us to confront pain, to release resentment, and to choose peace over righteousness. It is not a single act, but a process. Not a surrender, but a reclamation. 🧠 Why Forgiveness Is So Hard Psychologists like Robert Enright and Frederic Luskin describe forgiveness as a  multi-phase journey : Uncovering the Hurt : Naming the pain and acknowledging its impact. Deciding to Forgive : A conscious choice, often made before emotions catch up. Working Toward Understanding : Exploring the offender’s humanity—not to excuse, but to contextualize. Finding Meaning : Reframing the experience in a way that fosters growth. Neuroscience shows that holding onto resentment keeps the body in a low-grade fight-or-flight state. Forgiveness, by contrast, activates brain regions linked to empathy and emotional regulation. It’s not just emotional—it’s physiological. 🌿 What Forgiveness Is Not For...

  Over the past week, Irit Schaffer, author of Good Blood, Second Edition , has been sharing family photos to help readers get a feel for the people in the memoir. Here she shares a photograph of her Aunt Elli, who is featured in the book, writing -  " Here is a photo of my Great Aunt Elli and myself in Kosice. She is 88 years old in the photo. Ice cream was a rare delicacy for her. She was the one who shared with me that the greatest gift of life is the gift of love. She shared how the Nazis knew nothing about love and what is important in life, and it was why she was able to forgive the Nazis. She was the closest person to an angel that I knew. She was filled with so much light and love. " Book description: When she was a child, her father said he had "good blood" and that is why he and his wife survived and healed from the Holocaust. The author searched for the meaning and significance of her father's words over two continents and through four generations. He...

    Just released --- and waiting for Amazon to finish all the details (but it is available there and elsewhere for purchase) --  Good Blood, Second Edition. Book description: When she was a child, her father said he had "good blood" and that is why he and his wife survived and healed from the Holocaust. The author searched for the meaning and significance of her father's words over two continents and through four generations. Her journey uncovered a unique voice of wisdom revealing mysteries of the healing powers within us and the existence of light in every situation that helps us overcome and transcend any obstacle. This book is a quest into the depth of the human spirit. It is a rich family memoir, being deeply personal, sharing joy and pain and fear and forgiveness. It encompasses the themes of life and a topic in common with every reader: complicated family relationships. Awards earned by the first edition of this book: Hollywood Book Festival silver medal, Paris Bo...

Good Blood  is now really, truly, fully released, with images and all at online sellers. It was planned for release on May 7. It was released by the publisher on May 7, but due to some communication issues between Amazon and the wholesaler, copies were not available until just now. But we will celebrate, anyway. Two releases! We can handle that! Can you? It's a great book -- the awards for the first edition say so, and the fans say so. Book description: When she was a child, her father said he had "good blood" and that is why he and his wife survived and healed from the Holocaust. The author searched for the meaning and significance of her father's words over two continents and through four generations. Her journey uncovered a unique voice of wisdom revealing mysteries of the healing powers within us and the existence of light in every situation that helps us overcome and transcend any obstacle. This book is a quest into the depth of the human spirit. It is a rich fam...