MSI Press Blog

  The following excerpt comes from  Saints I Know   by Sula, Parish Cat at Old Mission. Appropriate for Caturday -- the book is "written" by a cat -- and for the Easter season.  About Me and “My” Saints If you have read any of my three previous books, you already know all about me. If you come to any weekend Mass at Old Mission San Juan Bautista, you have met me. If you have come into the Mission Gift Shop, you may have had a chance to spend some time with me in a quiet place and to meet my friends there who take care of me. More than a dozen years ago, I came to the Mission as a kitten, perhaps a year old. No one knows how I got here or where I came from though some saw me wandering around City Hall for a while before I followed the church bells to the Mission. Parishioners greeted me with love, the Mission Gift Shop started taking care of me, and I understood that I had received a God-given mission to take spiritual care of the parishioners in return. I love my Mis...

  The following excerpt comes from  Saints I Know   by Sula, Parish Cat at Old Mission. Appropriate for Caturday -- the book is "written" by a cat -- and for the Easter season.  About Me and “My” Saints If you have read any of my three previous books, you already know all about me. If you come to any weekend Mass at Old Mission San Juan Bautista, you have met me. If you have come into the Mission Gift Shop, you may have had a chance to spend some time with me in a quiet place and to meet my friends there who take care of me. More than a dozen years ago, I came to the Mission as a kitten, perhaps a year old. No one knows how I got here or where I came from though some saw me wandering around City Hall for a while before I followed the church bells to the Mission. Parishioners greeted me with love, the Mission Gift Shop started taking care of me, and I understood that I had received a God-given mission to take spiritual care of the parishioners in return. I love my Mis...

About the Book As Sula walks through her Mission home, she meets more than a dozen saints, In Saints I Know , she shares them with anyone who has an interest.  Saints I Know depicts the lives of 21 saints in both their imperfection and perfection--chosen based on the relationship to a Franciscan Mission, Old iMission San Juan Bautista and, told through the eyes of the Mission's cat. The sections of the book include saints related to the founding of the Mission (St. Francis, St. John the Baptist, and St. Juniper Serra), the Holy parents (Mary and Joseph), saints whose statues are behind the altar in the Mission, patron saints of animals, patron saints of children, and the favorite saints of the parish priest. In a final section, she gives some thought, as well, to future saints. Book Endorsement Pending Review of the Book This is a brand-new book so Sula is still waiting for reviews. Want to write one in exchange for a free copy of the book? Send a note to editor@msipress...

Sula, parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista, has written six books about life, the Catholic faith, and being a Mission cat -- how they intertwine. Here are some reader comments on her books: Christmas at the Missi on I love these books told from the perspective of Mission Cat Sula I have ordered all three of them Easy read and very inspiring (Lenore Smith, Amazon) Dia de Muertos Brand-new, in Spanish, reviews pending Easter at the Mission What a delightful and beautiful work. This wonderful read speaks with clarity about the true meaning of Easter through the eyes of a truly magical earless cat named Sula. With gentle paws she nudges you and teaches in the most engaging manner. A special treat are the many photos of Sula, with the visitors to Mission San Juan Bautista. This is a book which will give you a special joy,knowledge and a feeling of peace.It is a special gift from a very special feline. ENJOY (Loryn Ross, Goodreads) Saints I Know ...

  Today's excerpt comes from A Believer-in-Waiting's Encounters with God by Elizabeth Mahlou Silent Running Just when I begin to think that I understand perhaps a small slice of God’s grace, I find myself back at the beginning. Physical things happen to me that I do not understand. Mystical things happen to me that I do not understand. Where are these experiences supposed to lead me? Or, am I supposed to sit tight and let their transforming power alone affect me? I just don’t know. So, confusion reigns. While I am grateful to God for the unexpected and unexplainable healings, I have received, they, too, have left me in a state of confusion. Why would God intervene in my fate in this way? Am I supposed to be doing something in response? When it comes to mystical experiences, I find myself even more confused. Are these personal, intimate gifts for maintaining in a private relationship or are they joy and knowledge to be shared with others? If the latter, then I do such a poor jo...