A Community of Love Spirituality of Family Life

Father of seven and foster father to over seventy children, as well as a teacher for more than forty years, David M. Thomas views family life as the primary way God calls us to holiness. A Community of Love examines spiritual aspects of family life, such as:

• Rites of passage
• Making mealtime sacred
• The power--and pressure--of parenthood
• Praying together
• Creating a natural learning environment
• The future of the family

With Scripture, reflections, essays and poems, Thomas draws on his vast storehouse of experience and knowledge to provide inspiring examples of how to nurture a spiritually fulfilling home life within the modern complexities of "family."

"A Community of Love drives home the point that ordinary family life can be difficult, complex, even chaotic. That observation will surprise few. However, many will take comfort in the position Thomas takes, namely that holiness can be located in just such a milieu."—David Gibson, ForYourMarriage.org (Read the full review)

DAVID M. THOMAS taught theology at Loyola University in New Orleans (1970-1971), St. Louis University (1971-1976), St. Meinrad School of Theology (1976-1981) and created and directed a graduate program in family ministry and adult religious education at Regis University (1981-2001). He served as a contributing editor to Marriage and Family Living magazine from 1977 until 1992, wrote a regular column for Family Ministry (an ecumenical publication), was author and editorial consultant for Benziger Publishing (especially for their Family Life Curriculum), served in various committees of the United States bishops in matters related to family life and adult religious education, was a theological consultant to the U.S. Bishops delegation to the World Synod of Bishops on family life, assisted the bishops' committee on marriage and family life for England and Wales, had published various book titles relating to marriage and family life along with over two hundred magazine and journal articles, is currently involved in diaconate formation and continuing education for permanent deacons and lay ecclesial ministers. He also serves as faculty for the graduate family ministry program at Dominican University in River Forest, Il. Current interests are a contemporary theology of marriage and family, family catechesis and spirituality, creating a more diaconal church, ministerial survival, the theology of play and celebration and creating a more incarnational and communal spirituality.