Posted June 24, 2013 Book: Gospel in Action: A New Evangelization Day by Day Edited by Gary Brandl and Thomas Ess, OFM New City Press. Hyde Park. NY 2013. Pp. 101 An Excerpt from the Introduction: Precisely because there is a growing split between gospel and life, gospel and culture, the Church in recent years has promoted what's called "a new evangelization," one that is new in "method, expression and ardor." The 2012 Synod of Bishops in Rome, for instance, was dedicated to this very theme: "The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith." This book explores elements of how evangelization "works," how the gap between gospel and life can be overcome, how the gospel can be communicated in today's world. It highlights a number of key features of the new evangelization. An Excerpt from the Book: The Courage to Speak Up "To which neighbors should we open our heart, and how, having loved them? To everyone even if it cannot always be spoken with the lips, it can be spoken with the heart . . .so they notice that they are important to us, that we have considerable interest in them, that a bond is already made with them, be it one of silence, respect. Words without sound, perhaps a smile, as can be imagined, cannot but open hearts. And as soon as that opening appears in anyone, there is no need to wait; one should speak, should say even a few words . . .but speak, announce the Gospel." Chiara Lubich Table of Contents: 1. Genuine Gospel life 2. Guided by the Word 3. Rooted in Christ 4. The courage to speak up 5. Trustworthy witness 6. The need for relationships 7. Living cells of Christianity 8. The one human family 9. Afterword: If a city were set on fire