Karl A. Schultz

Karl A. Schultz is known internationally not only for his humor, good looks, charm, and humility, but also for his thirteen innovative books and workshops on lectio divina, the ancient Christian model of prayerfully and holistically reading the Bible. He has developed applications of lectio divina to suffering, care-giving, inner healing, time management, stress management, gender dialogue and relations, theology of the body, infertility, journaling, potential fulfillment, the book of Job, and the teachings of Popes Paul VI and John Paul II.

When he concludes his writing and speaking career, he may work as a fry cook, a position with which he began his career. When he needs a lift, he works part time as an elevator operator, an undertaking for which the ups and downs of his current career has prepared him.

Speaking of ups and downs, Schultz recently returned from a three month Down Under lecture tour. The subject was lectio divina and related applications. He gave over 100 presentations on over thirty topics in five diocese: Wagga Wagga, Ballarat, and Adelaide in Australia, and Christchurch and Dunedin in New Zealand. Articles and handouts from one of the stops, Christchurch, may be found at this link: www.chch.catholic.org.nz/​karlschultz.

During his tour Schultz conducted four hours of videotaped interviews with the bishops of Wagga Wagga, Dunedin, and Adelaide on the subject of lectio divina and related applications. Some will be aired on Vatican television in the Pacific Rim countries, along with hour long presentations on lectio divina and Pope Paul VI, and a one day men's retreat. Schultz previously taped a 53 minute program on lectio divina for public television. Shot with three cameras, it is a state of the art production. All these DVDs, and others of various talks, interviews, and retreats, are available from Genesis Personal Development Center.

Personal highlights of Schultz' tour include swimming accross the Murray river twice, scaling Mount Cargill in Dunedin, getting lost at Mt. Echo immediately before a talk, getting very close to kangaroos in the wild, swimming in frigid artic-fed waters in Christchurch, Warmnabool, Dunedin, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Queenstown --- to the astonishment of both the bishop and wet-suit clad surfers, being shown on New Zealand television while swimming during a tsunami warning, getting to know the people of Australia and New Zealand, and learning a new language (they have so many colloquisms it may as well be a separate dialect).

Keep an eye out in your local Catholic newspaper for an account of this historic journey. Hopefully it will eventually become a book. See the "What's Happening?" section of the "Books, Talks" page of this website for a lengthier discussion of this trip.

Schultz has pioneered the use of lectio divina in the health-care field as well. In 1990, he developed a workshop and method of therapy entitled "Job therapy" (referring to the book of Job and job/​vocation stressors) based on lectio divina that was approved by the Pennsylvania Nurses Association for R.N. continuing education units.

In September, 2008, Karl's eleventh book, "The St. Joseph Guide to the Bible: Becoming Comfortable with the Bible in Four Simple Steps" was published by the Catholic Book Publishing Corporation. It complements the St. Joseph Edition of the Bible and the St. Joseph Sunday and Daily Missals, also by the same publisher.

"The St. Joseph Guide to the Bible" is composed of four chapters:
1) How to choose a Bible and translation.
2) The proper order in which to read the Bible.
3) How to read the Bible prayerfully and holistically using the ancient Christian model of spiritual reading known as lectio divina.
4) How to interpret the Bible competently and confidently.

At 144 pages and $7.95, it is not only a bargain, but a steal. It offers a manageable way to become familiar and comfortable with the Bible in a quick and effective manner. It was originally entitled "Your Quick-Start Guide to the Bible", but the link to the St. Joseph Bible and Missals merited top billing.

Karl published four books in 2007. Becoming Community had a small picture of Karl on the back cover, Bearing the Unbearable had a huge picture --- publisher's decision of course. Amazingly, neither sold spectacularly --- most likely readers got distracted. Here they are:

"How to Pray with the Bible: The Ancent Prayer Form of Lectio Divina Made Simple" (Our Sunday Visitor)

"Pope Paul VI: Christian Virtues and Values" (The Crossroad Publishing Company)

"Bearing the Unbearable: Coping with Infertility and Other Profound Suffering" (Nimble Books)

"Becoming Community: Biblical Meditations and Applications in Modern Life" (New City Press)

Each of these books stands out for different reasons:

"How to Pray with the Bible" is the fruit of fifteen years of writing and teaching about lectio divina. Its table of contents has been praised as the best of any book on the subject.

"Pope Paul VI" has been endorsed by the world's leading Catholic biblical association, the Catholic Biblical Federation. It is the only thematic collection of Paul's teachings to be accompanied by an extensive account of his life and legacy and its suitability for lectio divina and interpersonal dialogue.

"Bearing the Unbearable" has superb cover and chapter artwork by renowned stained glass artist Nicholas Parrendo, and contains copious reflection questions and applications designed to help readers draw personal parallels with the lives of biblical characters.

"Becoming Community" is the only book on the subject to utilize the process of lectio divina while integrating the fruits of biblical exegesis and spirituality with the human sciences.

In 2004, Our Sunday Visitor published "The How-To Book of the Bible" At a price of $13.95, this 352 page guide is a versatile resource for personal and group bible study and spirituality. It makes an excellent companion to "How to Pray with the Bible" and "The St. Joseph Guides."

"The St. Joseph Guide to Lectio Divina: Receiving the Word with the Holy Family" will be published in spring, 2010. It reveals the Holy Family as a model of lectio divina and gender distinctiveness and complementarity.

Schultz has written articles on lectio divina in newspapers and journals throughout the country. His most recent appeared in the July, 2007 issue of "The Bible Today."

The appendices of Schultz's books feature articles by other renowned authorities on lectio divina, including Cardinal Carlo M. Martini, S.J., Fr. Luke Dysinger, OSB, and Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB.

Schultz has discussed the Bible and lectio divina on several EWTN (the international Catholic television network) programs, including EWTN Live!, Bookmark, Living His Life Abundantly, and Life on the Rock. He is also a frequent guest on Relevant Radio. He has never received a speaking invitation in response to a media appearance. We're still trying to figure that one out.

Schultz has published thirteen books, one pamphlet, and one audiocassette on topics such as time management, stress management, suffering, care-giving, how to read the Bible, lectio divina, journaling, wellness, job therapy, Christian virtues and values, and Pope Paul VI, along with a personal organizer, "The Personal Energy Manager Rainbow Planner". Several are out of print, so if you want a copy you'll have to get it from Karl. He'll even sign it for you.

Signed and personalized copies of these along with CDs and DVDs can be ordered from Genesis Personal Development Center at (412) 766-7545 or karlaschultz@​juno.com or mrkarleno@​gmail.com. You can also receive information on Schultz' workshops, retreats, and speaking schedule.

Fearless as well as humble, Schultz has dared to take on the ideological demons of radical feminism and macho-ism. He deplores the idolatry of sports and the violence of the entertainment media that has contaminated American culture. He has written and spoken widely on the importance of moving beyond polemics and facilitating gender cooperation and reconciliation.

In 1995, Schultz dialogued with Dr. Warren Farrell, a leading U.S. authority on gender relationships (www.warrenfarrell.com) in an audiotape program entitled Men, Women, and Spirituality. He is now working on a book with Farrell and Dr. Cornelius Murphy.

Schultz has written and spoken extensively on the marginalization of men in the Church and society, and the need for improved gender collaboration and communications. He is working on a book on biblical and contemporary insights into gender relationships that will incorporate Paul VI's and John Paul II's teaching on the subject, often referred to as "Theology of the Body".

For details on Schultz's presentations and retreats on lectio divina (how to read and pray the Bible), Rediscovering Pope Paul VI and Vatican II, Coping with Stress, Suffering, Infertility, and Intimate Conflict Through Lectio Divina, St. Joseph's retreats for men's groups and conferences, and general audiences, and his signature personal ("Basketball, Business, The Beatles and The Bible") and organizational development programs, "Little Victories", see the contact information above.

Genesis Center has a huge inventory of quality used and new Catholic books. Quantity discounts are available. Build a customized library of quality resources. Help Karl get rid of his clutter in the process.

If you have survived reading any of Karl's books and want to share your reaction with others, please write a review on Amazon.com or send your thoughts to Karl. This will help spread the word and give potential readers an objective perspective on the utility of the book. Feel free to email Karl at karlaschultz@​juno.com. Feedback and sharing is encouraged!