Best Catholic Books

Guest Post: books on the "new" Mass

2011-12-28T16:24:00.000-08:00

Sister Anne (from "Nunblog") has spent the past year talking and studying about the new translation of the Mass, so she is providing a guest post on the books that can help you understand the what and wherefore of the changes in the Mass.

The new translation of the Missal (which went into effect on Nov. 27) provides a perfect opportunity for getting to know the Mass better, and Catholic publishers have been more than happy to provide the resources. While there are a number of new titles specifically on what's "new" in the Missal, the books that will have the longest "shelf life" are those that simply incorporate the changes into a solid presentation of the Mass itself.

One of those books is by Dr Edward Sri of the Augustine Institute (where just last Saturday our Sr Irene received her Master's in Biblical Theology). I was given a review copy of Sri's "A Biblical Walk through the Mass: Understanding What We Say and Do in the Liturgy" (my copy came with a handy laminated folder with the new translation of the unchanging parts of the Liturgy).

At first I thought I would just zip through the book and gather some interesting bits of knowledge to add to my liturgical information collection. Simply opening the book to leaf through its pages quickly disabused me of that idea. To casually flip through Sri's book seems almost sacrilegious. I realized that this is a book that deserves to be read in calm, not only without haste, but also without an agenda. It offers a deeply contemplative "walk" through the Mass, Bible in hand, in the company of Fathers and Doctors and Saints of the Church. The Confiteor alone takes up 5 pages of the book, and the Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy) is another 5! Every so often, Sri will pause, so to speak, and go behind the biblical and liturgical texts to the mysteries they express, inviting us to renew our whole participation at Mass, and not just learn stuff about it. Although there is a great amount of "stuff" here to learn, too.

I see that Ascension Press has also prepared a program for groups (with a student workbook and leader's guide): an ideal way to help prepare people not just for "changes ahead," but for the kind of profound reform that Pope Benedict has said always coincides with a renewal of Eucharistic faith.

The Diocese of Duluth, MN is offering a free e-book, entitled "Praying the Mass Anew." It gives an overview of the Mass in general as well as explaining the new translation. You can download it and print it as-is, or save it to your favorite e-reader! I have only scanned it so far, but it looks like a fine presentation of the Mass for adults; if you haven't really had any instruction on the Mass since your First Communion, you'd probably do well to download this one.
On the website, you'll also find the individual parts of the book, so you can read it online if you prefer. The Director of the diocesan Office of Worship even shared his PowerPoint presentations and notes, so you can study on your own--and a printable version of a "pew card" with the people's parts that you can take with you to Mass.
What a service! (Thanks, Father Hastings!)

As a presenter on the new missal, I have spent the past year immersed in the texts and in texts about the texts. Today I just finished yet another book about the Roman Missal, this one by a Chicago priest (and consultant for Cardinal George). Of all the titles I have read this year, this is the book I would most highly recommend, both for the more sophisticated members of the "daily Mass crowd" and for parish staff members, especially those on liturgy committees.

Father Tuzik doesn't just give the background to the new translation of the Mass prayers or the lengthy process of the translation and its approval. As the subtitle says, he really offers "pastoral reflections" on the prayers themselves, highlighting texts that the earlier translation had not really delivered (with a kind of "before" and "after" treatment in columns, so you can see the precise word changes and appreciate the difference). He also (and this is where the book is truly unique and useful) goes into the less-frequented parts of the Roman Missal: not just the various votive Masses, but the abundant ritual masses (Baptism, Confirmation, etc.) which are now included in the altar book, and the other optional masses--and they are many! (Each category has its own chapter.) Within the treatment, he will give a few examples of specific prayers, and then offer suggestions about when that particular set of mass prayers would be best used in a parish setting. As Tuzik observed, most of the time priests use the Sunday prayer texts, when there are so many optional prayers that match the readings for the day and put into relief a dimension of faith that deserves a bit more attention.
Among the Masses for various needs and occasions, there is the Mass "for the Progress of Peoples"; one "for Refugees and Exiles"; "In thanksgiving for the Gift of Human Life." There is one Mass of thanksgiving whose prayers are suitable when people have been rescued from peril, and another Mass of thanksgiving where the prayers reflect more a sense of gratitude for successful endeavors. There are Masses for seedtime and Masses for harvest; Mass prayers for public officials (prayer may not be the most spontaneous thing that would occur to people when thinking of elected leaders!). There are Masses for the sick, and a Mass "for the Grace of a Happy Death" (which, Tuzik points out in that ever-present pastoral spirit, can be really suitable in the case of the terminally ill, acknowledging that they may even be longing for the Lord to come for them soon.) There's even a (how appropriate to our times!) Mass "for Chastity" whose prayers remind me of Ronald Knox's observation that virginity is not something slight and fragile, but something bold and grand, like a parade coming down the street: "Through the Sacraments we have received, O Lord, may our heart and our body flourish anew..."

His style is consistently pastoral and personal: refreshing in the field of liturgy! So, if you enjoy hearty reading of a theological bent, and haven't heard enough yet about the Roman Missal, or (above all) if you serve on your parish staff and assist the priests with liturgy planning, this is a book for you!

Regarding personal-sized "hand" missals, subscription missalettes and missal apps, see a post I did for my own blog. The Pauline edition of the Sunday and Daily Missals should be out early in the new year; maybe Sr Julia will invite me to do a post about them then!

Up and Coming

2011-07-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

I actually haven't seen this book yet, but we should have it in a week or two fresh and new from the publishing house...and the topic couldn't be more appropriate for our age. Doesn't it seem to you like we're either expected to hurry up and forgive rather thoughtlessly, almost reactively, or else go to war when someone wrongs us? And yet either approach short-circuits real forgiveness...

Amazingly, the Facebook page for this yet-unpublished book is really active. If you like quotes (I've been collecting them for years), you'll find some really good ones on the Facebook page; when the book is released, I'm sure the quotes will come to life even more!

Guest Post: Helping kids deal with death

2011-06-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

I invited Sr Anne to reprint her blog post about a new Pauline book that she had more than a little to do with...

This November my family will mark the fifth anniversary of Dad's death--and the fifth wedding anniversary for my sister Jane and her heaven-sent Jim. If you haven't been following me quite that long, it's a great story. Anyway, at Dad's wake (the morning of the wedding rehearsal), I noticed my seven-year-old niece sitting on the funeral parlor sofa, engrossed in a Harry Potter book. I felt frustrated that at a time when it is so fitting to speak of life after death, the meaning of life, the Body of Christ...there wasn't anything age appropriate for Claudia (who had lost her other grandfather a few months before).

A few months later, I was taking a 1 credit course to complete the requirements for a Certificate in Spiritual Formation. It was one of those situations where I would have taken anything they offered just to get that one last credit. As it turned out, the course was on bereavement ministry. And we had to do a project.

I turned in a sample "activity book" for a grieving child; something that would help a child process the experience of grief in the light of the Catholic faith. The professor liked the idea, so I submitted it to our publishing house. There my humble project took on dimensions far beyond what my 1-credit course equipped me for, so the editors entrusted its development to Kimberly Schuler, a school counselor, and to our own Sr. Mary Joseph Peterson (for the artwork). The result is a keepsake volume for children in primary or middle school; a kind of hybrid puzzle book, one-year journal and catechism.

So it looks as though my experience of loss has borne fruit for others in their time of loss. Isn't that how God tends to do things?

Just one!

2011-04-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

A whole video about just one book? You know it's a good one.

Please pray for Mom, who is recovering from heart surgery. Thanks.

Countdown to Volume 2!

2011-03-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

The Holy Father's new book is going to hit the bookstores soon. Do you have a copy on order yet? It would be hard to come up with a better book for your spiritual reading this Lent. After all, volume 2 of "Jesus of Nazareth" focuses entirely on Holy Week and Easter!
If you pre-order with one of the PBM bookstores, you can not only reserve a copy, but get it at a discount. Meanwhile, a few sections have been made public ahead of time.

Sister Anne was in New Orleans during February and followed me around with her video camera, so before long you may get a few more book selections from me "viva voce"!

Guest Post: Holding on to Hope

2010-12-17T13:09:00.000-08:00

I'm importing this post from CatholicMom.com because it is a review of a fellow Pauline's most recent title (a helpful title, too, for difficult times).

By Anne Bender • Nov 13th, 2010 •

Holding on to Hope: The Journey Beyond Darkness by Sister Kathryn J. Hermes, FSP

I have been a fan of Sister Kathryn J. Hermes, FSP, ever since I read her books Surviving Depression: A Catholic Approach and Making Peace with Yourself. Her words in these books brought me comfort and a sense of community in my darkness, helping me to realize that depression can happen to anybody, but it doesn’t have to define who we are or lead to restrictions in our lives.
In Holding on to Hope I found the same sense of comfort and support that I have come to acquaint with Sr. Hermes. The book is set up with sections on images, scripture, reflection questions, contemplative exercises, resting and inner healing exercises (written by Sr. Helene Cote, PM, MTS.) Throughout each chapter, the reader is lead into a spiritual healing experience based on the life of Christ.
Some passages that I found to be especially helpful for me were those that dealt with the realization that God is always present, holding us as we heal, and supporting us in those moments when we fall back into darkness, such as:
“This is the way it is. We cannot escape the waves of consolation and desolation that wash through our souls…we need to be able to dip back into the darkness here and there with graciousness and without fear in order to learn to relax there, where God is also present.” (p. 74)
But perhaps, the most hopeful and helpful section of all was Appendix Two: A Process for Putting on Christ in Seven Stages. This section dealt with the letters of St. Paul that show his transformation as he “put on Christ.” We, too, are called to put on Christ and can accomplish this by following the example of this great saint. I plan to follow Sr. Hermes’ lead here by praying with her hopeful and serene words: “I want only Jesus, not my perfection or security or happiness. Knowing Jesus is more important to me than any of this. To share His sufferings is my greatest joy because I know He will let me share His resurrection.” (p. 142)
As a wife and mother who has fallen in and out of depression many times in the past few years, I found that Sr. Hermes book, Holding on to Hope, will be a great resource for me to use whenever life becomes difficult and despair seems so near. In those dark times, I will reach for this book and hold on to hope.

Many thanks to Sally Feller at Pauline Books and Media for this opportunity to review Holding on to Hope. Order Holding on to Hope and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase

Mailbox time!

2010-09-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

From Michael:

Subject: I want a good life changing book.

Hi, I stumbed led upon your blog when I googled "Catholic books that can change your life."

I am not a rapacious reader as I get bored quickly. But when I find a good book, I will read it through like a hungry kid eats popcorn. Most of the Catholic books I have read failed to capture my attention this way. I have had "epiphanies" when reading books before that have motivated me to change some aspect of my life, but I have yet to find a genuinely modern Catholic book that has been successful in pushing me to the next level spiritually.

I am a Catholic husband and father of a one-year old, and I work as a professional. I am trying to build a stronger prayer life as I receive spiritual direction and pray with my wife regularly. But I am seeking grace anywhere I can get it, even if it means it is in a book (something besides your standard prayer books or the Bible). So if you know of something that will appeal to someone in my state of life and keep my attention, by all means, please recommend it.

And my answer:

There are a lot of books, but the first one that comes to mind is "Fully Human, Fully Divine" by Michael Casey. I've read it at least five times, underlined, hi-lighted, starred....so it's definitely worth reading if you have a chance. Say a prayer before you go book-hunting. There are so many books, a little Divine inspiration couldn't hurt!

The God of our Deepest Longings

2010-08-31T19:21:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me this book and I put it in chapel with my prayerbooks. You never know when you need something new and different! I picked it up a while back and couldn't put it down. It was easy to read-only about a hundred pages, but I'm on my second time, much-slower, let's-relish-this reading. Even the chapter titles are worthy of a long meditation: "What are you looking for?" "Where do you live?" "What Supports you?" "Becoming Transparent."
It's a thin book, but I guarantee that if you, say, started it on Ash Wednesday, you would probably still not be through it by Pentecost :) Or longer, depending on how much you get out of it, between the suggested Scripture readings, the questions for reflection.... But don't wait until Lent to get started: the end of summer is a perfect time to kick-start a resolution to spend more time in prayerful reading.
I love finding new treasures and passing them on. This one would be an easy one to miss, but please don't. It covers the most basic desires of our heart and reveals the God of our deepest longings through the most beautiful passages of Scripture.

New Feature

2010-08-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

We just finished recording a new album of inspirational songs; it won't be completely ready for quite some time (the instruments haven't been done yet), but just so you know.
We're testing a CafePress site that will allow you to support the mission of the Daughters of St. Paul and get some unique (and generally practical) items. Just so happens we are launching this trial balloon during a "free shipping" promotion at CafePress ("free" for orders over $40). So far there are only two main themes: Books (you knew that, right?) and New Orleans (you probably guessed that much, too).
Here are a few samples:

The mug and the book bag have a quote from Chesterton: "Literature is a luxury; Fiction a necessity." The apron says, "I'd rather be reading!"

And from the "Geaux Getters" department:

don't judge a book...

2010-06-24T16:11:00.001-07:00

...by its cover! I had to really overcome my distaste for orange in order to discover a couple of great books. (Don't make the same mistake.)

Two books in this video:

Lots of books by Fr. James Martin without orange covers:

The Jesuit Guide...

2010-05-04T12:52:00.000-07:00

My Facebook conversations with Jim (and his appeal to keep the blog updated) have convinced me to move from Facebook to Blogger for a few minutes to write about my current read.
Orange is my least favourite colour, so on that very superficial observation I almost didn’t pick up the best book I’ve read so far this year! I’m now more than halfway through Fr. James Martin’s excellent new book, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, and I should have known it would be hard to put down after gobbling up his last book, My Life With the Saints! It is SO readable; you could compare it to an easy going conversation with a good friend. Considering the topics covered, that’s saying a lot! (Lectio Divina, the Spiritual Exercises, the Vows, discernment, how to find God, how to pray, where to start etc.) I took it to chapel for spiritual reading, and almost (but not enough to stop) felt guilty for enjoying it so much.
The Ignatian goal is to “find God in all things”. If you want practical and realistic ways to apply this to your own life, please get a copy of the book. I loved the stories, the examples, the humour, and the wisdom that can be applied right now where you are. Fr. Martin is able to take the gems of Jesuit Spirituality and translate them for absolutely anyone.
If you want to know how you can find God – and how God can find you– in your messy, busy, difficult, complicated life, this book would be a good place to start. Books like these are worth their weight in gold, even if they’re orange.

A conversation on Facebook

2010-05-03T18:25:00.000-07:00

I just heard from a new lover of Catholic Books. Jim starting looking for "Catholic books"; that's how he came across my many recommendations. Now we're continuing the conversation on Facebook. Since I haven't been able to update my blog very much, I thought you'd like to join in!

Jim: How I love your absolutely wonderful website! I am a Catholic inquirer, and earlier tonight did a google search for "Catholic books." Hours later, my Amazon Wish List is ridiculous thanks to you! Truly, your love of books and your love for God leaps off the page and I just wanted to express a thousand thanks. I remember browsing in the Alexandria Paulist Press shop, and chatting with a similarly enthusiastic Sister. You've made my night.

Jim: I just discovered Fr. Barron on your website, and found his Word On Fire site, which is outstanding. His videos are the finest explanations of the faith I've ever come across. I was knocked out by the interview with Mitch Pacwa, where he talks about truth and beauty, using Notre Dame Cathedral as an example. Nine years ago I visited Paris, and was simply overcome with emotion when entering ND. Fr. Barron describes precisely what happened to me. Truth was beauty and beauty was truth!
It's just so rare to find art experts who aren't pretentious, and frequently on the snobby side, and that's why I love the work that both of you are doing. I'd like to see you have your own show on EWTN!

Me: Fr. Barron is great, isn't he? I really love the way he writes.
Have you read "The Jesuit Guide to (almost) Everything" by Fr. James Martin? I'm in the middle of it right now and I'm really enjoying it!

Jim: I just re-read the Reed (of God, by Carryl Houselander) at Christmas, and it hit me even harder this time, and, I read The Way of The Cross every Advent. She deserves a much "wider audience" as they say. btw....your fans are eager for a blog update!

Blessed Christmas!

2009-12-24T13:24:00.000-08:00

Readers' Poll

2009-10-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

Our publishing house is doing an online poll about readers' favorite online places to chat about books. Please join in!

Can't Stop Browsing!

2009-10-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

The last few books I spotted on my visit to the Dedham bookcenter. (Have you been there? It's on Route 1, near the exit for Rte 128.)

Still Browsing!

2009-09-29T09:42:00.000-07:00

This one's mine!

2009-09-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

With the month of the Rosary starting in just a week, I don't think you'll mind if I do a little self-promotion here... The children's Rosary booklet first came out years ago (and it seems like it took me years to do all the illustrations!). When Pope John Paul II introduced the Luminous mysteries, I knew I was going to have to take out the pastels and update the book, but between running a bookstore (and running out of town for Hurricane Katrina), it took a little longer than anticipated. Finally, it's updated and available.

The format is like the "Scriptural Rosary" (the one with the blue and white cover) that offers a short bible passage for each "Hail Mary." In this booklet, the thoughts are on a child's level. This would be good for children up to about ten years old. It includes a chart showing how to pray the Rosary, and each set of mysteries has its own little chart showing how the decades fall along the string of beads.

Speaking for myself, I find it easier to pray the Rosary when the rosary beads themselves are beautiful! (Now I make my own.) Do the children in your family have the kind of rosary that invites them to pick it up and use it?

Other children's books on the Rosary:

"My First Book about Mary" is another book I illustrated (Sr Christine Virginia wrote it). Can you tell that Mary has a special place in my life?

2009-09-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

After a number of setbacks, Sr. Anne finished the video book reviews we did this summer. Actually, she had enough footage for three videos, so I will be posting them one by one. Special thanks to Eric Groth at Outside da Box (youth ministry DVDs) for the technical help!

Fr Barron's "Eucharist"

2009-09-11T09:37:00.001-07:00

I just finished reading Fr. Robert Barron's new book, "The Eucharist" and wanted to post a "must read" to the blog:) Honestly, this priest just gets better and better! Since I never miss any of his books, this one was on my to-read list and I ended up taking it home with me on vacation. In a very slim book of 141 pages he manages to give the most inspiring insights into the Eucharist that I have read in ages. He runs the gamut from "Babette's Feast" to Flannnery O'Connor to Thomas Aquinas. A whirlwind look, which at the same time manages to be profound and thorough....and surprisingly accessible, whether you happen to be a theologian or a housewife. Bottom line for me is the fact that you can't read it without being touched and grateful and rather in awe of the gift we've been given. A book that can do that is certainly worth the read. Thanks again, Fr.Barron, for another gem!

Guest Blogger: Sr. Anne

2009-08-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Summer Reading

Over the past five weeks I've been able to read (or finish) reading a wonderful little stack of books, and get started on a whole new stack. (When I was in the playpen, my parents told me, "Books are our friends," and I believed them!)
Have you read any of these? What's on your bookshelf?

Inhabiting the Cruciform God (Michael Gorman): A terrific study of what Gorman believes is Paul's central "narrative" and the pattern of our life in Christ. You need some background in Scripture to follow him, though. (Sr. Julia has written and spoken at length about Gorman's fabulous "Cruciformity," which is a longer and less intensely scholarly presentation of the same concept.)
Facing the Dragon: Confronting Personal and Spiritual Grandiosity (Robert L. Moore): a Jungian Christian analyst looks at the spiritual life and what the fathers would simply call the sin of pride. (I read this on retreat and it's full of bookmarks for me to go over with Jesus during the year.)
Thank God Ahead of Time: The Life and Spirituality of Solanus Casey (Michael Crosby, OFM Cap). I had heard about Fr. Casey, but this is the first I've ever read of his life. This book, too, now features a number of bookmarked spots for leisurely rereading.
Musicophilia (Oliver Sacks). Subtitle is "Tales of Music and the Brain." Need I say more? (Sr. Barbara has the copy now. Our provincial, Sr. Margaret Timothy, borrowed it while I was in Boston.)
Hiking the Camino: 500 Miles with Jesus (Fr. Dave Pivonka): Since I visited Campostela in 2006 (thanks again, Karen!), and cannot reasonably ever expect to make the whole Camino, I have enjoyed doing the Camino vicariously through the new of books that have been coming out by Catholic caministas like Joyce Rupp ("Walk in a Leisurely Manner") and others. Fr. Pivonka's book would be a terrific catechetical companion for the pilgrimage, because he relates the various aspects of camino life to dimensions of faith and spirituality.
Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul (Stuart Brown). This is by one of those business gurus who goes around helping corporations loosen up and get their creative juices back. Brown is actually a psychologist who did years and years of study on the importance of play and how vital it is in shaping the brain and keeping us functioning as human beings. Play keeps us young! If we forget how to play, we also forget how to adapt to new or unexpected circumstances. We get stuck. We might even die. (Sr. Julia has this one right now.)
A Whole New Mind: Why Right-brainers Will Rule the Future (Daniel Pink). Another business guru book (he even cites some of the same stories and quotes as Brown in "Play"!); kind of the same idea as Brown's book, but covering six dimensions of "right-brain" activity with practical suggestions for exercising that muscle. (Sr. Maria Kim is now reading this one. I hope I get it back some day.)
Franz Jagerstatter: Letters and Writings from Prison. This Austrian farmer gave himself so wholeheartedly to the Gospel that he could not justify any cooperation with the Nazi government, not even hospital service (because he could not, in conscience, make the oath of loyalty to the party). What is remarkable about these writings is not that the writings are remarkable (although there are a couple of striking insights), but how this ordinary man found in such remarkable meaning in what sound like Catholic commonplaces: reason enough to stand up alone against the Third Reich.
The Cult of Saint Thecla: A Tradition of Women's Piety in Late Antiquity (Stephen J. Davis): This is a kind of archaology book focusing on the early devotion to St. Thecla, especially in the Egyptian church from around the 300's to the 500's. Amazing. Especially the Coptic footnotes.
Apollos: Paul's Partner or Rival? (Patrick J. Hartin): Another kind of scholarly book, but at 1/8 of an inch thick, it's no tome! This is a sociological approach to that eloquent evangelizer whom we meet in Acts 18 and hear about in 1 Corinthians. What do studies of ancient civilization have to teach us about Apollos' upbringing, expectations and method of evangelization? What do these same studies tell us about the relationships among Paul, Apollos and the Corinthians? (This little book is part of a series, "Paul's Social Network"; I'm waiting with baited breath for the volume on Prisca and Aquila, the dynamic duo of the New Testament.)

Currently reading:

The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature (Steven Pinker). I am only on Chapter 2 of this investigation into how language works, how we learn it and use it, and what that implies.
In the Steps of St. Paul (H.V. Morton). Turns out this is a classic, first published in 1936. It came into my hands in Philadelphia when Sr. Cynthia (or maybe it was Sr. Barbara?) found it in the community library. Nondescript black cloth cover, pages mottled with age, it looked like a candidate for the dustbin, but the sister thought I'd be interested. I was. I am. It's a delightfully engaging travel book from a lost era, written in an equally delightful (and equally lost) style.
Jesus of Nazareth (Benedict XVI). I confess I only opened this book a week ago. I have been so intimidated by what Time (or was it US News?) called the Pope's "stratospheric intellect" that I kept this amazingly lovely and readable text at arms length since its release! Don't make the same mistake I did. "Take and read."

Coming soon!

2009-08-20T06:45:00.001-07:00

While I was in Boston (recording two new choral albums with the sisters: read all about it on Facebook!), Sr. Anne took me and her video camera to the Pauline bookstore on Route 1. She promises a new "Best Catholic Books" video soon!

Meanwhile, Sr. Anne herself has compiled such an impressive list of books on her "Summer Reading" blog post that I invited her to share it with you as a guest blogger. Welcome, Sr. Anne!

Bookshelf Update

2009-07-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

I wrote this review on Facebook quite a while ago, and just realized I hadn't shared it with the wider world. (Sorry!)

The God of Our Deepest Longings: Seven Biblical Meditations

by Peter Van Breemen

A friend sent me this book and I put it in chapel with my prayerbooks. You never know when you need something new and different! I picked it up last week and couldn't put it down. It was easy to read- only about a hundred pages, but I'm on my second time, much-slower, let's-relish-this reading.

Even the chapter titles are worthy of a long meditation: "What are you looking for?", "Where do you live?", "What Supports you?", "Becoming Transparent". It's a thin book, but I guarantee that it would last you through Lent and probably through Pentecost :) Or longer, depending on how much you get out of it. Personally, between the suggested Scripture readings, the questions for reflection....I'll be at this one for quite a while. I love finding new treasures and passing them on. It would be an easy one to miss, but please don't. It covers the most basic desires of our heart and reveals the God of our deepest longings through the most beautiful passages of Scipture.

New Book!

2009-06-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

Michael Gorman, author of "Cruciformity" and "Apostle of the Crucified Lord" (see below) has a new book out: "Inhabiting the Cruciform God: Kenosis, Justification and Theosis in Paul's Narrative Soteriology." The title is intimidating, but Gorman's other books were so readable and so truly uplifting that I'm not overly intimidated by this one (not yet, anyway!).

I'm looking forward to reading this as the Year of St. Paul comes to a (triumphant?) close.

I'll give you a full report later!

"In Paradisum" in the News!

2009-04-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

A writer for the New Orleans "Times-Picayune" interviewed me and Sr. Anne for this article on our latest music release.
Blessings for your Holy Week!

New Favorites

2009-03-18T11:14:00.001-07:00

Some of this information is already available (scroll down!), but I thought you would enjoy the video.

Daily Reads

2009-01-31T14:38:00.000-08:00

Nearer to the Heart of God: Daily Readings from the Christian Mystics

This is one of those "daily" books thay I usually pick up every January for my thought-a-day. I've had it for five years or more, but, I'm surprised every time I read it at how inspired this collection is. Quotes from mystics, saints and holy people who made it their lifes aim to be "nearer to the heart of God". Since I consider that the essential goal of my life, I keep going back to it. These thoughts are sometimes only a few lines or a short paragraph, but sometimes a short thought is all it takes to keep you refreshed and focused for the day. Personally I tend to remember one-liners much better than pages of text--for example, here's one from St. Francis de Sales: "Don't sow weeds in the soil of your heart. Your garden space is limited." Good point, you know?

One good way to tend the garden of your heart is to water it with good reading. Start with this one!

Back to St. Paul

2009-01-31T14:35:00.001-08:00

I talked about these already in the video of books for the Pauline Year, but just in case you skipped the video, these two books by Michael Gorman are high on my list:

Cruciformity

Gorman's other book, Apostle of the Crucified Lord, is more of a text book. This one is for meditation! The spirituality of St. Paul predates that of the Carmelites, Franciscans, Dominicans, Benedictines...and they all use him for a foundation. You know..."take me as your model, as I take Christ"?? Highly highly HIGHLY recommended.

Apostle of the Crucified Lord

Very informative but not so cerebral that you can't enjoy it. Covers everything about St. Paul (and the maps and pictures don't hurt either!). It's a good review of his life and something worth reading during this year dedictated to him.

Simple Ways

2009-01-29T13:49:00.001-08:00

This was a Christmas gift from a dear friend so I put it in my "chapel" pile of books and picked it up this week. What a pleasant surprise to find something so perfect for the New Year.

A book that makes you slow down and appreciate all the treasures we have right at hand...and that are so often ignored or taken for granted. This is a small book with small chapters, but everything else about it is BIG. The author ( Gunilla Norris) has an approach that reminds me very much of Brother Lawrence and his classic book, "Practice of the Presence of God." His book, too, is deceptively short and simple, but just try putting it into practice! It's one of those "lifetime" things!

I only made it through three extremely short chapters of "Simple Ways" and felt compelled to start again and go slower. In my humble opinion, any book that can do that is worth reading. And thanks, Peggy, for the Christmas gift that I'll be using all year!

It's not a book, but...

2009-01-22T11:26:00.001-08:00

You'll forgive me for adding this to the "Best Catholic Books" blog, given that I developed this music project--and sang on it last summer.

The idea for this album started back in 1972. Not kidding.
I was a brand new Catholic and was visiting the motherhouse of the Daughters of St. Paul for the first time. I firmly and wholeheartedly believed that the Catholic Church was the one true Church...and I just as strongly believed that I had sacrificed good music in the process of becoming a Catholic. (The early '70s was not the best of times for Church music.) But then here I was sitting in the sisters' chapel during a Sunday Mass listening to Gregorian Chant for the first time in my life. They were singing the Mass of the Angels... My first thought was, so this is where the good Church music is hiding!
Then about ten years ago when I was studying music I had a strong desire to share this musical heritage with the many Catholics who still had never heard of it. We sisters "grew up" in the convent, so to speak, singing this music on feast days, for benediction, novenas, etc.. I've rarely, if ever, heard this music outside of our motherhouse and most people I know have had the same reaction as I first did: Where have they been hiding this?
During the recording last summer, we did have to pull out the Latin dictionary...and we also had a vocal coach come in to help us, but on the whole, this type of music fits us like a glove.
In Paradisum is an introduction for those too young to remember, and a fresh take on old, familiar melodies for those who do: We took Gregorian chant up a notch by adding instruments and playing around with the arrangements. It's to give people a taste for chant, but also to give them an experience of "heavenly music"...the kind you listen to while you're driving or trying to pray. It puts you in another zone. It's familiar, but it's new. I think it's perfect prayer music--it can help in providing a reverent "atmosphere" that is conducive to prayer and reflection.

What's inside: Vexilla Regis Prodeunt ∙ Ave Regina Caelorum/Ave Maris Stella ∙ Salve Regina ∙ Adoro Te, Devote ∙ Tantum Ergo, Sacramentum ∙ Ave Verum Corpus Natum ∙ Ubi Caritas ∙ Te Joseph ∙ In Paradisum

The Spirituality of Archbishop Fenelon

2009-01-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

This is a hidden treasure. It sat on our bookshelf for a year before I picked it up out of curiousity and read the contents. It's a skinny little book, but the vaule of it is as dense as the Summa Theologica! I couldn't resist reading it at a gallop, but it's one of those special books that is worth keeping (and sharing...definitely sharing!) Great introduction to the teachings of Francois Fenelon, a spirtual teacher along the lines of Brother Lawernce and St. Therese. It's too bad that a few centuries stand between us....I would have loved to have this 17th century Jesuit bishop as my spiritual director! Don't pass this one by!

I haven't read this one yet, but it's on my list (and my shelf!): Complete Fenelon...

Perpetua: A Novel

2009-01-12T11:56:00.001-08:00

Sorry about the long silence...I've been reviewing books on Facebook! But I'll share them with you here, too!

I have always been fascinated by the story of Perpetua and Felicity that was recounted in the Office of Readings (from Perpetua's own diary!), so naturally I had to pick up this book. Title, cover, story, everything was asking me to take it off the library shelf. Brought it home and promptly ordered a copy of my own. Once upon a time there was a book that grabbed me like this and made me change my direction in life. I was 13 and read the Song of Bernadette. Went from that to every life of a saint I could find....mostly young girls my age: Joan of Arc. St. Agnes, Maria Goretti etc. Now to come across a story like this one that "fills in the blanks" around the account of her martyrdom and recreates a flesh and blood woman of such conviction and passion and humanity...you know, the kind of life your longing to live.
There's another book on Perpetua entitled "What Would You Die For?" This book shows not only what (Who) she most willingly died for, but who she most passionately lived for as well.

Good Reads!

2008-09-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

You've seen so much of me talking about books, now you can listen to some of the other sisters... Sister Anne brought a video camera to some community meetings and just asked the sisters to talk about their favorite books, or what they were reading at the moment...

What about you? What are your favorite books? What are you reading right now?

The Year of St. Paul!

2008-09-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

We had audio problems with this one (taped at the same time as the fiction recommendations), but hopefully we will do better in the future!

Speaking of future, every 2nd Wednesday of the month from September through June, our sisters in Chicago sponsor a Theology of the Body study group. You don't have to be in Chicago to join: it's online, with live streaming video! John Paul's work is a real tome, so it can be helpful to have someone guide you through it, someone you can also ask questions or clarifications. Join the group at 7:30 Eastern Time, 6:30 Central: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/theology-of-the-body . If you don't have a copy of the book, you can order it online right from the "channel" page. (Every 2nd Wednesday, so starting up again Sept. 10.)

It's not about a book, but...

2008-08-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

I've been in Boston for a music project as well as my annual retreat. While we were in the studio (recording "Catholic Favorites, vol. 2"), Sr. Tracey got some candid footage on video, and this is the result: see if you can spot me!

Summer Reading

2008-07-16T19:36:00.000-07:00

Granted, we're already in the middle of summer and I'm only now offering a summer reading list... But summer is a great time for a relaxed read, and nothing beats a good story. I'm talking fiction.

Sr. Anne, the videographer, had some problems with the microphone (and some camera wobbling, too). So the video is not so great; the books are!

Mailbag

2008-06-26T12:17:00.001-07:00

I've continued to get requests for new book reviews since the last post. Sorry it's been so long, but I had to wait until Sr. Anne came home on vacation with her camera. In the meantime, if you want a really good summer read, try Anne Rice's "Road to Cana." This is the second volume in her series on the life of Christ, and I didn't think it would be better than the first, but it is. Her description of St. Joseph in the first volume ("Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt") was the best I've ever read, and I still have that picture of St. Joseph in my mind--good thing, because he's still around at the beginning of the second volume! Enough said: go out and read!

St. Paul!

2008-02-19T12:13:00.000-08:00

Now you would think that a Daughter of St. Paul would be able to tell you where to find a book about her spiritual father and patron saint, right? Well, up until a short while ago I would probably have responded, “good luck!” It seems I’ve been on the look out for a good biography of St. Paul since forever, but in spite of the fact that I basically live in a book store, I couldn’t seem to find anything that wasn’t academic, dry, outdated or just too over my head. Sure, you can always find shelves of books on St. Paul in the Scripture study section (after all, he did write 14 letters in the New Testament) but a decent biography? One that inspired devotion and made me want to be related to him?

Well, I’m writing this to tell you that all is not lost. I did find one! Last year we published Paul, Least of the Apostles, and I grabbed a copy as soon as we put it on display! It was easy to get into the story and I found it an extremely readable biography and one that I could confidently pass on to anyone. You’ll be happy to know that no degree in Scripture or Theology is needed to understand and enjoy this book. Alain Decoux is a French journalist and historian and writes this popular biography for the average reader (that would be most of us!). He has a smooth way of connecting past and present by giving details of the actual places Paul visited in a way that makes you feel as though you’re there and it’s real and you’re part of it. It has great pictures, too – both of the archeological sites and masterpiece artwork of Paul.

All in all, it comes highly recommended by one of his Daughters who has been looking a good long time for a book on him worth getting excited about.

Favorite Saints?

2007-12-30T17:57:00.000-08:00

I love reading lives of the saints--they were my introduction to the Catholic Church! See if some of these books (and saints) are among your favorites, too...

Here are links to some of my favorites:

Mailbag

2007-11-14T10:40:00.000-08:00

This in from a priest:

Thanks a lot for your book suggestions. Is there a book you can suggest on Apologetics? How about a Biblical Commentary? If you have suggestions for movies, I would appreciate it if you could send a list too. All the above are materials I have been asked about recently by parishioners. Thanking you in advance for your suggestions.

For apologetics, three books come to mind (although I'm sure there are more!).

Handbook of Christian Apologetics by Peter Kreeft and Roland Tacelli. The subtitle is "hundreds od answers to crucial questions" "A virtual one-volume, self-study course on essential apologetics, elegantly outlined in plain English. Highly recommended." To me, it's thorough, it's clear, and it's user friendly. Also has discussion questions if you would be using this in a group. 400 pages, 22.95. I liked this one the best.

Yes or No: Straight answers to tough questions about Christianity, by Peter Kreeft. This one I found very engaging, especially if I was reading on my own (not really for group study). It's written in the form of a conversation, so it's very readable. Might be a good one for someone who is interested in the subject but isn't inclined to "heavy" reading. However, if the person wants to do further reading, there are suggested titles in the back of the book and also questions for discussion. 190 pages, 12.95

Reasons to Believe (How to understand, explain, and defend the Catholic Church) by Scott Hahn. If you've read any of Scott Hahn's other titles, then you're familiar with his stye: very clear, very readable, very convincing. And coming from someone who is himself a convert and passionate about the faith, it's a book to have. 227 pages, 21.95

Hope that helps. I'll get back to you soon on recommendations for Biblical Commentary! That list will be a little longer.

Catechisms!

2007-11-07T11:46:00.001-08:00

I got an e-mail asking when I was going to resume ordinary blogging. I don't know! For now it's easier to have Sr. Anne record me on video talking about the books I love. And speaking of books I love...

Back again!

2007-10-09T15:57:00.001-07:00

Here I am with more books! Sr. Anne taped me while we were in Boston this summer recording a new album.
Speaking of new albums, our newest Christmas album is now available.
But meanwhile, here are the latest "Best Books" for you to catch up on!

Summertime!

2007-05-28T14:03:00.002-07:00

Share our mission by adding a link to this video to your blog or e-mail! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McTLqUCwXKg

For the Month of May!

2007-05-07T20:11:00.000-07:00

Better late than never! Sr. Anne took this footage while I was in Chicago for a meeting...

Stations of the Cross

2007-03-10T18:35:00.000-08:00

Did you ever find the Stations of the Cross booklets to be a bit too, well, saccharine? Or maybe just spiritually unhelpful? Sister Anne (from our Chicago community) looks at some newer titles (and one really old one) that could renew your Way of the Cross. Suggestions for kids, too!
Go to http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1180001027038762145.

The Best Catholic Books for Lent

2007-01-30T08:26:00.000-08:00

Sr. Teresa taped me while I was in Boston in January, and Sr. Anne put together the somewhat "unfinished" finished product. After you've seen my recommendations for Lent, please consider sharing our mission by adding a link to the video to your e-mail signature for the Lenten season.

Best Catholic Books for Lent! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiBj2XlTF74 Don't have much time? Here's the two-minute version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQkuWjgiDYo. Share the Pauline mission! Add these links to your e-mail.

The Best Catholic Books for New Year's

2007-01-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

Catholic books to help you start the New Year out in faith! Just a few, but worth your while (at least I think so!).

Advent and Christmas

2006-11-25T11:34:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not...

2006-05-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

It's funny how you have plans to read one book and end up with another.

I had no intentions of reading it but for some reason I picked up a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (a great small size copy that's kind of like a prayerbook or missal...printed in Australia and I found it in Italy...but it's in English, in case you're wondering!) I used it once before for meditation a few years ago and decided to read through it again. This time with a hi-lighter. Just for your happy information...it's marvellous. Like classic art...you can never exhaust it and you never get tired of going back to it again and again. I get the same feeling when I'm reading the Gospels - how did I miss that? Was that always there?

Read #260 . The prayer by Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity is beyond beautiful.

The CCC is not just a textbook or a reference book....it deserves to be meditated!

What's your favorite number??

Anything good for Easter?

2006-04-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

I was asking the same thing myself! I read Pope Benedict's On the Way to Jesus Christ, which has some wonderful chapters, but it's a collection of essays he gave at different times and not the same thing as a book he actually sat down and wrote (as he did with Spirit of the Liturgy). Chapter two is "Wounded by the Arrow of Beauty" and is worth reading even if you don't read the whole book. This part was great: "I have often said that I am convinced that the true apologetics for the Christian message, the most persuasive proof of its truth, offsetting everything that may appear negative, are the saints, on the one hand, and the beauty that the faith has generated, on the other. For faith to grow today, we must lead ourselves and the presons we meet to encounter the saints and to come in contact with the beautiful."

And if you haven't read Spirit of the Liturgy, I can't recommend it highly enough. I thought it was a book I would read and then pass on (which I did....reluctantly...to a very good friend!), but turned out to be a book that I want to keep and re-read more than once. If the Mass was celebrated the way he describes in this book, our churches wouldn't be large enough to hold the people! But anyhow, since I did loan out the book, I was caught without an "Easter" book for meditation, so I found an older title on my book shelf that I'm enjoying all over again. Fully Human, Fully Divine, is one of those titles you rarely come across. The kind that you like so much, you're willing to buy it and give it away to others. (Trust me, on my limited budget, that's saying something!). It's written by an Australian Benedictine, Michael Casey, and is an incredibly well-written and practical book on Christology. It's the only book I have ever read three consecutive times. My copy is underlined, highlighted, tons of notations....and I still find something new every time I read it.

If you're looking for something shorter, but still spiritually "meaty", I'd suggest Nearer the Heart of God. I got a copy for Christmas and I'm using it every morning. It's a book of Daily Readings with the Christian Mystics. If you don't have more than ten or fifteen minutes, you should have a copy of this book. I usually start out my morning meditation with this.

True Confessions

2006-04-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

After telling you all about my favorite book for Lent....I changed my mind. It's still one of the top on my list, but for some reason I needed something different this year. In the end I pulled a title I had read a few years ago, but was just what I needed. (It's good for the Easter sason, too!) Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John by Jean Vanier. Big long title, but the book is not an academic challenge. I love the simplicity of Jean Vanier's writing, kind of like the simplicity of the Gospel itself. Gets right to the point and you think you've got it after a quick read....but it's deceptively simple and has a richness and depth to it that makes it great for meditation in the morning. I have to go to morning prayer, but I'll be back with the rest of my list.

my favorite Lent book

2006-03-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

Ok. If I had to pick one, just one...which would it be?

Bread and Wine. I use it every single Lent. It's a book of short readings for the whole season, Lent and Easter (72 readings in all), but it's different from all the others because of the great authors it has in this one book. Kathleen Norris, Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Thomas Merton, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Romano Guardini, Christina Rosetti, Blaise Pascal, Peter Kreeft, Dag Hammarskjold, G.K.Chesterton, Edith Stein, Mother Teresa, St. Augustine, Simone Weil, C.S.Lewis, Dorothy Sayers, Walter Cisek, Dorothy Day, Leo Tolstoy.... and I'm not listing all of them! No matter how much time you're able to devote to lenten reading, these are short enough - only a page or two - as well as substantial! It's a keeper!

So....now it's your turn to share. What's your favorite?

The thing with blogging...

2006-03-01T07:19:00.000-08:00

Because I like to talk, most of my sisters and friends are under the mistaken impression that I'm able to write, or that I like to "give" talks (as in official public speaking). I can't and I don't, so why in the world would I bother with blogging, when it kind of involves both? I don't know. Honestly, I don't know. Maybe because I love a good conversation?

Anyhow, today being Ash Wednesday, it got me thinking about the on-going conversation that blogging essentially is, a kind of spillway, a place where I can put the overflow, and if others are listening in...maybe they'll find it helpful, and maybe they'll share something helpful with me! So I'm sitting in chapel this morning and it came to me that the first blogsite I should be maintaining is the one with Jesus, where in the truest sense, I can pour the overflow of my heart into his, where the conversation is ongoing, and whether through words or silences, he is able to pour the overflow of his heart into mine.

Whether with blogging or with prayer, seems to be a discipline and a commitment to being present to the other. So my resolution this Lent is to spend more time "blogging" with Jesus and to keep in mind the beautiful words he addressed to a mystic, "Talk to me....for me there is no sweeter prayer."

Love in the Ruins

2006-02-23T07:32:00.000-08:00

One of Walker Percy's best. And in post-Katrina New Orleans where I'm now living, one of the most appropriate, believe me! The story takes place in New Orleans, in a time facing the apocalypse. For those who haven't read it, please do. And read it together with Benedict's new Encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (which can be printed from the Vatican website, or , if you prefer it in book form, you can click on the Daughters of St. Paul link. )

I went to a talk this past week, which still has me thinking and going back to these two sources for more. It was given by Christopher Baglow, and he did a fascinating job of interweaving Walker Percy's novel with Benedict's encyclical....and the post-Katrina situation in which we find oursleves. Giving a summary of it really wouldn't do it justice, so as soon as he e-mails the text to me, I'll pass it on to you. It's worth reading, and will have you picking up Love in the Ruins and God is Love. Just by the way, for those intimidated by papal encyclicals, dont be. You'll love it.

Watcha reading?

2006-02-15T05:49:00.000-08:00

Right now? A book by Peter Kreeft, Christianity for Modern Pagans. I was putting away books in from a new shipment and was ready to shelve this one, when something caught my eye. According to Kreeft, his book is an "edited, outlined, and explained" version of Pascal's Pensees. Truth be told, I only have a very casusal acquaintance with Blaise Pascal and haven't read his Pensees completely....just some very good quotes here and there...so I thought Peter Kreeft's book was worth a second look. More than just a look- actually, I found it so engaging that I'm half way through it and really enjoying it. Since I took a very helpful suggestion and got myself a copy of Sophie's World, these two titles go hand in hand. Anyhow, an interesting point from the introduction mentions that Pascal had a huge personal library but at the end of his very short life (he died in his thirties) the only two books he possessed were the Bible and the Confessions of St. Augustine. I love when I find books inside of books! Like Blaise Pascal reading Augustine, or C.S. Lewis reading Charles Williams, or Dorothy Day reading Dostoyevsky. Know of any others?

"I found these nuns!"

2006-02-10T07:50:00.000-08:00

Well, I suppose it was only a matter of time. Once we made the connection between the "saints" of our books and the saints-in-Sacred-Heart-Church, it didn't take us long to figure out the rest. We admired these saints, these larger-than-life people, but the main reason we felt such an attraction to them was they were all our age! It might have been coincidence, but more likely Providence, that every one so far had been in the 12-15 age bracket. Bernadette, Maria Goretti, Joan of Arc, Agnes, Cecilia, (the one exception being Mary Magdalene). It's hard to describe what kind of impact this discovery had for us at that age. Explosive, definitely. Because the next obvious step for us was to want what they had and to be part of the Church they belonged to.
For Christine, it proved much easier than she expected. When she announced her intention to take instructions at Sacred Heart Church, her mother confessed that technically, she already was Catholic, having been baptized as an infant. Her mother had "fallen away" from the Church soon after and just never went back. As far as Christine remembered, they had always been Protestant, so this was great news. Me, on the other hand! Well, let's just say it was equivalent to saying I wanted to be Buddhist. Didn't go over well at all.
But I'm getting ahead of the story.

One day, Chris tells me that she was looking through some old issues of Catholic Digest and she found this postage-size ad for a Catholic bookstore in Philly and would I like to go? And on top of that, the book store was run by nuns (another of our new interests!). She assured me that I didn't need money, since after all, it was a nun's bookstore...and she was sooooo lucky her Mom came with us and loaned me the money I didn't bring along! It was a treasure house of all the books we were looking for. And the nuns were as interesting as the books. They looked at two 13 year olds asking for books on saints and asked the question that probably every nun would ask in those circumstances, "Did you ever think of being a sister?" Christine said sure. I did a double-take because even though I was her best friend, this was news to me! But not wanting to leave me out, the sister asked me the same question. "So, have you ever thought about being a sister?" "I haven't really given it much thought, but it sounds good. But I'm not Catholic...does that matter?" Have to give her credit. She didn't skip a beat, just handed me a catechism and said she would write to me. The rest is history!

No more good books!

2006-02-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

I admit, this is an unreasonable fear, but it is one I felt strongly when I was 13.

Here's how it happened. Christine and I (both of us Protestant, by the way) made a huge discovery the summer of seventh grade.

I told her I had found this terrific book in the Junior High library, The Scarlet Lily ( a novel about St. Mary Magdalene), and she shared her great find at the public library, The Song of Bernadette. We swapped books and then went to hunt for more. After scouring the dewey decimal system for anything with "St." the only books we came up with were The Penitent (the story of Maria Goretti), a life of Joan of Arc, and an old title by Frances Parkinson Keyes called The Three Ways of Love. That was it! We were both convinced we had exhausted all the good books in the world. Couldn't figure out exactly who these people were with St. prefix, but our local libraries had no more to offer and we were dying for more!

Because of this we made a second discovery. While we were church-hopping (a summer pastime, visiting churches open during the day and looking around) we found that Sacred Heart Church across the street from where I lived had the most interesting things to look at, but the really surprising thing was they had stained-glass windows of the people we had read about in the books. There was a huge Maria Goretti up by the choir loft, Mary Magdalene over by the confessionals, and Bernadette in all her glory in the Madonna chapel. Somehow, all these fascinating people belonged to Sacred Heart Church. Made sense to us.

More later. We did find other books, by the way, and we hadn't exhausted all the good books in the world. Thank God.

my fiction list

2006-02-05T17:30:00.000-08:00

this list is by no means exhaustive, so I could use some help. what titles are missing that you feel reflect a Catholic worldview?

Death Comes for the Archbishop (Cather)
The Man Who Was Thursday (Chesterton)
Father Brown - The Essential Tales (Chesterton)
Mr. Blue (Connolly)
Keys of the Kingdom (Cronin)
The Divine Comedy (Dante)
The Spear (novel of the Crucifixion) (de Wohl)
Restless Flame (St. Augustine) (de Wohl)
Citadel of God (St. Benedict) (de Wohl)
Lay Seige to Heaven (St. Catherine of Siena) (de Wohl)
Joyful Beggar (St. Francis of Assisi) (de Wohl)
Set All Afire (St. Francis Xavier) (de Wohl)
Quiet Light (St. Thomas Aquinas) (de Wohl)
Crime and Punishment (Dostoyevsky)
The Brothers Karamazov (Dostoyevsky)
Murder in the Cathedral (Eliot)
Brother Cadfael Mysteries (Ellis)
In this House of Brede (Godden)
End of the Affair (Greene)
The Power and the Glory (Greene)
The Heart of the Matter (Greene)
Les Miserables (Hugo)
Till We Have Faces (Lewis)
Scewtape Letteres (Lewis)
Great Divorce (Lewis)
Chronicles of Narnia (Lewis)
Space Triology (Lewis)
Pilgrims Regress (Lewis)
Lilith (Macdonald)
The Betrothed (Manzoni)
A Canticle of Leibowitz (Miller)
Collected Works of Flannery O'Connor (O'Connor)
The Edge of Sadness (O'Connor, Edwin)
Lancelot (Percy)
The Moviegoer (Percy)
The Last Gentleman (Percy)
Lost in the Cosmos (Percy)
Love in the Ruins (Percy)
Message in the Bottle (Percy)
Second Coming (Percy)
Signposts in a Strange Land (Percy)
Thanatos Syndrome (Percy)
Our Lady of the Lost and Found (Schoemperlen)
Lord of the Rings (Tolkien)
Joan of Arc (Twain)
Kristin Lavransdatter (Undset)
Master of Hestviken (Undset)
Grace Will Lead Me Home (Valentine)
A Miracle for St. Cecilia's (Valentine)
A Gathering of Angels (Valentine)
Ben Hur (Wallace)
Helena (Waugh)
Brideshead Revisited (Waugh)
Shoes of the Fisherman (West)
War in Heaven (Williams)
Descent into Hell (Williams)

1969: my memorable year

2006-02-04T15:15:00.000-08:00

I've always loved books, and just yesterday I was thinking about it how it all started.

When I was growing up I spent most of my Saturdays in the public library (the most entertaining thing to do where I lived) , but I think I really, really got my interest in books thanks to my 6th grade teacher, Mrs McQuate. Oh, and the reason I could never forget the year of 6th grade was her habit of banging a huge glass paperweight on the file cabinet next to her desk, loudly proclaiming to us that "this is not the stone-age, people...this is 1969!" Her wild hair reminded you of a feminine Beethoven...funny what you remember.

Well, anyway, 6th grade started out with the announcement that we would be making weekly trips to the library on the 2nd floor of the school and we would also have to give weekly book reports. Since I already spent most of my free time in the library, I thought I would really enjoy this. Then she took us to the hall closet where we hang our coats and boots. It was long and skinny and way in the back she had shelves of books (her books) which she then proceeded to pass out to each of the students. For keeps.

My new best friend, Christine, was handed Uncle Tom's Cabin (or something equally chubby and challenging), and a few of the other girls were given copies of Little Women, Jane Eyre, Don Quixote (you get the picture, right?) So she finally gets to me and she hands me a book called Manuela's First Birthday. Maybe it was a children's classic or something, but my 6th grade self looked at it in shock. The inside of it reminded me of a first grade reader. And to add insult to injury, I had to give a book report on it!

So for our first trip to the library, I wasn't even looking for a specific title, I just made a bee-line for the fattest book on the shelf and it turned out to be the life of Beethoven. My mother just turned 70 this year and she still remembers the day I brought that book home. Every week for the rest of the school year we made our library trips and book reports, and although it was instigated by humiliation and hurt pride, I'm still grateful to Mrs. McQuate and Manuela's First Birthday for getting me started in my life-long love of reading.

So what's your "breakthrough" book experience?

Introductions

2006-01-30T18:48:00.000-08:00

I'm looking forward to sharing book reviews with you! Get ready for MY "lifetime reading list" of Catholic books, all personally vouched for by my discriminating taste.