Review: Linking Your Beads: The Rosary's History, Mysteries and Prayers

I went to Catholic schools for almost all of my education:  9 years parochial elementary, 4 years in a Dominican highschool, 4 years in a Jesuit college -- these were wonderful years of learning with a bit of a Catholic tint.  Unfortunately, all this schooling was from 1966-1983 -- not exactly the heyday of good, solid Catholic education.  It was post-Vatican 2 and on the West Coast at least, alot of what we loved, lived and learned previously was thrown out with the proverbial bath water.

One of the "holes" in my Catholic education was understanding the Marian devotions -- to this day, I can't remember all the mysteries of the rosary without some prompting, nor do I have a clear understanding of why folks for centuries have been praying these beads.

Enter the opportunity to review the new book by Patricia Ann Kasten:  Linking Your Beads: The Rosary's History, Mysteries, and Prayers.  Reading a bit like a doctoral thesis (but with a light-hearted touch as to make it very readable), this book has explained so much to me.  Kasten starts with the background devotion of using beads or other markers when reciting prayers.  She links the rosary to the Desert Fathers who would recite each of the 150 psalms while they went through their work-day.  To keep track of which psalm they were on, the good men would used beads on a string.  These beads eventually shifted to people using them to recite the Our Father or other prayers -- beads on a string help us to keep track (something that is quite important in our hectic modern world!).

The entry of the rosary -- with it's now-four sets of mysteries (Venerable John Paul the Great added the 5 Luminous Mysteries to the traditional Glorious, Joyful and Sorrowful mysteries in his apostolic letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae in October 2002), has been prayed with slight modifications for 500-600 years.  Although traditionally attributed to St. Dominic (1170-1221), Kasten explains that the popular use of the rosary only dates to about the 15th century -- but the spread of its usage throughout Europe is definitely from the Domincan preachers who traveled Europe, catechizing the peoples.  

Kasten than walks the reader through every piece of the rosary -- from the sign of the cross at the beginning of the devotion, through the Apostle's Creed, the Our Fathers, the Hail Marys, the Glory Bes (also known as the "doxology"),  the Salve Regina, and the final AMEN.  She explains the background behind each of these prayers and why they are included in the rosary.  She also quickly points out that the rosary, as with all prayer, leads us to a devotion to Jesus and God's love; the rosary does this through meditation on the life of Jesus:

• in the Joyful Mysteries:  the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Birth, the Presentation and the finding of the Child Jesus in the temple
• in the Luminous Mysteries:  baptism of our Lord, wedding feast at Cana, proclamation of the kingdom, transfiguration and the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper
• in the Sorrowful Mysteries:  the agony in the garden, the scourging at the pillar, the crowning with thorns, the carrying of the cross and the crucifixion
• in the Glorious Mysteries:  the Resurrection, the Ascension, Pentecost, Assumption of Mary and the coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Kasten does a fabulous job at explaining each one of these mysteries, giving the reader something to meditate upon when "saying the beads". She ends her book with details about some of the variations (including additional prayers such as the Fatima prayer), the myriad chaplets that can be said using the rosary beads, and even the different colors used for rosaries and why.

This is an amazing book -- filled with the author's deep love of the rosary, a deep love she wants to share with her readers.   I highly recommend this book -- especially for those of us who have this "hole" in our Catholic understanding.  This book will fill that hole!

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This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Linking Your Beads:The Rosary's History, Mysteries and Prayers. They are also a great source for serenity prayer and baptism gifts.

 

Review: A Biblical Walk Through the Mass

I have just finished an amazing book that taught me so much.  A Biblical Walk Through the Mass: Understanding What We Say and Do in the Liturgy by Dr. Edward Sri taught me more in its 150 pages than I learned about the Mass in my 17 years of formal Catholic schooling.  Here I am a cradle-Catholic and yet there are comments, descriptions and explanations in this book that I didn't know before or never had it explained to me in these easy terms.  Dr. Sri proves that the Catholic Mass is tied to tradition and scripture and that every piece has a reason ... a past ... a link to bringing the participants into the Presence.

Dr. Sri, provost and professor at the Augustine Institute in Denver, goes through EVERY aspect of the Catholic Mass and explains the scriptural basis and historic setting of each part.  Starting with the "Sign of the Cross" in the Introductury Rite, working through the section known as the Liturgy of Word (the how, why and who for the readings, responses, homily and creed), explaining the rituals and prayers performed during the Liturgy of the Eucharist and then quickly following with a breaking apart of each element of the Eucharistic Prayer (when the priest changes the water and wine into the sacred Body and Blood of Jesus Christ during the consecration -- a time known as the mystery of the Faith), and then finishing with the Communion Rite and the Concluding Rites (including the sending forth of the congregation to spread the Gospel).

Dr. Sri speaks from his knowledge and expertise as a theologian and scripture scholar.  But he doesn't just give the reader his opinion.  He quotes Church documents (including the Catechism), papal writings and encyclicals, other theologians and scholars including Doctors of the Church and direct scriptural quotes.
This book is a book for apologists, catechists and even "Joe Blo" in the pew -- this book helps illuminate the truth, beauty and good inherent in the Catholic Mass and gives the historic and spiritual underpinnings of each element.  And, it is very readable for the untrained!  This is an amazing resource for use in the home or parish or school.  Excellent ... excelllent ... excellent!

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This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on A Biblical Walk Through The Mass Book . They are also a great source for serenity prayer and baptism gifts.

 

Review: Fr. Groeschel's Travelers Along the Way

First, a disclaimer:  I love Fr. Benedict Groeschel ... I love listening to him on EWTN, have read others of his books and just really admire this long-time evangelist/crusader for ecumenism/example of God's great love for us all.  I mean, look at the cover of his latest book, Travelers Along the Way, doesn't he just look NICE?

So, I was set to like this book ... and after spending the weekend reading it, I can assure you, that this book exceeded my expectations.  Fr. Benedict Groeschel, a founding member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and EWTN host, takes us on a journey through his life; a journey where the reader gets glimpses of some of the many men and women who have shaped and affected Fr. Groeschel's life.

He has vignettes about Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta, Mother Angelica, Terence Cardinal Cooke and Blessed Solanus Casey ... and these are remarkable (and very personal) stories he tells; glimpses of the sanctity inherent in each of these well-known and well-loved characters.  But he also has a story about the Jewish cleaner who gave him such sage advice 50+ years ago when Fr. Benedict was heading to seminary:  "be a good boy".  This simple phrase ... and the deeper meaning behind the philospher-dry cleaner's words ... has stuck with Fr. Benedict ever since. 

Or the story he tells about Ruby, the woman who came every year to get the holiday food basket for her neighbors who couldn't come themselves and her simple faith and love and sheer happiness she exhibited every time Fr. Benedict saw her.  When Fr. Benedict asked Ruby what made her so happy all the time, she explained that her mother told her when she was little: at noon everyday thank God for your blessings.  Ruby, in taking time to thank God daily, brought a special love to everything she did.  Fr. Groeschel paints this lovely woman and her simple faith for the reader in words filled with love and tenderness.

He has stories about young folks he's met on the streets of New York ... and stories about the religious he's met on retreat ... stories about people who have worked for him for years .... and stories about people he knew just briefly.  Some of the stories have happy endings and some have sad endings; but EVERY story is about people who each have a message and meaning for Fr. Groeschel and he shares that message, that meaning, with his readers.

The subtitle of this book, "the men and women who shaped my life", doesn't go quite far enough.  Through these stories, the reader not only understands more about Groeschel's life, the reader also begins to see how our own lives are shaped by our encounters. The reader begins to see a path to sanctity in all walks of life ... to see that each person that comes our way is a gift from God, a chance to grow in holiness.  As I read these stories, I began to think about some of the travelers with whom I've journeyed: the teachers from grammar school ... the co-workers ... the other moms ... the people who have hated me (and thus made me re-think what I was doing, either confirming or negating my actions) ... the kids in college.

What a great and wonderful gift God gives us in and through others we meet.  Fr. Benedict Groeschel's book will get you thinking about these fellow travelers and ones you've met.  Trust me, you'll enjoy the journey through his life and begin to see the blessings in your own.

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This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Travelers Along the Way . They are also a great source for serenity prayer and baptism gifts.

 

Review: The Virtues by Pope Benedict XVI

First, let me just say that I love Pope Benedict's writings.   They seem so much more accessible than the amazing writings of JPtheGreat (of whom I am an ENORMOUS fan and actually met one day in Rome!).  Pope Benedict, who is a career academician really knows how to write to his audience.  I was thrilled when Catholic Company had The Virtues as a reviewable item -- I quickly requested that one and here's my review:

The Virtues is an edited compilation of Pope Benedict's writings that mention the seven virtues of faith, hope, charity (love), prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance.  This is a great meditation book ... a book I'd pull out daily to read a snippet, spending almost a month (there is an average of 20 quotes per virtue) on each virtue. 

The quote include excerpts from Pope Benedict's encyclicals, homilies, specific-themed talks, and other chances he has had to teach the faithful about these virtues.

The first section of the book covers the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity:  first with a definition (from the Catholic Catechism) of each and then with their own quotes from Benedict's writings.  The theological virtues are those that are enfused from God -- the virtues that you will not see in the animal kingdom but only within the human species.  Then, the book moves on to the cardinal virtues (those that are "natural" virtues whether or not you believe in God): prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance -- again with an overview definition from the Catechism, but then moving on to specifics as mentioned in Pope Benedict's writings/talks.

This is a treasure trove of teachable moments for all who are trying to teach the Catholic Faith -- whether you're a mom/dad, a homeschooler or a Catholic school teacher, this book is for you!  We chose the virtue of charity/love as our theme for 2011 and this book fits perfectly into my need to teach/explain this theological virtue to my own kids!  This really is a wonderful meditative book, not heavy, but very attainable, that discusses these seven virtues ... definitely a book that will be well-used, well-read in our house!

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Disclaimer:  This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on The Virtues . They are also a great source for serenity prayer and baptism gifts.
 

Review: A Franciscan Christmas

A Franciscan Christmas ... a tiny book that has a BIG message:  thoughts and explanations on each of the "characters" of the Nativity with a Franciscan slant.  This is a great book by the managing editor of St. Anthony Messenger Press, Kathleen M. Carroll.  She describes and defines each part of a traditional Nativity set in light of Francis and his Order's spirituality.

Carroll covers Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, Magi, angels, villagers, musicians, animals and the Star.  Each has it's own meditation -- a chance for the reader to not just learn about Francis and his thoughts but also apply that spirituality to today's world.  Her last paragraph of each "chapter" gives a rather thought-provoking statement of how we can best live out the Christmas message.

I would have wished that Carroll would have developed more about Francis' spirituality and reasoning for having each "character" in his world-famous "live" Creche; her own thoughts, although interesting, dilute the Franciscan message.  Further, I think the publisher (St. Anthony Messenger Press) lost a great chance to make a really beautiful Christmas gift book:  by including colored prints of Franciscan artistry depicting the Nativity and Epiphany with the meditations, this book would have been an amazing Christmas heirloom for families to share each year.  As the book is published now, it makes for an interesting read but I'm not sure of its longevity as a family-read tradition.

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Disclaimer:  This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on A Franciscan Christmas . They are also a great source for first communion gifts and baptism gifts.

 

Review: Why He is a Saint

I can still remember when Karol Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II. I was a senior in high school and my dad, who was justifiably proud of his Polish/Slavic heritage, was "over the moon" because a Polish cardinal was our newest pope.

Over the years, I became more and more fascinated by this occupant of Peter's Chair.  Outside high theological circles and his homeland, few had heard of Karol Wojtyla.  30 years later, John Paul the Great was a veritable "household name".  But who was he really and why would the Catholic Church start a canonization process for him so soon after his death?

I found answers to these questions (and many others) after reading Why He is a Saint: The Life and Faith of Pope John Paul II and the Case for Canonization by Slawomir Oder (translated by Antony Shugaar).  This is one of those books every Catholic should read to understand the man who was a saint in our own time.

Oder breaks the book into three parts: 

1. Karol Wojtyla, the Polish Catholic priest
2. Pope John Paul II, the leader of the Catholic Church in the latter part of the 20th century
3. Karol Wojtyla, the mystic and spiritually-endowed man

Oder contends (and I'd agree) that before one can understand JP2, one must understand that he is a product of his beginnings:  a devout Polish Catholic, born into a world fraught with sorrow and fears, whose faith rarely (if ever) wavered.  Wojtyla was proud of being born in 1920 -- the year of the Miracle at the Vistula when the Poles kept the Russians from a successful invasion, keeping the Poles' independent just a bit longer.  Wojtyla lost all his family before he was 21 -- but this made him more open to close-friendships with others, earning the pet-name "Uncle".  Wojtyla's world was turned upside down by the invasion by the Nazis before he was 21 -- Poland was no longer independent, but under the thumb of a despotic government.  Scary times ... fearful times ... sorrowful times for the man who would be pope.  At times like these, folks either cave-in or strengthen their faith -- Wojtyla chose the better road and entered the priesthood to help his fellow Poles.

The man who became Pope in October 1978 was very different from past popes, and not just because he was the first non-Italian in some 400 years.  John Paul II was young ... a product of his uncertain times ... a man who loved tradition but didn't let it own him.  From the first, the Vatican knew they had someone different in the Chair:  he bucked tradition by keeping his coat-of-arms from his archbishopric; he refused to wear the papal tiara at the coronation; he opted to visit a sick friend in the hospital the day after his election -- something very human and not, some considered, very papal.  But JP2 didn't let any of this bother him.  As long as he was doing the good, he didn't worry about what others thought or said. 

Another aspect of JP2's pontificate that shocked some, was his travels:  he was away from the Vatican 8.5% of his entire pontificate (not including official vacations at Castel Gandolfo or his hospital stays).  JP2 explained his travels by explaining that he was not just the successor to St. Peter, but also to St. Paul, who never stayed in one place very long.  JP2 explained, "I am traveling as a teacher of faith, but also as a disciple, to learn about the life of the local church."  In his travels, JP2 never allowed fear or uncertainty to stop him.  In 1983 he planned a trip to Nicaragua, during this country's great problems with Communism, Sandinistas and liberation theology issues.  "We must go, even though it will not be a great success.  This church needs to be reinforced now, when it is passing through a very critical moment."  The papal travels included trips to mend relations with other faiths -- not to assent to a "let's just all love one another" superficiality but rather to accelerate the process of communication between sister churches and begin to find common ground, to re-build the relationships necessary for unification.

Karol Wojtyla the mystic is the final portion of the book and is a bit harder to synthesize.  Oder explains that, in doing an analysis of Wojtyla's life, writings, speeches and actions, five key areas help to define this man of God:

1. man immersed in a relationship with God: every person has dignity and rights from conception to natural death
2. faith: the only way to read and comprehend the mystery of man and that with faith, all difficulties (no matter their size or destructiveness) are overcome
3. charity, the love for God and man: defines the meaning of life, a willingness to forgive, offers hope for the future, and destroys the barriers of prejudice and hatred
4. dialogue: open discussion with other humans striving to find Truth in all things
5. prayer: the loving conversation between man and God

Included throughout this book are anecdotes and events that portray JP2 in a human light with supernatural overtones.  Each anecdote is further proof of sanctity ... of a life led by following God's will and having faith in God's providence. 

Excellent for high school students and above to understand a bit more about this man many call "John Paul the Great"!

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Disclaimer:  This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Why He is a Saint - The Life and Faith of Pope John Paul II and the Case for Canonization and be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts while you are there.

Review: We Have a Pope: 2000 Years of Preserving the Faith

First, let me say that I really enjoy Steve Ray's apologetics books and videos.  This booklet, We Have a Pope: 2000 Years of Preserving the Faith, is a great example of what I like best about Ray's work:  he has a quirky sense of humor and a way with words that is only excelled by his deep love and understanding of the Catholic faith. 

We Have a Pope is a short booklet ... only 32 pages ... but each page gives a clear and concise (often with just a touch of humor) explanation for the question asked.  The topics discussed include:

• why do we need a pope
• who instituted the papacy
• why Peter
• what's so important about a name change
• what authority did Peter have
• who actually led the early Church
• Rome, not Jerusalem or Antioch
• how do we know that Peter had successors
• how were successors chosen
• what does "papal primacy" mean
• did the early Church think the pope had primacy
• what about the pope's titles
• what does the pope do
• do Catholics always have to agree with the pope
• infallibility
• if popes sin, how can we trust what they say
• should the pope matter to non-Catholics
• why the pope should matter to you

These questions are all clearly answered, making this a great booklet to have on hand for answering Catholics and non-Catholics alike when they question the papacy.  Ray (and his co-writer, R. Dennis Walters) quotes scripture extensively to prove their arguments when answering the above questions.  It's hard to refute scripture and Ray is a master as using the Bible to elucidate Catholic truths.

This is one of those booklets that should be in every home and Catholic classroom.  Many people (both Catholic and non-) just really don't understand who the Pope is and why we must follow his teachings on faith and morals, why we have a Pope at all. 

Boy, 32 pages sure can pack a punch!

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Disclaimer:  This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on We Have a Pope and be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts while you are there.
 

Review: The Power of the Sacraments

This is one of those books that proves the adage "don't judge a book by its cover" (or size, in this case).  This unassuming volume -- small in size (5"x5") and few pages (only 64) -- is packed with great information.  The Power of the Sacraments by Sr. Briege McKenna is an excellent resource for reviewing the meaning behind the seven sacraments.  Sr. Briege McKenna, a Sister of St. Clare, is well-known throughout the world in her vocation of ministry to priests and her healing ministry.  An Irish woman, Sr. Briege has brought her ministry to all parts of the world, using some of these experiences to illustrate the efficacy of each of the sacraments.

After explaining exactly what a sacrament is (an outward sign of God's grace and unconditional love for us), Sr. Briege goes on to explain each sacrament with specific examples of how the sacrament has worked in the lives of real people.  Each of these examples is excellent in pointing out God's infinite love for each of us when we ask (by receiving the specific sacrament).

This book is a great  "refresher course"  for those of us who may be a little "rusty" on the need for the various sacraments; it is also a great overview for introducing the sacraments given to us by Jesus.  I will be using this book for introducing each sacrament as BamBam prepares for the reception of his First Reconciliation and his First Holy Communion in the Spring 2011. 

Highly recommend.

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This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on The Power of the Sacraments and be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts while you are there.  The comments in the review above are my honest opinion of this book by Sr. Breige.

Review: The Old Mass and the New

I am a Catholic of the post-Vatican 2 generation.  I was born just before the Council convened and made my First Communion just as the changes were occuring.  When I was little, there were still Communion rails in some churches ... still some who celebrated the Mass ad orientem ... still some parishes who encouraged the traditions of the Church.  Some.

But I am a product of a very liberal catechesis.  After all, I grew up in San Francisco and, although I attended Catholic schools all the way through undergrad, most were pretty liberal and embracing the new way of doing things.  Not that all the "new" ways were bad ...

Personally, I have never understood the desire by many to return to the "old Mass" ... to don mantillas and attempt to follow along while the priest has his back to the congregation and occasionally an altar server moves from right to left and back again.  I just don't get it, but I understand that it is completely valid for others to celebrate the Liturgy in this way.  I just don't get it.

Which is why I jumped at the chance to review The Old Mass and the New: explaining the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI by Bishop Marc Aillet.  This book was originally published in France shortly after Pope Benedict's promulgation of his motu proprio in 2007; the version I read has just been translated/published by Ignatius Press.  I wanted to try to understand why the Church is seeking to reform the liturgy.  There are things I don't like about the Mass, but isn't it basically the Mass wherever I go?

Bishop Aillet, who is the bishop of Bayonne, France and has successfully brought both the Old and New Mass into his diocese, proves in his volume the reason behind the liturgical reform and how best for Catholics to keep the good and toss the bad.  The Old Mass and the New: explaining the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI is a wonderful reference for Catholics to better understand the WHY of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

It's not a large volume -- only some 126 pages (and that includes the text of Summorum Pontificum as well as all the end notes, etc) -- but it packs a punch!  In this book, I came to understand better the errors made in the execution of the Second Vatican Council's directives for how to encourage greater participation in the Mass while retaining the good, the true and the beautiful.  This book explains that it is much more than a matter of wearing a mantilla to Mass or celebrating the Mass in the vernacular vs Latin.  This is not the point that the Holy Father was trying to make in his motu proprio NOR was it the point of what the Magisterium was trying to do in "throwing wide the doors" of the Church in what has become known as the Second Vatican Council.

Because of the errors in execution, we now have a Church divided -- those who embrace the Old Mass and those who embrace the New.  As Bishop Aillet describes:

The fact is that in the postconciliar Church we have witnessed a kind of dialectic opposition between the defenders of liturgical worship and the promoters of openness to the world.  Because the latter went so far as to reduce the Christian life to a mere social commitment, measured by a secular interpretation of the faith, the former reacted by taking refuge in a liturgy that was rigid to the pont of 'rubricism', with a danger of encouraging the faithful to protect themselves from the world... pg 39

A bunker mentality exists for the Old Mass proponets while the New Mass folks are merrily going about making what should be an expression of the mystery of the our Faith (and how we can live in the world but not "of" it), into a personal feelings expression of what each of us want it to be.  In other words, neither side is right; we have each gone too far to the right or the left.  This is not a question of either the Old or the New, it is a question of why we do what we do and how we do it.

With both sides so far left or right, we have lost the the sense of the mystery ... "the crisis in the liturgy is essentially the loss of the sense of the sacred" (pg 46).  Along with this loss of the sense of the sacred is the loss of the beauty ... the mistaken idea that by removing Chant or ancient music from the Mass we are allowing greater participation by the congregation. 

Bishop Aillet's book helped me to understand that the current Liturgical Reform movement is not a case of either the Old or the New ... but rather a situation of education.  We Catholics need to understand why we have what we have ... we need to re-kindle the beauty and mystery in the greatest celebration we can pariticpate in:  the sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross.  By revisiting both liturgies ... by looking at what is good, true and beautiful in each, by seeking to return the sense of the sacred to each and every offering at the Altar, is what the Liturgical Reform is all about. 

The book includes the full text of the Summorum Pontificum as well as the cover letter Popy Benedict XVI sent to all the bishops to assist in the promulgation of his motu proprio.

This book is not a light read ... there were areas that I had to re-read or research to understand ... but this is all to the good.  This is a book that stays out of the subjective emotional arena and focuses on the objective reality of what the Sacrifice of the Mass should be.

I highly recommend this one -- whether you wear a mantilla or not!

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Full disclosure:  I received this book as part of the Catholic Company's review program.  The thoughts above are my own personal critique of Bishop Aillet's book.  For further information or to order a copy of The Old Mass and the New, please check Catholic Company's site.  Also be sure to check out their great selection of Mary statues.
 

You can never start too early ...

when planning for the high holy feast days form Christmas Eve through to Little Christmas (or Epiphany).  I start planning in September (it's easy to remember, my birthday is EXACTLY 3 months before Christmas Day!) and add and subtract ideas all the way to about half-way thru Advent.  Christmas is that important to me.

Some traditions we repeat every year ... some are new ... and some are traditions I used to do when I was little but have forgotten or lost track thereof.  One of these old traditions just came across my desk this morning:  a note from Catholic Company that they are beginning to take pre-orders for Oplatki!

What ... you've never heard of Oplatki? 

Well then, dear reader, you must NOT be Polish, Czech, Slovak or Lithuanian! Oplatki (also known as oplatke, oplatek, etc) is reminiscent of communion host -- a thin, wafer-like bread whose name means roughly, "angel bread".  This is traditionally only served at Christmas with family members sharing a wafer each on Christmas day (or, as we used to, throughout the Christmas season). 

My dad's aunt, a Religious Sister of Mercy in Chicago, used to send us the wafers each year. We always added a touch of honey to the wafer, but this may not be capital "T" tradititional.   Each wafer came in its own envelope and was stamped with a holy image for the Christmas season -- manger scene, the Holy Family, or star shining over the crib, etc.  After saying a brief prayer, Dad would take a bit of the wafer and then pass it on to the next ... and the next ... and so on around the table.  The sharing helps us remember that we are all one ... but we need to extend charity to each other. We need to serve and share with each other.

The Oplatki is a tradition I'm planning on resurrecting this year ... and sharing with family and friends to introduce them to this Old World tradition, still meaningful in the 21st century!

Review: From Slave to Priest -- Fr. Augustine Tolton

Thirty-seven years ago, Sr. Caroline Hemesath (OSF), wrote a biography of the very first African-American priest in the United States.  In 2006, Ignatius republished this book and it is as timely to read now as it was when Hemesath published it in 1973.  From Slave to Priest: A biography of the Reverend Augustine Tolton, the first Black priest of the United States is an amazing read.

This biography tells the true story (based on letters, diaries, newspaper accounts and historical research) of Fr. Augustine Tolton.  Tolton, born in 1854, the second of three children, started life in a slave shack in Missouri to Catholic slave parents.  His father, desperate to improve the lives of his wife and children, went off to fight for the Union in the American Civil War, sacrificing his life on the battlefield.  Mrs. Tolton, afraid that the War (and slavery) would never end, bundled her children and escaped across the Mississippi to freedom in Illinois. 

At age 7, Augustine, his 8 year old brother Charley, and their 20-month old sister were free in name ... but the discrimination for their skin color last far longer.  Martha Jane Tolton, provided a home for her children, working hard all day to keep food on the table in "freedom" --  a shanty shack shared with another widowed woman and her child in Quincy, Illinois.  Augustine and his brother and mother worked long hours in a tobacco factory for what little money they could bring home; eventually, this small amount was lessened when always-sickly Charley caught pneumonia and died at the age of 10.  Augustine and his mother kept working.

Mrs. Tolton, illiterate herself but knowing her catechism and 10 Commandments, worked hard to ensure her remaining two children would learn ... both book-learning and their Catholic faith.  Attending the German Church, St. Boniface, with it's sympathetic pastor Fr. Schaeffermeyer, allowed the small family to increase their learning ... both book and faith wise!

It seems, Augustine had an early propensity for learning -- quickly picking up German and learning to read and write in both English and German.  He soon became the protege of the pastor and others ... but also the target for those "Catholics" who didn't like African Americans sharing their faith.

The book goes on to detail Augustine Tolton's persistence in doing the will of God -- to become a priest -- even though NO seminary in the United States would accept his application to study.  Tolton's story of diligence, perseverance and seeking/finding help from those willing to help, finally allow Tolton to receive seminary training in Rome at the Pontifical Seminary.

But, discrimination, hatred and abuse are never far from Tolton's life, even as a Catholic priest.  And yet, Tolton, knowing that Jesus suffered and died for us, willingly dealt with these horrors to pastor his flock in Quincy and Chicago.

Hemesath does a wonderful job of detailing the ups and downs of such a life -- being neither overly dramatic nor glossing over the despicableness of the actions of some.  The book reads like a novel, helping the reader to live the life Tolton must have lived, to experience the fears with the growing faith, to cheer with the successes and rebel against the discrimination.

This is a great book to read for celebrating the underdog, for embracing the good/bad/ugly of our Country's past, for reveling in the ability of God to make good out of bad.  I will have my 6th grader read this one for Black History month this year -- to help him see that good can win, that struggles and hardship for a good cause are worth it in the end, and to revel in the strength of one man's faith in God's will.

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This book was received for review as part of the Catholic Company's reviewer program.  The opinions expressed in this review are my honest view of this work.  For further information about From Slave to Priest, or any other items from the Catholic Company, please visit their site.

History: Hitler, the War and the Pope

Professor Ronald J. Rychlak's revised Hitler, the War, and the Pope is an amazing refutation of those who claim that the Catholic Church, especially in the person of Pope Pius XII, did little if anything to assist the victims of the terrorism wreaked during World War II. 

The first 385 pages of the book are a chronological overview of the pre-war years (and Pius' work as Secretary of State under Pius XI) through each year of the war up through 1945.  The final couple of chapters of the text include a refutation of some of the most popular "urban myth-telling" authors and speakers against the Catholic Church's contribution to saving the victims of the War.  The final 200 pages of the book are facsimile copies of the full memos and previously classified documents quoted in the text.

This is a scholarly book and heavy with detail, making this a great book for high schoolers studying the war as well as all Catholics to feel confident that the Holy Father was not EVER a Nazi sympathizer, anti-semitic or ignorant/lazy during the atrocities leveled against the innocents of Europe.  Week after week, month after month, for more than 10 years Eugenio Pacelli (later, Pius XII) worked to fight socialism, communism and the terrors of Hitler and Mussolini's dictatorships.  Quoted memos, interviews and diary entries bolster up the story that Rychlak unrolls -- a story about a man who was willing to incur the wrath of a madman rather than stay quiet any longer.  The book is full of  accounts of the atrocities leveled at the Jews (especially the Polish Jews), the Catholic religious, and anyone else deemed "unnecessary"; but more importantly, are the proofs of what Pacelli and the Catholic Church did to combat these evil forces.

 For those who finish the first half of the book still thinking Pacelli was a Nazi-sympathizer, Rychlak dismantles every theory proposed ... every book or article written by the celebrated authors like John Cornwell (whose book, Hitler's Pope, so incensed me that it became an occasion of sin to read the trash.) ... every smear on the Pacelli "escutcheon".  Detailed refutation of each misquoted, half-quoted, poorly researched and flat out lies are the basis of the last half of this classic apologetics text. 

This is a great read (a bit heavy going in parts, but well worth it to slog on through) ... a great history source for 20th Century European history ... a great opus dedicated to a man of God.  This is a must-read for any student of modern European History.

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This review was written as part of the Catholic books reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Hitler, the War, and Pope, Revised and Expanded .

Review: The Fathers Volume II by Pope Benedict XVI

No doubt about it, Pope Benedict XVI is a born educator -- his speaches and writings are amazing learning/teaching tools to elucidate the Catholic faith. In addition, his writings are always very accessible to even this non-theologian/non-academic!

Since I'm such a fan, I jumped at the chance offered by The Catholic Company to review his latest volume:  The Fathers Volume II, based on Pope Benedict's Wednesday audiences given in 2008 and 2009.  These particular audiences (given in Italian) focused on the Fathers of the Catholic Church.  This book, published by Our Sunday Visitor, contains the official English translations of the 25 audiences.  [For a great overview of the Fathers of the Church, read NewAdvent's article  -- this will explain who the fathers are and why we rely on their writings/teachings to help learn more about our faith.]

What are "Wednesday General Audiences"?  From the Pontifical North American College website, the purpose of general audiences is explained as:
So the Wednesday audience is used by the Holy Father as a chance to teach the faithful ... and Pope Benedict used many of his audiences during 2008 and 2009 to teach all of us about the foundations or our Catholic faith, using the Fathers of the Church as the theme.  Each audience (and "chapter" in this book) covers a different "Father of the Church":

Each Wednesday, the Holy Father holds a general audience in Vatican City at 10:30 a.m. During the audience, a Gospel passage is read and is followed by a reflection given by the Holy Father. After this reflection, the Holy Father will greet many of the large groups present at the audience. At the end, he imparts his Apostolic Blessing upon the pilgrims present, their family and friends, as well as any religious objects.

1. St. Leo the Great
2. Boethius and Cassiodorus
3. St. Benedict of Nursia
4. Pseudo-Dionysius, the Areopagite
5. St. Romanus the Melodist
6. St. Gregory the Great
7. St. Columban
8. St. Isidore of Seville
9. St. Maximus the Confessor
10. John Climacus
11. Bede, the Venerable
12. St. Boniface, the Apostle of the Germans
13. Ambrose Autpert
14. Germanus of Constantinople
15. St. John Damascene
16. St. Theodore the Studite
17. Rabanus Maurus
18. John Scotus Erigena
19. Sts. Cyril and Methodius
20. St. Odo of Cluny
21. St. Peter Damian
22. Symeon the New Theologian
23. St. Anselm
24. Peter the Venerable
25. St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Each of these men have one thing in common -- they each wrote or preached in the first and second generations after the Apostles, helping to defend the newborn Christian faith, helping to elucidate the tenets of the Catholic Church, helping to "create a timeless anchor of faith that extends through the challenges of today."

Now, some of these guys I'd heard of -- Sts. Cyril and Methodius who helped bring the Faith to Eastern Europe, St. Boniface who evangelized the Germanic peoples, St. Bernard of Clairvaux who is famous for his great devotion to the Blessed Mother as well as some others.  But, about a quarter of these men, I'd never read about before:  Boethius and Cassiodorus, Ambrose Autpert, Germanus of Constantinople, St. Theodore the Studite, and Rabanus Maurus.  But, this little book ... with its half-a-dozen pages on each man's life and works, has taught me so much about our Faith, has helped me to understand the underpinnings of some of the Catechism I take for granted.

This is a great read but also a great book to have on each Catholic's shelves (as would Volume 1, which discusses the fathers from St. Clement (the third pope) to St. Augustine of Hippo).  This is a wonderful reference book or meditation and I will be using it next Fall when teaching my own kids about our Catholic faith.

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This book was sent to me as a part of the Catholic Company's book review program.  I was only required to write a review, but the above comments are my true and honest opinion of this work.  For further information about this book, please check the Catholic Company's website.

Review: The Four Teresas: Teresa of Avila, Therese of Lisiuex, Teresa Benedicta and Mother Teresa

I love to read books and give my personal, unedited and not always charitable opinion on said literary work.  Some of these books come to me free with the promise of posting a review (good, bad or indifferent, these publishers or store owners just want to get a review out there) ... while others I bought or borrowed and feel called upon to review.

This particular book by FUS alumna, Gina Loehr, is one of those that was sent free for a review.  Well, did I hit the jackpot on this one!  Titled The Four Teresas, this book is part biography, poor spiritual reflection, and part catechesis all rolled into one.  The book's theme links the four Teresas with Jesus's two greatest commandments (as noted in Matthew 22: 37-39): 

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Loehr takes this scripture passage, explaining just how to live this command from the Lord, by detailing the lives of four Catholic holy women:

1. Therese of Lisieux as a prime example of loving God with all your heart
2. Teresa of Avila as a prime example of loving God with all your soul
3. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein) as a prime example of loving God with all your mind
4. Mother Teresa of Calcutta as a prime example of loving your neighbor as yourself

Loehr gives a wonderfully complete biography of each of these wonderful role models.  Than she links their spirituality, life and works to the part of Jesus's commandment.  And finishes the section with a reflection on how we, today, in whatever walk of life can emulate these ladies.  She shows where the saints had failings ... just like we do ... but how they took those failings and fulfilled, joyfully and completely, God's will for each.

An interesting side-note is that all four Teresas are linked not only in name, but also in spiritual chrism (three were Carmelites and the fourth, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, credited St. Teresa of Avila for her vocation and how she carried it out), and in fighting for what they believed to be God's will.  They were strong women ... willing to buck society and family to do what they knew was right.

This is a book that I'll turn to again and again for inspiration when I'm feeling the need for some spiritual sustenance.  Loehr's writing is accessible and makes the lives of these amazing women seem accessible to one and all.  I highly recommend this one!

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This book was sent as part of The Catholic Company's review program.  I was required to write a review, but all comments above are my own honest opinions of the work reviewed.  For further information about The Four Teresas or to puchase a copy, please see The Catholic Company's website.

Review: Saint Clare: Beyond the Legend

Saint Clare, considered by many to be the "little plant" of St. Francis ... the "first Franciscan woman" ... "the saint of Assisi", led a fascinating life clothed in the silence of the convent, yet ready enough to argue with archbishops, cardinals and popes about her order of Damianites, working diligently to get her order approved (which occured on her death-bed).  Having the middle name "Clare", I've always been interested in this saint who seems to reside in the shadow of the legendary St. Francis, but who founded her own order of poverty-based Poor Clares (known at the time as Damianites since they lived at San Damiano). 

Marco Bartoli, a student of Clare studies, has given us in his book Saint Clare: Beyond the Legend a comparative study of Saint Clare based on the facts of her biography as written in the Acts of the Process of Canonization of Saint Clare (by eye witnesses, including her own sisters) and the emotions in the "Legend of Saint Clare the Virgin" which is a condensed version of the canonization process and clothed in the political (both secular and parochial) correctness of the day.  And the book shows that Clare was a very complicated individual ... rich but humble, modest yet forthright, a student and follower of St. Francis' way while also teaching and leading her own Damianites in their own spirituality.

This is a very scholarly, academic treatise about Saint Clare, her sisters and her Church.  Translated from Italian by another noted-Clarian scholar (Sr. Frances Downing, OSC from England), the book is heavy-going and laden with analysis, trying to find the "true Clare" amidst the rhetoric and politically-correct speech of the day.  Dr. Bartoli, a professor medieval history at the University of Perugia, wrote a previous book titled Clare of Assisi, which might be a better starting point for understanding Clare and her life and times before, during and after St. Francis. 

The book reads like a long scholarly review article rather than a biography but is no less interesting (although the ending was abrupt and didn't summarize Clare's life ... the book just ended).  I'd recommend this book to those who already know a bit about Clare and want to delve deeper into the life of an amazing 13th Century woman.

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This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. I was given a complimentary copy of this book with the request that I write a review; the review above is my honest opinion of this book.  Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Saint Clare - Beyond the Legend .

Review: Wisdom for Everyday Life From the Book of Revelation

Confession time:  I've NEVER read the Book of Revelations, the last book of the Bible.  All that symbolism and end-of-times stuff is a bit over my head.  That is until I read Fr. Richard Veras' book, Wisdom for Everyday Life from the Book of Revelation.  Fr. Veras' book details all the symbolism and imagery throughout all 20 chapters of Revelation.
One thing that he is quick to point out is that Revelations is NOT just about the end-times; Revelations is "a catechesis that summarizes foundational truths of Christianity."  Father later explains that "the Church sets this book before us as inspired Scripture tells us that it has relevance for every Christian in every historical moment and circumstance.  The battle it speaks about is a universal battle, so it refers in some way to every battle, great and small, that is fought in the Church's pilgrimage through time."

How cool is that?  Who knew?

Here's another cool thought:  The book of Revelation seeks to underscore the infinite dimensions behind the encounter with Christ and the decision to follow him. ... (it) draws our attentin to the fact that following Jesus is a gesture of inestimable worth and incalulable proportion.

Father Veras goes through each chapter of Revelation, step by step, to explain the major themes (including that "Jesus Christ is truly present in the midst of His Church").  The symbolism and imagery in this last book of the Bible, as explained in Fr. Veras' book, is amazing!  There is such richness throughout this relatively small volume (only 130 pages long)!

The final chapter sums up Revelations:  the message is one of hope, hope and faith that Jesus will come again, but more importantly is that he is here with His Church ALL THE TIME and the faithful must rejoice in this fact. 

He who testifies to these things says,"Surely I am coming soon." Amen.  Come Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.  Amen.  (Rev 22:20-21).

This is an amazing book by Fr. Richard Veras who is a pastor on Staten Island and has taught in parochial high schools.  He has a gift for ellucidating even the most cryptic of passages and applying each and every bit of the scripture to every day life.  I highly recommend this book for high schoolers and older, especially if you're like me, and have never read Revelations!

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This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Wisdom for Everyday Life From the Book of Revelations and other great books and resources.

Veras, Fr. Richard -- Wisdom for Everyday Life from the Book of Revelations.  Servant Books (Cincinnati, OH).  2009.  isbn: 978-0-86716-905-8.  paperback (pgs 130).

Review: Divine Mercy - A Guide from Genesis to Benedict XVI

Have I found the perfect book for Lenten meditations!

Divine Mercy - A Guide from Genesis to Benedict XVI is just the right blend of philosophy, theology and lovely writing to make this a great book for meditative reading during Lent.

The author, Robert Stackpole (a theology professor at Redeemer Pacific College and Director of the JP2Institute of Divine Mercy), is not just an "expert" on the Catholic Church's teachings on Divine Mercy; he is also on-fire with the belief in God's Mercy and wants to share this faith and knowledge with his reader.  This is clear on every page of this opus.

What is Divine Mercy?  Here's how Stackpole defines it:

Divine Mercy, therefore, is the form that God's eternal love takes when He reaches out to us in the midst of our need and our brokenness.  Whatever the nature of our need or our misery might be -- sin, guilt, suffering, or death -- He is always ready to pour out His merciful, compassionate love for us, to help in time of need.

Stackpole builds a secure foundation for his belief in Divine Mercy by starting with scripture; from Genesis through Revelations, he explains all the occurrences of Divine Mercy as well as the meaning for this great gift from God to humble humanity. 

Once the scriptural base is dealt with, Stackpole than turns to the lives of the saints -- primarily fathers and doctors of the Church -- to elucidate the Catholic teachings on Divine Mercy.  Saints Augustine, Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, Francis of Assisi, John Edues, Margaret Mary Alacoque, Alphonosus Liguori, Therese of Lisieux and Blessed Dina Belanger of Quebec are the Catholic Church's more prolific writers/explainers of Divine Mercy.  Stackpole clearly and completely describes the saints' lives, works and beliefs regarding Mercy. 

Of course, no book about Divine Mercy would be complete without explaining St. Faustina Kowalska's private revelations and John Paul the Great's teachings on his fellow Pole's writings.  Thanks to John Paul the Great, the Catholic world has the opportunity to celebrate Divine Mercy on the Sunday following Easter (this year, April 11th).  

Stackpole concludes this updated edition by including Pope Benedict XVI's many teachings on God's Mercy.  Stackpole summarizes these pontifical teachings by the message that all Catholics, particularly the young, must be "heralds" of the message of God's mercy and love to ALL mankind.  

I particularly like that at the end of each chapter, the author includes study questions -- which help me focus on the important points of the writings -- and then concludes with a discussion starter, or I would say, a "meditation question".  These discussion starters make me look deeper than the writings ... into myself and my relationship with God ... to help steer me toward a greater love of God, my Church and be able to "preach the good news to the Nations".

Highly recommend this for high-schoolers and older, particularly during Lent, who want to deepen their understanding of exactly WHY Jesus died on the Cross and what it means for each of us today.

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This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company (where I received a free copy of Divine Mercy with the promise to write a truthful review). Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Divine Mercy: A Guide from Genesis to Benedict XVI and to purchase the resources mentioned in this review.

Stackpole, Robert -- Divine Mercy: A Guide from Genesis to Benedict XVI. 2009. Marian Press (Stockbridge, MA). ISBN: 978-1-59614-208-4. paperback 275 pages.

Review: The Gospel Truth: A Lectionary-Based Catechism for Adults

I'm always trying to find ways to help the kids (and me too, for that matter) understand the gospels.  We've got the Navarre commentaries, read the Magnificat and try to really listen to our parish priests ... but I'm still in search of something that I can use to really help me (and them) "GET IT"!

When The Catholic Company had The Gospel Truth: A Lectionary-Based Catechism for Adults as one of their review choices ... I snapped it up.  What could be better than a book that covers ALL the Sunday Gospels during the three-year cycle?  For each Sunday's gospel, Kenneth Ogorek includes:

• the text of the gospel (using the RSV translation),
• links to the Catechism and Church documents to further understand the gospel,
• a thought-provoking question for me as well as a question for my children,
• an implied suggestion for "taking it into the community" by way of a thought-provoking question,
• other scripture readings (Old Testament prophecies, Psalms and Letters) that will help elucidate the gospel further 
• a notation of where to gather more information from the Catechism for Adults
• a "one-liner" from the gospel that I can reflect on for the week. 

I like the idea of this book.  I like the texts laid out in one place, the links to Church documents (particularly the specific Catechism paragraphs) and I like the thought-provoking questions.  I plan to use this each week with my kids ... reading them the Sunday gospel on Friday (so before they hear it at Mass) and then again on Monday (after they've heard Father's "take" on it) and seeing what kind of discussions and actions these generate.  I will use the "one-liner" as copy- and memory-work so they begin to "own" the scriptures.

I do have a quibble:  the author mentions that he tried to keep it simple and straightforward.  Well and good but then why didn't he give a chart for the three-year gospel cycle?  We are currently in Year C ... why didn't he put a chart that shows that Advent2009-November 2010, we are in Year C, Advent 2010-November 2011, we'll be in Year A, etc?  Instead the author suggests looking at the missalette or checking the bulletin -- this is a very clumsy way of knowing what year we're in when it would have been so easy to have included a chart.  As I said, just a small quibble!

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This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company (where I received a free copy of The Gospel Truth with the promise to write a truthful review). Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on The Gospel Truth- A Lectionary-Based Catechism for Adults and to purchase the resources mentioned in this review. 

Ogorek, Kenneth (forword by Archbishop Donald Wuerl)-- The Gospel Truth: A Lectionary-Based Catechism for Adults.  2008.  E. T. Nedder Publishing (Tucson, AZ).  ISBN: 978-1-893757-53-0.  paperback 415 pages.

Review: Prayer and the Will of God by Dom Hubert Van Zeller

Each major liturgical season, I like to read an inspirational book, a personal read that will help me live my life more in accord with God's wishes rather than my own ... a case of my decreasing, while He increases.

With this in mind, I jumped at the chance to review Prayer and the Will of God by Benedictine writer, Dom Hubert Van Zeller.  I've read a couple of Van Zeller's books:  Holiness for Housewives and Holiness: A Guide for Beginners and have found him to be quite readable but also highly inspirational and spiritual.  I was thrilled the Catholic Company had a Van Zeller book on their "review shelf".

Van Zeller (1905-1984) was considered a great spiritual director for Catholics and non-Catholics alike during his prolific vocation as a Benedictine retreat master and inspirational writer.  Van Zeller's writings are just as appropriate for today's world as when he originally put pen to paper.  He wrote Prayer and the Will of God as two separate volumes in 1963 and 1964 with the intent to teach people of that time how to turn to God in their worries about war, racial issues and the explosive generation gap which led to the "sexual revolution".  I'm so glad Sophia Institute has decided to republish this particular volume for today's faithful.

The first part of the work, Prayer, clearly and concisely explains why we must pray (not can or should, but MUST) as often as possible to God.  Then Van Zeller discusses how to pray, gives examples of prayer from the Gospels and the Gospel writers, and details the beauty and depth of the Our Father, the consumate prayer.  Van Zeller understands that we all have problems with prayers and the last couple of chapters of this first part delve into "distracted prayer" (how to combat it and how to turn it to the good), dealing with seemingly unanswered prayers and concludes with "fruitful prayer" -- what it is and how to do it. 

Part two than discusses the foundation of prayer -- seeking the will of God, always.  Van Zeller's take is that until we seek God's will, prayer and life will be hopeless.  He discusses understanding and responding to God's will and follows this with an illustrative chapter of how various saints consistently lived joyfully by doing God's will.  The book than turns to the practical issues of discovering, embracing and accepting God's will.  The book has a full chapter using Christ as an example of absolute acceptance of the Father's will -- from the seemingly haphazard way of His birth (which in fact is shown completely intertwined with the prophetic statements in the Old Testament) to his Passion and Death.  Nothing is haphazard where God is concerned. The book concludes with how we can each be an apostle of God's will and help others to follow the Way.

I really, really liked this book.  For this review, I read it cover-to-cover but this is one of those books to which I will constantly refer.  Each chapter is a week's worth (or more) of meditation on it's own while read as a whole the book is extremely powerful!  Van Zeller had a gift for writing deep, spiritual concepts in simple, easily understood words.  I will use this book for the rest of Advent and into the Christmas season; I will read bits and pieces and re-read and pray and meditate and generally let these words of wisdom slowly soak into my heart and soul.  I know I will be a better person with each read. 

I also wanted to mention that I love the cover of this book -- an image of the Ravensburger Shutzmantelmadonna (c. 1480) from the Church of Our Lady in Ravensburg, Germany.  What a lovely image to link to Van Zeller's amazing work on God's mercy and love for us all.

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This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Prayer and the Will of God and to purchase your own copy of this inspirational work.

Van Zeller, Dom Hubert – Prayer and the Will of God – Sophia Institute Press (Manchester, NH). 2009. ISBN: 978-1-933184-59-3 (paperback, 156 pgs).