Monday, 17 March 2025

Pray with Us: A Saint for Every Day - Belinda Terro Mooney

Pray with Us: A Saint for Every Day 
ISBN 9781639662104
ASIN B0DMTHSRZV

Pray with Us: A Saint for Every Day - Belinda Terro Mooney

This is the second volume I have read by Belinda; it will not be the last. I have followed her on social media for a while and we have some friends and contacts in common. When I had the chance to read an advanced copy of this volume I jumped at it. But like many titles from OSV, I wish they would release the eBooks to the Canadian market without being chased.

The description of this volume states:

“The saints in heaven are powerful intercessors, praying for our needs before the face of God. As part of the communion of saints, we on earth pray with power when we ask the saints to pray with and for us, especially on their feast days.

Pray with Us invites us to connect with 365 saints, blesseds, venerables, and servants of God -- one for each day of the year. Each day's entry includes a brief biography of the saint and a prayer. This book provides a concise, approachable format for individuals and families to form the habit of daily prayer and to rely more purposefully on the intercession of the saints.

Let us pray together in unity with all the saints, who love us so much and want to assist us on our spiritual journey.”

The chapters in this volume are:

Foreword by Mike Aquilina 
Introduction 
January: The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus 
February: The Month of the Passion of Our Lord 
March: The Month of Saint Joseph 
April: The Month of the Resurrection of Jesus 
May: The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary 
June: The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 
July: The Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus 
August: The Month of the Assumption of Mary 
September: The Month of the Seven Sorrows of Mary 
October: The Month of the Holy Rosary 
November: The Month of the Souls in Purgatory 
December: The Month of the Immaculate Conception 
Epilogue 
Acknowledgments 
Calendar of Saints 

Mike Aquilina at the beginning of the Forward states:

“The Church forms us in many different ways, and the calendar is one of the most important.

Think about it. Most people, through most of history, couldn’t read. So they didn’t learn the Faith from catechisms. There were no catechisms, and there was no technology to mass-produce such books. And again, very few people could read anyway. But they learned the Faith, and they passed it along to their children, through the celebration of the feasts. They did what this book asks all of us to do.

I remember reading that, in antiquity, when a Jewish boy read from the Torah for the first time, his rabbi would stick a spoonful of honey in his mouth — so the Law would always be a sweet memory. Well, that’s what the feasts do for us. They make the Faith memorable, and they make it sweet.”

In the forwards Belinda states:

“The saints in heaven are particularly powerful in their prayers because they have completed their time on earth and are already enjoying eternity with God in heaven. The Church teaches, “Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness. … [T]hey do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus. … So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped” (CCC 956).

We celebrate many saints every single day of the year, and each feast day is an opportunity to spend time with the saint, joining in prayer and interceding with and praising God together. As Catholics, we should regularly ask the saints to pray for our intentions — for us, our families, and the needs of others. In this book, we will also focus on developing the habit of asking the saints to pray with us, much as we might grab the hands of a friend here and pray to God together. In this book, during the prayers for each day, we will be spiritually holding the saints’ hands, asking them to enter into our prayer and to let us enter their pure prayer before God. This way of praying has borne incredible fruit in my life, and I have experienced firsthand the power of this unified intercessory prayer. I hope that, through this book, you will too!”

A sample reflection:

JANUARY 24
Saint Francis de Sales (1567–1622)

Saint Francis was a nobleman who heard God’s call to become a priest and followed it. Eventually he became bishop of Geneva, which at that time was under the control of Calvinist reformers, who hated the Catholic Church. He was forced to live outside of his diocese, but his kindness, gentleness, humility, and excellent writings helped many people return to Catholicism. His famous book Introduction to the Devout Life shows that holiness is God’s will for all of us, no matter our state in life. We are called to be saints, and Saint Francis’s practical suggestions help us do just that. He and Saint Jane Frances de Chantal founded the Order of the Visitation. Saint Francis is a Doctor of the Church and the patron saint of authors, spiritual writers, journalists, teachers, and people with deafness.

PRAYER
Saint Francis de Sales, your spiritual guidance continues to transform minds and hearts today. Pray for us to grow in holiness, and pray with us: Merciful Father, show each of us the unique path to sainthood you have planned for us. Inspire us to live holy lives so that we can attract and serve those who do not believe in you or your Church. Dispel confusion regarding truths of the Faith, and teach us to study our faith for the sake of our conversion and the conversion of others. Assist authors to use their writing to uphold and promote the truth. Heal people with deafness. Bless the Order of the Visitation, keeping it faithful to you. We ask this in the name of Jesus. 
Amen.”

Another is:

MARCH 17
Saint Patrick (385–461)

Saint Patrick was only sixteen when he was kidnapped from his home in Britain, taken to Ireland, and sold as a slave to do shepherd’s work. For six years he worked and prayed during the long, lonely nights, and he became close to God and learned to love Him deeply. After he escaped and returned to his home, he followed God’s call to become a priest. Following his ordination, he returned to Ireland as a bishop, and he worked tirelessly to convert the whole island to Christianity. He had the gifts of healing and miracles, and the Irish people revered him. He wrote the “Confessio” and a beautiful prayer called “The Breastplate of Saint Patrick.” Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.

PRAYER
Saint Patrick, you turned the trauma of your kidnapping and slavery into an opportunity for abundant grace for you and for Ireland. Pray for us to be open to God’s work in us through our suffering, and pray with us: Dear Father, inspire us to proclaim the truth of your Gospel with love, accepting any suffering you allow. Give us a heart of compassion for all people, and free those who are enslaved in any way. Strengthen and increase in us the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Bless all bishops, making them true shepherds and virtuous leaders. We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen.”

And a third:

JUNE 26
Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (1902–1975)

Saint Josemaría had a unique mission to help people pursue holiness in every area of life, especially in their work. Born in Spain, he experienced the pain of loss, grief, and war from boyhood. As a young man, he followed God’s call to become a priest. Later, he recognized that God was calling him to help people find holiness through their ordinary lives and work, and he founded Opus Dei (Work of God) for laypeople, and later, within it, the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross. He taught the importance of sanctifying work because it is the way in which God wants to make us holy. He wrote that “work is born of love; it is a manifestation of love and is directed toward love. We see the hand of God, not only in the wonders of nature but also in our experience of work and effort.” He wrote many books, which are full of wisdom and practical help.

PRAYER
Saint Josemaría, you taught people to seek growth in holiness through their daily work. Pray for us to sanctify our work, and pray with us: Righteous Father, inspire us to pray, as Saint Josemaría did, “Lord, let me see what you want,” and then give us the grace to follow where you lead. Grant us the grace to see our work as a gift, and teach us to sanctify it. Make us saints in our ordinary lives, teaching us to see each moment as an opportunity to grow closer to you. Bless Opus Dei and the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, keeping them faithful to you. We ask this in the name of Jesus. 
Amen.”

I picked those three dates to share for personal reasons, 2 are saints I have particular devotion to. I worked through the volume much quicker than a reflection a day. I did this in order to be able to write this review. Once the eBook is available in my region I will read it again doing the day a year as planned. 

I hope those three reflections give you a feel for this volume. I really enjoyed this book. It is a wonderful collection of reflections. Great for daily encouragement and to challenge us. Perfect for use during prayer or reflection time. It would be a great addition to any home library. A wonderful read.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan

Books by Belinda Terro Mooney:
A Look At Life (Poetry)
A Look at Life, Volume II (Poetry)
Christ the King Lord of History: The Continuing Story
Christ the King Lord of History: Workbook and Study Guide
Christ and the Americas Workbook
My Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Workbook: Creating a Comprehensive Plan for a Calm, Ordered Life
Leave Me Alone!: Helping Your Troubled Teenager

Sunday, 16 March 2025

The Three Ordinary Voices of God - Matthew Kelly

The Three Ordinary Voices of God
Matthew Kelly
Blue Sparrow Publishing 
Dynamic Catholic
ISBN 9781635825596
eISBN 9781635825602
ASIN B0DB8PFYPZ

The Three Ordinary Voices of God - Matthew Kelly

This is a book all Catholics today need to read! I have read many volumes by Mathew Kelly over 36 times. I have also listened to a number of audio talks and attended 2 virtual conferences. I can state this is an excellent volume. The description of this volume states:

“GOD HASN'T STOPPED SPEAKING. WE'VE STOPPED LISTENING.

We yearn for God's direction. We want to hear his voice. We know his will is the path to the peace, joy, and happiness we hunger for. But how do we discover his will?

God has been speaking to humanity from the very beginning—and he has been speaking to you. . .

Learning to listen to the voice of God will change your life powerfully and wonderfully. The Three Ordinary Voices of God will help you discover how God is speaking to you today and how that will change all your tomorrows.

In this simple and powerful guide, Matthew Kelly demonstrates that God speaks to everyone—whether we are aware of it or not—through three ordinary voices: OUR NEEDS, OUR TALENTS, and OUR DESIRES.

"When I listen to the voice of God and strive to carry out his will, I become focused, energized, and invigorated. When I turn my back on God or run from his will, I become distracted, depleted, and lethargic. All the energy and enthusiasm drain from my life."

What's next for you?

Do you have a decision to make? Are you trying to decide what to do with your life? Or maybe you are discerning what God is calling you to for the next season of your life?

This may just be the right book at the right time for you.

God yearns to speak to you.”

The chapters Sections in this volume are:

Chapter One: Let Your Life Speak
     It’s Possible to Mis-Live Your Life
     Let Your Life Speak
     God Speaks to Everyone
     The Three Voices: A Simple Introduction
     The Benefits of Listening to God’s Voice
     Personal Clarity
     Clarity Leads to Engagement
     Will You Listen?

Chapter Two: The First Voice: Needs
     Every Parent’s Dream
     The First Voice: The Basics
     The Four Aspects of the Human Person
     The Happiness Paradox
     Getting What You Want Doesn’t Make You Happy
     God Loves Order
     God Wants You to Serve Powerfully

Chapter Three: The Second Voice: Talent
     The Two Paths
     The Second Voice: The Basics
     Everybody Is a Genius
     Two Truths
     Context Is a Beautiful Thing
     Unique and Universal Talent

Chapter Four: The Third Voice: Desires
     The Power of Desire
     The Third Voice: The Basics
     The Trivial Many vs. The Essential Few
     From FOMO to JOMO
     Desire and the Four Aspects
     The Want Beyond the Want

Chapter Five: The Ultimate Desire
     That Nagging Feeling
     Your Heart’s Dominant Desire
     Unanswered Questions
     This Is How We Change Our Lives
     The Cause of Our Pain
     The Only Tragedy
     The Unavoidable Appointment

Epilogue: Come To The Quiet
     Fear the Right Things
     All the Other Voices
     Come to the Quiet

I highlighted numerous passages while reading this volume. Some of them are:

“I am petrified of mis-living my life. You can mis-live your life. Most people never consider it as a possibility, but it’s true. You can mis-live your life. Let it sink in. It is possible.”

“All it takes is the consistent application of mediocrity, laziness, procrastination, obsession with material possessions, and self-centeredness.”

“A well-lived life is built the same way a mis-lived life is built—one choice at a time. Every choice builds character or erodes character. Make your next choice one that belongs in a well-lived life. It’s amazing how one good choice can shift the momentum of your day. Do you need to make a shift?”

“Meet with the person you are capable of becoming for a few minutes each day. The more time you spend in these meetings the less you will fear death. Use your thoughts, words, choices, and actions to close the gap between who you are today and who you are capable of being. This is the path that leads to a deeply fulfilling life.”

“Let your life speak implies that your life might not speak. That isn’t the case. The truth is this: You don’t have a choice. Your life speaks whether you let it or not. Your actions speak and your inaction speaks. The only choice you have in this matter surrounds this question: What is your life saying to the world?”

“And that’s what we are going to learn to do: Listen to God speak to you each and every day of your life. And it will change everything. I know it may seem impossible, but I assure you, it isn’t. In fact, once you learn how to listen to God’s voice in the moments of your day, you will understand why you made the mistakes you made along the way, and you will wonder how you ever lived without his intimate guidance.”

“God speaks to every single person every single day using three ordinary voices: needs, talents, and desires. He speaks to us in the depths of our souls.”

“God is the ultimate Father who yearns to speak into the lives of his children. He will go to unfathomable lengths to communicate with us. Do you really think he’s not going to speak to you?”

“God the Father yearns deeply to communicate with you. He is the Father who wants good things for you more than you want them for yourself. Will you pause the insanity of your life for a few minutes each day and listen to him?”

“There is no such thing as an ordinary person and there is no such thing as an ordinary voice of God. When God speaks it is a gift of inestimable value.”

“This is where we find the three “ordinary” voices most active. These voices are: need, talent, and desire.”

“What is personal clarity? Personal clarity is a spiritual state of awareness that allows you to see clearly who you are, what you are here for, what matters most, and what doesn’t matter at all.”

“People with great personal clarity have taken time to answer five of life’s biggest questions. We all wrestle with these five questions throughout our lives. The great thinkers of every age have discussed and debated them, and now it is your turn. Who am I? What am I here for? Where am I going? What matters most? What matters least?”

“Who you become is infinitely more important than what you do, have, accomplish, or buy. What matters least? Anything that becomes an obstacle between you and God, you and loving others, or you and your God-given mission.”

“Making money to sustain ourselves and support our families is noble. It is one of the reasons we work. But it isn’t enough to make work fulfilling, not if you are making fourteen dollars an hour and not if you are making $400,000 a year. It may be hard to believe for the person making fourteen dollars an hour, but people who are lazy and have bad attitudes are still miserable when they are making $400,000 a year.”

“The primary purpose of work is that it helps you become a-better-version-of-yourself. Working hard, striving for excellence, paying attention to the details of your work, and serving other people joyfully transforms you into a better human being. The primary value of work is that it helps you develop character—and character is destiny.”

“Work is also a form of prayer. Each hour of work offered to God for a specific person or intention has infinite value and power.”

“The second practical benefit of listening to the voice of God is engagement.”

“But along the way, remember to watch out for these three things we discussed. When I am striving earnestly to listen to the voice of God, I get focused, energized, and invigorated. Focused. Energized. Invigorated.”

“It’s easy to question whether God speaks to us, but the preponderance of evidence suggests we should give our attention to another question. This more pertinent question, the question that confronts us daily is: Will you listen? And the question that follows next is: Will you carry out what God asks of you?”

“What should you be afraid of missing out on? The one path God imagined for you from the beginning of time. This is a righteous fear. It’s an enlightened fear that will keep you from wasting whatever is left of your one short life.”

“Relationships thrive under one condition: carefree timelessness. What is carefree timelessness? It is time together without an agenda.”

“Think of it in this way: We become the stories we listen to. It doesn’t matter if we get those stories from movies, music, television, newspapers, magazines, videogames, social media, politicians, friends, or books—the stories we listen to form our lives.”

“Our intellectual needs are never urgent, so it is easy to overlook them. When was the last time you said to yourself, “I urgently need to read a good book today”? It doesn’t happen. Why? For one, our intellectual needs are not primary needs. If we neglect them, we won’t die. But mental vitality leads to physical, emotional, and spiritual vitality. Everything in our lives begins as a thought.”

“To really stretch ourselves, we must delve into the wisdom writings. Selections could include a variety of philosophical texts, the writings of countless spiritual leaders past and present, and the Scriptures. It is in these writings that the intellect comes face-to-face with the most profound questions and truths about the world, creation, God, humanity, and our individual journeys.”

“Books change our lives. Begin your own collection of great books. Choose books that will help you to achieve your essential purpose and become the-best-version-of-yourself. Make daily reading one of the defining habits of your life.”

“Your spiritual needs are for stillness, silence, solitude, simplicity, Scriptures, and Sacraments.”

“It is also in silence and solitude that life’s preeminent challenge is proposed to us. Brother Silence and Sister Solitude unveil the person we are today with all our strengths and weaknesses, but they also remind us of the better person we know we can be.”

“We come now to the spiritual need of simplicity. Simplicity is one of the governing principles of the universe, yet with every passing century, humanity looks to greater complexity to solve its problems and improve its life.”

“The Sacraments are the center of the life of the Church. And while the Sacraments are surrounded by profound rituals, it’s important not to forget what they are at their core: an encounter with Jesus Christ.”

“The Sacraments are a profound source of unlimited grace, they pour incredible grace into our lives in a direct and powerful way. Embrace them with a new and radical urgency. Accept these divine gifts. Cherish them.”

“This is the great modern paradox: We know the things that make us happy; we just don’t do them.”

“We live in a culture that isn’t interested in needs. We live in a culture obsessed with wants. We neglect our needs because the culture boldly and confidently proclaims, “The meaning of life is to get what you want, and the more you get what you want the happier you’ll be.””

“God created you to be reasonably happy in this life and completely happy in the next life. But the culture tells you the path to happiness is getting what you want and that’s where most people’s lives depart from the path of reasonable happiness and contentment. When we prioritize our wants over what we need, we begin pursuing the wrong things.”

“Needs are primary, wants are secondary. Keep this essential truth in mind throughout your day as you make decisions, allow it to guide you, and usher the clarity and order God loves into every corner of your life.”

“The Catholic Church is the best in the world at putting things side by side, the best in the world at pointing out the true value of things, the best in the world at putting things in context. Who is the worst in the world at creating context? The media. To push their agendas and bolster their opinions, they willfully and negligently avoid putting things in context. You almost never see untampered with realities put side by side in the media. Why? Because the media doesn’t want to give you context. The more you understand the true value of things, the less likely you will be to waste your time consuming modern media. The media is not interested in the true value of things. They sold their souls for ratings, then advertising dollars, and now clicks.”

“Desire is powerful. It is one of the more powerful forces at work within the human person. It can be harnessed for good or left to run amok.”

“Our desires play a powerful part in shaping our lives. Desire the wrong things and that alone will ruin your life. The power of desire attached to the wrong thing is like a runaway train—and that runaway train can be your life.”

“God uses the three ordinary voices to speak to us every single day of our lives. There are no exceptions. There are no days when he doesn’t speak to you in these ways, and there is no one he doesn’t speak to.”

“The key to achieving this transition is letting go of FOMO and embracing JOMO. This is a topic I have written about before, but I feel compelled to revisit it here because it is critical to understanding the joy that comes from listening to God’s voice.”

“Our faith is simple and beautiful. And it is possible to live it out in new and exciting ways, here and now, in our times. Your personality and circumstances, your needs, talents, and desires, are all gifts to help you live the faith in a deeply personal way.”

“Holiness is simply the application of the values, principles, and spirit of the Gospel to the circumstances of our everyday lives, one moment at a time. It isn’t complicated. It is disarmingly simple.”

“A new kind of holiness is needed. One that confounds expectations. A new breed of saints. Brave men and women who wholeheartedly embrace the life and teachings of Jesus and live them out creatively.”

“Death comes to us all, sooner or later. We don’t know when, but we know for certain that it will come. And when it comes it will care nothing for your fame, wealth, education, achievements, possessions, connections, or power. When death approaches, the person you have become meets the person you could have been. This is a humbling encounter. Don’t wait for death to deliver this encounter. Go out to meet it each day. Spend time each day in the classroom of silence, in communion with God. Meet with the person you are capable of becoming for a few minutes each day in the depths of prayer.”

“Come to think of it, isn’t that a good litmus test for the people we should listen to? Who would you watch on television if you only tuned in to people who are striving to “live justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God”? Which podcasts would you listen to? Which books would you read? And what movies and television shows would you watch?”

To be honest that is all the sections I highlighted my first time through this book. I tried cutting some out but felt they all should be in the review. I pray and hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. That you pick it up and give it a read. I guarantee it will be life changing. 

This is one of those volumes that could be read over and over again and with each reading you will get something more out of it. It could easily become a Catholic Classic. The material is presented in clear, crisp language. It is easy to engage with. A high school student could read it and benefit from the reading and someone who is retired could read it and make improvements for the fourth quarter of their life.

This is an excellent read. Any Catholic would benefit from reading it. I challenge you to read it and see!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!


Books by Matthew Kelly:
I Know Jesus
The Long View
Decision Point: The Workbook
Decision Point: The Leader Guide
The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic
The One Thing
Off Balance: Getting Beyond the Work-Life Balance Myth to Personal and Professional Satisfaction
Why Am I Here?
Perfectly Yourself: 9 Lessons for Enduring Happiness
Perfectly Yourself Discovering God's Dream For You
Building Better Families: A Practical Guide to Raising Amazing Children
The Dream Manager
The Seven Levels of Intimacy: The Art of Loving and the Joy of Being Loved
The Rhythm of Life: Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose
Building Better Families - 5 Practical Ways to Build Family Spirituality
The Book of Courage
The Shepherd: A Modern Parable about Our Search for Happiness
Mustard Is Persecution, Matthew Kelly Foundation
A Call to Joy - Living in the Presence of God
The Rhythm of Life: An Antidote For Our Busy Age
Words from God
Resisting Happiness
The Narrow Path
Our Father
The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity
Why I Love Being Catholic
Good Night, Jesus
In a world where you can be anything ...

Beautiful ... Series:
...

Rediscover Books by Matthew Kelly:
Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living with Passion & Purpose
Rediscover Advent
Rediscover Lent
Rediscover Jesus: An Invitation
Rediscover the Rosary: The Modern Power of an Ancient Prayer
Rediscover the Saints
...

Audio by Matthew Kelly from Lighthouse Media:
Becoming The Best Version Of Yourself
The Best Way To Live
Don't Just Try, Train
Faith At Work & The Holy Moment
The Four Signs Of A Dynamic Catholic - Excerpt
The Jesus Question
My Spiritual Journey
Our Lives Change When Our Habits Change
Raising Amazing Children
The Seven Levels Of Intimacy
The Seven Pillars Of Catholic Spirituality
...

33 Days to Eucharistic Glory - Matthew Kelly







Saturday, 15 March 2025

Prayer of the Day A Saint Michael Prayer

A Saint Michael Prayer  
Prayer of the Day  

Prayer of the Day A Saint Michael Prayer

St. Michael, glorious archangel, you know well the
wiles of the tempter. Defend me, protect me, and
pray for me, O prince of the heavenly host, that
my faith in God remains strong , my hope in Him
provides comfort, and my love for the Almighty
leads me to salvation. 
Amen.
  
Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year C - Scott Hahn Ken Ogorek

Emmaus Road Publishing
ISBN 9781645854135
eISBN 9781645854159
ASIN 

In 2024 I received the above volume. This prayer is one I read when flipping through and checking out various Sunday devotions, it was part of the first Sunday of Lent. I immediately added it to my daily prayers.



Friday, 14 March 2025

Holy Bible - English Standard Version Catholic Edition - Augustine Institute

Holy Bible
English Standard Version Catholic Edition
ISBN 9781950939312

Holy Bible - English Standard Version Catholic Edition - Augustine Institute

In the summer of 2024 I found out that the church in England, Scotland, and Wales was getting a new lectionary. One based on the English Standard Version Catholic Edition. I started looking for an Anglicised edition, one that used British or in my case Canadian Spelling rather than the American. I could not find one. So I picked up this volume to be able to start reading the ESV-CE version of the bible. My children took a look at it and my youngest daughter has this same edition now, and my son had the blue paperback edition. 

The description of this bible states:

“The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Catholic Edition is an essentially literal translation in elegant, contemporary English. The ESV-Catholic Edition emphasizes word-for-word accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. This Catholic Edition was reviewed in accord with the norms of Liturgiam authenticam and abides by Catholic hermeneutical principles. It was granted the Imprimatur by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India in 2018 and was approved for liturgical use by the Vatican s Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in 2019. This gray hardcover edition offers readers a beautiful Bible, which is ideal for anyone who desires to study, read, and pray the Word of God.”

It highlights the following features:

Gray with gold foil stamp (cover and spine only)
Anti-scuff matte lamination
Navy and gold ribbons
1,232 pages
8 pages of maps printed after last text page
Printed in Italy

We are informed that the ESV-Catholic Edition emphasizes “word-for-word” accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning.

I enjoyed reading through this translation. It is not my favourite reading edition, which would be The Jerusalem Bible or the New Jerusalem, or Revised New Jerusalem. But this one is pretty close. It is also solid for study. When I was in university doing my religious studies degree with a focus on Roman Catholic Thought, I often compared numerous translations and editions, when working on essays and other papers. This would have been a great edition for that detailed work. 

I was hesitant but also excited to give this new translation a try. The ESV-CE has been available since about 2017. And the Augustinian Institute has had editions since 2020. I believe late in 2025 the Catholic Truth Society will have a UK edition available. Reading Hearing Christ’s Voice A New Lectionary for the Church by Bishop Hugh Gilbert, OSB on why a new Lectionary and why this translation for that new lectionary helped me to eagerly approach this translation. I am thankful I gave it a read. I am thankful I was able to pick this edition up and give it a read. As mentioned I believe this is a good edition for just reading and for study, as such I can recommend it. The Augustine Institute has several editions and styles available. I like this clean crisp edition with minimal footnotes to use as a reading bible. I just really wish there was a Kindle edition available, I have a dual form of dyslexia and with eBooks I can change the font, and the colour of the page and font to make reading easier. I have found several different eBooks of the ESV translation but none of the ESV-CE. A great reading copy of the bible, if you have not read the ESV version this would be a great place to start!

Holy Bible - English Standard Version Catholic Edition - Augustine Institute Sample

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!

Reviews of Different Editions of the Bible:
The Catholic Study Bible - NABRE - Oxford University Press
Spiritual Warfare Bible - Saint Benedict Press
The Great Adventure Bible - Ascension Press
Proverbs: Douay Rheims Bible Version - Fr. Mark Goring and Sr. Penolope Nguyen SC
New Testament and Psalms for Men - Saint Benedict Press

Books in the CTS Scriptures Series:
The CTS New Catholic Bible - Jerusalem Bible
The Gospel of Matthew - English Standard Version
The Gospel of Mark - English Standard Version
The Gospel of Luke - English Standard Version
The Gospel of John - English Standard Version

Thursday, 13 March 2025

The Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide - Fr. Mark-Mary Ames - Ascension Press

The Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide
Fr. Mark-Mary Ames
ISBN 9781935940593
eISBN 9781935940609
ASIN 

The Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide - Fr. Mark-Mary Ames - Ascension press

This is the first volume from Father Mark-Mary I have read but I am certain it will not be the last. I know other books from him will be very different than this volume, but reading through this volume and listening to the first 6 weeks of the accompanying Podcast has convinced me I will love his writings. But back to this volume. The description of this book states:

“The Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide helps Catholics develop a lasting love for the Rosary and build a relationship with Jesus and Mary. Every day for 365 days readers will be accompanied through daily reflections, insights, and meditations as they grow in praying the Rosary.

The Prayer Guide includes:

The proprietary Rosary in a Year Reading Plan
An introduction from Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Introductions to each of the 6 phases of the learning method
The Scripture passages associated with each mystery of the Rosary
Sacred art to reflect on while praying each mystery of the Rosary
Reflections associated with specific days of the podcast
The full text of the prayers of the Rosary
The biblical foundation basis for the prayers of the Rosary
It’s the perfect way to help you develop the habit of praying the Rosary and go even deeper into each mystery!

Readers will be guided through the learning process with:

2 reflections from holy people on each mystery of the Rosary
3 sacred art images for each mystery of the Rosary to help you imagine the mystery
Daily prayer prompts
And even more prayerful content

In addition to the content that goes along with each day's reflection, readers will find information that helps them get even more out of the Rosary outside of the podcast. Written with an intentional Rosary experience in mind, The Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide will help Catholics to grow in relationship with Christ through the Blessed Mother every day.”

I really appreciated that the eBook was available before the Podcast began. I have a dual form of dyslexia and prefer eBooks so I can change the font, and the colour of the font and page to make reading easier. I sat for a few hours one Saturday and read through the rest of this volume so I could review it during the inaugural year of the podcast. I did not think it would be fair to write a review without having finishing the volume. Even though I have read the other 6 ‘In A Year Companions’ for the Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year.  

The sections and chapters in this volume are:

How to Use This Book
Introduction by Fr. Mark-Mary Ames
A Roadmap for This Journey
     The Rosary in a Year Prayer Plan
The Basic Prayers of the Rosary
The Mysteries of the Rosary

PHASE 1: FORMING THE RELATIONSHIP
     Introduction
     Litanies
     Days 1–7

PHASE 2: BIBLICAL ROOTS OF THE ROSARY
     Introduction
     The Biblical Foundation of the Prayers of the Rosary
     The Biblical Foundation of the Mysteries of the Rosary
     Days 8–68

PHASE 3: MEDITATING ON THE MYSTERIES
     Introduction
     Days 69–188

PHASE 4: FINDING FOCUS
     Introduction
     Days 189–208

PHASE 5: BUILDING UP THE DECADES
     Introduction
     Days 209–335

PHASE 6: PRAYING TOGETHER
     Introduction
     When to Pray Each Set of Mysteries
     Days 336–365

How to Pray the Rosary
Prayers of the Rosary
Conclusion
Sources
Illustration Information and Credits

As can be seen from the Table of contents, each section has a separate introduction. And that Introduction includes tips for that section. For example for Phase 6:

“INTRODUCTION
About This Phase

During the final thirty days of the year, we will pray a 5-decade daily Rosary, using the skills and tools we’ve developed throughout the year.

We will begin praying the 5-decade Rosary, including the introductory and concluding prayers. You have been preparing to pray a full Rosary as you slowly built up to saying 5 decades a day in the last phase. If you struggle with this, have no fear; there will be advice along the way!

In addition, we will start praying the mysteries associated with each day of the week, rather than assigned mysteries. This way, you will be praying the mysteries of the day with Catholics around the world.

By the end of this phase, you will have prayed a daily Rosary faithfully for a month, in addition to all the work you have done to build the habit and practice meditation. You will be praying the Rosary like never before!

PRAY
Every day of this phase, we will pray a 5-decade Rosary, including the introductory and concluding prayers. We will meditate on the mysteries of the day as we pray the prayers of the Rosary.

Tips for this phase
•If you have trouble remembering which mysteries to pray each day of the week, refer to the chart on the following page.
•The longer introductory and concluding prayers of the Rosary can be difficult to memorize. In the following pages, these prayers are printed out for you.
•At this point in The Rosary in a Year, you have faithfully been praying for almost a year! If the time of day you selected is not working anymore due to the longer time commitment, don’t be afraid to revisit and find a new time that works for you.
•We have included a chart for you in the following pages to fill in the mystery assignments for each day and track your progress as you finish the podcast.
•Keep up the habit. As we have discovered this year, there are so many rich graces available through the power of the Rosary. After the podcast ends, continue praying the Rosary for yourself, for your friends and relatives, and for the Church!

WHEN TO PRAY EACH SET OF MYSTERIES
•Sundays: glorious mysteries*
•Mondays: joyful mysteries
•Tuesdays: sorrowful mysteries
•Wednesdays: glorious mysteries
•Thursdays: luminous mysteries
•Fridays: sorrowful mysteries
•Saturdays: joyful mysteries

*Optionally, the joyful mysteries may be prayed on Sundays in Advent, and the sorrowful mysteries may be prayed on Sundays in Lent.”

I especially appreciated sections 4 and 5, praying with reflections from the saints or with artwork. This is another excellent volume from Ascension. It is a great resource for those following the podcast. It a tool that will assist and help those following the podcast as they progress throughout the year. I can easily recommend it.

The Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide - Fr. Mark-Mary Ames - Ascension press Sample 1

The Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide - Fr. Mark-Mary Ames - Ascension press Sample 2

The Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide - Fr. Mark-Mary Ames - Ascension Press Sample 3

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!

Ascension Press In A Year Companions:

Books by Father Mark-Mary Ames:
Habits for Holiness: Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progress
The Father: 30 Meditations to Draw You into the Heart of God
Pocket Guide to Prayer






Wednesday, 12 March 2025

The Hallow Crown 2012-2016 - Movie Review

The Hallow Crown
Year: 2012-2016
Directors:
Rupert Goold
Richard Eyre
Thea Sharrock
Dominic Cooke
Executive producer: Sam Mendes
Producer: Rupert Ryle-Hodges
Running time: varies
Production companies:
Neal Street Productions
NBCUniversal
WNET

The Hallow Crown 2012-2016 Complete Series

A few years ago my son discovered a love of theatre, and I rediscovered it from my own youth. Since then we have been to numerous productions at the Stratford Festival in Stratford Ontario. We both try and read the plays before going and often watch other productions before going to see the play live. After having seen a few of the plasy in this collection we decided to give this series a try. It did not disappoint. It is an absolutely stunning series of adaptations of William Shakespeare’s Historical plays. The title of the series is taken from Richard II:

“For within the hollow crown
That rounds the mortal temples of a king
Keeps Death his court...

— Richard II, act 3, scene 2”

Season one released in 2012 and season 2 in 2016. 

The description of the DVD of this movie collection states:

“From executive producer Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) comes a stunning adaptation of four of Shakespeare's most celebrated history plays: Richard II, Henry IV (Part 1 and Part 2), and Henry V. Academy Award® winner Jeremy Irons (The Borgias), Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers), and Ben Whishaw (Skyfall) in his award-winning role as Richard II star in this epic tale of three kings, their battle for survival, and the rise and fall of a dynasty.”

And the synopsis states:

“The Hollow Crown: The Complete Series is a collection of Shakespeare's history plays adapted into a television series, showcasing the rise and fall of English kings and the political intrigue of the time.”

Another description states:

“A collection containing all seven BBC filmed adaptations of Shakespeare's 'History Plays' from 'The Hollow Crown' series, comprising 'Richard II', 'Henry IV: Parts 1 & 2', 'Henry V', 'Henry VI: Parts 1 & 2' and 'Richard III'. Beginning in the year 1399, the plays deal with events affecting the monarchy during a period where the ruling orders of Richard II, Henry IV and Richard III find themselves beset by rebellion, greed and war.”

This can be purchased in a number of ways, you can buy season 1, or season 2 called War of the Roses, There are couple of Complete editions with different covers. And I believe you can purchase each separately on DVD or from digital services.

The plays in this collection are:

Season 1:
Richard II
Henry IV, Part I
Henry IV, Part II
Henry V

Season 2:
Henry VI Part I
Henry VI Part II
Richard III

Key Cast:
Jeremy Irons
Tom Hiddleston
Benedict Cumberbatch
Hugh Bonneville
Judi Dench
Sophie Okonedo
Tom Sturridge
Simon Russell Beale
Judi Dench
Ben Whishaw
Patrick Stewart

From what I have read the first season stayed very true to the plays, but season 2 truncated much of the source material. But that does not take away from the power of these productions. Richard III is one of both y sons and my plays. I have seen Colm Feore play the role over 30 years apart at the Stratford Festival in Ontario. My son had scoliosis and his curvature nearly perfectly matched Richards from when his grave was discovered. So it is always one dear to our hearts. But to be honest each of the 7 productions was magnificent. 

My son's before and after and a costume from Stratford 2022

I honestly feel writing a review of the series will never do it justice, I should go back and rewatch each and write a review after each one. The series was nominated for 14 awards and won 6. Stand out performances by Simon Russell Beale as Falstaff, Jeremy Irons as King Henry IV, Tom Hiddleston as King Henry V, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Richard III as well as incredible supporting casts make these productions unforgettable.

Each of the 7 could easily have had theatrical releases. The production quality is top notch, The locations, the costumes, the combat, and even the cinematography is all excellent!

If you are a fan of the works of The Bard these are a must watch!

The Hallow Crown Series 1

The Hallow Crown Series 2 The War of the Roses