Dare to Hope - Father James McTavish, FMVD - CTS Books

Dare to Hope 

Father James McTavish, FMVD 

Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781784698508

eISBN 9781784698737

ASIN B0FGY3YPTY

CTS Booklet D855

This is the first volume from Father James McTavish that I have read, I believe it is the only one of his available from the CTS. I enjoyed this book. I did not know much about the volume before I started reading it. I had picked it up because it was a new release from the CTS. The volume was published towards the end of the Jubilee 2025 Pilgrims of Hope, and draws a fair bit from the works of Pope Francis on hope, and to a lesser extent Pope Benedict XVI. 

Over the last several years, I have read many books from the Catholic Truth Society, in fact over 460 of them as of the reading of this volume; many read more than once; this all since the spring of 2018. Most were good reads; some were great reads; and a few are exceptional. This was one I believe is part of the Devotions and Prayers Series, but the CTS no longer focuses on series sets. The tags for it on the CTS site are:

Faith in Action

Prayer Books & Guides

Prayer & Devotion

Living Faith

The description of this volume is:

“This self-guided retreat on hope will help you to become hopeful people prepared to announce the Good News to a world where many despair. With daily meditations spread across four weeks, this book is ideal for private devotion, as well as for online communities and weekly parish groups.

Often mistaken for mere optimism, Christian hope is far deeper. Inspired by the Jubilee Year 2025 – and the invitation of the late Holy Father Pope Francis to become ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ – Fr James McTavish, FMVD, guides us as we take the first steps on this journey.

Daily meditations over four weeks follow weekly themes: 

‘What is Hope?’

‘Reasons to Hope’

‘Hope Amidst Struggles'

‘Sowers of Hope’ 

By the end of this self-guided retreat, we can become hopeful people prepared to announce the Good News to a world where many despair.

This book is ideal for private devotion, as well as for online communities and weekly parish groups.”

The chapters and sections in the book are:

Preface

Introduction

Week 1 – What is Hope?

     Introduction to Week 1

     Hoping and praying

     Hoping and listening (and dancing)

     Drawing hope from the road already travelled

     Hope and our vocation

     Hope and trust

     Hope and a sense of mystery

     Walking forward in hope

Week 2 – Reasons to Hope

     Introduction to Week 2

     The Holy Spirit and hope

     Hope in humility

     Hoping with the Saints

     Hope for our departed loved ones

     Ever hopeful in God’s mercy

     Hopeful missioning

     Mary, the Mother of Hope

Week 3 – Hope Amidst Struggles

     Introduction to Week 3

     Hoping and groaning

     Hoping through struggles

     Being patient

     Hoping as desiring

     Enemies of hope

     Training in hope

     Hoping in the light

Week 4 – Sowers of Hope

     Introduction to Week 4

     Sowers of hope

     Hope and our response

     Anchoring our hope in Christ

     Hopeful signs of the resurrection

     Witnesses of hope

     Teaching hope

     A melody of hope

Conclusion

I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume, some of them are:

“This book highlights the vital role of prayer in nurturing hope. Hope is both a gift we can pray for and a task we are called to live out.”

“This book invites us on a pilgrimage of hope, guiding us through reflections and questions that help us rediscover its meaning and cultivate it in our daily lives.”

“My hope is that this simple yet profound journey will help you find renewed strength in a hope that transforms, perseveres, and overflows to those around you. May we deepen our trust in God’s promises and become true signs of hope in a world that needs it so greatly.”

“We begin our pilgrimage with enthusiasm. We would like to grow in hope. So, we are going to specifically exercise our hope muscles. We all have inklings of hope in us already, shown by the fact that we hope for many things. But we desire to grow in hope, we desire to practice hope. A principal way to do this is to pray.”

“At the beginning of our hope-filled prayer journey, I feel it is important to exercise our thanksgiving. My capacity to give thanks is closely related to the extent of my hope.”

“Excerpts taken from “The Dance of Obedience” (English translation by Mgr Peter Fleetwood) To be a good dancer, with you as with anyone else, we don’t need to know where it’s leading. We need to follow, to be cheerful, to be light, and above all not to be stiff. We don’t need to ask you to explain the steps you choose to take. Lord, come and ask us to dance. … And if people bump into us, we’ll laugh it off, well aware that that’s the sort of thing that happens when you’re dancing. Make us live our life… like a dance, in the arms of your grace, in the universal music of love. Lord, come and ask us to dance.”

“When we look forward to the future, we can feel slightly perturbed, and even lose a bit of hope. But if we look back, at the road travelled with God, we might feel more peace and hope because God had been faithful and trustworthy. Rooting ourselves in this lived experience of hope, gives us more confidence and hope for the future!”

“The danger is to drown in the present moment, with no past to sustain us and no future to look forward to. I understand why Fr Elias Royon Lara, SJ, speaks of hope as a virtue which looks to the future, is lived out in the present, and is rooted in the lived experience of the past.”

“Hope then can be understood as a kind of holy carrot that keeps this stubborn donkey moving. Like the donkey constantly asking Shrek, “Are we there yet?” And Shrek constantly has to remind him, “No!” So let us not set up camp too early amidst the comforts and commodities of this world. The gift of hope is precisely that inbuilt safety mechanism in us that helps prevent us from settling for mediocrity and second best. Hope is like a compass in us, or the GPS that is constantly saying “Keep moving.”

“Ask for the specific grace to grow in the awareness, conviction and hope of God’s abiding presence along every step of our journey.”

“The work of God in the lives of the Saints gives hope to each one of us.”

“Whenever I encounter a person with an addiction, for instance to alcohol, I pray for the intercession of Venerable Matt Talbot (2 May 1856–7 June 1925). He was an Irish labourer, who overcame his dependence on the “demon drink” and thereafter lived a holy life. He was known to have said, “Never be too hard on the man who can’t give up drink. It’s as hard to give up the drink as it is to raise the dead to life again. But both are possible and even easy for our Lord. We have only to depend on Him”. When facing moral questions, I always like to have a heavenly chat with St Alphonsus Liguori, the patron of moral theology in the Catholic Church. And of course, in many areas of human life, St Joseph is a powerful and wonderful intercessor.”

“Personally, you and I are a mission in this world. You are a mission–you have a mission, a specific one that only you can fulfil.”

“Sometimes in moments of struggles, and when I am not attentive, my default mode is not automatically hope-full, but more hope-less! So, hope my soul, hope!”

“On our journey of hope, we too will encounter various Herods. And the worst Herod is not merely outside of us, but within! We all have our kind of internal critic and nagging voice that can lead us to discouragement and to lose hope. Travelling in a pack, with a community of support, is one way to overcome Herod. The other is perseverance and not to stop too long on the journey.”

“It is as if the star is moving, guiding them. It reminds us that the stars we have to follow are dynamic, and require a response for us to follow the way indicated. The star can lead us closer to Christ, the light of the world. Who or what is the star that has led you closer to God?”

“God wants to have a mature, grown-up relationship with us too. He gives us the necessary gifts and graces and he then expects us to get on with it! I like the attitude of St Joan of Arc: “Act, and God will act”.”

“The Lord is hoping that we will be faithful administrators of the graces we have received.”

“The presence of Jesus in the Eucharist gives body to the words: “I am with you always” (Matt 28: 20). How comforting and reassuring, when all around is different, to find Jesus again in the Eucharist.”

“Now fasting a bit from junk on social media means our brains will have more time for wholesome food like a Church document or even to do a course of theology. They say “use it or lose it” so reading some Church teaching is great exercise for our grey matter. It prevents brain rot from excess screen time and will help teach us how to think once more.”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for the volume. This volume is a fairly easy read, anyone with a secondary education could easily work through it. I was unaware of the format when I picked it up and started it. It might have sat on my ‘To Be Read’ pile longer if I was aware of that. I was already reading 2 other volumes that were a chapter a day format; one from the ‘15 Days of Prayer with …’ series and the other from the ‘Great Spiritual Teachers’ series. I did however enjoyed this book. A couple of times I had to read sections again, and once I reread the whole day to make sure I got the message. I even shared one chapter with a friend who I knew was struggling with some stuff in their personal life. And I hope they pick up and give the whole volume a read.

This book is a good read. I am thankful for the work that the CTS does, and for their effort to stay up to date on eBook editions. With my dual form of dyslexia and my son having eye tracking issues I consider them essential, especially with adaptive technology. Even though I started this right at the end of the Jubilee year it was a fitting book to close off the year; even if I finished it a few weeks late. A good read I can recommend.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews:  2026 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

Click here for reviews of all books related to the Jubilee of Hope in 2025.

Jubilee of Hope 2025 Book List:

Hope An Anchor for the Soul 30 Daily Devotions - Amy Welborn 

Pocket Book of Hope: Words of Inspiration - Living with Christ

Stations of Hope: Praying the Stations of the Cross for Today - Father David M. Knight

Faith is a Journey, Meditations for Pilgrims and Wayfarers - Pope Francis

A Light in the Night Meditations on Hope - Pope Francis

Jesus and the Jubilee - John Bergsma

Our Life, Our Sweetness, and Our Hope! - Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle 

Hope Always Our Anchor in Life’s Storms - Kris Frank  

Dare to Hope - Father James McTavish, FMVD - CTS Books 

...

A Prayer of the Day The Jubilee Prayer

...

Notes on Prayer Series:

1. Prayer Today: A Challenge to Overcome - Cardinal Angelo Comastri

2. Praying with the Psalms - Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi

3. The Prayer of Jesus – Juan Lopez Vergara

4. Praying with Saints and Sinners - Fr Paul Brendan Murray, OP

5. The Parables of Prayer – Msgr Antonio Pitta

6. The Church in Prayer - Carthusian Monks

7. The Prayer of Mary and the Saints Who Met Her - Sr Catherine Aubin, OP

8. The Prayer Jesus Taught Us: Our Father - Fr Ugo Vanni

…

Overview of the Notes on Prayer Series

...

Books by Father James McTavish:

A Heart on Fire: Inspirations from the life and writings of Jaime Bonet

A Time of Mercy: Insights on Mercy from Jaime Bonet

Form Apostles: Jaime Bonet and the Development of the Verbum Dei Charism

Dare to Hope

Jesus the Divine Physician: Essays on spirituality and healthcare

Sharper Than a Sword: Sunday homilies for the three year cycle

Updates on Gender and Sexuality

…

By Winding Roads - John Irvine and William Conor

By Winding Roads

John Irvine (1903-1965)

William Conor R.H.A., R.O.I. (Illustrator) 

H.R. Carter Publications, Ltd.

Belfast

1950

First I am thankful to the National Library of Ireland and their scanning service. Without wich I would have read but one volume from this excellent Irish poet. I appreciate that they will scan out of print and out of copyright works. Especially when I cannot find them almost anywhere else, like most of the works or Irvine. This volume will mark the thirteenth I have read by Irvine.

I stumbled upon this author. I was reading one of the Vision Books for young readers, Irish Saints by Robert T. Reilly, and there was an excerpt of a poem from A Treasury of Irish Saints A Book of Poems. It was really intriguing and after reading that first volume I made it a mission to try and track down everything Irvine published. At first my dyslexia had me thinking it was John Irving, and I have read a few of his fiction books. But some quick searching put that idea to rest.  This author John Irvine lived from 1903-1965. This volume was originally published in1941. 

About the author on a site with information about Irish authors states:

“John Irvine was born in Belfast and published several collections of poems: A Voice in the Dark, 1932; Willow Leaves: Lyrics in the Manner of the Early Chinese Poets,1941; Lost Sanctuary and other poems among others. He edited The Flowering Branch: An Anthology of Irish Poetry Past and Present.”

Another online description of the author states:

“Irvine, born in Belfast, published about six collections of lyrics between 1932 and 1954, mostly from small presses in Belfast and Dublin.  He also edited an anthology of Irish poetry, The Flowering Branch.”

This volume has no preamble quote, or preface likes some of the others. The poems in this volume are:

Over the Hills and Far Away 

Tullymore 

Little Boats 

Rivers 

Woodland Music 

Three Little Towns 

Townlands 

Searching for Fairies 

The Old Man from Kilkenny 

Roaming 

The Dancers 

Harvest 

Music 

The Fairy Hill 

In Old Donegal 

Irish Names 

The Fairy Tree 

In Ballysadare 

The Travellers 

The Ladies of Doon 

The Farm Horses

The Nine Glens 

If 

Working 

The Irish Counties 

The Crow 

In Summer Time 

Twilight 

Portglenone 

Topsy Turvy 

The Pl'Ovinces 

The Girls of Dingle 

The Fiddler 21

The Meaning of Names 

Blarney 

Elderberries 

Winds 

Ireland's Eye 

The Winter Night 

Ireland 

Goodbye 

Before that first poem named in the index we have:

“IRELAND

There is great beauty in the Irish names

     That fall like music on the listening ear

And breed a deep~ felt love that never wanes

     In hearts of exiles gone for many a year.

Some little county each shall claim his own

     And love it's every field and stream and

         hill,

Remembering the sweet days he has known

     And keep undimmed the love of Ireland

         still.”

Which is listed as page vii, the next page is listed as page one. Then at the end of the volume we have page 24 then page ix that has the poem ‘Goodbye’. I am not sure if these characteristics are a mishap in printing, or an artistic embellishment.

 

I enjoyed this thirteenth volume of poems that I have read from the pen of Irvine. The one bio above mentions 6 collections of poems but I have found a total of 17, including some special editions  listed below, and also 6 volumes Irvine edited of other poems including the earliest published as J. Pennington Irvine. A few sample poems from this volume are:

        RIVERS

        The Liffey flows through Dublin town

        And Cork is on the Lee,

        The Shannon winds through meadowlands

        Of Limerick to the sea.

        The Foyle through Derry winds its way,

        The Lagan through Belfast,

        And men in Tipperary watch

        The Suir go gently past.

        The Boyne by ancient Drogheda

        Flows tranquilly and free,

        And that is but a few of them,

        Enough for you and me.

        But there are many more besides,

        North, South, East and West,

        So get your map of Ireland out

        And try to find the rest.

WOODLAND MUSIC

The blackbird sings at morning

When dew is on the spray

The thrush in sunny weather

Gives all his notes away.

The merry lark upsoaring

Above the fields at noon,

But only nightingales will tell

Their secrets to the moon.

     THE TRAVELLERS

     Forty miles to Drogheda

     And fifty to Dundalk,

     Some will go on jaunting cars,

     And some will only talk,

     But we'll step out along the road

     And walk and walk and walk.

     Some will carry little lamps

     In case the shadows fall,

     And some will nearly fall asleep

     The lazy ones and small,

     And some will dream by candlelight

     And never go at all.

THE FARM HORSES

At evening when the work is done

They gt'aze contented, in the sun,

And wander· in the.pleasant heat

Whe.t·e fancy leads, and gtass is sweet.

Or toss their heads and gallop wild

Along the fields, like any child

Who runs and leaps and shouts and sings

For freedom, and the joy of things.

Or stand knee-deep in cooling streams!

think they too have got their dreams

Of sunny mornings, when the breeze

Is humming in the willow trees.

Of splendid days, and cloudless skies,

Far from the harness, and from flies,

In pastu1'es whel'e a beast may be

Free of his load eternally.

I hope those four poems give you a feel for the collection. The poems vary from one stanza to four; all poems are contained on single page, and many pages have 2 poems per page. Some pages have an image, a total of 4 black and white images are interspersed in the volume. And the cover is colour with a zoomed out version of it on the facing paged to the title page. Each of the pieces of artwork is on a left-hand side of 2 facing pages. The artwork appears to be woodcuts. At the back of this volume about the author we are informed:

“JOHN IRVINE, author of eight books of verse and a contributor to leading literary magazines in Britain and America. His work has appeared twice in "Best Poems of the Year" and has been broadcast frequently by the B.B.C. and by Radio Eireann.”

About the artist:

“It has been written of WILLIAM CONOR that he cannot draw the slightest figure without endowing it with life and energy, nor without filling it with a revealing power that makes the onlooker a sharer in the secrets 'of the life concealed behind the passing record.”

I really enjoyed this volume, once I finally received a copy. The National Library of Ireland has 4 copies of this in its collection. And all 4 appear to be kept offsite based on catalogue notes. It is much more playful and jovial than the other collections I have read from Irvine’s pen. I am thankful I read it; it is another volume of poetry from Irvine that I really connected with. If you can track down a copy to read I can easily recommend it. And it is a volume I know I will return to again!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by John Irvine:

A Treasury of Irish Saints A Book of Poems 

A Voice in the Dusk 

A Voice in the Dusk Lyrics  

By Winding Roads 

Fountain Of Hellas: Poems From The Greek Anthology 

Green Altars: Poems  

Lost Sanctuary and Other Poems 

Nocturne: Poems 

Selected Poems 

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi 

The Quiet Stream  

Two Poems 

Voces Intimae 

Willow Leaves: Lyrics in the Manner of the Early Chinese Poets  

Wind From the South 

With No Changed Voices: Poems 

…

Edited by John Irvine:

A Christmas Garland - as J. Pennington Irvine

The Flowering Branch: An Anthology of Irish Poetry Past and Present 

The Poems of Robert Burns 

The Poems of Robert Louis Stevenson 

The Poems of Tennyson 

The Poems of Thomas Moore  

… 

Fractured - Karin Slaughter - Will Trent Book 2

Fractured
Will Trent Book 2
Karin Slaughter
Delacorte Press
Penguin Random House Canada
ISBN 9780385341950

eISBN 9780440337942

ASIN B0011UJMMK

This is the third story in the Will Trent series I have read by Karen Slaughter. The first I read was Cleaning the Gold that was written with Lee Child as a Will Trent Jack Reacher mash up story. The second was Triptych, which at the time pushed the limit for me. But I recently gave the TV Series a try and after the first episode decided to give the books a try again. And Lo and behold it is the same story; at least mostly. And what an excellent story.

But first some background, there was really something about Will Trent that really resonated with me, and I wanted to give his other stories a try. One of the first things I found out about Will Trent in this novel is that he has a form of dyslexia. As someone who has a dual form of dyslexia, diagnosed in grade two, I realized some of what I recognized in the character. The book was also very addictive. It was very hard to put down.

The description of this book states:

“Ansley Park is one of Atlanta’s most upscale neighborhoods—but in one gleaming mansion, in a teenager’s lavish bedroom, a girl has been savagely murdered. And in the hallway, her mother stands amid shattered glass, having killed her daughter’s attacker with her bare hands. Detective Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is one of the first on the scene. Trent soon sees something that the Atlanta cops are missing, something in the trail of blood, in a matrix of forensic evidence, and in the eyes of the stunned mother.

When another teenage girl goes missing, Trent knows that this case, which started in the best of homes, is about to cut quick and deep through the ruins of perfect lives broken wide-open: where human demons emerge with a vengeance.”

The dust jacket states:

“A broken window. A bloody footprint. Just the beginning.

When Atlanta housewife Abigail Campano comes home unexpectedly one afternoon, she walks into a nightmare. A broken window, a bloody footprint on the stairs and, most devastating of all, the horrifying sight of her teenage daughter lying dead on the landing, a man standing over her with a bloody knife. The struggle which follows changes Abigail s life forever.

When the local police make a misjudgement which not only threatens the investigation but places a young girl s life in danger, the case is handed over to Special Agent Will Trent of the Criminal Apprehension Team teamed with detective Faith Mitchell, a woman who resents him from their first meeting.

But in the relentless heat of a Georgia summer, Will and Faith realise that they must work together to find the brutal killer who has targeted one of Atlanta’s wealthiest, most privileged communities before it’s too late”

I will state that I have daughters in their teens or entering their teens, and as such I found some of the book a hard read. That being said, this story is not nearly as violent or overwhelming as Triptych was. I really appreciate Will Trent, his skills, his abilities, and his overcoming his learning disability. I also really enjoyed watching will and Faith find a way to work together. 

This is a fast pace story that mainly takes place over three days. But During the investigation we look back at events more than a decade earlier. There is a great deal of hostility towards Will from the Atlanta Police Department, because of a case of police corruption he investigated months earlier. And things almost immediately get worse, when he uncovers great ineptitude right from the start at the crime scene. His boss is putting pressure on him, he is not used to working with a partner. Let alone one from the APD. And because of his disability he misses some clues that put them behind. Both Will and Faith are dealing with doubt and regrets, both current and in their pasts. But they begin to work well together. 

This is a fast pace story with a life at stake and 2 already lost. And from the looks of it countless have been impacted over time.

This is an intense read. Parts of it were not easy to read. But the ways the story came together and wrapped up was a great thriller novel, or mystery story. I love the character of Will Trent and will have to read the rest before returning to the TV series. As of the writing of this review there are 12 novels and 3 shorter work featuring Will Trent, at about one I week I should be able to return to the show in a few months. A good read. A good mystery. A true crime thriller. Great characters, And it leaves you wanting more. 

Books by Karin Slaughter:
Will Trent Books:
 1.0 Triptych
 2.0 Fractured 
 3.0 Undone
 4.0 Broken
 5.0 Fallen
 5.5 Snatched
 6.0 Criminal
 6.5 Busted
 7.0 Unseen
 8.0 The Kept Woman
 8.5 Cleaning the Gold with Lee Child
 9.0 The Last Widow

10.0 After That night

11.0 The Silent Wife

12.0 This is Why We Lied
…

Grant Country Series:
1.0 Blindsighted
2.0 Kisscut
3.0 A Faint Cold Fear
4.0 Indelible
5.0 Faithless
6.0 Beyond Reach
…

The Good Daughter Series:
0.5 Last Breath
1.0 The Good Daughter
…

Other Books:
Pretty Girls
Pieces of Her
Cop Town
Blond Hair, Blue Eyes
Thorn in My Side
Martin Misunderstood
Cold Cold Heart
The Unremakeable Heart and Other Stories
The Blessing of Brokenness
…

Contributed to:
Like a Charm
…
 

The Monks Stand Guard - Sylvia Dorham and Christopher Tupa

The Monks Stand Guard

Sylvia Dorham

Christopher Tupa (Illustrator)

TAN Books

ISBN 9781505135299

eISBN 9781505137545

eISBN 9781505137538

I have read a few books written by Sylvia Dorham over the years, and I especially love this series. I really enjoy this series, particularly The Monk’s Stormy Night. The books have the family seal of approval from 10 years to 55 years of age. They have been family favourites as long as they have been available. And even though they are well below their reading level, the youngest two still enjoy them.

The description of this book is:

“In this delightfully illustrated and rhythmically written tale, a group of struggling monks learn a powerful truth: not every thought is from God. When the temptation to give up hits hard, Father Abbot gently guides them to spiritual victory with wisdom from Scripture and timeless monastic insight. Inspired by 2 Corinthians 10:5, The Monks Stand Guard is an endearing Catholic children’s book that helps young readers learn how to resist temptation and take every thought captive for Christ. Perfect for Catholic families, catechists, and classrooms, this book brings the spiritual life to life—with charm, humor, and heart.”

About the author on the TAN site we are informed:

“Sylvia Dorham’s accomplishments are best summarized in the words, “wife” and “mother.” She appreciates truth, goodness and beauty and is grateful for skilled artists with whom she can collaborate.”

There is no information about the illustrator on the TAN site or in the book itself. The illustrations are similar to the other three volumes in this series. But the palette used is brighter and more intense. The illustrations are great and add to the lessons in the book. Personally I am not a big fan of the angel on one shoulder and devil on the other trope, but I understand the purpose and use in this volume. The next paged with the adversaries is better. 

Father Abbot leads by example. He is the one pitching in and starting all the work. But soon some monks think they want an easier life. Father helps them to learn to discern spirits. And to seek to make good decisions guided by God. This story is a little less playful than the others, but it teaches a good and valuable lesson. 

We really hope that there will be more stories with these monks. This is a great picture book in a wonderful series. It would be a great addition to any home, school, or church library! 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!  

Books by Sylvia Dorham:

The Monks Series:

The Monk’s Daily Bread

The Monks Make Amends

The Monk’s Stormy Night

The Monks Stand Guard

…

Other Books:

Rosana: A Modern Retelling of the Book of Ruth

Jewel

The Book of Names: An Accounting of What Might Have Been

Avoiding The Octopus

Our Lady Undoer of Knots

…

A Prayer of the Day Blood and Water

Blood and Water Prayer

Prayer of the Day

O Blood and Water, 

which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus 

as a Fount of Mercy for us, 

I trust in you.

Amen.

  

Note: Every so often I post a prayer I use as part of my daily prayers. I started praying this one in 2025, it was shared on social media. It is one of the shortest set prayers I try and pray daily.

Relates posts and links:

Prayer of the Day Posts

Prayer Book Reviews

My Prayer Notebook. 

My Daily Prayer List April 2024

My Daily Prayer List October 2025

...

Benedict and the Rule - Katie Warner and Leah Ballard

Benedict & the Rule

Katie Warner
Leah Ballard (Illustrator) 
TAN Books
ISBN 9781505135275

eISBN 9781505137149

eISBN 9781505137132

ASIN 

This is the eighth volume I have read by Katie Warner, my youngest and I love her books even though they are well below her reading level. And to be honest at some point I will have grandkids to share them with, hopefully.  A number of years ago we read Cloud of Witnesses: A Child's First Book of Saints and loved it. A few years ago we read, Lily Lolek, Future Saint, and really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed this book. I have read a fair bit about Saint Benedict over the years, and a few translations of his Rule. But this little volume is excellent for introducing both to little children. The description of this volume is:

“Uncover the life and remarkable legacy of one of history’s most well-known and loved saints. Benedict & the Rule is a gorgeously illustrated look at Saint Benedict’s miracles and impact, and at his famous “little rule for beginners” (known today as the Rule of Saint Benedict), adhered to by monasteries and convents throughout the world and surprisingly impactful for children and families today. What if you could have your own little Rule of Life, inspired by Saint Benedict? This book will guide young readers in that beautiful spiritual exercise, inspiring children and adults alike to adopt St. Benedict as a spiritual father unlike any other. Benedict & the Rule will especially be enjoyed by children ages 3 and Up.”

Katie in the author’s note states:

“There have been other books which have beautifully treated the life of Saint Benedict, including his many miracles, only a few of which are mentioned in this text. With this project, I wanted to weave his Rule into the context of his life, because the two were indeed inextricably connected.”

And later:

“Saint Benedict’s Rule is not only useful for those in religious life. Its foundational principles are meant to inspire our own spiritual lives, and should encourage us in the pursuit of our own rule of life, a powerful way to personalize and concretize our spiritual progress.”

And also:

“A rule helps us to carry out our true mission. Like Benedict, we were not made for comfort, but for the work of God.”

There is a section at the end on how to make your won rule and a url to some resources to help. There is no about the author section in the book or on the back, but on the Tan site we are informed:  

“Katie Warner is a Catholic homeschooling mom who loves to make and share creative resources to raise faith-filled families. Katie is the author and editor of the FirstFaithTreasury.com series, Catholic picture books, Head & Heart: Becoming Spiritual Leaders for Your Family, and a popular prayer journal series including A Parent Who Prays. She holds a graduate degree in Catholic Theology from the Augustine Institute, where she met Meg and fell in love with Meg's art. In her spare time, Katie writes for the National Catholic Register, manages KatieWarner.com, and helps others home to the Church through Catholics Come Home. Katie lives in Georgia with her husband and fellow book-loving children.”

There is no information about the illustrator, either in the volume or on the TAN Site. That being said the illustrations are bright and vibrant, with rich tones and excellent imagery that capture the life of Benedict. This little volume is written for young readers as a picture book. But it is also a tool that can be used to help them develop patterns and habits that can help carry them through life. But even in my mid 50’s I greatly enjoyed the volume and learned from it.

This is an excellent book that would be a blessing in any home, school, or church library. It is a wonderful book we can easily recommend.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Katie Warner:
Head & Heart: Becoming Spiritual Leaders for Your Family
Gaze Upon Jesus: Experiencing Christ's Childhood through the Eyes of Women
A Grandparent Who Prays: A Journal to Guide You in Praying for Your Grandchildren
A Parent Who Prays: A Journal to Guide You in Praying for Your Children
A Sponsor Who Prays: A Journal to Guide You in Praying for Your Confirmand
A Godparent Who Prays: A Journal to Guide You in Praying for Your Godchild
Illustrated Classic Christmas Carols

…

For Children:
I Went to Mass: What did I See?
Cloud of Witnesses: A Child's First Book of Saints
Lily Lolek, Future Saint
Let Us Pray: A Child's First Book of Prayers 
The Word of the Lord: A Child's First Scripture Verses 
Kiddie Cat: A Child's First Catechism Lesson 
Father Ben Gets Ready for Mass 
This is the Church

Listening For God

Oremus Latin Prayers for Young Catholics

Benedict and the Rule

…

A Serpent's Pursuit - M.P. McBride

A Serpent's Pursuit

M. P. McBride

Full Quiver Publishing

ISBN 9781987970623

ASIN B0FXH9BGH3

This is the debut novel from M.P. ‘Michael’ McBride. I have read numerous volumes from Full Quiver Publishing over the year, I have loved most and liked the others. So I was more than willing to give it a try. It did not disappoint. 

The description of this volume states:

“George Abiola, a Nigerian boy, is nicknamed Blos (blessed little old soul) due to his wise, positive, Christian approach to life. His chosen life's path brings unwanted attention from a dangerous antagonist, an evil presence who mysteriously appears throughout George's life.

At a young age, he joins his grandmother in America, setting him on a trajectory destined for both humble service... and fame. After George has unwillingly gained international notoriety, the manifestation of his antagonist is further motivated to destroy the innocent target of its hate.

George must gain the courage to confront evil face to face. Who will prevail?”

About the author we are informed:

“M. P. McBride was raised in the small Southern California desert town of Blythe, California. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing at Cal Poly University, he attended the same institution as a graduate student, earning his teaching credential. After teaching elementary school for three years, he joined the California Department of Fish and Game as a game warden. Thirty years later, he retired as a Law Enforcement Division deputy chief. Mike was also a member of the Arizona Army National Guard and then the United States Army Reserve before being honorably discharged at the rank of major.

He is married to Marian, his wife of forty-three years, and they have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters.

This is his first novel.”

Chapters in this volume are:

Terror

A Boy Called Blos

Terror

Followed To America

Blessings

Growing Up

Terror

Meeting Death

Walter

Leaving A Mark

Terror

New Challenges

Terror

Path To Vocation

Terror

First Assignment

Terror

Mission Adventure

Terror

Mission Accomplished

Terror

Orphan Of War

Santos And Saw

Unwelcome Fame

Back To America

The Confrontation

See Of Color

Life’s Path

This is a story that follows a youth, George Abiola, from a young age until his death much later. His nickname is BLOS, blessed, little, old soul. Throughout this life he has encounters with a serpent and a strange man with the reddest of hair. The story spans many decades, and follows George from losing his parents, going to the United States to be raised by his grandmother, schooling, study, ministry, ordination, and rising through the ranks in the church.  

It follows him as he struggles to find his place in the world. As her learns to love, to give and to serve; and ultimately to follow the Holy Spirit’s leadings and guidance.  It is filled with wonderful characters, great adventures, and challenges both without and from within. 

As a debut novel it is impressive. It is a story of family, friendships, hope and learning to live for God. It is well written. I would not hesitate to pick up the next offering from McBrien’s pen. I can easily recommend this story. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!