Tuesday, 10 December 2024

The Prayer of Mary and the Saints Who Met Her - Sr Catherine Aubin, OP - CTS Notes on Prayer Book 7

The Prayer of Mary and the Saints Who Met Her
CTS Notes on Prayer Book 1
Sr Catherine Aubin, OP
Pope Francis (Preface)
ISBN 9781784698317

The Prayer of Mary and the Saints Who Met Her - Sr Catherine Aubin, OP - CTS Notes on Prayer Book 7

This is volume 7 of a new 8 volume set released for the Jubilee 2025, and the second I have read. All 8 volumes have the same preface from Pope Francis. Each volume is by a different author. The books were originally released in Italian, and have since been released in Europe by the CTS, and there are forthcoming edition by Our Sunday Visitor for North American Release. The original series and the CTS editions are marked as ‘Notes on Prayer’, the OSV editions the series is called ‘Exploring Prayer’. Some of the titles are different between the two editions and one even has an Americanized name for the author. My recommendation is to get the CTS editions, they are excellent. But back to this second read which is of the seventh volume.

The description of this volume states:

“In this seventh of eight booklets on prayer, Sr Catherine Aubin, OP presents a deep meditation on Our Lady and her role as guide and exemplar in our own formation as prayerful Christians.

“Prayer is the breath of faith; it is its most proper expression. Like a silent cry that issues from the hearts of those who believe and entrust themselves to God.” – Pope Francis

In this seventh of eight booklets on prayer, Sr Catherine Aubin, OP presents a deep meditation on Our Lady and her role as guide and exemplar in our own formation as prayerful Christians. “Mary prolongs in each of us today the trust that she lived in throughout her life on earth. Her task is to deliver us from our fear of God our Father, to place us in his hands and inscribe us in his intimate life. She leads us to a personal, adult relationship with God.””

The chapters in this volume are:

Preface by the Pope Francis 
Introduction 
Geographical and Spiritual Locations 
Mary's Words 
Women Saints and Mary 
Conclusion 

I highlighted numerous passages while reading this volume, many are longer passages, some of them are:

“When Mary appears, anywhere in the whole world, the places where she appears have points in common with the biblical places where she stayed and lived. In the first chapter we will review these places, asking ourselves what they reveal to us about Mary's identity, and what the inner spaces are that Mary asks us to dwell in today. In the second chapter, we will listen to the very few actual words of Mary given to us in the Gospels, and will look at her gestures, her altitudes, and her eyes, trying to understand their meaning. In other words, to discover where and how she is teaching us to react to people and events. And finally in the third chapter, we will ask two holy women about the unique relationship they each had with Mary. The whole piece will be interspersed with phrases from the traditional Orthodox prayer known as the Akathist Hymn. This will lead us towards a new, deep revelation of Mary's closeness to each of us.”

“To get an inner grasp on Mary's life we will need to pass on from the visible to the invisible, from what is written to what is implied, in order to let ourselves be taught, become more intelligent, read within and beyond the written words.”

“A door is a (normally wooden) object that opens and shuts. That's the first level. A door separates two spaces, it allows or prevents entry, it also means the attitude of being open or shut. That's the second level. When someone speaks of the door of the heart it isn't a material object but one of a different order. This verse throws light on it: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, 1 will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20). This is the third level. And finally, Jesus says of himself that be IS the door: "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. [ ... ] I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved" (Jn l 0:7, 9). This is the fourth level of reading: the revelation of the mystery.”

“There is a link between Mar y's identity and the places where she lived. If the Evangelists underlined these places, it's because they wanted to tell us something. That's why this booklet starts by looking at the regions and towns where Mary lived. By doing this we can get closer to her. Little by little she will reveal to us the various spiritual meanings of these places, and allow us to build a closer, more lively relationship with her.”

“So Bethlehem was where so ns were born: Benjamin, favourite, and David, beloved; Bethlehem, then, is a place of birth, filiation, descendence. 111e Hebrew name "Bethlehem" is an evocative one. Beth in Hebrew means, among other things, "house". Its initial letter is also the letter that begins the Old Testament. The Hebrew for "In the beginning" (Gen 1: 1) is Bereshit, and the first syllable, be, can mean "beginning'', "house'', "grain'', "wheat" or "son". If we connect Bereshit and Bethlehem, we can conjecture that Jesus's birthplace is the place of the beginning of an origin, of a filiation, and of a descendence. In this house, Beth, the Son is received, and if the Son is received that means there is a Father. Jesus is at once the Son of the Father, the Word and the Bread of Life. Bethlehem literally means "house of bread".”

“Living in Galilee means living in a place of constant coming and going, of mixed blood, of diversity, where nothing lasts permanently. It is a place where difference is experienced simply, accepted, and welcomed. It is the region of fresh starts and new beginnings, where everything is still to be received and built, far from the opinions and judgements of the powerful men in Jerusalem.”

“The town is only named nine times in the Bible. It is not mentioned at all in the Old Testament - Nazareth does not appear in any of the prophecies, or the historical books, or the psalms. It was an unknown place, where nothing happened, and which left no mark. (Very often, apparitions of Our Lady take place in little townships lost in the mountains or the countryside: Fatima, La Salette, Tepeyac, Champion, Igrista, and many more.) Nazareth was an unknown village, hidden and insignificant.”

“Living at Nazareth is necessarily living happy, freed from the fear of other people's eyes and their judgements. Nazareth is the place of intimacy and trust, the place of respect and living together fraternally, the place of simplicity and humility. Mary is waiting for us there for our growth and fruitfulness in God.”

“We hear Mary's voice so little in the Gospels: she only spoke seven phrases. Together with the accompanying actions, they reveal her attitudes and inner dispositions. It is up to us to hear them and take them in with the ears of our heart, storing them up in the depths of our heart as she did herself: "But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." (Luke 2:1 9); or, in another translation, "Mary kept all these things, pondering on them in her heart:'”

“Whereas Mary, with her silences, her adaptability and her words, teaches us how to adopt a completely different attitude: prioritising interiority, trusting our Father God and fin ally, keeping his blessings vividly in mind.”

“She gives her consent, saying yes unreservedly and unconditionally to God's call.”

“As for us, our trust is still full of questioning and sometimes refusal. That realisation is not a tragedy, but rather a call for us to go forward. Mary teaches us to base our life not on our own generosity but on trust.”

“Having accepted the revelation of what was impossible for her, Mary sees strength and freedom coming to birth within her. Mary's consent is the sign of her freedom, her liberation. She is liberated from fear, from the desire for control, from the fear of the unknown. When we cross over the threshold of radical trust, a much greater freedom is offered: that of being able to direct our will to what is essential, that of being able to live out our time with great effectiveness, and being present to ourselves and to other people.”

“All this in an unending search and a certain pain when we can not hold onto what we thought we had found. Mary teaches us to keep trusting even when there is no evidence and no proof. Like her, we have to search without fretting, explore without looking for results, and ask without reproaching.”

“Their meditative withdrawal gives place to a different way of thinking, of forming concepts, and of living. Meditating means in a way joining in with God's Sabbath, and entering into his repose. Entering deeply into his active grace and withdrawing from the world around us. Meditation makes space, and there comes forth from it an act of true love, which is genuine, not an illusion. Striking roots in meditation in this way means making an act of charity and benevolence, withdrawing so that the Other, and other people, may take their full place in our lives.”

“Mary's meditation is practised in the faith that is in continual tension towards the Father; in the hope that is a certainty that these realities are within us, waiting to be gathered, because hope is linked to the presence of the Son in the Father; and in the charity that unifies because it is the work of God's Spirit.”

“Catherine Laboure received and welcomed three apparitions of Mary. They were of decisive importance for the whole Church. The way Mary came to meet Catherine Laboure is a lesson for us. Mary wants to talk to us too, and visit us. Not in the same way as Catherine Laboure, but she wants to show us a path, point out a route to us, teach us not only to pray but to become prayer, and to give meaning to our prayers.”

“This booklet is addressed to all those who, like Ulysses or the prodigal son in the parable, are seeking the path to find, or re-find, their place, their proper location. It is intended for those who wish to experience a home coming and a wedding-feast in their inner life. Tt is from there that they will be able to go out and come back, walk confidently, storing up words and events in their memory and putting them together to find their meaning.”

“John took Mary, the mother of Jesus, with him, into his home, following Jesus's words. We too have opened the door to Mary, to take her into our home and have her with us. With John the Evangelist we too "make a p lace for her in our home"; thanks to her we find our rightful place day by day. When we do this, her presence reveals itself throughout her words and her journeyings. And she shares with us her own zest for life.”

“As Mother to each of us, Mary reveals to us the path of her place of grace. She prepares this inner path, leads us to it and sets us upon it. Whether we are farmworkers, officials, doctors or teachers, the one essential thing in our whole life is to find that place in ourselves, to establish ourselves there in a state of listening, discernment and decision. Living doesn't just happen automatically, and it isn't an easy thing to do.”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. There were many things in this volume that caught my attention. And much that caused me to slow down and take notes. It is a volume I will reread again and again. For a little volume it packs a great deal of excellent information.

When I was in university, I was involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, there was a series of booklets by the founder Bill Bright, called Transferable Concepts, and by reading them many times you could almost memorize them and the message so that you could share it. This volume reminds me a lot of those books, but specifically geared for Catholics; and specifically on Prayer for the Jubilee year in 2025. I am planning on jumping around and not reading them in order my first time through, but already have plans to reread them again this year between Christmas and New Years and that time I will read them in order.

The description of the series on the CTS site states:

“The “Notes on Prayer” series is an inspiring collection of eight booklets from the Vatican, designed to deepen and enrich the prayer lives of Catholics as they journey through the Year of Jubilee 2025, themed “Pilgrims of Hope.”

Each booklet in this series is a powerful resource, offering spiritual guidance, reflections, and wisdom from Church teachings, Sacred Scripture, and the lives of the saints. Whether you’re seeking personal renewal or walking the path of forgiveness and reconciliation, this series will help you grow in intimacy with God during this special time of grace.”

The first two books in this series I have read are excellent, if the others are as good as those two; we have over 700 pages of instruction on prayer. It is an excellent collection, these books would be good for any school, home, or church library. I can easily recommend this book and series and encourage you to give them a read!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

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


Notes on Prayer Books Jubilee 2025 Italian Editions
Original Italian Editions

Notes on Prayer Books Jubilee 2025 English CTS Editions
CTS Editions English

Notes on Prayer Books Jubilee 2025 OSV English Editions
OSV English Editions

Monday, 9 December 2024

Story of a Soul The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux - Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, Michael-Joseph Parish, and Anne-Elisabeth Giuliani - Ascension Catholic Classics

Story of a Soul The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux 
Fr Michael-Joseph Parish
Anne-Elisabeth Giuliani
John Clarke, O.C.D. (Translator)
Ascension Catholic Classics
ISBN 9781954882904
eISBN 9781954882911

Story of a Soul The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux -  Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, Michael-Joseph Parish, and Anne-Elisabeth Giuliani - Ascension Catholic Classics

Reading this volume was a bit of a different process. It is the third in a series from Ascension press called Catholic Classics, and there is a podcast version by Gregory Pine and Father Michael-Joseph Parish. Father Parish is new this season and Father Gregory Pine is not part of this year’s series. Also this year the test by Saint Theresa was read by a woman with a French accent. I listened to the podcast in the morning and then read the associated sections in the evening. In essence I worked through the book twice. It was great to listen to their commentary each day, and read their commentary before the different sections of the book. The description of this edition of this book is:

“Story of a Soul, the third book of the Catholic Classics series, is created in collaboration with the Carmelites and uses the only full authorized English translation of this classic work.

Often considered one of the most influential and inspiring works of the Church, this classic yet relevant text was written by Doctor of the Church St. Thérèse of Lisieux and details her life and love for the Lord in spite  of trial and illness. Through the years, it has remained a key reflection on the spiritual life for believers who seek to love God with all their hearts.

Exploring topics that St. Thérèse learned throughout her life, Story of a Soul teaches Catholics how to embrace their spiritual “littleness” as a quick path to heaven, how to live their call to love, and how to choose God in the midst of great suffering. 

This text draws readers ever closer to God as St. Thérèse details the events of her life and her prayer, both of which were focused solely on deep intimacy with God and honoring him.

Featuring the only full authorized English translation, this special version renews Catholics' understanding and appreciation of this spiritual classic. It also includes:

Expert commentary to make the text more approachable to readers by Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, O.P., and Anne-Elisabeth Giuliani

A foreword by Cardinal Anders Arborelius, O.C.D.

An insert of sacred art of St. Thérèse from Ascension’s Sacred Art Collection of Holy Men and Women by Tianna Williams

25 images from the life of St. Thérèse throughout the book from the Carmelites.”

The podcast was preceded by a novena to Saint Theresa before beginning on the text. The sections and chapters in this edition are:

About the Catholic Classics
Foreword by Cardinal Anders Arborelius, OCD
Introduction to the Catholic Classics Edition by Fr Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, OP
Introduction to the First Edition
Prologue
Thérèse’s Family and Cousins

MANUSCRIPT A
Commentary on Chapter 1 by Anne-Elisabeth Giuliani
Chapter 1 Alençon (1873–1877)
Commentary on Chapter 2 by Fr Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, OP
Chapter 2 Les Buissonnets (1877–1881)
Commentary on Chapter 3 by Anne-Elisabeth Giuliani
Chapter 3 The Distressing Years (1881–1883)
Commentary on Chapter 4 by Fr Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, OP
Chapter 4 First Communion, Boarding School (1883–1886)
Commentary on Chapter 5 by Anne-Elisabeth Giuliani
Chapter 5 After the Grace of Christmas (1886–1887)
Commentary on Chapter 6 by Fr Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, OP
Chapter 6 The Trip to Rome (1887)
Commentary on Chapter 7 by Anne-Elisabeth Giuliani
Chapter 7 The First Years in Carmel (1888–1890)
Commentary on Chapter 8 by Fr Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, OP
Chapter 8 Profession and Offering to Merciful Love (1890–1895)

MANUSCRIPT B
Commentary on Chapter 9 by Anne-Elisabeth Giuliani
Chapter 9 My Vocation Is Love (1896)

MANUSCRIPT C
Commentary on Chapter 10 by Fr Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, OP
Chapter 10 The Trial of Faith (1896–1897)
Commentary on Chapter 11 by Anne-Elisabeth Giuliani
Chapter 11 Those Whom You Have Given Me (1896–1897)
Epilogue

APPENDICES
Letter Thérèse Carried on Her Heart
Act of Oblation of Merciful Love
Thérèse’s Explanation of Her Coat of Arms
Chronology
About ICS

This translation or edition has it’s:

Imprimi potest: Terence J. Flynn, Provincialis Washingtonensis, O.C.D.

We are informed about Catholic Classics from Ascension Press that:

“There are texts by great saints that many devout Catholics are convinced they should read, but perhaps they feel overwhelmed by the thought. Most of these texts were originally written in a foreign language centuries ago. The available English translations often use terminology that has fallen out of use, making them more challenging to the modern reader. One can leave such texts with more questions than answers. They can seem unapproachable to all but scholars.

But these writings were intended as gifts to all of God’s faithful so that we can know more about God and, more importantly, so that we can know God. Each saint, each Doctor of the Church, each mystic reflects some aspect of the beauty and goodness of our creator.

To help renew Catholics’ appreciation of these works, Ascension has created this series, Catholic Classics. With updated translations, the works are more readable to modern eyes. Added introductions and commentary help unlock the text and give context to the original author’s references.

The peacock is the symbol for the Catholic Classics. It is an ancient Christian symbol of eternal life and the resurrection that reflects the perennial nature of these classics and the new life they will breathe into your spiritual life as you read them. The Scriptures tell us that King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, kept peacocks, which were a mark of his grandeur (1 Kings 10:22). The peacock evokes the great wisdom contained in these classic works.

As you read, remember to use this opportunity as a moment of encounter with the living God. Pray as you read. See Christ in the words of his servants—of his friends—and know that he waits there for you.”

I highlighted numerous passages while reading and listening to this book. Some of them are:

“To help renew Catholics’ appreciation of these works, Ascension has created this series, Catholic Classics. With updated translations, the works are more readable to modern eyes. Added introductions and commentary help unlock the text and give context to the original author’s references.”

“As you read, remember to use this opportunity as a moment of encounter with the living God. Pray as you read. See Christ in the words of his servants—of his friends—and know that he waits there for you.”

“If you read her Story of a Soul, you will discover her message of God’s universal love. You will rediscover what the Gospel has to say to us today in our digital and technological age. We all need her freshness and smile.”

“Trinity. And Thérèse of Lisieux is more adequately called Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Later she wanted to add “of the Holy Face” to her name. She wanted to enter into the entire mystery of Jesus, from his childhood up to his death on the Cross, and have it included in her name.”

“When Thérèse was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church, many were quite surprised. What could a young nun without any theological studies add to the wisdom of the Fathers of the Church? At first, her Little Way seems too simple and humble for a Doctor of the Church.”

“Through her writing, St. Thérèse has captured the minds and hearts of countless people over the past 125 years. Without a doubt, her short life transformed the world.”

“Throughout her childhood and her life in the convent, Thérèse realized more and more that a life of holiness is not made up of great moments of difficult actions but of little moments of love; of seeing each moment and interaction, however pleasant or unpleasant, easy or difficult, as an opportunity to offer oneself in love. At the heart of the Gospel is the call to love God and to love neighbor.”

“I had often heard it [10] said that surely Pauline would become a religious, and without knowing too much about what it meant I thought: “I too will be a religious.” This is one of my first memories and I haven’t changed my resolution since then! It was through you, dear Mother, that Jesus chose to espouse me to Himself.”

“She explained the way of becoming holy through fidelity in little things; furthermore, she gave me a little leaflet called “Renunciation” and I meditated on this with delight.”

“I listened with great attention to the instructions Father Domin was giving us, even writing up a summary of them.”

“Really, I am far from being a saint, and what I have just said is proof of this; instead of rejoicing, for example, at my aridity, I should attribute it to my little fervor and lack of fidelity; I should be desolate for having slept (for seven years) during my hours of prayer and my thanksgivings after Holy Communion; well, I am not desolate. I remember that little children are as pleasing to their parents when they are asleep as well as when they are wide awake; I remember, too, that when they perform operations, doctors [76r °] put their patients to sleep. Finally, I remember that: “The Lord knows our weakness, that he is mindful that we are but dust and ashes.””

“His infinite Mercy, and through it I contemplate and adore the other divine perfections! All of these perfections appear to be resplendent with love; even His Justice (and perhaps this even more so than the others) seems to me clothed in love. What a sweet joy it is to think that God is Just, i.e., that He takes into account our weakness, that He is perfectly aware of our fragile nature. What should I fear then?”

“Oh! how sweet is the way of Love! How I want to apply myself to doing the will of God always with the greatest self-surrender!”

I hope those samples give you a feel for this version. This is an excellent volume, and was great working through it with the podcast. Note these is a bonus episode of the podcast that covers the appendices. My only regret is that the podcast worksheet the page numbers match the physical book but the eBook has different pagination, and you sort of need to guess for splitting up chapters. This book is an excellent read. It challenged me personally and I know it will do the same for you. I am thankful for having read and to be slowly applying the lessons from this Saint. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next Catholic Classics from Ascension Press.

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

Books in the Ascension Christian Classics:

CTS Books and Booklets n the life and spirituality of St Thérèse:
Thérèse of Lisieux - On the visit of her relics to Great Britain (Do 810)
Thérèse, teacher of Prayer, by Bro Craig (D 693)
Louis and Zélie Martin, Parents of Thérèse of Lisieux, by Paulinus Redmond (B 709)



Sunday, 8 December 2024

Make friends with the Angels - Sister Emmanuel Maillard

Make friends with the Angels
Ann-Marie Chinnery (editor)
Rosalia Schlett (editor)
Fr David Chinnery (editor)
Fr Gabriele M. White OJSS (editor)
Children of Medjugorje, Inc
ISBN 9781737788195
eISBN 9798330336449
ASIN B0DCFR3ZW7


I read this as part of Father Mark Goring’s Saint Mark’s School of Reading. I picked up the eBook to follow along, as a part time student. It was wonderful reading this with Father Mark’s weekly videos. This book was part of a larger teaching series on Angels. It was a very interesting read.

Description of this volume is:

“God has entrusted to each of us a very special and powerful friend, our Guardian Angel. As a pure spirit, we cannot see him, but he is by our side day and night, always ready to help us, protect us, inspire us and guide us. Scripture, the saints, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church tell us about the wonderful role the Angels play in our lives. Don’t miss the wonderful opportunity to make friends with him and call on him for divine intervention. Let him work in your favor! Don’t leave him idle!

Angels love us dearly and never leave us alone! They know God’s plan for our lives and they are so willing to help us realize it. How precious this is for us, since we are so easily confused.

This booklet will enrich your daily life tremendously! By reading these beautiful testimonies, joy will flow into your heart, and you will not be able to put it down! You will never feel lonely again once you come to know the Angels!”

The chapters in this volume are:

Angels are real!
Our Guardian Angels are a great gift from God
Don’t ignore the Angels!
Don’t Leave your Angel idle
Padre Pio and his Guardian Angel
We have more than one Angel
Why are Angels different to humans?
Pray to your Angel to realise your vocation
Angels help us in our spiritual battle
The Angels and the Eucharist
Ask your angels to help you with everyday tasks
A name revealed
Write a letter to your Angel

I highlighted a number of passages while reading this book, some of them are:

“In the world you have the visible universe: you have the trees, the sky, the fields, the fruit, the houses . . . you have the earth. You have everything you can touch, see, and hear; but you also have the invisible universe and the invisible universe is actually much wider, much richer, and much more immense than the visible universe. The Angels are part of the invisible universe but there is a difference between something that is ‘invisible’ and something that is ‘unreal.’”

“I will share with you something that happened to a priest friend of mine in Paris, many years ago. When he was just a seminarian, he had the great opportunity to go to Confession to Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. Now during confession Padre Pio asked him, “Do you sometimes pray to your Guardian Angel?” My friend answered, “No, you must be kidding, I don't believe in Guardian Angels.” Then do you know what happened?—Padre Pio slapped him in the face, and said to him, “Silly! Stupid! I see him by your side!” I think it slapped some sense into him because my friend from that day forward started to pray to his Guardian Angel! It was a blessed slap! Praise God.”

“We know that the Angels have been created by Him and for Him and through Him, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Col. 1: 16). Now they belong to Him even more since He has made them messengers of His plan of salvation.”

“Now remember if you are somewhere where the atmosphere is serious and heavy, appeal to the Angels of Bethlehem—their sense of humour will emanate to all those who are present. Don’t leave the Angels idle; give them some jobs to do!”

“Now God has a plan for each one of our lives and the Angels are the keepers/ guardians of that plan. Their job is to help us realize that plan in its fullness and they always lead us back to it when we go astray.”

“So, either you choose God and humbly ask for forgiveness for your sins to receive His mercy and enter Heaven or purgatory if you need first to be purified. Or you can decide to reject God. If you say many little no’s to God during your whole life you might also reject God at the last moment and with that choice you will be without Him for eternity.”

“Remember the serpent (Satan) is a liar and he is the father of lies, so do not speak to them even if you are tormented. Go to Jesus, go to Mary, go to your Guardian Angel, and ask them to protect you from the evil one but do not address Satan directly unless you are a priest or an exorcist. It is too dangerous; you will get trapped.”

“Carry blessed objects with you put them in your home and restore the use of holy water.””

“We must know about the existence of the demons so that we may fight against them and resist them. The best way to fight against them and to defeat them is to have Jesus’ power within us which means through prayer and through fasting.”

“Angels are divided into nine choirs: Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim. Each order has a special role and position in heaven.”

“Let me explain, in some practices that are wrong, for example yoga, transcendental meditation, Ouija boards, divination and all kinds of wrong things that are actually called an abomination in the eyes of God (Deut 18: 10-12), you can be given a word or a name. Sometimes you are given a mantra and you are supposed to use that word/ phrase and repeat it constantly. You must also keep it secret; you are not supposed to tell anyone. Please never use any mantra, do not do it, it is dangerous.”

I hope those few quotes give you a feel for this volume. 

This is a wonderful volume. I myself am sceptical of Medjugorje, the author does mention a few things from there. But overall the volume is an excellent little read. It reminds me a bit of All About the Angels by Father Paul O'Sullivan O.P.. It was fun reading this volume as part of Father Mark Goring’s Saint Mark’s School of Reading and it was the first time we had a few sessions on other sources on the same topic before beginning this work. This is a book I can easily recommend. 

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

Read as part of Father Mark Goring’s School of Reading for info click here.

Books by Sister Emmanuel Maillard:
Maryam of Bethlehem
Medjugorje: Triumph of the Heart
Peace Will Have the Last Word
Scandalous Mercy
Spiritual Warfare: The Express Lane to Union With God
The Amazing Secret of the Souls in Purgatory
The Beautiful Story of Medjugorje: As Told to Children from 7 to 97
The Forgotten Power of Fasting: Healing, Liberation, Joy . . .
The Hidden Child of Medjugorje
The Rosary: A Journey That Changes Your Life . . .

Saturday, 7 December 2024

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year C - Scott Hahn and Ken Ogorek

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year C
Emmaus Road Publishing
ISBN 9781645854135
eISBN 9781645854159
ASIN 

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year C - Scott Hahn Ken Ogorek

Wow! This is an incredible volume. I somehow missed Year B when it came out last year. But I will not make that mistake next year. This volume does not start for a few weeks now but I read the introduction and randomly flipped through and read about a dozen of the reflections. I can easily state this and the two companions would be excellent resources for any Catholic!

The description of this volume states:

“As Catholics, we draw meaning and purpose from the celebration of the Mass each Sunday. But what if we could enhance our experience of the Mass with a better grasp on the readings we hear?

In Breaking the Bread, a beautiful, full-color, clothbound companion for the Sunday Mass, beloved Scripture scholar Scott Hahn reflects on the Sunday Mass readings, providing insightful context for all Catholics to better understand what we hear—and why we hear it—on any given Sunday.

This easy-to-use devotional also includes carefully selected passages by Ken Ogorek from the Catechism that provide an overview of the Church's basic doctrinal and moral teaching and challenge each of us to greater fidelity to Christ.

Breaking the Bread will help all Catholics make the most of Sunday Mass through reflections on Scripture, the Catechism, and short prayers to help one deepen their personal relationship with the living Word of God: Jesus Christ.

This edition of Breaking the Bread highlights the lectionary readings for Year C. An additional volume for Year A is forthcoming.”

Over the last three years I have worked through volume from the Catholic Truth Society by Dom Henry Wansbrough OSB, Companion to the Sunday Gospels Year C, which are based on the Lectionary and scriptures used in England and Wales. I was just finishing up the third volume when I was offered a review copy of this volume. And it was an easy choice to try a new volume from Scott Hahn. And this volume does not disappoint. A sample reflection is:

First Sunday of Lent
DEUTERONOMY 26:4–10
PSALM 91:1–2, 10–11, 12–13, 14–15
ROMANS 10:8–13
LUKE 4:1–13

Forty Days
In today’s epic Gospel scene, Jesus relives in His flesh the history of Israel. We’ve already seen that, like Israel, Jesus has passed through water and been called God’s beloved Son (see Luke 3:22; Exodus 4:22). Now, just as Israel was tested for forty years in the wilderness, Jesus is led into the desert to be tested for forty days and nights (see Exodus 15:25). He faces the same temptations put to Israel: Hungry, He’s tempted to grumble against God for food (see Exodus 16:1–13). As Israel quarreled at Massah, He’s tempted to doubt God’s care (see Exodus 17:1–6). When the devil asks for His homage, He’s tempted to do what Israel did in creating the golden calf (see Exodus 32).

Jesus fights the devil with the Word of God, three times quoting from Moses’ lecture about the lessons Israel was supposed to learn from its wilderness wanderings (see
Deuteronomy 8:3; 6:16; 6:12–15).

Why do we read this story on the first Sunday of Lent? Because, like the biblical sign of forty (see Genesis 7:12; Exodus 24:18; 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8; Jonah 3:4), the forty days of Lent are a time of trial and purification. Lent is meant to teach us what we hear over and over in today’s readings. “Call upon me, and I will answer,” the Lord promises in today’s Psalm. Paul promises the same thing in today’s Epistle (quoting Deuteronomy 30:14; Isaiah 28:16; Joel 3:5).

This was Israel’s experience, as Moses reminds his people in today’s First Reading: “We cried to the Lord . . . and he heard our cry.” But each of us is tempted, as Israel was, to forget the great deeds He works in our lives, to neglect our birthright as His beloved sons and daughters. Like the litany of remembrance Moses prescribes for Israel, we should see in the Mass a memorial of our salvation, and “bow down in his presence,” offering ourselves in thanksgiving for all He has given us.

~

Ironically, the devil believes in God. He even has the Scriptures at his disposal. Those who have reasonable access to the Good News may have a hard time justifying unbelief if and when the time comes to do so. Even those with no substantial resources other than the natural light of human reason, though, can come to know God—largely by observing His creation.

The Church teaches that the one true God,
our Creator and Lord, can be known with
certainty from his works, by the natural light
of human reason (cf. Vatican Council I, can. 2,
 1: DS 3026). (CCC 47)

Jesus’ Jewish upbringing sensitizes Him in a specific way to this second temptation. Above all else, God is the One to be worshiped. More than kingdoms, more than all principalities and powers, we are to worship the Lord our God, and Him
alone are we to serve.

The first commandment summons man to
believe in God, to hope in him, and to love
him above all else. (CCC 2134)

~

How do I usually handle temptation? What might enhance my ability to handle it?

In my own way do I seek kingdoms, power, and glory? What is my response to the second temptation?

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.

ONE DOES NOT LIVE
ON BREAD ALONE,
BUT ON EVERY WORD
THAT COMES FORTH
FROM THE MOUTH of GOD.
MATTHEW 4:4B”

I hope that sample reflection give you a feel for this volume. Each reflection is between four and 5 pages. Spread throughout the volume are full page prints or artwork. Also occasionally there are full page quotes to highlight specific passages on a coloured background. This is a well-made hardcover book. The cloth covers match the covers for the lectionary for that year. Its compact size 5x7 inches makes it perfect for desk, prayer corner or bedside table. The pages are high quality semi glossy paper and will last for years to come. The only thing missing is a cloth bookmark to keep your place. 

I am typically an eBook guy, in part because of my dual form of dyslexia. But I plan to acquire both the physical and eBooks for this series and See myself using them year after year. 

This volume and set is one I can easily recommend. It will be a great addition to any Catholic’s prayer corner. It is a volume every home would be blessed by having a copy and reading it before attending church on Sunday. This is a great resource, I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy! 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books by Scott Hahn click here.

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year C - Scott Hahn Ken Ogorek Sample 1

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year C - Scott Hahn Ken Ogorek Sample 2

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year C - Scott Hahn Ken Ogorek Sample 3

Books by Scott Hahn:
A Father Who Keeps His Promises
A Pocket Guide to Saint Paul
A Pocket Guide to the Bible
Angels and Saints: A Biblical Friendship with God's Holy Ones
Answering the New Atheism: Dismantling Dawkins's Case Against God
Catholic for a Reason
Consuming the Word: The New Testament and The Eucharist in the Early Church
Covenant and Communion
Evangelizing Catholics: A Mission Manual for the New Evangelization
First Comes Love: Finding Your Family in the Church and the TrinityHail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God
Holy Is His Name
Hope for Hard Times
Joy to the World: How Christ's Coming Changed Everything and Still Does
Kinship by Covenant: A Canonical Approach to the Fulfillment of God's Saving Promises
Letter and Spirit : From Written Text to Living Word in the Liturgy
Living the Mysteries - A Guide for Unfinished Christians
Lord Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession
Many Are Called: Rediscovering the Glory of the Priesthood
Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace
Politicizing the Bible: The Roots of Historical Criticism and the Secularization of Scripture 1300-1700
Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain, and Defend the Catholic Faith
Rome Sweet Home
Scripture Matters
Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots
Swear to God : The Promise and Power of the Sacraments
The Creed: Professing the Faith Through the Ages
The Fourth Cup
The First Society

The Kingdom of God As Liturgical Empire
The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth
Understanding "Our Father"


Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year B - Scott Hahn Ken Ogorek

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year C - Scott Hahn Ken Ogorek

Friday, 6 December 2024

Prayer Today A Challenge to Overcome - Cardinal Angelo Comastri - CTS Notes on Prayer Book 1

Prayer Today: A Challenge to Overcome 
CTS Notes on Prayer Book 1
Cardinal Angelo Comastri 
Pope Francis (Preface)
ISBN 9781784698256

Prayer Today A Challenge to Overcome - Cardinal Angelo Comastri - CTS Notes on Prayer Book 1

This is volume 1 of a new 8 volume set released for the Jubilee 2025. All 8 volumes have the same preface from Pope Francis. Each volume is by a different author. The books were originally released in Italian, and have since been released in Europe by the CTS, and there are forthcoming edition by Our Sunday Visitor for North American Release. The original series and the CTS editions are marked as ‘Notes on Prayer’, the OSV editions the series is called ‘Exploring Prayer’. Some of the titles are different between the two editions and one even has an Americanized name for the author. My recommendation is to get the CTS editions, they are excellent. But back to this first volume.

The description of this volume states:

““Prayer is the breath of faith; it is its most proper expression. Like a silent cry that issues from the hearts of those who believe and entrust themselves to God.” – Pope Francis

In this first of eight booklets on prayer, Cardinal Angelo Comastri draws on wisdom and anecdotes from the writings and lives of saints to show the riches prayer brings to the lives of all believers, and to remove stumbling blocks to prayer that so many people in the modern world encounter.

"What is needed are people of authentic prayer, that which inflames with a fire of only in this way is it possible to lift the world and bring it near to the heart of God."”

The chapters in this volume are:

Preface by the Pope Francis 
Introduction ... A Must-Read! 
Three Authoritative Reminders on the Need for Prayer 
Lord, Teach Us to Pray! 
St Francis of Assisi
Mother Teresa of Calcutta 

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

“Prayer is the breath of faith, its most proper expression. It's like a silent cry that comes out from the heart of whoever trusts and believes in God. It's not easy to find words to express this mystery. How many definitions of prayer we can gather from the saints and masters of spirituality, as well as from the reflect ions of theologians!”

“The Ordinary Jubilee of 2025 is already at the door. How to prepare ourselves for this event, so important for the life of the Church, if not by means of prayer? The year 2023 was set aside for a rediscovery of the conciliar teachings, contained especially in the four Constitutions of Vatican II.”

“This is a time when, as individuals or communities, we can rediscover the joy of praying in a variety of forms and express ions. A time of consequence enabling us to increase the certainty of our faith and trust in the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the saints. In short, a year in which we can have the experience almost of a "school of prayer'; without taking anything for granted, (or at cut-rate,) especially with regard to our way of praying, but making our own every day the words of the disciples when they asked Jesus: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11: l ).”

“As an aid for this Year of Prayer, some short texts have been produced which, with their simple language, will make possible entry into the various dimensions of prayer. I thank the authors for their contribution and willingly place into your hands these 'notes' so that everyone can rediscover the beauty of trusting in the Lord with humility and joy.”

“If we believed in the effectiveness of prayer, we would spend a lot of time on our knees. And the world would change direction!”

“Yes, it is necessary to return to prayer! Only prayer gives God room in our lives and in the history of the world: and with God all things are possible.”

“True prayer ushers one into the Heart of God, such that one can afford to be bold and insistent.”

“Oh, if we would truly pray! John Paul I, in one of the feww catecheses that the Lord granted him exclaimed with his usual candour, "We lose many battles because we pray so little'" The Bible thoroughly agrees.”

“The conduct of Jesus is, for the disciple, an absolute norm of life. Jesus, in fact, is the Master!

Well then, no one can deny that prayer was truly the centre of Jesus's life: prayer was His breath, His horizon of reference, the wellspring of His deeds and words.”

“Charles de Foucauld (1858- 1916), deeply touched by this conduct of Jesus, fell in love with nocturnal prayer: for him the night became the customary refuge of his prayer and his most beloved time for conversation, adoration and intercession.”

“The Bible faithfully informs us: man is small! The first attitude, then, that allows us to begin a true journey of prayer is precisely this: the recognition of our smallness, the awareness of our condition as creatures.”

“And St Agostino Roscelli, a great little Genoese Priest of the nineteenth century, stated with profound theological precision, "In Paradise we will find people who were not martyrs, nor were they bishops, nor were they priests, nor were they theologians ... but we will not find a single person who was not humble."”

“Christian prayer is the ever new amazement of those who have found out that God has truly rent the heavens and become close to each of us.”

“The experience of joyful amazement is the soul of all authentic Christian prayer, so I understand why St Francis of Assisi, before the Crucifix, could not hold hack his tears; I understand why Charles de Foucauld, in the Sahara desert, spent endless nights in front of the Eucharist just to feel Love and bless Love!”

“Christian prayer sails into this ocean: into the very Love of God! There is no Christian prayer unless our poverty comes into contact with the infinite riches of the Chari ty of God.

“But when prayer is true, a river of love enters our heart and we become full of the Holy Spirit: full of the Love of God! As happened to St Francis of Assisi!”

“Fr Primo Mazzolari, in a homily one Holy Thursday, courageously said, "Around every Eucharistic Table the shadow of Judas hovers. We must be vigilant and fight so that his shadow and our shadow may not overlap! "”

“GK Chesterton said one day, "If the level of humility among men increased, even a little, you cannot imagine how good life in this world would be." This also applies to us Christians and to all men.”

“Brothers and sisters, I invite you all to return to the school of prayer. See to it that your prayer becomes more true, more nourished by the Gospel, more open to listening and less swamped by questions.”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. There were many things in this volume that caught my attention. Specifically the quotes and stories from the lives of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Pope John Paul I, Saint Charles de Foucauld, Saint Francis and Saint Mother Theresa, these stories and example are deeply moving and inspiring. For a small volume it packs a great deal of excellent information.

When I was in university, I was involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, there was a series of booklets by the founder Bill Bright, called Transferable Concepts, and by reading them many times you could almost memorize them and the message so that you could share it. This volume reminds me a lot of those books, but specifically geared for Catholics; and specifically on Prayer for the Jubilee year in 2025. I am planning on jumping around and not reading them in order my first time through, but already have plans to reread them again this year between Christmas and New Years and that time I will read them in order.

The description of the series on the CTS site states:

“The “Notes on Prayer” series is an inspiring collection of eight booklets from the Vatican, designed to deepen and enrich the prayer lives of Catholics as they journey through the Year of Jubilee 2025, themed “Pilgrims of Hope.”

Each booklet in this series is a powerful resource, offering spiritual guidance, reflections, and wisdom from Church teachings, Sacred Scripture, and the lives of the saints. Whether you’re seeking personal renewal or walking the path of forgiveness and reconciliation, this series will help you grow in intimacy with God during this special time of grace.”

If the others are as good as this one; we have over 700 pages of instruction on prayer. An excellent collection, these books would be good for any school, home, or church library. I can easily recommend this book and series and encourage you to give them a read!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

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


Notes on Prayer Books Jubilee 2025 Italian Editions
Original Italian Editions

Notes on Prayer Books Jubilee 2025 English CTS Editions
CTS Editions English

Notes on Prayer Books Jubilee 2025 OSV English Editions
OSV English Editions

Thursday, 5 December 2024

Weigh the Odds - Corinna Turner - unSPARKed Book 11

Weigh the Odds
unSPARKed Book 11
Unseen Books
ISBN 9781917628006
eISBN 9781917628013
ASIN B0DN6SZL2J

Weigh the Odds - Corinna Turner - unSPARKed Book 11


This series keeps getting better and better, this is a great addition to the series. This is a masterfully crafted piece! As soon as I finished it I out it back on my to be read pile to read it again. This story was so AWEsome it is a great read in an FANtastic series. I have read stories in this series over 40 times now. And my son has read all of them more than once as well. We have been ordering them for my nephew his cousin, as he finished each we order him the next. As well as how highly we regard these stories and Turner’s writings.

I first read a story by Turner in 2015, and read the first in this series in 2017. Since then, I have read book by her a total of 74 times, and unSPARKed stories 40 of them. I have also read a number of the unSPARKed stores in Anthologies. This story is the eleventh novel in the series and is available as an eBook and in print format. This book and series are excellent for teens, young adults and adults. The series keeps getting better and better! It has real staying power. 

When I am recommending this series, which happens often, I frequently describe it as a mashup of Mad Max, Lost World, and Jurassic Park, and I have recommended it to many, all who have enjoyed them. In many ways it is like 50 years after Jurassic World Dominion. We have even bought a full set for my son’s school library and know from the Librarian that they are very popular.

unSPARKed is a series set in a not-too-distant future. Dinosaurs once again roam the earth. Just because a scientist could do something, did not mean they should have done it. Most people live SPARKed, in cities with walls and electrified fences. There are two groups of people who live unSPARKed, farmers who have electric fences around their farms and live in community with their close neighbours. The other are Hunters who live most of the time out on the road or off road in HabVI’s Habitat Vehicles. 

The description of this volume is:

“WHAT DOES SEB WANT?

After his release from jail, all Josh needs to do is arrange his friend's burial and help Darryl and Harry reunite with their father. Then, he'll be free to return to the life he loves, capturing and taming dinosaurs for zoos.

Or will he?

When an “old friend’ from prison makes a surprise visit, Josh knows it's more than coincidence. Sebastian Steven has secrets he'll kill to protect. The question is, does he know Josh knows?

If Seb is out for blood, it will take all of Josh's cunning to keep himself—and Darryl and Harry—safe. Can they match wits with a snake like Seb, or will Josh's luck finally run out?”

This story is told in a series of first person narratives. The narrators are:

Darryl - 26 
Joshua - 23
Harry - 20

This story takes place over just a few days. There are surprises right from the beginning. I honestly did not think the risk and the danger could be pushed further in this series, and yet Turner has found a way to do it. It is a fast paced heart pounding pager turner. If it was not for a very important meeting at work I would have stayed up all night reading. There is a lot of action packed into this volume, and like a taunt spring ready to explode Joshua must choose when and how to set his plan in motion. The stakes are high and the consequences of failure – fatal. Wow what a story!

The next story in the series is A Nest of Piranha’saurs and I can freely admit we are both desperate for Corinna to write and release it. From the ending of this one it can go a few ways and it is hard to wait. To fill in the time I am going to go back and reread the whole series over the holidays. We can only hope the next volume A Nest of Piranha’saurs and the long-awaited prequel A Mom With Blue Fathers drop sooner rather than later. This story ends with in a surprising way, and leaves you desperate for more. I believe Turner has 2 or 3 more novels planned for the main series and at least the one promised prequel story. 

This is another excellent read in a MASTERfully written series. It is a great read by a gifted and talented author, and one of our favourite contemporary YA and Catholic authors at that! A volume we can easily recommend for fans of the series, fans of science fiction or really anyone who just loves a very well-crafted story.        

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

Books by Corinna Turner:
I Am Margaret Series:
0.0 The Underappreciated Virtues of Rusty Old Bicycles (A prequel)

0.5 Brothers (Prequel)
1.0 I Am Margaret
1.5 How Snakey Got His Name (Short Story)
2.0 The Three Most Wanted
3.0 Liberation
4.0 Bane's Eyes

5.0 Margo's (Attempted) Diary & Notebook
5.5 An Unexpected Guest
6.0 The Siege of Reginald Hill
6.5 Buttons (Short Story)
7.0 A Saint in the Family
I Am Margaret The Play - Fiorella de Maria
...

Yesterday and Tomorrow Series:
Someday

Tomorrow's Dead
...

unSPARKed Series:

Mandy Lamb Series:
Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon

Contributed to:
Secrets: Visible & Invisible 7 Amazing Stories - Catholic Teen Books
Gifts Visible & Invisible 8 Christmas Stories for Teens
Treasures: Visible & Invisible 8 Stories for Teens