Tuesday, 29 September 2026

Popes Who Resigned: Benedict XVI and 13 Other Popes Who Retired - Thomas J. Craughwell

Popes Who Resigned: 
Benedict XVI and 13 Other Popes Who Retired
ISBN 9781618901347
eISBN 9781618901347
ASIN B00BJN260Y

Popes Who Resigned: Benedict XVI and 13 Other Popes Who Retired - Thomas J. Craughwell

I know this book was written for a specific time and in response to a specific event in 2013. But I believe it is an excellent volume, and has go great insights, both historical, and looking ahead to the future. Last year I stumbled upon Craughwell’s three volumes 30 Days of prayer starting with 30 Days with Saint Paul, while doing research for a volume from the Great Spiritual Teachers series from Ave Maria Press. I enjoyed that volume on Saint Paul so much that I picked up both other volumes from Craughwell. I greatly enjoyed them and choose this as the next book from him to read. Back to the volume at hand:

The description of this volume states:

“On February 11, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI shocked Catholics and the world by announcing that he would resign from the papacy. It was the first papal resignation in 600 years, and it has caused Catholics the world over to scramble for answers. Now, in Popes Who Resigned, Thomas J. Craughwell answers those burning questions, including:

- Why did Benedict XVI resign… and why didn’t John Paul II?
- What does the Catholic Church teach about papal resignation?
- Who were the other popes that resigned, and why?
- And much more.

In these tumultuous times, Craughwell points even now to the rock that is the Catholic Church, digging into Canon law and Church history for answers. Popes Who Resigned is a must read for Catholics and non-Catholics alike who are trying to make sense of Benedict XVI’s resignation and what it means for the papacy, the Church, and the world.”

The chapters in this volume are:

Preface
1 Upon This Rock: The Rise of the Papacy
2 The Popes Speak about the Papacy
3 What Can the Pope Do?
4 Popes Who Resigned
5 Popes Who Were Deposed
6 Popes Who Were Ready to Resign
7 Yes, It’s Permitted, but Should a Pope Resign?
Bibliography

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

“Over the centuries, four popes have resigned, at least two were prepared to do so, and nine popes were deposed. Resignation is a legitimate option for all popes, as the current Code of Canon Law states: “if it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone.” (Canon 332, paragraph 2.)”

“So that the Church would not be left without a shepherd, St. Pontian resigned before he was exiled to martyrdom in the mines of Sardinia. The hopelessly corrupt Benedict IX resisted all pressure to resign—until he was offered a large bribe. Celestine V was a seventy-nine-year-old hermit when he was elected pope, but he found himself so out of place as supreme pontiff that he resigned after five months (his successor kept him in prison until he died). The most dramatic resignation came in 1415, when there were three “poes.” To heal a schism thathad split Catholic Europe into three hostile camps, Gregory XII (generally considered the legitimate pontiff) stepped down, and his two rivals were deposed.”

“Blessed John Paul II discussed the possibility of resigning, but ultimately decided to remain in office, spending his final years teaching the world that suffering is part of the human condition. Pius XII was prepared to resign if the Nazis took him prisoner. He had even planned for the College of Cardinals to hold their conclave in neutral Portugal, where they could elect a new pope free from any pressure from Hitler.”

“The papacy is the oldest institution in the world. The dustbin of history—to borrow Leon Trotsky’s famous phrase—is heaped high with the empires, kingdoms, social and political movements that the popes have seen come and go. The Roman Caesars, the barbarian invaders, the Holy Roman Emperors, the Reign of Terror, the Third Reich, the Soviet Empire are all gone, but there is still a pope in Rome, and soon there will be a new one.”

“Rome is the city of the popes because it was in Rome that St. Peter taught the gospel and it was in Rome that he was martyred about A.D. 64, during Nero’s persecution of the Christians. The oldest document to suggest that the bishop of Rome exercised authority over the churches is Pope St. Clement I’s Letter to the Corinthians, written in A.D. 95.”

“In their writings, St. Ignatius of Antioch (died c. 107), St. Ireneaus of Lyon (c. 130–200), Tertullian (c. 166–220), and St. Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258) demonstrate that they recognized the spiritual authority of Rome.”

“Although Papal resignation is, as we have seen, legitimate, in practice it is quite rare. More than six hundred years separated Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation and that of the last pope who resigned. Here is the brief, and fascinating, history of popes who resigned.”

“Once he was Hitler’s prisoner, Pius would no longer be able to administer the Church freely, and so he told his advisers, that if he were taken from the Vatican to Germany, “the person who would leave the Vatican under these conditions would not be Pius XII but Eugenio Pacelli”—“ Eugenio Pacelli” being his baptismal name before he was elected pope. If he fell into the hands of the Nazis, Pius XII said he would resign. He had even contemplated where the conclave should meet to elect his successor—neutral Portugal, where the College of Cardinals would be safe from Nazi interference.”

“Canon Law recognizes that a pope has the right to leave office. “If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone.” (Canon 332.2) That’s as straightforward as a statement can get. But there is another question: should a pope resign?”

“John Paul was prepared to make himself a living crucifix, enduring his pain and humiliation in public as Christ had when he hung dying on the cross. John Paul delivered a twofold message to the world: first, that suffering is part of the human condition and so it deserves our respect as well as our compassion; second, that life cannot be measured by its “quality,” nor if the suffering individual is “useful”—these definitions had contributed to what John Paul characterized as the modern world’s “culture of death.””

“Pope Benedict XVI has chosen a different path. Elderly, ailing, and easily exhausted these days, he feels that he no longer has the strength of body and mind to serve the Church as pope, that it would be best for the Catholic world if a new, presumably younger man were elected. And so on February 28, 2013, Pope Benedict will resign the papacy.”

“Soldiering on in the face of growing infirmity is admirable, but there is nothing wrong with the common-sense approach that Benedict has taken. And it is likely that in the future we shall see other popes resign.”

“As was the case with Pope John Paul embracing the cross of Parkinson’s Disease, Benedict’s resignation also has sound theological roots. To give up high office, to retire from the spotlight, to take oneself out of the public eye and live only for God is the vocation of cloistered monks and nuns (which makes Benedict decisions to make his home in the former cloister of Visitation nuns particularly appropriate). By doing so, he is also imitating St. John the Baptist. Once a dynamic and popular figure in Judea, John retired from the limelight after Christ began his public ministry. “He must increase,” John said, “but I must decrease.” (John 3: 30).”

I hope that those quotes give you a feel for this excellent work. I was really blessed to have worked through this book. Even years out from the events that inspired it. I have read a number of volumes by and about Benedict XVI since his resignation, and now passing. I think this one does him justice and brings to mind situations that we may encounter in the future.

A great read for any Catholic, I can easily recommend it.

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


Books by Benedict XVI:
Jesus, the Apostles and the Early Church and Church Fathers 
...       


Books by Thomas J. Craughwell:
50 States 
5,000 Years of Royalty: Kings, Queens, Princes, Emperors & Tsars
101 Places to Pray Before You Die: A Roamin' Catholic's Guide
30,000 Years of Inventions
Alligators In the Sewer and 222 Other Urban Legends 
America's Great (and Not So Great) Catholic Moments 
Baby On the Car Roof and 222 Other Urban Legends 
Bad Kids of the Bible: And What They Can Teach Us
Busted: Mugshots and Arrest Records of the Famous and Infamous
Catholic Cardlinks
Cowparade Kansas City
CowParade New York 
CowParade Stamford
Do Blue Bedsheets Bring Babies?: The Truth Behind Old Wives' Tales
Failures of the Presidents: from the Whiskey Rebellion and War of 1812 to the Bay of Pigs and war in Iraq
Great Books for Every Book Lover: 2002 Great Reading Suggestions for the Discriminating Bibliophile
Great rescues of World War II : stories of adventure, daring and sacrifice 
Heaven Help Us: Saints That Will Change Your Life
Heaven Help Us: 300 Patron Saints to Call Upon for Every Occasion
How Smart Are You Testing Your IQ
How the Barbarian Invasions Shaped the Modern World 
How the Irish Brigade Cleared the Way to Victory in the Greatest Brigade American Civil War 
Lent and Easter With Mary
Patron Saints: Saints for Every Member of Your Family, Every Profession, Every Ailment, Every Emergency, and Even Every Amusement
Pope Francis
Presidential Payola: The True Stories of Monetary Scandals in the Oval Office that Robbed Taxpayers to Grease Palms, Stuff Pockets, and Pay for Undue Influence from Teapot Dome to Halliburton 
Saints Behaving Badly
Saints for Every Occasion: 101 of Heaven's Most Powerful Patrons
Saints Preserved: An Encyclopaedia of Relics
Shakespeare
Stealing Lincoln's Body
St. Peter's Bones: How the Relics of the First Pope Were Lost and Found. . . and Then Lost and Found Again
The Buck Stops Here: The 28 Toughest Presidential Decisions and How They Changed History
The Cat in the Dryer: And 222 Other Urban Legends
The Odds – What Are the Chances
The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History 
The War Scientists
The Wisdom Of the Popes
This Saint Will Change Your Life
This Saint's for You! 300 Heavenly Allies Who Will Change Your Life
Thomas Jefferson's Creme Brulee
Who are you? Test Your Emotional Intelligence 
…
30 Days with Saint Paul - Thomas J. Craughwell

30 Days with Saint Thérèse - Thomas J. Craughwell

30 Days with the Irish Mystics - Thomas J. Craughwell
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Monday, 28 September 2026

The Cross in the West - Mark Boesch - Vision Books for Young Readers

The Cross in the West 
Vision Books for Young Readers 
Mark Boesch 
H. Lawrence Hoffman (Illustrator) 
Farrar, Strass and Cudahy 
1956
 
The Cross in the West - Mark Boesch - Vision Books for Young Readers

This is one of the original 72 Vision Books for Young Readers. The originals were published between 1955 and 1969 by Farrar, Straus & Cudahy, Inc. Reprints of about half are available from Ignatius Press. This is not one of them. I wrote a piece about the series as a whole, Vision Books for Young Readers, after reading a few and wanting to know more about the series. This one was volume 12 of the original series, it was not one Ignatius reprinted. The description of the book states:

“Four hundred years ago, the vast western part of our country was uncharted and almost unknown to Europeans. This is the story of the men who took the first bold steps to explore that land, carrying with them the symbol of their faith, the cross. They planted the cross in the West, and the faith grew and flourished.

From the Rio Grande to the Columbia River, and from the Pacific to the Mississippi, they labored—Spanish and Belgian, Austrian and Italian. They were outstanding men: Padre Kino, Father Junipero Serra, Dr. John McLoughlin, Father Peter de Smet, Father Anthony Ravalli. They faced the dangers of Indian wars, the unknown perils of the wilderness, disease, even martyrdom. But there were joys, too—the joys of their festivals, celebrated so far from their homelands, and the enriching spiritual joys of building the first western churches.

They set out with courage and hope and went on to plant firmly the cross in the West.”

About the author we are informed:

“Mark Boesch is a U.S. Forest Service Fire Dispatcher in Hamilton, Montana. He has lived in California, Idaho, and Oregon, the states where much of the action of The Cross in the West takes place. A successful writer of novels for young people, he is the author of The Lawless Land, Beyond the Muskingum, and Fire Fighter.”

Boesch also wrote another volume in this series called “Kit Carson of the Old West”. The author’s note states: 
  
“In writing The Cross in the West, I have relied to a great extent upon The Works of Bancroft, by Hubert Howe Bancroft. These 39 volumes are invaluable sources of western history. They are based on a collection of 90,000 historical volumes which Bancroft and his associates gathered, and which were later turned over to the University of California. 
  
Also of much value for reference were the Life, Letters and Travels of Father De Smet, edited by Chittenden, and Indian and White in the North¬ west, by the Jesuit Father Palladino. 
  
These books were most helpful; there were many others, including obscure works which I have added to my personal collection on western history.” 
  
The books has both:

Nihil Obstat: 
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Peter B. O’Connor Censor Librorum 

Imprimatur: 
Most Reverend Thomas A. Boland, S.T.D. Archbishop of Newark

The sections and chapters in this book are: 
  
Author’s Note 
Part One: The Southwest 
     1. Fray Marcos and the Seven Cities of Gold 
     2. The Explorations of Coronado 
     3. The Conquest of New Mexico 
     4. Padre Kino, Explorer of Arizona 
  
Part Two: California 
     5. The Voyage of Cabrillo 
     6. The Founding of San Diego 
     7. Growth of the Missions 
     8. Flowering of the Missions 
  
Part Three: The Northwest and the Rocky Mountains 
     9. Dr. McLoughlin, Father of Oregon 
     10. Father De Smet, Apostle of the Rockies 
     11. Father Ravalli, Priest and Physician 
     12. The West Today 
  
I highlighted several passages while reading this volume, some of them are: 
  
“Four hundred years ago, the vast western part of our country was uncharted and almost unknown to Europeans. This is the story of the men who took the first bold steps to explore that land, carrying with them the symbol of their faith, the cross. They planted the cross in the West, and the faith grew and flourished.” 
  
“They were headed for a land that was known only by legend—a most fabulous legend. It was said that somewhere to the north lay seven wondrous cities, the golden cities of Cibola. No one knew exactly where they were. So Fray Marcos had been sent, by command of Governor Coronado, to find out.” 
  
“Fray Marcos too was excited about this journey he had been asked to take. For he too was searching for wealth—the wealth of souls.” 
  
“The friars were men of good education, and they were used to hardship. Most of all, they were strong in their determination to win souls for Christ. No goal was too far for them, if there were souls who needed God and His Church.” 
  
“Four days after Fray Marcos had met the California Indians, he met other natives, and these had never seen white men before. Because Fray Marcos spoke earnestly to them of Christ and His kingdom, they called him “Sayota,” or “man from heaven.”” 
  
“The man who came to Dolores in the year 1687 was a man of great energy and a priest of great zeal. His name was Eusebius Kuhn, and he was Austrian. But the Spaniards preferred to call him Padre Kino. So Padre Kino he became to all who heard of him.” 
  
“Instead of being hostile to him, the Pima Indians made Padre Kino welcome. They helped him build his church at Dolores, and brought their children to him to be baptized. They wanted them to grow up to be like this good man.” 
  
“During his last years, Padre Kino remained close to home at Dolores, spending most of his time during the day baptizing and instructing the people. And at night he would spend hours in the church in silent prayer.” 
  
“But during Mass he was stricken by his final illness. He collapsed on the altar. A group of Indians rushed forward, picked up the old man, and sorrowfully carried him out of the chapel. And thus died Eusebius Kuhn, better known as Padre Kino. All the people honored him as a saint, and great was the sorrow throughout all of Pimeria and the neighboring provinces, even as far away as Bac, when news of his death was heard.” 
  
“There were now five missions in Northern California—San Diego, San Gabriel, San Luis Obispo, San Antonio, and San Carlos. Serving the five missions were nineteen Franciscan friars, working under Father Junipero Serra. They were attached to the College of the Propagation of Faith of San Fernando in the city of Mexico.” 
  
“By the end of the year 1773, when Father Serra returned to California, the five missions could boast of 63 horses, 79 mules, 102 swine, 18 head of cattle, and 161 sheep and goats.” 
  
““I can rest after I am dead,” he would often say, when someone asked him to rest.” 
  
“They remembered the courage of the first martyr of California, Luis Jaume. In the face of death, he had offered them his fatherly friendship.” 
  
“And so it was that the first two priests came to Oregon. They were outstanding men. Rev. Francis Norbert Blanchet, of the district of Montreal, came to Oregon as Vicar General, along with Rev. Modeste Demers, of the district of Juliopolis. They left Montreal in May, 1838, with the Hudson’s Bay Company express. They went by boat, along with a number of other travelers. The boats were manned by skilled French Canadian boatmen, and the journey was a good one until they reached the Columbia River.” 
  
“The two priests stayed there four days. They baptized nineteen persons, said Mass, and gave the Sacraments to some who had been long without them.” 
  
“Father Blanchet too, became an outstanding leader of the Church in Oregon. Soon he became bishop, and then archbishop. Father Demers was himself made the bishop of Vancouver Island.” 
  
“Father Anthony J. Ravalli of the Society of Jesus was one of the most beloved men who ever labored in the Rocky Mountains. Today his memory is revered as much as is that of the other great Jesuit missionary, Peter John De Smet. Ravalli County, Montana, in the Bitterroot Valley, is named in his honor.” 
  
I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. The book covers a lot of time and a lot of different mission work. It starts San Miguel in March of 1539 and continued until 1880 in Montana. It follows successes and setbacks. It follows different orders and even some lay people involved in spreading God’s word. The language is not politically correct, and many would argue the content. I believe it is our history, and for the most part it is the story of priests, brothers, lay men who wanted to server, who lived for God and who were witness often situations we could not imagine. It is a fascinating read. 

As of the fall of 2026 there have been 84 volumes that have been released under the Vision Books for Young Readers series, 43 of which are still in print under Ignatius Press. And 41 that are out of print and were not licensed by Ignatius. Some of the older out of print ones I have read have been excellent, and this one is an excellent read. If you can track it down it is well worth the read.

Note: there are two other new titles in this series in 2026 to look forward to; The Story of J.R.R. Tolkien by Cheri Blomquist and Cheryl C.D. Hughes volume Fulton J. Sheen God's Great Communicator. Any volume in this series would be great additions to any home, school, or church library. 

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

Books in the Vision Books Saints Biographies:
The Cure of Ars 
Edmund Campion 
Florence Nightingale's Nuns 
Fr. Marquette and the Great Rivers 
Francis and Clare, Saints of Assisi 
Kateri Tekakwitha 
Mother Cabrini, Missionary to the World 
Mother Seton and the Sisters of Charity 
Saint Anthony and the Christ Child 
Saint Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal 
Saint Dominic and the Rosary 
Saint Elizabeth's Three Crowns 
Saint Francis of the Seven Seas 
Saint Helena and the True Cross 
Saint Ignatius and the Company of Jesus 
Saint Isaac and the Indians 
Saint Katherine Drexel 
Saint Louis and the Last Crusade 
Saint Philip of the Joyous Heart 
Saint Therese and the Roses 
Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggars 
Saint Thomas More of London 
Vincent De Paul: Saint of Charity 

Out of Print books in the Series:
Catholic Campuses, Stories of American Catholic Colleges 
Champions in Sports and Spirit 
Children Welcome: Villages for Boys and Girls 
Christmas and the Saints 
Columbus and the New World 
Dear Philippine: Mission of Mother Duchesne 
Edel Quinn: Beneath the Southern Cross 
Frances Warde and the First Sisters of Mercy 
Good Pope John b
Governor Al Smith 
In American Vineyards, Religious Orders in the United States 
John Carroll Bishop and Patriot
John Neumann, The Children's Bishop 
Kit Carson of the Old West 
Lydia Longley, the First American Nun 
Marguerite Bourgeoys, Pioneer Teacher 
Martin de Porres, Saint of the New World 
Modern Crusaders 
More Champions in Sports and Spirit 
Mother Barat's Vineyard 
My Eskimos: A Priest in the Artic 
Peter and Paul: The Rock and the Sword 
Peter Claver, Saint Among Slaves
Pope Pius XII, the World's Shepherd 
Rose Hawthorne: The Pilgramage of Nathaniel's Daughter 
Saints of the Byzantine World 
Sarah Peter: The Dream and the Harvest 
St. Augustine and His Search for Faith 
St. Francis de Sales 
St. Gregory the Great, Consul of God 
St. Jerome and the Bible 
St. Margaret Mary, Apostle of the Sacred Heart 
The Bible Story, The Promised Lord and His Coming 
The Ursulines, Nuns of Adventure 
…
...


Vision Books Ignatius Press 2024


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Sunday, 27 September 2026

Grieving with Christ - Sr Mary Leonora Wilson FSP - Just A Minute Meditations

Grieving with Christ  
Just A Minute Meditations 
Sr. Mary Leonora Wilson FSP 
Anne Eileen Heffernan, FSP
Kathryn James Hermes, FSP
Mary Lea Hill, FSP   
ISBN ‎9780819883872  ‎
eISBN 9780819883889
ASIN B0FX79KJNK

Grieving with Christ - Sr Mary Leonora Wilson FSP - Just A Minute Meditations

I have picked up all the volumes in this series. In part because they are great to work through, in part because I really enjoyed them, and in part because I am a 'completionist'. I had picked up a few before I began reading them, but they kept getting lost in my ‘to be read’ list. As of the writing of this review there are 7 volumes in the series, 4 authors of individual volumes and 4 authors who contributed for a total of 9 contributors to the series. There has typically been a delay between the release of the physical book and the eBook being available in my region. But while researching for a previous review I have found out, at least a few of the volumes are a rebranding of volumes published 8 years ago under the titles “Mediations for …”

The description of this edition states:

“Are you grieving the loss of a loved one and struggling to believe God and trust him with the messiness? 

Navigate the tumultuous and confusing emotions that often accompany the death of a loved one with help from this pocket-sized book of 30 meditations. Each meditation includes a Scripture passage, a brief reflection, and a short prayer. 

The book also features additional prayers to help you sit with God in your grief.”

The chapters in this volume are:

Introduction
1. Courage
2. Separation
3. Absence
4. Loss
5. Pain
6. Bearings
7. Feelings
8. Anguish
9. Guilt
10. Regrets
11. Forgiveness
12. Brokenness
13. Fear
14. Permission
15. Silence
16. Listening
17. Loneliness
18. Tears
19. Storytelling
20. Gentleness
21. Prayer
22. Support
23. Faith
24. Hope
25. Love
26. Mystery
27. Acceptance
28. Surrender
29. Afterlife
30. Forever

The prayers in a section at the end of the book are:

Psalm 23
Psalm 130
I Bring You My Grief
Lead Kindly Light
Prayer for a Deceased Loved One
Prayer After an Unexpected Death
Prayer in Time of Suicide
Second-­Century Prayer for the Dead
Eternal Rest Prayer
Prayer of Saint Gertrude
Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows
Hail Holy Queen
The Memorare

I highlighted a few passages while working through this volume, they are:

“Grief is messy, often coming in waves, then receding, then rising up again. There are no timelines or schedules. Grief affects each one of us in a different way. It’s a process, but a nonlinear one, without order.”

“It is my desire that these minute meditations will help you navigate the waters of your own grief, providing encouragement and hope in the days ahead. May God bless you.”

“The journey of grief is an arc that stretches from a desperate need for comfort to the courage of the first steps toward our new normal.”

“Like a torrential downpour, our frightened thoughts pound against the windows of our consciousness, which has grown heavy with loss. Or our world within shuts down, and like a blanket of ash, an eerie and lonely silence settles over our days.”

“One day you are talking and planning with the one you love, and the next day he or she is gone, no more to be seen or heard on this earth. The separation feels irrevocable, an unbreachable chasm.”

“The death of a loved one is a bitter, life-changing loss.”

“We have lost the physical, real, pulsating presence of a person dear and important to us. It is right that we grieve without apologizing for it.”

“It’s agonizing: you wanted to be there for a loved one in his or her last hours, but your efforts just didn’t work out. The problem may have been geographical, technological, or interpersonal—whatever the obstacle, you were blocked.”

“Sorrow over a loved one’s death is often mingled with a sense of guilt.”

“We can continue to pray that the departed may soon share the joy of the blessed. We can keep our loved one in our midst by sharing memories, especially during the difficult first weeks.”

“Who were our mentors? Grandparents and parents? Teachers? Coaches? Older siblings? Priests? Religious sisters or brothers? Friends? Which of their examples and words of wisdom were helpful for daily life? Helpful for knowing God better and developing a relationship with him? What words or examples can we pass on to others as opportunities arise?”

“Dear Lord, let me trust you now and place my life and my death in your loving arms. Give me the peace of knowing you hold me and all those I love in your care now and in eternity.”

“The most noticeable thing at the end of a big commotion is the silence. All the noise and chaos have fallen into stillness. The same phenomenon occurs at a death. What had been a time of confusion, talking, praying, perhaps bargaining, stress, sorrow, and regret, suddenly falls silent at the entrance of death. When someone dies, they leave a void of silence. Their presence is no longer “heard.””

“As you each try to navigate the waves of your personal grief, you may seem strangers to one another, yet you are forming a silent friendship around the common ache you feel at your shared loss.”

“In the presence of the mystery of eternity and immortality, these quiet connections may often be expressed only in prayer for each other.”

“The story of Ruth and Naomi encourages us to accept the help of family and friends. This story is in your Bible, beckoning you; it is a word of hope from God in your time of sorrow. He invites you: “Take and read.””

“Saint Paul tells us that life is changed but not taken away. This mortal body puts on immortality (see 1 Cor 15: 53–55). In faith we can continue the relationship with those who have passed on before us. We pray for them, confide in them, walk with them, and ask their advice; we recall the good times we had together, that special bond we shared. We still miss seeing them in the flesh, but we remain connected. We do not lose heart because our faith tells us we will see one another again.”

“Hope in the love of the Lord that never ceases to surround us. Our merciful God is he who stills the waves of grief, hushing the storm within, and guiding us to the harbor we long for (see Ps 107: 29–30).”

“For us too, after the exhaustion perhaps of caregiving or seeing someone dear to us suffer, after the whirlwind of the wake and funeral, death in all its reality settles in. Suddenly there is silence. Silence and stillness as they are “taken down from their cross.” Silence, stillness, and mystery as they are laid in their tomb and we, in stunned sadness, return to life now strange with empty loss.”

“Our own struggle with acceptance of pain, suffering, and loss can be very intense. It is especially then that recalling the example of Jesus and of his mother can strengthen and comfort us, helping us to find the courage to say, “Father, your will be done.” 

A sample day is:

“13 Fear

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!”
Psalm 27:1, 13-14

Grief is something we often fear, not only when we grieve, but also when others grieve for us. It’s the finality of loss that hurts so much. Grief signals the end of something. Death means a relationship is permanently changed. There’s the searing loneliness; darkness covers everything.

We might ask ourselves: “What happens in death? What will happen when I die? Will I meet my loved one again?” We fear what we don’t know. Let’s reflect on the words of Psalm 27, which tells us not to fear, but to turn to the Lord who wants to be the stronghold we lean on in grief. Hear him say to you: “Wait for me. Be strong and let your heart courageously await my coming. Don’t fear the unknown. You know me. I have promised that those who believe in me will have eternal life (see Jn 6:47), and I am true to my word. With me all will be well. All will be joyful and peaceful in my heavenly home, in the land of the living.”

Dear Lord, let me trust you now and place my life and my death in your loving arms. Give me the peace of knowing you hold me and all those I love in your care now and in eternity.”

I hope those quotes and sample day give you a feel for this book, and I believe the series. I highlighted less in this volume than some of the others, but it was still a very impactful read.

I had lost a friend who was murdered over 40 years ago, a friend to suicide over 20 years ago, lost a brother to an overdose during the beginning of the pandemic. I have lost a parent and my father-in-law. And am at the age where parents of friends and friends are passing more frequently. A lot came up while working through this book.  It is not an easy volume to engage with because of the content, and yet you will benefit based on how much effort you put in.

Currently I have read all volumes available in this series. I would immediately pick up another if it became available. It is a great book and excellent series. I can easily recommend it.

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

Books in the Just A Minute Meditations Series:
Finding Inner Peace – Kathryn J. Hermes
Grieving with Christ – Mary Leonora Wilson
Growing in Self Esteem - Marie Paul Curley
Healing After Betrayal – Kathryn J. Hermes
Trusting in God’s Love – Kathryn J. Hermes
…

Books by Mary Leonora Wilson:
Essential Healing Prayers: For Peace and Strength
Essential Spiritual Warfare Prayers: For Protection and Deliverance
…

Contributed to Mary Leonora Wilson:
…

Translated by Mary Leonora Wilson:
Mother Teresa: Saint Among the Poor
…


Just A Minute Meditations Series from Pauline Books and Media
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Saturday, 26 September 2026

Conspiracy 365 November - Gabrielle Lord

Conspiracy 365 November
Gabrielle Lord
Scholastic
ISBN 9781443104784
Scholastic Australia
eISBN 9781921988639
ASIN B00BFV1H46

Conspiracy 365 November - Gabrielle Lord

This story is drawing to a close; as of the reading of this volume there is only 1 left to go. But it is not the end of the store. For Lord has written 5 other stories set in this universe. One is Boges’s story, one for Winter and a trilogy called Black-Ops. I read the first two volumes in this series back in 2011; I had planned on reading them one a month as they were released. But that did not happen. My son started reading them in 2026 and he is in his late teens so I decided to pick them back up and finish the series. I have read about one a month over the last several months.

When I read the first 2 it was a new series from Scholastic, Conspiracy 365, is another unique approach to books that will draw readers in and keep them addicted. Much like the 39 Clues or Skeleton Creek books, it approaches storytelling in a new and different way that with draw an addicted following of readers. The story is about the life of Callum (Cal) Ormond. Almost like a year-long version of the TV series 24. The story was originally told over 12 books, one released each month for a year. And we now know the story continued with a shorter follow up series and 2 stand-alone stories.

The Canadian description of this volume states:

“The December 31 deadline is fast approaching, and Cal's enemies are closing in on all sides. Even the notorious "Toecutter" Durham has emerged from the underworld to join the hunt.

With so many answers finally imminent, it's more crucial than ever that Cal dodge danger and stay alive.

He has 61 days left...”

The Australian edition’s is:

“The 31 December deadline is fast approaching, and Cal's enemies are closing in on all sides. Even the notorious Toecutter' Durham has emerged from the underworld to join the hunt. With so many answers finally imminent-meeting Eric Blair, finding out the truth about the twin baby abduction-it's crucial Cal dodges danger and stays alive. But will he be so busy trying to save himself that he'll fail to save a friend? The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last.” 

About the author we are informed:

“Gabrielle Lord is one of Australia's bestselling crime writers for adults. Following the Conspiracy 365 series, she already has plans for another three adult novels and two more young adult books. Research is everything, Gabrielle says. 'Out of my contacts with experts (who are always far too modest to describe themselves that way) I get not only the fine-tuning necessary for today's savvy readers, but also wonderful incidents and images that enrich and enlarge my books.”

Things are still pretty bleak at the beginning. The police hunt for Cal has intensified. And with a security conference coming to the area before the ends of the year the police are pulling out all the stops to capture him and not look like fools that cannot even apprehend one teen at large and mostly on his own. Winter finds more pieces of her story. Boges is picked up and interrogated. And Cal is at an all-time low waiting for a passport so he can try and make the desperately needed trip to Ireland. But at the end he is in maybe the tightest spot yet in the series.

This one once again ends on a major cliff hanger. Thus leaving you desperate for the next volume. These books were originally published in Australia and North America by Scholastic, unfortunately it appears eBook editions were never released in Canada. This is another great instalment in a thrilling series.

These books have a few cool features. In each book, the page numbers start at the highest and count down. The chapter and section headings are Dates and Time. This was an excellent eleventh instalment in the series. Give them a try you will not be disappointed. This is another good read in an excellent series. And the 5 books that continue the story. 

Books by Gabrielle Lord:
Conspiracy 365:
Series Overview
January (2011)
February (2011)
March (2011)
April (2011)
May (2011)
June (2011)
July (2011)
August (2011)
September (2011)
October (2011)
November (2011)
December (2011)
…
Revenge (2012)
Malice (2012)
...

Conspiracy 365 Black Ops:
Missing (2013)
Hunted (2013)
Endgame (2013)
…

48 Hours Series:
The Vanishing (2017)
The Medusa Curse (2017)
…

Gemma Lincoln:
Feeding the Demons (1999)
Baby Did a Bad Thing (2002)
Spiking the Girl (2004)
Shattered (2007)
Death by Beauty (2012)
…

Jack McCain:
Death Delights (2001)
Lethal Factor (2003)
Dirty Weekend (2005)
…

Other Books:
Fortress (1980)
Tooth and Claw (1983)
Jumbo (1986)
Salt (1990)
Whipping Boy (1992)
The Stranger Inside: An Erotic Adventure (1994)
Bones (1995)
The Sharp End (1998)
Monkey Undercover (2006)
Dishonour (2014)
Sisters (2019)
…

Conspiracy 365 Series - Gabrielle Lord

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Friday, 25 September 2026

15 Days of Prayer with Saint Faustina Kowalska - John J. Cleary

15 Days of Prayer with Saint Faustina Kowalska 
John J. Cleary 
ISBN 9781565483507
ASIN B0046A9QUA
ISBN 0764807919

15 Days of Prayer with Saint Faustina Kowalska - John J. Cleary - New City Press Focolare Media Edition

Last year I stumbled upon a different volume in this series, 15 Days of Prayer with Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati by Père Charles Desjobert, OP, and really enjoyed it. I did some research on the series and this was the fifteenth volume I decided to work through. In my research to date there have been at least 40 volumes in this series. Many written in French and then translated, including this volume, this book was first published in English in 2002. Unlike many that were written in French and translated into English. Then in 2010 the series were rebranded, this is one of only a handful with digital copies currently available. Though the digital edition does erroneously list 2 translators.

I believe as of the writing of this review there have been 40 volumes in the series in English; the earliest I found was from 1999 through to a volume which was published in 2025. Only about a dozen seem to be in print currently and of those only a handful appears to have eBooks. With my dual form of dyslexia this is disappointing. I greatly prefer eBooks so I can change the font, and the colour of font and page to make reading easier. I have added all the eBook editions I could find to my wish list. About the Series we are informed:

“15 Days of Prayer Series

 On a journey, it’s good to have a guide. Even great saints took spiritual directors or confessors with them on their itineraries toward sanctity. Now you can be guided by the most influential spiritual figures of all time. The 15 Days of Prayer series introduces their deepest and most personal thoughts.

This popular series is perfect if you are looking for a gift, or if you want to be introduced to a particular guide and his or her spirituality. Each volume contains:

• A brief biography of the saint or spiritual leader 
• A guide to creating a format for prayer or retreat
• Fifteen meditation sessions with reflection guides”

The description of this specific volume states:

“When Helen Kowalska (1905-1938) entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy as Sister Faustina, she also entered a spiritual “dark night.” That night ended when, transformed by this experience, she recognized God’s love for her in the sufferings of Jesus; instructed by him in a vision, she produced the Image of the Divine Mercy. These selections, taken from the diary that her spiritual director encouraged her to keep, relate her mystical experiences and convey the spirituality she drew from love for the Eucharist and reinforced through trust in the mercy of God.

Praying with Saint Faustina will lead to the joy and comfort found only by trusting in God, seeking his mercy, and reflecting that mercy in life.”

On the back of the physical book we are informed:

“John J. Cleary has been an editor at Liguori Publications since 1997. A graduate of St. Louis University with a degree in Theological Studies, Mr. Cleary has served as editor for each of the entries in the 15 Days of Prayer series.”

We are informed on the page with the book description that:

“John J. Cleary is a graduate of St. Louis University with a degree in Theological Studies and has served as editor for many of the volumes in the "15 Days of Prayer" series.”

The chapters in this volume are:

How to Use This Book
A Brief Chronology of Saint Faustina Kowalska’s Life
Introduction
A Few Notes About Saint Faustina Kowalska
How to Recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
 1 The Lord Is Calling
 2 A Period of Darkness
 3 Divine Mercy Revealed
 4 Love for the Eucharist
 5 Mercy Is the Heart of Forgiveness
 6 The Chaplet
 7 Trust in Mercy
 8 The Importance of Reconciliation
 9 Love for Mary
10 The Mission
11 A Special Prayer for Faustina
12 Suffering
13 The Desire for Sainthood
14 Humility in Whole
15 Fully United With God
Bibliography

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

“All of the great saints with whom I am familiar had a spiritual director or a confessor who journeyed with them.”

“The purpose of the volume that you hold in your hand is to lead you, over a period of fifteen days or, maybe more realistically, fifteen prayer periods, to a place where prayer is possible. If you already have a regular experience and practice of prayer, perhaps this volume can help lead you to a deeper place, a more intimate relationship with the Lord.”

“There are three simple rules that need to be followed in order to use this book with a measure of satisfaction.”

“It is therefore important to me that I use the time that I have identified when it is available to me.”

“Her life is a journey of trust in Jesus Christ, of knowing the healing and comfort his great mercy provides.”

“Trust and mercy are at the center of this book. We have all come to know wrath in our lives; we have all felt the pain it brings. Let us now come to trust in the mercy our Lord Jesus Christ desires us to know.”

“Saint Faustina’s spiritual life was based on deep humility, purity of intention, and loving obedience to God in imitation of the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

“I am totally in accord with Your will; do with me as You please, O Lord, but only grant me the grace of loving You more and more ardently. This is what is most precious to me.”

“To find God in all things—this is a great challenge in life. When we stare at a sunset or look at a small child in his mother’s arms, we easily feel the presence of God. It is right there in front of us. But what of the darker corners of our lives? What of those areas of suffering, cruelty, dryness, hatred, and desperation? Can we find God so readily there?”

“These rays shield souls from the wrath of My Father. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him.”

“Any action of love we perform for God could not be so without God first giving us the grace to do so. As Jesus gave every part of himself to the Father, we must follow him. This means sacrificing our will to that of the Father.”

“If we see someone in need of something we can give—be it a listening ear, money, and so forth—we must be charitable enough to sacrifice a luxury or pleasure and be willing to go without for love of another. Any obstacle of selfishness must be overcome.”

“Is the Eucharist an important part of my spiritual life? Do I recognize the nourishment it provides to my soul as I seek to serve God by serving his people? Does the Eucharist open my eyes to see Jesus in the people I encounter in my daily life?”

“With God as our model, we are capable of forgiveness. He has forgiven us, and we can forgive those who do us wrong. This begins with the practice of mercy. Each day we should practice at least one act of mercy so that love and forgiveness can grow inside us, and so that hardheartedness does not settle within, keeping us from a deeper love of God and each other.”

“We are forgiven. This reality must never escape our understanding of who we are and where we stand with God. We are his beloved creation; we could never offend him to the point that he would not show us his mercy and love in forgiveness.”

“Time must be devoted to forgiveness and mercy in contemplation and prayer. God took mercy on us, and in his great love forgave our trespasses so that we would be united with him once again. He did this through Jesus Christ. We must recognize the Christ in others and love accordingly.”

“Perhaps my spiritual director will have some advice as to how I can foster mercy and forgiveness in my spiritual life through the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.”

“The fact that Jesus spoke continually of his mercy to Faustina, particularly at those times when she was in the midst of very painful suffering, made her realize to a greater degree that periods of suffering are opportune moments to rely more and more upon the mercy of God, and thereby deepen the union between servant and Master.”

“During visions in which she appeared to Faustina, Mary directed her daughter to grow in virtue through the practice of humility, purity, and love of God. In our own lives, we strive to grow in love by practicing these virtues. Mary serves as the ideal model of humility, purity, and love of God. This reality is echoed throughout Scripture and is inherent to Mary’s role as the Mother of God.”

“To be humble is to recognize the low state of one’s person in the presence of God. To be humble is to understand that there is a God, and we are not him. To be humble is to know our place as servant, and to recognize the authority of the Master.”

“Because God loves her so much, he cannot refuse her requests when she appeals for his graces on our behalf. Mary is our loving intercessor, and any intention she brings to God from our prayers to her he will not decline. Mary sees us in our need, and she has mercy upon us.”

“What does Mary teach me about humility? How can fostering humility in my life lead me to a deeper relationship with God?”

“Suffering—physical, psychological, spiritual—can be a great isolator. There is a tendency to “close off” from others when we are in pain. The selfishness that oftentimes accompanies suffering can isolate the person suffering from the world around him; it can isolate that person from God as well. A person will focus on himself—his suffering—to the point that he removes himself from the people in his life. He begins to tend to his own need and abandon loved ones. He can blame God for his ordeal and cease praying.”

“While self-interest is a necessary element in dealing with pain (a person in pain should seek treatment), suffering does not need to be an isolated and angry period. It can be an opportunity to grow in the love of God and unite oneself with the suffering of Christ.”

“The temptation to feel sorry for oneself and question God’s mercy in the midst of great suffering can seem overwhelming. The moment this temptation arrives is that point in time when God’s grace is needed the most. We must fight the temptation to selfishness, to distrust God, when we suffer. Let us follow the example of Jesus, as Saint Faustina did, and trust wholly in the mercy of the Lord, offering our suffering as a sacrifice to our heavenly Father.”

“The reality is that we are all—priests and laity alike—called to holiness. Another reality is that holiness can be found in so much of the laity’s daily—and seemingly mundane—activities. God is present in all things; it is up to us to recognize him there. When we approach an activity in our lives in a spirit of love and with the intent of glorifying God through that action, we are seeking holiness just as if we were praying inside our parish church.”

“When God became man in the Incarnation, he did not come to us as an earthly king bedecked in jewels, or as a wealthy member of the higher class, or as a person expecting to be served by the rest of humanity, waited on hand and foot. When God-made-man walked the earth he lived his life as a humble servant, and in the process modeled for our benefit what it means to be truly human.”

“If God—who is perfect—lived his human life as a humble and obedient servant, why would we choose to live our lives any other way? We have been shown by God how a happy and peaceful human person is to live; and he has given us the desire and grace to do so.”

“First, do not fight against a temptation by yourself, but disclose it to the confessor at once, and then the temptation will lose all its force. Second, during these ordeals do not lose your peace; live in My presence; ask My Mother and the saints for help. Third, have the certitude that I am looking at you and supporting you. Fourth, do not fear either struggles of the soul or any temptations, because I am supporting you; if only you are willing to fight, know that the victory is always on your side. Fifth, know that by fighting bravely you give Me a great glory and amass merits for yourself. Temptation gives you a chance to show Me your fidelity (Diary 1560).”

“Everything in our lives—including life itself—is a gift from God. Our family, our friends, joy, laughter, the sacraments—these are all God’s gifts. How can we respond to God with anything but gratitude? Everything comes from his goodness, from his love and mercy. When we reflect on this for even the briefest of moments, we are humbled into the realization that we owe our very life to God, that we are his servant and he is our Master.”

“Faustina’s life was a work of love and prayer for souls in need, a well of trust in the divine will, and a testimony to the great mercy of God.”

“Secondly, the soul in need of mercy must approach the Lord with deep humility, understanding that as a human being, one is never worthy of—one never earns—God’s mercy. God’s mercy is all gift, and the soul is the fortunate and poor servant graced to receive such a grace from so high a Master.”

“Saint Faustina Kowalska’s life was a progression of total and complete trust in the love and mercy of God. From her days as a child, singing hymns while she worked on her parents’ farm, to her teenage years as a cheerful housemaid, to her final hours in prayer, Faustina recognized her sinfulness, acknowledged her place as creature and servant, and relied humbly and totally upon God’s mercy.”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. Over the years I have read much about Saint Faustina and Divine Mercy, but I really enjoyed working through these 15 days with the saint, her words, and her thoughts. 

This is a good volume in an excellent series. Spending these 15 days with Saint Faustina, was informative. The written reflections and the discussion questions were engaging. I just really wish all of the 40 volumes were available as eBooks, I would work through them all if so.

A great read in an excellent series!

15 Days of Prayer with Saint Faustina Kowalska - John J. Cleary - Liguori Publications Edition

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

Other books about Divine Mercy and Saint Faustina:
…

Books in the 15 Days of Prayer With Series:
Blessed Frédéric Ozanam - Christian Verheyde
Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Matthieu Arnold
Don Bosco - Robert Schiele
Henri Nouwen - Robert Waldron
Jean-Claude Colin - Francois Drouilly
Johannes Tauler - Andre Pinet
Meister Eckhart - André Gozier
Peter Joseph Triest - Brother René Stockman
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin - André Dupleix 
Saint Alphonsus Liguori - Jean-Marie Segalen
Saint Augustine - Jaime García
Saint Benedict - André Gozier
Saint Catherine of Siena - Chantal van der Plancke 
Saint Dominic - Alain Quilici 
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton - Betty Ann McNeil
Saint Eugene de Mazenod - Bernard Dullier
Saint Francis de Sales - Claude Morel
Saint Francis of Assisi - Thaddée Matura O.F.M.
Saint John of the Cross - Constant Tonnelier
Saint Katharine Drexel - Leo Luke Marcello 
Saint Martín de Porres: A Saint of the Americas - Brian J. Pierce
Saint Teresa of Avila - Jean Abiven
Saint Therese of Lisieux - Victoria Hebert
Saint Thomas Aquinas - Suzanne Vrai and André Pinet
The Curé of Ars - Pierre Blanc
…


15 Days of Prayer Series from New City Press


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