Showing posts with label ScottHahn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ScottHahn. Show all posts

Tuesday, 30 December 2025

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2025

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2025


It has been a good year for reading. I read 424 books this year, making it my third best since I started keeping track. There were many great reads, and a few new authors that I had not explored yet, with plans to read more from some of them.  I have read just over a day, in comparison with the last 7 years:

     424 - 2025
     362 - 2024
     455 - 2023 
     438 - 2022
     365 - 2021
     317 - 2020 
     392 - 2019
     359 - 2018
     380 - 2017 
     272 - 2016 

But back to this year by the numbers:

Books Read: 424
First Time Reads: 309
Fiction: 166
Non-Fiction: 258
5/5 Stars: 303

The first half of this year was great. The second half was very busy at work and home, including moving house. Three teenagers have a lot of stuff and moving a family of 5 takes some serious effort and time; especially when we painted all the bedrooms, the den and did touch-ups in all the common areas. I can state again that looking back 2016 is a bit of an outlier as late that year I switched jobs and have since had much better work – life balance. In the spring of 2016, I worked through Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now (now available on ClaitasU). The year before that I removed all games from my phone and tablet and my reading had doubled. 

Here are my top ten non-fiction books of 2025:

  2. Pocket Guide Series from OSV
A Pocket Guide to Confession - Michael Dubruiel
A Pocket Guide to the Mass - Michael Dubruiel
 6.  30 Days with … by Thomas J. Craughwell 
 7. Vision Books for Young Catholics
When Saints Were Young - Blanche Jennings Thompson and John Lawn
Bernadette, Our Lady's Little Servant - Hertha Pauli and Georges Vaux
Saint John Bosco and Saint Dominic Savio - Catherine Beebe and Robb Beebe
Irish Saints - Robert T. Reilly
10. Columbanus - Desmond Forristal 

Bonus Books from the Catholic Truth Society:
St Nicholas Owen: Layman, Martyr, Builder of Priest Holes - Fr Gerard Skinner - CTS Biographies 

As can be seen by the numbers, my reading has been up over the last few years, but last year there was a dip, but rebounded up over 400 again this year. This reading success I in part attribute to Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now, removing all games but 1 brain game from my devices. And I was commuting to work on a bus and read on the bus every day. Working from home reading took a little more discipline, and we are now back to a hybrid model with 5 days a month in the office, so things have changed again.

In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more.     

Note: I do not include books that have been read in previous years and were reread this year in my top ten lists, they are sometimes in the bonus section. 

But if you want more options check out my favourite books year by year list. 

Table full of books.

Relates Posts: 
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Reading Goals for 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 4th Quarter 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2010 - Recap
Top 10 Fiction Books 2010
Top 10 Picture Books of 2010
Top 10 Non-Fiction Books of 2010
Top 10 Graphic Novels for 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2011 
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals for 2011 Update 
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2011 
Top Ten Fictions Books 4th Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals 2011 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books  4th Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2013
Top 10 Books Second Half 2013
Top Ten Fiction Books 2013
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2013 
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2014
Top Ten Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2015
Top Ten Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2016
Top Ten Non- Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Catholic Books
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2017
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2018
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2019
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2020 
All Top Ten Lists on Book Reviews and More

Statistics Books Read By Year:
424 - 2025 
363 - 2024
455 - 2023
438 - 2022
365 - 2021
317 - 2020 
392 - 2019
359 - 2018
380 - 2017 
272 - 2016 
177 - 2015 
130 - 2014 
88 -  2013
176 - 2012 
163 - 2011
302 - 2010
142 - 2009
98 - 2008
83 - 2007
191 - 2006
151 - 2005
60 - 2004
52 - 2003
97 - 2002
50 - 2001
41 - 2000
71 - 1999
73 - 1998
131 - 1997
101 - 1996


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Monday, 29 December 2025

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Fourth Quarter 2025

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Fourth Quarter 2025

My Den Home Office 2026

It has been a great year for reading, and fairly balanced across all four quarters. I averaged just over a book a day. It has been another great quarter with a large variety of genres and authors. 

In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more. But a lot of it goes back to my dyslexia, and once I learned to read there were all these worlds and all this knowledge out there. I have been addicted since then. I wrote about that in 2006 Confessions of a Bibliophile #5 - How I Became a Bibliophile, From Dyslexic to Addict. 

This quarter was very different. It was a little low, but both work and home life were very busy. Some huge projects going live at work, and we had to move and a family of 5 with 3 teenagers have a lot of stuff to move.. This quarter I read 72 books, my second best second quarter since I started tracking, the comparison with the last 8 years:

     2025 - 72
     2024 - 77
     2023 – 88
     2022 – 94
     2021 – 83
     2020 – 65
     2019 – 95
     2018 – 78
     2017 – 104
     2016 – 89

But back to this quarter by the numbers:

Books Read: 72
First Time Reads: 27
Fiction: 22
Non-Fiction: 50
5/5 Stars: 42

A dip over the last year, but very slight. I can state again that looking back 2016 is a bit of an outlier as late that year I switched jobs and have since had much better work – life balance. In the spring of 2016, I worked through Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now (now available on ClaitasU). The year before that I removed all games from my phone and tablet and my reading had doubled.  

Here is my top ten fiction and non-fiction books of the fourth quarter of 2024.

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books:

 1. Pocket Guide Series from OSV
A Pocket Guide to Confession - Michael Dubruiel
A Pocket Guide to the Mass - Michael Dubruiel
 6. Great Spiritual Teachers from Ave Maria Press
 
Bonus Books Advent Titles:
  
Top Ten Fiction Books:
Bonus Books Murderbot Short Stories – Martha Wells:
Compulsory - Murderbot Diaries Book 0.5 
Obsolescence - Murderbot Diaries Book 0.5 
Home Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory - Murderbot Diaries Book 4.5

My reading has been staying pretty consistent at about a book a day over the last several years. I attribute in part to Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now, removing all games but 1 brain game from my devices. And I was commuting to work on a bus and read on the bus every day. Working from home reading took a little more discipline, and we are now back to a hybrid model with 5 days a month in the office, so things have changed again.    

Note: I do not include books that have been read in previous years and were reread this year in my top ten lists, they are sometimes in the bonus section. 

But if you want more options check out my favourite books year by year list. 

Table full of books.

Relates Posts: 
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Reading Goals for 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 4th Quarter 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2010 - Recap
Top 10 Fiction Books 2010
Top 10 Picture Books of 2010
Top 10 Non-Fiction Books of 2010
Top 10 Graphic Novels for 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2011 
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals for 2011 Update 
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2011 
Top Ten Fictions Books 4th Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals 2011 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books  4th Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2013
Top 10 Books Second Half 2013
Top Ten Fiction Books 2013
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2013 
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2014
Top Ten Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2015
Top Ten Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2016
Top Ten Non- Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Catholic Books
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2017
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2018
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2019
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2020 
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2025
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2025
Top Ten Fiction Books 2025
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2026
...  

All Top Ten Lists on Book Reviews and More

Statistics Books Read By Year:
424 - 2025 
363 - 2024
455 - 2023
438 - 2022
365 - 2021
317 - 2020 
392 - 2019
359 - 2018
380 - 2017 
272 - 2016 
177 - 2015 
130 - 2014 
88 -  2013
176 - 2012 
163 - 2011
302 - 2010
142 - 2009
98 - 2008
83 - 2007
191 - 2006
151 - 2005
60 - 2004
52 - 2003
97 - 2002
50 - 2001
41 - 2000
71 - 1999
73 - 1998
131 - 1997
101 - 1996


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Thursday, 13 November 2025

A Pocket Guide to the Bible - Scott Hahn

A Pocket Guide to the Bible
Scott Hahn
Our Sunday Visitor
ISBN 9781592764433
eISBN 9781592767670
ASIN B008FB5JDO

A Pocket Guide to the Bible - Scott Hahn

After reading Dr Hahn’s A Pocket Guide to St. Paul from OSV I have been able to track down all but one in the series. I have been jumping around reading them. Having a religious studies degree with a focus on Roman Catholic thought I thought this volume might be boring, I was absolutely wrong. It is an excellent little read.

The description of this volume states:

“The perfect how-to for easy, quick Scripture reference and comprehension!

Using straightforward, accessible language, Scripture expert Scott Hahn explains the "nuts and bolts" of the Bible -- how it came to be, the types of literature found within it, and the thrust of each book -- in a handy, yet thorough, way that demystifies the Bible and simplifies understanding.”

The chapters in this booklet are:

Introduction  
1. What Is the Bible? 
2. The Shape of the Bible   
3. Who Wrote the Bible?  
4. What Belongs in the Bible?  
5. The Bible and the Church  
6. How to Understand the Bible  
7. Your Reading Program  
8. The Books of the Bible  
9. Where to Find …

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

“Yet all these various strains harmonize perfectly in the person of the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God communicated himself completely. Yet even then he spoke to us in words. Jesus spoke, preached, counseled, taught, and prayed aloud. He asked questions. He told stories. He even traced words in the sand. He did all of this for our sake, because words are a normal human thing. Nevertheless, his words are extraordinary, because they are revelatory. They are human words that reveal the eternal Word of God. They are the Word of God in the words of men and women and children.”

“The Bible is the Word of God in human words. Because it comes to us from Almighty God, it has the power to be life-transforming. For God knows each of us, and he knows what we need when we open up the book.

“The Bible is a whole library of books written over the course of more than a thousand years, in many different styles, with many different points of view, by dozens of different writers. But it is also one book, with one Author-God-telling one story: the heart-pounding, thrill-a-minute story of our salvation.”

“Finally, there's one more thing that makes the Bible unique. You don't have to be satisfied with just reading it: you can step right into it. Wherever the sacraments are celebrated, they are the Bible in action. Reading the Bible helps prepare you for the sacraments, and in the sacraments everything you've read about comes to life right before your eyes.”

“The answer is that each testament is incomplete without the other. They are two elements of a single plan. St. Augustine said that the New Testament is hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is revealed in the New.”

“That means we can't really understand the fundamental Christian message without the Old Testament. The New Testament doesn't abolish or revoke the Old Testament: on the contrary it fulfills and renews it.”

“Both the incarnate Word and the inspired Word are fully divine and fully human. In both, the human and the divine are inseparable. In both, the human is the instrument for communicating the divine.”

“The Apostles entrusted the Scriptures to the Church as part of the deposit of faith-the sacred Tradition. Over time, guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church recognized the need to make a formal list of the writings that are divinely inspired. This complete list is called the "canon" of Scripture.”

“Catholics, following ancient tradition, accept those seven later books as part of the Old Testament. Almost all Protestant bodies follow the later Jewish tradition in rejecting them. The debated books are often called Deuterocanonical, from a Greek word meaning "second canon." For a Catholic, they are in no way less inspired than the Protocanonical (" first-canon") books.”

“Later Church councils codified the Christian canons of both the Old Testament and the New. The Council of Trent authoritatively listed the books of the Scriptures, reacting to the Protestants who rejected the Deuterocanonical books.”

“The Bible is the founding document of the Church, and the Bible comes to life in the Church. Without the Church, in fact, you're missing half of the story.
Highlight(yellow) - Page 27 · Location 256
At home, you can read the Bible-and that's wonderful. But when you go to Mass, you live the Bible.”

“However you decide to read, keep at it. Set aside a time during the day for reading the Bible. Do you have ten minutes to spare before breakfast? Can you eat lunch ten minutes faster and leave a bit of time at the end? Do you have ten minutes to spare before you go to bed? Ten minutes is almost always enough time to read the day's readings from the lectionary, or one chapter from the book of your choice. You don't have to make it a big project. Just make it a little project-but one you stick with. You'll be surprised how such a small effort can make a huge difference in your faith.”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. This little volume is a great little read. I loved the mini overviews of each book of the bible. This book would be a great introduction to the bible and who and how to read it. It is easy to engage with. This volume could be read by a secondary school student. It is an excellent volume that any Catholic or any Christian would benefit from reading. 

It is a great read, thank you Dr. Hahn and Our Sunday Visitor. I just wish this book and the series were still in print, I have already tracked down a few used copies to pass on to others.

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

Our Sunday Visitor Pocket Guide Series

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 Trinity
Hail, 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"

Books in the Handy Little Series from OSV:
The Handy Little Guide to Adoration - Michelle Jones Schroeder
The Handy Little Guide to Confession - Michelle Jones Schroeder
The Handy Little Guide to the Holy Spirit - Michelle Schroeder
The Handy Little Guide to the Lent - Michelle Schroeder
The Handy Little Guide to Novenas - Allison Gingras
The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours - Barb Szyszkiewicz
…

Handy Little Guides - Our Sunday Visitor

Books in the OSV Companion in Faith Series:
For Those Who Grieve - Jeannie Ewing
Living in Peace - Father Jeffrey Kirby
The Beatitudes - Kathleen M Basi
The Lord's Prayer - T.J. Burdick
The Power of Forgiveness - Patrice Fagnant-Macarthur
…

Companion in Faith Series Our Sunday Visitor


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Thursday, 6 November 2025

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

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year A
Emmaus Road Publishing
ISBN 9781645854883
eISBN 9781645854906
ASIN 

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

This is the third volume to release in this series; Year A, but it also completes the three years cycle. This is an incredible volume and series. This volume does not start for a few weeks from the writing of this review. But I devoured the volume over a week and a half while moving. Randomly picking it up and reading a reflection her and there throughout the day.  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 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 A.”

Over the last few years I have worked through volume from the Catholic Truth Society by Dom Henry Wansbrough OSB, Companion to the Sunday Gospels: Year A, 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 the first in this series. And it was an easy choice to try a new volume from Scott Hahn. And that volume and the two that have followed do not disappoint. A sample reflection is:

“Second Sunday of Advent
ISAIAH 11·1-10
PSALM 72:1-2. 7-8, 12-13. 17
ROMANS 15, 4-9
MATTHEW 3:1-12

Kingdom Come
“The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” John proclaims. And the Liturgy today paints us a vivid portrait of our new King and the shape of the kingdom He has come to bring.

The Lord for whom John prepares the way in today's Gospel is the righteous king prophesied in today's First Reading and Psalm. He is the king's son, the son of David a shoot from the root of Jesse, David's father (sec Ruth 4: 17).

He will be the Messiah, anointed with the Holy Spirit (sec 2 Sa1l1ucl 23: 1; 1 Kings
1:39; Psalm 2:2) and endowed with the Spirit's seven gifts: wisdom, understanding. counsel, strength, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord (see Isaiah 11: 1- 2).

He will rule with justice, saving the poor from the ruthless and wicked. His rule will be not only over Israel but will extend from sea to sea, to the ends of the earth. He will be a light, a signal to all nations. And they will seek Him and pay Him homage.

In Him, all the tribes of the earth will find blessing. The covenant promise to Abraham, renewed in God's oath to David (see Genesis 12:3; Psalm 89:4, 28), 'will be fulfilled in His dynasty. And His name will be blessed forever.

In Christ, God confirms His oath to Israel’s patriarchs, Paul tells us in today's Epistle. But no longer are God's promises reserved solely for the children of Abraham.
The Gentiles, too, will glorify God for His mercy. Once strangers, in Christ they will be included in "'the covenants of the promise" (see Ephesians 2: 12).

John deliver's this same message in the Gospel. Once God's chosen people were hewn from the rock of Abraham (see Isaiah 51: 1- 2). Now, God will raise up “living stones” (see l Peter 2:5) children of Abraham born not of flesh and blood but of the Spirit. 

Thisis the meaning of the fiery Baptism Christ brings: He makes us royal heirs of the kingdom of heaven, the Church.

~

John the Baptist called people to repent and told their leaders to show evidence of repentance. So, what is repentance: exactly? It is retuning to God. It's also known as conversion. You feel sorry about sins you've committed detesting them, actually and you resolve to cooperate with God’s grace better so as to avoid sin. The Baptizer points out our need constantly to turn away from sinful thoughts, words, deeds, and omissions. His call was, and is, urgent.

The movement of return to God, called conversion and
repentance, entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed,
and the firm purpose of ~inning no more in the future.
Conversion touches the past and the future and is nourished by
hope in God's mercy. (CCC 1490)

Baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit admits us to the family of faith, to the people of God. Jesus wants all people to be united with Him and with each otl1er in His Church. Unity doesn't have to mean uniformity in all things, but the call to be a united family is unmistakable, and Baptism is the means God uses to join us with all of His people.

One enters into the People of God by faith and Baptism. “All
men are called to belong to the new People of God” (LG 13), so
that, in Christ, “men may form one family and one People of
God” (AG l ). (CCC 804))

~

Do I think of co1wersion as a once-and-for-all change, or do I acknowledge it as a process needing persistent attention on my part?

Does my treatment of all Christians show that I consider them family members'? Do I treat all members of my family as I would Jesus Himself?

Jesus, You call all people to repentance as well as reconciliation with God and neighbour. Thank You for walking witl1 me on my journey of conversion, throughout
This Advent season and always. Amen.

PREPARE THE WAY of THE LORD,
MAKE STRAIGHT HIS PATHS
ALL FLESH SHALL SEE
THE SALVATION OF GOD.
LUKE 3:4, 6”

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: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books by Scott Hahn click here.

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

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

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

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


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