The Father Speaks to His Children - Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio - Enriched eBook Edition

The Father Speaks to His Children: 

Enriched edition. 

Reflective dialogues on parenthood, identity, and the journey to independence within family ties

Sister Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio

Father Andrea D’Ascanio

DigiCat

ASIN B0B31XW3JP

Note: I have read this at least once a year over the last several years. As part of Father Mark Goring’s Saint Mark’s School of Reading I have two different eBook editions including the one listed above. Both were revised and enhanced this year, and are now available with new covers. 

Review of this edition 2026:  

I have read this book as part of Father Mark Goring’s School of Reading, it is the fourth book that I have read that he has highlighted as his book of the month. Father Mark sent out a PDF but I went looking to an eBook version. I did find them on Kindle and Kobo but upon reading the PDF discovered that there should not be. The description of this edition states:

“In "The Father Speaks to His Children," Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio crafts a poignant reflection on the complexities of familial relationships, intertwining personal narrative with philosophical discourse. Drawing on a blend of lyrical prose and introspective dialogue, Ravasio navigates the nuanced interplay between parental expectations and the intrinsic desire for independence. The book is set against a backdrop of contemporary family dynamics, using metaphor and allegory to evoke the emotional resonance of its central themes, making it a notable contribution to modern literary conversations about parenthood and identity. Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio, a scholar and writer whose expertise lies in developmental psychology and family studies, brings a wealth of knowledge and personal experience to her work. Her passion for exploring human connections is rooted in her academic background, which informs both her expressive style and the psychological depth of her characters. This book emerges from her desire to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and the lived experiences of familial love, conflict, and resolution. "The Father Speaks to His Children" is a must-read for anyone intrigued by the intricate tapestry of family ties. Ravasio offers readers a chance to reflect on their own relationships, inviting empathy and understanding through her insightful prose. This book is not just a narrative; it is a journey into the heart of what it means to be a part of a family.

In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience:

- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.

- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.”

You can find a PDF version online, if you search the author and title. This edition does not have the Imprimatur that was present in other editions I have read. 

 

The chapters in this volume are:

Preface

Short Biography of Mother Eugenia Elisabette Ravasio

Testimony of the Right Reverend A. Caillot

The Father´s Message

The Father´s Message 2 (To the Pope)

The Father´s Message 3 (To The Bishop)

The Father´s Message 4

Prayer of Mother Eugenia

This is a fascinating little read. It is only 37 pages in length from title page to a summary by P. Andrea D’Ascanio OFM. It is an easy volume to read and yet it contains a significant amount of important material. I worked my way through this over a few days and over several sittings. Pausing at the end of each message. Taking time to think, reflect and pray. The work concludes with these words:

““God is my Father!” This cry is being heard ever more frequently in today’s world: people are coming to recognize that God is indeed their Father.

Consequently, we feel it our duty to publish a message, given to the world by God the Father through one of His creatures who loved Him so much, Sister Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio, and recognized as valid by the Church.

We consider it appropriate to introduce this work by quoting the testimony of a former Bishop of Grenoble, the Right Reverend Alexandre Caillot. In 1935 he set up a board of experts, drawn from various parts of France, to conduct a diocesan enquiry, which lasted ten years.

Its members included the Bishop of Grenoble’s Vicar General, Mgr Guerry, theologian; the Jesuit brothers, Fathers Albert and Auguste Valencin-Amons, who ranked among the foremost authorities in the field of philosophy and theology and were expert in evaluating such cases; and two doctors of medicine, one of whom was a psychiatrist.

We are sure that this message will help people to understand the deep tenderness the Father has for each one of us, and we hope that it will receive the widest possible circulation.””

This whole final section is missing from the digital version. The conclusion by Alexandre Caillot at the time of the revelation states:

“Following the dictates of my soul and my conscience, and with the keenest sense of my responsibility to the Church, I declare that supernatural and divine intervention seems to me the only logical and satisfactory explanation of the facts. 

Isolated from all the surrounding features of the case, this essential fact seems to me to be noble, lofty and supernaturally rich: that a humble nun has called souls to true devotion to the Father, such as Jesus taught and the Church has enshrined in its liturgy. There is nothing alarming in this, only something that is very simple and in accordance with solid doctrine. 

The miraculous facts which accompany this message could be separated from the main event and its value would still be preserved in its entirety. For doctrinal reasons, the Church will declare whether the idea of a special feast can be considered separately from this particular case involving the sister. 

I believe that the fundamental proof of the authenticity of the nun’s mission is shown by the way in which she puts into practice in her life the beautiful doctrine which she was apparently destined to remind us of. 

I deem it proper to let her continue her work. I believe that the hand of God is in all this. After ten years of research, reflection and prayer, I bless the Father for having deigned to choose my diocese as the place for such touching manifestations of His love.”

I highlighted several passages while reading this edition. Some of them are:

““God is my Father[ 1q]!” This cry is being heard ever more frequently in today’s world: people are coming to recognize that God is indeed their Father. Consequently, we feel it our duty to publish a message, given to the world by God the Father through one of His creatures who loved Him so much, Sister Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio, and recognized as valid by the Church."

"She received only an elementary education[ 5q]. After a few years working in a factory, she entered the Congregation of Our Lady of the Apostles at the age of 20 years. It was here that her great charismatic personality developed, leading to her election as Mother General of the Congregation at the age of only 25."

"It was she who discovered the first medicine for the cure of leprosy, extracting it from the seed of a tropical plant. This medicine was later studied and developed further at the Pasteur Institute[ 8] in Paris."

"Her superiors, perplexed by the extraordinary nature of the events which occurred during her novitiate, had not wanted to let her stay on in the convent. After some hesitation, they were forced to abandon their plan when faced with the nun’s exemplary conduct."

"She sees every situation clearly and correctly, as if it were a matter of conscience. Her instructions are straight-forward, precise and very practical. She knows each of her 1400 daughters personally, and also their attitudes and their virtues; hence she is able to select those who are most qualified to perform various tasks. She also has an accurate personal knowledge of her Congregation’s needs and resources. She knows the situation in every house and has visited all her missions."

"I find it particularly interesting to note that Mother Eugenia seems to possess a spirit of decisiveness, a sense of reality and a creative will. In six years she has founded 67 institutes and has been able to introduce very useful improvements in her Congregation."

"If I single out her qualities of intelligence, judgment and will, and her powers of administration, it is because they seem to me to rule out definitively all the hypotheses about hallucinations, illusions, spiritism, hysteria or delirium. These were examined during the enquiry but proved incapable of giving a satisfactory explanation of the facts."

"If it is supremely right to show devotion to the Son and the Holy Spirit because of their external manifestations, would it not be right and proper to give thanks to God the Father, as the Prefaces of the Mass require, for the gift He sent us, His Son?"

"The real object of this special feast thus becomes plain: to honour the Father, to thank Him, to praise Him for having given us His Son; in a word, as the message states, as the Author of our Redemption; to thank Him Who loved the world so much that He gave His only-begotten Son, so that all men might be brought together in the Mystical Body of Christ and, together with this Son, become His children."

"After ten years of research, reflection and prayer, I bless the Father for having deigned to choose my diocese as the place for such touching manifestations of His love."

"The painter delights in contemplating the picture he has painted. In the same way, it is My pleasure and delight to come among men, the masterpiece of My creation! Time presses. I wish men to know as soon as possible that I love them and that I feel the greatest happiness in being with them and talking with them, like a father with his children."

"And the greatest means of securing your salvation, despite your falls, is the Cross, My Son’s Blood poured out upon you every moment, if you so wish, both in the Sacrament of Penance and in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass."

"Even if your sins were as repulsive as mud, your confidence and your love will make Me forget them, so you will not be judged! I am just, it is true, but love pays for everything!"

"Raise yourselves to the dignity of children of God and learn how to respect your own greatness. I will then be your Father more than ever, the most lovable and merciful of fathers."

"It is in this intimacy that the outpouring of My love makes My holiness spread into your souls. I fill you with My love, then you have only to ask Me for the virtues and perfection you need and you can be sure that in those moments when God is reposing in His creatures, nothing will be refused you.”

This booklet is an important message in this day and age. For generations raised without fathers, absentee fathers, or fathers focused on work and their own lives. We need the Father in heaven in our lives. For those in parishes with unfatherly priests. … 

There appears to be a few variations of this volume available. By different publishers and offered online from different sources. The edition father Mark made available was the 2005 first pdf edition. I have obtained 2 other versions and plan to read them as well, this is one of them. It is an excellent volume and a book I highly recommend! 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! You can find a PDF version online, which was the version Father Mark Distributed. A different version is available online here, it contains an icon of the Father on the cover and explanation of the icon.

Various editions of this book:

The Father Speaks to His Children - Edizioni Nidi Di Preghiera

The Father Speaks to His Children - Enhanced eBook Edition - Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio

The Father Speaks to His Children - Enriched eBook Edition  - Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio

...

In 2025 I read a different eBook edtion:

The Father Speaks to His Children Kindle Edition

Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio

e-artnow

ASIN B0CQPC275H

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

For a list of all books that are part of Father Mark Goring's Saint Mark’s School of Reading click here.

Other Editions I have read:

The Father Speaks to His Children

Sister Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio

Father Andrea D’Ascanio

ASIN B0B31XW3JP

The Father Speaks to His Children (Annotated): 

Enriched Edition. 

Catholic Mystical Messages of Divine Fatherhood, Mercy, and Spiritual Renewal

Sister Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio

Father Andrea D’Ascanio

e-Artnow

ASIN B0CQPC275H

The Fruit of Her Womb: 33-Day Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary - Boniface Hicks

The Fruit of Her Womb: 

33-Day Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary 

Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB

Sophia Institute Press

ISBN 9781644138403

eISBN 9781644138410

ASIN B0C87KFFZR

This volume was part of the reading for Father Mark Goring’s, Saint Mark’s School of Reading in the spring of 2026.It was read mostly over the month of May. A book on Mary over May is always a great idea. 

The Description of the volume states:

“St. Louis de Montfort inspired a spiritual revolution in teaching us about Marian consecration and giving us a thirty-three-day plan to prepare our souls for that big step in our relationship with Jesus. In these pages, Fr. Boniface Hicks guides you through this "retreat" to help you gain a deeper trust in and childlike dependence on our loving God.

"What this consecration teaches us is that we have a sweet, loving, perfect Mother who actually wants to live in this intense relationship with us," Fr. Boniface reflects. "And so, if we accept Mary's invitation to this relationship, we will find all the healing and happiness we have always longed for."

You'll spend the first twelve days emptying yourself of the spirit of the world, followed by a week focused on self-knowledge. You'll then spend a week dedicated to knowledge of Mary before concluding the final week, centered on knowledge of Jesus.

Only ten minutes per day will produce spiritual renewal and wholehearted trust in Jesus through Mary. These short, personal chapters will show you how to:

• Allow the Blessed Mother to cherish you as a baby in her womb and rejoice in your dignity as a child of God

• Grow in patience, humility, and love (Our Lady makes it simple!)

• Deepen your faith and live out your baptismal call to holiness

• Close "escape routes" in your relationship with God and live in the freedom of total surrender

• Take refuge and receive consolation in Mary's protective care

• Realize that sufferings and difficulty point to the hope and final victory that await you

Fr. Boniface provides practical tips on opening your heart to God's grace and profoundly beautiful reflections that will lead your soul to intimate union with our Lord through our Lady. Each daily meditation includes a Scripture passage, related quotes from popes and saints, questions to guide you on your journey, and traditional prayers to prepare for Marian consecration.

This book affirms what St. Louis teaches us: that Mary's womb is the best place to be formed perfectly into saints and into Christ Himself. By contemplating Jesus through Mary, the first tabernacle of the Lord, your love of the Holy Eucharist will become more fervent, and your heart will be inflamed as you pray the Rosary and reflect on the mysteries of her Son.”

About the author we are informed:

“Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., became a Benedictine monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1998. Since his ordination to the priesthood in 2004 he has provided spiritual direction and retreats for many men and women, including married couples, seminarians, consecrated religious and priests. Fr. Boniface became the programming manager and an on-air contributor for We Are One Body(R) Catholic radio in 2010 and has recorded thousands of radio programs on theology and the spiritual life. He became the director for spiritual formation for Saint Vincent Seminary in 2016 and director of the Institute for Ministry Formation at Saint Vincent Seminary in 2019 and has offered many courses on spiritual direction and the spiritual life. He earned a licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome in 2023. He is author of The Fruit of Her Womb and Through the Heart of St. Joseph.”

I highlighted several sections while working through this volume, some of them are:

“What is this consecration? St. Louis de Montfort described it as being a form of “slavery” to Mary. This slavery means that we do nothing without her.”

“Fundamentally, he said that we choose to become totally dependent on Mary: we receive everything through her and share everything with her.”

“The principal consequences of Original Sin are a fearful grasping after independence and a repeated search for a security that is in our own control.”

“Original Sin is behind all our efforts to earn love through our accomplishments or to control our lives through our own power. It is the source of all our unhappiness, emptiness, and fear. It is fundamentally a denial of our being—we did not create ourselves, and we do not have sole power over our destiny. We simply cannot exist without God; trying to do so is a contradiction that splits us in two.”

“Mary fills in any gaps left in us by our birth-mother’s limitations. She is the first of the redeemed. She is without sin from the moment of her conception. She will never fail us, forget us, abandon us, or forsake us. She will never break our trust. In this way, she teaches us to trust again and helps to heal our wounds.”

“Now we are in a better position to understand Marian consecration. Most fundamentally, it is a choice to be a child like Jesus. In other words, we are choosing to be a child of Mary and Joseph. But a child can still be willful and wander away, so our dependence must be more radical: we are invited to be the infant of Mary and Joseph.”

“This is the radical quality of our trust, our abandonment to the one who always perfectly lives in accord with the will of God.”

“Marian consecration is first and foremost about love and trust, and it carries none of the harmful or ambiguous connotations of the term “slavery.” We have therefore reframed the Total Consecration to Mary, without losing anything, to be no longer described as slavery but as the perfect embrace and safe protection a mother provides for an infant in her womb.”

“Whether you are making this journey for the first time or are renewing your consecration, we hope that you will open your heart to the possibility of profound conversion.”

“One of the consequences of Original Sin is that we have been tainted by a spirit of independence, self-sufficiency, and grasping at control.”

“Love is not dependence but a gift that makes us live. The freedom of a human being is the freedom of a limited being, and therefore is itself limited. We can possess it only as a shared freedom, in the communion of freedom: only if we live in the right way, with one another and for one another, can freedom develop.”

“God does not answer prayers that cause us to need Him less. He is trying to save us from being alone and from needing no one. Generally, when we go to an earthly physician, we hope that our issue will be resolved well enough that we never need to see him again. This is not the approach of the Divine Physician: He seeks to treat us so that we never try to go without Him again, because He Himself is the cure.”

“In coming to share our human condition, Jesus made Mary’s womb the perfect place for all our needs to be met and also the place that we can always find Him, who is always the Son of Mary.”

“Let us now pray that the Lord will give us true humility. May He give us the grace of being little in order to be truly wise; may He illumine us, enable us to see His mystery in the joy of the Holy Spirit.”

“Learning the patience of the little Lamb of God is so hard, but it is possible when we trust Mary and Joseph to take care of us as they took care of Jesus. Make an act of trust in God, who is taking care of everything and working out His plan of salvation.”

“Let us say it once again: the capacity to suffer for the sake of the truth is the measure of humanity. Yet this capacity to suffer depends on the type and extent of the hope that we bear within us and build upon. The saints were able to make the great journey of human existence in the way that Christ had done before them, because they were brimming with great hope.”

“Love now becomes concern and care for the other. No longer is it self-seeking, a sinking in the intoxication of happiness; instead it seeks the good of the beloved: it becomes renunciation and it is ready, and even willing, for sacrifice.”

“Let us reflect on any distortions in our view of love and then make an act of love to God: O my God, I love You above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because You are all good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured.”

“The Lamb then opens the first four seals of the scroll, and the Church sees the world in which it is inserted, a world in which there are various negative elements. There are the wicked deeds of men and women, such as acts of violence that stem from the desire to possess, to dominate each other, even to the point of self-destruction (the second seal); or injustice, because people fail to respect the laws that they have given themselves (the third seal). To these are added the evils that human beings must suffer, such as death, hunger, and pestilence (the fourth seal).”

“Remember today that you were already loved before you ever accomplished anything. God loved you into existence and knowing that you would always need help, He gave you a Mother to take care of you.”

“Let us, therefore, strive to gain this love for ourselves, let us acquire this tenderness towards our neighbor so that we may guard ourselves from wickedly speaking evil of our neighbor and from judging and despising him. Let us help one another, as we are members one of another.”

“The important thing is that each of us feel that fruitful tension born of the Lord’s mercy: we are at one and the same time sinners pardoned and sinners restored to dignity. The Lord not only cleanses us but crowns us, giving us dignity.”

“The time has come to repropose wholeheartedly to everyone this high standard of ordinary Christian living: the whole life of the Christian community and of Christian families must lead in this direction. It is also clear, however, that the paths to holiness are personal and call for a genuine “training in holiness,” adapted to people’s needs. . . . This training in holiness calls for a Christian life distinguished above all in the art of prayer.”

“Let us take the risk of dependence on Mary, and have the courage to risk with faith, the courage to risk with goodness, the courage to risk with a pure heart! Let us commit ourselves to God!”

“In dangers, in hardships, in every doubt, think of Mary, call out to Mary. Keep her in your mouth, keep her in your heart. Follow the example of her life, and you will obtain the favor of her prayer. Following her, you will never go astray. Asking her help, you will never despair. Keeping her in your thoughts, you will never wander away. With your hand in hers, you will never stumble. With her protecting you, you will not be afraid. With her leading you, you will never tire. Her kindness will see you through to the end.”

“We seek refuge. Our fathers in faith taught that in turbulent moments we should gather under the mantle of the Holy Mother of God. At one time those who were persecuted and in need sought refuge with high-ranking noble women: when their cloak, regarded as inviolable, was held out as a sign of welcoming, protection had been granted. So it is for us with regard to Our Lady, the highest woman of the human race. Her mantle is always open to receive us and gather us. The Christian East reminds us of this, where many celebrate the Protection of the Mother of God, who in a beautiful icon is depicted with her mantle sheltering her sons and daughters and covering the whole world.”

“Let us ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds as we begin this week of knowledge of Jesus Christ.”

“That is what we, too, in the Church, are constantly called to do: to listen, to get involved and be neighbors, sharing in people’s joys and struggles, so that the Gospel can spread ever more consistently and fruitfully: radiating goodness through the transparency of our lives.”

“God’s becoming man is a great mystery! But the reason for all this is His love, a love which is grace, generosity, a desire to draw near, a love which does not hesitate to offer itself in sacrifice for the beloved.”

“It has been said that the only real regret lies in not being a saint (L. Bloy); we could also say that there is only one real kind of poverty: not living as children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ.”

“Why does God seek man out? Because man has turned away from Him, hiding himself as Adam did among the trees of the Garden of Eden (cf. Gen. 3: 8–10). Man allowed himself to be led astray by the enemy of God (cf. Gen. 3: 13). Satan deceived man, persuading him that he too was a god, that he, like God, was capable of knowing good and evil, ruling the world according to his own will without having to take into account the divine will (cf. Gen. 3: 5). Going in search of man through His Son, God wishes to persuade man to abandon the paths of evil which lead him farther and farther afield.”

“Will you let Him find you? When God called out to Adam, Adam responded to the call. Will you respond when God calls your name, looking for you in your hiding places? Will you let God into your hiding places?”

“After thirty-three days of preparation, we are ready to make, or renew, our consecration to Jesus through Mary.”

The sections and chapters in the volume are:

Introduction

Beginning the Consecration: Emptying Ourselves of the Spirit of the World

     Introduction

      1. Dependence on God

      2. Original Sin Poisons Our Thinking

      3. Save Us from the Prideful Presumption of Self-Sufficiency

      4. God Hears Our Cry

      5. God Reveals Himself to the Childlike

      6. The Sign of a Child

      7. Victory through Love and Patience, Not through Power

      8. Light Dispels Darkness

      9. Hope in Suffering

     10. True Love

     11. A Christian Interpretation of Reality

     12. The Great Hope: Love Redeems Us

Week of Knowledge of Self

     Introduction

     13. Sharing Christ’s Sonship

     14. Remaining Little

     15. Not Judging

     16. Beloved Sinners: A Dignified Embarrassment

     17. Pastoral Acedia

     18. Christian “Diseases”

     19. Called to Holiness

Week of Knowledge of Mary

     Introduction

     20. The Rosary Helps Consecrate Us to Mary

     21. Mary, Abandoned to God, Becomes Our Mother

     22. The Weak Are Formed into Christ

     23. The Holy Name of Mary

     24. Mary and the Church

     25. Mary, Our Fiercely Compassionate Mother

     26. Mary, Our Refuge

Week of Knowledge of Jesus Christ

     Introduction

     27. Jesus Is Little, Near, and Real

     28. Christ Became Poor

     29. The Humility of Jesus in the Eucharist

     30. Mary, the Eucharist, and the Incarnation

     31. God Seeks Man in the Womb of Mary

     32. Christ Brings Us Life and Light in Baptism

     33. Jesus Dies, the Word Is Silenced

Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary

     34. Making Our Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary

Act of Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary

Appendices

St. Louis de Montfort’s Consecration

Prayers

     Ave Maris Stella

     Litany of the Holy Spirit

     Litany of Jesus Christ Living in the Womb of Mary

     Litany of Loreto

     Litany of Penance

     Litany of the Powerlessness of Jesus

     Prayer of Entrustment to the Womb of Mary

     Radiating Christ

     Sub Tuum Praesidium

     Thomistic Litany of Humility

     Veni Sancte Spiritus

Each section has an introduction to that section and each day has a set of recommended prayers at the end of the day. A sample day is:

“Day 13

 Sharing Christ’s Sonship

Reading 1

Galatians 4:4–7

But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.

Reading 2

Pope St. John Paul II’s apostolic letter Tertio millennio adveniente (November 10, 1994), no. 8

The religion which originates in the mystery of the Redemptive Incarnation, is the religion of “dwelling in the heart of God,” of sharing in God’s very life. St. Paul speaks of this in the passage already quoted: “God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ ” (Gal. 4:6). Man cries out like Christ Himself, who turned to God “with loud cries and tears” (Heb. 5:7), especially in Gethsemane and on the Cross: man cries out to God just as Christ cried out to Him, and thus he bears witness that he shares in Christ’s Sonship through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, whom the Father has sent in the name of the Son, enables man to share in the inmost life of God. He also enables man to be a son, in the likeness of Christ, and an heir of all that belongs to the Son (cf. Gal. 4:7). In this consists the religion of “dwelling in the inmost life of God,” which begins with the Incarnation of the Son of God. The Holy Spirit, who searches the depths of God (cf. 1 Cor. 2:10), leads us, all mankind, into these depths by virtue of the sacrifice of Christ.

Reflection

The great dignity that Christ has given us is that we can share in the inmost life of God by sharing in Christ’s Sonship. As we practice the religion of dwelling in the heart of God, we must remember that the heart of God once dwelled in the womb of Mary: indeed, the Son of God is also the Son of Mary. We are able to understand His Sonship, and thus also ours, by going back to the starting point of the God-Man in the womb of Mary. There we can allow ourselves to be formed by the Holy Spirit, the artisan of the Incarnation. There we can discover that we have an Eternal Father in God and a tender Mother in Mary. This relationship is our foundation, our starting point, and our identity. It does not depend on our accomplishments; we have done nothing to earn it, and no one can take it away from us. Like a baby in the womb, our share in Christ’s Sonship is pure gift. We can only receive it and choose to keep growing as the little children of Mary God has called us to be.

Prayers

Ave Maris Stella or Sub Tuum Praesidium

Thomistic Litany of Humility

Litany of the Holy Spirit

Prayer of Entrustment to the Womb of Mary”

Each day also has a photo of a classic piece of artwork before the reflection section. I hope the quotes above and sample day give you a feel for this volume. I have worked through a few 33 Day consecrations over the years, and read a few books by and about Saint Louis de Montfort. I have also read numerous times about saints that had completed the consecration and an appreciation for Saint Louis de Montfort and his works. And this volume is an excellent version of that process.

While researching for this review I found out it is hard to track down all of Father Hick’s books for they are published under a number of variations:

Boniface Hicks

Father Boniface Hicks

Father Boniface Hicks, OSB

Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB

This is an excellent volume and one I can easily recommend. But it was even better reading it as part of Father Mark Goring’s, Saint Mark’s School of Reading, the weekly videos mostly by Father Mark but with guest videos by Fr. Isaac Longworth, CC and Sr. Elizabeth Marie of the Holy Family, QMC. But even if you just pick it up to read on your own or in a group, I am certain this is a volume any Catholic would benefit from reading! 

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

For a list of all books that are part of Father Mark Goring's Saint Mark’s School of Reading click here.

Books by Father Boniface Hicks:

Big GOD, little devil: A Radical Shift in the Approach to Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance

Personal Prayer: A Guide for Receiving the Father’s Love

Saints of the First Monasteries

Spiritual Direction: A Guide for Sharing the Father's Love

The Fruit of Her Womb

The Hidden Power of Silence in the Mass

Through the Heart of St. Joseph

…

St. Vincent Ferrer: Angel of the Judgment - Fr. Andrew Pradel

St. Vincent Ferrer: Angel of the Judgment 

Fr. Andrew Pradel 

TAN Books

ISBN 9780895556868

eISBN 9781618904942

ASIN B00QU9FUEQ

This volume was part of the reading for Father Mark Goring’s, Saint Mark’s School of Reading in the spring of 2026. I enjoyed this volume but found it very repetitive. It was great learning about this incredible saint, and the videos by Father Mark Goring, Father Isaac Longworth, and Sister Elizabeth Marie really add to the experience of reading the book. This time the videos corresponded to a section in the book. But I am getting ahead of myself. 

The description of this volume states:

“This TAN Books edition of “St. Vincent Ferrer: Angel of the Judgment” by Rev. Fr. Andrew Pradel O. P., features the complete text of the title, along with a supplemental reading section entitled “A Brief Life of Christ.” We’ve also included unique hand-selected classic artwork for the reader’s enjoyment, exclusive to this eBook edition of “St. Vincent Ferrer: Angel of the Judgment” from TAN Books.

St. Vincent Ferrer: Angel of the Judgment:

Commissioned by Our Lord Himself to preach His Gospel, St. Vincent began at age 50 an apostolate of preaching that would extend to France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and a few other countries as well. Traveling with him were as many as 10,000 people, including at least 50 priests. The throngs that gathered to hear him came from many miles around, such that he was forced to preach in the open--no church being large enough to hold all the people. Imprimatur.

A Brief Life of Christ:

Absolutely excellent for students and for adult review. Capsulizes the main events and sayings of Our Lord. Map of the Holy Land. A chronological outline. Perfect for a refresher.”

The sections and chapters in this volume are:

SECTION ONE

From The Saint’s Birth To His Religious Profession 1350–1368

1. Prodigies which Preceded the Birth of St. Vincent Ferrer—His Baptism—Infancy and Childhood of St. Vincent

2. St. Vincent Ferrer Receives the Habit of the Friar Preachers—His Novitiate and Profession

SECTION TWO

From The Saint’s Religious Profession To His Call To A Miraculous Apostolate 1368–1398

3. Studies of St. Vincent Ferrer—His Profound Learning—His Great Piety during His Course of Studies and Scholastic Labors

4. First Preachings of St. Vincent Ferrer—Continuation of the Saint’s Preaching Until His Definitive Call to Avignon

SECTION THREE

The Miraculous Apostolate Of St. Vincent Ferrer 1398-1419

5. Christ Miraculously Calls the Saint to an Extraordinary Apostolate in the Church—State of Christianity at the Epoch when St. Vincent Received His Divine Mission

6. St. Vincent’s Mode of Life during His Miraculous Apostolate—The Method Employed by the Saint in Preaching

7. The Company which Followed St. Vincent Ferrer in the Course of His Miraculous Apostolate—Extraordinary Fruits Produced by the Saint in Pious Souls during that Period

8. The Universal Conversion which the Miraculous Apostolate of St. Vincent Ferrer Produced in the Church—Its Abundant Fruits among Heretics and Jews

9. The Apostolic Success of St. Vincent Ferrer among the Followers of Mohammed—The Principal Countries and Cities in which the Saint Preached in the Course of His Miraculous Apostolate

10. The Saint’s Last Apostolic Journeys in Brittany—To the Council of Constance—In Normandy—And again in Brittany

SECTION FOUR

The Virtues Of St. Vincent Ferrer

11. The Virtues of St. Vincent Ferrer in Their Relation to the Service of God—The Saint’s Charity toward His Neighbor—His Heroic Devotedness to the Temporal Necessities of His Brethren

12. Incomparable Zeal of St. Vincent Ferrer for the Salvation of Souls—Other Virtues of the Saint

SECTION FIVE

The Marvelous Gifts Which Shone Forth In St. Vincent Ferrer

13. St. Vincent Ferrer Favored with a Multitude of Visions, Revelations, and Ecstasies—The Secrets of Hearts Revealed to the Saint

14. St. Vincent Ferrer Endowed with the Gift of Prophecy—The Grace of Miracles Accorded without Measure to the Saint

SECTION SIX

Death Of St. Vincent Ferrer 1419

15. The Saint Dies at Vannes in Brittany—His Burial—Canonization—His Relics

16. Devotion Offered to St. Vincent Ferrer by the People and by Holy Personages—Extraordinary Favors with which the Saint Rewarded the Devotion of His Clients

Notes

A Collection of Classic Artwork

A Brief Life of Christ

Introductory

The Setting

Birth of Jesus

Childhood at Nazareth

John The Bapist

Jesus Begins His Ministry

Journey To Galilee

The Kingdom and the Apostles

Manifestations of Divine Power

Speaking in Parables

Increasing Popularity

Death of John the Baptist

Miracles of the Loaves

The Bread of Life

Peter the Rock

Training of the Twelve

Visit to Jerusalem

Clash with the Pharisees

Judean Ministry

The Supreme Declaration

Raising of Lazarus

Last Missionary Days

Banquet at Bethany

Palm Sunday

Second Cleansing of the Temple

Day of Questions

Judas the Betrayer

The Last Supper

Arrest and Trial

Death on Calvary

Risen and Living Still

The eBook edition also includes, as noted above,  the complete text of A Collection of Classic Artwork and A Brief Life of Christ by Fr. Leslie Rumble. 

We are also informed that it has both:

Imprimatur: A. de Pous

Vicar General, Toulouse

October 9, 1863

Nihil Obstat: Fr. Raymond Palmer, Ord. Praed.

Censor Deputatus

Imprimatur: 

 Henry Edward

Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster

The volume was originally published in 1875, it was retype set with minor editing by Tan books in the year 2000. I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume, some of them are:

“May our publication be serviceable to you, dear reader! Should it produce any good in you, be pleased, in return, to remember us in your prayers to the Saint whom we shall have venerated together.”

“Many attempted to imitate his virtues and to walk in his footsteps, whom he lovingly directed by his good counsels.”

“Three years were devoted by the Saint to the exclusive study of Scripture, and one more year to teaching physics in the same Convent of Barcelona.”

“Besides the ascetic exercises to which he applied himself in his cell, he devoted a considerable portion of the night to prayer in the church.”

“Sin had acquired so strong a hold upon the world, the fervor of the good had become so relaxed and the crimes of the wicked had risen to such an excess, that God’s patient forbearance with His creatures was nearly worn out.”

“But to resume the thread of our narrative, St. Vincent was truly another St. Paul, sent by God to bring back to the Faith of Christ a multitude of Jews and Mohammedans, to convert innumerable sinners and to harmonize the faithful of every nation and condition of life in the most perfect bonds of Christian fellowship. We are thus able to see at a glance the general effect of the miraculous apostolate which he received from Christ Himself at Avignon. The Saint was not afraid to affirm it with his own lips. In one of his sermons which he preached in Castile, in the year 1411, we read thus: “The End of the World cannot be far distant, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Has not our Lord Himself said that the bearing of the fig-tree foreshadows the coming summer? Behold, then, the fig-tree of the Christian people. Each day records its reconciliations, and we witness souls forgetting and forgiving the greatest injuries. The delicate, the sensual and the vicious do penance. Obstinate sinners are converted and frequently approach the Sacraments. Nor is the Jewish fig-tree any longer barren, for we see it daily producing its abundant and choicest fruits in every city in Spain.” He might have added heretics and Mussulmen likewise. Truly, then, St. Vincent exercised in the Church an apostolate such as never was witnessed since the establishment of the Gospel. 1 St. Vincent having evangelized Avignon and the neighboring towns, set out on foot for Spain, preaching in various places where he was obliged to stay. It was at Graus, in Catalonia, that he instituted the procession of Disciplinants and laid the foundation of that marvelous company of pious souls who accompanied him in his apostolic journeyings. Here also he left behind him, as a souvenir, a crucifix which the inhabitants begged of him, and which became the instrument of many miracles.”

“He then exercised the sacred ministry in another way—he instructed the children in Christian doctrine, which, in the latter days of his life, was his most cherished occupation.”

“The Saint’s hope was even more lively. He made daily use of the means of salvation instituted by Divine Providence. He made his Confession every day and received the Sacrament of the Eucharist; he faithfully accomplished the duties of his calling, and he did not resist the inspirations of grace.”

This was a harder volume to read than many done in the school of reading. In part its age, in part being in translation, and for me in part because it was so repetitive. And maybe because of my dyslexia those issues were amplified. I am thankful I worked through it to the end, it was worth it. And to be honest if it had not been for the videos it would have ended up on my ‘did not finish’ pile.  It was a good read with Father Mark Goring’s School of reading.   

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

For a list of all books that are part of Father Mark Goring's Saint Mark’s School of Reading click here.

Dilexi Te On Love for the Poor - Pope Leo XIV - CTS Books

Dilexi Te On Love for the Poor 

Pope Leo XIV

Catholic Truth Society

ISBN 9781784698591

CTS Booklet DO981

I picked up this volume for a few reasons, first it was the first formal document from our New Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, second it was the next volume in Father Mark Goring’s Saint Mark’s School of Reading. This is available on the Vatican website for free, and the Opus Dei site as well, but I prefer the CTS Booklet version, I just wish they could publish an eBook edition. I worked through two different versions of this book, this physical edition and the eBook edition available from Opus Dei. I used text-to-speech to listen to the eBook and read this version. Father Mark gave some sound advice before we even began reading it as a group. He recommended that we not read or listen to much commentary about it until we have read it ourselves. I read it through with that in mind. Then I worked through the video lessons with Father Mark and guests, and then I listened to it while following along using adaptive technology.

About this volume we are informed that:

““[Love for the poor] is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us.” (Pope Leo XIV)

The description of this volume is:

“In his final months, Pope Francis was preparing an Apostolic Exhortation on the Church's care for the poor. Giving it the title "Dilexi Te", he intended it to be a follow-up to his final encyclical, "Dilexit Nos". The title is a message of love from Jesus to the poor, referring to the Book of Revelation: "You have but little power," yet "I have loved you" (3:9).

Now, at the start of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV has chosen to make this document his own, by adding his own reflections to those of Pope Francis, "since I share the desire of my beloved predecessor that all Christians come to appreciate the close connection between Christ’s love and his summons to care for the poor."

"Love for the Lord, then, is one with love for the poor. The same Jesus who tells us, "The poor you will always have with you" (Mt 26:11), also promises the disciples: "I am with you always" (Mt 28:20). We likewise think of his saying: "Just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me" (Mt 25:40). This is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us." (§5)”

The chapters in this volume are:

Introduction

A Few Essential Words

God Chooses the Poor

A Church for the Poor

A History That Continues

A Constant Challenge

I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume the second time, they are:

“It was a small gesture, of course, but those who suffer know how great even a small gesture of affection can be, and how much relief it can bring. Jesus understood this and told the disciples that the memory of her gesture would endure:”

“The simplicity of that woman’s gesture speaks volumes. No sign of affection, even the smallest, will ever be forgotten, especially if it is shown to those who are suffering, lonely or in need, as was the Lord at that time.”

“Care for the poor was also a great concern of Saint Francis of Assisi: in the person of a leper, Christ himself embraced Francis and changed his life. Even today, Saint Francis, as the Poor Man of Assisi, continues to inspire us by his outstanding example.”

“The condition of the poor is a cry that, throughout human history, constantly challenges our lives, societies, political and economic systems, and, not least, the Church.”

“In general, we are witnessing an increase in different kinds of poverty, which is no longer a single, uniform reality but now involves multiple forms of economic and social impoverishment, reflecting the spread of inequality even in largely affluent contexts.”

“Of course, among the poor there are also those who do not want to work, perhaps because their ancestors, who worked all their lives, died poor. However, there are so many others—men and women—who nonetheless work from dawn to dusk, perhaps collecting scraps or the like, even though they know that their hard work will only help them to scrape by, but never really improve their lives.”

“The poor cannot be neglected if we are to remain within the great current of the Church’s life that has its source in the Gospel and bears fruit in every time and place.”

“This “preference” never indicates exclusivity or discrimination towards other groups, which would be impossible for God. It is meant to emphasize God’s actions, which are moved by compassion toward the poverty and weakness of all humanity.”

“From the beginning of Scripture, God’s love is vividly demonstrated by his protection of the weak and the poor, to the extent that he can be said to have a particular fondness for them.”

“Indeed, that is how Jesus’ poverty is best described: he experienced the same exclusion that is the lot of the poor, the outcast of society. Jesus is a manifestation of this privilegium pauperum. He presented himself to the world not only as a poor Messiah, but also as the Messiah of and for the poor.”

“Here the intrinsic value of respect for others is expressly stated: anyone in need, even an enemy, always deserves our assistance.”

“Jesus’ teaching on the primacy of love for God is clearly complemented by his insistence that one cannot love God without extending one’s love to the poor.”

“It is significant that the first disciple to bear witness to his faith in Christ to the point of shedding his blood was Stephen, who belonged to this group. In him, the witness of caring for the poor and of martyrdom are united.”

“A little less than two centuries later, another deacon, Saint Lawrence, will demonstrate his fidelity to Jesus Christ in a similar way by uniting martyrdom and service to the poor.”

“From the first centuries, the Fathers of the Church recognized in the poor a privileged way to reach God, a special way to meet him. Charity shown to those in need was not only seen as a moral virtue, but a concrete expression of faith in the incarnate Word.”

“The Almighty will not be outdone in generosity to those who serve the people most in need: the greater the love for the poor, the greater the reward from God.”

“When the Church kneels beside a leper, a malnourished child or an anonymous dying person, she fulfills her deepest vocation: to love the Lord where he is most disfigured.”

“The monks’ witness showed that voluntary poverty, far from being misery, is a path of freedom and communion.”

“By forming consciences and transmitting wisdom, monks contributed to a Christian pedagogy of inclusion. Culture, marked by faith, was shared with simplicity. Knowledge, illuminated by charity, became service. Monastic life thus revealed itself as a style of holiness and a concrete way to transform society.”

“The monastic tradition teaches us that prayer and charity, silence and service, cells and hospitals form a single spiritual fabric. The monastery is a place of listening and action, of worship and sharing.”

“Christian holiness often flourishes in the most forgotten and wounded places of humanity. The poorest of the poor—those who lack not only material goods but also a voice and the recognition of their dignity—have a special place in God’s heart.”

“We could also mention individuals such as Saint Benedict Menni and the Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who worked alongside people with disabilities; Saint Charles de Foucauld among the communities of the Sahara; Saint Katharine Drexel for the most underprivileged groups in North America; Sister Emmanuelle, with the garbage collectors in the Ezbet El Nakhl neighborhood of Cairo; and many others.”

“Let me state once again that the most important way to help the disadvantaged is to assist them in finding a good job, so that they can lead a more dignified life by developing their abilities and contributing their fair share. In this sense, “lack of work means far more than simply not having a steady source of income. Work is also this, but it is much, much more. By working we become a fuller person, our humanity flourishes, young people become adults only by working.”

“Our love and our deepest convictions need to be continually cultivated, and we do so through our concrete actions. Remaining in the realm of ideas and theories, while failing to give them expression through frequent and practical acts of charity, will eventually cause even our most cherished hopes and aspirations to weaken and fade away.”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for the content of this Apostolic Letter. I admit I was unsure of what to expect when I began reading this. I am thankful I gave it a read. This was an interesting document to read. And to be honest at times not an easy one. I paused several times to really think on specific points or to pray. And I can say it is one that has spurred me to action. 

I am thankful I gave this a read and for the video’s from Father Mark and team. It was well worth working through.  

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

Note: Father Mark Goring used a few guest speakers while covering the material in this volume. They were: Sister Elizabeth Marie and Father Isaac Longworth. It again really added to the experience of reading this and the School of Reading Lessons on the volume.  

For a list of all books that are part of Father Mark Goring's Saint Mark’s School of Reading click here.

Link to reviews of other books by and about Pope Leo XVI.

Books about Pope Leo XIV:

LEO XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope - Matthew Bunson 

When the White Smoke Clears: A Guide to Pope Leo XIV's Early Days 

- Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jeff Cavins, Dr. Edward Sri, Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Fr. Josh Johnson, and Katie Prejean McGrady 

Pope Leo XIV - Jesús Colina 

Pope Leo XIV Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy - Christopher White 

Pope Leo XIV - Paddy Bréagnamh - Mini Saints & Missionaries Library 

10 Things Pope Leo XIV Wants You to Know - Sister Gemma Morató Sendra, OP 

Leo XIV The New Pope and Catholic Reform - Christopher R. Altieri

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Books By Pope Leo XVI:

God Loves Everyone: The Essential Pope Leo XIV 

Dilexi Te On Love for the Poor

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Related Posts:

A Prayer of the Day Prayer for our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV 

A Prayer of the Day Prayer Imploring for Holy Popes  

Rerum Novarum: Encyclical Letter Rights and Duties of Capital and Labour - Pope Leo XIII - CTS Books 

A Prayer of the Day Prayer for the Pope

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The Life of Little Nellie of Holy God - TAN Books

Little Nellie of Holy God 

TAN Books

ISBN 9780895558527

When I first purchased an eBook of this, I picked up the wrong volume, I ended up with: Little Nellie of Holy God by Sister Mary Dominic and Sister John Vianney; but soon realized that volume was written for a younger audience. As much as I enjoyed that volume I found this book, in eBook format direct from TAN. This volume was part of the reading for Father Mark Goring’s, Saint Mark’s School of Reading in the summer of 2025. I really enjoyed both these book about this holy example. This volume is about 3 times longer than the other offering on her life. 

The description of this volume states:

“Nellie was a spirited child and a unique little masterpiece of God. No one knows where she learned the name “Holy God,” and no one knows how she instantly recognized Holy God when she first saw the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar. Nellie Organ spent the last few months of her life with the Good Shepherd Sisters in Cork, Ireland. Her great desire was to receive “Holy God,” and with permission from her bishop, she received Him about 32 times before her death at age 4-1/2. The Sisters lovingly treasured up their experiences with this special child who had been entrusted to their care, and those anecdotes are here passed on to new generations of Catholics. Many favors have been obtained through Nellie’s intercession, and her body was found intact a year after her death. The great Pope St. Pius X requested and received a relic of Little Nellie. Children and adults alike will find in Nellie Organ and exquisite example of love and reverence for Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. “There! That is the sign for which I was waiting.”—Pope St. Pius X (See p,v.).”

another is:

“The wonderful story of the 4-year-old child whose story inspired Pope St. Pius X to lower the First Communion age from 12 to 7. Includes her desire to receive "Holy God;" her First Communion; incidents with the Sisters who raised her; the finding of her incorrupt body and favors received through her intercession. Perfect to teach love and respect for Our Lord in the Eucharist! 118 Pp. PB. Adult version.”

The chapters in this volume are:

Preface

Contents

1. Nellie’s Family

2. To The Good Shepherd Sisters

3. A Crooked Spine

4. The Doctor’s Diagnosis

5. Nellie And The Infant Jesus

6. “Holy God”

7. Holy God In The Blessed Sacrament

8. Confirmation

9. Nellie’s “Sore Throat”

10. An Extraordinary Conversation

11. Growth In Grace

12. Longing To Receive Holy God

13. First Communion

14. Nellie’s Preparation And Thanksgiving For Holy Communion

15. Christmas

16. Growth In Virtue

17. Last Days On Earth

18. Little Nellie Of Holy God

     Nellie’s Body Found Intact

     Little Nellie As Intercessor

     Pope St. Pius X Asks For A Relic Of Little Nellie

     Postscript

Appendix 1: The “Heavenly Light” At Nellie’s First Communion

Appendix 2: Little Nellie And Pope St. Pius X

Appendix 3: Letter Of Pope St. Pius X

Appendix 4: Article On Little Nellie From The Catholic Encyclopedia

Poem: “Little Nellie Of Holy God”

Prayer

Notes

The eBook edition also includes the complete text of: Confession: Its Fruitful Practice from The Benedictine Convent of Clyde. 

We are informed that the beginning of this volume that:

“The Compilers and the Publisher declare that all things recorded in this book rest on human authority and are related here subject to the approval of the Church, which alone can pronounce on their supernatural character.”

We are also informed that:

“Perhaps the earliest of these three main sources is a small book entitled Little Nellie of Holy God: Story of the Life of a Saintly Irish Child, by A Priest of the Diocese of Cork, “Printed by Guy & Co. Ltd.,” 70, Patrick Street, Cork, 1912 and/or 1915. We were informed by Sister Imelda O’Driscoll, R.G.S. of the Good Shepherd Sisters of Sunday’s Well, Cork, who sent us a copy of this rare book, that this priest was Rev. Dean Scannell, who had known Nellie personally and who was present at the exhumation of her body. Rev. Scannell was the dean of the diocese and secretary of the Bishop. He is also called Dr. Scannell, Rev. Dr. Scannell, and Monsignor Joseph Augustine Scannell. His book bore an Imprimatur from T. A. O’Callaghan, Ord. Praed., Episcopus Corcagienis [Bishop of Cork]. Sister Imelda, who stated “We hold the sole copyright,” gave us permission to reprint this book, and the current Provincial Leader of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Ireland has given us permission to use material from Msgr. Scannell’s book in the present compilation.”

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

““When only two,” Nellie’s father writes, “she would clasp my hand and toddle off to Mass, prattling all the way about Holy God. That was the way she always spoke of God, and I do not know where she could have learned it.” Nellie loved her father dearly, and her first request when her mother went out was to buy a rosary for Daddy. One night her father said he was going on sentinel duty. Nellie said, “I will be sentinel in your place.””

“The truth is that she had a crooked spine, though this was not recognized till she came into the care of the Good Shepherd Sisters. The trouble had begun at the time when Nellie was a very small baby and a babysitter had allowed her to fall. Perhaps the child seemed unhurt at the time; but as the little limbs stretched and broadened, the infirmity grew painful. Sitting upright hurt much; in fact, holding the body still for any length of time pained her a great deal. Her hip and her twisted back were out of joint. She cried, but there was no loving mother to soothe and comfort her. Nellie’s father at length realized that he could not carry on any longer in a motherless family, so he asked a kind priest friend to find a home in some convent for his forlorn orphans.”

“While Nellie was still confined to bed in the Sacred Heart Infirmary, a little altar on which stood a statue of the Holy Infant of Prague attracted her attention. Nurse (Miss Hall) explained to her that the statue was an image of Our Lord when He was a child. Immediately Nellie’s interest was aroused. Nurse proceeded to narrate the story of the birth of Christ and His great love for us. The child listened with evident enthusiasm, and ever afterward she delighted in “the story of Holy God when He was a little child.”

From that moment she turned with all the sweet simplicity of childhood and spoke to little Jesus. Soon she made a novena to Him, at the suggestion of the nuns, asking Him to make her well. When the novena was ended, she unexpectedly became so far recovered as to be able to walk about in the garden holding someone’s hand. Naturally, this inspired in her a great confidence in the Holy Child, with whom she now began to chat familiarly and of whom she made the most extraordinary demands.”

“And so, on October 8, 1907, Nellie received the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Afterward she was brought to the parlor to be introduced to the good Bishop. It was then that the Bishop, as he afterward declared, was so impressed by the graces which he now perceived had been granted to this orphan child. Nellie declared to all who came to see her on her Confirmation day: “I am now a soldier of Holy God.””

“Her growth in holiness was even more remarkable. She manifested a wonderful devotion to the Passion of Our Divine Lord, and when they exhorted her to unite her sufferings with those of the Redeemer, she seemed to grasp the idea immediately and was quite prepared to make the heroic sacrifice and to endure the most atrocious suffering without a murmur of complaint. She kept a crucifix beside her on her bed, and when her sufferings became almost unbearable, she would take it in her little hand, stare at it fixedly, and whisper, “Poor Holy God! Oh, poor Holy God!” If others sympathized with her, she would smile and remark, “What is it compared with what He suffered on the Cross for me?””

“After her First Communion, Nellie was brought back to her bed in Nurse’s room. All day long the child maintained that profound calm which is rarely met with except in souls of more than ordinary sanctity. Many of the Sisters and her companions visited her; they brought her gifts of pictures, scapulars and medals. She thanked them quietly and bade Nurse hang them around her bed. The moment the visitors had gone, she joined her hands in prayer, and her lips were seen to move, whispering her love and gratitude to Holy God.”

I really appreciate the prayer that the volume concluded with. The book contains numerous photos. Some of the photos are of Nellie, of those who knew her, and of her siblings and their descendent. The book give a look at the short life of little Nellie, and of her deep devotion to God and especially the Blessed Sacrament. It was an excellent read with Father Mark Goring’s School of reading.  A great read one I can easily recommend.

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

Books about Little Nellie:

Little Nellie of Holy God - Sister Mary Dominic and Sister John Vianney

The Life of Little Nellie of Holy God: The Little Violet of the Blessed Sacrament (1903-1908) – Anonymous

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