Understanding the Story of the Bible - Clare Eileen Grant - CTS Deeper Christianity

Understanding the Story of the Bible: 

An Introduction to Salvation History

Deeper Christianity Series

Clare Eileen Grant

Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860828454

eISBN 9781784693398

ASIN B072XRT82R

CTS Booklet SP37

I have been focusing on this series and CTS books by Pope Benedict XVI lately, I have been tracking down as many of each as I can find, and I believe I now have all from this series. This is a good read in a great series. Over the last several years, I have read many books from the Catholic Truth Society, in fact 450 of them as of the reading of this volume; many read more than once; this all since the spring of 2018. Most were good reads; some were great reads; and a few are exceptional. This was the twentieth in the Deeper Christianity Series that I have read; many of them have been read twice. This is the first I have read by Clare Eileen Grant, and I believe the only one of hers published by the CTS. This booklet was originally published 2013 and the eBook was released in 2017. The description of this volume is:

“This booklet helps us to understand Salvation History as the true history of the world, from creation and fall to salvation through the death and resurrection of Christ.

Catholics have been encouraged since the Second Vatican Council to become more familiar with the Holy Bible, yet many still find it a daunting book. The Lectionary gives generous extracts throughout the liturgical year, but at the cost of losing sight of the historical context of each extract. In order to recover our sense of the narrative as a whole, we need to understand Salvation History as the true history of the world, from creation and fall to salvation through the death and resurrection of Christ, leading to eternal happiness in God.”

The chapters in the book are:

Introduction

In the Beginning…

Abraham, our Father in Faith

Jacob and Joseph

Moses and the Exodus

The Heroes and the Judges: Deborah, Gideon and Samson

The Kings: David and Solomon

The Prophets: Elijah and Elisha

The Great Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel

In the Fullness of Time

I highlighted only few passages while reading this volume, they are:

“For the earliest revelation of his salvific plan, God chose one small people, the Jews, to be his own special family and through them he proceeded to put this plan into action, gradually instructing them through chosen individuals and ensuing events.”

“It is, therefore, the true history of the world, the recounting of which is a gift from God to enable us to understand our human condition and to strive with his help to rise up out of the darkness into which we have fallen.”

“This is one of the most mulled over passages in Scripture: the “men” are three-and they are one-and Abraham addresses them as “My Lord”; is it a first suggestion of the Holy Trinity? Christian painting and iconography have frequently interpreted the incident as such, most famously in the work of the Russian iconographer Andrei Rublev.”

“Abraham is called “our father in faith” because of his great trust in God and his promises.”

“To show to all people the sacred nature of his new capital city, David ordered the Ark of the Covenant to be brought into Jerusalem. Scripture gives us a beautiful description of how David danced for joy as the Ark of the Covenant was finally carried into the city.”

“Wishing to save his people from the consequences of their wilful disobedience, God called a series of prophets to warn the people to turn their hearts back to him.”

“Their task was always either to warn the people of the consequences of turning away from the Lord or to relay to them God’s promises of redemption. Prophets were often feared, hated and attacked, and tended to be solitary. It was not an easy job.”

“Lastly, the Books of the Maccabees recount the heroic struggles between the Jews and their Syrian enemies in the forty years until 134 BC. The Jewish people were led by Judas Maccabeus and his two brothers. These books have a strongly religious purpose and a climax was reached with a description of the rededication of the Temple.”

“He is also the Way, since through his example he showed us how to live in this world, in order to attain eternal life in the next: to accept God’s Commandments into our hearts and to live according to the Beatitudes. He is our Life, because he gave as gifts to his bride the Church, the Eucharist and the other sacraments, which continue to nourish us and to heal us in every part of our lives. He even gave us his own prayer, the Our Father.”

“Those of us now living in these last days have had many blessings poured out upon us: through the New Covenant we can acknowledge God as our Father, Jesus as our Saviour and brother and the Holy Spirit as our advocate and comforter. We have the immaculate Mother of God as our intercessor and model of faith in God’s promises; and we can look to the example of the saints who have gone ahead, “on whose constant intercession in [God’s] presence we rely for unfailing help” (Eucharistic Prayer III).”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for the volume. Having done the Bible in a Year a few times now with Father Mike Schmitz and having read through the bible most years since I was a teenager a lot of this was very familiar. That being said this was a good read. For those not as familiar with the bible I think it would be an excellent read. Also having a Religious Studies Degree with a specialization in Roman Catholic Thought, the book was a bit basic for me, but the material is excellent and it is very well written.

This book is a good read and one any Catholic would benefit from reading. The CTS Deeper Christianity Series of books is written in such a way that they can easily be read in any order. Pick and choose the ones that interest you, read them in order, or jump around. I have been blessed by the entire series that I have read and can highly recommend this book and the series.

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.

For reviews of other books in the CTS Deeper Christianity Series click here.

Books in the Deeper Christianity Series:

7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit 
8 Deadly Sins Learning to Defend the Life of Grace 

Art and Prayer  

Catholic Architecture 
Christian Fasting Disciplining the Body, Awakening the Spirit 

Christian Meaning of Time 

Deepening Prayer Life Defined by Prayer 

Depths of Scripture 
Desire & Delight 
Faith, Hope and Love The Theological Virtues 
Fruits of the Holy Spirit Living a Happy Life 
Icons  
Lectio Divina Spiritual Reading of the Bible 
Kingdom of God 

Making Sunday Special 
Mary in the Liturgy 
Mary Mysteries of the Blessed Virgin Mary 
Providence and Prayer 
Prayer in Sadness and Sorrow 
Prudence, Justice, Courage, and Temperance 
Purgatory A Mystery of Love 
Rediscovering Virtue The Art of Christian Living 

Spiritual Warfare Fighting the Good Fight  

Teachings on Prayer  

The Call to Evangelise: Founded on loving intimacy with the Lord 
The Church's Year Unfolding the Mysteries of Christ 
The Gift of Prayer 

The Name of God The Revelation of the Merciful Presence of God 
The Trinity and the Spiritual Life 

Understanding The Story Of The Bible 
Union with God 
…

Saint Anthony Daniel Catholic Church Kitchener Ontario A Photo Essay

Saint Anthony Daniel Catholic Church Kitchener Ontario

A Photo Essay

I have lived in Waterloo Region for over 25 years now, since returning to university a second time as a mature student. I have slowly been exploring and discovering some of the parishes in my own back yard. Most of my time in town I have attended the Catholic Community at St. Jerome's University (And really miss the old Notre-Dame Chapel there), St Michael's Parish and since our children started Sacramental prep about 15 years ago Saint Agnes has been our home parish. 

Over the last few years I have visited several other parishes for mass. In 2025 I attended the evening Ash Wednesday mass at Saint Anthony Daniel, I had been in the church on several occasions, where I just stopped in and prayed. The photo's below are a mix from Ash Wednesday 2025 and March 2019. The odd feature I find is the tabernacle is recessed in an alcove on the far left when facing the alter. As can be seen from some pictures below if you are in the furthest most left pews and even the next in you cannot see the tabernacle. I believe the tabernacle should be visible from every pew. But there are some great features in the main church, the chapel and the community centre.  

The Ash Wednesday sermon in 2025 was a particularly interesting piece on forgiveness.

It is a beautiful church that is part of the Diocese of Hamilton. If you are in the area or just passing through check out the mass times. It is well worth the visit. I have enjoyed the times I have stopped in while the kids were at activities in the area to spend some time praying before the tabernacle.

St. Anthony Daniel Parish

29 Midland Drive 

Kitchener, ON

N2A 2A9

ESV-CE Catholic Bible English Standard Version in Navy Blue Flexiback Binding Pocket Sized - SPCK Publishing

ESV-CE Catholic Bible

Anglicized English Standard Version Catholic Edition 

Navy Soft-tone Flexiback Binding 

SPCK Publishing

ISBN 9780281090730

In the summer of 2024 I found out that the church in England, Scotland, and Wales was getting a new lectionary. One based on the English Standard Version Catholic Edition. I started looking for an Anglicised edition, one that used British or in my case Canadian Spelling rather than the American. I could not find one available in Canada so I picked up the Holy Bible - English Standard Version Catholic Edition from the Augustine Institute. I did enjoy that translation but greatly prefer the Anglicized editions. Once this edition was available I picked it up for my son as well as two variations for my youngest daughter and myself. 

The three editions of this bible I picked up from SPCK are:

ESV-CE Catholic Bible, Anglicized Standard Hardback

ESV-CE Catholic Bible, Anglicized English Standard Version Catholic Edition in Soft-tone Flexiback Binding Teal

ESV-CE Catholic Bible. English Standard Version in Navy Blue Flexiback Binding Pocket Sized

The description of this edition of the bible states:

“The Official Catholic Liturgical Bible for England, Wales and Scotland from Advent 24

Beloved by millions around the world, the English Standard Version is ideal for anyone looking for a contemporary and readable Bible that is also accurate and consistent in its rendering of key words and phrases.

Created by a team of over 100 leading scholars, this Catholic edition of the ESV is fully Anglicized and features the deuterocanonical books in the Catholic Bible, such as a Tobit, Judith and the Wisdom of Solomon.

Presented in a double-column format, with explanatory footnotes providing alternative renderings of particular words and phrases, the ESV-CE Bible offers a clear, easy-to-read text that is perfect for everyday use.

An excellent version for detailed Bible study, the ESV-CE Bible also possesses a beauty, clarity and dignity of style that makes it superbly suitable for private devotion or for reading aloud during public worship.

This handy pocket edition has a strong flexiback binding and is available in navy blue.”

It highlights the following features:

6.1-point font size

British text

An award-winning typeface

Inline chapter headings

Inline chapter numbers

12 pages of maps

White paper from sustainable sources

Trim page size: 150 x 100 mm

Yellow endpapers featuring 'This book belongs to:'

Lovely navy blue soft-tone cover material with silver foiled design

Yellow ribbon marker

Yellow head and tail bands

Removable white bellyband

We are informed that the ESV-Catholic Edition emphasizes “word-for-word” accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. 

I picked up this edition for my son as a gift at the beginning of Lent. My son loved this bible. It is the one he carries for youth group now and uses as his reading edition. He loved the look and feel of the leather, and the navy colour, he also licked the smaller size compared to mine or my daughters editions. My youngest two children loved this translation. 

I enjoyed reading through this translation this second time through an ESV-CE version. It is not my favourite reading edition, which would be The Jerusalem Bible or the New Jerusalem, or Revised New Jerusalem. But this one is very close. It is also a great edition for personal study. When I was in university doing my religious studies degree with a focus on Roman Catholic Thought, I often compared numerous translations and editions, when working on essays and other papers. This would have been a great edition for that detailed work. 

I was hesitant but also excited to give the first version of this new translation a try. My second time through with the Anglicized edition I enjoyed it even more. The ESV-CE has been available since about 2017. And the SPCK Publishing has had editions since 2021. But with the change in the lectionary to this edition it has been hard to get a copy, especially across the pond. I believe late in 2025 the Catholic Truth Society will have a UK edition available, which I will pick up as well. Reading Hearing Christ’s Voice A New Lectionary for the Church by Bishop Hugh Gilbert, OSB on why a new Lectionary and why this translation for that new lectionary helped me to eagerly approach this translation. I am thankful I gave it a read. I am thankful I was able to pick this edition up and give it a read. As mentioned I believe this is a good edition for just reading and for study, as such I can recommend it. SPCK Publishing has several editions and styles available. I like edition with minimal footnotes to use as a reading bible. I just really wish there was a Kindle edition available already, I have a dual form of dyslexia and with eBooks I can change the font, and the colour of the page and font to make reading easier. I have found several different eBooks of the ESV translation but none of the ESV-CE. A great reading copy of the bible, if you have not read the ESV version this would be a great place to start! My kids and I love this translation and edition.

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

Reviews of Different Editions of the Bible:

The Catholic Study Bible - NABRE - Oxford University Press

Spiritual Warfare Bible - Saint Benedict Press

The Great Adventure Bible - Ascension Press

The Bible Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition -  Blue Sparrow Publishing

The New Jerusalem Bible Standard Edition

Today's New International Version

New Living Translation

Proverbs: Douay Rheims Bible Version - Fr. Mark Goring and Sr. Penolope Nguyen SC

The New Testament Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition -  Blue Sparrow Publishing 

New Testament and Psalms for Men - Saint Benedict Press

Holy Bible - English Standard Version Catholic Edition - Augustine Institute

ESV-CE Catholic Bible, Anglicized Standard Hardback - SPCK Publishing 

ESV-CE Catholic Bible, Anglicized English Standard Version Catholic Edition in Soft-tone Flexiback Binding Teal - SPCK Publishing

ESV-CE Catholic Bible. English Standard Version in Navy Blue Flexiback Binding Pocket Sized - SPCK Publishing

…

Books in the CTS Scriptures Series:

A Year with the Bible: 365 Daily Reflections

Companion to the Sunday Gospels: Year A

Companion to the Sunday Gospels: Year B

Companion to the Sunday Gospels: Year C

The Acts of the Apostles - Jerusalem Bible

The CTS New Catholic Bible - Jerusalem Bible

The Gospel According to John - Jerusalem Bible

The Gospel According to Luke - Jerusalem Bible

The Gospel According to Luke Gospel for the Year of Mercy - Jerusalem Bible

The Gospel According to Mark - Jerusalem Bible

The Gospel According to Matthew - Jerusalem Bible

The Psalms - Grail Edition

The Letters of Paul - Jerusalem Bible

The Gospel of Matthew - English Standard Version

The Gospel of Mark - English Standard Version

The Gospel of Luke - English Standard Version

The Gospel of John - English Standard Version

The Book of Psalms and Canticles - The Abbey Psalter

…

 

As You Like It - William Shakespeare - The Pelican Shakespeare

Twelfth Night

William Shakespeare

Frances E. Dolan (Editor)

The Pelican Shakespeare

Penguin Classics

ISBN 9780143130239

eISBN 9781101993729

ASIN B01N066R04

Five years back I started reading Shakespeare again, as my children were being introduced to it in High school. Then three years ago my son who is now 17 found he had a love for the Bard and for his plays, much as I did at that age. We had been sticking to the Oxford School Shakespeare editions as those were the versions they were reading in school. However he loved that the Pelican has the complete works of Shakespeare in individual volumes, and we have been picking those up to read, he gets the physical and I grab the eBook. I loved that there are eBooks for all volumes in this series. This year we picked up tickets for three Shakespeare plays at The Stratford Festival, including this play, we did three of the Bards plays there last year and year before as well. This year his little sister aged 14 joined us for the live version of this one and now has a deep love for Shakespears’s plays both on stage and in the written format. 

The Pelican Classics were among my favourite editions of the plays when I was a youth myself. I often hunted used bookstores for the hard cover edition. I think the last time I read this would have been about 35-40 years ago. And even though I have not yet seen a production it came back quickly. The description of this edition states:

“As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio, 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility. As You Like It follows its heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncle's court, accompanied by her cousin Celia to find safety and, eventually, love, in the Forest of Arden. In the forest, they encounter a variety of memorable characters, notably the melancholy traveller Jaques who speaks many of Shakespeare's most famous speeches (such as "All the world's a stage" and "A fool! A fool! I met a fool in the forest"). Jaques provides a sharp contrast to the other characters in the play, always observing and disputing the hardships of life in the country. Historically, critical response has varied, with some critics finding the work of lesser quality than other Shakespearean works and some finding the play a work of great merit.

The legendary Pelican Shakespeare series features authoritative and meticulously researched texts paired with scholarship by renowned Shakespeareans. Each book includes an essay on the theatrical world of Shakespeare’s time, an introduction to the individual play, and a detailed note on the text used. Updated by general editors Stephen Orgel and A. R. Braunmuller, these easy-to-read editions incorporate over thirty years of Shakespeare scholarship undertaken since the original series, edited by Alfred Harbage, appeared between 1956 and 1967. With stunning new covers, definitive texts, and illuminating essays, the Pelican Shakespeare will remain a valued resource for students, teachers, and theater professionals for many years to come.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.”

Based on the commonly accepted chronological order of Shakespeare’s plays this is right about the middle of the pack, with a performance recorder in 1601. The sections in this volume prior to the text of the play are:

Publisher’s Note

The Theatrical World

William Shakespeare Of Stratford-Upon-Avon, Gentleman

The Question Of Authorship

The Texts of Shakespeare

Introduction

Note on the Text

As You Like It

Names of the Actors

I.1 Enter Orlando and Adam.

I.2 Enter Rosalind and Celia.

I.3 Enter Celia and Rosalind.

II.1 Enter Duke Senior, Amiens, and two or three Lords, [dressed as] Foresters.

II.2 Enter Duke [Frederick], with Lords.

II.3 Enter Orlando and Adam.

II.4 Enter Rosalind [dressed as] Ganymede, Celia [dressed as] Aliena, and Touchstone.

II.5 Enter Amiens, Jaques, and others.

II.6 Enter Orlando and Adam.

II.7 Enter Duke Senior, and Lords, [dressed] like Outlaws.

III.1 Enter Duke [Frederick], Lords, and Oliver.

III.2 Enter Orlando [with a paper].

III.3 Enter [Touchstone the] Clown, Audrey; and Jaques [apart].

III.4 Enter Rosalind [dressed as Ganymede] and Celia [dressed as Aliena].

III.5 Enter Silvius and Phebe.

IV.1 Enter Rosalind [dressed as Ganymede], Celia [dressed as Aliena], and Jaques.

IV.2 Enter Jaques; and Lords [dressed as] Foresters.

IV.3 Enter Rosalind [dressed as Ganymede] and Celia [dressed as Aliena].

V.1 Enter [Touchstone the] Clown and Audrey.

V.2 Enter Orlando and Oliver.

V.3 Enter [Touchstone the] Clown and Audrey.

V.4 Enter Duke Senior, Amiens, Jaques, Orlando, Oliver, Celia [dressed as Aliena].

Epilogue

The publishers note states:

“Certain textual features of the new Pelican Shakespeare should be particularly noted. All lines are numbered that contain a word, phrase, or allusion explained in the glossarial notes. In addition, for convenience, every tenth line is also numbered, in italics when no annotation is indicated. The intrusive and often inaccurate place headings inserted by early editors are omitted (as has become standard practice), but for the convenience of those who miss them, an indication of locale now appears as the first item in the annotation of each scene.

In the interest of both elegance and utility, each speech prefix is set in a separate line when the speakers’ lines are in verse, except when those words form the second half of a verse line. Thus the verse form of the speech is kept visually intact. What is printed as verse and what is printed as prose has, in general, the authority of the original texts. Departures from the original texts in this regard have the authority only of editorial tradition and the judgment of the Pelican editors; and, in a few instances, are admittedly arbitrary.”

And the introduction begins with:

“The opening act of As You Like It (c. 1599–1600) might lead us to expect a swift, unhappy ending. We begin in a corrupt and suspicious court, a world in which an older brother not only gets the land and the title (as was usually the case under primogeniture), but schemes to deny his younger brother an appropriate education and class standing. Compared to the lovable Orlando, the older Oliver is “altogether misprised” (I.1.159); as a consequence, he is willing to condone fratricide simply because “my soul, yet I know not why, hates nothing more than he” (154–55). Deadly sibling rivalry occupies many of Shakespeare’s histories and tragedies; it also stakes out the moral terrain of this comedy. Two sets of brothers – not only Oliver and Orlando, but also Dukes Senior and Frederick – divide the world between them, the evil brothers presiding over the court, and the benevolent, wronged, banished brothers creating an alternative, “green” world in the Forest of Arden.”

This play comprises 5 acts and a total of 22 scenes. This play falls in about the middle of the list of plays by Shakespeare, with the dates 1599 and 1600 associated with it. The play is one that often receives mixed responses; some greatly appreciate it and others not so much. We had friends who want and saw it the week before we went, the mother was ‘meh’, and the son absolutely loved it.

This is an interesting comedy, and though I typically prefer the histories or tragedies I did enjoy my rereading of this work. Like a few of Shakespeare’s other stories this follow two families. And the stories are deeply intertwined. We have the Duke Senior and Duke Frederick and the brothers Orlando and Oliver. The play takes place both at court and in the forest of Arden. The play focuses on the themes of exile, power, love and nature. Rosalind is exiled and disguised as a young man Ganymede and along with her cousin Celia have hidden themselves in the forest.

With a dual form of dyslexia I greatly prefer eBooks. I do so because I can change the colour of the page and the font, and also change the font. I really wish that with eBooks of plays such as this one that there would be 2 copies of the play. One completely unadorned, no footnotes or end notes. And the other with the usual accompanying notes. I want a reader’s edition of the play to just be able to read it. Second if that is not to happen, I wish the notes were at the end of the act or even the end of the whole play. But that is just a personal preference. The Pelican Classics were originally published between 1956 and 1967. The Complete Pelican Shakespeare was first published in 1969. With this edition having copyright dates of 1959, 1970, 2000, and 2017. Making it one of the most currently revised that I have read. I believe the Pelican if one of the few editions to have released all 38 plays and the volume of Sonnets, as separate editions. Some other academic publishers limited to specific popular editions, and even then have not released eBooks of them all. (OUP School Shakespeare less than half have eBook editions) As such I am thankful that all 39 volumes from this series are available and available digitally. 

I am glad I picked this up to read with my son before going to see a performance later in the year. It reminded me how much I loved these editions when I was young and we have started collecting the eBook versions now. If you are looking for a good copy of the play to read or study I can easily recommend this edition.

Other Posts Related to Shakespeare:

A Weekend of Three’s A Trip to Stratford

Romeo & Juliet - Oxford School Shakespeare 

MacBeth - Oxford School Shakespeare 

King Lear - Oxford School Shakespeare 

Cymbeline - The Pelican Shakespeare

Twelfth Night - The Pelican Shakespeare

Macbeth - Pelican Shakespeare 

As You Like It - Pelican Shakespeare 

The Winter's Tale - Pelican Shakespeare

The Tempest - Pelican Shakespeare 

A Midsummer Night's Dream - Pelican Shakespeare 

Othello - Pelican Shakespeare 

The Sonnets - Pelican Classics Edition 

The Dark Lady and Pandora: Two Plays - Jessica B. Hill 

…

Reviews of Stratford Shakespeare Productions:

The Tempest - Stratford Festival 2019 

Richard III – 2022

Hamlet – 2022

King Lear – 2023

Goblin MacBeth - 2023

Something Rotten – 2024

Romeo & Juliette – 2024

Cymbeline – 2024

Twelfth Night – 2024

Macbeth - 2025 

As You Like It - 2025  

The Winter's Tale - 2025  

The Tempest - 2026  

Something Rotten – 2026 - Bottoms Up! 

A Midsummer's Night Dream - 2026 

Othello - 2026   

...

Reviews of Shakespeare Movies:

Cymbeline – 2014

The Hallow Crown 2012-2016

Macbeth - 2015

…

Books by Ted Neill:

Post Apocalyptic Space Shakespeare Series:

Hamlet

Othello 

Twelfth Night

As You Like It

A Mid Summers’s Night Dream

…

Shakespearean Shorts from Pettyfeather Publishing:

Hostile Takeover: A Macbeth Remix -  Rex MacDuff 

ERROR 404: LOVE NOT FOUND: A Romeo and Juliet Reboot - Ty Balt 

…

Guy Hale's Shakespeare Murders Series:

1. The Croaking Raven  

2. All Our Yesterdays 

3. Put Out the Light 

4. Sleep No More  

…

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

Prayer for our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV   

Prayer of the Day  

O God, who in your providential design

willed that your Church be built upon blessed Peter, whom you set over the other Apostles, look with favour, we pray, on Leo, our Pope and grant that he, whom you have made Peter’s successor, may be for your people a visible source and foundation of unity in faith and of communion.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for him

St Peter, pray for him

All you Holy Roman Pontiffs, pray for him

Ss Augustine and Monica, pray for him

Amen. 

  

Every so often I post a prayer I use as part of my daily prayers. This is one of two I have been praying for Pope Leo XIV since his election, and I plan to continue and pray it each day going forward.

Relates posts and links:

Prayer of the Day Posts

Prayer Book Reviews

My Prayer Notebook. 

My Daily Prayer List April 2024

My Daily Prayer List October 2025

...

Prayer of the Day Pope John Paul I 

Daily Study Prayer of Pope Benedict XVI

Prayer for our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV

Prayer to Pope Benedict XVI 

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

...

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

…

Books By Pope Leo XVI:

God Loves Everyone: The Essential Pope Leo XIV

Dilexi Te On Love for the Poor

…

We Were Liars - E. Lockhart - We Were Liars Book 1

We Were Liars

We Were Liars Book 1

E. Lockhart

Delacorte Press

ISBN 9780385741279

eISBN 9780375984402

ASIN B00FPOSDGY

I have been aware of this novel for a while. And I am really not the intended audience. But my youngest daughter is a budding bibliophile, and through grade school I tried to read everything they were reading. She was reading this with her class in grade 9 and part way through she asked me to read it so she could bounce her ideas off me. We have done this with numerous books over the last few years. I picked it up with no real expectations and without knowing much about the actual story or author.

The description of this novel is:

“A beautiful and distinguished family.

A private island.

A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.

A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.

A revolution. An accident. A secret.

Lies upon lies.

True love.

The truth.”

My daughter and her best friend were both stressing over this story. Part of their anxiety was over the fact that while reading it in class they could not get too far ahead. Which left them with lots of time to think and fret over their theories, about what was happening or had happened in the story. They used me as a sounding board before I started reading and once I was ahead of them. And to be honest we had about 90% of it figured out before the big reveal. We had each picked up different pieces and shared them together. My daughter had had used flip chart paper to trace out her ideas. Her teacher asked to see it and ended up doing a class activity based on it. 

The story is interesting, and the characters well written. When I went to university and have friends with the kind of money this family had, and can say much in the novel reminds me of conversations with them. They story starts off feeling like a tragedy but we do not really know how much so until the end. I loved the way the protagonist kept retelling fairy tales and stories we are familiar with but with new twists on the stories. I think these retellings were among my favourite parts of the book. To quote Nicholas Cage from Gone in 60 Seconds this family “has too much bloody money”. And like many families huge infighting. Almost everyone in the story is manipulative and scheming on at least one level. 

Cadence (Cady) suffers from amnesia, migraines, and often feeling chilled. She does not remember the accident, or much of the summer it happened. The story is mainly told 2 years later back on the family island. And she is trying to piece together what happened, and why she can’t remember. She starts tracking it on paper and putting it up in her room, in the house her and her mother occupy on the island. But not everything is as it appears. 

After we finished I did pick up the deluxe edition for my daughter for the extra material in it, I would recommend that version. It was an entertaining read. My daughter, her friend and even her teacher cried when reading the book. My daughter thinks I am cold hearted because I did not. It was an interesting read with a great twist. I kind of described it as Fight Club for teen girls. A solid 4 star read.

Books by E. Lockhart:

Fly on the Wall

Dramarama

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

How To Be Bad

Genuine Fraud

Again

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Ruby Oliver Series:

The Boyfriend List 

The Boy Book 

The Treasure Map of Boys 

Real Live Boyfriends

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We Were Liars Series:

Family of Liars

We Were Liars

We Fell Apart

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Contributed to:

Love Hurts

21 Proms

Not Like I'm Jealous Or Anything

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