Tuesday, 6 July 2021

Charles Borromeo - J.B. Midgley - CTS Great Saints

Charles Borromeo
CTS Great Saints
J.B. Midgley
Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860823411
CTS Booklet B685


A couple of years ago I encountered the works of J.B. Midgley and was very impressed with his writing. I worked at tracking all his books down. And it took me a few years. This was the final volume I needed to have a copy of all of his works. I still have a few to read but it has been well worth tracking down all 28 books by J.B. Midgley. Twenty-six of those books were for the Catholic Truth Society.  And 6 of those were from the CTS Great Saints Series. I have also read many in the CTS Biographies and also Saints of the Isles Series. And have loved most of them. I first read a book by Midgley almost exactly 2 years ago. And after this one I still have 6 to go. This volume is a great book, by an excellent author in an amazing series! 

The description on the back of the book is:

“Mother Thesres of Calcutta once said: “Preach the Gospel and only if absolutely necessary use words.” 

Charles Borromeo, Cardinal archbishop of Milan, outstanding reformer and spiritual leader, was a shining example Friend of St Philip Neri, St Edmund Campion and many of those who lived during the tumultuous times of the 16th-century Europe, he was in every way, ahead of his time. ‘Shall I tell you how to go from strength to strength? Concentrate on what is essential … make sure that your life and conduct are sermons in themselves’.”

And the chapters in this little volume are:

Introduction
The Formative Years
Signs of Revival
The Council of Trent
Priest and Bishop
Dangerous Times
A Tireless Reformer
“A Light to the Church”

I have encountered this saint many times in the past. In Church history courses. In Theology courses. And just generally in reading. He encountered and knew so many others that were canonized as well. But reading in detail about his life, his works, his ministry and his travels was truly astounding. And reading about this saint, I cannot help but pray that God raises up Godly priests, bishops and cardinals like this man. This book opens with these words:

“Whenever the Church encounters periodic difficulties, God raises up Holy men and women to restore confidence and give guidance to his people. Among them are succors to the Apostles, the Shepherds to whom Christ entrusts the care of His Flock. A shining example is Charles Borromeo, the great Catholic reformer of the sixteenth century.”

And speaking about Borromeo we are informed:

“He attached the greatest importance to the education and continued development of priests who celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass which is at the heart of Catholic life, who preach the Gospel, administer the Sacraments as channels of sanctifying grace, and who teach God’s People how to love and praise Him. In his new and reformed seminaries, therefore, he appointed devoted Rectors who were faithful to the teachings of the Church, and unequivocally loyal to the successor of St. Peter.”

And we are told that:

“It was his honour that Pope John XXIII chose to open the Second Vatican Council in 1962 on 4th November, Charles Borromeo’s feast day.”

About his youth we are informed:

“He and Margaret brought up their children to know the importance of prayer as a natural part of life, and that it accompanied almsgiving to assist those in need.”

And 

“Scholarship did not come easily to him, though he more than compensated for any lack of aptitude by a capacity for hard work and attention to detail.”

He worked hard and was a dedicated student. He realized the importance and did not let worldly things distract him:

“He was unaffected by the temptations of life in the city with its relaxed attitudes to morality, and avoided distractions that would have interfered with his prayer-life.”

Charles accomplished more in single areas of his life than most of us do today. He did it through prayer, devotion, dedication, and hard work. His list of accomplishments includes reform of seminaries, reform of diocese, his contributions to the Council of Trent, his work implementing that council. It was a life lived to the full. His life brings to mind two versus:

“Blessed is he who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, for he shall be filled.”
Matthew 5:6
 
“For the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I am come that they might have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10

His life exemplified both. An abundant life and being filled with righteousness. This book is an excellent read. Inspiring, challenging, and encouraging. Another great read from the pen of Midgley and from the Catholic Truth Society. It took me a while to track down a copy of this book, but it was well worth it!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.


Books by J.B. Midgley:
Advent & Christmastide with the Saints
Antonio Rosmini
Benedict - Patron of Europe
Bernard of Clairvaux – CTS Great Saints
Charles Borromeo  - CTS Great Saints
Companion to St. Joseph
Companion to the Feasts of Mary
Companion to Saint Peter
Companion to Saint Paul
Companion to the Angels
Companion to the Feasts of Our Lord
Companion to the Passion of Our Lord
Dominic - CTS Great Saints
George: Patron of England - CTS Great Saints
Dewi Sant: St David Patron of Wales
Francis de Sales – CTS Great Saints
John Baptist de La Salle – CTS Great Saints
John Vianney – CTS Great Saints
Lent with the Saints
Nurturing the Young
Robert Bellarmine
Saint John the Baptist 
Stations of the Cross and Resurrection with the Saints
The Eucharist with the Saints
The Four Evangelists
Thomas Becket – CTS Saints of the Isles
Vincent de Paul – CTS Great Saints
Witchcraft, Sorcery and Magic
…

Contributed to:
First Fridays and First Saturdays The Devotions Explained 
Devotion and Prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
...

Books in the CTS Great Saints Series:
Antonio Rosmini - J.B. Midgley
Bernard of Clairvaux - J.B. Midgley
Benedict Patron of Europe - J.B. Midgley
Charles Borromeo - J.B. Midgley
Dominic - J.B. Midgley
Elizabeth of the Trinity The Great Carmelite Saint - Jennifer Moorcroft
Francis de Sales - J.B. Midgley
Gemma Galgani Gem of Christ John Paul Kirkham
George: Patron of England - J.B. Midgley
John Baptist de La Salle - J.B. Midgley
John of the Cross - Jennifer Moorcroft
John Vianney - J.B. Midgley
Martin de Porres - Glynn MacNiven-Johnston
Patrick Missionary to the Irish - Thomas O’Loughlin 












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Monday, 5 July 2021

Cotton Candy - Edwin Torr - Dead Means Dead Book 1.3

Cotton Candy
Dead Means Dead Book 1.3
Obolus Books
ASIN B073JK5NFL


When I finished this I had read 3 of the 8 available in this series. And a total of 8 others under one of his other pen names. I picked this up after reading Demons, which I picked up right after finishing, Blood, Bone and Coffin, and know I will read all 8 that are currently available. I picked up the three short stories that fall between books 1 and 2 in the series. And before I had finished all three, I picked up the remaining books in the series. It is such a fun series. Torr is one of three names this author publishes under. But who is he really? I have read all of his adult crime novels published as J.E. Mayhew. I have read one of his Young Adult collections of short stories as Jon Mayhew. And now three under this pen name of Edwin Torr. Reaching out to the author before reading that one I believe there are 8 stories published under this name and in this series. There are three novels and 5 novella’s or short stories to date. And though this is the third. It is a really fun story in what is proving to be an immensely entertaining series. While reading this series, I can not help but think about Cedar Sanderson’s The Groundskeeper Raking Up the Dead and Zombie Death Extreme Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator by Karina Fabian all three authors approaches are very different the stories are somewhat similar and just as enjoyable and memorable. 

As stated this story is very entertaining. This story does not focus around a young man named Tom Coffin; he is a Specialist Funeral Director. His job is to put the undead back in the ground. Coffin’s mode of transport is a car called Persephone, a Jaguar XJ hearse a 1995 model, a vehicle that looks like the offspring of a family station wagon and the Popemobile. This one focus on a young woman we encountered in Demons. The description of this book is:

“After nearly being sacrificed to a demon in her adventures with Tom Coffin, Specialist Funeral Director, Teri Much is sent to the dreary town of Scalby-on-Sea by her mother. The idea is to escape from the rough and tumble of city life and to run from her memories of the undead. But there are some things you just can’t run from. They seek you out. After meeting the beautiful and exciting Scarlett, Teri has a choice to make that will change her life forever. Another story from author Edwin Torr's Dead Means Dead Urban Fantasy Series.”  

This story is available as a standalone, and it is now available as an add on it the book Demons. It is an excellent story. A young woman, who has been marked by her encounter with the supernatural, as she was warned. And Some things are just not what they appear. What could go wrong when you meet a girl on the boardwalk with cotton candy, beer, a stolen car, and a robbery. A lot of action for a short story. A great story in a fun series.
 
Books as J.E. Mayhew:
DCI William Blake Series:

Books as Jon Mayhew:
The Spybrarian

Monster Odyssey Series:
1.0 The Eye of Neptune
2.0 The Wrath of the Lizard Lord
3.0 The Curse of the Ice Serpent
4.0 The Venom of the Scorpion
…

Mortlock Series:
2.0 The Demon Collector
3.0 The Bonehill Curse
…
…

Collins Big Cat Series:
The Merchant of Venice: Band 16/Sapphire
Hamlet: Band 18/Pearl
Romeo and Juliet: Band 18/Pearl
Macbeth: Band 18/Pearl
…

Contributed to:
Beyond the Book: A Collection of Short Stories
Storycraft: How To Teach Creative Writing
Criminal Shorts: UK Crime Book Club Anthology
Make Doves Not War - Forward
…

Books as Edwin Torr:
Dead Means Dead Series
1.0 Demons - 2017
1.3 Cotton Candy - 2017
1.9 Remurdered - 2017
2.0 Angel Hunter - 2017
2.5 Cold Caller - 2017
3.0 Jigsaw Girl - 2018









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Saturday, 3 July 2021

Of Slings and Feeling Vexed - Karina Fabian - A DragonEye, PI Story

Of Slings and Feeling Vexed
A DragonEye, PI Story
Karina Fabian
Laser Cow Press
ASIN B096PWC7RH


This is the eighteenth book or story I have read by Karina Fabian. Most of them in the last 8 months. I love her style, her sense of humour, and the variety of stories she writes. This is a standalone piece set in the DragonEye PI series, a short story, and Fabian has announced she will release a few of these this year, then compile them into an anthology for print. But I could not wait for that to happen and will pick them each up and read them as they release. I picked this up and devoured it the day I found out about it. I read it over a mug of coffee, and then listened to it, using adaptive technology. I have encountered Vern previously in anthologies and in other novel to date and have plans to finish what has previously been published. But this new story was a lot of fun. 

For those who are not familiar with the DragonEye PI series, Vern is a Faerie dragon currently stuck on our side of the barrier. He is a Private Investigator he fights crimes both human and Fairy. And he is working off a dept and works for the Faerie Catholic Church. He is nowhere near the dragon he was, in size or power because of a run in with Saint George. The description of this volume is:

“When Vern joins Conquistadors in the new world, he didn’t know they expected him to take on Quetzalcoatl. Still, something had to be done to stop human sacrifices to the ancient “god,” and what’s a dragon for? Too bad Vern was undersized, underpowered, and lacking his native magic and fire. (Thanks a lot, St. George!)”

The story begins thus:

“Quetzalcoatl looked me over, and his head crest flattened in his equivalent of a smirk. “At least they didn’t send Saint George after me.” 

That hurt. Once upon a time, dragons like me commanded fear and awe, even among the empyrie like the one currently treating me to his mocking sympathy. No, when we dragons traveled together, we darkened the sky, and the movement of our wings against the air announced us like thunder before the approaching storm. Singly, any one of us was a match for even the most powerful of magical beings, and we were sought after for our wisdom, which we granted… if you were brave and interesting enough. We were the Eighth Day Creation, made by God Himself after he’d had a good long rest and was feeling jaunty.”

But before going further I need to reshare the Author’s note from the beginning of the volume:

“Author’s Note: “Empyrum” (Plural: Empyrie) is the term Faerie use for natural creatures with godlike powers who thrive on worship.”

And you might wonder why that is important? Well because Vern recognizes his adversary and even in his reduced capacity, Quetzalcoatl recognises Vern. Together they decide to stage a little fight, something along the lines of a WWE match but with god like creatures and the souls of many hanging in the balance. Throw in a bit of David and Goliath with a twist or should we say pit, and you have one immensely entertaining story. 

Another great story in the Vern Verse and excellent offering from the Fabian Space. A great little read. Excellent for fans of the series, or someone wanting a sampling. A great short story.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!


Dex Hollister Series:
The Old Man and the Void
Dex's Way
...

Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator Series :
Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator
I Left My Brains in San Francisco
Shambling in a Winter Wonderland
…

DragonEye PI Series:
DragonEye PI Novels:

Space Traipse Series:
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 1
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 2
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 3
Space Traipse Stories
…

Madness of Kanaan Series:
(formerly The Mind Over Series)

Edited by: Karina Fabian:
Infinite Space, Infinite God I
Leaps of Faith
Infinite Space, Infinite God II
...


Contributed to:
Firestorm of Dragons
The Zombie Cookbook
The Book of Tentacles
Twisted Fayrie Tales
FRIGHTLINER: And Other Tales of the Undead
Mother Goose is Dead
Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary
Image and Likeness Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body
Corrupts Absolutely? Dark Metahuman Fiction
Weird Noir
The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels
Manifesto UF
Avenir Eclectia
Planetary Anthology: Jupiter
Planetary Anthology: Pluto
Planetary Anthology: Luna
Planetary Anthology: Uranus
FlagShip Science Fiction and Fantasy v2i5
My Little Book of Headdesks
To Be Men: Stories Celebrating Masculinity
...







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Friday, 2 July 2021

The Watchful Hour - Father Florian Racine - CTS Devotions

The Watchful Hour: 
A Scriptural Companion to Eucharistic Adoration
Father Florian Racine
Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781784691929
eISBN 9781784694524
ASIN B075P2DMFD
CTS Booklet D823


Over the last several years, I have read over 200 volumes from the Catholic Truth Society, the CTS. I have read books from many series. And many authors. I have read several books that are part of the CTS Devotions and Prayer Series. I have read many in the CTS Biographies and also Saints of the Isles Series, and the Great Saints Series. This is the second volume I have read by Father Racine and I believe he only has one other published from the CTS. The description of the booklet is:

““God cannot give us a greater gift than that of the Eucharist.”

This Companion presents what the Eucharist is, what is fulfilled in the Holy Mass, what Communion and adoration are, and why and how to enter into adoration ‘‘in spirit and truth’’.

Through Scripture, Church teaching and the works of the saints we discover that in adoring the Son, we are driven towards the Father to receive the Holy Spirit and, therefore, we become true disciples.

Split into twenty stages, adorers can reflect on one stage at a time during or after the weekly hour of adoration.

This Companion acts as a school of adoration offered to every believer.”

There is a companion volume, The Prayerful Hour: A Scriptural Companion to Eucharistic Adoration, it is a reprint of an Ignatius Press book called, Could You Not Watch with Me One Hour? that original edition was published in 2014. This booklet comes from the same source book. The CTS published the eBook and booklet in 2017. The chapters in the book are:

Introduction to the Itinerary

GOD COMES TO MEET ME
The Burning Bush: Moses Adores God and Receives a Mission
The Tent of Meeting and the Pillar of Fire: Speaking with Jesus as a Friend
“God Alone Shall You Worship” “Choose Life”
God Frees Me from Idols
Elijah Meets God on Mount Horeb Prayer – Adoration
The Calling of Samuel
The Incarnation and the Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem

I RESPOND, BY FAITH, TO HIS LOVE
Everlasting Love and the Parable of the Hidden Treasure
“Come to Me” The Eucharist Is the Invention of Love
The Anointing at Bethany The Great Service of Adoration
Martha and Mary The Great Commandment of Love
The Haemorrhaging Woman and the Act of Faith Prolonging and Intensifying Mass
Modes of Christ’s Presence Extensions of the Incarnation
The Shock of the Bodily Presence of the Resurrected One

THE SIGNS OF THE COVENANT
Covenants in the Bible
The Memorial
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
The Paschal Lamb Behold the Lamb of God
Divine Mercy
Parable of the Marriage Feast Baptism and Confession
Marriage in the Bible
The Eucharist Makes the Church Incorporation into the Church Pharaoh’s Dream Interpreted by Joseph
The Suffering Servant and Kenosis
“I Am the Living Bread”
“I Am the Living Bread” (continued)
Isaac’s Blessing and Transubstantiation
The Tree of Life Recovered
Endnotes

I have enjoyed reading both of these booklets. I know I will use them again and again. I highlighted a few passages my first time through this book. There are some bullet points in the Itinerary that really hit me:

• What are the three dimensions of the Eucharistic mystery?
• What is the meaning of the two terms “mystery” and “treasure” that John Paul II uses for the Eucharist?
• “The Eucharist builds the Church and the Church makes the Eucharist.” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n. 26) What are the names given to the Church?
• “The treasure of the Eucharist…impels us towards [its] full sharing.” Just what is this?

A wonderful prayer from this volume is:

Anima Christi
 Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
 Body of Christ, save me.
 Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
 Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
 Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
 O good Jesus, hear me.
 Within thy wounds, hide me.
 Suffer me not to be separated from thee.
 From the malignant enemy defend me.
 In the hour of my death call me.
 And bid me to come to thee,
 That with thy Saints I may praise thee,
 for ever and ever. Amen.

Both of these are wonderful reads and excellent resources. During the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 I have found it very hard not to spend time in front of the sacrament. Either exposed or in the tabernacle. I have taken to parking outside the church and praying near the presence. Or a live video feed of adoration. This booklet will be used for both and hopefully soon in person.

Another excellent resource from the Catholic Truth Society, I highly recommend it. I highly recommend both volumes.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

For reviews of other books in the CTS Devotion and Prayers series click here.














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Thursday, 1 July 2021

Demons - Edwin Torr - Dead Means Dead Book 1.0

Demons
Dead Means Dead Book 1.0
Obolus Books
ISBN 9781999840709
ASIN B073JGYJQM


I picked this up right after finishing, Blood, Bone and Coffin, and know I will read all 8 that are currently available. It is such a fun series. It is the 10th book I have read from the pen of this author. But who is he really? I have read all of his adult crime novels published as J.E. Mayhew. I have read one of his Young Adult collections of short stories as Jon Mayhew. And the first under this pen name of Edwin Torr. Reaching out to the author before reading that one I believe there are 8 stories published under this name and in this series. There are three novels and 5 novella’s or short stories to date. And though this is the second chronologically I believe it was the first published, and written. It is a really fun story in what is proving to be an immensely entertaining series. While reading this instalment, I could not help but think about Cedar Sanderson’s The Groundskeeper Raking Up the Dead and Zombie Death Extreme Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator by Karina Fabian all three authors approaches are very different the stories are somewhat similar and just as enjoyable and memorable. 

As stated this story is immensely entertaining. I said before that there was something eerily familiar about Detective Inspector Savage. But I am not sure if from Mayhew’s DCI Blake stories or Alex Smith’s DCI Kett novels. The story focuses around a young man named Tom Coffin; he is a Specialist Funeral Director. His job is to put the undead back in the ground. Coffin’s mode of transport is a car called Persephone, a Jaguar XJ hearse a 1995 model, a vehicle that looks like the offspring of a family station wagon and the Popemobile. The description of this book is:

“A Specialist Funeral Director, a gang of hearse-jacking teenagers, a colony of vampires and a demon just itching to get out of the pit that has imprisoned him for hundreds of years.

Tom Coffin dreams of a normal life sometimes but something always pops up out of the ground to make things interesting. When the beautiful and mysterious Lavinia Peaks appears at his office with the seemingly simple job of putting down her newly-risen husband, Coffin finds himself in a world of intrigue, corruption and a plot to liberate something sinister that has lain trapped deep beneath the ground for centuries. Tom must do battle with his own personal demons as well as face a real, living breathing, infernal creature from Hell. A fast-paced Urban Fantasy set in the dark streets of London.”  

As you can see, poor Tom has his hands full. This story is very different than the other short story I have read in the series. But just as entertaining. Tom puts down again a vampire, deals with witches, ghouls, a demon trying to come back to earth, and much more. And maybe just a bit of desire for revenge. I seldom highlight passages of text in fiction books. But ‘Torr’ has a way with words. I have highlighted the beginning of both stories I have read in this series. This one begins with:

“I sighed and tugged at my neck stock, it was hard to look like a respectable funeral director when I was wearing a stab-proof vest and this thing round my throat. Except I wasn’t a respectable Funeral Director was I?”

And further on:

“Rich old widows didn’t tend to call for the services of Thomas Coffin, Specialist Funeral Director. Not unless their rich old husbands had reappeared at the French windows two days after their funerals with fangs and a boner. The neck stock, Kevlar with silver mesh threaded through it, rubbed too. I look like I’m attending my own funeral after crashing my hearse into a brick wall, I thought.”

The story has the right amount of action, supernatural elements, and humour. Greatly entertaining. And very hard to put down. A great first novel in the series. It will leave you hooked, and wanting more.
 

Books as J.E. Mayhew:
DCI William Blake Series:

Books as Jon Mayhew:
The Spybrarian

Monster Odyssey Series:
1.0 The Eye of Neptune
2.0 The Wrath of the Lizard Lord
3.0 The Curse of the Ice Serpent
4.0 The Venom of the Scorpion
…

Mortlock Series:
2.0 The Demon Collector
3.0 The Bonehill Curse
…
…

Collins Big Cat Series:
The Merchant of Venice: Band 16/Sapphire
Hamlet: Band 18/Pearl
Romeo and Juliet: Band 18/Pearl
Macbeth: Band 18/Pearl
…

Contributed to:
Beyond the Book: A Collection of Short Stories
Storycraft: How To Teach Creative Writing
Criminal Shorts: UK Crime Book Club Anthology
Make Doves Not War - Forward
…

Books as Edwin Torr:
Dead Means Dead Series
1.0 Demons - 2017
1.3 Cotton Candy - 2017
1.9 Remurdered - 2017
2.0 Angel Hunter - 2017
2.5 Cold Caller - 2017
3.0 Jigsaw Girl - 2018









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