Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini Cecchina's Dream - Victoria Dority, Mary Lou Andes, and Barbara Kiwak - Encounter the Saints Series Book 20

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini: 

Cecchina's Dream

Encounter the Saints Series Book 20

Victoria Dority, MSC

Mary Lou Andes, MSC

Barbara Kiwak (Illustrator)

Pauline Books and Media
ISBN 9780819870926

ASIN B00AEYW7F8

As a family we have read over 30 books in this series so far. I started reading them myself reading books on Saint Damien of Molokai and Saint Edith Stein Blessed by the Cross. Then started reading them with my three youngest children. My children and I love this series. We have read many of the books more than once. But this book is different than many of the others in, if not all the others in the series. It is one of the few not written by a Sister of Saint Paul, or Sister of Notre Dame. 

This is an excellent series is! Between my three children and I we have now read nearly all of the books in this series. I read them either by myself, or with one or more child. My youngest 2 children ages 13, 10, still both love these books. And they have read or reread them to us. My son wants to have the complete set in his room, so he keeps asking to buy his own set, because he loves these books so much. We have picked up several volumes to donate to the school library. I would love to have the whole set in the school library as a resource when the students are picking confirmation saints. Each time we read a book in the series we appreciate this series more. We hope there will be more books released in the series in the future. I would love to see how this series handles Saint Josemaria Escriva, Blessed Carlo Actus, … and many more. We would also like to eventually see eBooks of all of the volumes in the series. With my dyslexia and my son’s eye tracking issues we both prefer eBooks where we can change page color, font size and font spacing. This book has an eBook listed but I cannot find it, as it is listed at currently unavailable.

Now back to this specific book on Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini. 

The description of this volume is:

“The inspiring story of "Mother Cabrini," the first American citizen to be declared a saint! As a child growing up in Italy, Frances dreamt of becoming a missionary to China. But it seemed that God wanted her to go to America instead. When Pope Leo XIII told her, "Go West, not East," she knew what God's plan was for her. Mother Cabrini and her sisters set up schools, hospitals, and orphanages throughout the states--especially helping vast communities of Italian immigrants.”

The chapters in this volume are:

1. “Cecchina” for Short 

2. The Seed Is Planted 

3. Violets for Sail 

4. Mama and Papa Say “Yes”

5. Patience and Honey 

6. The Dreaded Pox 

7. Just Two Weeks... 

8. The Sisters of Providence 

9. Mother Frances Xavier

10. The Cement Factory 

11. Beginnings 

12. The World Is Too Small 

13. Roman Adventure 

14. To the West! 

15. New York 

16. God’s Well Runs Deep

17. Eternity to Rest

18. The Dream Continues 

Prayer 

Glossary 

The prayer in this volume is:

“Saint Frances Cabrini, when you were young, you dreamed of belonging to God in a special way. You had many obstacles to overcome, but you didn’t let anyone or anything get in the way of your dream. Jesus and Mary became your best friends, and you counted on them to guide you in following your heart’s desire.

I pray that I, too, may discover my dream and set my heart on its path, placing my trust in Jesus to help me see it through. Help me to remember that I can do all things in God who strengthens me.

Be my guide, Saint Frances, and pray to God for me.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in you. Amen.”

The prayer in this volume is the very different to the one as in the companion volume, The Saints Pray for Us, which has prays for the first 30 saints and blessed covered in the series. This book is a wonderful read. Learning about Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was a blessing. Learning about her early years was especially inspiring for my children. To lean about all she was told that she could not do, or would not be able to do, and to see God bring it to pass. And how God worked to make happen what he placed on her heart. 

As mentioned, this is the only volume written by Victoria Dority, MSC and

Mary Lou Andes, MSC. It is one of 7 illustrated by Barbara Kiwak. Each book in this series has 5 illustrations, a wonderful glossary and a prayer. 

I read this volume a few years back and did not get around to reviewing it. This time I made sure to review it after finishing it. My youngest daughter was fascinated by this story and now wants to find out more about this saint. And next year she will be picking her confirmation saint, so who knows. This book was a great read from beginning to end. Because we were reading it together it took several days. It is one of my youngest daughters’ favourites. I really enjoyed this book, and all three children and I love this series! We have now read over 30 of the books in the Encounter the Saints Series from Pauline Books and Media. And everyone has been worth the read. An excellent read in a wonderful series!

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

Books about Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini:

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini: Cecchina's Dream - Victoria Dority MSC, Mary Lou Andes MSC and Barbara Kiwak - Encounter the Saints Book 20

Hope Without Borders: 30 Days with Frances Xavier Cabrini - Amy J. Cattapan - Great Spiritual Teachers

Mother Cabrini Missionary to the World - Frances Parkinson Keyes - Vision Books

…

Encounter the Saints Series from Pauline Books and Media:

Blessed James Alberione Media Apostle
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Journey to the Summit
Journeys with Mary Apparitions of Our Lady
Saint André Bessette Miracles in Montreal
Saint Anthony of Padua Fire and Light
Saint Bakhita of Sudan Forever Free
Saint Bernadette Soubirous And Our Lady of Lourdes
Saint Catherine Labouré And Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Saint Clare of Assisi A Light for the World
Saint Damien of Molokai Hero of Hawaii
Saint Edith Stein Blessed by the Cross
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Daughter of America
Saint Faustina Kowalska Messenger of Mercy
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini Cecchina's Dream
Saint Francis of Assisi Gentle Revolutionary
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla The Gift of Life
Saint Ignatius of Loyola For the Greater Glory of God
Saint Isaac Jogues With Burning Heart
Saint Joan of Arc God's Soldier
Saint John Bosco Champion for the Young
Saint John Neumann Missionary to Immigrants
Saint John Paul II Be Not Afraid
Saint John Vianney A Priest for All People
Saint Juan Diego And Our Lady of Guadalupe
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: Courageous Faith
Saint Katharine Drexel The Total Gift
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque And the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Saint Martin de Porres Humble Healer
Saint Maximilian Kolbe Mary's Knight
Saint Paul The Thirteenth Apostle
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina Rich in Love
Saint Teresa of Avila Joyful in the Lord
Saint Teresa of Calcutta Missionary of Charity
Saint Teresa of Kalkota Missionary of Charity

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux The Way of Love
Saint Thomas Aquinas Missionary of Truth
Saint Thomas More Courage, Conscience, and the King
Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto: Shepherds of Fatima
The Saints Pray for Us

Saint Julie Billiart The Smiling Saint

...

Remembrance Day 2021 Lest We Forget

Remembrance Day 2021

Thank you to all the men and women who have served. May we always remember and honour your service and your sacrifice! To the families who have lost members either in the field of battle or who came home changed, thank you. 

When I was young I recall my grandmother always bought real poppies. She got a wreath to take to the memorial. She wore a real poppy. And she told stories about my grandfather, her siblings, friends, who had served. I now keep a poppy on my desk all year long to remember, and to pray for the fallen.  Over the last few years I have read amazing stories about Military Chaplains, their faith, their devotion, their heroism. 

Living with Illness and Suffering - Nick Donnelly - The Catholic Way To Hope and Healing - CTS Devotions

Living with Illness and Suffering:

The Catholic Way To Hope and Healing

CTS Devotions

Nick Donnelly
Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860826641

eISBN 9781784692940

ASIN B072143Z4S

CTS Booklet D727

This is the sixth title from the pen of Deacon Nick Donnelley that I have read. And it is an incredible read. It was so good that as soon as I finished it I started reading it and read it through a second time. I have read over 200 volumes from the Catholic Truth Society over the last several years. Several of them penned by Deacon Nick Donnelly. The description of this volume is:

“This booklet of practical advice, discernment and reflection, meditation and prayer, has been written for people coming to terms with chronic illness and other conditions – long-term sickness, disability, grief, depression, anxiety and other forms of suffering. This timely exposition of the Catholic understanding of the dignity and value of each life eloquently answers today's vocal minority who press for easy answers, including assisted suicide. Accessible and thorough, this text has been written with great compassion and insight.”

The chapters in this small volume are:

Purpose of this booklet

The impact of suffering

Things that help

Questions to place before God

Prayers during times of suffering

Meditations on the Christian meaning of suffering

Meditations on the healing wounds of Christ

I have been reading the books by Deacon Nick for three years now. And following him on social media nearly that long. His books in the ‘Finding God in …’ Series are excellent. But this book is so raw, emotional, transparent, and inspiring. I could not believe it. As I was reading I went back and confirmed it was the same Deacon Nick twice. He shares much from his own journey, from his chronic illness, from years of pain and suffering. His openness is deeply moving. And his faith that grew stronger through the trials, through this personal cross will inspire and encourage. 

This book begins with these words:

“This book of prayers, practical advice, meditations, and reflections has been written for people coping with suffering caused by chronic conditions such as long-term sickness, disability, grief, depression, anxiety, and many other afflictions.

I became ill in 1987, and was soon housebound and unable to work. It took 5 years for the doctors to diagnose a chronic, incurable sickness, plus other complications. It took another 5 years for them to get it under reasonable control. I remain in permanent poor health subject to severe pain, susceptible to infections and with a higher risk of developing cancer.

The inspiration for this book was an event that happened almost 12 years ago. I was undergoing a flare up of the disease, and was lying on the bathroom floor, unable to move due to severe abdominal pain. I must admit that I was frightened and this fear was making the pain worse.”

Some of the other passages I highlighted while reading this volume were:

“St Peter’s words, ‘through his wounds you have been healed’ (1 Peter 2:24). By this, I don’t mean that miraculously my disease had gone, but that Christ’s wounds began to transform my experience of suffering.”

“At a time when a vocal minority are pushing assisted suicide onto the sick and disabled as the only way of escaping our suffering, we must make more widely known the Catholic understanding of the dignity, value and transformational power of suffering shared with the Crucified God.”

“Suffering comes to us all, at some time in our lives, as the poet Henry Longfellow puts it, ‘Into each life some rain must fall, some days must be dark and dreary.’”

“But for some suffering is like a daily, relentless deluge that soaks every part of their lives, getting everywhere. For others, it is more like a devastating hurricane that uproots everything, forever changing the landscape of their lives. For yet others they have to endure both catastrophic suffering and chronic suffering.”

“Suffering isolates Some of the hardest things to cope with in suffering any chronic condition are the long periods of isolation from normal life caused by being housebound. It feels like the world carries on, while your own life grinds to a halt. When I’m unable to work or enjoy the ordinary pleasures of life, my world often shrinks to the size of my home, sometimes just to my bedroom and bathroom.”

“Also, feeling constantly unwell and in pain quite naturally forces your attention inwards, where all kinds of resentments, fears and doubts can too easily dominate your thoughts.”

“Over the years I’ve gradually come to appreciate being an outsider. Being an outsider through learning to live with suffering and my own mortality has helped me focus on questions of ultimate concern, instead of being caught up in the rush of modern life.”

“After years of coping with a chronic health condition, I’ve learnt that the best approach is to try to live within the constraints imposed by the disease.”

“Don’t misunderstand me. When I’m in great pain or feel very sick, I often find it difficult to trust God, when all I can do is hold on to my faith by my fingertips. But I know, deep down, that such trust is the only way to cope with chronic suffering.”

“Other hard things to cope with during a chronic illness are the times when we lose our sense of personal dignity and self-esteem. For example, the disease may have embarrassing symptoms or entail embarrassing medical examinations.”

“Likewise, I have found reading the lives of the saints, particularly 20th century martyrs, has provided me with the inspiration and example to make more of my life than suffering. I have discovered, like countless Christians before me, that the saints are invaluable channels of healing grace and intercessory prayer. The CTS series of Saints biographies is highly recommended.”

This book is deeply moving. I hope those few quotes will encourage you to pick it up and give it a read. I have already recommended the book to several friends, either for their own reading or for their friends and family. It is an excellent book. It is easily accessible. Well written. And written from a place of personal experience. 

This is a book that I really needed. And I am certain it is one many will benefit from. After reading this I tracked down some of Deacon Nick’s other older works that are out of print. I look forward to reading more from his pen. Another great read from the CTS.

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 Nick Donnelly:
Finding God Series:
Finding God in Anger and Bitterness
Finding God in Doubt and Disbelief
Finding God When Prayer Doesn't Work
Finding God When a Loved One Loses Faith

Other Books by Nick Donelly:
Living with Illness and Suffering
Hope and Healing: Living with Illness and Suffering
Prayers for Grieving Parents: Help After a Miscarriage or Still Birth
Praying the Rosary with the Martyrs
Praying The Creed In The Year Of Faith
Praying the Rosary with the Saints

A Catholic Survival Guide for Times of Emergency 

Companion to Faith

…

With Pope Francis Series:

Loving Mary: What Pope Francis Says

Finding Forgiveness with Pope Francis

Stations of the Cross with Pope Francis

Who Is the Devil? What Pope Francis Says

Our Journey to Christmas: With Pope Francis

…

Fiction by Nick Donnelly:

Ben Armstrong Adventure Series Series:

Curse of the Seawolf

Snare of the Demons

Faith of the Armstrong

Fury of the Dragons

…

Unattributed books cowritten\ghost written by Nick Donnelly:

Priesthood Today

Fit for Mission? Church

Fit for Mission? Schools

Fit for Mission? Marriage

Fit for Mission? A Guide

...

A Calvary Covenant - John Cullen - The Stations of the Cross

A Calvary Covenant: 

The Stations of the Cross

John Cullen

Messenger Publications

ISBN 9781788123105

eISBN 9781788123136

eISBN 9781788123112

ASIN B09BLJ2VQ8

This is the seventh book published by Messenger Publications that I have read over the last few months. The first I read was, Saint Ignatius of Loyola: A Convert's Story by Patrick Corkery SJ, and this was one of 4 I picked up while writing and researching for the review of that one. I read Alert, Aware, Attentive: Advent Reflections by John Cullen and was underwhelmed by it. But my disappointment with that volume was more than compensated for with this volume. Through Lent each year I try and pray a Stations of the Cross, or Way of the Cross most days. I have a few standards I have been using since my youth. There have been some I prayed once or twice and they dropped from my list. And yet others that I pray often. I also try and pray The Stations most Fridays throughout the rest of the year. I read this one first on a Thursday and then prayed through it again on the next day. It is a very different way, but one I enjoy. 

The description of this booklet is:

“The Stations of the Cross unfold for us a story of the passion and pain – where all sources of evil are connected: jealousy, betrayal, cowardice, injustice, cruelty and weakness. Jesus takes everything on himself and assumes all human suffering.

The Stations of the Cross are in the present tense: Jesus is condemned, Jesus takes his Cross, Jesus meets, Simon carries, Veronica wipes and Jesus is stripped. It is our tears that flow down his cheek, our pain that is felt in his bruised, battered body.

The Stations of the Cross is a prayer in motion. They spell out for us that suffering and death do not have the last word because God cares for all creation.”

And the chapters in the book are:

Preface

Introduction

Background to the Stations of the Cross

The First Station

The Second Station

The Third Station

The Fourth Station

The Fifth Station

The Sixth Station

The Seventh Station

The Eighth Station

The Ninth Station

The Tenth Station

The Eleventh Station

The Twelfth Station

The Thirteenth Station

The Fourteenth Station

Afterword

A sample station is:

“The Seventh Station

Jesus Falls the Second Time

We adore you O Christ and we praise you.

Because by you Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Remember

 

In this station we remember displaced migrants across the world.

Meditation

 

‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that, some have entertained angels without knowing it’ (Deuteronomy 10:19) 

There is a new sculpture by Timothy Schmalz in St Peter’s Square in Rome. There are 140 migrants of various cultures and from historic times: Jews fleeing the Nazis and Poles fleeing communism, Syrians and Africans displaced by persecution, war, famine and poverty.

The 140 figures correspond to the 140 sculptures in the colonnades of St Peter’s Square, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680).

Four migrants from different countries and different religions unveiled this sculpture as Pope Francis blessed it.

This second fall of Jesus represents the globalisation of indifference that many migrants experience as victims of our throwaway culture.

Reflect

 

Waste places of Jerusalem, break forth with joy!

We are redeemed, redeemed.

The Lord has saved and comforted his people

Our God reigns… Our God Reigns…

(‘Nearer My God To Thee’ by Sarah Flower Adams)

Pray

 

O Angel of God, my guardian dear …

Sing

 

‘Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. 

I have called you by your name, you are mine.

When you dwell in the in exile of a stranger,

remember you are precious in my eyes.’

(composed by Gerald Markland)”

Photo of Sculpture by Timothy Schmalz.

I see this as one of the ways that I will be using for years to come. It Will open your eyes to the reality of the stations in a new way. In the introduction we are informed that:

“The Stations of the Cross trace deep emotions:

jealousy, betrayal, denial, cowardice, cruelty,

abandonment, mockery, shame, wickedness,

silence, suffering, steadfastness and sacrifice.

Jesus takes them all and more upon himself.

He is our God on his knees who washes feet.

He is our God who bites the dust.

He is our God who literally falls for us

so as to break all our falls and failures.

The Stations of the Cross invite us to

show one another the image of God

and grow in the likeness of Christ.

The Fourteen Stations are in the present tense.

What they say is happening now in your own life

or someone’s life, somewhere in the world.”

This is an excellent little volume. I encourage you to pick it up and give it a read, and return to it from time to time, during Lent and throughout the year.

I loved the 4 biographies I have read from Messenger Publications, and have a few others I have picked up including 2 for advent. I have no hesitation recommend this volume. It is a great read and wonderful tool for your prayer journey. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan! For all review of Messenger Publications books and booklets click here. 

For all other reviews of Stations of the Cross click here.

Books by John Cullen:

A Calvary Covenant: The Stations of the Cross

Alert, Aware, Attentive: Advent Reflections

...

Foxton Girls - K.T. Galloway - Annie O'Malley Book 2

Foxton Girls

Annie O'Malley Book 2

K.T. Galloway

A.W.E. Publishing

ASIN B093GSKM76

This is a fast paced hard hitting follow up to Corn Dolls. This follow up story appeared quickly, and striking while the fire is hot Galloway has announced a thirs instalment called We All Fall Down. This story is a nearly text book British Crime Procedural novel, but with enough twists and turns to keep us guessing. Over the last few years I have read many crime or thriller novels. I love the DCI Kett novels from Alex Smith and the DCI Will Blake novels from J.E. Mayhew. But this story and series gives us something very different. Alex smith had recommended Mayhew and I ripped through that series, so when he recommended this series I had to give it a try. The first two have not disappointed. The debut novel was impressive and this follow up is nearly as good. I enjoyed the first one so much I preordered the second, and now have the third on preorder awaiting it’s release. 

Annie O’Malley is a psychotherapist and former police officer. And not only does she have baggage from her stunted police career, but even more from experiences when she was young. Now she has been drawn back, back into a world she had left behind, back to a world she was glad was behind her. Back to her own childhood and her sister who is still missing. And back into a high stakes games. A game that if she loses it is a game where someone else will pay with their life. 

Annie is now on the payroll as a consultant. But something is off. Off with her partner she was developing feelings for. Off with the case. And something is terribly off at the Foxton School for Girls. The description of the book is:

“Their secrets die with them.

When a spate of suicides occur at prestigious girls' school, Foxton's, Psychotherapist Annie O'Malley is called in to talk with the students.

What Annie finds are troubled young girls full of secrets and lies; and a teacher caught in the midst.

Back working with DI Joe Swift, can Annie and Swift unravel the secrets together before it's too late?”

But O’Malley and Swift know that something is terribly off at the School. But the longer it takes them to figure it out, the more bodies are found. There is no shortage of suspects. And the school ground, even with the reduced head count during break, has secrets of its own. 

This second story is well written. Has several key plot twists and even a few minor unexpected turns. The pace is great. The crimes chilling. And a plethora of suspects. 

 

The writing is well done in this story. The pace is great. The characters are wonderful, readers who do not like Swift and O’Malley might want to check their heartbeat. An excellent second offering in the tales of O’Malley and Swift! But be warned this book leaves you desperate for the next story.

Books by K.T. Galloway:

Annie O’Malley Series:

Corn Dolls

Foxton Girls

We All Fall Down

The House of Secrets

The Uninvited Guest

Deadly Games

One Last Breath

Still Waters

Vanishing Act

Chill Pill

…

 

Waiting in Joy - John Scally - An Advent Journey

Waiting in Joy: 

An Advent Journey

John Scally

Messenger Publications

ISBN 9781788120098

eISBN 9781788122351

eISBN 9781788122344

ASIN B089DNJYVW

This is the tenth book published by Messenger Publications that I have read in as the last few months. The first I read was, Saint Ignatius of Loyola: A Convert's Story by Patrick Corkery SJ, and this was one I picked up after working through a few of them. It was one of two on Advent, the other was a great disappointment, Alert, Aware, Attentive - Advent Reflections by John Cullen, but this one I loved. I read this book before advent, so I could review it. I know I will use it this year during advent, and likely again in years to come. 

The description of this booklet is:

“Advent is often the poor relation compared to Christmas. Yet to prepare properly for Christmas we need to journey through Advent in an uplifting way. This unique collection of original reflections, prayers and scripture quotations will help you to do just that. 

It is designed so that you can celebrate the birth of the Lord having the love of Jesus surround you; the light of Jesus lead you; the peace of Jesus fill you; the power of  Jesus aid you; the joy of Jesus thrill you; the presence of Jesus dwell within you. This book will resonate with anyone who is seeking to integrate their daily life, their aspirations and their needs, with an intimate relationship with God in this special season. 

John Scally, theologian, writer and broadcaster, aims to approach the familiar in a new way and he uses a variety of styles in his reflections. This book also contains a treasure trove of ideas for teachers and preachers to mark Advent.”

 

This volume was published in 2018. But it could be used most any Advent. The book contains a brief introduction and then 4 weeks’ worth of meditations or reflections. Some of them were deeply moving. And many were insightful. Each of the days follows the same format:

Biblical Verse

Reflection

Prayer

Several of the prayers I found particularly moving and Copied them to my journal to pray regularly. Two of the prayers that I found most moving were:

“Lord, may we learn to make time for prayer and to discover just how close you are to us. Lord help us to listen. Lord, in our preparation for Christmas remind us about what is really important. Lord help us to listen. Lord, may our love be sincere and not just for those who love us. Lord help us to listen.”

And

“This Advent may we find God the Father. This Advent may we find God the Son. This Advent may we find God the Spirit. May our love shine in every house. May our love shine for those with no house. May our love shine around every table. May our love bring everybody to the table.”

A sample reflection from week three is:

“TUESDAY

‘And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and

my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked

with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely,

from now on all generations will call me blessed; for

the Mighty One has done great things for me, and

holy is his name. His mercy is for those who revere

him from generation to generation. He has shown

strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in

the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the

powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the

rich away empty.’ (Lk 1:46–53)

Reflection: Star of the Sea

Traditionally in Ireland we welcomed the fine weather by joining the rush to erect a May altar in honour of Our Lady. Flowers were piled into jam jars for decorations. The most colourful ceremony of all was the procession from the chapel down to the village. It seemed to be an injunction for the sacred to leave the church and make its home in the ordinary. Every house along the way was decorated with flowers. From an early age we were given a great devotion for the Virgin Mary, Intercessor, Mother of Mercy, Star of the Sea. To call upon the father for daily bread and praise the kingdom, the power and the glory was inspiring and comforting but we felt a warm glow within us when we spoke phrases like ‘fruit of thy womb.’

Mary was an integral part of the fabric of Irish life, even Irish history. One story I learned as a boy was about the Virgin Mary walking by a house in the West of Ireland on a stormy night during the Great Famine. She and the child Jesus had no coat to protect them from the elements. As they passed the house, the woman of the house called them inside and gave Mary a bowl of nettle soup, and an old sack to give extra cover to the child. Mary’s final blessing was that the family line would always remain intact. They were one of the few families who survived the Great Hunger. A sign that God’s favour rested on them was that their rooster did not crow ‘cockadoodledoo’ but rather cried out: ‘the Virgin’s Son is risen’.

Advent is a good time for remembering how much we can learn from Mary, the mother of Jesus. We can learn from her words like those in her prayer, the Magnificat. These are words of joy and praise from a girl who, on the face of it, did not have much to be joyful about. However, she was willing to believe that God was working in and through her to bring about remarkable change in the world. She also believed that God wanted to do the same in us. So later when her child had grown up she spoke to us and said, ‘Do whatever he tells you’. In the story of Christmas she is presented as not saying too much but as simply ‘pondering these things in her heart’. We can learn from her attitude to her life and what was going on in it. She knew the value of reflecting and would continue to do this even to the end when she stood by her son’s cross.

PRAYER

Lord, in the person of Mary you teach how

us to be open to your Holy Spirit.

Lord may we be willing to learn.

Lord, in the person of Mary you teach us

how to place our trust in you.

Lord may we be willing to learn.

Lord, in the person of Mary you teach

us how to give thanks.

Lord may we be willing to learn.

Lord, in the person of Mary you teach us how

to be faithful to your son

Lord may we be willing to learn.”

Some of the other passages I highlighted my first time through were:

“This book is written for those who are more concerned with the Christmas Presence than those who simply want to get loads of Christmas presents.”

“Using pieces from the Scriptures, thoughtful and interesting reflections and seasonal prayers the aim of this book is to promote self-questioning, to challenge and integrate faith and life in the modern world, while mindful of the richness of the Christian tradition and the basic yearnings of our hearts as we prepare to welcome the greatest news of all.”

“Rahner summed up Christmas evocatively as, ‘a time when grace is the air’. He saw Advent as a journey into grace – a time for us to slow down and reflect and let the presence of a loving God seep through our lives.”

“The liturgical year begins on the first Sunday of Advent. This day represents a new beginning in the Christian pil-grimage. The birth of Jesus offered a new beginning to the world, a new way of life. In this special season let us take up Jesus’ invitation to make a new beginning.”

“Memory is central to all our lives. Advent challenges us to remember who we really are as Christians. Who are you?”

“I need to take the time to remember every Advent a wonderful message – God has transformed our brokenness by taking it on and waits for us to grow ever more into the image and likeness of the divine.”

“It is a time of waiting. It is a time of waiting for God. It is a time of waiting for perfect love. It is a time of waiting to become our true selves. It is a time to remember that everything that is worthwhile is worth waiting for.”

“Christianity is not about occasional gestures of charity but about going the extra mile, about making choices which involve inconvenience, discomfort and pain. The force of love, of unexpected and invigorating vitality is what animates Christians. Only true love carries memorial weight, regenerates moments of tenderness, of unions of spirit.”

“Advent is a time of challenge. It compels us to think anew about what it is that really matters and equally what does not matter. Each of us have many voices racing around in our heads. The challenge of Advent is to remember that we only see with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”

“The Christian is first and foremost a person of prayer. Without prayer, the Christian life easily descends to a mere busy life in which a person’s need for respect or affection dominates actions and being busy becomes a badge of honour – an end in itself. It is not necessarily true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. As many a ruined romance has demonstrated absence may cause the heart to wander. The parallel for prayer life does not need to be laboured.”

“A key part of Advent is to become ever more attentive to the presence of Jesus in bruised, battered or broken people.”

“Advent is the season of the needy. Poverty has not been created by God. We are the ones who have created poverty. Before God, we are all poor.”

“We should serve those in need this Advent like they were Jesus. God can work through nothings, small things like us. He uses us to do his work. Over this Advent God, the suffering Jesus, will present himself to us in many, many forms. In our rush to prepare for Christmas we may miss him. How ironic would that be?”

And finally:

“Advent is a time for asking ourselves a very fundamental question: what is the meaning of God’s presence in my life? At the Annunciation, God asked Mary the question: ‘Will you bring Christ into the world?’ Mary’s answer was yes. Gently Christ entered the world, entered our lives. Like us she asked, ‘what is the meaning of God’s presence in my life?’ Today we are faced with the question as Mary: ‘Will you bring Christ into the world’?”

This book is a wonderful volume and I do highly recommend it. Advent begins just a few weeks after I finished it the first time and I am already itching to get back into it. I hope those quotes and sample reflection inspire you to pick this up and give it a try! It is an excellent book for the advent season, and great resource from Messenger Publications.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan! For all review of Messenger Publications books and booklets click here. 

For reviews of other books about Advent click here. 

Books by John Scally:

A Brave New World?

A Just Society? Ethics and Values in Contemporary Ireland

An Easter People: Essays in Honour of Sr Stanislaus Kennedy

As I Have Loved You: A Conversation with Mother Teresa

Beautiful Thoughts for Beautiful Minds

Ethics in Crisis?

I Believe

Inspiration for All Seasons: Celtic Wisdom for Today

Marion: A Modern-Day Miracle

Mother Teresa on Advent and Christmas

Mother Teresa: The Irish Connection

The Christmas Presence

To Speed on Angels' Wings: The Story of the Sisters of St John of God

Waiting in Joy: An Advent Journey

Whose Death is It Anyway? Euthanasia & the Right to Die

…

Living the Mass - Father Andrea Gasparino - Catholic Truth Society

Living the Mass

Father Andrea Gasparino

Catholic Truth Society

ISBN 9781860823053

eISBN 9781784693756

ASIN B073H26T4B

CTS Booklet DO732

I found a few other books with this exact title. So if you go looking for it, make sure you check the author. I also believe this is one of only three books Father Andrea Gasparino available in English. There appear to be several titles available in Italian, and a few in Spanish, Korean, and Polish. A few years back I stumbled upon the books and booklets from the Catholic Truth Society. I instantly fell in love with the clear and concise writing. I have been hooked ever since. I have read over 200 volumes and have nearly that many on my wish list. This book was published in 2005, and the eBook edition released in 2017.  

The description on the back of the book is:

“There is always a danger that even the most extraordinary events can become mere routine. This text helps us to recall the wonderful opportunity at every Mass to meet God in word and sacrament.”

And the chapters in this little volume are:

Holy Communion: Grafting us into the Divine Life

The First Step

Interrupting the routine

Listening: Difficult but Vital

Celebrating and Conversing

Offering and Asking

This is a little volume, even by CTS booklet standards. Coming in at 48 pages. And many of the pages are part pages as each chapter is broken into several sections. But it is well worth the read. If you receive communion in a state of grace and with great devotion, the booklet will have a few tips to help you go even deeper. But it is also a booklet that all Catholic’s today should read. It will remind us of the blessing and gift that it is to receive the Eucharist. It might also prompt some of to not receive it on a specific Sunday or even in general until we have put our life in order. 

“The moment when we take Communion is somehow different. It is the awesome moment in which we have a face to face meeting with Jesus Christ. He meets with us personally and has a dialogue with us. He comes to choose us because he has something special to say to us, something which is for our ears only. It is a moment in which we come before Christ alone.”

“For those who take Communion often, it is easy to see that our personal meeting with Christ can soon say very little to us. It is sad but true that all of us have a predisposition for making Communion a banal event: an empty ritual where we are absent and it seems that Christ also is absent, where we become easily distracted and it seems that Christ also fails to speak. And as with every mode of behaviour, this shameful state of affairs can become a habit. These cold Communions can become so common that we stop even feeling bad about them.”

“Once upon a time the problem was getting people to make more frequent Communions; nowadays there is the opposite problem. How does one stop people from taking Communion or at least give them a notion of the seriousness of what they are doing?

This problem was confronted with great severity by St Paul when he wrote to the Christian communities in Corinth (1 Cor 11:27).

Before Communion it is important to ask oneself a question: does my conscience permit me to receive Communion?”

There is a list of seven reasons to celebrate and converse with Jesus after communion that will open our eyes, our minds and our hearts. This is a fantastic little volume that I highly recommend. 

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 Father Andrea Gasparino:

Living the Mass

Sexuality and Love

The Our Father

…