Saturday, 11 June 2022

Companion to Faith - Deacon Nick Donnelly - CTS Year of Faith

Companion to Faith
ISBN 9781860828171
CTS Booklet DO 860


This is the second volume I have read in the ‘Year of Faith’ Series from the Catholic Truth Society, it is also the twelfth from the pen of Deacon Nick Donnelly that I have read. Deacon Nick has written several wonderful volumes but this one is my current favorite, next to A Catholic Survival Guide for Times of Emergency. The ‘Year of Faith’ was from October 2012 through November 2013. I did not encounter any of these booklets during the year of faith, but from the two I have read so far, they are well worth tracking down and reading. So far, I have been able to discover 8 books and booklets that are marked as part of this series:

Companion to Faith
Praying The Creed In The Year Of Faith
The Essential Creed - Exploring the Apostles' Creed in the Year of Faith
Year of Faith Prayer Book
Year of Faith Stations of the Cross
Year of Faith with John Paul II
The Gift of Scripture
The Word of the Lord Discovering Verbum Domini

From those discovered some are clearly marked on the front cover and some have the Year of Faith logo on the back of the book. The description of this volume:

“Specially published for the Year of Faith called by Pope Benedict XVI, this booklet is full of practical suggestions and ideas for how to increase your knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Faith.  Neatly divided into 12 sections, so as to be easy to use across the whole year, this companion offers: 12 films you really must see; 12 people or modern saints you need to know about; 12 books you really must read; 12 artists and scientist you really should know more about and much more.”

About the author of this volume, we are informed that:

“Reverend Nick Donnelly is a Deacon of Lancaster diocese. He is a well-known blogger and CTS author.”

The chapters and sections in this prayer book are:

Something marvelous is going to happen
Twelve films you really must see
Twelve books you really must read
Twelve prayers for the Year of Faith
Twelve modern Catholics and modern saints you should know
Twelve paragraphs of the Catechism to the Catholic Church you should read
Twelve steps to make a simple Rule of Lie
Twelve blogs you’ll find really interesting
Twelve websites you’ll find really useful
Twelve scientists you should know
Twelve works of art you really should see
Twelve devotions you should try
Twelve things you could try during the Year of Faith

This book is a truly a blessing. Our parish has a Formed Parish Subscription and many of the movies and some of the books mentioned in this work as available there. In each of the first 11 categories listed I have created a list of new resources to check out, and in each there were a few I had already done but will circle back and revisit. We have lists of 12 recommended films, books, prayers, and other resources to try. 

Deacon nick has written a marvelous list. A reader could easily pick up this book and spend a year or two working through all the recommendations and at the end of that time come out better catechised, read, and with a deeper and broader knowledge of their faith and other faithful Catholics profiled. I highlighted a number of passages my first time through this booklet, they were:

“Something marvelous is happening to you, whether you’ve known it all your life or you’re just discovering it now for the first time.  God is offering you a wonderful gift that gives you access to his own divine life, a gift that enables you to “share in the good things of God that utterly exceed the intelligence of the human mind”.  (First Vatican Council). This marvelous gift is faith.

“For Edith Stein faith was the unexpected gift of a clear star rising out of the darkness of life’s suffering, leading her to the Catholic Church. As Edith knew, true faith leads to the Church, which she describes as the ‘gate’ to the path that leads to God.”

“So far we have looked as faith as light, as a clear star rising out of life’s suffering, as a gate that leads to our encounter with the light of Christ, but faith can also be an encounter with darkness.”

“Our generation of Catholics is confronted by two main challenges to faith, one of which is the perennial problem of evil and the other the challenge of science and technology.”

“Rather than being all about the Year of Faith, this booklet has been designed to help you do something practical for developing and deepening your faith over the course of the year.”

“The ultimate purpose of this Companion to Faith is to help you realise in your own life Pope Benedict’s hope for the Year of Faith, that each one of us becomes a credible witness in the world, “enlightened in mind and heart by the word of the Lord, and capable of opening the hearts and minds of many to the desire for God and for true life, life without end.”  (Porta Fidei, 15)”

“Since the earliest days of the Church, Christians, either as individuals or groups, have sought holiness and closer communion with Jesus through living by a rule of life.  Here are twelve steps to help you draw up a simple rule of life during the Year of Faith.  You may also benefit from looking at much-loved rules, such as the rule of St Francis and the rule of St Benedict.  Se also the CTS booklet, A Rule of Life for Daily Christian Living by Fr Michael Woodgate (Do 759).” (out of print but available online here.)

This is a wonderful volume. Out of print but well worth tracking down. Deacon Nick has crafter a school of faith in this volume. It is a resource I know I will return to frequently. It is an excellent offering from the pen of Deacon Nick and from the Catholic Truth Society. A great resource for spiritual growth and to help you deepen and grow in your faith!  

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 Year of Faith Series click here.

CTS Year of Faith Books:
The Essential Creed - Exploring the Apostles' Creed in the Year of Faith
Year of Faith with John Paul II
The Gift of Scripture
The Word of the Lord Discovering Verbum Domini
…

Other books from the Year of Faith:
Books edited by Francis Fernandez Carvajal:
Year of Faith Treasury: The Sacrament of Confession 
Year of Faith Treasury: The Virtue of Faith
Year of Faith Treasury: The Virtue of Fortitude
…


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
…

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
...

Books in the CTS Companions Series:
Companion to St. Joseph – J.B. Midgley
Companion to the Feasts of Mary – J.B. Midgley
Companion to Saint Peter – J.B. Midgley
Companion to Saint Paul – J.B. Midgley
Companion to the Angels – J.B. Midgley
Companion to the Feasts of Our Lord - J.B. Midgley
Companion to the Passion of Our Lord – J.B. Midgley
Companion to the Order of the Mass - Mgr Bruce Harbert
Companion to Reading the Old Testament – Adrian Graffy
Companion to Reading the New Testament – Adrian Graffy
Companion to Praying with the Bible – Z. Mattam
New Companion to Advent & Christmastide - CTS
New Companion to Prayer - Celia Wolf-Devine
New Companion to Lent - CTS
...
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Friday, 10 June 2022

For Me? - A.K. Frailey - A Short Story

For Me?
A Short Story
A.K. Frailey
A. K. Frailey Books
ASIN B081GGN369


Ann Frailey is one of the authors that I search for new works from regularly. Frailey, Corinna Turner, Theresa Linden, Karina Fabian … There are many great contemporary Christian, Catholic authors that I follow. So I often search Amazon for new works by them. So I picked up this stand alone story and two new collections from Frailey last year. I picked them up just based on the author I did not even read anything about it. I found out after purchasing it that Frailey wrote it for an Amazon contest and never heard anything back, she was even unaware that it was available as an Amazon Single. It was published in 2019, it also appears in the collection of short stores One Day at a Time and Other Stories.

This is a powerful story. It has the strength to be read on it’s own as a single. But is even better situated in the anthology. The description of the story is:

“An old woman and her sandwich saved my life. Not that I was starving. I wasn’t. In fact I hadn’t had an appetite in three days. Moreover, I had no wish to live. She didn’t know that. But, still, she wouldn’t let me die.”

I highlighted one passage when I read the volume:

“But that Christmas my eyes had strayed. The golden tabernacle glowed, as if in a spotlight. Must be the sun on the snow, I reasoned. Yet it perplexed me. No slanting rays reached that far. As I sat there, battling my inner demons, I finally settled down and faced the gold box. The house of God. The home of faith. The reason for the season. And for an electrifying moment, I knew that Someone lived inside that box.”

The description above is also the opening paragraph of the story. And this short story packs a lot of punch. It is deeply moving. I have read it a few times now, between reading the collection twice and now reading the stand-alone version by itself. It is a powerful story and had great impact when reading it in the collection but was even more moving reading it by itself in this edition.

An excellent story from the gifted pen of A.K. Frailey, I highly recommend it.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by A.K. Frailey:

Old Earth Series:
OldEarth ARAM Encounter
OldEarth Ishtar Encounter
OldEarth Neb Encounter
OldEarth Georgios Encounter
OldEarth Melchior Encounter
…

New Earth Series:
NewEarth: Justine Awakens
NewEarth A Hero's Crime

Oldtown Series:
Brothers Born
…

Wise Home Series:
Wise Home on Lily Pad Pond
…

Non-Fiction:
My Road Goes Ever On A Timeless Journey
…

Note: Old series that got reworked into other series:

Deliverance Series:
ARAM
Ishtar's Redemption: Trial by Fire
NEB the Great: Shadows of the Past
…

Hidden Heritage Series:
Georgios
Georgios II - A Chosen People
…








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Thursday, 9 June 2022

Year of Faith Prayer Book - Edited by Barry R. Pearlman - CTS Year of Faith

Year of Faith Prayer Book
Barry R. Pearlman
ISBN 9781860828188
CTS Booklet D756


The ‘Year of Faith’ was from October 2012 through November 2013. I did not encounter any of these booklets during the year of faith, but from the two I have read so far, they are well worth tracking down and reading. So far, I have been able to discover 8 books and booklets that are marked as part of this series:

Companion to Faith
Praying The Creed In The Year Of Faith
The Essential Creed - Exploring the Apostles' Creed in the Year of Faith
Year of Faith Prayer Book
Year of Faith Stations of the Cross
Year of Faith with John Paul II
The Gift of Scripture
The Word of the Lord Discovering Verbum Domini

From those discovered some are clearly marked on the front cover and some have the Year of Faith logo on the back of the book. The description of this volume:

“Taking the main themes for the Year of Faith: the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Deposit of Faith, this booklet contains prayers and devotions to be used daily, and for periodic prayer and reflection. The reader becomes involved in praying for the Church, the faithful, the world and for the kind of ‘conversion to Christ’ that Pope Benedict asks for in this year of faith.”

About the editor of this volume, we are informed that:

“Barry R. Pearlman is a Catholic apologist and writer, with a PhD is Social Psychology, and a Bachelor of Theology degree from Melbourne College of Divinity, previous publications: A Certain Faith: Analogy of Being and the Affirmation of Belief; and Fatima: A Heart for the World.”

The chapters and sections in this prayer book are:

A Gift of Faith
The Holy Father’s Prayer for the Year of Faith
Prayers to the Most Holy Trinity
     For Faith in the Father
     For Faith in the Son
     For Faith in the Holy Spirit
The Blessed Virgin Mary
     The Joyful Mysteries
     The Luminous Mysteries
     The Glorious Mysteries
     The Hail Holy Queen
The Communion of Saints
     St Joseph
     Sts Peter and Paul
     The Angels
     Our Guardian Angel
The Church and the World
     For the Pope
     For Priests and Religious
     For the Deposit of Faith
     For the Unity of Christians
     For the Spread if the Gospel
     For the Conversion of Our Country
     For Peace
     For Religious Freedom
     For Marriage
     For the Sanctity of Life
     For the Sick
     For the Faithful Departed
Personal Petitions
     For Faith
     For Hope
     For Charity
     For Humility
     For Wisdom
     For Patience
     For Final Perseverance
Adoration and Devotion
     Before the Blessed Sacrament
     The Divine Praises
     Litany to the Holy Name of Jesus
A Novena in Thanks for Faith

One of the prayers that really moved me and that I have added to my daily prayers is:

"Calm,
O maiden most pure,
the wild story of my soul,
for you alone showed yourself on earth
to be the port
of all who set a course
through the perils of life.
You who gave birth
to the Light,
brighten, O Pure Lady,
the eyes of my heart.
You were given to us on earth
as protecting, bulwark and boast.
You were given to us as tower
and sure salvation,
O Maiden.
For this we no longer fear adversity,
we who devotedly glorify you."
     -Joseph the Studite
  
The other prayer that really touched me was ‘Prayer for the Conversion of England’, but I have been praying it for the conversion of Canada. This is an excellent little prayer book. I really appreciated some of the prayers that I had not encountered previously. I also appreciate that the prayers were attributed for example:

J. Michael de Coutances
Ludovicus Blosius
St Symeon the New Theologian
Joseph the Studite

A great volume and wonderful first read from this series. I look forward to reading other books in this series and have an ever growing list of books from the Catholic Truth Society I want to read. 

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 Year of Faith Series click here.

CTS Year of Faith Books:
The Essential Creed - Exploring the Apostles' Creed in the Year of Faith
Year of Faith with John Paul II
The Gift of Scripture
The Word of the Lord Discovering Verbum Domini
…

Other books from the Year of Faith:
...
Books edited by Francis Fernandez Carvajal:
Year of Faith Treasury: The Sacrament of Confession 
Year of Faith Treasury: The Virtue of Faith
Year of Faith Treasury: The Virtue of Fortitude
…

Books by Barry R. Pearlman:
A Certain Faith: The Catholic Alternative
Treasure in Heaven: A Study of the Sermon on the Mount Using the Four Senses of Scripture
A Certain Faith: Analogy of Being and the Affirmation of Belief
…
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Wednesday, 8 June 2022

Ghosts of Malta - edited by Lawdog - An Anthology Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 1

Ghosts of Malta
Edited by C.V. Walter
Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 1
ISBN 9798807804945
ASIN B09YL22XTK


I enjoy reading anthologies for many reasons. First short form fiction is a very different art form than the novel. The writing needs to be tighter. The intent more purposeful, and the skill and craft needed is very different, at least for good short stories. Second I read a couple of anthologies a year to get introduced to new authors. In this case I was only familiar with one author prior to picking up the volume. I was introduced to Cedar Sandarson through Cracked: An Anthology of Eggsellent Chicken Stories edited by Bokerah Brumley. I have since read a few volumes by her, and a few other contributors to that anthology. A dozen years ago I read Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black & Cecil Castellucci and within a year had read books by every contributor and all books by a few of the authors. So, I picked this up to enjoy Cedar’s offerings and hopefully a few other authors to pursue. It did not disappoint.

I was fairly familiar with Malta prior to picking up this volume. I have read extensively about the Knights of Saint John, or the Knights of Malta as they have been known. Both historically and their continuation to today as St John’s Ambulance. And also through the wonderful works of Fiorella de Maria, who has several stories with Maltese characters and a few of those stories that have events that take place on the Island Nation. I was intrigued by the collection, just based on the name of the book ‘Ghosts of Malta’ and the description picked my interest even more:

“Malta. Alchemists, Saints and Heroes have all made their way to this place, defended its walls, and added to its ranks of ghosts and lore.

Besieged, battered, and bombed, this archipelago has seen every tide of war, turmoil, and more than a few bits of piracy. It's also been the land of courage, resilience, and grace under fire.

Ten authors have set out to bring you tales of the ghosts of Malta past, present, and future. Open the pages and meet the ancient guardians, ghost cats and inter dimensional spies that will be your guide...”

Lawdog writes both the forward and a brief history that begin the pieces in this work. He states:

“I did not realize how this brief little throw-away passage that I wrote would capture the imaginations of my friends. I awoke the next day to demands for me to either write a novel about Malta, or chair an anthology about it.

I didn’t really think much about it, until I was at lunch with Jonna Hayden, and my friend challenged me to publish an anthology about Malta. I agreed to do so, secure in the notion that there wouldn’t be enough interested authors to give me enough stories to fill an anthology.

I was wrong. Boy, howdy, I was wrong, because it became rapidly apparent that I wouldn’t have enough stories for an anthology – I was getting enough stories for two anthologies about Malta.”

Having read this collection I only hope he does follow through with the second volume of stories of Malta.

The contributors are:

Brena Bock
Evan DeShais
JL Curtis
Kelly Grayson
Nicki Kenyon
Regan K. Smith

The stories are:

Foreword
LawDog's Guide to Maltese History
Guardians of Malta
Speak the Word
The Alchemist of Malta
Cat of Malta
The Grandmaster’s Crypt
The Revenant and the Sorceress
The Finder
Partners?
Breathe Free
The Sumdood Chronicles: Side Quest Malta

The stories are well written. A few were exceptional. Two of them even seem to follow each other with Cedar Sanderson’s ‘Cat of Malta’  following as a continuation  of Regan K. Smith’s ‘The Alchemist of Malta’. If I had to pick a favourite story it would either be Brena Bock’s ‘Guardians of Malta’ or Melissa McShane’s ‘Speak the Word’. But all of the stories wore worth the read. 

I feel there were possibly two things missing from the volume. First biographies of the contributors, with Links to preferred social media if available. And Second Maybe a piece about how to piece came to be. Apart from that I love the volume.

The stories are in a wide range of genres. I enjoyed each of them, and can easily recommend the anthology. It was a fun collection to read. And I am looking to track down other works from a couple of the contributors. This is a collection that I certain has something for all readers, and one guaranteed to entertain.

For reviews of other volumes by Cedar Sandarson click here.

Raconteur Press Anthologies Series:
Knights of Malta
Saints of Malta
Space Cowboys
Space Cowboys 2: Electric Rodeo
Space Marines
Falcons of Malta
Pinup Noir
Space Marines 2
Moggies In Space
Your Honor, I Can Explain
Space Cowboys 3: Return of the Bookaroo
Or All Will Burn
Moggies Back in Space
PinUp Noir 2
You See, What Happened Was...
Space Cowboys 404: Cow Not Found
He Was Dead When I Got There
Or All Will Burn: Fierce Love
Full Steam Ahead!
Giant! Freakin'! Robots!
Space Marines III
Moggies in Space: A Galaxy Fur. Fur Away
What! You Again?: The Spurgle Chronicles
Wyrd West
Space Cowboys 5: Cattle Drive
Goblin Market
Hooves, Tracks and Sabers!: Tales of Alternate History
Alien Family Values
Moggie Noir
Or All Will Burn: At All Costs
Coffee Adventures: Quests for the Perfect Cuppa Joe
The Super Generation
Steam Rising: Tales of Steampunk and Wondrous Inventions
The Big Ones
Moggie Noir: Alley Cat Alibi
Road Trippin'
Cursed Canyon: Wyrd West
Giant Stompin' Robots
Coffee Capers: 10 Tales of Coffee and Adventure
Fission Chips: Space Cowboys 6
Goblin Bazaar
From the Brim to the Dregs
Giant Squeeing Robots
Sultry Murder Jazz: Pinup Noir
Plasma Pulp
Wyrd Warfare
Band of Monsters Wyrd Warfare
Magic Malfunction
Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir
Rawhide Revenants: Wyrd West
Goblin Souk
Vice Noir
Artifact Origins
Blades and Black Magic
Moggies of Mars
Planks and Plunder
Glitched Grimm: Twisted Fairy Tales with Terror
Creature Feature
Mercs and Mayhem
Bourbon and Lead
Corsairs and Cutlasses
Daggers and Dark Powers
High Class Muscle
Uncanny Valet
Insert Coin
Plasma Pulp: Lost Worlds
Mad Science: Bits and Pieces
…

Raconteur Press Postcard Stories:
Postcards From Mars
Steam-Powered Postcards
Fanta-Fly Postcards
Postcards from Foolz
Single Servings of Liberty 
Imagine THAT! 
Last Call
…

Other Raconteur Press Anthologies:
Best of 2024
…


Raconteur Press Anthologies 1-23

Raconteur Press Postcards Series 1-7
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Tuesday, 7 June 2022

Mary Potter - Elizabeth Gilroy - CTS Saints of the Isles

Mary Potter
Founder of the Little Company of Mary
Her Life and Vision - and Beyond.
CTS Saints of the Isles
Sr Elizabeth Gilroy LCM
Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860826672
CTS Booklet B729


The CTS Saints of the Isles Series is one of my favourite series. Each of the books in the series is a biography. Most, like this one, are biographies of specific individuals.  Also most in the series are biographies of martyrs, but not this one. Over the last several years I have read over 275 books from the Catholic Truth Society. This was the fourteenth I have read in the Saints of the Isles Series since 2018. I have read all that are readily available and now tracking down those that are harder to find. I only have 2 left that I am aware of after having read this volume. I have also read many in the CTS Biographies and also Great Saints Series. There are many great stories about the lives of the saints. I believe I have a complete list of the volumes in this series, and this is the thirteenth I have read from the fifteen I have discovered so far. The description of the series is:

“The Saints of the Isles series brings together telling accounts of the extraordinary lives of men and women from the British Isles - lives of holiness, courage and true discipleship to Christ and the Gospel message.”

And of this specific book:

“Mary Potter, was born in 1847 and grew up in a single-parent family. She endured a life of suffering from ill health and misunderstanding from those who opposed her, yet her vision lives on in the work of her congregation, helping many in the last and most difficult moments of their life. The Little Company of Mary is an international religious congregation whose main ministry is to pray for and assist the sick and dying throughout the world.”

The chapters in this volume are:

Introduction
Early Life
A Time of Discernment
Little Company of Mary
Expansion of the Little Company of Mary
Little Company of Mary in the 20th and 21st Century
Prayer for Beatification
Endnotes

This was an extraordinary read. As mentioned Mary Potter was not a Martyr. But she did live a life of great suffering, physical, spiritual, and emotional. Yet through it all she lived to serve and follow God. In many ways her story is a precursor to Mother Theresa, and it is easy after reading this volume to see how some draw parallels. I highlighted several passages while reading this volume they were:

“Then in 2008. A patient ill in a Little Company of Mary Hospital in the Mid-West of the USA, was experiencing pain and became worries. She also thought she was going to have a panic attack as she felt she could not breathe.  She closed her eyes to try to relax and the felt someone (she thought it was a nurse) lift her chin and hold her hand. “I opened my eyes and saw it was a lady dressed like a nun. She had a blue ‘cloth’ on her head, not black. She was so gentle looking and I felt so safe.””

“There were also major changes happening in the Church (the established Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church), as well as in the State and society. This included the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act of 829 and the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in 1850. Until that time, Catholics had kept the faith by family traditions, in seclusion and through centuries of persecution. The Catholic Emancipation Act allowed Irish potato famine immigrants to have places of worship for the first time, without which they refused to work.”

“From this time, there were many converts to the Catholic Faith, including John Henry Newman, H.W. Wilberforce, H.E. Manning, N.P. Wiseman and many others. This changed the face of the newly restored Roman Catholic Church. Some of the converts to the Roman Catholic Faith following the Oxford Movement influenced Mary Potter later in her life, including Cardinal Wiseman, and Cardinal Manning who were both Archbishops of Westminster.”

“Mary Potter was born in a rented house at 23 Old Jamaica Road in Bermondsey, South London, which was a poor area not far from the docks.  Mary was the fifth child, and only girl.  Her brothers were William, Thomas, Henry and George.”

“As Mary was growing up she developed into a bright teenager who had a personality full of fun and good humour.”

“Even though Mary was an attractive young woman she was unsophisticated. She captivated people though by her warm manner and good looks.  She was fair with a mass of golden curls and her penetrating blue eyes remained her most striking feature to the end of her life.”

“Looking back over her life, one wonders how much this attempt to cover over her own suffering with a determined attitude of sociability and attractiveness to those around her, would set in motion patterns of interior struggle which would remain a feature of her spirituality.”

“During her time with the Sisters of Mercy, Mary was known to have a great spirit of joy and an insatiable desire for perfection. She was introduced to the life of prayer as well as the works of the Order. This special time of learning self-discipline and introducing method into her prayer life had implications for her future.”

“Eventually Mary became stronger and was able to visit the mission chapel not far from her home for Mass and Benediction. She also started to visit the lonely, poor and sick in the area and regularly walked around the wharf near the Garrison with her mother and brothers.”

“People began to carp about her excessive kindness to all and she earned for herself the names ‘madcap’, and a religious ‘fanatic’.  Yet the poor seemed to love her and welcome her into their homes.”

“She spent hours in prayer and reflection before a crucifix; in particular she focused on the Passion and death of Jesus and it was at this time she was drawn to pray for the dying.  She started to think of the possibility of founding in the church a group of religious Sisters dedicated to the spiritual, and, where possible, the physical assistance of those who were sick and dying. By 1872 she became more and more convinced that this is what God was asking her to do.”

“Mary Potter’s many writings over the span of her life were Mariological and those who read them are directed toward a relationship with Mary, and as quoted so much by de Montfort, devotion to Mary is “To Jesus through Mary.”  Mary Potter’s theology therefore was bound in Christology as well as Mariology.”

“The more we read and understand the depth of the courage, vitality and sanctity of Mary Potter, the more we realise how much more there is to know.  What she accomplished in her life, particularly in the light of her frailty, physical pain and terrible opposition from people, even those closest to her, is in fact a miracle in itself.  Her inspirational example of calmness and peace in the light of these sufferings is something only those who reflect carefully would understand.”

The final passage I highlighted was this prayer:

“Prayer for the Beatification of Venerable Mary Potter

O God to whose glory the Little Company of Mary was founded by Venerable Mary Potter, grand that she may be beatified soon so that her work and spirit may benefit still more the suffering members of Jesus Christ. Amen

Mary, Mother of the Church may this ardent apostle of your Maternal Heart be more widely known by special favours granted through her intercession. Amen.”

Not being a martyr this biography was very different than most in the Saints of the Isles Series from the Catholic Truth Society. It is however still a very powerful story. A great witness to faith, love and service. It is a story that can move the hearts of readers. Another excellent biography from the CTS it is a great read! 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

Books in the Saints of the Isles Series:
Edmund Arrowsmith - John S. Hogan
Margaret Clitherow - Jean Olwen Maynard
Edmund Campion - Alexander Haydon
John Southworth Priest and Martyr - Michael Archer
Saint Thomas More - Alvaro de Silva
John Ogilvie - Eleanor McDowell
Frances Taylor - Eithne Leonard
Mary Potter - Elizabeth Gilroy
John Fisher - Richard L. Smith
Robert Southwell - Fiorella Sultana De Maria
Ignatius Spencer - Fr. Ben Lodge
Sr Elizabeth Prout - Dominic Savio Hamer
Forty Martyrs of England and Wales - James Walsh
Thomas Becket - J.B. Midgley
...















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Monday, 6 June 2022

The Killing Code - J.D. Kirk - DCI Logan Book 3

The Killing Code
DCI Logan Book 3
ISBN 9781912767144
ASIN B086K5813K
ASIN B07TJWWMZG


This is the fourth volume from J.D. Kirk that I have read in the last few months. I picked the first for a few reasons, but mainly because authors Alex Smith and JE Mayhew have both recommended the author and series. I am a big fan of Smith’s DCI Kett novels and Mayhew’s DCI Will Blake Series. And having ripped through both of their series and slowing working through all of Mayhew’s others works I decided to give Kirk’s a try. These definitely are Scottish Detective Mysteries, and I can see the comparisons with both Smith and Mayhew’s works. I would set this story right in the middle, Smiths are darker and more brutal, and Mayhew’s typically focused a little more on the mystery. This one is another good mix of both. 

The description of this novel is:

“What would you do if there weren't any consequences?

After twenty years on the force, Detective Chief Inspector Jack Logan thinks he has seen it all.

He is wrong.

When a nurse is murdered on her way home from nightshift, Jack and his team go on the hunt for her killer.

As more victims are uncovered, Jack finds himself tracking a murderer afflicted by a unique psychosis - one that leaves him free to maim and kill without a shred of remorse.

Facing a new type of killer in an unfamiliar city, DCI Jack Logan is about to be pushed to his limits, before being forced to realise just how little he truly knows.”

There are some characters I have encountered in Kirk’s other writings, specifically Detective Superintendent Hoon who I have encountered in Northwind and the Family Liaison Officer, Sinead from Bones. I am enjoying these books so much, I picked up the remainder of volumes in the DCI Logan Series, and Hoon book. And have pre-ordered DCI Logan books 14 and 15 and Hoon book 3. I plan on about a book a week until I have got caught up in both series.

This story has less action than some of the others in the series, some misdirection, and a very interesting theory. The premise the killer is going on is that we are just constructs in a computer system, sort of a AI or NPC. A cross between the Matrix and the Sims. I had figured out most of it before the reveals, but even after I had it solved it was great watching Logan figure it out and put the pieces together, and watching the officer’s work to capture the culprit. I will be honest at first I really suspected a different character. I have stated before that the characters are believable, and the events unfortunately are also. I do not like that Logan asked a favour of Bosco, the Russian crime lord, I am certain it will exact a toll in future stories. 

After having read the first three DCI Logan books and the first in the Robert Hoon Series I know I will be reading all the books published buy this author under the pen name J.D. Kirk. Like Mayhew and Smith, Kirk publishes under various names. Kirk publishes children books as Barry Hutchison, and other adult fiction as Barry J. Hutchison. He is coming up on 175 books across the three pen names. If I had known that or I might not have picked up this first one. Friends call me a ‘completionist’ in that when I find an author I like, I try to read everything they have published. For now I will try and read the remaining books published as Kirk. I am aiming for a book a week until I finish this series and then will see where it goes. This is an excellent if you love crime procedural books, or books along the lines of the TV Series The Commander or Wired in the Blood, this would be a great story to pick up. It is an excellent crime thriller and a great mystery and I love that it is set in Scotland! It is a good read in an excellent series. I highly recommend it.

Books by J.D. Kirk:
…

DCI Logan Series:

Robert Hoon Thrillers:

DI Heather Filson Series:

Contributed to:
Everyday Kindness: A Collection of Uplifting Tales to Brighten Your Day
…

Books as Barry J. Hutchison:
Dan Deadman Space Detective Series:
…

Space Team Series:
The Search for Splurt 
Song of the Space Siren 
The Guns of Nana Joan 
Return of the Dead Guy 
Planet of the Japes 
The Time Titan of Tomorrow 
The King of Space Must Die 
Sting of the Mustard Mines 
Sentienced to Death
The Hunt for Reduk Topa
…
A Lot of Weird Space Shizz: Collected Short Stories
…

Sidekicks Initiative Series:

The Bug Books Series:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
…
Complete Season One
…

Other Books:
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Children’s books as Barry Hutchison:
Invisible Fiends Series:
The Crowmaster 
Doc Mortis 
The Beast 
The Darkest Corners 
…

Afterworlds:
The Missing Remote of the Apocalypse
The Book of Doom 
...

Benjamin Blank Series:
…

Beaky Malone Series:
…

Generator Rex Series:

Living Ted Series:
Revenge of the Living Ted
Invasion of the Living Ted
…

Spectre Collectors Series:
Too Ghoul for School
A New York Nightmare!
…

Other works:
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