A clear call to apply our faith as Catholics (and our morals/ethics as humans) to our every day lives for the benefit of the world at large. A gentle A clear call to apply our faith as Catholics (and our morals/ethics as humans) to our every day lives for the benefit of the world at large. A gentle rebuke on our sin and plea for us to do better. ...more
This is not at all what I expected. I found this book on one of my shelves, and I have no recollection of buying it. I suspect it was an impulse purchThis is not at all what I expected. I found this book on one of my shelves, and I have no recollection of buying it. I suspect it was an impulse purchase at a diocesan conference a couple of years ago. I thought it was going to be a light read on living simply with the addition of prayer. Instead, it was a nice little introduction to prayer using the methods of St. Ignatius. It's a book I will have to read several times over to fully appreciate. ...more
I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this young millennial's interpretation of Laudato Si. I finished it on December 31st and implemented iI am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this young millennial's interpretation of Laudato Si. I finished it on December 31st and implemented ideas right then. It was a great way to begin the new year! There are questions for each chapter, making it a great book for book club. There is also an appendix full of resources I plan to read....more
Very quick read. The writing could have been more polished, but is consistent with the author's voice on her blog and radio show. I can't deduct a staVery quick read. The writing could have been more polished, but is consistent with the author's voice on her blog and radio show. I can't deduct a star for getting exactly what I should expect. Overall interesting memoir that touches about the balance game mothers play. I particularly enjoyed the idea of seeing our passions as a small part of something greater, like a player in a symphony. "Unite with your family. Bring them into what you do, and bring what you do into your family. Move in unity, not apart from on another."...more
A spiritual book that is a conversation between Robert Cardinal Sarah (one of our Church's most recognized, traditional prelates) Nicholas Diat (FrencA spiritual book that is a conversation between Robert Cardinal Sarah (one of our Church's most recognized, traditional prelates) Nicholas Diat (French journalist), and Dom Dysmas de Lassus (Carthusian monk) at the La Grande Chartreux in the French Alps.
An excerpt:
Without noise, man is feverish, lost. Noise gives him security, like a drug on which he has become dependent. With its festive appearance, noise is a whirlwind that avoids facing itself. Agitation becomes a tranquilizer, a sedative, a morphine pump, a sort of reverie, an incoherent dream-world. But this noise is dangerous, deceptive medicine, a diabolic lie that helps man avoid confronting himself in his interior emptiness. The awakening will necessarily be brutal.
It continues forth in a similar, super-chill manner.
If you agree with critics of Robert Cardinal Sarah that his traditional Catholicism is too strident and unmerciful, this is likely not the book for you. He affirms positions many of his liberal Catholic critics decry, including a return to mass ad orientem. That said, he brought up interesting points on inculturation of the liturgy (incorporating local culture into the liturgy--no surprise, he is not a fan), asceticism, poverty, lecto divina, and the virtue of imposed silence. It's a book I will continue to think about for some time.
I loved it, but there is a disclaimer. Bishop Barron did not write this book. It is a compilation of over 20 hours of interviews between him and John I loved it, but there is a disclaimer. Bishop Barron did not write this book. It is a compilation of over 20 hours of interviews between him and John Allen Jr., focusing mostly on the post-conciliar Church. Some readers are disappointed by this, but I'm not. It presents Bishop Barron's approachable intellectualism in easy to swallow chapters--it's a quick, enjoyable read. I'm beyond excited to hear him speak next year!...more
When you take a break from social media, you do things like finish books you've been trying to finish for months. Less than 24 hours after my declaredWhen you take a break from social media, you do things like finish books you've been trying to finish for months. Less than 24 hours after my declared break, I'm posting on GR with my first completed book. (As I type this, an email from FB came in reminding me how easy it is to return with "one click!" How did they know I'm on a break? I didn't cancel my account...)
I looked for background information on the book and author because it read like an academic paper or dissertation. The writing style had a grandiloquence usually found in higher education, and each chapter concluded with dozens of endnotes. I was right; it was based off a lecture the author gave at Acton University.
I enjoyed the final chapters and the reading list of classic theologians in the back of the book, but I said that about the last book I read. I'm going to take a break from reading modern Catholic authors and try my hand at the church fathers/mothers that inspired them.
Vogt didn't write this book for cradle Catholics, which I am. I still gladly accepted the ARC because I'm a huge fan of Word of Fire, the podcast he hVogt didn't write this book for cradle Catholics, which I am. I still gladly accepted the ARC because I'm a huge fan of Word of Fire, the podcast he hosts with Bishop Barron. The book is simple, straightforward, and short. He goes over the reasons he found Catholicism compelling as an engineering major in college and addresses many of the misconceptions surrounding the faith. Overall, it's a good primer for those interested in Catholicism but not ready to tackle books by classic theologians like St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, and Blessed John Henry Newman, or modern intellectuals like Chesterton, Kreeft, Bishop Barron, and others. (A struggle Vogt admits having his first go round with Summa Theologica.) I gave the book an additional star for the well-rounded lists of recommended books to read and websites to visit....more
This book(let) consists almost entirely of excerpts of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman's work explaining the biblical, scriptural, and traditional This book(let) consists almost entirely of excerpts of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman's work explaining the biblical, scriptural, and traditional history of Marian doctrine. It was not light reading. In fact, it took 3 days of concerted effort to read this 38-page booklet. I haven't struggled with a text this much since my first year of law school! I had to read every paragraph at least twice because my 21st century mind is quite feeble when compared to a noted theologian and Church scholar, to say nothing of the early Church fathers and scholars quoted therein (e.g., St. Justin Martyr, A.D. 120-165; St. Irenaeus, A.D. 120-200; Tertullian of Carthage, A.D. 160-240). I am better for it but, like everything else I have read lately, I will gain only more upon reading it again and again. ...more
First published in 1991. Good, though in some parts the author gets unnecessarily saucy. The 21st reason should be removed in its entirety. Ad hominemFirst published in 1991. Good, though in some parts the author gets unnecessarily saucy. The 21st reason should be removed in its entirety. Ad hominem attacks are boring and do nothing to further intelligent discourse, so I am not interested in arguments that are neither scripturally or factually based. It shows the author's petty side and takes away from the preceding 20 reasons....more
Lovely, thoughtful book on the relationship between God and man. Concise and tightly written, without a word wasted. It's a book I could read every yeLovely, thoughtful book on the relationship between God and man. Concise and tightly written, without a word wasted. It's a book I could read every year and discover something new each time. ...more
My reading plan has me taking a month to finish this book, but it took less than a busy week. I couldn't put it down.My reading plan has me taking a month to finish this book, but it took less than a busy week. I couldn't put it down....more
I wouldn't be surprised to hear this book builds upon his previous books. Having not read anything by Fr. Amorth before, I can only say this one was gI wouldn't be surprised to hear this book builds upon his previous books. Having not read anything by Fr. Amorth before, I can only say this one was great. Gave me a lot to think about....more
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