What's on your nightstand?

"The harm that comes to souls from the lack of reading holy books makes me shudder . . . What power spiritual reading has to lead to a change of course, and to make even worldly people enter into the way of perfection."
— St. Padre Pio

If you're reading the latest dystopian novel, may I make a suggestion? Call it post-dystopia if you like ;0)

C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce points to so much of what is going on in the world today...and it was written over 70 years ago! The artist who can't enter heaven to be with God because he is too busy trying to paint glimpses of God in the world; the theologian who has lost all interest in being near God because he is busily trying to prove God's existence. So many people, so engaged in their world that they have lost the ability to experience God, even when the opportunity is directly presented to them. It is a fantastic work.

If you have only a small amount of time to read, isn't it important that the time be well-spent?

We are blessed.

Quiet: Final thoughts

I've been reading this book for the last several weeks (if you'd like to know more, go HERE or check it out of your local library).



It's been an extremely interesting(although at times repetitive) book for me. The insight into our society's value on extroversion is very thought-provoking. Still, I've probably droned on long enough (please do read it yourself) so this will be the last post :0)

Extroversion and Evangelicalism

There is a section on religion, specifically evangelicalism, and extroversion in which the author examines Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, which at the time of writing had a weekly attendance of 22,000. Cain explores this church and its people through the lens of Adam McHugh, an evangelical pastor and self-proclaimed introvert (he authored Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture). They discuss the almost pre-requisites of the evangelical faith: greeting others, lengthy sermons, and strong encouragement for involvement in committees and extra-curricular activities. All of these things, says McHugh, leave little time for personal prayer and reflection.

It's an interesting take. Never having been associated with an evangelical church, it's hard for me to comment on that aspect but I will say that many of the things he talks about are also true in my 10,000 member parish. Still, within the format of the Mass, I find ample opportunity for private prayer and reflection...even in the midst of so many people.

Finally, from the chapter, "When Collaboration Kills Creativity":

I am a horse for a single harness; not cut out for tandem or teamwork...for well I know that in order to attain any definite goal, it is imperative that one person do the thinking and commanding."  - Albert Einstein

I must share that with DH, often heard to say, "I would rather do almost anything else than group work."

I believe there are times when groups may be useful (parenting, making pierogi) but on the whole (and certainly from my experience in Academe), group work is great for people who mainly enjoy talking about things; talking a lot (witness the "committee on committees" phenomena). For most the effective problem-solving I have to vote for the lone wolf approach. I believe Steve Wozniak would agree:

Work alone. You're going to be best able to design revolutionary products and features if you're working on your own. Not on a committee. Not on a team.

Food for thought. Have a blessed day!

The Funny Guide to NFP

This was originally titled "Life, Death and NFP" but I realized I had more to say about this book so I'll just tackle the other two at a later date.

Sorry it's a little late...it was in my drafts box and I forgot :0(

October 14th was NFP awareness day in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. This is a day to "(re-?)acquaint" Catholic people with NFP, the "alternative to artificial contraception". (BTW, this quote is from The Pittsburgh Catholic) I don't know about you but something about that is odd to me. Does that mean that NFP is "natural" contraception? Hmmm. I don't really think that's where they're going with this. I think the media person needs to find a new job.

Since we had no such "awareness" happen at our parish (not going on a rant, promise) I felt like I had to go out and find something to increase my awareness. This is a lie, of course, I'm as aware as I care to be. We don't practice NFP...never really found a good enough reason...still, I like to see what's out there to help people I meet that might be struggling with the Church teaching. Baptism class is always a great opportunity to promote.

What I found was The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning by Simcha Fisher. It gets a 5-star rating on Amazon over 93 reviews and I agree completely. This is one eye-opening, straight-talking, clear-thinking book about all things NFP and much, much more. Of course, Simcha is my girl. I just love the way she writes. Her humor is my humor.

Yes, I agree, it's sort of an odd title (like natural contraception) but it is sooo worth a read. It even comes on Kindle. Yeah! So, without giving all the good stuff away, here are the two top things she addresses with regard to NFP (oh and if you want a "how to do NFP" guide" this isn't it)
                  
1. Don't Judge - Wow! What a concept. Yet, the way she brings it out is just awesome. NFP is full of people who are judging others or being judged themselves. NFP is a decision that you come to with your spouse and God and that is your business. Just like it is for everyone else. So, as my brother-in-law is fond of saying, "just worry about yourself".

2. Fall in love with your husband - In the book, she talks about the difficulty that comes with saying "no" to your body and to your husband at a time when, physiologically, you want to be saying "yes" (if, that is, you are using NFP to avoid a pregnancy). I can imagine that this is a truly painful and sanctifying time. That's why it's great that she goes into such depth about things you and your husband can do that show love without the marital embrace (and I'm not just talking about the bedroom). If you're waiting on the next baby, use the time to strengthen your marriage. Again, what a concept!

So, I think you should pick it up. If you're Catholic, consider this an even stronger suggestion. It is a great way to look differently at how we use and respond to our fertility within the teachings of our church.

We are blessed!

More from Dr. Ray

I have been reading the latest book from Dr. Ray Guarendi, Winning the Discipline Debates. Let me tell you what I think ;0)

The structure of the book is a fun, easy read. The layout is like a play script (including stage direction from Dr. Ray!) setting up the conflict and addressing different possible outcomes depending on the parent's and child's action/reaction. The book covers a wide range of behavior and discipline issues so it's likely that you will find something that can help you with your parenting.

If you are a fan of Dr. Ray, or just enjoy wry humor, you will enjoy this book. It is typical Dr. Ray, self-deprecating, humorous, with good tips all along the way. Dr. Ray's ability to cut to the core issue is always refreshing. He is not afraid to say the things that need to be said, regardless of how they play with today's societal climate.

I enjoyed reading this book. I think it will help a lot of parents, regardless of where they are in their parenting journey. It begins with a toddler problem in Chapter 1 and ends with a sixteen-year-old in Chapter 25 so this would be an excellent gift for a new parent. That way, they can check back with it all along their parenting journey.

For fans of Dr. Ray, there are bits of wisdom that are repeated or repackaged from previous books. I look at that as positive reinforcement...most of us don't learn things completely the first time around. Try it for yourself or buy a copy for another parent. It will make the journey a more enjoyable trip.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Winning the Discipline Debates. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.

Seeking new Saints?

 

We love the Saints around our house. Our eldest  daughter is our go-to Saint person. We often joke that, if there were a Saints Jeopardy, she could fund her college degree. Perhaps that will be true one day. In the meantime, here is a great new book that will help you get your daily dose of Saint stories with an added twist.

Sisterhood of Saints by Melanie Rigney is a great Saint-a-day book that will introduce you to new women of virtue, along with some more familiar names. On March 17th, you will read about Gertrude of Nivelles, from the seventh century. After the death of her father, Gertrude's mother built a monastery and they both joined, with Gertrude serving as abbess. We learn that, after her mother's death Gertrude chose to give up her leadership position in favor of more opportunity for prayer and penance.

The author then provides "Inspiration" through a quote, either from the Bible or the Saint themselves. Lastly, there is a daily "Challenge" which usually centers on some theme of the woman's life. In this instance, we are challenged to think about a group or ministry that we have led for some time that might be ready for new leadership.

I look forward to working through this book each day (if I can keep it away from my daughter!). It is a wonderful gift to learn about these holy women who came before us and who's stories may help us identify potential areas of growth in our own lives.

The author has a reasonably detailed bibliography and states that she used the Vatican website (www.vatican.va) for information on birth and death dates. That being said, there will be Saints assigned to a day that is not, in fact, their traditional feast day. For instance, St. Clare is listed in the book on August 10, not the 11th. It's never stated that the dates correspond with the feast of the saint but, just in case you're a stickler for things like that, you may want to consult additional sources.

Overall, this is a very welcome book on my shelf. It is a great resource for women to learn about these great women of the Church. The coverage of new and unusual Saints makes it even more worthwhile. I highly recommend it for any woman in your life. I know it's going to make a great 9th birthday present in our home!

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Sisterhood of Saints. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.  

How to be a Catholic dad

For my latest review, I chose a book that I could read and discuss with my husband. We both agree that Man to Man - Dad to Dad: Catholic Faith and Fatherhood is a much needed resource in the arena of Catholic parenting. The shelves are full of mom-oriented books which focus on keeping kids Catholic but this is a great view from the male perspective...actually, many male perspectives, since

The structure of a different author for each chapter gives the book many different perspectives to entice different types of readers. Some of the chapters focus mainly on scripture in relation to parenting and others are more real-world. Whatever your style, you will find some great advice in these pages.

Each chapter provides encouragement and easily digested wisdom. The chapter by Patrick Madrid, "You Can Keep Your Kids Catholic," is full of real-world ideas for fathers trying to keep their children in the faith like praying the family rosary and providing each child with their own Bible with an inscription from their parents.

The book is a quick read but full of enough good information to meet the needs of both first-time and more experienced fathers. It would make a great book for any father who is searching for inspiration to raise and keep their children in the Catholic faith.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Man to Man - Dad to Dad: Catholic Faith and Fatherhood. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.

"Who's Who" Review





In his book, Who's Who in Heaven: Real Saints for Families in Plain English, Father Thomas G. Morrow gives families a wonderful resource to begin (or continue) their education about the Saints. Fr. Morrow covers eleven Saints in all, most very recognizable and some of whom you may be yet unfamiliar.

We have begun to read a Saint story after dinner or lunch once each month. Each is several pages in length so it may be best to divide it up among several sessions when reading to an under-6-year-old crowd. My three oldest (7, 6 and 4) listened well and the older two were able to participate in the discussion after. The stories do a good job of covering the Saint's life and the discussion questions, even if the children are too young to answer them all in-depth, are a good place to begin.

Because of the length and lack of pictures, I would follow the publisher's recommendation of third grade and above. If you have that age child in your home, as our oldest is, I still believe the little ones benefit from hearing the stories repeated whenever possible, and this is one way to accomplish that. If you only have tiny ones at home, save this for later. I can imagine it to be a great resource for middle-school children and older.

Overall, we are enjoying our monthly lesson on each new Saint. I can see that this will be a book we return to periodically as a refresher. Definitely one to have on your religious shelf!

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Who's Who In Heaven. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.

Raising God-First kids

In these days of Facebook, Twitter and blogging, there are thousands of voices reflecting a myriad of parenting styles and advice. How do you, as a parent, know which path will produce faith-filled children?

In her last book, Raising God-First kids in a Me-First World, Barbara Curtis recounts her parenting story from the beginning (a single New-Age mom of two) and brings us along to present day. In the process, we are blessed to observe the journey of her life as she travels to her ultimate vocation as a mother of twelve (including three adopted sons with Down Syndrome).

Mrs. Curtis points out two fundamental truths about today's society: 1. many parents want to be their child's friend not parent and 2. children for the most part are seen as a burden not a blessing. She uses these show how difficult but necessary it is to buck societal trends and raise children to grow up in character and integrity. These traits are essential, not just for the parent and child, but for society as a whole.

She tackles many parenting challenges that are experienced by those coming from a background of little or no faith (although I am sure there will be those raised within a faith who struggle with the same issues). Mrs. Curtis does a lovely job of mixing Biblical references, Christian beliefs, and old school common sense to reveal the path to raising God-focused children.

The book, overall, is a fresh perspective on parenting that looks at children as blessings loaned from God and our responsibility to raise them in the best way possible. The author relishes her vocation, with its successes and trials, and that shows in her writing.

Prepare to find many God-centered, Holy Spirit driven words of advice in this book. Much of her suggestions clearly stem from the many years spent within an Evangelical religious framework. While there are a few mentions of specific Catholic-based issues they are in the minority, which is a pity. Being a later convert (2007) she points out that much of her parenting was done by the time she entered the Catholic church.

Even without the specifics of Catholic parenting, there are many ideas and tools worth considering in this book. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to step away from the "what's wrong with our kids" parenting guides and instead use the time to rejoice in the gift and gain the tools necessary to properly fulfil one's vocation.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Raising God-First Kids in a Me-First World. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.