Why Enough is Never Enough

Why Enough is Never Enough: Overcoming Worries about Money - A Catholic Perspective by Gregory S. Jeffrey arrived in the mail at the perfect time.  At the end of the year, we sit down as a family and look over our budget for the previous 12 months.  We see areas we want to improve, areas that are doing well, and challenges to give more to church and charity. 

This seems to be a common goal each year.

"Can we give more?"

Mr. Jeffrey's book is about making peace with money which ultimately comes down to making peace with God.  Recognizing that it's really not ours but His.  We are just His stewards.

Each chapter is chock full spiritual quotes, personal anecdotes, biblical references and exegesis, and reflections questions. 

The language that is used is readable and easy to follow.  However, the content is not watered down; Mr. Jeffery poses some hard truths.  Hard because they cause one to look at himself and see where the struggle lies with generosity.  Mr. Jeffrey poses three common temptations to generosity; I must say that when I read them I could identify with all three at some point in my life.

Many studies have indicated that the two biggest concerns to failed or failing marriages are financial concerns and sexual intimacy.

This book addresses one of those is a deep, thought-provoking way.  I would highly recommmend this book to anybody looking to gain a better understanding of tithing and stewardship.

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 Why Enough Is Never Enough. They are also a great source for serenity prayer and baptism gifts.

A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers

Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle is in my top 10 of favorite authors; I am slowly acquiring everything she has ever written.

I recently received A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers and, again, was not disappointed. The book is slim and easy to fit in a bag to take along to soccer practice, the dentist, Eucharistic Adoration...wherever.

I've been keeping it on my bedside table and reading snippets before bed each night.

I really enjoyed how Mrs. Cooper O'Boyle weaves saintly quotes with reflections on different areas of feminine life. She also sprinkles in personal anecdotes here and there among the prayers shared.

The chapters are not long, but they are quite deep. Each paragraph has a gem of wisdom that makes me want to open it back up and read it all over again when I think I'm finished.

This is a book to keep with you, in a purse or diaper bag, to pull out at the beginning of the day, throughout the day, and at the end of the day. Inspired by the words of John Paul II in his encyclical, Mulieris Dignatatem, and his Letter to Women, A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers seeks to convey that all women are entrusted with the human being. This little book allows for a deeper awareness of the "entrusting" that John Paul II spoke of.

Drawing you back to the heart of Christ through encouragement, gentle prayer, and saints to walk with, this book is one to put on your wish list.

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 A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers. They are also a great source for first communion gifts and baptism gifts.

Through the Year With Mary

Karen Edmisten's latest book, Through The Year With Mary, is a gem! Short and concise, it is a collection of quotes about our Lady and a short reflection for each day of the year.

This is a book I want to keep on the Dining Room table, so we can read the day's quote with our breakfast and start our day thinking about Mary; drawing close to her, who in turn will draw us closer to Her Son.

The introduction sucked me in. I read it, internalized it, and realized that like her I came tentatively to Our Lady, but more and more turn to her and ask for her prayers. In particular, for the graces needed to mother my children, to be a good helpmate, and to live out my vocation in joy and love.

On the back of books, oftentimes there are comments by people connected to the author in some way. Jennifer Fulwiler of Conversion Diary blog contributed one of these that is my thoughts exactly, "Daily quotes powerful enough to ponder for hours, yet brief enough to read amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life."

Since receiving this book, I've definitely been pondering!

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 Through The Year With Mary and be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts while you are there. I received nothing but a free copy of the book in exchange for my opinion of it.

Healing After Divorce: Hope for Catholics

I recently finished Healing After Divorce: Hope For Catholics by Susan K. Rowland as part of the reviewer program with The Catholic Company. As this was the third book I have received, I can now say that I picked a book that disappointed me.

I selected this book because I have been searching for good resources for my mother as it is now two years since my parents' divorce was finalized.

The title was what drew me in, as this is exactly the theme that I want to convey to my mother and what she is looking for.

What I found; however, was less than satisfying.

In my opinion, the author gives too many personal stories of her own divorce. Those stories seemed to dominate my reading of this book, and I, instead, was looking for more of what the Church teaches about divorce, some pastoral suggestions for seeking healing, reflection questions, etc. All without bias or personal connection.

(Note: The author does include end-of-chapter questions and room to note any other thoughts, but this seemed dwarfed by the stories.)

One chapter in particular that I felt was lacking was on "First Decisions." The author states that for the newly divorced, one of the first things is to to make a decision to not get back in the dating scene as they haven't had proper time to heal. While that may be true, she does not introduce till several chapters later the process of annulment as necessary in order to do so.

I don't like to be so negative about a book, so I will say that there were several good scripture quotes included, the chapters were concise, the book is slim and easy to read, and the question format is a great set-up for one to journal with this book.

I definitely was let down by this book, but know that there are several others out there that might meet the current need in our family. This book might appeal to readers because of the personal stories, but my taste is decidedly against the amount shared.

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 Healing after Divorce: Hope for Catholics and be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts while you are there. I received nothing but a free copy of the book in exchange for my opinion of it.

Hitler, the War, and the Pope

After finishing The Four Teresas, I decided to request Hitler, the War, and the Pope, by Ronald J. Rychlak. Little did I know I would be getting a 600 + page hardcover!

As a History and Theology Major I have always enjoyed reading about world conflicts and the Church's response to them. While my particular area of study was on Spanish Missions in Florida, I have also read a bit about WWII.

The version I received is the Revised and Expanded Version in which Mr. Rychlak adds to his previous studies.

This book is filled with facts, quotes, references, etc., but all in a very readable form. I did not find this book "dry" in the least. I was drawn in by the very systematic approach that Mr. Rychlak takes in presenting the background of Pope Pius XII (then Eugenio Pacelli) as Papal Nuncio to Munich and Secretary of State prior to the start of WWII. His familiarity with Hitler and his outspokenness about Hitler's doings in Germany were well noted by those in the Vatican and secular society.

Mr. Rychlak chronicles Pacelli's rise in the hierarchy and eventual election to Pope. He spends a great deal of time covering Pope Pius XII's statements during WWII, his connections and dealings with both Allies and Axis powers, and includes documentation of groups that thanked the Pope for his efforts to combat anti-semitism. Most notably in the final war years and post-war time period.

How then could generations of people not know of the Pope's humanitarian efforts and accuse him of apathy and even collaborating with Hitler?

Mr. Rychlak looks at recent charges that the Soviets were involved in a plan to discredit him and "change" people's view of history or forget it in some way. While that particular chapter was fascinating in context, it was difficult to follow all the threads. Following a chapter in which Mr. Rychlak looks at certain critics' points, Mr. Rychlak devotes a chapter just to Questions and Answers. An excellent way to wrap up his tremendous research.

There were so many quotes and facts that stuck out to me, but this paragraph lingers in my thoughts:

"The persecution put an enormous strain on Pius. Associates worried about his ability to survive the eighteen-hour days he put in. Although Pius could have lived in the style of a king, he put war-time restrictions upon himself and the other citizens of Vatican City. He dispensed with his private secretaries, and he survived on the same rations that were available to everyone in Rome (little food, no coffee, and no heat). By the end of the war, he was emaciated. Although he was more than six feet tall, he weighed only 130 pounds. Bishop (late Archbishop) Fulton Sheen called Pius a 'dry martyr,' meaning that he had suffered for the Church in times of persecution, but without having shed blood. He had witnessed terrible suffering up close, and have been unable to stop it:

Perhaps no Pope in history has seen so many martyred for their faith as Pius XII. The first 32 Popes, including St. Peter, were martyrs for the faith. They were the wet martyrs. The present Holy Father has seen millions tortured, persecuted, exiled, and martyred under the beatings of the hammer and sickle of communism; he has agonized under the double cross of Nazism and borne in his body the marks of the sticks of fascism...[A]ll this and other sorrows, he felt as his own."

I was most pleased with my choice of book. The length did seem daunting at first, but a truly excellent piece of research laid out in a very systematic and engaging read.

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 Hitler, the War, and the Pope. I received nothing but a free copy of the book in exchange for my opinion of it.

While you're checking out the Catholic Company. Take a look at their Mary Statues! This one is on my Christmas List:)

The Four Teresas

I just joined The Catholic Company's reviewer program, and the first book I chose to review was The Four Teresas, by Gina Loehr. The first aspect of Mrs. Loehr's book that pleased me was how systematic it is laid out and easy to read. She states how the book will progress and it does just that. The language used is easy to read and would be for high schoolers through adult. By stating that it is easy to read, I do not mean that it is "dumbed down." Not in the least!

The premise is that these four Teresa's: St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Teresa Benedicta, and Blessed Mother Teresa, each are linked to an aspect of this scripture verse, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39.

St. Therese of Lisieux=love the Lord with your whole heart; St. Teresa of Avila=love the Lord with your whole soul; St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross=love the Lord with your whole mind, and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta=Loving your neighbor as yourself.

Mrs. Loehr takes most of each saint's chapter giving a biographical account of that saint and how they lived out their particular aspect. She infuses pertinent quotes, lively vignettes, and modern analogies to appeal to any reader. The end of each chapter holds questions for reflections, a list of ten ways to become more like that saint, and additional points for consideration.

This book could easily be used by high school youth groups, college men's and women's groups, and older adults living out their vocations. It's slim, only 128 pages, and easily portable. When I got through the first chapter, I mentioned to our local Campus Ministry how appropriate I thought this book would be for their women's small groups. Thoughtful reading and reflection of the saint's biography followed by reflection questions to journal about. The ten ways to be like the saint are "butt-kickers." You want to be holy? Here you go...ten things to do. I can see the young women in the small groups calling each other on with those, and the points for consideration would be terrific to discuss in small groups.

As I read this book during my daughter's naptimes and in the evenings while my husband attended his bible study, I found myself re-reading pages and making notes. I took it with me to adoration and brought questions to the Lord that were rooted in reflections from this book. Since finishing it, I find myself recommending it to just about everybody.

Mrs. Loehr includes a bibliography of the sources she used and additional websites for further reading. Believe me, I'll be checking those out! She's hit a spiritual nerve that yearns to go deeper.

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 The Four Teresas. I received nothing but a free copy of the book in exchange for my opinion of it.