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Book Reviews

“Good Boundaries and Goodbyes” Explores Boundaries with Grace

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This is my column that appears in this week’s print edition of The Catholic Post.

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Most people understand that health is a lifelong practice on a physical level—you don’t “get healthy” once and then abandon the healthy habits that led to it, such as as eating well, getting adequate sleep, exercise, and reducing stress. Our bodies, our lives, are gifts from God, and as disciples, we are called to take care of them.

We can always be learning new things about health. But two things are key to remember:

  1. Just reading about healthy habits doesn’t make you healthy. You have to put them into practice.
  2. There are great, good, and bad (or at minimum less than helpful) sources of advice. We are each responsible for sifting what is good from what is bad involves discernment.

These principles are just as true — even more so — for our mental health. And an important mental health habit is having good boundaries—healthy limits on our relationships, ourselves, and on our interactions with others.

A boundary can be as simple as saying no to a volunteer commitment (often something good!) to prevent burnout or overextending yourself. It can also be as complicated as putting limits on time spent with a coworker or friend who refuses to or ignores clearly articulated requests.

“Boundaries” are often misunderstood (and misused), especially in our current time of mental health gurus with questionable authority. A new book, Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are by Christian author Lysa TerKeurst, explores the concept of boundaries from a Christian and mental health perspective.

Good Boundaries and Goodbyes persuasively makes the case that learning to be healthier about boundaries is good not just for our emotional wellbeing, but honoring to God and neighbor.

But that doesn’t make boundaries easy! Far from it. And Terkeurst writes from experience.

She went through a painful divorce after years of her spouse’s addiction issues. Processing her grief during and after helped her realize she lacked healthy boundaries not just in marriage, but in friendships and other relationships.

Good Boundaries and Goodbyes explores what boundaries are, how to understand them, and how to implement them in various situations.

While Terkeurst is not Catholic, nothing in the book is contrary to Catholic teaching. And I appreciated her faith-based perspective, her emphasis on Scripture verses throughout, and her exploration through Scripture of the ways God enacts boundaries with humans as a way to protect and preserve relationships.

“I know part of what makes this complicated is that usually by the time we realize we need boundaries, we are carrying hurt,” Terkeurst writes. “Boundaries aren’t meant to be weaponized. They are meant to be used to prioritize keeping relationships safe.”

Several features makes Good Boundaries and Goodbyes stand out: a section at the end of each chapter called “Let’s Live This,” with Scripture verses to ponder, key quotes to remember, questions for personal reflection, and prayers.

The book also includes multiple sidebars of careful explanation of topics from TerKeurst’s Christian therapist, Jim Cress.

Especially useful is a section at the end of the book containing Q&A style explanations and sample “scripts” in refuting objections to boundaries and the Scriptural and psychological principles that undergirds them.

I’ve written often about how caring for our mental health is vital in living out a full, abundant life. Simply being Catholic or practicing our faith does not guarantee the absence of mental health struggles. We need to educate ourselves, and do the hard work of putting what we learn into practice. Good Boundaries and Goodbyes makes that work a little easier.

Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? A Review of Books on Sex & Gender

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This is my column that appears in this week’s print edition of The Catholic Post.

I’ve written before—more than once— about how I, like many people, prefer to avoid tough topics. Can’t we talk about things that are more cheerful than abortion, or pornography, or toxic cultural trends?

And yet… The issues do not go away if we ignore them. The human cost can be very real. Finding reliable, knowledgeable sources is more demanding than ever.

Being an informed Catholic and disciple of Christ is having an openness to learning, as well as a sense of curiosity towards the world and current issues.

That’s why I am so grateful for a book like The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory by Abigail Favale, to help put some complex current topics in perspective.

The Genesis of Gender is part memoir, part feminist history and theory, and part spiritual reflection on how we might move forward as a culture.

Favale, an English professor with a deep background in women’s and gender studies, is well-equipped to lead readers through the issues. And as an unlikely Catholic convert, she shows how Catholic theology and worldview is solidly equipped to navigate our complicated times.

Freedom & Gender Identity

The book opens with Favale’s own intellectual and spiritual journey, then zooms out to chronicle the history of feminism, our current cultural moment, and more.

The book’s chapters have one-word titles: for example “Waves,” “Control,” and “Artifice.” The chapter titled “Waves,” for example, outlines feminist history from the 19th century until today. “Cosmos” explains how the Christian creation accounts differ from more violent and less “good” creation myths, and why that is important for our understanding of the human person and our gender identity.

Favale excels in explaining how a modern concept of “freedom” actually involves denial of the reality of the human person, especially women. She writes:

“Too often, freedom for women is cast as freedom from femaleness. “Autonomy is envisioned according to male parameters, and women are expected to sue invasive chemical and surgical means to conform their bodies to that ideal. Women are not valued simply for being; they must prove their value by doing.”

The Genesis of Gender

A Sensitive and Measured Approach

The chapter titled “Wholeness” is worth the price of the book. Favale shares her story of body dysphoria after giving birth, and the postpartum depression that resulted from it. This is a common experience, and she shows how this sense of “not belonging” in one’s body is near universal at different stages of life. The answer to that discomfort and even pain is not the change of the person, but a radical anthropology of acceptance about how God made us: good. Very good.

It’s demanding—at best—to write about issues that are both complicated and controversial. I admire how Favale writes to inform and enlighten in a way that’s not overwrought, but sensitive and measured.

Not all books are meant for all people, but I heartily recommend reading The Genesis of Gender to anyone—especially women—interested in learning more about gender issues from a feminist and/or Christian perspective with an open mind and a sense of curiosity.

My review in The Catholic Post ends here, but there are many more resources to consider. Here are few:

Further Reading

I have been reading and reflecting on current sexual and gender politics for the past few years, alternately despairing and hoping. It’s a very complicated, muddled, incendiary environment. I rarely will speak about it with people, because it’s just too nuanced. I am much better in writing, so putting down words about these topics has been helpful for understanding it.

I’m an old feminist and a serious Catholic, which makes my initial thoughts on this very different than our current cultural moment. I am open-minded and willing to learn, so I’ve read quite widely.

If you are a person of good will and interested in learning more about these issues, here are some resources. I do not agree with everything in these books/sources, but I have found them thought-provoking without being inflammatory.

The Genesis of Gender & Abigail Favale

Obviously, since I reviewed this book, I found it worthwhile. Claire Swinarski hosted a discussion earlier this year with Abigail Favale. You can listen to this if you are a paying subscriber, but I find Claire’s content (Letters from a Catholic Feminist) worth supporting, and I am glad to do so. For instance, she did a read-along of The Genesis of Gender.

The Case Against the Sexual Revolution by Louise Perry

I discovered Louise Perry’s The Case Agains the Sexual Revolution: A New Guide to Sex in the 21st Century very randomly early in the summer while doing research for a client. [If you’re interested, here’s the episode, which I happened upon during research on Ali Abdaal].

At the time it was not available in the US (she’s a UK writer), but I immediately pre-ordered it. It was extremely well written and well-researched. The fact that it (and many others on the list) are not from a Catholic or even Christian perspective, is instructive in understanding that can be helpful for both people who have a faith tradition, as well as those who do not. These topics and concerns are not solely religious issues, but rather issues related to human flourishing, and especially to women flourishing.

Rethinking Sex: A Provocation by Christine Emba

Rethinking Sex, written by a young Washington Post columnist, was distressing for me to read. I thought things were pretty awful for my generation of women in dating during the 1980s & 1990s, but things are much, much worse. Both Emba and Perry cover how the sexual revolution’s fruits have been most toxic to women, and how modern sexual ethics hamper flourishing and good romantic relationships. I really recommend all young people (especially women), read it to understand that they are not alone in their awful dating experiences, and to understand the importance of seeking healthy relationships.

Amy Welborn on Sex & Gender

Amy Welborn is one of the OG Catholic bloggers, and she’s been writing, publishing books, and just generally being interesting on the Internet for decades. (In 2012, I reviewed Amy’s memoir on losing her husband suddenly) I enjoy her writing, truly hate her movie recommendations, and just in general follow most of what she writes.

In recent years, she has begun writing–somewhat reluctantly–about sex and gender. She is so thoughtful and thorough on the topics that I encourage you to read what she has written. Here is the “Sex & Gender” tab on her website, but she writes about it at least weekly, with updates on current happenings. Highly recommended for keeping up to date, as well as thinking through these issues.

Irreversible Damage by Abigail Schrierer

When I first bought Irreversible Damage several years ago, I kind of hid it away. It seemed almost embarrassing to read it because when it was first released, the overarching view was that if you read it or supported it in any way, you were an officially Bad Person.

But I was curious, and when I read it I could not believe how moderate and sensible it is. It is shocking to me how this book was misrepresented. If you’re not quite ready to read her book, please take a few minutes to read this talk she gave to Princeton students last year. I think it will give an overview of her voice and concerns.

Dialogue

I am genuinely interested in people learning and reading widely on these issues, but I find our current cultural moment makes it difficult to either learn or to discuss these issues freely. I have often said, and I will put out here, that I am happy to read other perspectives and ideas on these topics, and I have. I am just sharing the ones that I have found most resonant. I am genuinely interested to learn of others as well.

“The Good Life Method” Offers Practical Path to Live Well

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This is my column that appears in this week’s print edition of The Catholic Post.  I invite your feedback!

What is “The Good Life”?

Everyone wants to live a good, happy life. How we get there, and how we live this out, can be a point of disagreement. How do we resolve that?

For instance, in popular culture, there’s often an argument made for something—and I think, “that’s not quite right” or “that’s completely wrong.” But most often I can’t explain the “why” of its faulty thinking.

That’s why I loved The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning by Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko. The book is based on the enormously popular course, “God and the Good Life,” the two teach at the University of Notre Dame.

The Good Life Method

Note that the word “philosophy” (wisely) does not appear in the title of the book. The subject can be intimidating and off-putting for some readers (like me!) who don’t perceive that they have an aptitude for philosophy. But “The Good Life Method”— in an engaging, enjoyable style—explains these philosophers and philosophical concepts with down-to-earth explanations and real-life examples.

“We need philosophical coaching. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, Saint Thomas Aquinas —..have all worked out proven methods for bringing direction to tumultuous lives,” Sullivan and Blaschko write. “It is shocking how vibrant and relevant this time-tested guides still are today.”

Virtue Ethics Contrasted With Other Philosophies

The “Good Life Method” focuses chiefly on virtue ethics. This is the idea—laid out by ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle—that begins with the premise living a happy life involves virtues, or good habits and good character.

What’s helpful about the book is how it contrasts virtue ethics with other types of popular philosophical approaches—for instance, consequentialism. Consequentialism posits that the effect of what you do is more important than why you do it—basically, “the ends justify the means.” Consequentialism is incompatible with Catholic reasoning.

One example: when describing how consequentialist philosophers are skeptical of emotions in decision-making (one even wrote a book called “Against Empathy”), Sullivan & Blaschko contrast this with virtue ethics:

“Virtue ethicists…think we should be skeptical of any moral advice that is incapable of appropriately connecting to our emotional lives…. The philosophical heart of virtue ethics is that in the best situation we should want our feelings and actions to line up.”

“The Good Life Method”

The book is divided into two sections: The Good Life, and God and the Good Life.

In the first section, “The Good Life,” Sullivan and Blaschko cover the elements necessary for a good life: desiring truth, living generously, taking responsibility; working with integrity, and loving attentively. Each chapter covers one of these concepts, with relevant explanations of different philosophical principles and what they mean.

The second section, “God and the Good Life,” covers why it is important to consider questions of faith—philosophy about the concept of God; how faith develops; the problem of evil or suffering; purpose for those with faith; and preparing for death (or memento mori).

In parts of these “God” chapters, Sullivan and Blaschko share their faith journeys, one as a college-age convert, one as a cradle Catholic who struggled. They also share how Catholic faith is a critical component of their “good life method.” But since the class is taught to students of all faiths or no faith, the book is written and would be valuable for anyone to read, since it helps readers ask the “big questions” and reflect on them.

At the end of each chapter are “craft” reflection questions and prompts to foster deep thought and discussion. For instance, in the chapter on generosity, it’s titled “Soulcraft: Invest to Flourish.” In the chapter on work, it’s titled “Workcraft: Telling Your Work Story.”

Four Skills Needed to Form a “Philosophy of Life” and Write Your Own “Apology”

The book focuses on the four chief skills needed in forming a “philosophy of life” — asking strong (i.e., meaningful, deep) questions; having agency or control over your life; loving attention; and making meaning of our lives.

The goal of the book is for each reader to develop a “Philosophical Apology” which is part philosophical argument, part personal narrative, part map to the good life.

“It’s a goal-planning document on steroids,” they write.

The “apology” is not just a to-do list, but an exploration and explanation of values, hopes, and reasoning.

“Learning how to tell the true story, and becoming disciplined enough to do it, is how we develop the skill of personal agency,” Sullivan and Blaschko write. “It’s how we learn to take responsibility for our actions.”

Book Bonus: Learning About Renegade Philosophers

A bonus for me in reading “The Good Life Method” was learning more about the 20th century British philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe, one of the “Oxford women.” These female philosophers became influential during and after World War II. She was a devout Catholic and mother of seven, tireless intellectual, and outspoken feminist. Sullivan and Blaschko tell this remarkable story (and other stories) about her:

“Anscombe was stopped at the door of a Boston restaurant where she was told that women wearing parts were not allowed to enter. So, without missing a beat, she took her pants off.”

And the chapter “Take Responsibility,” begins with this “mic drop” quote from an essay Anscombe wrote:

“Principles that are mistakenly high and strict are a trap; they may easily lead in the end directly or indirectly to the justification of monstrous things.”

-Philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe

Why Pursue “The Good Life”?

A quote from the last section of the book seems appropriate to describe why everyone—not just college students or professional thinkers—should understand and implement a philosophical approach to life, with excellent help from “The Good Life Method”:

“Having a vision of the good life—a philosophical theory of what you are aiming at—is not crazy, impossible, or impractical. It is one of the most practical exercises we an understand, since your philosophical views can help you make all of the other very difficult decisions you face.”

Meghan Sullivan & Paul Blaschko in “The Good Life Method”

For those who don’t have a natural knack for understanding philosophy, “The Good Life Method” is a clear and highly accessible “translation” of these concepts, with practical application to everyday life.

“St. Dymphna’s Playbook” Offers Hope, Solidarity on Mental Health Struggles

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This is my column that appears in this week’s print edition of The Catholic Post.

Like most people, I am grateful to live in a time when mental health issues are discussed openly. In decades past, these topics were often minimized or stigmatized. And in some religious circles, mental health struggles could be overly spiritualized, and sometimes prayer was presented as the only solution.

At the same time, right now there is such a plethora of mental health resources and voices—especially on social media—that it’s challenging to distinguish the helpful from the less than helpful.

Sometimes, these voices—professionals or non-professionals—can pathologize nearly everything and everyone, even relatively normal struggles or relationships; they can promote a one-size-fits-all approach to all mental health issues; and they can be unreceptive or even hostile to sincere faith being a major element in a person’s integrated and well-ordered life. It can take a lot of effort to sift through the chaff for the wheat.

Tommy Tighe’s newest book: St. Dymphna’s Playbook

That’s why I am so grateful to Tommy Tighe, a licensed marriage and family therapist, for writing St. Dymphna’s Playbook: A Catholic Guide to Finding Mental and Emotional Well-Being,” and providing a much-needed Catholic perspective.

Tighe wrote St. Dymphna’s Playbook “to fill the void of Catholic conversations about mental health.”

St. Dymphna, for those who do not know her, is the saint who’s often invoked for those with mental health issues, and for their caregivers and loved ones. (Tighe’s podcast is also titled “St. Dymphna’s Playbook.”)

“God wills that everyone be saved, not just from sin and evil but also from depression, anxiety, past trauma, difficult relationships, heartbreak, addiction, and everything else that brings us pain, suffering, and separation from the love and peace God so desperately want to give us,” Tighe writes in the introduction.

St. Dymphna’s Playbook is divided into five sections: Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Relationships, and Grief. Each section has sub-chapters that cover one aspect of the subject: for instance, “Fatigue” and “Irritability” are two of the chapters under “Depression.” “Manipulative Relationships” is one chapter in the “Relationships” section.

Each chapter has a phrase that echoes John 11:3, when Jesus’ disciples report to him about Lazarus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

So, for instance, in the Anxiety section, one chapter is titled: “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The One You Love is Battling Intrusive Thoughts.” And a chapter of the Depression Section is “Irritability: Lord, The One You Love is Annoyed.”

Each section includes several aspects of a mental health disorder, such as a description of what the symptoms or diagnosis actually is; practical, healthy coping skills everyone can try; a brief exploration of what our faith and the saints have to say about the experience; and a list of key points in summary.

One of my favorite features is “What the Saints Say About …” . This chapter section profiles a saint who either did or may have suffered from that condition. In the Anhedonia (lack of feeling) chapter under Depression, Tighe discusses St. Mother Teresa and her decades-long struggle with spiritual darkness. Tighe also writes beautifully about the life of Venerable Matt Talbot, an early 20th century Irishman who overcame alcoholism and who said, “It’s as hard to give up the drink as it is to raise the dead to life again.”

St. Dymphna’s Playbook is not a self-help book or a textbook, or a prescription for those struggling. It’s a worthwhile resource from a competent, Catholic source, and from a healthy Catholic perspective.

“While there are coping skills within this book for the various mental health experiences we may be going through, this book doesn’t intend to solve all our problems.” Tighe writes. “My hope is that this book provides the impetus for our Catholic Church to bring our mental health struggles out into the open without stigma and with a plan for moving forward.”

Companion reads:

Two recently-published books are excellent complementary reads with St. Dymphna’s Playbook.

Awakening at Lourdes by Christy Wilkens

In Awakening at Lourdes: How an Unanswered Prayer Healed Our Family & Restored Our Faith, Christy Wilkens writes expressively about her sixth child’s struggle with complex medical issues, her spiritual and emotional journey; and how a pilgrimage to Lourdes transformed her life.

Awakening at Lourdes is fascinating even just as a detailed account of what happens on a Lourdes pilgrimage, But more than that, it’s a profoundly personal journey of a deepening faith, and a reminder to all that “None of us is meant to endure the trials of this life alone.”

Meg Hunter-Kilmer’s Pray for Us.

Meg Hunter-Kilmer’s newest book, Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness might be quickly described as a “grown-up” version of her excellent Saints Around the World, which she wrote mostly for younger readers.

In Pray for Us, Hunter-Kilmer writes in more detail about saints whose lives were “complicated” in various ways, but in such an engaging way that it’s easy to see how many beautiful and unconventional ways there are to be a saint and live out a life of faith.

Pray for Us includes more detail about the lives of a wide variety of saints, with sections including “Saints Who Defied Expectations,” Saints With Difficult Families,” “Saints Whose Ruined Plans Open the Way to More Beautiful Things,” “Saints Who Were Failures,” and more.

All three books provide a powerful reminder for Catholics: the knowledge that we are not alone in our struggles and sufferings.

As Tighe writes, it’s “less about having an answer for everything and more about trying to foster a Catholic community where we suffer together, unafraid to walk forward with our sisters and brothers through their valley of tears.… You are never alone. Help and hope are always out there.”

“Saints Around the World” is a Welcome Gift for Both Children and Parents

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This is my column that appears in this week’s print edition of The Catholic Post.

When my now almost-grown kids were very young, we had a saints book written for children. Let’s just say it wasn’t a smashing success.

You see, I starting reading to them one saint every bedtime so the kids could learn about the women and men who lived lives of virtue and heroism. Edifying and inspiring? Not so much.

Unfortunately, many of the stories were written in an appalling way, describing in frightening detail their martyrdoms or terrible sufferings endured for Christ. Though it was written for a younger audience, the actual result was scared kids and a flummoxed mom.

Isn’t it good to introduce our kids to the saints? It’s good for our kids to know that you can be heroic?

But I knew something was wrong about how the content was conveyed, not the content itself.

I learned two lessons from this:

  1. Don’t read saint books at bedtime.
  2. Go carefully when you introduce children to tough topics.

Over the years, I learned to “rephrase” some of the saint stories—never at bedtime, mind you—so that I could share the truth of the saints’ heroism, while preserving youthful imagination. I wasn’t trying to “water it down,” but I wanted to communicate the lives of the saints in a way that young minds could absorb. Sometimes I did this well, and sometimes I fell short, but I did try.

That’s why I’m thrilled there is a saints book written in way that respects children, but is profound enough for adults to enjoy and pray with.

Saints Around the World by Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Meg Hunter-Kilmer’s Saints Around the World—charmingly illustrated by Lindsey Sanders—is that book.

Consider this description of St. Jerome, the 4th century monk who translated the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into Latin, and is also known for his strong temper.

“But he never stopped losing his temper. And he never stopped repenting and trying to be better. That’s what makes a Saint, after all; not that you never mess up, but that you always seek forgiveness. And Jerome was always asking for forgiveness. He wanted to be holy, he really did. It was just so hard.”

Or ponder the gentle guidance Hunter-Kilmer gives after sharing that St. Germaine Cousin, a 16th century French girl, was treated harshly by her stepmother:

“I hope that if someone is treating you very badly, you will tell a grown-up. And if that grown-up doesn’t fix the problem, I hope you will tell another grown-up and another and another until somebody helps you. God doesn’t want you to be treated badly, he wants you to be loved and cherished.”

Hunter-Kilmer will be familiar to many Catholics online: she is a self-described “hobo” for Christ’s kingdom, who travels the world sharing her love of Jesus and the Catholic faith, armed with two theology degrees and a rare gift for speaking and connecting with her audiences.

Saints Around the World is Hunter-Kilmer’s first book, and her writing style is just like she talks: approachable, enjoyable, and on fire with the Faith.

The front of the book features a map dotted with all the saints’ locations on a watercolor world map, overlaid with the Scripture from Isaiah: “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

Each spread features on the left-hand side a saint story written by Hunter-Kilmer, and on the right-hand side an illustration by Lindsey Sanders.

Sanders’ illustrations are beautifully crafted and rich with imagery of the saints lives, what they loved, and by what they were known.

The icon-illustration of newly beatified teenager Blessed Carlos Acutis is almost crammed with things he loved, from skis, to the Eucharist in a monstrance, to his laptop and Playstation.

Each saint illustration contains a caption explaining the image. For instance, the illustration of Blessed Benedict Dawsa’ (a 20th century South African father of eight children, educator, and martyr) includes him wearing dress work clothes, holding a soccer ball in one hand and one of his children in the other. The caption tells readers that he “is wearing a tie, which he called ‘the rope of honor’ and required of all male teachers.”

This treasure of a resource includes 100 saints and blessed, with a diversity of time, geography, situation, and more.

The message of Saints Around the World? Anyone can be a saint, and everyone has friends and intercessors in the saints.

What a gift this book is—not just to parents & children, but to people in every walk of life.

The Essential Things: “Through the Year with Jesus” Offers Lovely, Useful Resource to Growth Faith & Community

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Following is my book review column that appears in the current print edition of The Catholic Post. I welcome your comments!

Basics or Essential?

I wanted to write that Katherine Bogner’s new book is a “back to basics” approach to living out the Catholic faith, using liturgical seasons and weekly Gospel Readings as framework.


But that would underestimate the rich and multilayered resource that Bogner, a local teacher with a global reach online, has created in Through the Year with Jesus: Gospel Reflections and Readings.

“Essentials” might be a better term.

Katherine (Katie) Bogner is a multi-talented creative—she’s an artist, writer (she is a fellow member of The Catholic Post book review team), and religious catechist.

Locally, she serves as Junior High Faith Teacher at St. Philomena Parish in Peoria. But some may not know that Bogner is widely known and esteemed far beyond central Illinois.

That is because Bogner has spent the last decade creating excellent art, content, and ideas to countless teachers, catechists, and families (worldwide! that is not an exaggeration) at her website Look to Him and Be Radiant. Bogner also has a popular Instagram account (@katherine.bogner), sharing these web resources and her art.

Because of her wide influence and reach online, Emmaus Road Publishing editors reached out to Bogner to consider writing a book. Through the Year with Jesus is the fortunate result of this.

Through the Year with Jesus

The book contains seven sections—two for Ordinary time, one for the Sacred Triduum, and four for the remaining liturgical seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter.

Each section includes pages for the holy days and Sundays within that season, including weekly Gospel reflections, and at least one “Visio Divina”—a print of a classic work of sacred heart, along with a description and reflection questions.

Each Gospel reading is followed by several short elements: “Tell the Story”—describing the reading in context and incisive questions; “Live it Out,” with suggestions for incorporating the season into one’s daily life, and a “Lectio Divina” sidebar offering helpful prompts for the ancient practice of reading, meditating, praying and contemplating Scripture.

Visio Divina for Reflection and Prayer

The “Visio Divina” is one of my favorite parts of the book, offering helpful ways to engage with the Scripture art prayerfully.

So, for instance, in the season of Easter, one of the Visio Divina pages is at 17th century painting called “Landscape with Christ and His Disciples on the Road to Emmaus.” After an introduction, one question reads, “Would you want to get to your location quickly and invite Jesus to stay, or would you hope to linger and spend time together on the journey?”

Bogner’s appealing hand lettering and what she calls “liturgical doodles” appear sprinkled throughout the chapter titles, headings, and other places, lending a winsome touch. Readers of her website will be familiar with her distinctive style and appreciate the book’s similar feel.

Not just for families & classrooms

Bogner’s creative work online mainly assists families and fellow catechists and teachers for religious education and formation. But Through the Year with Jesus is even more widely relevant.

Though the book is family- and classroom-friendly, it is not family or classroom exclusive. Groups (such a small Bible study groups), individuals, and couples would also find Through the Year spiritually fruitful.

The book is easy to implement. Simply reading the Gospel, the “Tell the Story” reflection, and the “Live it Out” section, along with the Lectio Divina sidebar (perhaps while contemplating the artwork) itself would be a great preparation for Sunday Mass. Individuals can do this on their own or with a small group; classroom teachers can implement it, and families (and not just of young children, but all ages) would benefit enormously from this.

This kind of multi-faceted resource is especially important when people cannot attend Mass in person, as is common during our current time.

Catholics can derive spiritual benefit from developing the practice of reading and reflecting on the Gospel and readings ahead of Sunday’s Mass. Through the Year with Jesus makes it enjoyable, comprehensive without being overwhelming.

What’s great? The book is not pegged to a particular calendar year or cycle, so is flexible enough to allow readers to engage with it as much or as little as time allows, year after year.

Bogner’s book is a beautiful gift to everyone!