Reading Catholic

Reading Catholic and catholic

Book Reviews

Meet a Reader: Sister Mary Core {@TheCatholicPost}

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Following is the “Meet a Reader” feature that appears in the current print edition of The Catholic Post.

How you know me:

My name is Sister Mary Core. I am a Benedictine Sister of St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island. I taught and ministered for many years in the Peoria Diocese at Ss. Peter and Paul and St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo; Immaculate Conception, Monmouth; Notre Dame (Bergan) Peoria; and St. Joseph, Pekin.

I also served at St. Columba in Chicago and as Youth Minister at Our Lady of Victory in Davenport, IA. More recently I served as Initial Formation Director for my community. At present I am the Liturgist for my community in Rock Island and enjoy leading the women’s Book Club for St. Maria Goretti, Coal Valley, and Mary, Our Lady of Peace in Orion.

Why I love reading:

Reading opens so many avenues to new ideas, information, imagination, creative thinking, and enjoyment. Reading helps me to put aside frustrations, worries, and criticism. I enter into the book and I relax and find myself being given bits of wisdom or thought-provoking ideas. I have a good laugh or am emotionally touched. Even books that didn’t particularly “hook me” often have a ‘pearl’ I can take away.

One of the joys of reading is being able to pause and reflect on a salient point, reread, and let the message soak in before progressing. As much as I love a good movie, it’s much more rewarding to pause when reading a book than to keep pushing the replay on a video.

What I’m reading now: 

I recently finished Pioneer Women: The Lives of Women on the Frontier by Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith. I purchased this book some years ago when traveling through South Dakota. It relates through narrative, personal letters and wonderful old photos, the hard and challenging life of the women who settled the west alone or with their often absent husbands.

I have just begun reading Holy Rover: Journeys in Search of Mystery, Miracles, and God by Lori Erickson. So far, so good. I may use it for my book club selection.

My favorite book:

Oh my! How difficult to choose one favorite book! I am indeed a John Steinbeck fan and have read all his novels and short stories, but I think the test of a “favorite” is how often we go back and read again a chapter or paragraph from a book.

That said, I believe there are three that remain at the top of my list. All three choices are old and enduring. Two are books: Hinds Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard, and A Tree Full of Angels: Seeing the Holy in the Ordinary by Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B.

 

The third, and number one on my list, is the Collected Lyrics of Edna St. Vincent Millay.

My copy has been with me for over fifty years and I still get inspired by her lyric poetry. My favorite is “The Blue-Flag In The Bog.”

This is a wonderful piece about the end of time, when God calls us to Heaven. Millay, who is walking with all humanity toward heaven, looks back at the earth as it burns.

She mourns the fact that her beautiful, beloved earth will be no more and wants some aspect of it to be in heaven also. Slipping out of the ranks, she returns to earth and is overjoyed to find an Iris (Blue Flag) standing proud and alive in the midst of earth’s demise. She uproots it and lovingly caresses it as she rejoins the march heavenward.

There she speaks to God and pleads for the life of the iris. God reassures her with the words: “In some moist and Heavenly place, We will set it out to grow.”  Hooray for our compassionate God!

Timeless Toys, Timeless Faith {My July column @TheCatholicPost }

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Following is my column that appears in the current print edition of The Catholic Post.

The author and apologist C.S. Lewis is famous for saying that “a children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story. The good ones last.”

That is definitely true of books, including the children’s books written by Lewis, chiefly the enduring Chronicles of Narnia series. But it’s also true of anything for children.

The things that last can be handed down lovingly from generation to generation— Legos (also known as “brick toys”), favorite movies (original Lord of the Rings movies, I’m looking at you), music, even favorite foods, are enjoyable for all ages, not just kids.

That’s why a new book that cleverly explains Catholic theology and Scripture stories entirely in Legos is both brilliant and entertaining. It’s also completely appropriate for everyone from very young kids to grandparents.

The Catechism of the Seven Sacraments is a passion project undertaken by Kevin and Mary O’Neill and their seven children. The O’Neills found themselves less than satisfied with the Lego-brick illustrated books related to religious topics that have been published over the years from a wide range of sources. But rather than just stay annoyed, they decided to jump in as a family and do something about it.

The introduction to The Catechism of the Seven Sacraments explains it perfectly: “As Catholics, we read the Bible in 3-D. This is because our faith comes alive through Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.” The book combines “those same 3-D biblical teachings with fun 3-D images to help teach the beauty of the faith in a simple way.”

The Catechism of the Seven Sacraments follows a discussion between the book’s two Lego “narrators,” Fulton and Cynthia, who discuss in great detail—often with help from priests and others—the Catholic faith through the lens of the seven Sacraments, beginning with the Eucharist. The book’s underlying message is based on Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s teaching of “Theology of the Covenant,” a framework for interpreting Scripture centered on Christ throughout the entire Scripture, both Old & New.

The book is organized in a graphic novel format, with clever and marvelously staged photographs of scenes from the Bible and Catholic sacramental life. I find myself with more than a little awe for the time and patience that went into this effort.

The details of many of the photo illustrations are so charming, it’s hard to pick favorites. The book of Genesis, from the 7 “days” of creation in Genesis 1 to Noah & the Ark, are wonderful, as are the illustrations of baptisms from St. John the Baptist baptizing Jesus to modern celebration of the Sacrament.

More than just a family undertaking, the book is handsomely and sturdily published by StoryTel Press, a newly created division of StoryTel Foundation. StoryTel is a non-profit media foundation “on a mission to inspire people to restore the Sacred.” Until discovering the ONeills and their project to “Lego-illustrate” Catholic concepts, StoryTel chiefly worked in video.  (Incidentally, the “book trailer” video for this book is amazing. You can watch it here).

The end of the book helpfully includes a glossary from Fr. John Hardon’s “Modern Catholic Dictionary.,” with explanations of Christian terms related to sacraments—everything from Abram/Abraham to vow.

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Another recent book for families, and the ways that they relate to each other, is Tuned In: The Power of Pressing Pause and Listening by Art & Laraine Bennett.

The Bennetts are the authors of the popular “Temperament” books, such as The Temperament God Gave You, and The Temperament God Gave Your Kids.

In Tuned In, the Bennetts argue for the vital importance of listening. Each chapter covers a different part of listening—the most important thing, listening to: others, your heart, criticism, wisdom, God, and listening “to accompany” (to be present for others in their joys and sorrows).

I found the chapter on “listening to criticism” extremely thought-provoking and helpful in its suggestions, from practical applications in listening to, giving, and receiving constructive criticism.

In general, I consider myself to be a decent listener, but if I’m honest I realize that I also love to talk, perhaps conflicting with my desire to be a good listener. This book helps me realize ways I can truly listen to those around me, especially those I love most.

Meet a Reader: Christine Pinheiro {@TheCatholicPost}

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Following is the “Meet a Reader” feature that appears in the current print edition of The Catholic Post.

How you know me:

I have been teaching Latin and Theology at Peoria Notre Dame High School for seven years. I grew up in Champaign, Illinois, and lived at the Newman Center for four years. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in Classics, I got my Master’s in Theology at the University of Notre Dame. Now that I work at PND I sometimes affectionately call the University “the other Notre Dame.” I am a parishioner at St. Philomena in Peoria.

Why I love reading:

I learned how to read when I was very young, and by the time I was supposed to enter kindergarten I was reading young adult books. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of going to the library and checking out dozens of books at a time, reading them, and then going back for more! Reading gives me the opportunity to learn and to think more deeply. It’s also a wonderful activity because I can bring a book with me and read in a waiting room or doctor’s office with no worries about whether my cell phone will connect to a network.

What I’m reading now:

I’ve only gotten a few paragraphs in but I’m starting to reread Harrius Potter (Harry Potter translated into Latin) and plan to finish it over the summer. It’s a fun way to keep Latin at the forefront of my mind when the school year is over.

For a few months now, I’ve been reading Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series (I’m currently reading The Beautiful Mystery). It’s a mystery series set in Quebec, mostly in the fictional town of Three Pines. Penny has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her characters are compelling, her mysteries are tightly woven, and her prose is so beautiful that sometimes I just have to put the book down and take a moment to savor her words. Chief Inspector Gamache is reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot in some ways because he solves crimes primarily through talking with people and he’s interested in the psychology of the crime. But he’s a much more fleshed out character than Poirot, with none of Poirot’s ego. He’s the kind of character I’d love to have coffee and a conversation with.

My favorite book:

My all-time favorite book is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve read it. Nothing compares to Austen’s sparkling wit and complex characters. It’s one of those books I wish I could forget all about so I could reread it as though for the first time.

My favorite book by a modern theologian is Introduction to Christianity by Joseph Ratzinger (who, of course, became Pope Benedict XVI). I took a class on him at Notre Dame and in addition to being a towering intellect, Benedict is a deeply humble and gentle man. This comes through very clearly in his writings. After reading Introduction to Christianity, I felt like I got to know better not only the subject matter but also the author.

What Moms Need {My May column @TheCatholicPost }

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Following is my column that appears in the current print edition of The Catholic Post.

More than a decade ago, as a younger homeschooling mom, I became enchanted with the concept of the “Rule of Six,” coined by homeschooling mom and author Melissa Wiley.

Wiley suggested six things that every child should have access to every day: good books; imaginative play; encounters with beauty (art, music, the natural world); ideas to ponder and discuss; meaningful work; and prayer.

I remember thinking at the time that moms need all those things too, and how great it would be to try to incorporate them. But that can be so difficult in our fast-paced world, even more so for moms than for children.

In our incarnational Catholic life, we have an advantage in achieving nearly all of those areas. And two new books for moms offer ideas to ponder and discuss, in the context of prayer and the beauty of our faith.

Good Enough is Good Enough: Confessions of an Imperfect Catholic Mom by Colleen Duggan is a well-written, supportive, and realistic look at Catholic motherhood.

Duggan, a longtime writer for several Catholic websites and publications, writes about the value of self-care, the danger of judging, and the importance of an active prayer life, among other values, to mothers of all kinds, especially younger mothers.

The center of the book, is, of course, the five “confessions” in which Duggan explains each: “I don’t know how to master motherhood;” “I don’t always take care of myself as I should”; “I don’t know how to keep my kids Catholic”; I don’t like watching my children suffer,” and “I sometimes compare myself with other parents.”

What mother, or what parent, has not felt one of these “confessions,” sometimes all at once? Duggan’s relatable stories, failings (she writes, “I was never the poster woman for serenity before I had children …”), and how she works to accept herself is refreshing and encouraging for all moms. And viewing those through the lens of faith is both poignant and edifying.

For instance, the conclusion, in which Duggan describes “the theology of the donkey,” and how the humble donkey was called to do great things:

“(This) is the lesson of the donkey for me, for all of us: Jesus wants us, the loud, braying, imperfect asses we are, to go where he calls us. He wants us to carry this his load, to do the work of bringing others to him; and we can only compete this task, of course, if we abandon our “perfect” plans and the baggage that weighs us down. We must learn—just like that donkey did—to submit ourselves to him.”

Each chapter ends with a closing prayer, and a short list of discussion questions to allow for personal reflection or for group reading. These are great questions to ponder, or even if not in a formal group to read together, to discuss with fellow moms.

For new and expectant moms—and not just first-time moms—there is  Made for This: The Catholic Mom’s Guide to Birth  by Mary Haseltine.

 When I was pregnant with our first, and my husband and I were just a “teeny bit” nervous about .. oh, everything related to pregnancy and birth, especially not being able to see our baby … I had a conversation with a friend in which I actually said— and meant— the words, “I can’t wait until this baby is born so we can stop worrying.”

She very kindly, but loudly, laughed in my face, as birth marks the beginning of a lifetime of care and concern for your children. There’s a saying that to become a mother is to forever have your heart go walking around outside your body.”

When I was expecting many years ago, I had such concerns about pregnancy and birth that I read What to Expect When You’re Expecting and tried to follow all of its recommendations. Online advice was blessedly not very available, but if it had back then I’m sure I would have read tons of blog posts and mommy blogs so I’d know just what to expect and how to handle every possible thing that could happen to me or my baby.

But what I really needed was a more holistic resource, to help me cope with not just the physical changes that my body was undergoing, but the miracle that is pregnancy and motherhood, and how that changes everything about one’s life, marriage, and spirituality.

How I wish I had had a book that looked basically like Made for This.

This book, by a theologian and birth doula (non-medical helper who assists a mother during pregnancy and labor), offers so much of what my first-time fears needed to hear. It also provides a wider scope—for moms of all kinds, not just first-time parents— for understanding the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual challenges that pregnancy and motherhood entails.

Sensibly, the book is its even-handed approach to all kinds of approaches to pregnancy, labor, and birth, instead of a “one size fits all” plan of how one “must” bring a baby into the world. There is no one, specific, Catholic way to be pregnant and birth children.

Some especially good chapters in Made for This include “The Birth of a Father,” “Your Birth Team,” and the lovely “Born in Grace: Birth Stories from Catholic Moms.”

Haseltine writes in the introduction, “May you and your baby be blessed with a healthy, happy, and yes, holy birth.” “Made for This” is a book that goes a long way towards making that happen.

“Achilles Won’t Take a Bath” Charming New Picture Book by Teenage Author

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I thought my headline was both descriptive and engaging. Also, the teenager in question is my middle daughter, so you can imagine I’m very proud.

We just received her review copies in the mail today, and so she gave me permission to share it. I will take some photos of inside pages and more details of how she decided to write and illustrate it, to share on this post  later, but dinner prep awaits…

From the description of Achilles Won’t Take a Bath: 

Introduce a new generation to Homer’s Iliad in this epic inspired children’s book! Read along with Achilles and his teddy bear Patroclus as they deal with bathtime in this charming retelling. Written by a student of the classics, each illustration contains references to the Iliad – which makes this book great for adults as well! With endearing drawings, and amusing characters, this book is an excellent modern twist on an ancient tale.

“Life Everlasting” A Great Resource for New & Veteran Catholics {My April column @TheCatholicPost}

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Following is my column that appears in the current print edition of The Catholic Post.

Most of us have friends, acquaintances, or family members in our community or parish who join the Catholic Church at Easter. And I know I have wondered, as do many others, what would be a good gift for a new Catholic this Easter.

A brand-new book would make a great choice: it’s Life Everlasting: Catholic Devotions and Mysteries for the Everyday Seeker by Gary Jansen.

But Life Everlasting is not just for new members of the Church— longtime Catholics and seekers interested in the Catholic faith would also find much value and interest here.

Gary Jansen, the editor of Image Books, the Catholic book imprint of The Crown Publishing Group, has written a deeply personal, as well as far-reaching book. It’s not just a book about his own life and evolution as a Catholic, but also a relatively comprehensive field guide to Catholic practice, belief, and devotions.

Jansen has a polished narrative style that is entertaining without being contrived. His book is part memoir, part instructional work in living a rich life as a Catholic believer. The book is replete with Scripture and quotes from the saints.

The book is divided into three parts. The first “The Awakening,” covers the journey ones go through to come to faith; “The Path” outlines a deceptively simple and rich seven-step path to living a Christian life; and “The Devotions” offers a range of prayers, observances, and other ways to connect with God.

“The Awakening” is a short introduction to the book, that explains both why a faith life is significant, and explaining the organizing of the remaining book.

“The Path” lists seven steps to grow in faith life: 1)be childlike; 2) focus your mind & heart; 3) make the sign (about the Sign of the Cross); 4) say the Lord’s Prayer; 5) ask, seek, knock (about trusting prayers of petition); 6) cultivate silence; and 7) give your life away (service to God and others). Each chapter/step in this section gives good examples, based on the lives of the saints as well as Jensen’s own experience. “Cultivate Silence” is an especially good chapter, with a short introduction and explanation of St. Ignatius’ Examen spiritual practice.

In “The Devotions” part, both common and new ways of praying are offered related to the saints, angels, Mary, and Jesus. For instance, in the angels chapter, Jansen shares the familiar “guardian angel” prayer, but also offers an exercise to include one’s guardian angel in prayer time.

Not everything would be for every reader, but every reader would find something of interest and some new way to pray or express faith and grow closer to God. There’s so much I loved here, and Larsen calls them all “tools” to add to “our spiritual toolbox,” a great way to look at the many ways to pray, express our devotion, and live out a vibrant Catholic faith.

Also part of the spiritual toolbox is the ingenious “Spiritual 911,” an appendix that lists many common, basic prayers, like the Lord’s Prayer and the Memorare, and also a series of prayers “for difficult times,” to feature just a few: St. Francis de Sales Prayer for Inner Peace, a prayer to St. Dymphna for Mental Healing, and a prayer to St. Joseph for Fathers and Families. The second appendix also provides a calendar of Saints.

I’m a cradle Catholic, and yet I found a lot of content that I found fresh and interesting. “Life Everlasting” is a great read for a lot of different Catholics, or even those just interested in what Catholic belief looks like.