The Accidental Marriage Book Club

This is a very interesting work of fiction that makes you think.  The characters grow and develop as the story unfolds.  Sometimes you find yourself not liking one or the other, but if you stick with it, I think in the end you will enjoy it. It is the featured book for the CatholcMom book club and if you are interested in participating, all you need to know is right here.  Join us!  

The Grace of Yes Post you have been waiting for...

Did you know you were waiting for this post?  I've been waiting for days to sit and write it so you must be waiting to read it, right?  Or what would be the point of writing it?


First, The Grace of Yes; Eight Virtues for Generous Living by Lisa Hendey is a wonderful book filled with real-life stories of people and their "yeses" to God, to others and to themselves.  Lisa and I are the same age, so I had a few laughs as she described her favorite Church songs and shed a few tears over the more serious memories.  I am not a person who often cries when reading, let alone while I am on the treadmill at the gym, but I did.  Each chapter ends with a prayer and questions to ponder.  My full review is here.

Next up, the book club.  The book club you can attend in your pj's, with your coffee and no makeup.  But wait, there's more, you don't have to read the book!  Book clubs at CatholicMom are awesome.  You read the post about the current chapter and then respond to the questions in the comment section or on your blog.  Of course, reading the book makes it more interesting.

You can also look forward to The Grace of Yes Day on November 18.  The plan is to flood social media with photos and examples of saying Yes to God.  Don't forget to use the #GraceofYes when you post, tweet,  Facebook or instagram!

Isn't that goldfish on the cover cute?  It's Fiat.

Book Review: Not God’s Type, An Atheist Academic Lays Down Her Arms by Holly Ordway

Not God’s Type, An Atheist Academic Lays Down Her Arms by Holly Ordway is a beautiful and amazing story.  As a child she thought there was no need to put a capital G when spelling God, as an adult she  saw ”faith as nonsense” but felt “dissonance in my own life, in my understanding of the world”.  Ordway chronicles how she came to belief from unbelief and eventually came to the fullness of truth when she joined the Catholic Church. 

As an academic and intellectual, Ordway comes to know God through the power of reason.  She learns that a commitment to Jesus is not to be taken lightly nor is it easy. Her realization that the “Christian life wasn’t something to be figured out, like a philosophical crossword puzzle, but a reality to be experienced.  This Jesus, whom I dared to begin to believe had really been raised from the dead, said, “Follow me.”” is what leads her to become a Christian. 

Ordway shares with us the depths of her soul searching journey quoting great literature and poetry.  She tells her story with honesty and candor.  I read the book almost in one sitting and when I was done, wanted to start it again right away.  Ordway’s story shows us once again that there is a God-shaped hole in each of us and we cannot run from the One who made us.

Not God's Type is available for purchase at Ignatius Press.

If you read only one book between now and the end of the year, make it this one!

Book review: Bambinelli Sunday, A Christmas Blessing

 I love children's books and since leaving the classroom and my children growing up I do not get to indulge myself in them very often anymore.  But it was hard to resist this book and I am glad I didn't.  Bambinelli Sunday by Amy Welborn is a great story.  Welborn weaves in facts about an Italian tradition of blessing the baby Jesus for the nativity set with a story about Alessandro and his family.  Without giving away the story, Alessandro is having some struggles in his life so his grandfather suggests making a baby Jesus and Nonna thinks a little trip will help too.  Things don't work out exactly as Alessandro planned but in the end he learns that sharing gives joy, forgiveness brings happiness and family loves you.
This is not only a wonderful story but the illustrations are bright and colorful, sure to draw children into the story.  
This book would be perfect for Advent and a great tie in to blessing and then setting up your family Nativity.  

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 Bambinelli Sunday: A Christmas Blessing. 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.

Navigating the Interior Life, Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God - A book review

Since I am often trying to figure out what is going on in my spiritual life I thought this would be an interesting book to read.  I hoped it would give me some tips and ideas as to how to figure where I was, where I wanted to go and how to get there.  Navigating the Interior Life by Daniel Burke does all that, with questions to ask yourself and checklists for self examination.
The book discuss how to find a spiritual director including specific questions to a potential director and having a lay director verses a priest.  Dan Burke also talks about what to expect and how to prepare for your meetings with a director to gain the most benefit.
However, he doesn't stop there; he moves on to extremely helpful and solid steps to take if you cannot find a spiritual director.
In the chapter titled Spiritual Self-Evaluation he explains that you "must give up your old way of life; you must put aside your old self, which gets corrupted by following illusory desires."  Basically we are reminded that it is as simple as this "turn away from sin and turn to virtue."  The graphic organizer he uses explains the process:

Burke also suggests a "Rule of Life" and how to formulate one.  A brief glossary of terms related to the topic and a Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on some Aspects of Meditation from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (October, 1989) is also included.

This book has a wealth of information and delivers on its title, Navigating the Interior Life.  I highly recommend it to all people who are searching to have a better awareness of themselves and want to grow closer to God.

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 Navigating the Interior Life. 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.

Book Review: Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus

The statistics in the first chapter alone are enough to keep you thinking about what you thought you knew about the Church.  Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus by Sherry A. Weddell is a phenomenal book.  Twelve chapters packed with data, facts, personal stories and practical answers to difficult questions.  My favorite chapter is four, “Grace and the Great Quest” where Weddell articulates so beautifully similar thoughts I have had through the years about the sacraments, in particular, confirmation.  One quote, which I would like to send to everyone preparing for a sacrament, “In any case, simply going through the motions to please others is not enough for fruitful reception.” 

Throughout the book we are reminded that to form disciples we must reach our adults and that many who come to Mass and participate in the parish are often no more a disciple than a twice  a year Mass goer.  We are challenged to “expect and plan for conversion and the fruit of conversion” in our parishes.  As a parish catechetical leader, it is good to read in print what you see happening around you.  For instance, younger people are not attending Mass or getting married in the Church; therefore “we can no longer depend upon rites of passage or cultural, peer, or familial pressure to bring the majority back.” 

Clearly something needs to be done.  Besides prayer, we must engage the people in the pews and move from there.  We can no longer think young people will return for the sacraments when they have children.    And we can’t think that if we catechize more, or better, or longer it will have an impact.  Weddell answers the “what to do” questions, laying out the Thresholds of Conversion, explaining how to tell the story of Jesus (which is different/separate from the Church) and gives concrete examples of how using these ideas can work.

If you want to evangelize or you work in a parish or diocese in any capacity at all, get a copy of this book and use it.  I know I will be asking this question, “Can you describe your relationship with God to this point in your life?” this week at work.

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 Forming Intentional Disciples: Path to Knowing and Following Jesus. The Catholic Company is the best resource for gifts for every Sacrament celebration, such as First Communion gifts and Baptism gifts, as well as a great selection of limited-time Year of Faith gifts and resources.

Book Review: Breaking Through: Catholic Women Speak for Themselves

Who are Catholic women? Why must they speak for themselves?  We are often portrayed as slightly simple, men-fearing, guilt laden individuals who cannot or will not stand up for themselves and demand abortion, contraception, and ordination.  If you are looking to find to find that voice in the book, Breaking Through: Catholic Women Speak for Themselves edited by Helen M. Alvare don't bother reading the book.

But, if you'd like to hear from women who are articulate  highly  educated, well respected in their fields, wives, mothers, and unreservedly Catholic then please, pick up a copy.

This book is the conversation no one in the mainstream media wants us to have or engage in.  Why?  Because in the end, the answers come back to the faith of two thousand years when one women said "yes" to God and bore his son.

Ten chapters to wrap your brain around facts as to why the secular world does not have all the answers and how in many cases the good women have been sold by the culture have done us more harm than good.  Each chapter is written by a different author and deals with a current and relevant topic.  My favorites were Something Old and Something Really New:  Women as Professionals and Breadwinners  but Pilgrims Just the Same by Mary Devlin Capizzi, J.D. and Beauty, Bounty, Balance: Avoiding the Hazards of Having by Mary Hallan FioRito, J.D.  The most intriguing chapter was by Michelle A. Cretella, M.D., Who Am I?  Psychology, Faith and Same-Sex Attraction.

When Capizzi writes about her struggles as a mother and breadwinner I am right there with her, "at the same time, I would never describe my experience as spiritually or emotionally "smooth." "   Pretty much says it all! FioRito is a Church employee and tells her walking that fine line between appreciating beauty and beautiful things but not needing to have them all. Dr. Cretella's chapter needs to be distributed to every parent of every teen and young adult who is dealing with same-sex attraction as well as youth minister, priest, social worker, doctor, heck, anyone who spends time with people!

In the end, this book pulls together the faith of nine different women who have questioned, learned, listened, and thought through what our Church teaches and can tell us why it makes sense.  These are not "yes" women but women of 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 Breaking Through: Catholic Women Speak for Themse. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your family Advent activities and supplies this year, such as Advent wreaths and calendars for kids, as well as Christmas decorations such as nativity scene sets and religious Christmas gifts for the whole family.

Book Review: Engaging a New Generation

Being back in faith formation for a year now after almost seven away I find myself ready for new information   I often find myself reading or listening to information that sounds just like what I heard before and is not helpful in any way.  Often I keep hearing the problems and then sort of a shoulder shrug and no answers or even suggestions on improvements.  So it was with some trepidation I began this book, Engaging a New Generation:  A Vision for Reaching Catholic Teens by Frank Mercadante.  

I was completely wrong!  And I can't recall when I was so happy to have been wrong.  This book grabbed my attention from the fist chapter, "We don't have a youth problem"all the way to the Cultivation Strategic Planing Model in Appendix B.  

Mercadante points out the problems, both in and out of the Church, reasons for the problems and possible ways to correct the problems.  It also reassured me that what I see in my parish is really happening and not unique.  He uses hard data and studies, such as the National Study on Youth and religious to point out what many of us see on a regular basis, "The majority (of Catholic teens) tended to be rather religiously and spiritually indifferent, uniformed and disengaged."  One reason for this is that parents have not modeled a positive faith life and parishes focus on child more than adult/parent faith formation.  Which is ironic since if you have ever read the General Directory for Catechesis, you may recall that it stresses adult rather than child formation.

He reminds us that "parents are the single most important spiritual influence in their teenage children's lives."  Sadly, most parents have bought into the prevailing idea that they are somehow superfluous  only there to hand out money, make sure there's food in the house and be a taxi driver.  As a person heavily invested in catechesis for all parishioners, this is important for me to know and convey to parents. 

Each chapter is relevant including the questions at the end of each chapter "For Consideration"  which help you think about the information presented and how to utilize it in your situation.  Anyone involved in parish life, but especially those ministering to youth and children needs to read this book and learn how to make the shifts in catechesis so we can better reach the Millennials and the iGeneration.  

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 Engaging a New Generation. The Catholic Company is a great resource for tools to help you participate in the Year of Faith, including Year of Faith bible studies and exclusive Year of Faith personalized gifts. The Catholic Company also has all your Advent needs in stock, such as Advent calendars and Advent wreaths.

Book Review: Staying Faithful Today-To God, Ourselves, One Another

In seven brief, easy to read chapters, Fr. Alfred McBride, tells us how and why to be faithful in a culture that values fulfillment far more than faithfulness.  First and foremost, we must love as Jesus, as he is the "absolute icon of what :staying faithful" really means."  We are reminded that God is always faithful to us and we must be faithful to ourselves, friends, communities, and our marriages.  The last chapter discusses priests and faithfulness to the vocation they have chosen.
 This is the first book of Fr. McBride's that I have read and his catechetical experience comes through with this clearly and concisely written book.  He weaves in scriptures, personal stories, and saints to make his points and then ties each chapter up with a conclusion, personal application and group discussion questions. 
This book would be great for a book group.  College students to senior citizens would enjoy it.  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 Staying Faithful Today - To God, Ourselves, One Another. This is also a great Catholic gift store for all your seasonal shopping needs, such as Christian wedding gifts and Catholic Garden Gifts.

Style, Sex and Substance Book Review

Many of the women who contributed to this book edited by Hallie  Lord are bloggers I follow on a regular basis.  I looked forward to reading more of what they had to say about each topic, knowing that a chapter would be much longer than a blog post and so provide for information. 

Each chapter’s author spoke to a specific topic of interest to women, even if not Catholic.  Style, God, sex, friendship, marriage, motherhood and more are all covered with wit interspersed with advice and faith.  As I read it, I felt like I was having coffee at the mall with a friend. 

The overriding sense was one of ten women with the similar struggles as the rest of us and while they may have found some answers at this time, the expectation is that they will continuing to search and grow as life went on and provided new challenges. 

Karen Edmisten in the chapter titled God and Godiva quotes St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, “I even believe that the deeper one in drawn into God, the more one must go out of oneself; that is, one must go to the world in order to carry the divine life into it.” And then reminds us that the ways to conquer the temptations of the world are “grace and prayer, the sacraments, accountability, spiritual support from others, and an ongoing discernment to keep our relationship with God flourishing.”  Throughout the book, we are reminded to turn to him and  his Church, no matter what.

The last chapter, Plugging In and Embracing Discipleship in the Twenty-First Century by Barbara R. Nicolosi reminded me that we have much work to do in our culture.  We cannot simply remove ourselves from the world and expect to know what people respond to and need.  We must engage the culture,

All women, Catholic or not, can learn from this book.  

I wrote this review of Style, Sex and Substance for the free Catholic book review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods

Aquinas and More is the largest on-line Catholic bookstore.

I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Book Review - Sinner by Lino Rulli

First, the title really caught my attention. Second, it was written by a man. Third, it is the life story of an Italian. I figured, I'm a sinner and Italian and I know men, so what the heck, I'll choose this book to review. Okay, maybe those are not the exact reasons, but they certainly played a small part. I choose it because I wanted something different from what I usually read.

In Sinner, Rulli tells about his life the way you would hear it from your friend over a drink. Is being a Catholic always easy? No. But, as you read through the chapters you realize that to Rulli, it is worth it. He is funny, very funny and honest about who he is. HIs chapters on Confession combined with the chapter on his doctor visit while in grad school is enough to recommend the book.

In my head, I want to write things as honestly and humorously as he does. Through all the jokes and one-liners though, Rulli is a man after God's heart, trying to serve him and share Jesus' Gospel in his down to earth, easy to understand way.

This book is perfect for anyone who thinks people who write Catholic books must be oh so holy and perfect or for the person who needs to laugh a little.

I appreciate simplicity; Rulli speaks the truth about our faith and his life simply so that it is accessible to many people. Personally, I think it is more difficult to convey faith simply. Rulli does a great job. Get yourself a copy of the book and then share it with a friend.

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 Sinner. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

PS: I totally related to people not saying his name right:)

The Kitchen Daughter - Book Review

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

This was an amazing book. I was just browsing in the library and happened upon it. McHenry captures the nuances of family, tragedy, cooking and loving, bringing them all together in a great read. If you love to cook, have a sister, live a life in which things are not always as they seem - read this book!



View all my reviews

The Church and New Media

The Church and New Media by Brandon Vogt is full of the possibilities we have literally at our fingertips to engage the people of God.  The chapters ranged from what one blogger can do to what can be accomplished by an archdiocese and beyond.  I of course love to entertain what 'could be.'  In my past position I was in charge of communication for the parish and so I really enjoyed learning about using media and technology to reach our parishioners and others.  Fr. Robert's Barron quote,"It would be unwise in the extreme for the Church to absent itself from the virtual Areopagus for fear of rejection or contradiction.  We should enter it with courage, intelligence and sheer panache of St. Paul" echoes my belief that we must learn how to reach out using all means possible.   John Roberto tells us that "We haven't yet wrapped our heads around the idea that we can reach people 24/7, anytime, anywhere. " 
The authors do not shy away from discussing what is good and bad about New Media.  But all have unapologetically embraced it with eyes open.  In the conclusion Vogt points out that the anonymity of the Internet allows for a very non-threatening form of pre-evangilzation.  The Internet cannot and should not take the place of personal witness and interaction, but it can certainly help people learn about our faith. 
This book should be put in the hands of every diocesan communication director, parish administrator, faith formation director, and youth minister.  Actually, everyone who works in a parish office should read it and decide how to use New Media to reach out and draw in. 
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 Church and New Media. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

Book Review: Becoming:The Woman God Made You to Be

Reading books is one of my favorite things to do.  Dreaming about writing a book is my second favorite thing to do.  I wish I had written this book!  Becoming: The Woman God Made You to Be by Tammy Evevard is one of the best books for women I have ever read.  Tammy is so real and genuine, her personality comes through and I wish I could have coffee with her.  I'd buy and bring the biscotti!  The examples and stories she uses are so refreshingly honest.  She quotes some of my favorite people/authors: Mother Theresa, Henri Nouwen, and C.S.Lewis to name a few. There are eleven chapters running the gamut from "Beloved" to "I Hate Kids,"  each one another step toward wholly allowing yourself to become the woman God made you to be.

I marked quite a few lines in the book, but this one sums up what Tammy is saying, "It's time to stop playing it safe and start taking risks.  Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks.  Don't try to be who you're not.  Be yourself.  Laugh at yourself.  Quit holding out.  Quit holding back.  Quit running away.  Chase the lion" (102).  The final chapter of twenty five things Tammy has learned in life go from lipstick to heroes to shoes to paint; every item on the list spoke to me.

I already have a short list of people to give this book, my daughter being #1.  If you have ever believed that you were "less than," bought into the lies of  the "isms" in the world or just wondered exactly why God made you, give yourself the gift of this book.  You will not regret it.

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 Becoming: The Woman God Made You to Be. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

Book Review: Becoming

I am very excited that I have chosen this book to review.  Best case scenario it arrives while I have time off so I can read it right away.  Whenever it gets here, I'll be happy.

Book Review: Francis: The Journey and the Dream

I love St. Francis.  I was raised in a Franciscan parish in New York and went to St. Frances Prep high school which was run by Franciscan brothers.  One of my favorite movies is Brother Sun, Sister Moon and we played the music from that movie in the folk group.  This book was actaully written with the intention of it being published at the same time as the moive was released.  So, with great anticipation I choose this book from the Catholic Company reviewer program.  I was not disappointed.
This is the fortieth anniversary edition of the original written by Murray Bodo, O.F.M., a Franciscan priest.  It is a wonderful little book, powerfully yet simply written with so much to think about on every page.  I read it from cover to cover, but you could pick it up and read any one of the seventy-seven short chapters as part of your daily prayer time. 
The book is not overtly biographical, but you will learn about St. Francis as you read.  The book opens as Francis lays dying, pains "beginning to dull his senses, and he slowly slipped back into his memories of the past..." (pg 3).  Through the words of Fr. Bodo we follow Francis as he tells about his dream, his desire to live out the Gospel by embracing Lady Poverty and leading others to do the same. 
I know I will be going back to this book again and again for the truth it contains and how it shines light onto my thoughts.  One of the chapters  that struck me is titled The Journey and The Dream.  In it, Francis recalls how Jesus had sent him the Dream and made the Journey possible and sustained him with the Eucharist.  "The Bread of Life had sustained him on his Journey and the presence of Jesus kept the Dream alive" (pg 180).  There are other images from that chapter which have stayed with me, but instead of telling you, I encourage you to get a copy of this book.  It would also make a great gift for everyone!

 Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Francis - The Journey and the Dream. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

Book Review - The Doubter's Novena

The Doubter's Novena, Nine Steps to Trust with the Apostle Thomas by Mike Aquilina and Christopher Bailey is an awesome little book.  When I say "little" I am only referring to the actual size of the  book and number of pages; the content is very BIG!  Of course, I did not follow instructions and use this book as a novena.  I just couldn't put it down once I started reading.  Each day of the novena begins with scriptural and/or historical information about Thomas, then we move into the contemporary world and learn how we can be "Just like Thomas."  Each day concludes with a prayer to God or asks for Thomas' intercession. 
I enjoyed learning about St. Thomas and have a new appreciation for him.  I realize that I am like him in some ways; I find it hard to trust at times, I fear the unknown but I desire to foucs on what is important, namely Jesus and detach myself from earthly things.  Thomas is willing to do whatever Jesus asks of him and I want to do the same.
There are many quotable snippets in this book, but I will leave you with this thought:  "What God is asking us for is a bit of trust - trust in God , first of all, and trust in the people made in his image.  When we push our limits and go out into the world, we find that there are good people everywhere waiting for us, hungry for the message we have to bring them."
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 Doubter's Novena . They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

Book Review

It is official, I am a book nerd.  I tore off the wrapper and inhaled the scent of new print deeply and couldn't wait to dive right into The Fulfillment of All Desire - Study Guide by Ralph Martin with Emily Stimpson.  I was not disappointed!

The wisdom of seven saints, Augustine, Bernard of Clairvaux, Catherine of Siena, Francis de Sales, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila and Therese of Lisieux in one volume for us to learn from and journey with now. 

The Study Guide briefly summarizes each chapter in the book and then poses a series of questions.  The first set of questions are comprehension and ask you to recall information, explain a concept or draw a conclusion.  The second set, reflection questions, are the type which help you to discover how your new knowledge applies to your life.

Each chapter has a section called "In Brief" which gives information about one of the saints mentioned above or a theological concept.  Key words are listed at the end of each chapter with definitions in the glossary. 

I think this would be a perfect addition when reading the book as it helps you focus and learn from what you are reading. 
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 Fulfillment of All Desire Study Guide. They are also a great source for serenity prayer and baptism gifts.