5 Highly Recommended Books

One of Esther's bookshelves

The following books are highly recommended.

1.  Prayer: The Key to Salvation by Father Michael Mueller, C.Ss.R. This classic is on sale right now at Tan Books for $3.28.  Redemptorist spiritual writer Father Mueller, stresses with many examples and stories, the importance and necessity of prayer.

"Prayer is not only the key to salvation, it is the necessary means to salvation."

"Man cannot be saved without prayer.  In order to understand this truth in its full extent, we must consider first, that we cannot be saved unless we fulfill the will of God; secondly, that we are unable to do God's will unless we are assisted by Divine grace; thirdly, that we obtain this grace by prayer alone; that consequently, we must pray in order to be saved."

This book is directed to sinners, seminarians, in fact, everyone will benefit from this reading this book.

2.  Defiance!: The Antichrists of History and their Doomed War against the Church by Rev. Joseph M. Esper.  Published by Queenship Publishing.  Now this was a very interesting book.  Father Esper, who appeared on Women of Grace to talk about his book, has done a lot of research listing in chronological order, individuals who have done much evil in the world: from the Pharaohs of Egypt until the present time.  They have so selfishly wreaked, evil upon people.  Their acts of malevolence were the antithesis of Jesus, and therefore had to be labeled as an "anti-Christ".  Father makes the distinction regarding an anti-Christ and the Antichrist.  No one will know who the Antichrist will be until God permits us to know.  But it is clear that throughout history the devil has been using certain malignant individuals as his precursors.

"In her 2000 year history, numerous enemies of the Church have attempted to destroy her-and every one of them has failed, usually at great personal cost.  From the perspective of Heaven, the Church is often threatened, but never conquered- and in troubled times, it's more important than ever for Catholics to hold this truth and find reassurance in it.  Defiance!...by Fr. Joseph Esper reminds us of the Church's many victories over her assailants, and demonstrates that-through the power of God-she will continue to triumph over every assault of her foes, including her ultimate enemy, The Antichrist himself..."

3.  The Spiritual Life was written by Father Jean Nicolas Grou and published by Sophia Press. It can be purchased here.  Of the five books listed, this one has to be my favorite.  It is more of a maintenance manual for your soul.  The book often refers the reader to his or her spiritual director.  But even those of us without a spiritual director will benefit abundantly from each and every word written in this masterpiece of spiritual reading.  I am almost at the end and I will be re-reading it as soon as I finish the first time.  This time I will be making notes in the book itself.  It is book that must be read over and over again just like, The Imitation of Christ and Spiritual Combat.

"From the ashes of Revolutionary France:  A manual to help you hold fast to Faith in a barbaric, faithless world."

"...This tough, uncompromising handbook will help you deal with all the obligations and problems of the spiritual life.  As such, it teaches you what you need to know and to do when the comforts and supports of life have been swept away.

Indeed, Fr. Grou reminds you right at the beginning that salvation is only won at a great price.  He wrote this book for those who are willing to pay that price themselves.  His focus is firmly on Christ, whom he maintains should be the model for your own spiritual life- not just in theory, but in the hard fact of sacrifice and love so great as to pierce your heart.

Our times are not so far removed form the Godless irrationality that swept across France in Fr. Grou's day.  That's why, in our own tumultuous age, The Spiritual Life is so desperately needed.  It's the one guide that offers you real help to navigate the treacherous spiritual waters of today's world, and through it all, to keep the faith.

An example of the counsel given is regarding repeating the same faults over and over again. We fall and then we go to confession, only to fail once more.  The following excerpt is found on page 91:

"What will it matter, after all, how many times you have fallen on the way if you reach your journey's end safely at last?  God will not reproach you."

4.  Father Damien .."A Bit of Taro, A Piece of Fish, and A Glass of Water" by Anwei Skines law and Henry G. Law. This book is available at Amazon and locally at the Cathedral Gift Shop and the Damien and Marianne Heritage Center in Waikiki.  This beautiful book is a collection of stories by the people who actually knew Saint Damien.  They lived and worked with him.  They loved him.  This book is also filled with rare photos of the people Father Damien ministered.  Our own bishop Larry Silva wrote the introduction to the book.  He shared the story he learned as an adult, that his great-grandfather had been sent to Kalaupapa for being suspected of having leprosy.  This is a personal story to Bishop Larry which he graciously shared.

5.  The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is the last book I wanted to recommend. Many of you may have already read this classic work or may even have it in your bookcase somewhere like I did. You can also read it online here.  This was a book I intended to read many times but never did.  It is an interesting narrative on these three brothers, their unlovable father and other notable characters, and it is just a good read.  Even though this is a work of fiction, the reader will find herself/himself making notes of certain parts that are spiritually enlightening or helpful.

Well, that is my Spring list of recommended reading.

Books for the New Year to Give Me a Spiritual Lift

Photo by Esther

The start of the new year made me review my spiritual life like I am sure many of you were called to do. One place I needed to concentrate on was reading books that would enrich my spiritual life. In the past, I would choose one book and read it prior to daily Mass. But at home, I would read a good mystery novel. I would only give up secular books during Lent. But while I sat there in church, adoring our Lord, I felt Him calling me to read more good books. A big boost to this resolution came from one of my good  friends, blogger Mary of
The Beautiful Gate. She,a very generous soul, send me a collection of books, many of which I had been wanting to read. Some of those books along with others I have in my collection are really helping me to find out exactly where I should focus my attention.

Main priorities:  - Asking God to help me love Him more.
                         - Keeping interior peace
                         - Being more silent and careful with words

The books I am currently reading or have read so far are:

1. The End of the Present world and the Mysteries of the Future Life by Father Charles Arminjon and translated by Susan Conroy. I am actually finishing reading this book which I began I few months ago.

The following is an excerpt from the book on how it will be in heaven for husbands and wives:

Without doubt, in heaven the spouses who have come from earth will themselves be like angels, and will no longer aspire to the delights of the senses. However, they will taste the ever-pure pleasures of the spirit, and, as they were one in flesh during their earthly exile, so in glory they will form one single heart and soul, in the delights of another union that will have no end.

In heave, we shall see and recognize one another, and in heaven, we shall love one another..."

2. Progress in Divine Union by Father Raoul Plus, SJ - Recently finished reading.

The following is an excerpt about the silence of the Blessed Mother.

"The great model of interior silence is the Blessed Virgin. She lived on supernatural realities alone; other things did not count. She kept the divine in her heart; the human remained ath the door and could gain no entrance..."

-or advice to busy people on improving their spiritual life-

"Let us be active, yes, if possible, very active, but calmly, under the eye of God, only for His glory and with sufficient good sense to forbid ourselves whatever might impede our life or union, our prayers, and our spirit of prayer which alone can fructify our activity and zeal."

3. Keep it Simple: The busy Catholic's guide to growing closer to God by Emmanuel de Gibergues (Currently reading).

The following are the 4 Principal Signs of the Virtue of Simplicity

-1. Indifference to our own success. (We need to see the purity of our intentions)
-2. Joy in the success of other s or in their spiritual progress (we should rejoice because God has been glorified).
-3. Attachment to the Will of God (Be prepared to sacrifice my personal tastes, to give myself up to whatever obedience exacts from me.)
-4. To desire nor covet the praise and approbation of men for the good that I do and to retain my calm and interior peace if I receive only reproaches and blame.

4. The Soul of a Lion: Dietrich von Hildebrand by Alice von Hildebrand

This book is an in depth biography by someone who knew him intimately, his wife who is amazing in her own right.  She shares with the reader the amazing life of this Catholic convert philosopher who was considered a big enemy of the Nazis. He was the only son in a loving family of talented people. His entire family were much involved and surrounded themselves with good art and music. They were friends were famous composers like Wagner and Strauss. I am just up to the part when Dietrich is a young man but already he is a very moral young man.

One description of his personality really made an impression on me. He was even-tempered. Nothing upset his cool. It is a good quality to imitate.

Well, there are my book selections so far. I also need to finish the Secret Diary of Elizabeth Leseuer. I took a break from it because I lent it to my friend.  I find her diary to be filled with virtues that would benefit all of us in our quest to being closer to God.

Recommended Reading: Edith Stein: Life in a Jewish Family

A book about a former Jewish atheist who converted and was later canonized may seem an odd choice for Advent reading but this is the book I chose. It is the unfinished autobiography of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, formerly Edith Stein. Her autobiography was interrupted by her arrest and ultimate death at the hands of the Nazis.

This book which spans many years in the writer's life is fascinating in its frankness in telling her family's story. In the first part she shares the good times and the hardships growing up in the family home. She is very open with the stories of problems and struggles within the family. I was surprised by the family disputes, quarrels and rivalries that she shared. I felt grateful to her for taking me, the reader into her confidence and trusting me enough to share what she did. Edith Stein, who wrote this after becoming a Catholic did not want to portray her family as a holy family but a normal family with normal every day troubles.

Because she wrote this autobiography as a Catholic, she makes references to certain situations from a Catholic perspective even though it involved Jewish individuals.

The second part of the book is filled with her memories of her time as a student. She was a student of philosophy in Germany. During that time period Europe was the mecca for academia and art. She was a member of a philosophical society in which one of its founders was none other than Dietrich von Hildrebrand another famous Catholic convert.

Her first cousin was mathematician Richard Courant.  He co-authored a well-known book on mathematics with Herbert Robbins entitled What is Mathematics.  In the Stein autobiography she speaks in a warm way of her cousin, with whom she had a close relationship. 

"The further removed things are from mathematics, the more complicated they are; and nothing is as far removed from mathematics as housekeeping." - Nelli Courant, mathematician and wife of Richard Courant. Nelli was not very well equipped to be a housewife according to Edith Stein.

The manuscript continues on until it is abruptly stopped. Sad that it was never to be completed.  But then again, we all know how it turns out.

This book can be ordered at EWTN Religious Catalog

Devotion to Mary by Father Emile Neubert, SM

Father Emile Neubert, S.M.

"Mary is not only an incomparably beautiful Mother, she is also an incomparably loving Mother."

Thanks to my friend Brother John Samaha, S.M., I am able to add this new English translation of a classic Catholic book, to my Advent reading list.  BTW, a tribute to Father Emile Neubert, S.M. by Brother John, can be found here.

DEVOTION TO MARY by Father Emile Neubert, S.M., has just been published by Academy of the Immaculate. This is the English translation by Father Charles Miller, S.M., of the original French book, which is a classic in Europe.

Throughout this work, Mary is presented especially as Mother: the Mother of God,
our Mother,
the Mother of all the members of the Mystical Body of Christ.

Mary's Motherhood is an image of the maternal character of the Church. For Fr. Neubert, Marian devotion consists not so much in specific practices but, rather in offering one's life to the Virgin Mary, an offering which has an ecclesial dimension. For St. Luis Grignion de Montfort, Marian consecration is a solemn renewal of one's baptismal commitment confided to the Virgin Mother. For Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, Marian consecration is to assist Mary in her apostolic mission: as she gave birth to Christ, "the First-born among many brethren, she cooperates, with a mother's love, in the generation and formation of the faithful." (Lumen Gentium 63).

Devotion to Mary can be obtained from Academy of the Immaculate, PO Box 3003 New Bedford, MA 02741. Phone and Fax (888) 90.Maria. Email Academy@marymediatrix.com

Book Recommendation: Thy Will Be Done by St. Francis de Sales

Picture source

This book is the first one I have chosen for spiritual reading for Advent. 

Thy Will be Done! "Fifty-eight letters to souls troubled by problems that afflict each of us today: anger, frustration, grief and sickness, difficulties in praying, and even lack of faith - with wise, practical remedies for each. Lovingly written by St. Francis de Sales." That beautiful description is from the front cover of the book which is published by Sophia Institute Press.

The following is from the back cover:

Three centuries ago, people flocked to St. Francis de Sales, seeking his help for their problems. St. Francis spent countless hours ministering to them face-to-face and wrote over 20,000 letters! From these letters to persons in many countries and in all walks of life, we’ve selected the ones which will be most helpful to you today.

Each is a hand-written response to someone like you seeking help with an actual problem. You’ll be consoled by the warmth, the wisdom, and the holy sympathy you’ll find in these pages as the love of this great saint reaches out to us across the centuries. Whatever your circumstances may be, there’s wisdom here to make your life holier . . . and happier.

Wisdom for difficult situations . . .
 To a pious wife: how to be devout without irritating your husband
 To an old man, preparing for death
 To a woman who judges herself harshly
 To a woman distressed by her lack of spiritual progress
 To a newlywed, teaching the duties of married life and how to fulfill them
 To a new widow who finds life alone a terrible burden
 To a young man, showing him how to treat his parents better
 To a nun, on placing ourselves in the presence of God
 To a married woman trying to bear patiently her live-in parents-in-law
 To a pregnant woman, tired, sick, and discouraged, who thinks she doesn’t pray enough
 To a childless woman, helping her to accept this sorrow
 To a priest, on staying faithful to his calling
 To a nervous woman, showing her how to be less troubled
 To a woman troubled by sinfulness in the world
 To a businessman, showing him how to find God in his busy life
 To an overworked woman
 . . . plus help for dozens of other problems we all face!

Solutions to common troubles . . .
 Family problems — how to keep calm, and even use troubles to improve your family
 Anxiety about the future: your job, your children, anything at all. It can be overcome!
 Your flaws -- the right response to them. Plus, ways to bear those you can’t overcome
 Family, work, prayer: which should come first? How to set your priorities
 Three criteria for judging pastimes. Do you really know which are spiritually healthy and which are dangerous?
 Helplessness: coping when you’re not in control, especially during times of sickness or loneliness
 The roots of heresy — why you must understand Scripture in light of Church teachings
 Temptation and sin: how to turn them into spiritual victories

“Francis de Sales modeled himself so closely on our Lord that many times I asked myself with astonishment how, considering human frailty, a mere creature could reach so high a degree of perfection.”
St. Vincent de Paul

“He seemed to have been sent especially by God. A great saint, remarkable not only for the holiness of his life, but for the wisdom with which he directed souls.”
Pope Pius XI

"The Book That Changed My Life"

Last night I finished reading "The Book That Changed My Life" , Edited by Roxanne J. Coady and Joy Johannessen ("71 Remarkable Writers Celebrate the Books that Matter most to them"). As usual with a good book, I was sorry that it ended.

Most of the 71 writers picked books that I love or are dear to me. Just to mention a few: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Catcher in the Rye, The Imitation of Christ, and Jane Eyre. Some writers chose books that I had never read or even heard of until then but now want to read. What I noticed was that all the stories had one thing in common and that was the intensity of emotion between book and the writer's life.

I have been thinking long and hard about what book I could pick that actually changed my life. I think I would have to say many of the books I love have influenced my life (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Imitation of Christ, The Holy Bible) but the one that changed my life has to be The Little Flowers of Saint Francis of Assisi which I read so long ago when the Capuchins were an important part of my life. I would have to re-read the book to see why it impacted me so strongly. All I know that my love for St. Francis is still strong to this day.

I would like to know which book either changed or influenced yours. Please share in the combox.

Books We Will Be Reading During Advent

The following are some of the books my family and I will be reading during Advent:

1. Catholic Customs & Traditions: A Popular Guide by Greg Dues. The reason I selected this book is because it has a chapter on the tradition of Advent. It gives a little history of this season which kicks off the new liturgical year. It tells of its origins and how it evolved into its own liturgical season from that of Christmas. It touches on the penitential theme as well as the advent symbols. Although it doesn't have the imprimatur or nihil obstat that I look for in Catholic books that gives a book that seal of approval I look for, it will at least direct me the right direction when looking for more resources. Publishers Twenty-Third Publications, Mystic, Connecticut ISBN: o-89622-432-5.

2. From the Angel's Blackboard: The Best of Fulton J. Sheen: A Centennial Celebration. I picked up this book as the book I would be reading during Adoration. I haven't been able to put it down. This is the kind of book you read slowly with reflection and meditation as you would the Holy Bible passages.

"In recognition of the 100th anniversary of his birth, tis compendium presents his finest and most enduring messages of counsel, wisdom and spiritual healing..."

At this time I am reading "Sanctifying the Moment". This saintly archbishop tells his readers two ways to become spiritual and mentally healthy through the use of the Sacrament of Confession and living in the "now". As usual, he includes his unique sense of humor as evidenced by the following little anecdote about dealing with difficult people:

"There is a legend that one day Abraham was visited in the desert by an Arab, who set up loud complaints of the food, the lodging, the bed, and the wine that his generous host had offered him. Finally, Abraham became exasperated and was about to put him out. Go appeared to Abraham at that moment and said: 'Abraham, I have stood this man for forty years; can't you put up with him for one day?"

This beautiful book is published by Triumph Books, Liguori, Missouri ISBN 0-89243-777-4.

3. Portraits in American Sanctity edited by Joseph N. Tylenda, S.J. Just look at the introduction found in this book written by Marion A. Habig, O.F.M.: "The saints are back! That is what Bishop Norbert F. Gaughan auxiliary of the Greensburg diocese, tells us (Visitor, Sept. 13, 1981)...

"The 1960's wrote Bishop Gaughan 'saw churches emptied of many statues. (What Reformation enthusiasts could not do, Catholics did). Devotion to the saints went underground. Many blamed a Vatican spirit as interpreted to them; it betrayed 'true' Catholic belief."

At long last, many Catholics have discovered that it was an unfortunate misinterpretation. "Far from banishing the saints from the church buildings, the sacred liturgy, and the spiritual life of the People of God, both as individuals and as a community, Vatican II has not only restated the pronouncements of previous councils, but has also set forth in a masterful, concise, and lucid manner the role which the saints in heaven play in the Church on earth..."

This book contains 25 stories of saintly men and women living in America. Each of their story is written by a priest or a religious. Since the book was written, some have already been canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. Some of the names include the following:
1. Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
2. Blessed Rose Philippine Duchesne
3. Venerable Antonio Margil de Jesus, O.F.M.
4. Venerable Felix DeAndreis, C.M.
5. Venerable (now Blessed and soon to be Saint) Damien de Veuster and twenty more.

Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, Illinois, ISBN 0-8199-0846-0

Our son is currently reading 1000 Questions and Answers on Catholicism by Philip O'Reilly. It is a book that he borrowed from Fr. Duffy the other day."This enlightening book offers the interested reader - Catholic and non-Catholic alike- a clear definition of what Catholicism is, and gives authoritative answers to the questions most often asked about Catholic faith and practice..." Angelus Books

My dear husband will continue to read The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. It is a book he has owned since contemplating the priesthood over 20 years ago.

"Translated from the Spanish with a commentary and a translation of the Directorium in Exercitia by the Late W. H. Longridge of the Society of St. John the Evangelist., A.R. Mowbray * Co. LTD., London: Milwakukke, USA: The Morehouse Publishing Co., Printed in England."

Organizing Books is Hard Work

Behind my computer desk I have two large wooden book cases. They are specifically there to keep our Catholic books handy. However, whenever I need a book, I can't seem to locate it.

With yesterday's delivery of the new books, I thought it was time to organize our books. I took all the books down and placed them in piles on the floor: woman saints, men saints, popes, Pope JPII, Sisters, Priests, Catholic teaching, children, etc., etc., etc.

In the midst of this organization I called Father Duffy to see how he was doing. He asked me what I was up to and I told him, organizing books. He advised that I sell them.

My husband came home a little after that. He too asked me what I was doing. "Organizing books" I told him. He also advised me to sell them. I could probably make good money he added.

Well, I don't know about you but I couldn't part with my collection of books. Maybe someday I will but not now.

Tomorrow, Joey gets to alphabetize them. I did find a duplicate or two but now I can't remember which it was.

So Many Books! So Little Time!

If you recall, I mentioned that Peter of Antique Mall Books had some out-of-print Catholic books. Well, what I forgot to mention was that I ordered a couple of books from him. I purchased Treasure in Clay, the Autobiography of Fulton J. Sheen and The Admirable Heart of Mary by Saint John Eudes. A short blurb from the book states:

"The Admirable Heart of Mary by St. John Eudes is the first complete work ever to be published on the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary..." It was published in 1948 and has a foreword by The Most Reverend Richard J. Cushing.

Peter had a first edition of the Sheen book but I bought the less expensive hardcover book. Both books arrived in excellent condition; well wrapped and packaged. I chose the pricier priority mail option because from experience media mail shipping to Hawaii can take from 4 to 6 weeks. I did not want to wait that long.

What a surprise when I opened the box yesterday! Peter had included the most beautiful Holy Card of our blessed Mother!! What a nice man! No wonder to me that he has Hawaii ties. Mahalo again Peter. I can't wait to read the AB Fulton Sheen book.

But that will have to wait because on the reading agenda are the following books:

Saints Behaving Badly which I finally got around to reading.

The Thrill of the Chaste which in all honesty I put aside to read the Saints book.

and a couple of other books.

Books I Currently Reading

We were in Borders the other day and we were happy to see they carried our Holy Father's book Jesus of Nazareth. By being a homeschooling family, we got a discount on it.

BTW, I got first dibs on it :-)

Although I am only on the second chapter, I am really enjoying learning about Jesus from Pope Benedict XVI's perspective.

The other book I am reading, I picked up at a garage sale at a Synagogue the other day. I am a fan of Isaac B. Singer's books which usually consist of short stories. The Family Moskat is a novel which follows a Jewish family in Poland all the way until the persecution of the Jews during World War II. I expect this book to be a little different from what I usually read by Singer but so far, it is a very good book.

I also started reading the biography on St. Josemária Escrivá. It is translated from the original Spanish into English. I think I would prefer to read it in the original Spanish.

If you could recommend one book to read this Summer, what would you recommend? Please leave your choice in the comment section. Mahalo.