Book Review -A Year with Fr. Rutler, Volume II: Lent, Easter, and Spring

Sophia Institute Press, 2019 

This is the first book by Fr. George Rutler that I have read.  It has been a wonderful experience to read such beautifully written meditations from such a well-educated and faithful priest.  Fr. Rutler is a convert to Catholicism from the Episcopalian priesthood and a graduate of Dartmouth College who also holds degrees from the Gregorian and Angelicum Universities in Rome.

A Year with Fr. Rutler, Volume II,  is a collection of more than ninety meditations for Lent, Easter and the Ascension of our Lord.  Father has a broad world-view,  a vast knowledge of contemporary issues, and a great love of the Catholic faith.  Each mediation will encourage you to think deeply on current issues as well as learn more about the Scriptures and Catholic faith issues.

This volume is greatly uplifting in its encouraging reflections, but it also brings the reader back down to earth with clear and perceptive interpretations of current events in the Church and in the world.  This is a recommended read for Lent, Easter or anytime of the year.

Reviewed by Rosa Sautner, Catholic homeschooling mother of two in New Jersey.

Book Review -Lord, Teach Us to Pray, An Anthology, by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

by Rosa M. Sautner, Catholic homeschooling mom of two.

This is a beautiful collection of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's reflections on prayer.  His lessons on prayers are carefully ordered and arranged to help the reader understand what it means to pray, how best to do so, and what means we may use to foster a deeper relationship with God.

The first chapter gives the Archbishop's sermons on the Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross.  The mediations are profound thoughts from someone who has deeply pondered the Passion of our Lord.

The second chapter explains the relationship between Calvary and the Mass.  It is a Missal Companion that offers meditations on the main parts of the Mass.

The third chapter explains the importance of the daily Holy Hour, offering seven meditations and reflections that can be used during a Holy Hour.

The fourth chapter includes the Archbishop's beautiful thoughts on each Station of the Cross.

The fifth chapter offers various reflections on different aspects of the spiritual life, such as faith, prayer and sacrifice, the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Mother.

The sixth and final chapter includes various prayers taken from different saints to be used as starting points for personal prayer and meditation.

This is a lovely and comprehensive selection of Archbishop Sheen's thoughts and counsels on prayer.  It will make a fitting companion to any collection of the Archbishop's books as well as an excellent source of meditation during Lent and Holy Week.

A book review on Anthony DeStefano's new release, Our Lady's Wardrobe.

by Rosa Sautner, Catholic homeschooling mother of 2.

This beautiful book is a unique perspective of Marian apparitions written for children.  Anthony DeStefano's charming poetic verses and Juliana Kolesova's stunning illustrations combine to produce an exquisite picture book.

The beauty of this book is only the beginning.  What this lovely book teaches is real virtue.  Our Blessed Mother was poor on this earth and dressed simply.  Now in the splendor of Heaven, she is arrayed in the most magnificent of costumes.  At each apparition she comes splendidly dressed.

But that is not all!  What this beautiful picture book will teach girls and boys alike is modesty!  Our Lady always appeared in dresses;  long beautiful gowns that covered her from head to foot and made her look even more resplendent.

This book is a real treasure and a starting point for many conversations with children about the love of our Blessed Mother, about her exquisite beauty, her sweet and pure modesty and her promise of a Heavenly Home to come.

 https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/our-ladys-wardrobe

Book Review - A Lenten Journey with Mother Mary by Fr. Edward Looney

by Rosa Sautner, Catholic homeschooling mother of twin girls.

Book Review -  A Lenten Journey with Mother Mary by Fr. Edward Looney

A Lenten Journey with Mother Mary is a beautifully written book to guide you through each day of Lent.  Fr. Looney has written the book based on the many Marian apparitions of our Lady.  Noting that our Blessed Mother brings to each apparition important motherly requests, Father focuses on a different aspect of her messages for each week of Lent as well as Holy Week.

While the book can be used any time of the year, it is particularly geared toward the season of Lent.  There is a meditation, prayer and action for each day.  Following the daily readings will offer practical advice to help one grow spiritually during Lent.

The book explains the message of many of Mary's apparitions, some well known, like Lourdes and Fatima, and some not as well known, such as La Salette and Beauraing.  Tying the apparitions with each day and week of Lent, this book offers a unique way to walk the Journey of Lent with our Mother Mary.  It will help the reader grow closer to our Suffering Lord as he draws closer to His Mother.

Book Review -The Seed Who Was Afraid to Be Planted - Author Anthony DeStefano

The following book review was written by Rosa Sautner, a Catholic homeschooling mom of two.

A very charming rhyming book illustrated with touching images of a frightened little seed.  The story of the seed who is afraid to be put into the ground and planted contains many truths about our life.  It offers pleasant rhyme to help children learn about dying to oneself in order to live in Christ.  The story can also be used to help explain why we are afraid to die in this life.  We don't know what joy the next life contains, we only know the "now" of our existence.  If we trust the Divine Gardener and let him do as He wills with us, we will see all the joy that He has planned for us in the next life .  These are profound truths that can be told in simple story form for children.  A lovely book that would be a very appropriate gift for Lent or Easter.

Video

Review -Me & My House - Catholic Parenting Course Videos

by Patrick Sullivan - Evango

Patrick Sullivan has put together an excellent resource for parents in his new parenting video series entitled, "Me & My House."   While I am not a new parent, my twin girls are now age 10, I learned a great deal from watching his videos.

Patrick takes you on a step-by-step path on how to bring up children who are affectionate, loving, and desirous of having a deep relationship with their parents and above all with God.

The videos are divided into four modules:

1. Parenting in God's Plan - He explores the foundations of Catholic parenting.
2. Habits in Parenting - He discusses good and bad practices in parenting.
3. Do's and Don'ts of Parenting - He explains good discipline techniques, what works and what doesn't work.
4. Parenting Them in the Faith -  He gives good suggestions of things you can do to raise children who will find joy in their faith.

These videos are very practical.  Patrick gradually introduces ways to help you implement solid, Catholic teaching in your home, in raising your children, and in relating to your spouse.  

One of the biggest impacts of the videos is the example of Patrick's children themselves.  Whenever they appear in the videos they seem very gentle, sweet, and well-mannered.  Patrick relates one story where he is looking all over for his son one day, only to find him hiding under the covers on his bed saying a Rosary!  This dear man surely knows what he is talking about if his little boy can do something like that.

One of the best features of these videos is Patrick's calm, soft-spoken demeanor.  I was very relaxed each time I watched and that was a big plus!

This is really a worthwhile series for all Catholic parents.  There is always something we can learn to help our children grow up to be loving, respectful children who love God.  Patrick Sullivan has put together a functional, Catholic guide to parenting.  I truly enjoyed watching the videos.   I am sure all parents will greatly benefit from the wisdom and practical advice they will receive from watching the "Me & My House" Catholic Parenting course.

For our readers we have a the discount code for $15 off the purchase price, and the code is JOSEPH. Click HERE for more details.

 Reviewed by Rosa Sautner, Catholic homeschooling mom of 2.

St. John of the Cross - 3 Cautions about the world

https://youtu.be/hLYVX0WcVEA

The Golden Rules of Detachment by St. John of the Cross

The soul must always be inclined to:

-  not to the easiest thing, but the hardest;

-  not to the tastiest thing, but the most insipid;

-  not to t he thing that gives the greatest pleasure, but to those that give the least;

-  not to restful things, but to the painful ones;

-  not to consolation, but desolation;

- not to more, but to less;

- not to the highest and dearest, but to the lowest and most despised;

-  not to desire for something but to have no desires.

- 

Saint Pope John Paul II Message for Lent

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
FOR LENT 1979

You ask: “What has happened to Lent?”. Going to some small extent without food does not, you think, mean much, at a time when so many of our brothers and sisters are victims of war of disasters and are undergoing such suffering, both physically and morally.

Fasting concerns personal asceticism, which is always necessary; but the Church asks the baptized to mark this liturgical season in yet another way...

Read the rest HERE.

Lent - Unmortified Habitual Inperfections

"The smallest imperfection is opposed to the will of God because Go cannot desire the slightest imperfection."
- St. John of the Cross

Examples of unmortified habitual imperfections:

1.  Talking too much;

2.  Unrestrained curiosity;

3.  Attachments to the little things whether persons or objects such as food and so forth which the soul refuses to give up;

4.  Attachment to one's comfort;

5.  Attachment to one's own opinion and reputation.