The Feasts

This book is small but packed with a lot of information and descriptions about the feast days that are on the liturgical calender written by Cardinal Wuerl and Mike Auquilina.
There is a short foreword from Archbishop Gomez followed by a preface from Father Cameron of the Friar Preachers (O.P.). 
Each chapter delves into the major feast days. Such as Easter, Advent, Pentecost. They do go into quite a bit of detail in each Feast Day, which I like very much.
This book would be a very welcome addition to any RCIA class. It would also be an added asset to any body for an Introduction to Catholic faith and a refresher for those that just needed a extra information of their faith and Church.
I highly recommend this book!
I got this book in a exchange for a honest review from www.bloggingforbooks.com and Image books.

The Catholic Bible Dictionary by Scott Hahn

this is a book for true bible students and the faithful wanting to know more about the bible. I would highly recommend  this book for all Catholics and Protestants alike.
Dr. Hahn is a scholar by trade and it shows in this book. so informative and easily understandable.
the font of this book makes it very easy on the eyes which i love. the definitions are easy to understand and easy for reference.
For example,the word Nard. In the book the passage is as follows: A perfume extracted from the oil of the plant Nardostachyls jatamans found in India, Commonly referred to as Spikenard in English. The perfume was expensive. It was used in cosmetics and as a medicinal stimulant (Song 1:12) It was also used in the preparation of bodies for the tomb, the woman of Bethany anointed Jesus with Nard and Jesus defended her actions on the basis that she anointed Him in anticipation of his burial. (Mark 14"3-9) (John 12:3-8).
I love the explanation and the use of the word plus the reference of where I can find this in the Bible.
This is a honest review in exchange for book from www.bloggingforbooks.org.

Another excellent book by Dr. Brant Pitre

This book belies its size in that it is packed with information! The author does excellent job in writing about the symbolism of the wedding of Jesus and Our Church. Using not only the Bible but also the many sources of Jewish traditions (of which is too many too list). The many footnotes and bibliography made me want to look further into what all Dr. Pitre wrote.Just when I have thought I knew and wham there is information I wasn't aware of.
I highly recommend this book to all that want to know more about their faith especially from the roots of Christianity which is Judaism. Even tho this book was written for Catholics, I think that all Christians would benefit from this book!
I received this book in exchange for a honest review from Bloggingforbooks.com


http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Bridegroom-Greatest-Love-Story/dp/0770435459/ref=cm_rdp_product

A review of Dr.Scott Hahn's book Angels and Saints

This is a  small book from Dr.Scott Hahn.I enjoyed reading this because he includes a personal story about his son while on trip to Assisi. This is just a small insight of a him as a family man.
Dr.Hahn writes about Saints and Angels by starting with a description of what a saint and angel are. He did use a lot of biblical references in that he shows that saints and angels are explained and revered in the Bible. He uses a lot of the New Testament especially St.Paul in talking about angels and more importantly saints. I got a lot of feel of what St.Paul thought and wrote of/about saints.
Dr. Hahn includes chapters of 12 saints which includes the Virgin Mary, St.Michael and several Saints that Dr.Hahn loves and reference to for example St.Thomas Aquinas and St. Josemaria Escriva, in how that shaped his faith.
I highly recommend this book.  

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Many Are called by Scott Hahn....a review

This book is a small book, less than 200 pages, but packed with much info. 160 pages that could probably be condensed into 120 or so pages.
This was written with the 'lay person' in mind about the priesthood. Dr. Hahn tals about the different roles of men, such as being a father, leader, warrior, teacher, bridegrrom. This is just a small idea of what we should and do expect from men and that these roles may and can be justified so to speak for priesthood.
Most people think a priest as being nothing more than a minister but he is much mre than that. Dr. Hahn dicusses that in some detail. I find that this book does justice in that he explains the role of the priest and it's calling. I think that this book would help 'bolster' priests in a much better view/light.
I enjoyed this book as I do all the other books of Dr.Hahn that I have read so far.
I received this book from waterman.com/blogging for books in a exchange for a honest review.
I cannot wait for his newest book!
Many are Called by Scott Hahn

a review of God's Bucket List by Teresa Tomeo

I received this book from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for a honest review.
I have read other books by this author. So I was kind of prepared as to the type of writing she does. I must say that this book is different in that it just not about her personal life and such but also comprises of scripture readings and advice.
I first thought that this book would be about a 'bucket' list like what heard of in the movie The Bucket List starring Jack Nicholson. The author right off the bat says that this book is NOT a bucket list like that portrays in the movie but rather a list of pointers and advice to make your life holier or closer to God. This approach I like very much for the pointers and advice made sense to me and was very useful in my life.It was an easy read and thought provoking.
I highly recommend this book!
It's available at amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Bucket-List-Surefire-Happiness/dp/0385346905/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401682905&sr=1-1&keywords=god%27s+bucket+list

Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Today, the first day of Lent following Ash Wendsday, the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints at the Vatican approved the first 'alleged' miracle of Venerable Servant of God Archbsp.Fulton Sheen! This is a maor step to be Canonized as a saint.

Here is the link of the press release and a short explanation of the miracle.
http://www.archbishopsheencause.org/recent-news/archbishop-sheen-prayer-league/359


Praise God!!!!

Walking with Mary

I receieved this book from Waterbrook in exchange for a honest review.
The author Edward Sri is a professor of theology and Scripture at the Augustine Institute’s Master’s in Catechetics and Evangelization program in Denver, Colorado. He reminds me of Dr.Scott Hahn in some ways in that he writes and speaks in a way that the majority of the people can relate to and not feel that they were talked "down" to.
First he talks about his personal experiences in relation to Mary. Then he shows 3 very bibical facts about Mary, Nazareth, marriage to Joseph and the linage of David.
He then he writes of a 9 step journey through the Bible with 7 from Luke, 2 from John, and finally the book of Revelation. Like the event of the Annunciation  of Gabriel which show just one of the truths of and about Mary in the Bible. He uses many references in the Bible with notes and where to find the passages in the Bible.
Even though this is a small book, I would definitely recomend this to those in the Catholic faith that have a hard time understanding the importance of Mary and those that are Christians that are not Catholic in further understanding why we keep talking about the importance of Mary and her path for us to Jesus.

http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Mary-Biblical-Journey-Nazareth/dp/0385348037/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Dolan and Colbert

I am a huge fan of Stephan Colbert of the Colbert Report on the Comedy Channel. When Cardinal Dolan appeared on the show I laughed many times and enjoyed the show very much. It is so nice to see 2 Catholics having a good time and shows their lighter side of themselves. Here are 2 clips of that show. On this show the Cardinals dicusses his new book Praying in Rome. A book about the Cardinal's time at the conclave that elected the new Pope.

Praying in Rome by Cardinal Dolan

small review on On Heaven and Earth

I receieved this book from Waterbrook in exchange for a review. This book was written before 2010 when the current pope Francis was still a Cardinal (Jorge Bergoglio) of Argentina. It is about a series of conversations between Cardinal Bergoglio and Rabbi Abraham Skorka. They both wrote a prologue with a brief description of these meetings and a little of their immediate thoughts about these meetings. I felt like I was there abeit much like a fly on the wall or leaning against the door listening to these 2 holy men talk. The book is 256 pages, not small but definitely managable. It has 29 chapters highlighting a different subjets such as on the devil, on guilt, on prayers.They deal with each subject from their point of view (and that of their religion) They used simple language but not too simple that it would "dumb" the readers down. The dialogue was clear, concise and not too "scholarly". The respect that these 2 men are very easy to see and acknowleged. One example is on the Rabbi's side of conversation the word God is printed as G_d out of reverence for Judiasm. Would I recomend this book? YES, for the reader would get a glimpse of both of the holy men. The release was a very timely one that it coincided with the papl election of the Cardinal.http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780770435066

review of a book "The Church" by Mike Aquilina and Cardinal Wuerl

I just read a book by Mike Aquilina and Cardinal Donald Wuerl titled The Church. I have read several of Mike Aquilina's books but none of Cardinal Wuerl's books with the exception of his previous collaboration with Mike Aquilina on The Mass of which I did enjoy.

One of Mr.Aquilina's books that I thoroughly enjoyed was Signs and Mysteries: Revealing Ancient Christian Symbols. Mr Aquilina is a contemporary of Dr.Scott Hahn, another author I love and enjoy. Both Mr.Aquilina and Dr. Hahn are converts to the Catholic Church and both are academics in biblical studies. Cardinal Wuerl is the Archbishop for the Washington D.C, archdiocese. He has written several books primarily on catechism.

The Church is the second work by these two men. This book is meant to be a companion to their previous collaboration The Mass. This book and The Mass would be a wonderful tool in RICA(Rite of Initiation of Christian Adults) and also a refresher for cradle Catholics and a tool of inquiry for non Catholic Christians in what these 2 books can do to provide some or greater understanding of the Catholic Church.

This book The Church is a relatively small book with 228 pages including index, foreword and introduction.

The preface was by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston Archdiocese. The forward was by Father Robert Barron of the Mundelein Seminary in the Chicago Archdiocese.  I have immense respect for these 2 priests. They offered very encouraging words in the praise and introduction for this book. The  subtitle is ‘Unlocking the secrets to the places Catholics call Home’.Most of the  chapters are devoted to a area, structure or thing inside a church building.

For example, The Baptismal Font. They described what is a baptismal font, what its for, the symbolism and the rite used for the font.  

An excerpt from this chapter: “Baptism is the sacramental prerequisite for participation in all the other sacraments  The Church’s law commands: “Every parish church is to have a baptismal font” (CIC- Code of Canon Law- 858 S1)”. The language used is simplistic and easy to understand but without feeling ‘dumbed’ down.  But they also quote from several sources such as The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), the Code of Canon Law (CIC) and the Holy Bible particularly the New Testaments with emphasis on the works/letters of St.Paul.

I found this book to be extremely informative without being too scholarly. I love that they referenced more than 3 sources of information to help the reader understand the subtleties of what they have written. The authors include and very extensive index for anyone that wants to do a “scholarly” look or study the works more in depth.

I highly recommend this book  especially for RICA and like programs. This book did explain to my satisfaction a lot of things that are a part of the church building and the Church.