A Franciscan Christmas - Kathleen M. Carroll

A Franciscan Christmas

by kathleen M. Carroll

foreward by Jack Wintz, O.F.M.

Published by St. Anthony Messenger Press

ISBN 978-0-86716-986-7

$12.99

The first thing that caught my eye when I received this book in the mail was it's size. It's a rather small little book. However, the cover art was peaceful and made me immediately think of Christmas. It didn't make me think of Christmas in the secular/consumerism manner but in a spiritual way.

I did not expect much from this book and assumed it would be a little fluff like most gift sized books. BOY WAS I WRONG!

This little book packs a BIG punch!

Kathleen Carroll presents 10 elements of the nativity.

Jesus

Mary

Joseph

The Shepherds

The Magi

Angels

Villagers

Musicians

The Star

The Animals

As she presents each element, she also provides you with a Biblical reading which sets the stage for the chapter. You go into each chapter learning not only quite a bit about Saint Francis and his life but also about the story behind each chapter in the bible. Carroll presents some unique questions in this book. One that I remember vividly is a discussion about animals in The Animals chapter. Carroll mentions that the Bible does not specificially state that there were animals present when our Savior was born. Of course there wouldn't be an empty stable in a town packed full of people so we know there must have been animals!

I learned a great deal about Saint Francis and his life from this book as well as discovered new meaning and important details of the nativity that I had previously overlooked.

Carroll challenges her readers to consider the true meaning of Christmas and reflect on the birth of Christ at this time of year. It is so easy to get pulled into the trappings of society and our "give and get" mentality that it is easy to simply go through the motions during this most Holy season.

A Franciscan Christmas would be a wonderful addition to any library and will definitely become a permanent part of our Christmas library collection!

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 A Franciscan Christmas . They are also a great source for serenity prayer and baptism gifts.

* A copy of this book was provided to me free of charge by The Catholic Company for review purposes

My Journey to the Land of More - Leona Choy

My Journey to the Land of More
Evangelical to Catholic
by Leona Choy

My Journey to the Land of MORE is literally the journey of one woman into the Catholic faith. Entering the Catholic Church from any background is difficult especially in the beginning. There are so many questions, misconceptions and of course there is the personal opinions of friends and loved ones to contend with. Leona gracefully invites us into her personal journey with honest and frank discussions of each step she took.

As a new convert (I will be received into the Catholic Church in just a little over a week!) I found this book to be perfectly timed for me. Leona delves deeply into the common misconceptions held about the Catholic faith. She covers everything from "worshipping saints" to confession. The reader is placed in a unique position because Leona describes her thoughts and feelings as she approaches each subject, then she takes you on the journey with her to understand and finally arrive at a final conclusion.

Leona was not a new Christian. Her circumstances and her leadership role in the Evangelical community presented a unique set of road blocks for her. Not only is this book a wonderful story of growth and faith, it is also a wonderful resource and treasure trove of Catholic information. Best of all, it is so easy to understand!

*A copy of this book was provided to me by The Catholic Company for review purposes.
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 My Journey to the Land of More and be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts while you are there.

To Be Like Jesus - Sister Ann Shields

To Be Like Jesus - Inspiration From the Gospel of Luke
by Sister Ann Shields S.G.L

To Be Like Jesus is a small book that is designed to be a weekly relection on the Gospel of Luke. This book is a thought provoking yet relaxing reed. Sister Ann Shields takes you on a journey through the Gospel of Luke in 31 chapters filled to the brim with personal stories, Biblical references and sections for further reflection.

Do you love your neighbor?
How rigid is your definition of "neighbor?"
Have you chosen the "good portion?"
Are you reflective in your spiritual life or active?
Are you proud of that?
Are you still searching for a balance?

Sister Ann asks the tough questions...

Am I trying to save myself rather than letting God be my savior?
Do I do good deeds to earn "brownie points" with God?
Do I think that generous acts will make up for my sins?
Do I pray in public places in order to be seen?

Reading the Bible has always been a struggle for me. Imagine trying to make sense of it on top of that! To Be Like Jesus will leave you feeling like you've actually understood something Biblical perhaps even for the first time. This book is great for all of anyone looking for more understanding from your Bible reading.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Materials are provided from The Catholic Company for review purposes. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on To Be Like Jesus. Also be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts.

Exiles: A Novel - Ron Hansen

About the book

In December 1875 the steamship Deutschland left Bremen, Germany, bound for America. On board were five nuns, exiled by a government ban on religious orders, hoping to begin their lives anew in Missouri. Their journey would end when the Deutschland ran aground at the mouth of the Thames and all five drowned. Ron Hansen tells their harrowing story, but also that of the poet and priest Gerard Manley Hopkins, and how the shipwreck moved him to write a grand poem, a reveletory work read throughout the world today. Combining a thrilling tragedy at sea with the seeming shipwreck of Hopkins's own life, "Hansen brilliantly, if soberly, weaves two interrelated storylines into a riveting novel" (booklist)

My Review

Exiles: A Novel surprised me! Not only is this book a work of art but can be read and enjoyed by all reading levels. While I did find myself not understanding everything that was referred to, the story itself drew me in and kept me in the raging waters of this tale.




As you learn more and more about each central character you find yourself more invested in their future. Sister Aurea eventually held the biggest place in my heart. Her childlike personality and joyful soul reaches out from the pages. Each of the 5 nuns from the story will capture your attention and create an urgency that will keep you up reading well past bedtime. The fact that you already know the ending will not stop you from wanting to learn each and every piece of information that you can about these Exiles.



Hansen creates a relatable past for each of the central characters that peeks into the details of their lives before and after they chose their vocations. Sister Norberta stands out as a woman we would all do well to learn from. Her strength and loyalty are an excellent example for all.



I enjoyed following Father Hopkins through his journey and related to him as being the only Catholic in his immediate family (though he is much smarter than I!) Hopkins ventures from place to place sharing his unique viewpoint as he goes. I would recommend this book to any follower of Christ as it shows the strength of conviction even when there is no happy ending. The reality of this story goes far beyond the tale of a shipwreck. It follows the realistic struggle that each of us face in everyday life. Struggles with pride and loneliness and a love for the Father that though we can never get "right" will be our savior in the end.



You can purchase this book here.


I wrote this review of Exiles: A Novel for the Tiber River Blogger Review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods, your source for Oplatki and Advent Calendars. For more information and to purchase, please visit Aquinas and More Catholic Goods.


Tiber River is the first Catholic book review site, started in 2000 to help you make informed decisions about Catholic book purchases.


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

U Got 2 Love - Fr. Stan Fortuna

U Got 2 Love is a book written primarily for teenagers and young adults. The purpose of this book is the all time truth that in order to receive love you must love but then again in order to love you must be able to receive love as well. There would be several great uses for this book. It would be perfect for a reading group, a daily study or even just to flip through on any given day.

U Got 2 Love is a big gift in a small package. Fr. Stan has packed this little book full of related biblical passages and gems from the published works and speeches of everyone from Pope John Paul II to Lenin at the end of his life. The book is rather fast paced and I found myself wanting to jump ahead which is not always good because you miss valuable information. I found this to be a great book to read and re-read over and over again.

Fr. Stan tackles all forms of love from our Fathers love to romantic and even painful love. Love is not always patient and it certainly is not always kind but through the wisdom of these pages you can find your way traversing this sometimes confusing path of love.

I cannot say that this was an easy read for me because it certainly wasn't. However, sometimes the greatest lessons in life come from challenging tasks. The accent Fr. Stan chose to write with in this book is fun, charming and helps keep a smile on your face throughout! I still flip through the pages of this book and re-read the gems that are sprinkled throughout this book on almost every page.

You can purchase this book here.
I wrote this review of U Got 2 Love for the Tiber River Blogger Review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods, the largest Catholic Store online. For more information and to purchase, please visit Aquinas and More Catholic Goods.

Tiber River is the first Catholic book review site, started in 2000 to help you make informed decisions about Catholic book purchases.

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

Annulment - 100 Questions and Answers for Catholics

The book Annulment - 100 Questions and Answers for Catholics came into my life at the perfect time. As a candidate in the RCIA process I found this an invaluable tool that helped me decipher some of the mystery of the annulment process as well as providing priceless technical information. Best of all, this is presented in an easy to understand question and answer format.

Many Catholics do not understand the details of the annulment process and sometimes it is hard to get straight answers when you are considering or actually undertaking the process. This little book is like having your very own Tribunal on your night stand!

The annulment process is very personal and can be a very difficult emotional journey. It is nice to have some hands on information right at your fingertips. This book would be great for anyone wanting to learn more about the inner workings of the process and a priceless tool for any Adult Ed leader or most especially anyone involved in teaching the RCIA process or marriage groups within the Catholic Church.

Definitely two thumbs up!

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 Annulment - 100 Questions & Answers for Catholics .