Family Devotions

A Catholic Family Prayer Book

Book cover: 'A Catholic Family Prayer Book'
Number of pages: 
36 pages
Copyright: 
2001
Publisher: 
Little Flower Family Apostolate
Binding: 
Stapled Softcover
Subject(s): 
Review: 

1st copy FREE for one "Hail Mary"; suggested donation $2-$5 thereafter

What a lovely, little prayer book! Sized to fit into a shirt pocket, this paperback prayer book can be tucked into your pocketbook, favorite tote bag, or even your lunch box. It contains a selection of familiar and long-forgotten prayers arranged under the headings of "Morning Prayers", "Prayers Throughout the Day", "Prayers for Those in Purgatory", "Prayers in Reparation", and "Evening Prayers". The prayers have been gathered from various sources, and the texts are printed in an eye-pleasing typeface in English.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

This is a photocopied, stapled booklet

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

God In Our House

Book cover: God in Our House
Author(s): 
Joseph A. Breig
Number of pages: 
156 pages
Copyright: 
2002
ISBN: 
9781930873582
Publisher: 
Neumann Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Review: 

I always look forward to the new books published by Neumann Press, and this book was worth waiting for! God In Our House is a collection of essays that were originally published on a weekly basis in a Catholic magazine named America. Because this feature of the magazine was so popular, the editors published this book, which Neumann Press has now republished.

Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent and concluding with the Last Sunday After Pentecost, each essay is based on a passage from the gospel reading of the day. All Sundays and many Holy Days are included, with the same format: the passage is cited and followed by an approximately two-page essay or story. The author, a father of five, often uses examples from the daily life of a busy family to explain the passage. His style is so appealing! As you progress through the year, you come to know his family almost as well as the teachings of the gospels.

Our family has a custom of re-reading the Sunday gospels on Sunday evenings, and we try to read from a Catholic book as well. With a wide age-span amongst our children, it has been difficult to find a book suitable and enjoyable for all. This book fits our Sunday evenings perfectly. The reading for the week would also be profitable if it were read before Sunday, perhaps as a part of Friday's religion class or Saturday's preparation for Sunday. It only takes a few minutes, but the lessons learned through these enjoyable stories will remain. Buy this book in the hardcover edition! You will enjoy it THAT much as you read it year after year.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat

Also available in softcover: ISBN 1-930873-59-X

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
9-3-02

It's a Mystery! The Holy Trinity

A Catholic Children's Retreat
Book cover: 'It's a Mystery! The Holy Trinity: A Catholic Children's Retreat'
Author(s): 
Sandra Garant
Number of pages: 
170 pages
Copyright: 
2002
Publisher: 
Catholic Heritage Curricula
Binding: 
Loose-leaf (binder-ready)
Review: 
"Retreats are time set aside for study, prayer, activities, and discussion about God and His Church. Children can benefit from retreats as much as adults. Jesus would occasionally leave His followers and retreat to the desert or a mountaintop. Even He felt the need to get away from the world for a while." (from the Introduction)

This extensive resource is designed to be a Catholic answer to the Vacation Bible Schools offered by various churches in the summertime. As Catholics, we recognize Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition as essential elements to our faith. In this specific subject of the Holy Trinity, we cannot rely only on Sacred Scripture since the Bible never explicitly mentions the dogma of the Holy Trinity.

It's a Mystery! is a well organized retreat resource that provides very simple preparation for a rewarding retreat for one or more families. The retreat could be offered as a retreat/vacation week as a break from the regular school routine, as a summer project or adjusted for one-day mini-retreat. This program includes a complete outline for a week-long retreat centering on the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Activities are generally organized into three different age groups (ages 5-7, 8-11 and 12-15). It includes general supply lists, sample invitations, overviews, song sheets, etc. as well as extensive day-by-day schedules and materials. Each day's section includes an "advanced preparation" checklist, prayers, discussion/lesson outlines, craft ideas, memory work, recipes for snacks, opening and closing suggestions and more. The lessons and memory work include quotes and readings from the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a story of St. Parick and other prayers and hymns.

The huge appendix includes many photocopyable sheets, including: prayers, hymns, word search, maze, poems, art project templates, cooperative games, certificate of completion and lots more.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

This title was donated for review by Catholic Heritage Curricula.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
3-13-03

The Church's Most Powerful Novenas

Author(s): 
Michael Dubruiel
Number of pages: 
288 pages
Copyright: 
2006
Publisher: 
Our Sunday Visitor
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Review: 
How often do we look for a novena? Chances are, if your family is like ours, you will love this little resource. It may be small, but it's packed full with novenas! More than 20 novenas, classified in categories such as Novenas to Christ and the Holy Spirit, to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the Relatives of Jesus. Also to particular saints, American Saints, Holy Souls, and even a quick Novena by Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Introductory paragraphs and appendices offer historical vignettes, reasons to pray novenas, information on shrines related to the novenas, and more--including "novena problems to avoid"! The small format volume is handsomely printed on "missal" pages and it will fit in anyone's handbag--mine is there! One never knows when a novena comes in need, does one? One aspect of this user-friendly book that I specifically enjoyed is the historical information about each novena and the devotions surrounding each one. I discovered I have said novenas multiple times without fully knowing the very holy and interesting facts behind them!
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
10-6-2007