Miscellaneous Religion Materials

St. Patrick's Summer

A Children's Adventure Catechism
Book cover: 'St Patricks Summer'
Author(s): 
Marigold Hunt
Illustrator(s): 
Theodore Schluenderfritz
Number of pages: 
288 pages
Copyright: 
2005
ISBN: 
0192883292
Publisher: 
Sophia Institute Press
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
I recently read St. Patrick's Summer aloud to my children. They absolutely loved it! Frequently, they begged for "just a little more," and I enjoyed it so much that I often obliged. The set-up: Michael and Cecelia need help preparing for their First Holy Communions, but Mrs. Murphy, their teacher, is at her wits' end. She says their questions would stump a bishop. So she asks St. Patrick to help and he does so in a most unusual way: by appearing to the children, showing them events from the past, and answering their questions. As we read, I was delighted to discover:
  • explanations that really make sense to kids -- and adults
  • Michael and Cecelia are hilariously true-to-life
  • the saints are wonderful characters, full of gentle humor and fun -- people I would love to have for my friends.
Because this book was originally written more than a half-century ago, the Catholic Church's view on a couple of items has developed since its writing. These points are:
  1. The fate of babies who die unbaptized (ch. 5, pp. 81-2) is presented as definitely lower than that of baptized infants. However, the CCC says (m. 1261):
    As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,"63 allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church's call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism.
  2. In the story (also in ch. 5) St Patrick tells the children that the "Supernatural Life" that men from Adam to Jesus had access to was the same as the sanctifying grace of Baptism that we have access to in and through Christ. Whether faith in a future Messiah by those who lived before Christ's passion and death resulted in the same sort of grace as that which results from Baptism now is not clear, and a very difficult matter to understand. To treat it as if it were answered in such a simple fashion is to distort the truth. Such an assertion does not belong in a children's book; it's at best a source of great confusion and could well be false.
Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

Original copyright 1950

Maria Rioux contributed to this review.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
2-10-2009

Surprised by Canon Law

150 Questions Catholics Ask about Canon Law
Book cover: Surprised by Canon Law
Author(s): 
Pete Vere
Michael Trueman
Patrick Madrid
Number of pages: 
126 pages
Copyright: 
2004
ISBN: 
9780867166088
Publisher: 
Servant Books (an imprint of St. Anthony Messenger Press)
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
Pete and Michael are Canon Lawyers for the Catholic Church. This means they answer lots of questions about the rules that guide our faith. Canon law in many instances determines how theological truths apply to the daily practice of the Catholic faith.

This book gives a good introductory look at canon law. From the basic, "What is canon law all about?" to the more obscure, "What relationship does a Catholic association have with the larger church?" this book will give you a good, basic concept of what canon law is, and what canon lawyers do.

There are fourteen chapters, starting with general questions, and moving to specific questions and covering all of the sacraments. There is a handy index in the back for looking things up. I found the chapter on the role of priests and the structure of the parish very interesting.

Overall, this is a good, basic introductory look at canon law for people who are curious as to what canon law means, what it can and cannot do, and when a canon lawyer may help them in a certain situation.

This book would be very useful to give to the high school student as a supplement to the religion program you are using. Most high school students have probably not heard of canon law, and this book will give them a basic understanding of the inner workings of the church in this regard. The material is certainly understandable for most 13 and older students.

Perspective: 
Catholic
First reviewed: 
8-5-05

The Power of the Cross

Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life
Book cover: The Power of the Cross
Author(s): 
Michael Dubruiel
Number of pages: 
272 pages
Copyright: 
2004
ISBN: 
9781592761005
Publisher: 
Our Sunday Visitor
Binding: 
Softcover
Review: 
This is a meditative book, divided into a six week program of daily readings and meditation ideas, based on the Passion of Christ. Ideally, and Dubruiel suggests this, this book would fit in perfectly with a Lenten reading plan. However, the book can really be started any time. In addition to individual use, the book is well suited for a small group, as it contains discussion questions at the end of each section. These questions could be used individually, to help you get as much out of the reading and meditation as possible, or in a group.

As a busy mother, I really like books that I can read a little bit at one sitting and then put it down. I tend to get snatches of time, rather than long bits, and so the length of these chapters and the amount of material covered was just right for me.

If you are looking for a book to help you meditate on the cross, if you need something to help you work on some particular suffering you are dealing with, or if you just simply want to enter into the passion more deeply with Christ, than I think this would be an excellent book for you.

The book covers:

  • God's unique purpose and mission for you.
  • How to overcome the evil that you have suffered at the hands of others.
  • To find God's presence in difficult times.
  • The keys to unleashing the power of the cross in your life.
Click here to download a free study guide on the publisher's website.
Perspective: 
Catholic
First reviewed: 
1999

To Whom Shall We Go?

Lessons from the Apostle Peter
Author(s): 
Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan
Number of pages: 
152 pages
Copyright: 
2008
Publisher: 
Our Sunday Visitor
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 
This is a really lovely, very accessible exposition of what St. Peter's life teaches us about how we are called to follow Christ. Written by Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the new Archbishop of New York City, the book is centered around the words that Dolan has taken on as his episcopal motto (To Whom Shall We Go?), which is from the Gospel of John 6:67-68. Archbishop Dolan, who we were privileged to have lead our diocese of Milwaukee for the past six years or so, is a plain-speaking, joyful, humble man who speaks to ordinary people in a very helpful way. This book is a lovely example of his clear and helpful thinking. Each chapter begins with a story of St. Peter's life from which Dolan pulls out very helpful life lessons. These are generously sprinkled with good humor, touching stories from his own experiences and memorable tidbits that seem so very simple and do-able. And that's an important part of passing along to the Faith to others (especially to our children) to help them see that living a good life *is* possible! Here's an example. The first chapter is entitled "Keeping Our Eyes Focused on Christ" and it's based on the story of St. Peter asking Christ to allow him to walk on the water. Of course we know that when he takes his eyes off of Christ and begins to be afraid, he begins to sink. The Archbishop draws out some lovely and very helpful thoughts, as you can see from this tidbit:
The message - this is sledgehammer-clear - the message that Our Lord is trying to teach us in this famous episode: notice, as long as St. Peter keeps his eyes on Christ, he's doing fine. He can walk on water. The winds, the terrible storm, the ferocious waves, and the darkness don't bother him. But the moment he gets distracted, the moment he turns his gaze from the Lord, the moment Peter loses sight of his goal, what happens? He sinks!
In this chapter he encourages us to have a firm purpose in our life. He encourages us to keep our gaze on Christ by being "conscious of the life of God within my soul" and through prayer. Here's another great example of the helpful pastoral thought he provides in this book:
Despair will never be ours if we believe in the power of the sacrament of Penance and tap into it very often. This sacrament helps us avoid both extremes - the presumption of the Pharisees and the despair of Judas - and it keeps us, with St. Peter, int he healthy center. Contrite? Yes, but confident in the Lord's mercy. Aware of the sin? You bet, but equally aware of Christ's desire to forgive. Repentant? You bet, but renewed as well. And for us, the is moment of honesty and healing takes place, concretely and personally, in the sacrament of Penance.
Here are the other chapters presented in this book: 2. "Noticing the Wind" (This continues the story about walking on water and focuses on being aware of what dominates our lives - what things distract us from God, etc.) 3. "Silently Being with Our Lord" (Based on the story of St. Peter at the Transfiguration) 4. "Embracing Our Cross" (Based on the story of Jesus trying to convince Jesus not to go to Jerusalem where he will suffer and die.) 5. "How Do We Let God Love Us?" (From the story at the Last Supper of Peter not wanting Jesus to wash his feet.) 6. "Do You Love the Lord?" (From the story after the Resurrection of Jesus asking Peter to "Feed my lambs.") 7. "Put Out Into the Deep" (The story of the miraculous catch of fish where Jesus exhorts Peter: "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.") 8. "Asking Our Lord for Forgiveness" (Peter's betrayal of Jesus) 9. "To Whom Shall We Go?" (Title story - when a number of Jesus' disciples have left Him and He asks Peter if he will leave too - Peter responds "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life...") 10. Afterword: "Neither Silver Nor Gold" (Based on the story from the Acts of the Apostles in which Peter meets a beggar and tells him, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.") The reality the good Archbishop presents here is very realistic, but also very hopeful. Consider his reflection on the financial troubles that have befallen the Church in the wake of the sex abuse scandals:
Maybe it's not such a bad thing that, because of all the upheaval, all the scandals, all the shortages of priests, all the lawsuits, and everything else that's gone on the last forty tumultuous years, we don't have silver and gold anymore. We can barely pay our bills. But what we've got, we're clinging to: the pearl of great price, the most priceless treasure of all, Jesus Christ. And if all this disgrace, and sadness, and shock of the last four decades - all the turmoil that we've gone through in the Church - if that has driven home the centrality, the utter centrality of Jesus, maybe it's not such a bad thing."
I think this book is very accessible for both teens and adults and would be particularly well-suited to a discussion group. I am very grateful to the Archbishop for this lovely little book.
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4-15-2009

Amazing Saints

Amazing Stories of Catholic Saints
Author(s): 
Mario D Macari
Illustrator(s): 
Mario D. Macari
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Publisher: 
cartoonmario.com
Binding: 
Stapled Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
Our local Catholic Archdiocesan paper has a wonderful kids' section. The first thing my kids do when the Catholic Herald (Milwaukee, Wisconsin Archdiocese) comes is to go to the kids’ section. There they fill out the word games, puzzles, and read the saint story. Now the creator of “Amazing Saints” has produced his own saint book, Amazing SaintsVolume 1, highlighting 27 saints. Covering an eclectic mix of saints from the unknown to the familiar, St. Joseph to Bl. Karl Leisner, each biography is a short page. Packed with information, each fascinating saint story holds the reader’s interest. I love this intro to St. Francis. “St. Francis of Assisi is often pictured at peace, surrounded by animals and enjoying nature. But his early life was far from peaceful.” Since the illustrations are cartoons and the summaries short, this kid-friendly layout will appeal to those who otherwise might not be interested in reading about the saints. At the same time, Macari does not dumb down the stories or pretend everything is happy-happy. If you are looking for a fun alternative, that packs a punch (giving even adults something to think about), and that is short and sweet, then Amazing Saints fits the bill. Even children too young to read would enjoy listening to the stories and looking at the illustrations.
Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

Available from www.amazingsaints.com.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
2-24-2010

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