Category: book badge review

a new look at Guardian Angels! Book Badge Review: “Send Me Your Guardian Angel”

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I know I’m a little late for the Feast of the Guardian Angels on October 2!

“Send Me Your Guardian Angel” is not just an inspiring testament to St Padre Pio’s holiness.  It does remind us of his stigmata, ecstasy and conversations with Jesus and Mary.  It also reminds us of how revered he was during his lifetime.  I’m still picturing the little italian ladies chasing Padre Pio with scissors, eager to snatch pieces of his clothes for relics!

The book also enlivens our understanding of the active role that Guardian Angels can play in our lives.  Perhaps you say the Guardian Angel prayer with your kids too.  Well, this book adds life to that prayer and intensifies their role in our lives dramatically!

The friendly and simple presentation of Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel’s presence in his life is profound, refreshing and inspiring. It challenges us to better acquaint ourselves with our own Guardian Angel and to take advantage of the help that they are delighted to offer us.

Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was a companion to him from the time he was a small boy. 
Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was a friend; one who teased and was teased by Padre Pio but also provided counsel when needed.
Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was a consoler, sometimes travelling great distances to help troubled souls at their request or Padre Pio’s.
Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was a messenger, delivering messages to his “spiritual children” who received guidance and direction from Padre Pio.
Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was a translator of letters and confessions (and absolution), when language would otherwise be a barrier.
Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was a reliable alarm clock, awakening Padre Pio’s helper from deep sleep when Padre Pio was in need of assistance.

Padre Pio led others to become acquainted with their own Guardian Angels, enlisting their help as messengers.  Sometimes Padre Pio experienced a continuous procession of these Guardian Angels as they came to him, requesting special help from Padre Pio on behalf of his “spiritual children”. This was in answer to Padre Pio’s repeated request: “Send me your Guardian Angel”.

Padre Pio’s Guardian Angel was hardworking: he was often en route, ministering to Padre Pio’s spiritual children on his behalf, in response to their plea to Padre Pio: 
“Send me your Guardian Angel”

Very human and humourous stories are told in this enlightening book.  You might just find yourself quoting some of the stories to others!
The simple style of storytelling, combined with the well-known holiness of this awesome saint might just convince you to get better acquainted with your own Guardian Angel.
You may even begin to enlist your angel’s help to assist you and your loved ones in everyday life. 

In the words of Geraldine Nolan, in the Foreward of this book:
“To those who believe,
it will increase their faith;
to those who do not believe,
they will at least begin to wonder.”
“Send Me Your Guardian Angel” is available through the

Check out these other Book Badge Reviews:

Guest Blogger: John Eklund of The Third Testament

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Watch for an upcoming Book Badge Review on this book…and maybe even a Summary Doodle.  My copy of The Third Testament is on it’s way to me!
from John Eklund, author of The Third Testament:
Several years ago my wife Jennifer and I were planning a trip to Germany (a trip we never ended up taking but still hope to). I had recently bought the book 1000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz and was looking through the section on Bavaria. I came across the remarkable story of the village of Oberammergau. In the seventeenth century the people of Oberammergau were ravaged by the bubonic plague, the Black Death. Guided by faith, the villagers made a pact with God to perform a Passion Play every ten years for eternity in exchange for a reprieve from the Black Death. They performed the first play at Pentecost in the year 1634, and miraculously no further lives were lost. The passage in Schultz’s book made me say “Hey, that sounds like something that could be in the Bible.” Around that same time I was reading Dan Brown’s infamous novel The Da Vinci Code. In the novel Brown erroneously describes the council of Nicea as the place where the early Church leaders decided what events and writings should be included in the Bible. All of a sudden a light bulb went on in my head. I became deeply intrigued by the question- What modern day events and writings would be worthy of being deemed “biblical.” It was then that I decided to begin writing The Third Testament, a pro-Catholic novel about the history of God’s people dating from the time of the apostles until the present day. I spent the next six years researching and writing about the most fascinating topics in the history of the Church and the world, and I loved every minute of it.
For those interested, here is more information about my book:
Brief Description of The Third Testament:
Guided by a mysterious old friend, forlorn Catholic professor Fred Sankt unlocks the hidden truths of the past two thousand years, and struggles to achieve a heavenly reprieve from the deep and dark troubles that mercilessly haunt him.
I hope to slowly build up my collection of  “Book Badge Reviews” and “Doodle Summaries” on my blog.  I will happily accept good Catholic reference, spiritual or fiction books in exchange for my honest review (and possible Doodle Summary).
I have also been known to trade book for book…check out A Treasure Chest and Hand in Hand with Jesus

The Practice of the Presence of God: Summary Review and Doodle

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This is my copy of The Practice of the Presence of God. 
I picked it up years ago at a used bookstore.
This “10th printing” edition was 20 years old back then and it remains a classic! (The first edition of the book was originally published in 1958.)

I was delighted to find this book and I have returned to it many times over the years.  My final thesis project in Architecture School was “Acknowledging the Presence of God Within the Home”.  I eagerly read this book in pursuit of a constant awareness of God’s Presence.

Five kids later, I don’t really feel any more proficient at the Practice of the Presence of God, but this book is a hopeful reminder that it is possible in and through the vocation I have as a mom.

Although I have purchased the current paperback copy of The Practice of the Presence of God as gifts for family and friends, I don’t have it on hand to compare the text with the original version.  The free downloadable copy of The Practice of the Presence of God appears to be the same text as the original.

The first part of the book is comprised of four conversations with Brother Lawrence and the style of writing takes a little getting used to.  The text flows less as an interview and more of a one-way series of points: almost every sentence starts with “That…”

“That in order to form a habit of conversing with God continually…we must first apply…”

The points, however, are well explained and they truly instruct.  They summarize Brother Lawrence’s “practice”, the difficulties he had and how he talked to God through the difficulties.  He explained his changing duties over fifteen years and how he tackled tasks that were not easy for him, doing “everything for the love of God, and with prayer…for His Grace to do his work well.”

Fifteen Letters from Brother Lawrence form the rest of the book.  These offer a more personal and fluid conversation and appear to be the direct written words of Brother Lawrence, reluctantly written on the condition that they weren’t shown to anyone!  Oops!  In these letters, he continues to explain the Practice of the Presence of God, often addressing the concerns of particular people in his community.

I cherish my 1975 edition of the book and often pick it up for some quick inspiration (it’s a pretty short book and much can be gained from reading one “conversation” or “letter”).  The words can stick with you and will hopefully inform your own Practice of the Presence of God in your own hectic day.

Here is my Summary Doodle for The Practice of the Presence of God.

Buy your paperback copy of The Practice of the Presence of God. (Thanks for supporting us!)
or download and print your own copy of The Practice of the Presence of God

The Handbook for Catholic Moms (Book Review)

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In The Handbook for Catholic Moms, Lisa Hendey presents a survival guide for mothers, addressing the Heart, Mind, Body and Soul of every Mom.  She offers priorities for a healthy life, assuming the many roles of Moms, balancing demands and addressing emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual needs and goals. 

She shares her personal stories of trials and discoveries, as well as those of other moms, to further enlighten our way, reinforcing our need for daily personal prayer at the top of the list of priorities.  She invites us to be strengthened by Sacraments, Scripture, Mother Mary and the Saints and to live our Faith both as moms and as families.

I enjoyed the way the book was organized, nurturing our hearts, minds, bodies and souls.  Lisa’s honest and friendly writing style, peppered with her personal Mom moments endears her to the reader as a friend, talking casually “Mom to Mom” about “what works”.

I liked the placement of the resources as they relate to each chapter, but perhaps a consolidated index of the resources at the back of the book could ease future quick reference.  So much for criticism: that’s all I could come up with!

I enjoyed reading The Handbook for Catholic Moms.  Believe it or not, my Doodle Summary (below)helps me to organize the many thoughts offered within the book and gently reminds me of what I’d like to work on!

I won my copy of The Handbook for Catholic Moms through Lisa Hendey’s website: http://www.catholicmom.com/  (or possibly through her Catholic Moments Podcast?).  I’m dangerously late posting this review, especially in light of the upcoming release of Lisa’s new book A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms. 
I hope to get a copy of this new book from Lisa Hendey and I look forward to posting another review!

I hope to slowly build up my collection of  “Book Badge Reviews” and “Doodle Summaries” on my blog.  I will happily accept good Catholic reference, spiritual or fiction books in exchange for my honest review (and possible Doodle Summary).

Consoling the Heart of Jesus Book Review

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Consoling the Heart of Jesus A Do-It-Yourself Retreat by Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC.

I liked the approachable writing style of this book and found myself  thinking ‘Hey, I have felt that” and “that’s what I was thinking” as the author articulates how the reader might receive the down-to-earth instructions and possible obstacles to consoling the Heart of Jesus.

I liked how Fr Gaitley references St. Therese and St. Faustina and tackles the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius (although I think I need to read it again to grasp that myself).

Even though I wish I could have been more focused and consistent, (rather than reading the book in only short snippets over a couple of months), I found myself referring to it, trying to explain what I had already learned to close family and friends.  That’s a huge deal, given the life I have right now with young kids and limited opportunities I have to talk to peers wanting to grow in their Faith.

 
I was a little surprised that the Appendices comprise about half of the book.  I don’t usually go out of my way to read Appendices, but when I started reading the lengthy Appendix 2: (Diary of St Faustina), I could appreciate why it’s such a big component of the book, and it definitely supports the retreat format of the book.

I liked the review questions at the end of the chapters.  I guess, since I read the book over quite a long period of time,  I could have used a little summary page just before I reached those review questions, to refresh my memory. I guess that that’s where the Prayer Companion comes in: it’s the travel version, summarizing the basic teachings and prayers.

The book addressed the question “how can we console Jesus if He is happy in Heaven”…a question that, I think, would have gnawed at me over time. This book also addresses the obstacles that we can all relate to, that get in the way of seeking and surrendering to God’s Will.

I will continue to recommend this book and I know I will be reading it again!

This is my Doodle Summary of Consoling the Heart of Jesus.
This helps me to remember in a glance, some key steps to the retreat; things I’d like to incorporate into my daily prayer life.