The first recording I listened to confirmed everything I felt God had been trying to say to me all week; I needed to seek Him in silence. Here is an excerpt of the first segment of a recorded retreat called "God's Word," which particularly affected me:
In all eternity, God the Father, whom we love, has only spoken one Word. The Eternal Word is spoken in the silence of God's glory in a stillness like the middle of the night. And those who wish to hear this Word must receive it in deep silence and in a stillness like the middle of the night.
When in time the Word became flesh and dwelt among us He came in silence. It was in the recollected silence of the heart of Mary as she pondered deeply over the things of God; that is how He first came. It was by the silent powerful action of the Holy Spirit, overshadowing the quietness of her soul as she listened, that He came. The Spirit of God speaks the Word of God into our hearts like a still, small interior voice, and it is in the most beautiful language that there is.
I hope you'll take some quiet time and stop by Father Fink's site to listen to one or two of these extraordinary and beautiful talks. The written ones make great, great reading.
And then, I hope you will seek Him in silence, as will I, in the slower months of summer.
With this break in mind, I recommended some of my favorite spiritual books in last week's column; below are a few additional picks from a variety of genres, which I hope you'll enjoy.
God bless you! And have a beautiful summer of refreshment in the Lord. Let us meet here again, in August, ready to Be Amazing Catechists to our students, our kids, and to each other!
Sincerely in Christ,
Lisa
Great Books to Tuck in a Beach Bag: (all carry the Catholic Writer's Guild Seal of Approval)
Fiction
In Name Only, by Ellen Gable; Gold Medal Winner in the Religious Fiction category, 2010 Independent Publishers Book Awards—a wonderful Catholic romance, rich in Theology of the Body and faith/redemption themes.
Murder in the Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, by Ann Margaret Lewis; this is the 2011 Gold Medal Winner in the same category. Ann writes the missing cases referred to by Dr. Watson in the original stories. These are wonderfully researched with charming, lively characters.
Infinite Space, Infinite God (I and II); Anthologies edited by Karina Fabian, who wrote some of the stories and has won many awards. These are terrific collections of science fiction informed by an authentic Catholic perspective. They are dramatic, funny, and intriguing. Karina also writes fantasy novels with really delightful funny bones. Check out her book list here.
Non-Fiction
Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey across the Life Line, by Abby Johnson (with Cindy Lambert). What an amazing memoir, written with unflinching honesty. For all of us "true believers" on the pro-life side, we simply must try to see this debate through the eyes of well-meaning people on the "other" side in order to acquire a well-informed and compassionate Christian perspective. This book accomplishes that. A stunning read.
The Amazing Secret of the Holy Souls in Purgatory: An Interview with Maria Simma, by Sister Emmanuel of Medjugorje. This is a fascinating little book, an interview with Austrian mystic, Maria Simma, who ministers to the Holy Souls who have appeared to her for decades. It increased my faith. Read it free online here, or purchase it through Amazon.
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