Keep silent until the right moment St. Ambrose, one of the great thinkers in Christian history, weighed his words carefully. When we run the risk of being judged by our words, he says, silence is better than speaking. Now what should we learn before everything else? To be silent, so that we may be able to speak. Otherwise my voice may condemn me before that of another acquits me; for it is written, “by your words you will be condemned”... Read more
This week publisher Image Books sponsors the CBB giveaway. One lucky winner will receive one copy of Joy to the World: How Christ’s Coming Changed Everything (And Still Does) (you can read my review here). I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me! Enter below. The contest starts at midnight tonight EST and will end 12AM EST Wed 12/19 with a winner being announced later that day. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway Read more
Think before you speak It’s easy to get carried away when we start talking, says St. John Chrysostom. We should remember how easy it is to sin by a careless word, and take care to consider what we’re about to say. Bind up your words, so that they won’t run riot, and grow wanton, and gather up sins for themselves in too much talking. Confine them; hold them back within their own banks. An overflowing river quickly gathers mud. Bind... Read more
Recently I had the pleasure of previewing a film from SKY Productions titled Vatican Museums 3D. The film, as you may guess from the title, takes viewers on a tour of the sculptures and paintings in the Vatican art collection. For someone such as myself who has never been there the film was a treat. Professor Antonio Paolucci , Director of the Vatican Museums, “directs the tour” so to speak during this film. You will a number of statues in... Read more
Train your tongue to serve righteousness What we say can be as important as what we do. St. John Chrysostom reminds us that it’s up to us to decide whether we’ll use our tongues for good or for evil. First of all, we should train our tongues to be ministers of the grace of the Spirit, expelling from our mouths all hostility and ill will, and the habit of using obscenities. We have the power to make each part of... Read more
The advent season is a period of waiting and anticipation. Unfortunately during that anticipation we can often become distracted and wrapped up in the secular meaning of the season. Fortunately there are a number of books we can read to get us back on track. One of those is the latest from Scott Hahn, Joy to the World: How Christ’s Coming Changed Everything (and Still Does). Scott takes us on a mini-retreat to discover what the true meaning of Christmas... Read more
Be Christian in your conversation The things we say even in casual conversation can have profound effects on the people we say them to. St. Ambrose advises us always to keep our conversation within the limits of friendly good taste, so that we never give anyone an occasion of sin. Speech is divided into two kinds: first, as it is used in friendly conversation, and then in the treatment and discussion of matters of faith and justice. In either case... Read more
Welcome back to “The Clergy Speaks”, a recurring feature here at The Catholic Book Blogger. “The Clergy Speaks” is a column focusing on one question I have asked various members of the clergy. That question is: What five books would you recommend as must-reads for Catholics today? I left the responses open to current or classic books with the only restriction being that the Bible and the Catechism could not be used as they are a given. This week we... Read more
It’s week two of Advent. Take advantage of these great talks by Lighthouse Catholic Media. Here’s what I plan on listening to this week ….how about you? Click the cover image above to purchase this talk as either a CD or MP3 download. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s books, tapes, homilies, retreats, and television series have inspired countless souls all over the world. This digitally-mastered presentation combines classic recordings of his timeless reflections on the meaning of the Incarnation of Jesus,... Read more
Live and talk like a Christian In his letter “On the Perfection of the Life of Solitaries,” St. Basil gives advice that applies not just to monks and nuns, but to every Christian. No matter what we do, it should be obvious that we’re Christians and that we take our commitment seriously. Inspired Scripture tells us many things that everyone who is eager to please God ought to do. But, for right now, I think I need only remind you... Read more
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