Welcome back to this recurring feature at The Catholic Book Blogger. As a book reviewer I get access to early or hot off the presses books from many Catholic publishers. My goal is to share a few titles each post that have either just released or are soon to be released. These are books I am looking forward to reading and think you might be too. The Ancient Path: Old Lessons from the Church Fathers for a New Life... Read more
Hear the silence of Jesus Jesus left us many sayings, commandments, and sermons. But he also taught us by doing. St. Ignatius of Antioch tells us that it’s better to be silent and practice what we preach than to be a teacher who doesn’t act. It’s better to be silent and be a Christian, than to talk and not be a Christian. It’s good to teach—if the teacher also acts. Then there is one Teacher, who spoke, and it was... Read more
Live a life worthy of your baptism Can people tell that you’re a Christian? St. John Chrysostom says we should live lives that always remind people of what we believe—not to show off, but because our example should be leading others to Christ. I see many living after their baptism more carelessly than the uninitiated, with nothing special to distinguish them in their way of life. Thus neither in the market nor in the church can you tell quickly who... Read more
God’s mercy works through us Babies are born into the world helpless, completely dependent on the people who take care of them. St. Augustine, beginning the story of his own life, points out how God has ordered everything so that meeting the infant’s needs also meets the needs of the caretakers. What can I say, Lord my God, except that I don’t know how I came into this—well, should I call it a dying life, or a living death? But... Read more
This week Verbum sponsors the CBB giveaway. One lucky winner will receive one copy of their Basics 6 resource library (you can read my review of Verbum 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 run 2 weeks ending 12AM EST Friday 12/19 with a winner being announced later that day. Feel free to enter any of the other giveaways running during... Read more
Don’t blame God for what bad people do God gave us free will, and we often misuse it. When Christians are persecuted, says St. Clement of Alexandria, it’s not God who makes it happen: every judge who condemns them has a free will and is using it wrongly. But if God cares for you, they say, then why are you persecuted and put to death? Did God make that happen? No, we don’t suppose that the Lord wants disasters to... Read more
If you have any desire to enter into deep study of scripture than look no further than the line of products offered by Verbum. Haven’t heard of Verbum? Than this review is for you. Verbum is the Catholic version of Logos Bible Study software. They have recently released version 6 and to sum it up in one word this software is powerful. The core of the software begins with your library. This review will be based on the Verbum 6... Read more
See the big picture In the natural world, things grow, die, and decay. Is God’s creation imperfect, then? No, says St. Augustine: every created thing has its place in God’s great plan, and even its decay serves the larger purpose. All natures that exist have a genus and species of their own, and a kind of internal harmony, and because of that they are certainly good. And when they are in the places assigned to them in the order of... Read more
Today publisher Catholic Scripture Study International sponsors a special CBB Advent giveaway. One lucky winner will receive one copy of Advent: Preparing for Christ, Cycle B which includes the study guide and DVD (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 12/10 with a winner being announced later that day. a Rafflecopter giveaway Read more
Everything in good order St. Clement of Rome tells us that we’re all different for a reason. Not everyone is cut out to be a leader, but we all have different gifts, and the Church needs all of us. We should try to use the gifts we’ve been given, knowing that every gift—no matter how insignificant it seems—is equally important to the Church. So, as men and brothers, let us energetically play the part of soldiers, following his holy commandments.... Read more
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