One of my absolute favorite books I read last year was the Manual for Spiritual Warfare by Paul Thigpen, which I reviewed here. I see today via Brandon Voght that the Kindle version is on sale. For the last several weeks, I’ve been carrying the beautiful leather bound edition of Manual for Spiritual Warfare with me to Mass, reading a few passages afterward. It’s loaded with spiritual advice from the saints and Church fathers on how to overcome temptation and defeat those... Read more
Special Guest Br. Guy Consolmagno, Vatican Astronomer, joins Julie and Scott to discuss a book of his choosing: Among Others by Jo Walton. Join us for Episode 100. Read more
The Ancient Path: Old Lessons from the Church Fathers for a New Life Today by John Michael Talbot and Mike Aquilina John Michael Talbot tells the story of how the Church Fathers deeply influenced his spiritual, professional and personal life. Coming to the Christian faith as a young man during the turbulent 1960s, he soon grew a fond of the Church Fathers, including St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, St. Augustine and Gregory the Great and found guidance, reassurance and wisdom on his... Read more
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl James Henry Trotter had a happy childhood until the age of four. His parents went to London on a shopping trip and were eaten by runaway rhinoceros from the zoo. James goes to live with his aunts, Sponge and Spiker, who are the most horrible aunts you could imagine. He endures three years of servitude and abuse from the hags. Then one day a small man in a green suit gives James... Read more
Phillipa Talbot is a successful British woman who is a mid-level bureaucrat in the government, a high position for a woman in the 1950s. Her staff adores her and she has a small set of close friends. But she has a secret–she’s been exploring a vocation as a nun at a Benedictine abbey. As the book begins, she tells everyone of her plans, gives away her things, and heads off to Brede Abbey for a completely differently life. Life at... Read more
When I first came across Alice Von Hildebrand while watching Mother Angelica Live I was rapidly impressed with her. Her quick wit, intelligence, and common sense was a delight. Since then I have been interested in what she had to say. Around the same time I became acquainted with the works of her late husband Dietrich Von Hildebrand. I have by no means fully dipped into all his works, but I want to go further. His Transformation in Christ is... Read more
My conversion to the faith and the rise of the Internet and social networking occurred in roughly the same time period. So my interest in this intersection regarding how it relates to the faith has been continually of interest to me. EWTN and Catholic Answers both had websites around 1996 and the Vatican came on board around 1998. If you look at the Vatican’s site circa 1998 it’s appearance hasn’t much changed. The year 2001 mostly marks the year specifically... Read more
Modern life is rather sedentary. Kids are more likely to sit in front of big screens or down with little screens for unhealthy lengths of time. They spend their free time typing or swiping or just watching. This is one way for kids to play, but is it the best way? Drs. Anthony DeBenedet and Lawrence Cohen present the case for a more dynamic and physically interactive way of playing in The Art of Roughhousing: Good Old-Fashioned Horseplay and Why... Read more
A lesbian couple in San Francisco decides to have a baby but money is tight. Diane, who really wants the baby, convinces Megan to have the baby. To save on the artificial insemination fees, Megan’s gay friend Scott volunteers to donate sperm and she’ll use an at-home kit to “plant the seeds.” The first two times don’t work so they engage in some au naturel insemination. Diane quickly finds out and things spiral out of control. She cuts Megan off... Read more
Two devotionals arrived in a very timely fashion on New Year’s Eve. Obviously I haven’t had a chance to use either but they are both very appealing to my love of the saints and interest in the desert fathers. A Daily Catholic Moment: Ten Minutes a Day Alone With God by Peter Celano Simple, straightforward, and Catholic are the adjectives that might best describe this book of wisdom and spiritual practice. For each day you will find a verse or... Read more
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