Review: Sermon in a Sentence by Baronius Press

"Character is not revealed when life shows its best side, but when it shows its worst." -Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Sermon in a Sentence 63)

At the end of 2015, our friends at Baronius Press published a new series of books called Sermon in a Sentence.  Each volume seeks to provide a "treasury of quotations on the spiritual life"  in a compact, yet readable package for today's Catholic.  Baronius Press decided to inaugurate this new series by selecting three of the most influential and beloved Catholics of the 20th century: St. Faustina Kowalska, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, and St. John Paul II.  Each book, edited and arranged by John P. McClernon, contains "hundreds of direct quotes and short sayings arranged according to the Christian virtues and other spiritual topics, allowing the reader to encounter their thoughts about particular aspects of the Christian life."  There are truly hundreds of quotes in each volume for you to ponder and pray over.  These books are not haphazardly arranged like some of the "quote books" you may have encountered.  The amount of time that Mr. McClernon put into each volume must have been enormous.  The material from the St. John Paul II volume was gleaned from his various public talks, while the Fulton Sheen one comes from ten of his works.  The St. Faustina edition comes entirely from her Diary.

In each of these three books, the first fifteen chapters are arranged corresponding to the classical Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary.  There is an additional section in all three volumes for the Luminous Mysteries as well.  Other topics that are covered and found in all three books include prayer, the Mass, the Church, the priesthood, as well as topics unique to each person, like St. Faustina and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.  Each quote ranges from 1-3 sentences in length and includes a reference to where you can find the quote in the particular author's body of writing or talks.  In our fast-paced world, these little volumes certainly meet an important need in the Church.  Many of us can easily get overwhelmed by the demands of each day, yet these small devotionals allow us to take a moment to reflect on various topics from these three spiritual masters.  

As usual with anything that comes from Baronius, these books are produced of the highest quality.  Like the various bibles, prayer books, and other volumes they produce these will last a lifetime.  Each hardcover edition measures around 4 5/8" X 6 3/4", which makes them incredibly portable.  The paper is thick and opaque, making reading a pleasure.  The binding is smythe sewn and contains a ribbon marker.  Head/tail bands and endpapers (which many of you know I adore) round out a wonderfully produced volume.  I can't say enough about the continued high standards that Baronius Press continues to meet with each of their releases.

So, if you are looking to add some wisdom from three great heroes of the faith to your daily recitation of the Rosary, the Sermon in a Sentence series is just what you need.  These make perfect gifts for birthdays, for teens receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, and those entering the Church at the Easter Vigil.  The price for each volume is $14.95, which is amazingly cheap for the quality of the book, itself, as well as the wisdom that is contained within it.  I truly look forward to future volumes.  I would love to see one focused on this blog's patron saint, Msgr. Ronald Knox.

I would like to thank Baronius Press for providing the review copies for this review.

A Review: 2 Little Offices of the Blessed Virgin Mary

I have mentioned before on this blog that one of my favorite devotions is The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  There are a number of things that have attracted me to this liturgy of the Church over the years.  First, the history of this office goes back many centuries, some say even back to the 8th century.  Even though the Little Office has certainly changed over the years, I love the fact that there is this connection to the medieval Church.  Secondly, it is an office in honor of Our Lady.  Devotional to the Blessed Virgin has been an important part of my spiritual life since I started to take my faith seriously.  With my wife and I praying a family rosary every Sunday night, I have found that this office is a great aid during the rest of the week.  Those who have a strong devotion to Our Lady will find the Little Office to be quite powerful.  Third, I love praying the Psalms, in particular the gradual Psalms (or Psalms of Ascent).  The daytime Psalms for the Little Office are centered around those Psalms, which I always find a great comfort when I read them in the middle of the day.  Fourth, this office is simple and compact.  It fits easily in my bag for work or even into my pocket if necessary.  Because there isn't much in the way of variation each day, unlike the older full Breviary or even more so in the newer Liturgy of the Hours, many, including myself, enjoy the comfort of hearing the same prayers and Psalms each day.  I have prayed both of the full and shorter breviaries in the past, but I find myself attracted to the Little Office.  Perhaps that has to do with my state in life, married with two (soon to be three) children, as well as two teaching jobs.  Finally, I love having the Latin and the English side by side.  It is great to be able to pray in both languages.

Baronius Press, back in 2007, were the first to re-publish the Little Office.  Since then, it has gone through four different printings.  As usual, the quality of the edition is top-notch, with a blue leather "flexible" (with boards) cover and a sewn binding.  Two ribbons are added to make flipping through this small office quite easy.  It looks and feels great, and it will certainly last a lifetime.  Baronius recently sent me a review copy (4th printing), which thankfully will replace my older copy.  My original edition was used lovingly and often to the point that I had it outside while it was raining, which ended up marking up the gold gilding.  Yet, it remains quite readable and sturdy, with no issues with the binding or the leather cover.  (Although you can see some finger-print marks at the bottom of each page.)  This newer edition comes with a 2011 nihil obstat/imprimatur and is in conformity with Pope Emeritus Benedict's Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum.   There is a short introduction along with an over 50 page appendix with articles explaining the Little Office.  The appendix also includes the older liturgical calendar, various Marian prayers, and a short article on indulgences related to this prayer.  There are also commemorations of St. Joseph and the Saints, which can be added to Lauds and Vespers for additional variety on these feast days and solemnities. Content is the same between the four editions, although the earlier editions had some typos that have been fixed in subsequent editions.  The Baronius Little Office has the English and Latin on the same page, which makes it easy to pray using both languages.  In addition, this Little Office contains the complete Gregorian Chant for praying all the hours.  

Angelus Press recently published their own edition of the Little Office.  Like the Baronius edition, it comes in a very compact 4" x 5" size.  Unlike Baronius, it is a soft paperback cover, with glued binding.  Both editions are completely re-typeset, which means they are not facsimiles.  This edition, instead of having both the English and Latin on the same page, places the English and Latin on facing pages.  This may be more beneficial to those who need a larger print or prefer that type of format.  The great advantage to getting this edition is that it includes the Matins, Lauds, and Vespers for the Office of the Dead.  I prayed this a couple days back for All Souls and appreciated the different antiphons, Psalms, and collects which are absent in the Baronius edition, since it only has the Little Office.  Each office has the various seasonal antiphon options before and after their respective Psalm or the Benedictus/Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis, thus there is no need for ribbons or flipping through to a different section of the book.  (The Baronius has the different seasonal antiphons in collected together after the "ordinary time" office.)  I noticed that while the translation of the antiphons are similar between the two editions, the Psalms are slightly different.  They both come from a translation of the Vulgate, but there are some minor differences.   (Perhaps one was done from the New Latin Psalter?)

I really like both of these editions.  I have used the Baronius one for at least four years, so I am much more familiar with it.  The Angelus Press version, I think, would be a good option for those who are not sure if they want to commit to this devotion, but are more interested in trying it out.  I would also say that if you have bad vision, the Angelus Press one would be much easier to read.  One of its other great strengths is that it contains the Office for the Dead.  On the other hand, if you want a much fuller edition of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary and you plan on using it daily, the Baronius edition is probably the one you want to go with.  It has the look and feel of a book that will be your constant prayer companion for years to come.  It also has more information about the Little Office, itself, along with the added section of Gregorian Chant.  I will continue to use the Baronius Press Little Office on a daily basis, supplemented by the Angelus Press one on days I wish to pray the Office of the Dead.  Both editions are affordable, with the Angelus Press one listed for $19.95 and the one from Baronius Press for $29.95.

I would like to thank both Baronius Press and Angelus Press for each providing a review copy of their edition of the Little Office.  Please make sure to support both publishers.

Review: The Choice of the Family by Bishop Jean Laffitte

All of us who live in the United States are looking forward to the arrival of Pope Francis next month for his first journey to America, which culminates at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. The main organizer for this event is Bishop Jean Laffitte, secretary for the Pontifical Council for the Family, who organizes the World Meeting of Families every three years.  While I may have encountered his name through articles related to the family that I have read over the years, I'll be honest with you and tell you that I did not know very much about Bishop Laffitte until I was approached by Image to review their latest release The Choice of the Family: A Call to Wholeness, Abundant Life, and Enduring Happiness.  However, after reading this interview book from Bishop Laffitte, I was very glad that Image had contacted me for the review.  In many ways, this little book can serve as a primer to the upcoming World Meeting of Families.  I hope to point out a few sections in this lovely book which I feel are quite helpful and insightful.

To give you a little background about what you will find in this book, Image has provided a helpful description:
"In this series of interviews and reflections, the Head of the Pontifical Council on the Family at the Vatican focuses on the intricacies of family. Bishop Laffitte provides theological and practical insight to deepen our relationships with our parents, children, brothers and sisters, and, ultimately, God. The Choice of the Family stresses the importance of the family in the twenty-first century. and issues a call to action for everyone to reinvigorate the teachings of Jesus in his or her day-to-day life." 

So, as you can see, this book is not a continuous, developed theological treatise on the family. I think this is for the good, since it makes it more accessible to more people.  There are six chapters to this book, the first focusing on Bishop Laffitte's own experiences growing up in a large family in France in the 50's and 60's.  I appreciated reading about his life growing up in a large Catholic family, including how the "crisis that affected the Church during the 60's" moved him away from the Church for a time (20).  When asked whether or not he viewed those years as having any spiritual continuity, Bishop Laffitte remarks, quite charmingly, that it was a life "lived as a succession of broken lines (20)."  I think many of us have felt that same way about our adolescent and early young adult years.   I felt that I was pretty well prepared for life after high school, yet when I look back on it now, with all the mistakes and "broken lines" regarding my faith and the relationships I had with others, I thank the Lord for directing me and providing me the grace to actually follow His lead.  However, it took a number of years for me to get to that point.

The following chapters deal with a whole host of issues centered on the family, most notably love, fidelity, the modern crisis of the family, as well as authority and freedom.  Yet, it was chapter two that struck me the most in The Choice of the Family.  Chapter two is entitled: "Engagement: Giving One's Faith".  It is focused on marriage preparation which can often be quite difficult and filled with lots of difficult decisions and pressures that may be laid upon the engaged couple.   Bishop Laffitte reminds us that "the moment the bride and groom marry and receive the sacrament of marriage, this sacrament, far from being limited to the moment of celebration, is given for the whole of their common life (37)."  It is a true covenant, that unites the couple both horizontally (to the community of believers) but also vertically (with God).  Ultimately, this covenant is truly a gift, and not simply some sort of "loan" that can be given back or simply tried on for size.

This valuable insight then leads to a long and important discussion on the issue of cohabitation.  Cohabitation is, of course, taken for granted by many in today's society.  It seems both reasonable and practical to most people.  When I taught "Marriage and Parenting" to high school students, the vast majority of them felt that cohabitation was a responsible thing to do.  What Bishop Laffitte points out is that cohabitation prohibits the engaged couples from experience "a certain solitude" that is necessary for the spiritual development of the engaged (42).  I know that for a fact most of my students cannot handle more than 5-10 minutes of silence at any given time.  It is as if there is an unacknowledged fear to confront the many issues of life, both positive and negative, that help to bring about maturity and selflessness.  For those who are surrounded by noise for majority of their day, silence can be scary.  Yet, it is in the silence of our hearts that God speaks to us most often.

Bishop Laffitte then points out a connection made by JPII concerning the original solitude of Adam: "He recognized within man's heart the desire to come out of solitude.  Yet man may only come out of solitude on the condition that it has first been confronted and not avoided. Therefore, there are a great number of young people who start living together with having the least project for the future.  It is a kind of arrangement, an act without reflection.......When young people live together in this way, they are not able to build themselves in truth.  Why?  Because the fact of their being together does not correspond to a gift (42)."  In this situation, it becomes very hard to see the other as a gift.  Often this means that if the relationship meets some bumps in the road, which happens to almost all marriages, there becomes no need to endure the difficulties of this relationship.  Many will be convinced that ending the marriage is the most just and best action that the two can make.

This then leads right back to the importance of solitude or an experience of the desert.  While many would recognize this as being important for those going into religious life or the priesthood, those who are to be married can lay a firm foundation by allowing themselves this experience of God within the solitude of their hearts.  Bishop Laffitte says that "a time in the desert is necessary-one of reflection, of introspection, of getting right with God, of walking with Him, of growing stronger in purpose (51)."  When the engaged person can rest in God's silence, the offer that God gives of His love "passes through the meditation of the beloved person, of the future bride or groom (51)."  It can be a powerfully transformative experience.  So, this time of engagement should not be seen as simply a "countdown to the big day" or one that is focused only on the perfect cake, dress, or reception.  Rather, it should be seen as a "privileged time" that gives the engaged an opportunity to grow in love of God and each other (57).

After reading The Choice of the Family, I look forward to reading more from Bishop Laffitte.  I hope more of his works are translated into English.  Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus Carl A. Anderson concludes his introduction to this book by stating that Bishop Laffitte "provides an appreciation for the Catholic vision of the family that is at once a practical and a sublime guide for every Catholic family seeking to become who they are (6)."  I agree completely with this and urge you to consider purchasing The Choice of the Family this month as we celebrate the World Meeting of Families.

Thank you to Image Catholic for providing me a review copy.

Book Review: CCSS "Revelation" by Peter Williamson

There are few books in the Bible that are as difficult and cause such disagreement in interpretation than the book of Revelation.  All one has to do is either turn on the TV to a local televangelist or search any online bookseller to see how Revelation can be used for any number of supposed real time applications and predictions.  Some people seem to obsess over this book, while many more simply avoid it.  This makes teaching the Book of Revelation all the more difficult.  Students, both new and seasoned, come to this book with a whole lot of preconceptions about what is in it.  In the past, I have utilized a number of commentaries, including ones by Metzger, Barber, Koester, among others, all of which are quite good in their own way.  Because of this, in the past when I was asked to recommend one particular commentary on Revelation, I would usually recommend at least two.  This was due to my desire to offer something that touched both the scholarly and pastoral elements of this book.  Now, I will simply be encouraging people to get Peter Williamson's Revelation in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series.   In my opinion, it does the best job in offering the average Catholic a gateway into this book, without sacrificing scholarly rigor.  I could see this being used in undergraduate scripture classes, as well as serious parish bible study groups.

Revelation offers a helpful section by section commentary of the book, utilizing the NABRE translation, combined with numerous additional essays, maps, images, quotes from Christian writers of the past and present, and a glossary keyed to the text.  As the description rightly points out, the commentary is "supplemented by features designed to help readers understand the Bible more deeply and use it more effectively in teaching, preaching, evangelization, and other forms of ministry. Drawn from the best of contemporary scholarship, series volumes are keyed to the liturgical year and include an index of pastoral subjects."  Each section (pericope) contains the NABRE text and Williamson's commentary, along with an extremely helpful reference section that includes OT and NT references, connections to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and lectionary reference.  This, of course, allows the reader the opportunity to dig a little deeper if they desire.  And they should!  Each page also includes footnotes to other commentaries utilized, as well as discussions about how a particular word or passage is translated.  Although the CCSS uses the NABRE as its base translation, each author in the series regularly points out other renderings from translations like the RSV, NRSV, ESV, and NJB.  This is very helpful, making this commentary series applicable no matter which translation you prefer.  (I should mention that the extent to which Williamson refers to other translations is not necessarily found in other volumes in this series.  Certainly in his edition on Ephesians he refers often to alternative renderings, but, for example, the other newly released volume in the series, on the Gospel of John by Martin and Wright, rarely refers to other renderings in the major English translations.)

There is so much in this edition that I like, outside of Williamson's commentary, but I am just going to mention a few elements which I think particularly stand out.  First off, one of the first things you notice when you open this volume of the CCSS is that there is a 20 page introduction.  The typical issues are considered including author, date, audience, theological perspective, literary style, message, and interpretation.  Within this introduction is a concise examination of the four views of interpreting Revelation, known popularly as the historicist, preterist, futurist, and idealist.  Understanding these views is necessary, particularly when engaging other commentaries about Revelation.  Williamson examines each of these, giving a sympathetic description and recognizing the insights found in each view.

Secondly, the jewel of this volume are the extremely helpful and insightful sidebars that "present historical, literary, or theological information" that tackle many of the confusing and debated issues found in the Book of Revelation.  I counted a total of 57 sidebars which enhance your study of Revelation.  Some example, which I found particularly helpful, were "The Catechism of the AntiChrist", "Food Offered to Idols and the New Testament", "Interpretation of Babylon in Christian Tradition", and "Mary, the Woman Clothed with the Sun".  All of these sidebars are strategically placed in the within the commentary to match them to the scriptural passage.  There is also a helpful index at the back of the volume which lists all the sidebars.

Thirdly, I really enjoy the illustations and pictures that are included in this volume.  There are a total of 22, which cover not only artistic renditions of the Book of Revelation, for example Albrecht Durer's woodcuts, but also images of such archaeological finds like a coin of Jewish revolutionary Bar Kochba and a bust of the emperor Nero.  In the back, there is also included a map for Asia Minor.

Let me conclude with a brief comment about this series in general.  One of the things that makes it unique, in my opinion, is that it has garnered support from the full spectrum of Catholic Biblical scholars and clergy.  A quick look at their endorsements page show this.  I think there is something to be said about this, particularly in a time when there continues to be polarization in the Church.

The Feasts Blog Tour: The Solemnity of Christ the King

"Calendars form us.  Calendars help to define us as the people we are."

I am once again happy to participate in another blog tour conducted by the fine people at Image Books.  This time around, I will be analyzing a chapter in the upcoming book The Feasts: How the Church Year Forms Us As Catholics by Cardinal Donald Wuerl and Mike Aquilina.  This new volume is the third book in a series that the two have published together, following the success of The Mass and The Church.  All three are wonderful resources that examine key elements of the Church's life.  One of the great things that I have noticed with this series of books is that they are engaging to the newcomer as well as one who has been involved in the Church for years.  In particular, I highly recommend them to all who are looking to explain the faith to those Catholics who are disengaged from the faith.  These books are great resources for the New Evangelization.

The Feasts is focused on the liturgical calendar and how it shapes our faith life.  As the promotional material puts it: "Each chapter uncovers the biblical origins and development of one of the great feasts or fasts — Advent, Epiphany, the Holy Angels, all the Marian feasts, and even this very day."  This is a wonderful help, since I think must of us are unaware of the history behind many of the great feasts of our Church calendar.  While we may certainly feel pretty confident in our understandings of feasts like Christmas and Easter, what about the various feasts of Our Lady or Corpus Christi?  One particular joy for me was to see that the first feast to be discussed in this book is Sunday.  How often do we forget that every Sunday is meant to be a feast day where we can celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord?  Some get caught up in the idea that for Catholics Sunday is an obligation, yet Wuerl and Aquilina remind us that Sunday worship was something distinctive for early Christians (56).  It marked out their identity in a Roman world that was at times hostile.  They realized that coming together to celebrate the feasts of the Lord was deeply tied into their identity.  However, it wasn't a simple group meeting time either for fellowship, but rather a time when they could be empowered by the living God.  The authors remind us that "God wants to feed us and fill us, so he gives us banquets at which we can feast spiritually (11)."   The early Christians knew this, so we need to remind our fellow Catholics, those who have perhaps lost their way, that Our Lord desires to nourish us.

I have been asked to comment on chapter 13, which is entitled: "The Solemnity of Christ the King and the Other Feasts of Jesus."  I love the feast of Christ the King.  Being an American, the idea of kingship can at times be a bit foreign, however, if you spends anytime in the Old Testament you can't avoid the importance of kingship.  It pervades the historical book, the prophets, as well as the wisdom literature.  See Psalms 93 and 97 for some examples.  When we move to the New Testament what do we see?  We see our Lord who is hailed as the Messiah (which is a kingly term meaning "anointed one") as he enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey.  The entire Passion narrative in John focuses on the fact that Jesus is truly a king, with his throne being the cross.  So, kingship is an important biblical theme, even if it seems "outdated" or "irrelevant" in today's world.  

That is one reason why the Church instituted this feast, in order to remind us of this reality.  Of course, this feast is not an ancient one, but one of the newer ones.  It was added in 1925 by Pope Pius XI and given a different date in the post Vatican II calendar.  The full title of the feast, which is really important, is: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (113).  He isn't just the king of Europe or America or Mexico, but the true king of the entire universe.  His reign extends to every inch of the created cosmos.  Our authors remind us that this feast was instituted in reaction to the rise of totalitarian regimes that based their authority on man and not on God.  For Christ, all things are under "his feet (Ps.110)."  Unlike those who claim kingly authority on their own, Christ shows what is the meaning of true kingship: He is a king who came to serve.  He is the model king of Deuteronomy 17:14-20.  His kingship is one, not of domineering, but of love: "Christ conquers not by violence but by persevering love (115)."

One final note on this feast, which is placed at the end of the liturgical calendar.  It reminds us that while Christ has conquered on the cross and his Church proclaims this victory, we still await the return of the king.  The king who came into Jerusalem on a humble donkey, will come again in glory and power, "on the clouds."  I think that is one of the reasons I so love this feast.  It reminds me that God is in control and that the whole universe is his dominion.   "Your kingdom come!"  "Come Lord Jesus!"


Thank you to Image Books for providing me with a review copy.

Book Review: Vatican II: The Essential Texts

We are in the midst of commemorating the fifty years since the work of the Second Vatican Council.  There are a number of books that have been, and will be, published during this time which look back at the Council.  It goes withouth saying that Vatican II has had an impact on all Catholics.  For this blog, certainly the importance of Dei Verbum looms large.  I hope to spend some time blogging about it as we get closer to the its 50th anniversary in 2015.  

One can, of course, find a whole assortment of books which analyze Vatican II.  Just do a search on Amazon and you will find dozens of books in English, representing vastly different perspectives.  Those of us of the post-Vatican II Church are fully aware of the interpretations and conflicts that are out there concerning the Council.  One of my great hopes with Pope Francis is that he can begin to bring some healing as the Church moves forward.  I think the dual canonizations of JXXIII and JPII was a very good idea in this regard.

One of the key terms for Vatican II was ressourcement, which meant a going back to the earlier sources.  In that spirit, I feel it is critical that those of us who are serious about the Church and her mission need to go back to the sources of the Second Vatican Council.  And how do we do that?  Well, we need to actually take the time to read the documents themselves, not only alone but also in study groups.  That is why I am excited to get a copy of Little Rock's Dei Verbum study, which comes out in June.  However, if you want to get a collection, in English, of the Council documents there are honestly not a lot of really good options.  The standard text that most of us are familiar with is the two volume work by Austin Flannery.  The problem is that it is massive and the production quality of the books are not very good.  The paper is cheap and the cover will not stand up to much use.  There is also the out of print edition by Abbotts and Gallagher, which is wonderfully compact, but again suffers from some of the same quality issues as the previous edition.  There was also a large volume published by Pauline which contains the sixteen documents, but it too is out of print.  So what do you do if you want a fairly nice looking, and feeling, collection of the documents of Vatican II which you can actually take around with you to read and pray over?  (And yes, I understand that you can print them off for free from the Vatican website.)

I would recommend Image's Vatican II: The Essential Texts edited by Norman Tanner, SJ.  This "essential" collection of Vatican II is a pleasure to read from and portable enough to tuck into your bag without taking up too much space.  This volume contains the Four Constitutions (Sacrosanctum Concilium, Dei Verbum, Lumen Gentium, and Gaudium et Spes) along with the Declarations on Religious Freedom (Dignitatis Humanae) and on the Church's Relation to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate).  Each of the documents come with a brief historical introduction by Edward Hahnenberg, which help to place their formation in their historical context.  (If anyone can recommend a fuller treatment of the history of the council, which doesn't follow the extreme positions taken by some on both sides, I'd appreciate it.)  The translation of the documents comes from a 1990 Sheed & Ward/Georgetown University Press publication, with minor edits by Norman Tanner.  The book's appendix contains all the notes that were included with the official documents, which are certainly a must for understanding the true intent of the Council Fathers.   

The very first thing you will encounter in this volume are the "introductions" from Pope Benedict XVI and Boston Globe columnist James Carroll.  Without getting into specifics, these two share differing opinions on the Council.  Pope Benedict is of the school of seeing the Council through the hermeneutic of continuity with the past, while Carroll falls more in the hermeneutic of rupture/change.  I stand with Pope Benedict on this issue, so I don't find Carroll's comments all that convincing.  (It should be noted that both "introductions" consist in previous articles/speeches done by the authors.)  I am not, in general, a fan of Carroll's writings, however, I think having his essay included, along with Benedict's, shows the spectrum of interpretation that has existed during these past fifty years.  

As with any volume that claims to be "essential," there are bound to be elements I would have liked to see included.  In particular, since this volume is directly primarily towards the lay faithful, I think they should have included the the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity.  It would have really rounded out the other six, and plus when we think about the laity's role in the New Evangelization, it would be really helpful to have this document among the others.  Also, since Lumen Gentium and Nostra Aetate were included, I would have really liked to have seen Unitatis Redintegratio, the decree on Ecumenism, a part of this collection.

Overall, however, if you want an attractive and portable edition of the main Vatican II documents, this is the one to go with.  I highly recommend it.    

Thank you to Katie at Image Books for providing me a review copy

Book Review: "The Lamb's Supper" by Scott Hahn

This review is not meant to be an all-encompassing analysis of the main points Dr. Hahn makes relating the Book of Revelation to the Mass, but rather a note of appreciation for a book that helped to move me in a new way into a greater love of Jesus, the Holy Mass, and the Holy Scriptures.  The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth is probably the most important book I read during a crucial time of transition in my life.  This book was published in 1999 during a time when I was really Catholic in name only.  Even though I had gone to Catholic high school and was attending Mass only a few times a month, I knew nothing of my faith and probably cared even less.  Yet the Lord began to slowly work in my life, or rather, I began to hear Him who had always been calling me to a greater relationship.  From 1999-2001 I was slowly, and I mean slowly, beginning to think about the ramifications about believing in what Christianity was all about.  At some point, I realized that if it were true, then I would have to make some tough decisions in life.  Because if all this stuff about Jesus rising from the dead and being Lord of the Universe was actually real and true, how could I go on living the life that I was currently living?

Somewhere around 2000 I began to attend Mass weekly, and slowly built up the curiosity to actually begin reading books about the faith.  Over the course of the next couple years or so, I would find myself spending  much of my free time reading Catholic books.  Some of the books I was reading were good, others OK, while others didn't really impact me at all.  At that point in my journey I really had no idea where to start, so I would just go to the local secular book store and find something that looked interesting in the "Catholic Section" to read.

Then, one day, I picked up the book The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth by Scott Hahn.  I read the dust jacket where it said "With its bizarre imagery, its mystic visions of Heaven, and its end-of-time prophecies, Revelation mirrors the sacrifice and celebration of the Eucharist" and I was hooked.  While I was attending Mass weekly at that point, I still hadn't quite figured it out yet, and often times found myself lapsing back into yawning at Mass, as I did as a child.  So the whole idea of learning how the Mass related to the ultra-mysterious Book of Revelation, which I wasn't quite yet ready to read for myself, seemed intriguing.

In the course of reading The Lamb's Supper I was introduced to two important elements of the faith that I had previously overlooked.  First, and foremost, the role that typology plays not only within the Bible itself, but also in interpretation.  In chapter two, Dr. Hahn goes over "The Story of Sacrifice" and focuses in on the phrase the "Lamb of God."  Now while I was at least familiar with that phrase from hearing it at Mass, I had never really taken the time to investigate why we said it.  In this chapter, Dr. Hahn begins by showing how often the phrase is used in the writings of John, then goes back to the Old Testament to show the connection with the Old Testament Temple sacrifices.  He writes: "We need to know what the Lamb is, and why we call Him 'Lamb.'  To find out, we have to go back in time, almost to the very beginning (16)."  That is indeed what he did and all I was left saying was "Wow!"  The thread that connects Abraham's sacrificing of Issac on Moriah to the Temple sacrifices at the Jerusalem Temple to the death of Jesus on Calvary made the scriptures come alive for me for the very first time in my life.  Truly, learning about typology made the Scriptures exciting!  This led me on to looking at other places where typology was important, like John 6.  I can honestly say that this "discovery" led me to where I am today, writing a Catholic Bible blog and teaching the Scriptures.

Secondly, Dr. Hahn introduced me to the early Church Fathers.  At that point, I had never really heard or read anything from them.  Sure, I had heard of people like Augustine, but I had no idea that we possessed the writings of Christians as early as the late first and into the second century.  Chapter three of The Lamb's Supper is devoted to showing how the early Christians celebrated Mass.  As someone who majored in classical history, these early Church writings showed me that the earliest Christians celebrated the Mass in much the same way that we do today.  Sure, there were differences and some things had developed over the course of two thousand years, but the basic outline of the Eucharistic Liturgy remained amazingly consistent.  He shows how Justin Martyr's description of the Mass in the mid second century is still seen today in its basic outline at every Mass celebrated in a Catholic church.  Even many of the words, although spoken in different languages, are remarkably similar as well (37-38).  The reality that the Mass was now something that connected me to the past was an eye opener.  Knowing that I celebrate the Mass in the same way that my ancestors did, along with those in heaven, made me approach my participation in Mass in a completely new way.  And boy, did I never realize how soaked the Mass is in the words and imagery of the Holy Bible. I am sure many of you have known this for a long time, but for me it was like discovering gold in my own back yard.

The rest of the book focused on the Book of Revelation with its many symbols and images.  He shows how these symbols were understood by the early Christian in a liturgical sense, and not only in an apocalyptic sense, so often distorted by TV preachers.  In his conclusion to the chapter on the early Church, Hahn writes: "Keep all of this in mind: the sounds and silences of the Church's first Masses.  You'll encounter them again in heaven, when we examine the Book of Revelation more closely.  You'll encounter them again in heaven, when you go to Mass next Sunday (39)."

In the end, this book set me on a course to buying more books and tapes that Dr. Hahn had produced, as well as other good Catholic biblical scholars.  More importantly, however, it helped to spark a deep love for reading the Holy Scriptures and Holy Mass.  For the first time in my life, the Bible became a living word which began to impact my life on a daily basis.  From that point on, I couldn't get enough of reading the Scriptures and listening to audio Bible studies.  I also became attracted to going to Mass not only on Sundays, but during the rest of the week.  This book is written for a general audience, so I would recommend it to anyone of high school age and over.  To read an extended excerpt, you can follow this link.


Thank you to Image Books for providing me a review copy

Book Review: The Church: Unlocking the Secrets to the Places Catholics Call Home

Following upon their successful book The Mass:  The Glory, the Mystery, the Tradition, which was a helpful primer going into the implementation of the revised Roman Missal during Advent 2011, Cardinal Wuerl and Mike Aquilina have teamed up again for what is certainly its logical sequel.  The Church: Unlocking the Secrets to the Places Catholics Call Home is a helpful journey through the important elements that make a typical Catholic church, well, Catholic.

If you have read the previous volume from Wuerl and Aquilina you will immediately notice that this new volume has a familiar look and feel to it.  Many of the chapters are concise and to the point, and include helpful photographs that illustrate the particular feature being highlighted.  It seems that every possible liturgical furnishing is examined in this book, from the importance of pews and kneelers to the poor box and ambry.  My favorite line in the book comes on page 19, where the authors write: "Everything we see in a Catholic church is there for a single purpose: to tell a love story.  It is a story as old as the world, and it involves the whole of creation, the vast expanse of history, and every human being who ever lived.  It involves Almighty God, and it involves you."  When I read those two sentences, my only response was a joyful "Yes!"  How beautifully put!  It sets the tone for the rest of the book.

The purpose of this book is to show that a church's art and architecture are there to communicate something that goes beyond its initial appearance.  For example, the chapter that discusses the importance of church doors begins by referring to a moment in some Eastern liturgies when the deacon calls out, "the doors! The doors!"  At that somewhat strange, almost awkward, moment, all those who were non-Christians during ancient times were sent outside the church doors, which were then locked.  For only those who were baptized could "approach the altar for Holy Communion (132)."  While that line remains in some of the Eastern liturgies, the custom of expelling the visitors has ceased.  Yet, as Wuerl and Aquilina point out: "The liturgy preserves the line because it reminds us of the distinction between the Church and the world (132)."

I also found the chapter devoted to the Ambry to be quite informative.  To be honest, I had really not given it much thought in the many years I have been going to church.  I just figured that it was the glass box that we kept the oils in, however, there is much more to it than that.  As most of you know, the ambry is the repository for the three different oils that are blessed at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday and then used in different sacramental rites throughout the year.  The authors then went on to give more clarification to the word ambry: "The word ambry has workaday origins.  It comes from the same Latin word from which we derive the word armory, and that Latin word, armarium, was often used to describe a laborer's toolbox.  The oils and chrisms kept in the ambry are the tools of the Church's trade, so to speak (162)."  That is just fascinating.  It actually made me think back to Ephesians 6 and Paul's call to put on the whole "armor of God" for spiritual warfare.  You can imagine going into a medieval armory and seeing all the major weapons being lined up and ready for use.  In the same way, when you enter a Catholic church, our main weapons against the "principalities and powers" are there too, ready to be used for combat.

As you can see, I found this book a helpful reminder of the important theological reasons behind the way our churches are constructed.  I also really appreciated the historical background that the book provides.  This is a very accessible book, that would make a wonderful gift for someone who is new to the faith or perhaps someone who is beginning to take his/her faith seriously.  You can access the very first chapter of this book here and give it a quick read to see if this is something you might want to purchase.  I recommend that you do!

Thank you to Image Books for providing a review copy

Review: Pope Francis: The Pope from the End of the Earth

With the election of our new Pope Francis, one can expect that there will continue to be a flood of new books about him being published on a monthly basis for the foreseeable future.  Unlike Benedict XVI, there was barely anything published by or about him in English prior to his election.  So, for those who are interested in getting a book or two about Pope Francis, it is important to be able to discern which book might be for you.  It seems that every major Catholic publisher has a book coming out about Pope Francis, so which one should you get? 

I would always recommend, first off, purchasing one that includes a generous sampling from his own writings.  Don’t simply settle on what other people say about Pope Francis, rather, take the time to read what the man has actually said and written.  However, it is always helpful to have a biography close at hand as well.  There are, of course, many of them to choose from.  In fact, there are more biographies out there about him currently than actual collections of his own writings, but I am sure that will change over time. 

Until then, let me recommend Pope Francis: The Pope from the End of the Earth from Saint Benedict Press.  This is a beautiful little book that combines biographical material, full-color photos from before and after his election, and the text of two of his first homilies as Pope.  This book is written by Thomas J. Craughwell, who recently authored the timely Popes Who Resigned.  Craughwell does a wonderful job in providing a concise sketch of Cardinal Bergoglio from his birth up until his election as Pope Francis.  In addition to the biographical and historical information, Craughwell includes numerous supplemental sections concerning  Catholic beliefs, practices, and traditions.  For example, there are short essays on St. Francis of Assisi and St. Ignatius of Loyola, as well information on the Sistine Chapel and why Popes change their name after election.  The information he provides is neither overwhelming, not is it too little. 

One of the great features of this book is the more than 60 full color photos.  Some of the photos have been seen on television before, including one showing his well-known preference for riding on the bus in Argentina, but there are many others that I hadn’t seen yet, including him leading a Eucharistic procession.     It is also remarkable that they were able to get so many recent photos included as well, including his first meeting with Pope Emeritus Benedict and images from the Holy Thursday Mass with the youth of del Marmo detention center. 

Oftentimes, books like this tend to be massive in size, the proto-typical coffee table book.  Coming in at 6.25 x 7.75 and containing 176 pages, Pope Francis: The Pope from the End of the Earth is very compact in size and easily portable.  I really love this book.  Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who wrote the foreword, calls this book “a beautiful encounter-in pictures and in words-with Pope Francis.”  I completely agree.  I plan to purchase additional copies of this book to give out to friends and relatives as birthday and Christmas gifts.   The hardcover edition is $22.95, while eBook formats are available as well.

Thank you to Saint Benedict Press for providing me a review copy.