No comments about The Living Thoughts of the Prophet Muhammad.

1 comments about Saintly Deacons (Illuminationbooks).

1. Great way to learn about the Diaconate and its growing place in the world of ministry.

1 comments about Complete Works of John Owen, 16 Volume Set.

1. These 16 volumes by John Owen are a must for the thoughtful Christian. Fighting Temptation (6), For whom did Christ Die (10), the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit (2,3) and of course the Excellency of Christ (1) are all dealt with and so much more. Purchase these and study them with care and you will have so much assistance and encouragement in life and hope for the life to come. Owen doesn't so much as touch upon issues but open them up explore and apply them thoroughly and biblically.

5 comments about Saints Preserve Us!: Everything You Need to Know About Every Saint You'll Ever Need.

1. I am so glad that I checked this book out from the library rather than buying it.
   
   Although this book was informative the dry wit they inserted into nearly every saint's bio was not needed and not welcomed by me. A little humor is a good thing and I love a good dose of dry wit, but to poke fun at saints is another thing altogether.
   
   Usually the prospective buyer of a book about saints is looking for strength, guidance and help. They don't want to read sarcastic comments on each saint.
   
   If you are someone that is looking for a good and informative book on saints you might be disappointed in the authors' attitude as I was.



2. As some of the previous reviews have indicated, this is not exactly an appropriate book for 1) those who take their saints VERY seriously; and 2) those who are trying to educate their youngsters about the lives of saints. Addressing the second group, I might point out that the only times I have seen this book in bookstores it was shelved in the humor section rather than the religion section, and that in itself should be a pretty clue. I suppose some libraries might shelve this in the religion section, but a quick perusal ought to reveal the gentle irreverence found throughout the book.
   
   For those Catholics who enjoy laughing at some of the more admittedly absurd aspects of Church history, this book will be a real hoot. It is in no way definitive, but it does have an impressive number of rather obscure saints listed. There is humor aplenty to be found here, but one will also at times encounter some rather incisive commentary on how the Church infrastructure has developed over the centuries, and also on some of the politics that is sometimes involved in the canonization process.
   
   As a reference guide it has its limits, but if you just need the basics (patron saints for nations & professions, which saints you should invoke for which ailments, and which saints get which days) this book does a pretty good job of covering what you might need.
   
   Remember to avoid this book like the plague if your religious sensibilities are easily offended. You have been warned.



3. I can understand the humor the authors were trying to put into the book but in truth I really wish they knew what they were talking about. For example: the patron saint of young girls is not who they say - its Saint Agnes and or Saint Joan of Arc. They have a Saint Bessa in their book, there isn't a saint bessa. I double checked everything against a REAL saints book. There is a Saints Bessas but the stories aren't even simiular.
   
   Like I said, I understand where the humor is coming from but so much of their information is made up is what made me laugh. But in truth it was just sad that the authors showed their ignorance and how into themselves by writting this book and thinking they can make changes where there is none needed and that they know more then anyone who actually has read any other saint book on the shelves. So many of the Patrons are mislabel and quite a few made up it, it was just sad. I mean, how can you not even say Saint. Joan of Arc is the patron of anything?



4. It's a great little book. It has more infomation about the Saints than you thought to ask. It's only slightly irreverant in spots, the rest is just interesting information and you find yourself reading it out loud..."Hey everyone, listen to this..." I was disappointed that all of the Saints are listed and then what they are patron of, how they were martered, etc. It would have been nice to be able to look up the topic that they were Patron Saints of, maybe an index or something. As it is you have to read through the Saints in alphabetical order to find what they are the Patron of. All in all, I give it a thumbs up.



5. in answer to those who rate the book with one star and didn't "know or realize" it was humorous. one must always be critical, with eyes open, but never cynical. that's what this book is, along with being good natured. btw, such reviewers takes themselves too seriously. as hagiographies go, this book offsets all "serious" and humourless "instructional" books.

2 comments about Life With Mother Teresa: My Thirty-year Friendship With The Mother Of The Poor.

1. Mother Teresa through the Eyes of a FriendThrough their work and travel, Fr. Vazhakala says he came to know Mother Teresa better than he knew his own mother, and Mother Teresa said of him, "We know each other by heart." Although the book begins with a sketch of Mother Teresa's early life, as recalled by her brother Lazar, it is not a chronological account of her life. Rather, the early sections address her initial meeting and ongoing work with Fr. Vazhakala in co-founding the Missionaries of Charity Contemplative and the Lay Missionaries of Charity. Against that backdrop, we see "Mother" at the blessing of a Leprosy Centre, ministering at a home for the dying, and in other settings that illustrate her devotion to serving the poorest of the poor and seeing Jesus in the face of every human she encountered. Each chapter contains quotations from Mother's writings and talks, such as "Do what you can, and do it now, and do it well."
   
   The second half of Part One is devoted to the virtues of Mother Teresa with separate chapters on faith, hope, and love filled with examples. The last two sections contain copies of handwritten messages (accompanied by typed copies) from Mother to Fr. Vazhakala between 1971 and 1993, and photos of the two during their years together. A final section contains the guiding principles of the Missionaries of Charity Brothers Contemplative.
   
   Many books of Mother Teresa's writings and speeches have been compiled, and many others written about her life, but this one is marked by special warmth because of the relationship between author and subject.



2. Imagine counting Mother Teresa as a friend, a "mother", a spiritual mentor and partner. This wonderful book contains the remembrances of Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala, who shared a close working relationship with Mother Teresa for thirty one years. The book shares her life in a special, very personal way. One unique feature of the book is the section containing numerous scans of hand written letters from Mother. A photo section contains many inspiring shots of Father and this incredible woman. This book leaves yet another look at Mother Teresa's wonderful legacy, from one who new her "by heart". An excellent addition to any personal library - you will be inspired!

No comments about Loyola's Acts: The Rhetoric of the Self (New Historicism - Studies in Cultural Poetics, Vol 36).

1 comments about The Sacred Anointing: The Preaching of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

1. Pastor, are your sermons getting dull and self-centered? This book represents one of the finest studies of one of the greatest preachers of all time and how he prepared his sermons. My first copy was so marked up that I had to buy another new one. Sargent carefully and fairly examines Lloyd-Jones' Bible study methodology and gives today's overburdoned and distracted minister an opportunity to be refreshed and encouraged. A great treasure!

No comments about Baba Muktananda: A Biography.

5 comments about Pope Benedict XVI: A Biography of Joseph Ratzinger.

1. This new edition of the book Cardinal Ratzinger - The Vatican's Enforcer Of The Faith, first published in 2000, was released shortly after Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope, with a new Publisher's Preface. It is an excellently written, in-depth study from his youth growing up in the shadow of Nazi Germany until the year 2000. Allen's meticulous research, undertaken over many years, bears fruit in the way the new Pope's life-history is set out. Not merely painting a portrait of the man today, Allen also describes the changes of opinion and thought of this great theologian from a `reformer' at the time of Vatican II to a conservative Cardinal. This book is an excellent resource for those wishing to understand the history of the new Pope, the way in which his life experiences have changed his view of his own personal history, and the way in which they have shaped his dealings with the church.



2. It's too bad that in this volume John Allen Jr. doesn't shine with the outstanding scholarship of his 2005 book "The Rise of Benedict XVI: The Inside Story of How the Pope Was Elected and Where He Will Take the Catholic Church." This earlier excellent volume presented a compelling and convining argument for why Cardinal Ratzinger was by far the logical choice for Pope. I'm not convinced the Pope's biography presented here is consistent with Mr. Allen's conclusions about Pope Benedict XVI immense and extraordinary gifts for the benefit of the Church.



3. This is a biography of the German cleric born Joseph Ratzinger in 1927. John Allen Jr. is a journalist for the 'National Catholic Reporter' and in this book traces Ratzinger's rise to prominence as a cardinal during the Second Vatican Council as a firm proponent of Vatican II's progressive theology an opponent of tradition. The author then uses documents to outline the pope's conservative theological views on controversial subjects as the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
   
   This book was originally titled 'Cardinal Ratzinger' and should have been left with that title. Though I suggest all read this book for another point of view, by no means let this be the only book you read. Allen himself wished to re-write what he wrote but the publisher went ahead with his original biased writings. Before you make up your mind be sure to read Ratzinger's own writings in their complete form and draw your own conclusions.



4. I take it as an affront that the author of this book is the Vatican correspondent. He is so liberal that I find it hard to believe he is Catholic. I assume he "disagrees" with much of Roman Catholic belief.
   
   His heavy handed attacks on Ratzinger and his obvious respect for Church dissidents like Matthew Fox and the former priest and homosexual advocate John McNeill is sickening.
   
   This book is a real turkey but the author is, I'm afraid, a much bigger one! Beware this prolific misguided writer.
   
   Better books on the subject of the life and beliefs of Joseph Ratzinger are Pope Benedict XVI: His Life and Mission by Stephen Mansfield a non-Catholic and Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977 Pope Benedict's own autobiography.



5. John Allen's shows his hostility toward Ratzinger in his choice of verbs and adjectives to describe what Ratzinger has done to preserve Catholic ortodoxy. Mr. Allen would have a Catholicism where everyone thinks and does as they please, and still be in good terms with the Church. However, I still managed to finish the book and to leave it with an increased admiration for the current pope. On the plus side, Mr. Allen does provide useful summaries of the theological views of those whom then-Cardinal Ratzinger opposed, as well as some of his reasons for doing so. But the way he finishes the section on Other Religions ("What is at stake"), implies that Ratzinger's views have contributed to the civil wars that- like Kosovo and Northern Ireland- are fought under the disguise of being religiously motivated. Suggesting that Ratzinger's work has contributed to those conflicts is completelely over the top and inflammatory, not to say untrue.

1 comments about The Desert Rat: The Remarkable Story of Aileen Coleman.

1. This book is extraordinary! Two American women travel to Jordan
   and become close friends with the Bedouin desert people, who
   are slow to trust anyone. They start a hospital and achieve many
   miracles because of God's help.
   
   The writing is extremely well done and the author tells excellent
   stories about the Bedouins. If you are interested in working
   with people overseas who need help, this book is essential to
   read. I found it to be one of the best books that I have ever
   read. Don't miss reading this book.