5 comments about Entering the Castle: An Inner Path to God and Your Soul.

1. Carolyn Myss has always spoken to the journey of my spirit. Being a Catholic sister I expecially appreciate the kind words she has about them and am happy that her experiences with them were positive. From Anatomy of the Spirit which was synchronistically given to me to Sacred Contracts which set the themes for my journal for the rest of my life, I have been profoundly encouraged by the writings of Caroline. Entering the Castle is a workbook of sorts, but one is able to choose which exercises one feels her spirit is yet in need of learning. I especially liked the work on soul companions and was affirmed by the story of the dog and the holy man. Carolyn also shows balanced ways in which one listens to her own inner guidance. I highly recommend the book to anyone who is seriously interested in finding God in all of life.



2. At one time I was very impressed with Caroline Myss and her writings. After reading this book and listening to the CD set that was loaned to me, I must say... I found this to be nothing more that the same ramblings as her other books. Or maybe, just maybe, I have finally outgrown her message. Judge for yourself.



3. Once again, Caroline Myss has given us a better understanding of the inner life by "Entering the Castle" of her soul and sharing her findings with us.
   
   As we enter the seven mansions of our soul, Caroline and Teresa of Avila ( who centuries ago first led us through the "Inner Castle"), we realize that we must shut down the mind, our ego. A quote from Caroline paves the way: "The mind is simply not strong enough to make the journey. Get your mind out of the soul's way.
   
   The mind is so busy with daily living that it will never leave us alone, so we must make the effort to push it aside and just "be" who we are, not what we think we are. By letting go of our ego/mind we can find the path to peace, tranquility and a better understanding of our being.
   
   Our being, who we are inside, our soul will lead us to the right path and the right decisions we need to make on our journey. It leads us to better judgement of our situations, better understanding of ourselves and others and more accepting of ourselves which leads to more accepting of one another.
   
   Other books for your consideration:
   Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular Worldby Henri J Nouwen
   The Grand Option: Personal Transformation and a New Creation (GETHSEMANI STUDIES P)[ by Beatrice Bruteau
   Passion for Creation: The Earth-honoring Spirituality of Meister Eckhartby Matthew Fox



4. So many books and programs of this type turn out to be fluff. Not so with Entering The Castle. This is for serious seekers only. If you really think about the questions and challenges posed, you are taken on a trip into your own psyche and soul that is illuminating. I'm not finished the book and don't expect to be for some time to come, which is the point. Go through it slowly, paying attention, doing the work. Some reviews point out that you don't even enter the castle until you are 100 pages into it. That's true, and I thank Caroline Myss for those 100 pages. She took the time, effort and care to prepare the reader for what lies within the castle. The information in those early chapters adds depth and meaning to the actual journey. If you want a quick fix and can't be bothered with the opening material, don't bother period. If you're ready for serious work that will give you a different perspective on your own life, and a deeper relationship with God, this book will not disappoint.



5. Excellent book by Caroline Myss. She doesn't dissppoint. I only wish she wrote more often!

5 comments about Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God.

1. For any Christian trying to understand the importance of Mary in their devotion to Jesus, this is an excellent study. Not only does this book explain what Catholics mean by honoring (not worshipping) Mary, it also explains why it should fit into the lives of all Christians as an ecumenical factor.
   This book will answer many bilblical questions about Mary.
   Hahn has put an excellent theological study at the fingertips of every common person. It is easy to read and understand.



2. Dr. Scott W. Hahn writes like he speaks. He uses wit and an engaging style to drive home essential teachings of the Christian faith. His ability to hold and enlighten an audience is similar to that of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen of a generation or two ago. Likewise blessed with a strong intellect and good judgment in his use of entertainment, Scott Hahn is living proof that dogma need not be presented as dull or overbearing.
   
   Hahn's "Hail, Holy Queen" is an important and lively book. It is important because it presents the ancient and once-universally-accepted Christian teachings on the person and role of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In AD 431, at the Council of Ephesus (the third of the generally accepted early ecumenical councils; the seventh was in AD 787), Mary was acknowledged by the proper title "Theotokos" or "Mother of God" (literally: "birth-giver of God"). Christian theology was still very much in flux and the bishops at Ephesus saw in this affirmation an important piece of the puzzle of how Jesus' divine nature integrated fully with the human in the one divine Second Person of the Holy Trinity. In his book, Hahn teleports the reader back to the fifth century, to a time of rejoicing over this breakthrough insight into the mystery of Christ's Incarnation.
   
   Hahn delivers this and much more in "Hail, Holy Queen." God is not a slave driver but wants us to be in His family, as brothers and sisters "from the same womb" (cf. Greek "adelphos"), through a covenant of persons. Mary has a motherly role in this family, a role that is relationally derived from being the mother of Jesus Christ. She is of course a creature, but a most excellent one at that. Hahn makes all of this very clear -- and very encouraging for the reader who is willing to accept it!
   
   And Hahn's effort is lively, because he does it with panache. Not in the least deadly dull, Hahn mixes in a dash of humor here and there to make his points. I especially enjoyed his chapter and section headings: "Cutting the Unbiblical Cord," "Maternity Warred," "Venerators of the Lost Ark," etc. I thought the Hahn couple's book "Rome Sweet Home" was really good, because I can empathize with it, but this one is even better. As they say in some circles, "It doesn't get any better than this!" Keep up the great work, Scott! Rev. Dennis J. Mercieri



3. Based on Hahn's wonderful book, A Father Who Keeps His Promises, we decided to study another in our mothers' ministry group. There are several sites available with discussion questions for Hail, Holy Queen also. We weren't disappointed - this is a great book too! I would recommend this for mothers' ministries, study groups, and just as a personal reading book to anyone, not just Catholics. Hahn has a way of relating to his audience and opening up areas for a fresh view. Thanks to his books, I have a better understanding of God's word and a deeper faith as a Catholic.



4. This is an exceptionally well written theological look at the many roles our Blessed Mother plays in our lives. Scott Hahn uses many stories from his our life to illustrate the great love Mary has for each of us, and the joy we have feel when we open our hearts to her love.
   It certainly opened my eyes on so many different levels.



5. I have read many of Dr. Scott Hahn's books, and Hail, Holy Queen was the first I read, and remains my favorite (at least so far!) Dr. Hahn presents the information in a very readable and engaging style, as always. I would highly endorse this book for anybody who is interested in learning more about the Blessed Virgin Mary.

5 comments about My Daily Catholic Bible: Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition 20-Minute Daily Readings.

1. This is a great resource if you want to read the entire Catholic bible in one year. Unlike other one year bibles, this edition has all of the Catholic books of the bible. RSV translation is very readable. The edition is also laid out according to the day of the year, so you can buy it at any time and will be able to completely read the entire bible in 365 days. The only thing that would make it better would be a short commentary at the beginning of each reading that offered some insight/background/reference to that day's reading. Highly recommended.



2. My Daily Catholic Bible is a wonderful bible for every Catholic. It is in a good trustworthy version, the Revised Standard Version, it is a nice size and the print is easy to read. The Bible is laved out with readings for each day of the year. And You can start anytime and just keep going and in a year you will have read the entire Bible. if you miss a day, you can skip that day or go back and catch up, the readings take from 10-20 minutes per day, so it won't take long to catch up. I would encourage every fellow Catholic and every Christian, from any denomination, to read the bible daily, and this, My Daily Catholic Bible, is a great way to read though the whole Bible; I would also encourage all to have more than one bible, I would suggest a Dewey Rhimes version for Bible study, with this My daily Catholic Bible being great edition and addition for daily reading. The LORD said my people die for lake of Knowledge and that knowledge is from God's word. The more we read and study the Bible the more we know the LORD.



3. My Daily Catholic Bible (MDCB) uses the Revised Standard Version (RSV) translation, which is my favorite. The RSV is one of the most accurate translations and does not use inclusive language like the New Revised Standard Version. It incorporates the Deuterocanonical Books nicely. MDCB also quotes a Saint every day, noting particular Saints' Days. Though MDCB does not follow the Lectionary readings of the Liturgical Year, it provides an additional way for the faithful to familiarize themselves with Sacred Scripture every day. Our Sunday Visitor claims that the readings are twenty minutes long. In average, this is more or less true depending on how fast you read. I have found occasional typos, perhaps one or two since I began reading MDCB around May 18, 2008. And, I wish Our Sunday Visitor provided MDCB in a hard cover edition. Nevertheless, I'm delighted with MDCB and look forward to reading it every day!



4. This book achieves its primary purpose: giving an easy, systematic way to read the whole Bible in one year. Three things keep me from giving it a 5-star rating.
   
   First, the New Testament books are not in their traditional order (the Old Testament books are). I really wish Mr. Thigpen had explained why he changed the order, especially since he puts Acts of the Apostles before Luke's Gospel (the other 3 Gospels come before Acts).
   
   Second, there's no index. This is especially important trying to keep track of the New Testament readings.
   
   Finally, the cover's protective coating is not very long-lasting. It started peeling in a distracting way after 4 months.



5. If your life gets so busy that you may be neglecting the spiritual part of your being, this is the book for you. You don't have to give up an hour a day to read the whole Bible. Using this book, fifteen to twenty minutes a day will get you through the whole Bible in a year.
   
   I've read pretty much every translation of the Bible imaginable. I own probably 12 different Bibles for comparison purposes and the RSV version is my favorite. It's accurate and readable. Check out IS 7:14 in RSV and then compare that passage in NLT or NRSV versions.
   
   Keep this Bible in your car and when you're stuck in traffic, backed up in line at the bank or waiting for junior at soccer practice pull out this one year Bible. You'll be surprised how much calmer you'll be...with or without lipstick!

5 comments about The Letter of St. Paul to the Romans: Revised Standard Version/2nd Catholic Edition (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible).

1. My main issue with this study guide is the way in which the commentary and notes are formatted on the page. They are squeezed in with tiny print at the bottom of the page like regular footnotes in an academic journal and they are broken down by the verse to which they refer. So there really is no flow to the notes, they're just choppy, jumping from one subject to another.
   
   I think a more effective means of explaining the contents of Paul's letter would be to have the text of the letter on one page and have the notes on the facing page. And have the notes in a flowing paragraph style rather than the choppy verse-by-verse format that are in this book.
   
   I could get similar styled notes in the New American Bible that I already own.



2. Another great effort that makes the book of Romans come alive. The special helps reflect the historical and patristic positions on Scripture. "Pop theology" is thankfully missing from this amazing study.



3. The Ignatius Bible studies are great resources. The print, however, is unacceptably small. If you have even minor eye issues, you need magnification to use these study guides. This is a real drawback to an excellent series of commentaries.



4. Our women's group was looking for a Catholic Bible study that did a good job of incorporating history, theology, and personal application all in one! This fabulous study has that and more! We are devouring it and savoring it. The footnotes are incredibly helpful in helping us put meaning to Paul's words, and the discussion questions do the job of reiterating Paul's meanings and giving our group a fabulous place to start our discussions. As the leader, I never have to stimulate discussion. In fact, thus far, we have always run long and had to cut people off to stop. There is so much valuable "meat" in this book, and it portrays Paul, the Catholic faith, and all of Scripture with reverence, accuracy, relevancy, and orthodoxy. I haven't found anything else that comes close to the depth and breadth of this study.



5. The Ignatius series of commentaries are marked by their clarity and depth of coverage. Though a thin volume, this commentary on Romans is still packed with solid, doctrinally sound, exegesis.
   
   Of course, it is difficult to review any in this series without thinking also of the Navarre series volume, The Navarre Bible: Romans and Galatians (The Navarre Bible: New Testament). The strength of the Ignatius commentary is it's broader overview word studies and outlines in addition to it's clarity. The strength of the Navarre commentary is in the introductory section - and the Navarre volume contains Galations and Romans together which seems to be a good fit as these two epistles overlap in so much of Paul's theology. The Navarre Bible also includes the parallel Latin vulgate not included in the Ignatius Bible. For the Ignatius commentary, you would need two volumes to get both Romans and Galations studies.
   
   Having both the Navarre and Ignatius commentaries would be ideal for study and it is highly recommended to use both in preparation for teaching. However, if your budget allows only one or personal study is your sole purpose, the Ignatius study is the one to choose even if it requires obtaining the second volume for the epistle to the Galations.

1 comments about The Faithful: A History of Catholics in America.

1. This book is an excellent, concise view of the cultural experience of American Catholicism. Mr. O'Toole does a great service to readers by avoiding the ecclesiastical issues when ever possible to focus on the human development of the Roman Catholic Church in this country. Rather then seeing the names of famous cardinals, though they are in there, you are given examples of how the people of the United States expressed their faith and how it impacted their lives.
   
   Mr. O'Toole does a wonderful job of guiding the reader through the post WWII tumult that the church went through and does so with an open mind yet clearly drawn conclusions. His narrative is very crisp and clear and the work itself is very enjoyable and highly readable. I would recommend this to any Catholic in the US who would like to learn how their faith arrived at where it is.

5 comments about Interior Castle.

1. An excellent book that deals with the process of knowing and surrendering ones life to Jesus Christ. One is struck by the deep passion to have an intimate relationship with Jesus and what a person is willing to forsake for that relationship. One will not agree with all that is said but will be challenged to describe what you do believe and how does it apply to your own life. It is a book that needs to be read several times to mine the riches of the truth.



2. This is mystical theology. If are a researcher like I am, this is an awesome book



3. it is very spiritual and rewarding...you can search your soul for your place in your spiritual beliefs...



4. I bought this book at a local bookstore actually as a fluke (sort of). I had some in-store credit and a coupon, and I had heard this was a solid work by St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila), so I bought it.
   
   This is one of the best books I have ever read! I now say to persons, "I'm in a 7-Step spiritual program" (i.e., St. Teresa's seven mansions). St. Teresa is this very winesome writer who is furiously working on this treatise late at night after being neck-deep in this massive and highly controversial reforming movement in 16th century CE Spain.
   
   So she comes to this work all tired and exhausted physically, but her zealous spirit for the things of God just shines right through the pages! It is literally a window to the soul of this great woman who walked her talk. She also is very attractive in that she is, in one sense, this very ordinary woman who has believed a story that God can do great things through those who will live for Him totally. As such, you don't get the sense she's this super-intellectual giant like Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Calvin, and so on who is also struggling with their intellect, but rather she's the "plain Jane" sold out for God.
   
   After reading this book, I've made St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) my honorary mother as I couldn't be more honored than to be her son in some small way. I have gone on to get her collected works in three volumes, but I must say this is one of the most profound, yet elegantly simple, books I have ever read. In one sense, how can I write a review of this book? What can I say about such a treasure? All I can say is this, if I had to lose all my books and can only have my Bible and maybe ten others - this work would be among the ten.



5. St. Teresa's famous works Interior Castle becomes even better on this CD set read by Susan Denaker. It is almost like listening to Teresa of Avila actually talking to you about the Interior Castle. Denaker does an outstanding job reading this work and I find I learn something new each time I listen to the CDs. It's great to listen to it over and over without having to work at reading it; you can spend you full concentration on what is being said.

5 comments about The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice.

1. I have been reading Hitchens' books quite avidly in the last half of the year, and this book landed in my hands after finishing the superb God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.
   
   I should confess I felt a little dirty as the pages started to turn. Despite my enjoyment of Hitchen's prose, this book left a bit of an aftertaste in my mouth, a disappointment similar to finding out that Santa does not exist.
   
   But as terse and poignant it may read this book is not a bitter ad hominem attack on the person of Mother Theresa. It is rather a criticism on the ways that she, other people and even institutions have benefited from the artificial creation of her over-inflated saintly myth and the political/monetary advantages it procured.
   
   The book sometimes reads a bit dry, but the information, quotations, official letters included made it worth my while. And at 98 pages, it is not too long a while.



2. During her lifetime, Mother Teresa was as close to canonization as it was possible to get without actually being dead. The front cover of Time magazine called her a "Living Saint". A cult of holiness surrounded her and in the eyes of the media and many politicians she could do no wrong. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and awarded numerous honors in the countries she visited.
   
   The facts however didn't match the illusion and public perception and Christopher Hitchens had the courage to say so. He exposes her revolting attitude towards the dying, namely that they were there to die and to suffer; in that way they became closer to Christ. Care, compassion and alievement of pain were practically non-existent in her `clinics'. Standard clinical procedures and medical diagnosis was also spurned because they were materialistic. Provenance was to be preferred at all times. Hitchens also shows deceit was practiced as a matter of course towards those of other religions who were secretly baptized without their knowledge by sisters who were supposed to be caring for them.
   
   Then there is her fawning over politicians, including some of the worst despots of the latter twentieth century. The Duvalier's of Haiti and Hoxha of her native Albania were amongst the most notoriously repressive regimes, yet as Hitchens documents, this living saint was there giving them her blessing. If she could preach her message against abortion and her present advocacy of unlimited population growth at the same time, so much the better. Not so much reducing the suffering in the world as adding to it would appear to be Mother Teresa's legacy.
   
   There is also the little matter of money and as Hitchens points out, there is rather a lot of it, that was handed over in the name of charity or humanitarian support. Very little of this ever went to benefit the poor for whom it was intended. Rather it disappeared into unaudited bank accounts. One account in the Bronx had over $50 million dollars, yet Mother Teresa was on record as saying she wouldn't accept altruism. She was quite happy to accept money from fraudsters such as Charles Keating, but ignored a letter from the man investigating Keating's massive thefts requesting its return. It might also be asked where the money came from which allowed Teresa to fly around the world often at short notice. As far as I know, the world's commercial airlines have never operated a policy of free seats to the religious.
   
   Hitchens' book does not set out to be a hatchet job but he has not surprisingly received a fair amount of criticism for writing it. However there has never been any convincing explanations put forward by Teresa's apologists to any of Hitchen's criticisms, yet there has been much silence since he former living saint was hoisted to a higher plane following beatification in 2003. For those who are determined to see Mother Teresa as the embodiment of religious holiness nothing will convince them of anything untoward. However, if you do have doubts about the abuse of religious power and the ways in which all manner of lies are justified on the back of adherence to religious dogma, this book will provide a most illuminating window into a highly corrupt world.



3. The true story of mother Theresa. The chapter on her buddy Charles Keating is particularly enlightening.



4. Here's [an] example of how Hitchens proceeds. He begins one chapter quoting Mother Teresa on why her congregation has taken a special vow to work for the poor. "This vow," she exclaimed, "means that we cannot work for the rich; neither can we accept money for the work we do. Ours has to be a free service, and to the poor." A few pages later, after citing numerous cash awards that her order has received, Hitchens writes "if she is claiming that the order does not solicit money from the rich and powerful, or accept it from them, this is easily shown to be false."
   
   Hitchens isn't being sloppy here, just dishonest. He knows full well that there is a world of difference between soliciting money from the rich and working for them. Furthermore, he knows full well that Mother Teresa never even implied that she wouldn't accept money from the rich. And precisely whom should she--or anyone else--accept money from, if not the rich? Would it make Hitchens feel better if the middle class were tapped and the rich got off scot free? Would it make any sense to take from the poor and then give it back to them? Who's left?
   
   Hitchens smells politics whenever Mother Teresa supports moral causes he objects to. For example, in 1988, while in London tending to the homeless, Mother Teresa was asked to meet with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. She did. She also met a pro-life legislator. So? For Hitchens, this shows the political side of Mother Teresa. Forget for a moment that Mother Teresa is perhaps the most noted pro-life advocate alive, and that abortion is first and foremost a moral issue. And does anyone doubt that had she met with a politician interested in socialized medicine, Hitchens would be citing her humanity, not her politics?
   
   Mother Teresa has tended to the sick and poor all over the world. She doesn't pick and choose which countries to go to on the basis of internal politics, and this explains why she has visited both right-wing repressive nations like Haiti and left-wing repressive nations like Albania. Hitchens can't stomach this and indicts Mother Teresa for servicing dictatorships. Now if his logic is to be followed here, then most Peace Corps workers and Red Cross personnel are guilty of courting despots. This may make sense to those who write for the Nation, but no one else can be expected to believe it.
   
   In exemplary Catholic fashion, Mother Teresa comes to the poor not out of sentimentality, but out of love. No matter how impoverished and debased the poor are, they are still God's children, all of whom possess human dignity. This is not something Hitchens can accept. An unrelenting secularist, he cannot comprehend how Mother Teresa can console the terminally ill by saying, "You are suffering like Christ on the cross. So Jesus must be kissing you."
   
   Hitchens is so far gone that he cannot make sense of Christ's admonition that "The poor will always be with you." Not surprisingly, Hitchens says "I remember as a child finding this famous crack rather unsatisfactory. Either one eschews luxury and serves the poor or one does not." But he just doesn't get it: Mother Teresa eschews luxury and serves the poor, yet not for a moment does she believe that she is conquering poverty in the meantime. Only someone hopelessly wedded to a materialist vision of the world would think otherwise.
   
   Hitchens also objects to Mother Teresa's asceticism (if she lived the Life of Riley he would condemn her for that). He charges that her operation in Bengal is "a haphazard and cranky institution which would expose itself to litigation and protest were it run by any branch of the medical profession." Hitchens would prefer that the Bengalis force Mother Teresa to follow regulations established by the Department of Health and Human Services before attending to her work. It does not matter to him that Mother Teresa and her loyal sisters have managed to do what his saintly bureaucrats have never done--namely to comfort the ill and indigent.
   
   It is jealously, not ideology, that propels Hitchens to criticize Mother Teresa for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. He wonders "what she had ever done, or even claimed to do, for the cause of peace." (His accent.) This is a strange comment coming as it does from one of those "If You Want Peace, Work For Justice" types. And it apparently never occurred to Hitchens that it is precisely Mother Teresa's humility that disallows her to grandstand before the world trumpeting her own work. A true crusader for the underclass, Mother Teresa is not in the habit of claiming to do anything. She is too busy practicing what others are content to preach.
   
   If receiving the Nobel Peace Prize angered Hitchens, it is safe to say he suffered from apoplexy when he read Mother Teresa's acceptance speech. In it, she took the occasion to say that "Today, abortion is the worst evil, and the greatest enemy of peace." Hitchens labels her speech a "diatribe" that is riddled with "fallacies and distortions," none of which he identifies, preferring instead to say that there "is not much necessity for identifying" them. Not, it should be added, if your goal is a smear campaign.
   
   It is ironic that after hurling one unsubstantiated charge after another that Hitchens ends his little book by saying, "It is past time she [Mother Teresa] was subjected to the rational critique that she has evaded so arrogantly and for so long." It would be more accurate to say that it is one more source of her greatness that Mother Teresa never evades anything, including irrational tracts written by vindictive authors. The arrogance is all his, because in the end, Hitchens hasn't even laid a glove on her.



5. I really didn't need to read this book to figure out that Mother Teresa was just another globalist tool and a propaganda/fundraising cash cow for the Catholic church but Missionary Position does a good job of driving that point home and giving good solid evidence to that fact. To give a few examples, the millions she took from the mega swindler Keating and never returned, her response to the Dupont chemical spill in India instead of seeking justice and calling to make Dupont acountable was telling people to "just forgive" so as not to cause any problems with the globalist corporats. Then of course there were the notoriously deplorable conditions in her hospitals and shelters, totally filthy, where they not only reused needles but their idea of sterilizing them was washing them with cold water! Also people were not given proper pain medication (Mother Teresa had this idea that the more you suffered the closer you were to Christ!) So you had things like this going on but at the same time it was found out in just the bank account for her shelters in the New York area there was $50 million dollars sitting idly. When the city of San Francisco donated a fully furnished shelter to her for a shelter for homeless men who had AIDS she promptly had all the couchs, beds and televisions thrown out insuring that the dying would live as comfortless as possible. All I can say is thankfully this cash cow for the forces of evil in this world is dead!

5 comments about Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on "Romanism" by "Bible Christians".

1. This book, 2 Baptist preachers, a AKJV Bible and Joseph Smith allowed Jesus to bring me out of a Baptist denomination and home to His visible body on earth, His Catholic Church.
   
   You can not deny the truth in this book or the complete 73 Book Bible.



2. This is a clearly written introduction to Roman Catholic apologetics. Keating explains what apologetics is, identifies the top traditional criticisms of Roman Catholicism by Protestants, more specifically fundamentalists, and how to rebut them, and finishes with a very high level "so you think you want to be an apologist" chapter and a chapter recommending other books for further reading if you want to get serious.
   
   I found it a bit dated in his examples and who his focus is on. For example, he spends quite a bit of time on Jimmy Swaggert. Clearly in the 1980's he was prominent, but just as clearly he is irrelevant today. I would like to see an update on who the current cast of characters/ organizations are that sponsor and promote anti-catholicism, but I guess you can get that from Keating's website. In any of the 5 states I have lived I have never experienced the anti-catholic protesting and pamphleteering he writes about as if it is commonplace. Again, maybe I'm just lucky. More often the opportunity for apologetics arises at family and friend informal gatherings when the topic turns to religion. Not with a fundamentalist banging on my front door.
   
   He consistently claims a large percentage of fundamentalist converts are former Catholics but I don't see that where I live. My experience with fundamentalist/bible-church types is not that they have any strong animosity or are stridently anti-catholic but that they are frankly just woefully uneducated on the Christian religion (as are many catholics) beyond what the bible and their particular pastor/priest says. They also tend to be from other Protestant faiths more often than not in my observation. A good bit of this book should help a Catholic educate these folks on the church, and probably educate the Catholic on his own Church as well. I would also recommend The Faith Explained by Leo Trese as an excellent and easily read apologetic.



3. CARL KEATING HAS PROVIDED SOLID ANSWERS WITH HISTORICAL AND SCRIPTURAL BACK-UP TO ATTACKS ON THE CATHOLIC FAITH THAT HAVE BEEN PERPETRATED, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, BY FUNDAMENTAL EVANGELICALS. AS ONE WHO HAS BEEN HAMMERED, UNJUSTLY BY FOLKS OF THIS PERSUASION, I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR HIS, IN DEPTH, INSIGHTS.
   
   I MIGHT ADD THAT, WITH A FEW EDUCATED ANSWERS FROM KEATING'S BOOK, I'VE MANAGED TO "SHUT DOWN" SOME OF THE SAME OLD, TIRED, POINTED COMMENTS FROM ONE OF MY MOST ANTAGONISTIC OPPONENTS.
   
   THANK YOU MR. KEATING FOR YOUR DETAILED, PLAIN LANGUAGE EXPLAINATIONS OF THE FAITH THAT SO MANY OF US HOLD DEAR, AND JUST DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT TO WARD OF THESE EVANGELICAL ATTACKS.
   
   JACK MEYER
   DANVILLE, NH



4. One of the BEST!! So many people have converted to Catholicism because of this book. Many have come to a greater understanding and appreciation of the Catholic faith because this book clears up all the misconceptions people have heard and because it reveals the truth of Catholicism right from the horses mouth. A must read!



5. This book came from heaven! Very instrumental in my conversion. It does a good job of exposing those trying to expose the "Evil Roman Church" as well as explaining Catholic doctrines.
   
   It clears up hisorical misconceptions, including many found in Lorraine Boettner's hate book, Roman Catholicism. This book shows, with legit evidence, that history is always on the side of the Catholic Church.
   
   One point that really hit the nail straight on was how fundamentalists consider doctrines like Eucharist, Confession Purgatory to be "inventions of Rome", yet they don't consider their doctrines such as once saved always saved, sola scriptura, and sola fide to be inventions? (all of those came in the last 500 years).
   
   Overall a good read for Catholic apologists in training as well as Fundamentalists.

5 comments about Inside the Vatican (National Geographic).

1. This is a lovely book. The pictures are beautiful and there were lots of them. But it is not just a picture book- it is full of information about The Vatican that I had never heard before. I didn't know that there were pinball machines and kiddie pools there-- for the families who live and work there. I thought that was an interesting facet of life behind Vatican walls. I especially liked the maps- they gave me a greater sense of how big Vatican City really is. The book certainly captures the granduer and splendor of this wonderful place.



2. Absolutely gorgeous and chock full of fascinating information written from a very personal perspective. Well done.



3. Well, I guess part of the problem is that I expected to see more of the "inside" information and pictures in this book. It is more of a picture book with a few notations and some small feature type articles, but nothing really mind-blowing. I thought there would be more pictures of the "never before seen", but it was not meant to be.
   
   Still, it does have beautiful pictures of the Holy See. Not a total loss, it is very aesthetically pleasing.



4. Having been to the Vatican in person, I know how hard it is to take (good) pictures of all the things there. The Vatican city with its myriad of art collections, museum, and antiquity-filled storerooms has something for everyone who likes art or history.
   This book does a great job of capturing the feeling of the city, and hits every major masterpiece in the place. Unfortunately, there are some masterpieces that could have used more explanation or exploration, in particular, "La Pieta," and "The Last Judgement." This, for me, warranted the loss of a "perfect" score. Both of these works have a fascinating history, and tell volumes about the artist (Michaelangelo) himself.
   If you can't make it to the Vatican yourself, this book is the next best thing.



5. I bought the book because I am interested in Italian Renaissance art. In this aspect it is a little bit disappointing. There should be far more interesting art objects than is covered. It was very nice to read about the history of the Vatican, to get a feeling for every day life in the Vatican. The knowledge in this book is important to better understand the position of art in relation to the ruling popes during the Renaissance.
   I very much liked the photo's. They show the real craftmanship of James Stanfield. The three star rating is because the description seems to promise more about the Renaissance art than is given.

1 comments about Saint Paul: Called to Conversion: A Seven-Day Retreat.

1. With this retreat on the letters of Paul, Ronald Witherup hopes to help readers discover "a wonderful roadmap for a rich spiritual journey." He introduces Paul as the most prominent personality of the New Testament, apart from Jesus himself, and reminds us that Paul is responsible for 13 of the 27 New Testament books. The author, a professor of sacred Scripture, encourages us to look beyond commonly expressed obstacles to reading Paul's letters--too philosophical, too abstract, too harsh--to see the Paul who wrote for real people with real problems and questions. "He could be bold and demanding but he could also be gentle and supportive," Witherup writes. "He can be forceful, yes, but he can also be tender and compassionate. He can be obscure and almost incomprehensive at times, but he can also be direct and quite clear about what being a Christian is all about." Conversion is the theme of this retreat. Paul's letters are the primary source of reflection, and Witherup presents them in ways that "speak directly to you in your life today."
   
   Each session opens with an introduction--perhaps a psalm, an excerpt from a book or play, or a personal story--that brings the chosen topic into focus. Next is an original opening prayer followed by examination of Scripture passages related to the topic. The sessions close with reflection activities, prayer, and notes on sources. Witherup combines these elements to best advantage, producing a coherent whole. For example, the session on praying without ceasing begins with a short quote on prayer by William Shakespeare. The body of the session features eight points that summarize Paul's understanding of prayer based on his letters. Reflection activities include two readings from Paul's letters and an invitation to consider asking others to pray for us.
   
   This resource is an ideal retreat for individuals or groups, easily adaptable for bible study and faith formation programs.