January 2025 Book Reports

Some homeschooling moms proposed a bingo card reading challenge for the year. We all picked some categories and made a card. I was inspired and started reading a lot more!

My God and My All: The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi by Elizabeth Goudge - This was my book club book for the previous month, but our group pushed the date back because of Christmas, so I finished it in January. The beginning seemed slow to me, but it was a comforting read. Goudge writes beautifully of the landscape of Italy, especially around Assisi. I was disconcerted by her style, though. The book is historical fiction, as she imagines St. Francis's life unfolded, but she wrote it like a biography, so I was constantly thinking to myself, "She's just making all this up!" It would have been easier for me if it had been more obviously fictionalized. (purchased copy)

The Little Juggler by Barbara Cooney - We've had this book for many years, and I read it to the children when they were younger. When I realized they didn't remember it, I read it aloud to my teens this Christmas season. This delightful French tale retold and illustrated by Barbara Cooney is out of print, and vastly more expensive than when I picked up a used copy solely because I love anything Cooney and (for a time) bought anything with her name on it. In the tale, Barnaby (also the name of one of Cooney's sons) is a young orphan who knows only one thing, performing acrobatics and juggling, which he does to earn a few coins. In the winter-time, no one wants to watch a juggler, so he is cold and hungry, but a kind monk invites him to the a monastery, where he receives shelter. In imitation of the monks, and in gratitude for the love of God, he performs before a status of Mary and the Christ child as his Christmas gift. God wants nothing more from us than that we return his gifts out of Love. You can more easily find other versions of this tale, like The Clown of God by Tomie de Paola, but Cooney's will always be my favorite. (purchased used)

The Blackbird and Other Stories by Sally Thomas - link to my post (purchased copy)

You Carried Me: A Daughter's Memoir by Melissa Ohden - Melissa is an abortion survivor. She tells her story of self-destruction, redemption, forgiveness, and hope with great compassion for her mother and all who seek an abortion. (free e-book for Plough subscribers)

The Pearl by John Steinbeck - I read this with my book club. I do not like Steinbeck's books. He writes beautifully, but his characters suffer terribly, both of which are as true of this book as of the others I've read. I dreaded reading this book because I remembered enough of it to know it was tragic. Kino is assaulted on all sides after he finds The Pearl, and his life is destroyed through little fault of his own. I don't think there's a way to read this story and find a way to live or a way to make the world better or the truth of our redemption. (purchased copy)

The Basic Book of Catholic Prayer: How to Pray and Why by Lawrence G. Lovasik - This book gives many examples of the results of productive prayer and examples of actions you can take to begin praying or move more deeply into prayer. I still like The Hidden Power of Kindness better, but this would be a good option for someone interested specifically in prayer. (purchased used)

Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup - My daughter has followed the author of this book for a while. I borrowed this book from her to fulfill a Bingo card category for a reading challenge I'm doing with some homeschool moms, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's funny, sweet, and has happy endings for all the good guys and unhappy endings for the worst of the bad guys. It's a good thing I read it when we were still slowing transitioning out of winter break, because I finally just gave up on all the things I should do and read until I finished the book. (borrowed from my daughter, who pre-ordered it)

Just Don't Fall: A Hilariously True Story of Childhood, Cancer, Amputation, Romantic Yearning, Truth, and Olympic Greatness by Josh Sundquist - The author shares his story with humor and heartfelt thankfulness. I can understand why he made a young reader's edition; there were a few parts with references and language I wouldn't want to share with younger kids, but the story itself is wonderful. The author seems like a down-to-earth, hard-working, fun guy. (You've probably seen his Halloween costumes, even if you don't know who he is.) He endured a year of chem after the amputation of his leg, cancer scares later, and then his mom had chemo for her own cancer. His family is amazing. His faith stays strong, and he is brave enough to seek therapy and treatment when he needs it. Making an Olympic or Paralympic team takes enormous amounts of perseverance, practice, and money, and is worth celebrating, even when an athlete doesn't earn a medal. One of my favorite parts is in the acknowledgments, "I wish to acknowledge my many Winter Park and Paralympic teammates and coaches, all of whom I will never forget, and all of whom will be justified in their inevitable doubts as to whether my short and lackluster skiing career deserves to be recorded in a book."  (PaperBackSwap.com)

33 Days to Merciful Love: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Divine Mercy Consecration by Michael Gaitley - I read this on the recommendation of a friend. Hopefully I can put some of it into practice. (gift copy from my friend)

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie - Some of the local homeschool moms came up with a reading challenge bingo game for the year. One of the categories was a classic detective book and this one was recommended. I didn't remember reading it, but had a solid guess for the murderer within a few chapters...which means I did read it before, probably in high school, because I am terrible at guessing the murderer. It was fun to read, though, especially when I was sick and wanted something to distract me without being too heavy. (library copy)

The Father's Tale by Michael D. O'Brien - This enormous (and relatively expensive book) was a book club selection. It was far longer than it should have been. Some paragraphs impressed me, but the writing was not as excellent as one would hope given it's enormous length. In the book, a rather distant father, with sons who seemed shockingly uncaring, abandons his safe life to follow his younger son, fearing he has been caught up in a cult. He travels through Europe and into Russia on his trail. When he's finally about to give up and go home, he's attacked and ends up stuck in Russia after his long recovery. Then he gets stupidly sucked up into international intrigue. Before he makes it home, he experiences a profound closeness with the crucified Lord and learns God may have used him to save oblivious Western countries from Russian military forces, somehow. I was so anxious early on for his son I almost couldn't keep reading, so be assured his son is alright. I'm not entirely sure I recommend this book. There are those moments of insight and brightness...but it's so very very long. (purchased copy)

The Gods of Winter by Dana Gioia - I like to think of myself as the kind of person who reads poetry, but I rarely pick up a book of poems collected, prepared, and published by a single poet. It's a different experience than an anthology, and probably one I don't understand as well as I could. Dana Gioia is a prominent American Catholic poet, so this book seemed a good one to try. I liked some of the poems more than others, but they all made me think. (purchased used)

Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley - This is a re-read of a book I adored as a girl, and it did not disappoint. It's a lovely retelling! (borrowed First Daughter's copy)

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene - I picked up this book because I suspected it was one I remember from my teens that I haven't been able to identify. It wasn't, and there are some hard parts of the book. Patty is abused and neglected by her parents. She finds solace in the friendship and kindness of an escaped Nazi soldier. (library copy)

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde - A re-read, and a delightful one. (discovered in a Little Free Library)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliates links.

Faith in a Time of War: No Bullet Got Me Yet

No Bullet Got Me Yet: The Relentless Faith of Father Kapaun 

by John Stansifer

Servant of God Emil Kapaun is from our diocese, so I basically buy every book published about him. Stansifer's book is well-researched and delves deeply into Father Kapaun's time in Korea.

Father Kapaun was a farm boy in Kansas who enlisted as a chaplain. He served in World War II and in Korea, where he was captured while heroically staying behind with wounded men and later died in a prisoner of war camp. After the war, soldiers who knew him and those who only heard about him, told stories of a man of courage and compassion that (we believe) prove he's a saint.

Stansifer interviewed many veterans, but he also had access to some amazing primary sources with stories of Father Kapaun I'd never heard, and I try to read everything about him. 

I had a few quibbles with the text. I was disappointed the author used the term "native" to refer to the people of some Asian countries where Father Kapaun was stationed. These weren't quotes from letters or documents of the time, but author's words. It felt disrespectful to me. I also felt like sometimes it was difficult to tell if the author was quoting someone else. Sometimes there were quotation marks. Sometimes the text was indented. Sometimes an entire section seemed to be from an interview or a letter, but there weren't any quotations or indentations, so I wasn't sure. He also mentions at one point that a pope invokes papal infallibility at a canonization Mass, which is not official church teaching. (I'm married to a theologian, so I can't let that go.)

Despite my pickiness, this is an excellent book for the adults in your life. I ultimately decided my upcoming eighth grader (Level 4) would read A Shepherd in Combat Boots, which is sadly out of print. Both are good, but A Shepherd in Combat Boots is a little less graphic in its descriptions of war and the prison camp, so I thought it a better fit for a middle school student.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

Conversion of the Heart and Mind: Apologia Pro Vita Sua

Apologia Pro Vita Sua 

by St. John Henry Cardinal Newman

This book is recommended for Level 6 Year 2 in the Mater Amabilis high school religion plans (twelfth grade). It's one of the three books currently in the lesson plans of readings by modern saints. St. John Henry Newman is one of our family's patron saints, so I was excited to read this book.

St. John Henry Newman threw the English religious world into turmoil when he, a revered intellectual and leader in the Anglican church, converted to Roman Catholicism, a faith viewed with particular patriotic contempt. In the years after his conversion, Newman struggled through the loss of many friends and skepticism from many in his new faith. 

Finally, in response to a personal attack on his integrity and that of his new faith, Newman decided a thorough response was necessary, one which meant sharing the development of his faith from childhood through his rise in the Anglican church and his eventual conversion. He gathered as many of his personal letters and writings as he could and published it all in an astoundingly short amount of time. The result, through a couple of revisions, is Apologia Pro Vita Sua. The edition I read is that edited by Ian Ker, which contains much of the original content, such as the pamphlet from his most prominent accuser which prompted the book.

Newman spent years reading and praying, on the brink of converting but hesitating. His Apologia offers some explanation for his reticence.

I could not continue in this state, either in the light of duty or of reason. My difficulty was this: I had been deceived greatly once; how could I be sure that I was not deceived a second time? I thought myself right then; how was I to be certain that I was right now? ... To be certain is to know that one knows; what inward test had I, that I should not change again, after that I had become a Catholic? (p. 206)

So, like the rest of us, he decided to write a book (Essay on Doctrinal Development) and, if he felt the same way when he was done, he'd become a Catholic. 

And I hold this still: I am a Catholic by virtue of my believing in a God; and if I am asked why I believe in a God, I answer that it is because I believe in myself, for I feel it impossible to believe in my own existence (and of that fact I am quite sure) without believing also in the existence of Him, who lives as a Personal, All-seeing, All-judging Being in my conscience. (p. 182)

Newman's early years as a Catholic were difficult ones. Many of his friends and family abandoned him. Many Catholics were wary of him. His first endeavors as a Catholic ended in failure or mediocrity, but he never looked back and trusted always in the Lord who had been leading him all along.

I read the book and the appendices. I assigned the book itself to my oldest when he was a senior. He struggled at times with all the different groups of people, because Newman writes to an audience who knew all the people and all the controversies. I think there might be benefit in reading the papers and essays going back and forth in order, so you would read what others wrote and then how Newman responded, but it's hard to always sort that out in the book. (If you've read Charlotte Mason's books, you'll find the same sort of essay writing here; where the author is obviously responding to something or someone specific, but modern readers are a bit in the dark.) The Introduction of this edition of the Apologia also has some background, but I hadn't thought to assign it to my son; that might be a good idea. It's really only a problem when Newman is describing the activities of the Tractarians and the responses to his conversion. When Newman is writing about himself and his own thoughts, the book is clear.

When my son was reading it, we paused reading a few chapters in to read Joyce Sugg's John Henry Newman: Snapdragon in the Wall, which was helpful in providing Newman's basic background and some context for the Apologia. I plan to assign Sugg's book to my future kids, but it could also be a good family read-aloud.

If your high school student struggles a little with dense texts, you could assign Sugg's book and some excerpts of the Apologia. That would still provide an excellent foundation for learning about Newman's life.

A friend of mine especially loves reading St. John Henry Newman because he wrote in English. For those of us used to reading the words of saints through a translation, it's a great blessing to read such rich and beautiful prose in our own language. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, even if it was sometimes a challenge.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

Be the Good: Therese

Therese
by Dorothy Day

I read this with my book club and did purchase the Well-Read Mom edition from Ave Maria Press. The design of this book is beautiful - lovely cover, good margins, nice quality paper. I do think it's odd that it seems to be only available through Ave Maria Press's website. I stopped by a local Catholic bookstore to find a different book in the Well-Read Mom edition and was told they were not allowed to carry it in stores, even though they wanted it and had people asking for it. It would be so nice to be able to buy all the book club books from a local brick-and-mortar store. I've linked the one from the same publisher which you can find online, which seems to have everything except the Well-Read Mom portions.

Surprisingly, my favorite parts of this book were the forward and the afterward. In these, Robert Ellsberg (in the foreword) and John Cavadini (in the Afterword), draw a direct connection between Dorothy Day's advocacy for peace and St. Therese's little way. 

From Therese, Day learned that each sacrifice endured in love, each work of mercy, might increase the balance of love in the world. She extended this principle to the social sphere. Each protest or witness for peace--though apparently foolish and ineffective, no more than a pebble in a pond--might send forth ripples that could transform the world. (p. ix)

Dorothy Day wrote that St. Therese's shower of roses, her spiritual force, and presumably the works offered by all those who try to follow her little way, rise up against the fears and horrors of the twentieth century.

We know that one impulse of grace is of infinitely more power than a cobalt bomb. Therese has said, "All is grace." (p. 192)

John Cavadini continues in a similar way. He says these blessings challenge the lie that Love will fail.

If I had encountered this idea before, that St. Therese's Little Way was more than just a way for us to grow in virtue, that it could combat the evil of the world one little good deed at a time, I had forgotten it. As a homeschooling mother who does little more than one little good deed at a time, this is an important lesson.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

April 2022 Book Reports

Katharine Drexel: Friend of the Oppressed by Ellen Tarry - I read an older version of this book from Ignatius Press's Vision Saints series with the subtitle Friend of the Neglected. The books in this series are written at a good level for 4th-8th grades. I pre-read it before assigning it to my seventh grader last year as part of her American history studies. The book describes the life and calling of St. Katharine Drexel, who gave her life and her great wealth to teach and care for Native Americans and African Americans at a time when many others discriminated against them. She is one of my favorite saints. I liked this book, even though I think if it was written today some of the language used would be different. (purchased used)

Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery - This was my very favorite book in the Anne series when I was a teenager. In the past few years, I've read the entire series again, looking forward to this one. It did not disappoint. A few of the incidents poor Rilla endures in the book seem to depict her less highly as a woman than I would like, now that I'm a mother myself, but the strength and courage of the people who suffered at home during World War I is inspirational. It would be an excellent choice for a sensitive young reader not ready yet for a more graphic book about the war itself. (purchased audiobook)

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry - link to my post (received as a gift)

Beowulf: A New Translation by Seamus Heaney - link to my post (purchased new)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

Forming Our Will and Calming Our Fears: Wisdom from the Lives and Letters of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal

Wisdom from the Lives and Letters of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal

edited by Louise Perrotta

This small book contains excerpts from letters from the two saints, some to each other, but also from each of them to other people.

The excerpts are collected in chapters according to general themes. Some example chapter headings are:

• Friends on the Road to Holiness
• Bloom Where You're Planted
• Total Trust
• When God Seems Far Away
• So You're Not Perfect

Because many of the letters are written to those outside a convent or monastery, there is inspiration for anyone.

Suppose you have a little pain in your head or stomach, or you've made a great blunder, or you've been upset...But when you offer it to him, don't look on your trouble so much that you magnify it and confirm that you have good reason to complain. (p. 33)

It's good to be reminded that we are called to follow God's will in the life we are given, not that which we imagine we should have.

We are not to desire the means of serving God which we do not have. Instead we are to use faithfully those which we have... (p. 42)

As a homeschooling mom, I'm constantly spreading a feast of stories of great men and women before my kids, which is important and necessary, but sometimes it's hard to remember that those stories are not reflective of the vast majority of people. Most of us live quiet lives, building relationships with the people in our families and our communities.

There were also many letters that encouraged peace of mind. Those of us living "quiet" lives still face tasks and to-do lists that can feel overwhelming.

Focus on what is in front of you and not on those far-off dangers you see....To you they look like armies, but they are only willow branches, and while you are looking at them you may take a false step. (p. 106)

I loved the image of willow branches rather than armies. How often the things we fear don't happen at all!

When tomorrow arrives, it will in turn become today and we can think about it then. (p. 106) 

If you're looking for something to pick up and read a few pages at a time, perhaps at adoration, this book would work well. 

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links. I purchased this book.

Truth for a Modern World: Lights in a Dark Town

Lights in a Dark Town: A Story about John Henry Newman
by Meriol Trevor

This is a delightful novel of mid-1800s Birmingham, England, where Emmeline and her mother become friends with Father John Henry Newman. Through conversations and experiences shared with Father, Emmeline and her friends encounter the theological arguments and actions Newman recognized as the response to the modern world.

"The present critics of Christianity are not stupid, and what clever men argue today, ordinary men accept the day after. Especially as people increasingly judge everything by what they think is scientific reasoning. They look at the world and find no evidence for a loving Creator. Indeed, they have some justification, for the world as we see it can be interpreted in various ways."

"But doesn't that mean the atheists are right?" Emmeline said, puzzled. 

Father Newman smiled. "No, why should it? Christianity is not a deduction from the world we see. It's a history--almost a drama--about a person. We accept, we obey Him. And we find He is true." (pp. 225-226)

He concludes: 

"There are many other important things to do and say, but this seems to me the most fundamental, for in the end it is the idea people have of the world and their place in it which affects everything they do." (p. 226)

Second Daughter (Level 3 Year 2, seventh grade) read this book near the end of her world history for the year. I think it's written at a level good for a fifth to eighth grade student to read independently, but it would be appropriate for all ages as a read-aloud. I love St. John Henry Newman and am very pleased I had a reason to buy this book for our home library.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book new. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

Oxford at the time of Newman: John Henry Newman: Snapdragon in the Wall

John Henry Newman: Snapdragon in the Wall

by Joyce Sugg

First Son was reading Apologia Pro Vita Sua by St. John Henry Cardinal Newman in his senior year religion reading, and he was struggling a bit. It's challenging reading, but I noticed he was mostly hampered by a lack of context. I happened to be considering how to handle the readings when Kansas Dad and I had an evening out, which included a visit to a local bookstore. While perusing the shelves, I found this little biography of St. John Henry Newman and impulsively bought it.

This is not a scholarly biography, but the author had previously published two books about him, including an anthology of his letters. It reads almost like a story but is full of quotes from his published works and letters. It's far less challenging than reading the Apologia, but it is probably best suited for adults, high school students, or interested middle school students.

The title comes from a flower which grew outside Newman's rooms when he was a student at Oxford. The poem he wrote, Snapdragon, is printed at the end of the book.

In one of my favorite scenes, she describes how Newman created a little oratory in his rooms at Oxford after he became a fellow.

He hung up a picture of all the saints praying in Heaven. He would go into the oratory, straight from all the work and turmoil of his life, and his heart would lift at the sight of that perpetual adoration. 'Why! There you all are - still at it!' he would say, smiling, and then settle to his own prayer. (p. 69)

I cannot say whether this is the best biography of St. John Henry Newman. I enjoyed it very much, and it served its purpose. First Son took a break from the Apologia and read this book, three or four chapters a week. When he returned to the Apologia, he had a much better understanding of the events of Newman's life and the general religious context of England at that time. I intend to schedule it first for my three other children.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

April and May 2021 Book Reports

The Sacraments: Discovering the Treasures of Divine Life by Fr. Matthew Kauth - link to my post (purchased copy)

Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna by Joseph Lemosolai Lekuton - link to my post (library copy)

The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare edition) - I wanted a short fun Shakespeare play for First Daughter's third term in eighth grade, when she was hoping to audition for our local Shakespeare in the Park company. This play fit the bill. It's silly and ridiculous, often making me laugh out loud. Two sets of twins, each identical pair sharing a name, meet as adults. Despite the travelers (one of each set of twins) being on their journey for the purpose of searching for the other pair, it never occurs to them the local townspeople might be confusing them with the twins who live in the town. Almost complete nonsense from beginning to end, but fun nonsense. It's optional for First Daughter, as she read two plays and Doctor Faustus already this year, but she loves Shakespeare so she might make time for it. I'll probably assign it to Second Daughter in the next couple of years. She loves Shakespeare, too, but reads quite a bit more slowly, so shorter plays for the middle school years are good options for her. (purchased copy)

Little Leap Forward: A Boy in Beijing by Guo Yue and Clare Farrow - link to my post (library copy)

The Reckless Way of Love: Notes on Following Jesus by Dorothy Day, edited by Carolyn Kurtz - link to my post (requested from  PaperBackSwap)

Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas - link to my post (library copy)

My Heart Lies South: The Story of My Mexican Heritage (Young People's Edition) by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño - link to my post (purchased copy)

The Ghost Keeper by Natalie Morrill - link to my post (purchased copy)

Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear - link to my post (purchased copy)

The Saint Makers: Inside the Catholic Church and How a War Hero Inspired a Journey of Faith by Joe Drape - This book reveals a bit of the process of completing the research, interviews, and paperwork for telling the story of a person's life in order to prove to the Vatican offices and the Pope that a person deserves to be called a blessed or a saint. Mr. Drape followed that process for Servant of God Emil Kapaun, a military chaplain from rural Kansas and our own home diocese. I am interested in anything about Servant of God Emil Kapaun, but I found the book a bit difficult to read. The author, despite being raised Catholic, began the exploration with a rather limited understanding of the faith and the process, which is fine, but he didn't seem to understand his faith any better by the end of the book, continuing to make statements that were out of step with the catechism and liturgy. After all his investigations, interviews, and reading, he came to believe very strongly that Emil Kapaun deserves to be a blessed (and also a saint), but I did not believe his own faith in God or the trustworthiness of the Church was any stronger for the example. (borrowed copy)

A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat - link to my post (library copy)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post or any linked post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

Martyrs in England: God's Secret Agents

God's Secret Agents: Queen Elizabeth's Forbidden Priests and the Hatching of the Gunpowder Plot 
by Alice Hogge

This book was recommended multiple times by a friend of mine (Sally Thomas) so I was thrilled when I was offered a copy on PaperBackSwap.com (not an affiliate link). 

How could you tell apart the man who behaved like a secret agent and was a secret agent, from the man who behaved like a secret agent, but was a man of God (even if you, yourself, had forced that mode of behaviour upon him by your laws)? (p. 296)

The answer, according to God's Secret Agents, is not very well. 

This book thoroughly explores the context and conditions of the Catholic priests of the English Reformation. The extensive research reveals thoughts and declared intentions of Catholics in England, government officials, Queen Elizabeth, and the priests caught between them all. It's an invaluable book for anyone interested in the Catholic Reformation, and an excellent background for books like Edmund Campion by Evelyn Waugh. The Gunpowder Plot is actually only a small part of the book, though as an American Catholic, I found those chapters as enlightening as the rest.

One of the interesting things I have noticed about English history and literature is how often being Catholic is just unacceptable to proper Englishmen. For example, Winston Churchill's History of the English-Speaking Peoples seems to frown worriedly at any Catholic he mentions. According to Ms. Hogge, it began centuries ago, as a Catholic invasion from Spain was thwarted on their very shores.

What remained unclear, though, was how many of their countrymen would still be prepared to welcome them in, now that Catholicism had been linked so strongly with un-Englishness in the public consciousness. For if to be Catholic was to be an unnatural Englishman, then to draw attention to that unnaturalness in the weeks and months following the Spanish Armada was tantamount to signing your own death warrant. (p. 98)

Late in the book, she argues such bias continues today. She recounts how newspapers published a flurry of worrying articles when the Prime Minister was spotted in a Catholic cathedral in 1998.

It was as though the voices of long dead Tudor, Stuart and Hanoverian MPs, churchmen, and pamphleteers had suddenly crackled into life again and centuries on were venting their old bias. (p. 391) 

The author did a magnificent job presenting all sides of the issues arising in the course of the book. The martyrs are heroic in their service to their countrymen, the politicians are often simply trying to make peace and smooth things over, and the pope doesn't always ease the situation.

Pope Pius V, responsible for excommunicating Elizabeth in 1570, and releasing her subjects from their allegiance to her. This act, more than any other single event, defined the English Catholic dilemma of divided loyalty. (second photo insert)

It was a time when men and women of much and little learning were working out their salvation amidst uncertainty, mortal and immortal, with wise and trusted individuals often disagreeing about not just the proper response to questions, but the relative importance of the questions themselves. It is a reminder not just of the danger of easily vilifying (or idealizing) people of the past, but of the present as well.

St. Nicholas Owen was one of the most fascinating people in the book. A brilliant carpenter and devoted Catholic, he designed and crafted priest holes all over England. Eventually, he was captured and martyred under torture, apparently without divulging any of his secrets.

In life he had saved them, in death he would too: not a single name escaped him. (p. 365)

I love his example of humble craftsmanship in service to God, and he's now one of my new favorite saints. (Coincidentally, an artist recently recommended in the Mater Amabilis Facebook group, offers a lovely icon of him with St. Joseph.)

There are graphic depictions of torture and gruesome deaths, not for the faith of heart, though many of these public executions led to conversions of heart also described in the book.

I do wish there had been some sort of a list of people in the back of the book to reference. Many men appear and reappear in the pages, sometimes with different names (those English have a distressing habit of becoming Lords or something and getting a new name). If I had known how very many there were, I would have made my own list as I read.

I wouldn't assign this book to a high school student, but only because it's rather long. You would have to dedicate a substantial amount of time to the English Reformation to justify it. I will definitely include it on a list of recommended reading for an interested student.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I received this book from PaperBackSwap.com (not an affiliate link). Links to Bookshop are affiliate links.

A Level 4 Biography: Edith Stein

Edith Stein: Woman of Prayer

by Joanne Mosley

As my daughter entered eighth grade, Level 4, I wanted to offer her some female twentieth century saints. First Son read about Pope St. John Paul II, Servant of God Emil Kapaun, and Bl. Stanley Rother. All of these are excellent options, but this is what we do, right, always looking for the next best thing. I found a wonderful option for St. Teresa of Kolkata, but I also wanted an option for St. Edith Stein because I think First Daughter would appreciate her intelligence. Many of the books on St. Edith Stein, though, examine her philosophy in a way that's inaccessible to a young teenager. This is one that is on the list on the Mater Amabilis Level 4 page so I bought a used copy and read it myself. 

It certainly includes a brief look at the philosophy of St. Edith Stein, and some of that might go over my daughter's head, but overall this is a lovely little introduction to a saint who offered herself up for her people. Part I (Ideals in Edith's Life) describes her biographical details from early life to her death. Part II (Ideal Figures in Edith's Prayer) explores St. Edith Stein's relationships to Jesus, Mary, Queen Esther, and the saints of Carmel.

Early in the book I found an anecdote that reminded me of First Daughter. Canon Schwind helped guide Edith early in her faith. She would visit him every Sunday to question him and learn.

His housekeeper and niece describes how, after one such meeting, he fell into a chair in the kitchen, writing his hands and declaring: 'Oh, this philosopher! She can ask more questions than ten learned theologians could answer.'

The book shares much of Edith's thoughts through her writing. For example, when talking about Love of the Cross:

In this essay, the words, 'joy' and 'joyous', occur almost as often as 'Cross'. How can this be? It was so because, as Edith knew, 'love of the Cross' was not love of a torture, love of a piece of wood, but love of the Person who was on the Cross. Suffering was the very place, therefore, where Edith could always find him, come closest to him, and help him to save the world.

The focus of Level 4 history on the twentieth century is a delicate balance: the horrific tragedies of the century are studied, but with enough grace and light to avoid depressing a young mind and soul. St. Edith Stein offers great insight into her time and ours. She counseled a young student in Echt.

One day, Anthony told Edith he was so concerned about world events that he could hardly concentrate on his work. Edith was adamant: he should get on with his thesis and be grateful he had the chance....it seems she was telling him something else, a message embedded in Carmelite values: to do God's will at the present moment, to carry out our daily tasks as well as we possibly can -- to walk the 'Little Way', instead of musing on 'great' actions to which we have not been called. 

Part II focuses more on Edith Stein's writings and spirituality. I loved these chapters that shared her understanding of the saints of Carmel, but I have decided to tell my daughter they are optional. They may be more meaningful for a more mature reader.

I don't know much about St. Edith Stein, so I can't comment much on whether the author has correctly represented the saint, her thoughts, and her philosophy, but the book seems to be well researched. There are quotes from letters and interviews, many in German, that give a sense of intimate friendship with the saint.

There's a similar book by the same author (Edith Stein: Modern Saint and Martyr) that might actually be a slightly updated or annotated version of this one. The description and number of pages are basically the same.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book used. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

Pondering the Marvels of Creation: Great Catholic Scientists

Great Catholic Scientists: Discoveries and Lives of Faith

Dr. Guy Consolmagno, SJ and Dr. Michelle Francl-Donnay

This is a wonderful little audiobook, almost like a collection of podcasts. Dr. Consolmagno and Dr. Francl-Donnay chat together about science and religion through the stories of Catholic scientists from all over the world and throughout history. They are collected in twelve chapters of 20-25 minutes each, focused on areas like medicine or mathematics, but freely wandering in the discussions.

Some of the featured scientists are saints. Some are famous. All of them are examples of real people doing science - showing up at work and persevering through mundane day-to-day activities.

Dr. Consolmango and Dr. Francl-Donnay talk often of the characteristics that make a good Catholic scientist (spoiler alert - they are the same ones that make a good scientist), but they also talk about some of the characteristics of a Catholic that provide a foundation of education, learning, and curiosity which allows a scientist to explore God's creation with joy. There are instances where their faith allowed a scientist to ask questions and be comfortable in areas of uncertainty.

I have assigned these lectures to my daughter, currently in eighth grade, at the beginning of her year, as a kind of introduction to science and how to think like a scientist. It's a lovely sweep through the history of science that touches on a wide variety of areas. So many secular books on science begin with an assumption that a person of faith cannot also be a person of science, an erroneous but pervasive assumption. This audiobook provides one more layer of protection for a student who can then more easily discard mistaken ideas like that as he or she is reading.

My daughter is listening to them straight through, but I think any individual lecture could be enjoyed without listening to all of them, and there's no real reason they must be in this particular order. Though I think the authors tried to follow a chronological order, there is a lot of overlap on the lectures. I've made a little list below in case someone wants to choose just one or two or wants to schedule them within a particular study.

Chapter 1 (4 min intro) and Chapter 2: What Makes a Scientist Catholic?
(Hildegard of Bingen, Georges Lemaître)
This is probably the lecture that most directly addresses the apparent disconnect between faith and reason. Instead, it suggests our faith leads directly to exploring the world and the universe, God's creation. Science as a discipline only makes sense if the universe is not random. Dr. Consolmango and Dr. Francl-Donnay find great joy and delight in their scientific studies.

Chapter 3: Overthrowing Aristotle
(Hildegard of Bingen, Albert the Great, José de Acosta, Athanasius Kircher)
In this chapter, they explain how changes in the world (stability, improvements in communications, large enough populations so some people can study just for the sake of knowledge, etc.) led to the sudden growth of "science." Catholic monasteries and universities were an integral part of this culture.

Chapter 4: Into the Depths of the Atom
(Henri Becquerel, George de Hevesy, Roger Boscovich, Amedeo Avogadro)
As Catholics, we already believe in the unseen and do not fear the mysterious. We also have faith that our experiences tell us something meaningful about the world. This chapter talks about mysteries, and how the most interesting answers and discoveries are the ones that lead to more questions.

Chapter 5: What Is Life?
(René Haüy, Louis Pasteur, Gregor Mendel, Marthe Gautier and Jérôme Lejeune)
This chapter begins with a discussion about a philosophical (and scientific) definition of life. It touches on the humanness of scientists. They have the same trials, controversies, and need to make a living as anyone else.

Chapter 6: Materia Medica
(Hildegard of Bingen, Georg Joseph Kamel, Pierre Joseph Pelletier, John Clark Sheehan, René Laennec, Ethelbert Blatter)
In this chapter, they discuss how a fallen world leads to illness but that God's creation and his gift to us of reason allow us to discover and develop methods of healing. Over the centuries, the Jesuits in particular have had the opportunities to explore the world, learning from other cultures, and regular communications with others to share that knowledge.

Chapter 7: Merciful Science
(Laudato Si', Mary Poonen Lukose, Bernardo Alberto Houssay, Carl Ferdinand Cori and Gerty Theresa Cori)
Pope St. John Paul II said that science and theology work together, like two wings that lift us to the contemplation of truth. We have obligations beyond just doing the science, always asking ourselves "What are the implications for the most vulnerable?"

Chapter 8: God’s Language
(Maria Gaetana Agnesi, Baron Augustin-Louis Cauchy, Pope Sylvester II)
This chapter focuses on mathematics and the question "how do you describe the world using mathematical equations?" For some, math is a kind of prayer, a focus on truth as the greatest earthly joy. “Mathematics forces you to confront the infinite.”

Chapter 9: Explorers of a New Space
(Sisters of the Holy Child Mary: Sisters Emilia Ponzoni, Regina Colombo, Concetta Finardi and Luigia Panceri; Mary Kenneth Keller, Mary Celine Fasenmyer, Francesco Faà di Bruno, Roberto Busa)
This chapter describes how an ambitious project to create a catalog of every known star begun in 1887 required the creation of new strategies and ways of thinking that, over time, evolved into digital humanities. Religious life and the support of the Church allow space and freedom for work to be done that doesn't fall into a three year grant cycle.

Chapter 10: Taking the Temperature of the World
(Jean Leurechon, Nicolas Steno, André-Marie Ampère, Alessandro Volta)
Communicating about science and what you've learned about the world depends on a system of measurement that is consistent from place to place and person to person. This chapter shares about some Catholics who devised reliable methods of quantification, thereby making more scientific discoveries possible.

Chapter 11: Not Where but What
(Angelo Secchi, James Macelwane, Eduard Heis, Agnes Mary Clerke)
This chapter looks at scientists who look beyond the earth's atmosphere or deep into the earth, beyond what we can measure directly. Many scientists never become famous, working in hidden lives at building a foundation of slow painstaking work for greater understanding. “Wherever your niche is, there’s something for you to do.”

Chapter 12: Our Place in the Universe
(Maximilian Hell, Johann Georg Hagen, Georges Lemaître)
This chapter shares the stories of three notable priest astronomers that gave us a sense of where we are in the universe: the scale of the solar system, the position of stars, the motions beneath our feet, and the origin of the universe itself.

Chapter 13: There is always more to know
(Marie Lavoisier, Blaise Pascal, René Descartes)
This final chapter summarizes many of the themes regarding faith and science that surface, submerge, and resurface in earlier chapters. Faith and science are not big books of facts that might agree or disagree with each other. Faith and science both allow us to "grapple with mysteries, the mysteries of how and why we came to be." It includes a litany of all the men and women of God (and science) included in the audiobook.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this audiobook from Audible. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

An Introduction to Religious Life for Children: Of Bells and Cells

Of Bells and Cells: The World of Monks, Friars, Sisters and Nuns

by M. Cristina Borges

This little book beautifully describes religious orders for young children. It begins with a discussion of vocations in general and the call for everyone to be a saint, a theme that recurs throughout the book. Then it describes the specific call to be a religious and the process of entering and professing at a monastery or convent.

But all the outward actions are really only aids to the important work that the religious does inwardly, inside the soul--the long process, which lasts a liftetime, of "dying to self," that is, of not paying so much attention to ourselves, so as to growing the love of God and of neighbor.

The reader learns words like postulant, novitiate, horarium, and habit, as well as Latin phrases like alter Christus. Quotes from Scripture and encyclicals appear throughout.

A double page spread shows men and women religious in full habits with explanations of the clothing. It includes many of the orders a young Catholic will find in readings of saints and history: Benedictine, Franciscan, Dominican, and Carmelite, so they will be familiar with them when they come across them later. It also includes Redemptorist and Carthusian (for the men) and Missionaries of Charity and Conceptionists (for women). An appendix includes descriptions of these orders in more detail.

Then the book describes the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

One of the most important parts describes what religious men and women do, where it tells of a daily schedule of praying and working.

When they leave the chapel, they continue praying in the silence of their hearts, always having God in their minds and hearts while they scrub, build, or plough, or cook, or study, or teach, or care for the poor and needy.

The author explains the difference between contemplative and active orders.

But whether they are contemplative or active, all religious imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, doing simple things very well for the love of Jesus, with prayer and thanksgiving always humming in their hearts and minds.

Finally, there's a section on the priesthood. 

The illustrations are lovely. They show religious men and women in their habits, living their lives - praying, eating, serving. There were a few pages with very light coloring in places. On pages 14-15, for example, it is a little difficult to read the English translation under the chant. 

This book was recommended by a fellow moderator in the Mater Amabilis Facebook group. You could read it aloud, but it's written to young readers and reading it independently allows a young reader to contemplate the illustrations more slowly. I intend to assign it to my Level 2 student (fourth grade) this year. He could read it in one sitting, but I will assign just a few pages at a time to encourage him to slow down and enjoy it, as much as he is able.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book new. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

A Study of Virtues: How to Be a Hero

How to be a Hero: Train with the Saints

by Julia Harrell

I bought this book as a baptismal anniversary gift. It's a book in three parts, each one devoted to cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance), theological virtues (faith, hope, love), and "Little" virtues (humility, obedience, patience, gentleness). Each chapter first defines the virtue, tells the story of a saint who exemplifies the virtue, includes a short prayer, and some leading questions encouraging the reader to grow in that virtue.

The saints are a good mix of familiar and less common ones: Pope St. John Paul II but also St. Charbel Markhlouf, for example. 

There were two points I noted that might need discussion. In the story for fortitude and Saints Peter yu Tae-chol and Agatha Yi, I would have appreciated, for this age, an explicit statement in the text that turning yourself in during a persecution is not necessary; that God wants us to live. Later, in the chapter on love, Bl. Chiara Badano visits a friend with chicken pox when everyone else stays away because they are afraid to catch the disease. A year ago, I wouldn't have noticed it, but in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, I think you might want to mention that it is also sometimes an act of charity to act to limit the spread of disease. Those are good opportunities for discussions, though.

The chapter on Bl. Dina Belanger was one of my favorites, one I think particularly suited to children. Her obedience to her spiritual director and her parents in the timing of her entrance to religious life is rewarded with a glimpse of the way God can work in our lives.

The description recommends it for children aged 9 to 11. That seems about right to me. I've added it to my son's list for spiritual reading this year; he's 10. It's an excellent book on the virtues, though it does seem a little bland sometimes compared to some of the more beautiful older books we have read. I'm not replacing anything in our lessons, just adding this as an option for him to take to adoration and read silently before Jesus in the Eucharist.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book new. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

March and April 2020 Book Reports

Strangers in a Strange Land: Living the Catholic Faith in a Post-Christian World by Charles J. Chaput - link to my post (inter-library loan copy)

The Collected Tales of Nikolai Gogol by Nikolai Gogol, translated and annotated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky - link to my post (Kansas Dad's copy)

Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment by Robert Wright - This book would probably be better titled "How Successful Mindfulness Meditation Practices Seem to be Explained by Recent Scientific Research" but that's not quite as catchy. While the author takes some time to explain Buddhist philosophy, he's really only interested in the aspects of it that define and direct mindfulness meditation. Anything "religious" (Buddhist/Christian/etc.) is set aside, though respectfully. The supporting relationship between recent research and scholarship and mindfulness medication practices is fascinating. Kansas Dad (who was the first to listen to the book) was immediately asking questions about the Truth found in this modern research and how it might be related to what we know is True through our Catholic faith. He also found interesting lines of thought in considering past failures and potential successes in evangelizing amongst those who follow Buddhist philosophies. I am still thinking about this book and its implications. (purchased Audible book)

The Stand by Stephen King - Believe it or not, I didn't seek this book out in the midst of the impending pandemic. It literally just happened to be next on my list. I enjoyed reading it and found some scenes presented in unexpected ways. Overall, however, my view of the great battle between Good and Evil varies considerably from that of King which led directly to a feeling of dissatisfaction with the ending of the novel. I also know just enough biology and genetics to be distracted by what are probably inaccurate predictions of how such a deadly epidemic would happen. Of course, he didn't have the "luxury" of coronavirus in his past at that point. (library copy)

Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin - I picked this book up at our library sale. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though it's certainly not for the young or sensitive reader. I was surprised at how thoughtful Steve Martin is and at the honesty with which he shared some of the difficulties in his life while still being respectful of the privacy of some of those closest to him. It was a good read. (purchased used)

Something Beautiful for God by Malcolm Muggeridge - This book is Mr. Muggeridge's comments on Mother Teresa and his interviews and television recordings with her. It's more a collection of thoughts than a focused book. It was interesting to read as a glimpse into how St. Teresa of Kolkata was viewed and understood in her own lifetime, but it's not a comprehensive book on her life or her philosophies. I enjoyed it, but it will not be the book I offer to my Level 4 student next year. (library copy)

The Last Whalers: Three Years in the Far Pacific with a Courageous Tribe and a Vanishing Way of Life by Doug Bock Clark - link to my post (library copy)

The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare) - This is one of the recommended Shakespeare plays for high schoolers in the Mater Amabilis™ curriculum. (See the English course here.) While this play is much lighter-hearted than Hamlet, which First Son and First Daughter just finished reading, it still surfaces questions about marriage, fidelity, trust, and responsibility toward children. I'm not sure I'd consider it one of the top ten plays a student should study in high school, but if you've already read many of the more common ones, it's a good option. It's not too long and contains one of the most unusual stage directions of all time: "Exit, pursued by bear." (purchased copy)

Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait by Fr. Leo Maasburg - link to my post (library copy)

It's Not What It Looks Like by Molly Burke - This was one of the better Audible originals offered free to members. I've never watched the author's YouTube channel, so her story was entirely new to me. I enjoyed her youthful voice and her ability to speak authentically for the blind and other disabled people. Her story includes some tough struggles with depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation, which could be difficult for some people to hear, but are shared to support and encourage others. (offered free to Audible members in August 2019)

Theatre of Fish: Travels through Newfoundland and Labrador by John Gimlette - I read Gilmette's Wild Coast and requested this because I enjoyed that one so much. Theatre of Fish is a little more depressing overall, though it has similar moments of witty remarks and insight. There are quite a few references to multiple instances of terrible abuse at the hands of priests or religious. (requested from PaperBackSwap.com)

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez translated by Gregory Rabassa - link to my post (requested from PaperBackSwap.com)

I have received nothing for this post. All opinions are honest and my own. Links to Amazon or PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

Delightful and Inspiring: Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait

by Leo Maasburg

Mater Amabilis™ recommends three biographies of twentieth-century saints to complement the modern history studies in Level 4, eighth grade.

Though I have three excellent saint books for Level 4 from First Son's eighth grade year, I wanted to find a biography of St. Teresa of Kolkata for First Daughter to have as an option.* (Knowing her, she'll read them all.) I read Spink's biography a few months ago and decided it was too fact-filled. Our library had this book by Father Leo Maasburg which I checked out before it closed for the pandemic.

It's fantastic! It's lively and filled with personal stories about Farther Maasburg's experiences and reflections on his time with Mother Teresa. The stories cover her vast travels, deep spirituality, and humble spirit. There are plenty of snippets of her advice and wisdom.

Cleaning is life-sustaining. And everything that sustains life comes from the Holy Spirit. So by cleaning we encounter the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives!

There are also plenty of stories that show what life was like for Mother Teresa in the midst of her extensive ministry as for the Missionaries of Charity. In those, Fr. Maasburg reveals her responses to the questions and concerns raised by those who found themselves in her presence or by reporters.

Once, when we were discussing whether it was right to give all that help without any recompense, Mother Teresa said, "Many people say, 'Mother Teresa, you are spoiling the poor, because you give everything free of charge.' But no one spoils us as much as God Himself." 

I loved Fr. Maasburg's personal stories: times Mother Teresa prompted him to go outside his comfort zone, times she naively entered a country and accomplished the impossible with nothing but her prayers and some miraculous medals, times when they responded to sorrow and pain with comfort and joy.

She herself once gave us the answer when she spoke about dealing with insults: "If someone accuses you, ask yourself first: Is he right? If he's right, go and apologize to him. If he's not right, then take the insult that you have received in both hands. Don't let it go but seize the opportunity and give it to Jesus as a sacrifice. Be glad that you have something valuable to give Him." 

Humor and surpassing joy surface again and again. The Sisters always treat those who die in their care according to their own faith and pay for those services, whatever they may be. Once a Bishop found himself locked out of his residence and asked if he could stay the remainder of the night at the House for the Dying.

Mother Teresa reflected for a moment and then agreed, but on one condition: "Promise me you won't die. The burial of a bishop would be much too expensive for us."

This is a perfect biography for Level 4. Without being too boring or depressing, it explores Mother Teresa's mission and spirituality through Fr. Maasburg's personal memories of his time with the saint. I think it's a wonderful introduction to her life and would encourage exploration deeper into her spirituality for an interested student. I think I've now read five or six books on Mother Teresa, but this one is my favorite.

* For those that are interested, the three biographies First Son read were: John Paul II: A Personal Portrait of the Pope and the Man by Ray Flynn, A Shepherd in Combat Boots: Chaplain Emil Kapaun of the 1st Cavalry Division by William L. Maher, and The Shepherd Who Didn't Run: Fr. Stanley Rother, Martyr from Oklahoma by Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda.

I have received nothing in exchange for this honest review. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. I borrowed this book from our library.

February 2020 Book Reports

Mother Teresa: An Authorized Biography by Kathryn Spink - link to my post (from PaperBackSwap.com)

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - This is a beautifully written book with a dissatisfying ending. I felt only sadness for the characters at the end. Endings don't have to be happy, but if unhappy, they must be meaningful. I suppose it might work as a commentary on war, but I felt only disappointment. (library copy)

How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer - I was considering adding this to our health reading for high school, which First Son is doing right now in tenth grade. It covers some useful information about how emotions and intuition can be beneficial when making decisions and when to set them aside and focus instead on more mathematical or logical considerations. The later chapter on morality was more problematic, mainly by discounting the possibility of natural law and an absolute truth. While not unexpected, it makes the book incomplete. Much of the earlier information is covered by other books and readings I have already scheduled, so we'll skip this one for school. (library copy)

The Merchant of Venice (No Fear Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare - First Daughter is reading this play now (seventh grade) and I wanted to refresh my memory by reading it again, if I ever read the whole thing. I do remember seeing it performed when I was in middle school. I think First Daughter will (mostly) love Portia. Shylock remains a baffling character. (purchased copy)

To Say Nothing of the Dog: Or How We Found the Bishop's Bird Stump at Last by Connie Willis - This may be my favorite audiobook of all time. I enjoyed every single minute of it, invented chores so I could listen to it, and was both delighted with the ending and sorry it was over. It's a quirky tale of time-travel, Victorian England, the Blitz, and romance, "to say nothing of the dog" (and cat). (purchased from Audible during a sale)

A Mind of Her Own by Paula McLain - This was one of those free audiobooks Audible offers to members each month. It is the fictionalized tale of Marie Curie as a struggling student in Paris. Frankly, I found it frustrating to listen to the narrator tell me how Marie Curie was feeling rather than showing me through action. I have no idea what it was really like for Curie in Paris as she met and finally married her husband, but I rather hope it wasn't like this book describes it. (free Audible book in March 2019)

Come and See: A Photojournalist's Journey into the World of Mother Teresa by Linda Schaefer - This photographer is more talented at photography than writing. While the pictures are a fascinating peek into Mother Teresa's work in India, the book overall falls short of what I would want to give my children for the Level 4 twentieth century biography. (library copy)

West with the Night by Beryl Markham - link to my post (library copy, then requested from PaperBackSwap.com)

I have received nothing for this post. All opinions are honest and my own. Links to Amazon or PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

A Charism of Challenge: Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa: An Authorized Biography

by Kathryn Spink

My book club read books about Mother Teresa last month. We each read what we had at home or what we could easily find. I had this one on my shelf. It is a thorough biography.

I am fascinated and awed by an order that remains true to its charism, even amidst a culture, society, and modern world that denies such a charism is possible. There is a great tension here, even in the smallest decisions. Early on, for example, the sisters did not wear gloves when caring for the poor because Mother Teresa did not want to put barriers between the sisters and the people. I have seen recent pictures in which sisters are wearing gloves, which seems wise given how diseases are spread. They protect not only the sisters, but all the other poor being treated. There are still, however, accusations by some people that gloves are not always worn or not changed after each patient.

Another great tension is the refusal to address poverty itself. The Missionaries of Charity serve the person of Christ in front of them. They offer water, food, cleanliness, and compassion. They provide education for the young, but purposefully not in a systematic way.

Invariably, however, her response was to seek immediate and practical ways to meet the need as she found it, rather than to condemn what might be seen as the causes of that need.

There are other orders, governments, and programs that should and do address the root causes of poverty. Those should continue, but Mother Teresa insisted that the person in front of her should not suffer while waiting for societal change.

Mother Teresa opened many homes in developed countries like the United States. Though people here do not suffer in the same way as the poorest of the poor in the slums of India, they do suffer from the same spiritual poverty of being unloved and unwanted, even amidst relative wealth

If God loved each person then every meeting with another person involved the unique discovery of that which was the object of God's love in him, of that which came to him from God. Such a discovery allowed no room for condescension or for moral judgments, and took no cognizance of the obsessive search for "concrete results". Mother Teresa called upon those who lived in a world caught up in the race to be rich, powerful, and effective, to be aware of their own poverty, to make themselves weak with the weak and not to see to do big things but only small things with great love.

Writing a big check is too easy. Mother Teresa encouraged and challenged everyone to greet Christ in person, acknowledging the humanity of the poor in a physical way.

Spink brings up some of the critics of Mother Teresa and her work. For example, there are those who said she should not alleviate individual needs because that decreased pressure on governments or local leaders to address the roots of the poverty in their communities. Spink responds to each of these as they come up, always supportive of Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity.

Spink has written an exhaustive biography of Mother Teresa, one that clearly demonstrates the charism of the Missionaries of Charity and the growth of the order through Mother Teresa's lifetime (and a little beyond). It is one that would probably appeal to people of all faiths. If you are looking for a book revealing the depths of Mother Teresa's spirituality, others would be better. I had wondered if I could put this on First Daughter's list for a Level 4 twentieth century saint biography, but I think it would not be as appealing to an eighth grader.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post of my honest opinion. I received this book from another member of PaperBackSwap.com (affiliate link). The link to Amazon above is also an affiliate link.

An Ordinary Heroic Faith: A Man of the Beatitudes

A Man of the Beatitudes: Pier Giorgio Frassati

by Luciana Frassati

Luciana Frassati wrote this book about her dearly loved brother, Blessed Pier Giorgia Frassati. It is not a formal biography, more a pouring out of her remembrances of his great love for others with many quotes from friends and family members.

Not only is Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati a man of humility and generosity, but the book provides some background on the state of Italy during the World War I and the years following. It shows how some Catholics struggled against the regime and that good people did indeed live in countries like Italy and Germany when their governments were spreading fear and war.

During a Fascist attack on his home, Bl. Pier did not hesitate to leap to the defense of his mother and household. A young man of humility and faith does not mean a young man who cannot physically stand strong between the people he loves and one who wishes them harm. There is a tendency in American culture to view saints as weak, but our young men and women need to understand that there are many ways to be an example of heroic faith.

In addition, Bl. Pier struggled mightily as a student. He was often unsuccessful when taking his exams, requiring multiple attempts to pass. Yet he continued to study for the degree he felt was his vocation, engineering.

Bl. Pier was the heart of an informal society, united by faith in the spirit of joyfulness and friendship.

The members, however, followed no rules and attended no set meetings. Everything was improvised. The important thing was to be together as much as possible under the great ensign of the faith.

Pier Giorgio realized that the group's steadfastness could also nourish a common enthusiasm for the Christian apostolate. For this he used his favorite instrument, high spirits, which, in its various forms, flourished in the society, creating a collective spirit and uniting all under the magic sign of laughter.

He is also a marvelous example of a young man who was not physically active instead of prayerful, but instead was prayerful in his love of skiing and mountain climbing. H wrote to a friend:

These Alpine climbs have a strange magic in them so that no matter how many times they are repeated and however alike they are, they are never boring, in the same way as the experience of spring is never boring but fills our spirit with gladness and delight. 

He encouraged his friends to leave the city for the fresh air of the surrounding country and to strengthen their spirit just as they strengthened their muscles.

Bl. Pier was joyful in the midst of an unhappy family, perseverant in maintaining his studies, generous with his time in friendship with the poor. There may be other books about Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, but this one is worth reading for the frankness of the telling of his life by his dear sister.

This could be a good choice for Mater Amabilis™ Level 4 students as a twentieth-century saint or blessed. Though he dies as a young man, he does not perish through martyrdom or in a concentration camp, so he is a good choice for the sensitive student.

I have received nothing for this post of my own opinions. I found this book on a shelf at our parish (and will return it for those who are local). Links to Amazon are affiliate links.