Published by Paraclete Press

Review by Ellen Gable Hrkach

Generous Faith: Stories to Inspire Abundant Living by Sr. Bridget Haase is a wonderful book filled with touching stories, spiritual reflections and lessons in faith. This beautiful little book illustrates that our life is an abundant life, a gift from God. As Sr. Bridget says, “All we need to do is cultivate this awareness through three basic practices: Living in the Moment; Trusting in Divine Care and Experiencing God’s Presence.” Each section or practice includes stories and reflections pertinent each practice.

Sr. Bridget writes: “In these stories we have met men, women and children living across cultural borders and close to home. We have sat at the ocean with a dying shell seeker, held a Gypsy child in our arms, and laughed over bus tickets and letters. We have experienced the power of desert baked tears of compassion of a son’s undying love for his father.” We meet these unique images of God throughout the book: Bird, Wynn, Buster, Rita, Aisha and many others.

I enjoyed reading about Sr. Bridget’s family and the interesting people she has met through the years. The stories are engaging and kept my interest throughout the entire book. I especially appreciated the spiritual reflections and lessons in faith and have begun to implement them in my own life.

This is a beautifully written book and a delightful read filled with poignant stories and reflections. It is a book I won’t soon forget and one that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach

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Review by Ellen Gable Hrkach

“Marriages work when you work on the marriage” and  “Everyone wins when a marriage succeeds” are two quotes which set the theme for this Catholic marriage enrichment book.

When trying to decide what title and focus to give to their book, they write, “It was the word ‘aim’ that moved us to focus on the analogy of the Bullseye. When we discuss our marriage and what we are aiming at we always conclude that what we want is a great relationship. There are many tools, books, and experiences that assist us in getting where we want to go, but to be effective we need to keep in mind what we are shooting for in our marriage. The archery analogy began to form in our minds.”

Chapter Titles include: What’s Your Bullseye? What’s Your Experience? Are you Right-Handed or Left-Handed? Men and Women Shoot Differently? What Happens When you Get Tired? Tips and Tools for Target Practice; Those Who Benefit from Target Practice and Resources.

Throughout the book, the authors take turns with the narrative, sharing parts of their story and their marriage.

“We discovered that marriage was more like showing up at an archery range every day, getting the target in sight, picking up the bow and arrow and shooting. There are days when we hit the Bullseye. There are other days when don’t but we at least hit the target. Some days we totally miss the target. Then there are those times when we are too tired to even pick up the bow and arrow and try…”

Included are quotes from Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, movies, books, authors, philosophers, songs and even a few quotes from their relatives. At the end of the book, each of the Fontana children (as well as their daughter-in-law) share a bit about how they have benefitted from their parents’ “Bulls Eye Marriage.”

Helpful exercises include sensory brainstorming and masterpiece time line activity.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and I can envision it being used at marriage preparation classes or marriage retreats. As well, I would recommend it to anyone seeking to improve their marriage.

Copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach

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Review by Ellen Gable Hrkach

Have you ever wanted to know more about the rosary AND get in better shape at the same time?
If so, “The Rosary Workout” by Peggy Bowes is the ideal book for you to shed excess pounds and be edified spiritually as well.

For the past five years, I have almost always recited a rosary (or part of it) while walking on my treadmill every day. So I was thrilled to hear there is a book which combines physical activity with spiritual well-being. The Rosary Workout can be used by anyone: those who have never exercised, those who occasionally exercise, as well as the seasoned athlete.

This is a book which should be on everyone’s shelves as a great resource not only for learning about the Rosary, but also for educating about better health.  It is filled with helpful information and references.

In Part 1, the author gives an overview of the Holy Rosary including the History and Devotion to the Rosary.  Part II includes beautiful reflections on Mary as our Advocate and Teacher.  Part III lists the many benefits of regular exercise as well as exercise fundamentals.  Part IV lists the Prerequisites for beginning the Rosary Workout and includes sub topics such as proper time and season, discipline, setbacks and solutions, keeping track of the rosary prayers while exercising and role models.  The author advocates examination of one’s body AND soul before beginning any exercise routine.  This is such an important part of the book because many secular health enthusiasts only focus on the body.  Part V includes the different level workouts.

I highly recommend The Rosary Workout as a book which can benefit everyone both physically and spiritually!

Copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach

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Illustrated by April Willy

Review by Ellen Gable Hrkach

Three Cups is a delightful children’s book which “teaches children from an early age the rewards of practicing a timeless, unique and effective method of personal financial management and charity.”

On his fifth birthday, the main character receives a present which his parents promise will “take him on adventures.” When he opens the package, he finds three cups from the cupboard.  Disappointed, he says, “Is this my present?”  His mother tells him to open the envelope.  His father then shares with him that they are going to start giving him an allowance.  Each week they will help him figure out how much will go into the first cup for savings, the second cup for spending and the third cup for charity.

Weeks later, he realizes that his cups are becoming full.  His parents take him to the local bank where he learns about interest and deposits.  Soon, he finds that he’s able to buy a baseball glove with the money in his spending cup. His father reminds him that he has more money in his charity cup.  Remembering that his school is collecting food for needy families, he takes his charity cup money and buys eight cans of soup for the needy families.

Asked which cup is his favorite, the boy can’t decide.  As the youngster grows older, he eventually gets a job, continues to put money in each of the three cups.  By the time he’s in high school, he has spending money, is able to help people through his charity cup and with the money in his savings cup/account, he is able to attend college.

The book ends with the boy (now a married father) giving his three cups to his five-year-old son, asking him “Are you ready for an adventure?”

In this difficult economy, I highly recommend this beautifully illustrated, delightful and educational book which can give parents and children a unique, interesting and reliable way to handle their money.  A Parents’ Guide is included at the back of the book.

Copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach

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Published 2010  by Liguori Publications

Reviewed by Ellen Gable Hrkach

In the first few pages of Joy to the World, author Kathleen Basi writes, “In this atmosphere filled with distractions, the idea of Advent as a season in its own right has been overwhelmed.”  This is a wonderful and informative Advent preparation book.

Back in the 1960′s when I was a small child in New Jersey, it was unheard of for anyone to even consider putting up Christmas lights before Thanksgiving.  My parents decorated the tree when my siblings and I went to bed on Christmas Eve and the tree stayed up until the Feast of the Epiphany.

Our society has such an impatience for the arrival of Christmas that many stores and families begin celebrating in mid-November.  By the time Christmas actually arrives, they are tired of celebrating and the tree and decorations are often taken down the day after Christmas. Kathleen Basi suggests that we need to “reclaim Advent” and use it as a time of preparation for Christmas as Advent was meant to do:  “…that season of holy hush, of waiting, of light and anticipation, that season that helps make Christmas so special…”

The first chapter is entitled “The Case for Advent.” Basi contends that Advent gives us a chance to meditate on Hope, Expectation, Preparation and Light.

In the second chapter, “The Advent Reclamation Project,” she suggests that there are three parts to the Advent Reclamation: morning ritual (Advent calendar); evening with an Advent wreath and Jesse tree and the “Good deeds manger” for any time.  The motto for Advent should be: “Be ready; be present; be waiting.”

The next three chapters explain how to implement these three areas: including one of the four areas of activity each day in the Advent calendar: service; spiritual growth; homebody; pure fun. She also gives a brief explanation and description of the Advent Calendar, Jesse Tree and “Good deeds manger.”

I love the idea of a Good Deeds Manger.  Basi suggests that a family obtains a box and some straw, chopped paper or Easter grass.  When a good deed or something kind is done by the children, straw is added. When something mean is done, it is taken away.  The idea is to have lots of straw for the baby Jesus.

In the final chapters and appendix, Basi includes other possibilities for Advent preparation: fasting, daily mini retreats and weekday Mass.  The appendix also contains information on the Feast days of December saints, as well as scripture readings and symbols for the Jesse Tree.

Each chapter has some form of meditation for children, either a scripture reflection or another age-appropriate reflection.

Basi admits that “none of the ideas in this book are new…what is new is the way we combine the traditions into a single month long liturgy of preparation.”

While it’s important to begin these traditions in early childhood, it’s never too late to implement many of the activities Basi suggests.

I highly recommend this wonderful book which is ideal for preparing both children and adults during Advent.

Copyright 2010 Ellen Gable Hrkach

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