I absolutely love “Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families,” from Liguori. It’s one of those rare resources for sharing with young children that does not talk down to them, but lifts them up with a dynamic and engaging style that is never dull or overly academic. But at the same time, it gives great substance -- in age-appropriate terms parents can easily use to draw their children more deeply into relationship with Jesus Christ.

It also has the quite substantial advantage of having been written by one of the most charming Catholic writers to come down the road for a long time.

Author Sarah A. Reinhard, well known for her blog at www.snoringscholar.com, is a delight as she takes us all the way through Advent, day by day, sharing scriptures, meditations, prayers, and daily opportunities for the whole family to live the Faith through acts of love and service. But then she takes it even further, covering the true season of Christmas, so often neglected, from the Nativity through the Feast of the Epiphany.

Priced very reasonably at $1.99, this colorful paperback booklet is worth its weight in gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Sarah has only recently joined our staff here at Amazing Catechists, so I also want to welcome her with great joy!

Enjoy this beautiful season of Advent  and Christmas with your children!

Order here.

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From Ave Maria Press

Review by Lisa Mladinich

Lisa Hendey is a rare human being and a beautiful woman of faith. Beloved by her millions of readers at CatholicMom.com and those of us who devoured her best seller, “The Handbook for Catholic Moms,” she has a genuine gift for friendship.

Who better to bring us this gorgeous new resource, “A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms,” which introduces us to 52 of the Catholic Church’s canonized saints through brief, but compelling summaries of their lives, their teachings, the Church’s traditions, quotes, related scriptural passages and suggested activities for use with our children. So neglected in recent years, friendship with the saints is a great gift offered to us by God through the traditions of Mother Church.

As Lisa lovingly demonstrates, through friendship with these unique and deeply human role models, we draw closer to God in the singular and intimate way in which He speaks to (and through) each one of us. Each of the 52 chapters is structured for use during the course of one week, entertainingly engaging us and our families through an entire year of learning about and praying to these amazing and often charming heavenly companions, who watch over us and joyfully intercede for our needs.

What a gift to those we love! And what a delightful and intelligently constructed gem of a book!

Available at Amazon.com. Highly recommended.

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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 Lisa Mladinich

Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle’s delightful pocket-sized volume, Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers, is like all her work in that it comes from the depths of her heart. But it is so much more. Yielding her days, moment by moment to God through the example of Our Lady, and guided by the extraordinary teachings of the Catholic Church, Donna-Marie has received along the way the luminous and enduring grace of a mother’s wisdom, which she shares with affection and humility.

I always light up under the influence of this wise and tender friend to women; one who has prayed, suffered and rejoiced with Our Lord through all of life’s varied moments in an attitude of trust. This little book makes me think of a garden, with its smaller beds of ferns and flowers, overflowing with life and beauty. In each chapter, you’ll discover small blossoms of scripture, quotes from popes, saints, and the Catechism, traditional and original prayers and poems, and personal thoughts for meditation.

This compilation is a wonderful gift for every mother or grandmother who needs a reminder that her hidden life of dedication to her children is “an integral part of the means to their salvation,” and that God’s grace is available to her in abundance for their every need. Like the author herself, the Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers is here “…to assist you in keeping your heart always lifted up toward Heaven, communicating with the Divine, even as your hands are occupied with household and motherly tasks.”

Highly recommended. Order here.

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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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Illustrated by Shannon Wirrenga

Review by Christine Capolino

This past weekend, my cute, sweet, compassionate, blink-and-she’s-grown-up niece married her beau, a young gentleman who is truly her kind, caring complement, in a fairy tale setting at the foothills of the Catskills. What was so remarkable though, about their nuptials was not so much the stunning, pearl-encrusted, ivory gown. Not the breath taking views of the sun sinking into the Hudson from the reception venue, periwinkle sky laced with chunky marshmallow clouds just narrowly escaping Hurricane Earl’s predicted drama. Not the impeccable toasts, sometimes bittersweet, sometimes humorous, presented by maid of honor, best man and father of the bride. Not even the fact that the couple married in St. Martin’s church where the bride’s family has decades of history and where the bride was conferred all of her sacraments, is cause for incredulity of the event. Oh, these combined to make an extraordinary and memorable day for the couple and all guests, without question.

What made this wedding remarkable indeed, is the fact that the bride and groom secured the catering hall, the florist, the gown, the limo service and the photographer almost two years in advance, as they chose to delay their nuptials, scheduling their wedding day around the celebrant. The Priest! Even more extraordinary? The celebrant is a friend of the couple, from The College of the Holy Cross, who, after receiving the call to priesthood, continued to the seminary and received the Sacrament of Holy Orders just months ago.

Imagine the added graces of receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony at a Mass officiated by your friend, who answers God’s call to a vocation? Imagine. That was truly the beauty of this couple’s marriage vows. Beauty that each congregant felt, due to the tenor of personal touches brought by this man of God to the Mass. Yes, undeniably. Additionally, beauty in our collective witness to the sheer power of vocation. Particularly during these many recent, troubling years for our Church. It was revealed to me in a very real way, as the bride’s aunt and godmother, that individually and collectively, WE are the Church. And we are learning to heal and move forward.

I felt it a great privilege to be asked to review Bezalel Books’ new children’s title, Where Do Priests Come From?   Practical and informative, Elizabeth Ficocelli’s flowing text and Shannon Wirrenga’s engaging illustrations offer a delightfully inside journey from the steps a boy may take as he is called to a vocation, to the details of his years as a seminarian and finally, to his ordination.

I love how Mrs. Ficocelli introduces the notion of vocation as one of many options that boys may consider, as in “They may have dreamed of becoming an astronaut, a doctor or a fire fighter. But somewhere along the way, these young boys also thought about being a priest.” Mrs. Ficocelli clearly plants seeds of vocation as a life option among all the lofty dreams that boys enjoy, when she states that “these boys listen to God’s voice in their hearts” to discern their calling and yet sometimes the boy may be “all grown up” before considering the priesthood.

Mrs. Ficocelli demystifies a seminarian’s training by illustrating his time spent as a lector, an acolyte and a deacon before ordination. Also clearly explained is a priest’s vows of celibacy, as the freedom to serve God’s people; obedience, as the  promise to do God’s will and follow the Church’s teaching; poverty, as the living of a simple life with other priests.

Where Do Priests Come From?  contains much information regarding the type of work a priest may do, how a priest enjoys leisure time and which order he may choose to enter. Additionally, a glossary of words key to the understanding of the book’s message is included.

The author continues to make the priesthood real to children, toward the conclusion of her book, by stating that “Because a priest is still a man, he goes to confession to be strengthened.” This gave me pause to remember when my younger son received the Sacrament of Reconciliation in a community service at our church, just last winter.  He was floored to witness his favorite parish priest, with whom he chats incessantly at every opportunity about all things Jesus and soccer, receiving the sacrament himself!  What an awesome sight for a child to witness….. for any Catholic…… for any individual. As the author tells us, a priest is “a man who makes Jesus real to others, through word, example, and the sacraments.” What a clear, simple, and yet, earth-shattering message for the readers of this picture book. And couldn’t we all use more of God’s graces in our daily lives as well?

To place an order for Where Do Priests Come From?, please visit  the publisher at www.bezalelbooks.com or phone  (248) 917-3865. To order for vocations awareness programs, or for use in religious education and CCD classes, please contact the publisher for bulk rates.

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