Pertinent issues blossom in spring reads

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Spring is the time when soil warms and seeds sprout, offering opportunity for new growth. It is also a time to mature in our own faith life, learning more about the Catholic faith and exploring the tools to become better disciples. Have you ever wanted to train your mind to think like St. Thomas Aquinas? How do you feel about taking your beliefs into a culture that is hostile to the Faith? How about learning more about the Blessed Mother? These are some of the topics that are offered in this spring’s book review section. These selections will plant a seed and help your faith to grow, flower and flourish.

“How to Think Like Aquinas: The Sure Way to Perfect Your Mental Powers”

Author: Kevin Vost
Publisher: Sophia Institute Press
Price: $18.95
Summary: Have you ever wanted to think like St. Thomas Aquinas? In best-selling author Kevin Vost’s book, “How to Think Like Aquinas,” readers will learn how to dissect logical fallacies, heresies and half-truths that pollute the world. Using the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, you will learn: four steps to train your memory; how to know your mental powers; why critical thinking alone is insufficient for reaching the truth; common fallacies and how to spot them; learn the key to reading any book; how to set your intellect free by avoiding worldly attachments; and how to commit key truths to memory.

“My Queen My Mother: A Living Novena”

Author: Marge Steinhage Fenelon
Publisher: Ave Maria
Price: $14.95
Summary: Author Marge Steinhage Fenelon takes readers along a pilgrimage to nine Marian shrines across the country. Each shrine reflects the Catholic heritage of the United States and will help literary pilgrims encounter God and deepen relationships with the Blessed Mother. The nine shrines include: the Shrine of Our Lady of Le Leche, St. Augustine, Florida; National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, New Orleans; St. Mary’s Mission and Museum, Stevensville, Montana; Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Starkenburg, Missouri; Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, Carey, Ohio; The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Champion, Wisconsin; Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, Auriesville, New York; House of Mary Shrine, Yankton, South Dakota; and Our Lady of Peace Shrine, Santa Clara, California.

“Unplanned”

Author: Abby Johnson
Publisher: Ignatius Press
Price: $16.99
Summary: Now a major motion picture, “Unplanned” tells the true story of Abby Johnson — the youngest Planned Parenthood clinic director who later became a pro-life advocate. In college, Johnson joined Planned Parenthood hoping to help women in crisis. She rose through the ranks, but as the focus of Planned Parenthood shifted, Johnson became increasingly unsettled with her responsibilities. After assisting with an abortion procedure, she realized the reality of abortion and her role in it for many years. “Unplanned” is a compelling story of crisis and change, and a reminder of how grace finds us in unlikely places. Now a pro-life witness, Johnson teaches us how we can reach out in love to those who stand on opposing sides.

“Don’t Let the Culture Raise Your Kids”

Author: Marcia Segelstein
Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor
Price: $18.85
Summary: The goal of Christian parents is to guide their children toward heaven. Yet our culture will not point families in that direction, so parents must be ready to fight the battle. In “Don’t Let the Culture Raise Your Kids,” journalist Marcia Segelstein, who has spent decades reporting on family-related issues, reveals the impact these anti-Christian trends have on our children. Segelstein teaches Christian parents the need to be different and why, exposing the dangers and pitfalls children face from the media, at school and among their peers. She also covers the influences of a culture saturated with sex, pornography and consumerism. In this new release, Segelstein offers hope and encouragement that it is still possible to raise children in a culture hostile to Christian values.

“Road Signs for Catholic Teens”

Author: Jennessa Terraccino
Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor
Price: $21.95
Summary: Getting the keys to the family car has been a rite of passage for most young people. It’s a symbol of independence — you’re not a kid anymore, and you can make your own choices. But Catholics are more than just drivers; we are pilgrims embarking upon the ultimate road trip to a sacred place. In “Road Signs for Catholic Teens,” God will speak through 16 signs, such as crossroads, one way, road narrows, slippery when wet, detour and dead end. This 199-page book is like your own Catholic driver’s manual. It’s easy to understand and easy to use.

“Ave Maria: The Mystery of a Most Beloved Prayer”

Author: Pope Francis
Publisher: Image
Price: $21
Summary: Pope Francis’ new book provides an enlightening vision of the importance of the Virgin Mary in the modern age. At the same time as it explores the meaning of the Ave Maria prayer, it celebrates women and all they do as leaders, friends, sisters and mothers. Pope Francis, who once again teams up with theologian-writer Marco Pozza, illuminates Mary’s simple yet complex nature. Her example challenges all to lead lives of faith, hope and perseverance. Mary is an icon for all who look to grow more deeply in their purpose in life.

“Symbol or Substance: A Dialogue on the Eucharist”

Author: Peter Kreeft
Publisher: Ignatius
Price: $16.95
Summary: What would C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and Rev. Billy Graham say about the Eucharist if they got together? In Peter Kreeft’s new book “Symbol or Substance,” the author makes an effort to discuss the substance of the Eucharist. Kreeft, a philosophy professor at Boston College, tackles the question of the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. While Lewis and Tolkien likely discussed the Eucharist during their friendship, the conversation in the book never took place — but it could have. Kreeft adds a layer to the conversation to the understanding of how Protestants view the Eucharist through Graham’s perspective. The book explores the differing views of the Eucharist among Anglicans, Catholics and Evangelical Protestants, and it models how to discuss a difficult topic in a gracious and friendly manner.

“Hatch, Match & Dispatch: A Catholic Guide to Sacraments”

Author: Jesuit Father Richard Leonard
Publisher: Paulist Press
Price: $19.95
Summary: Best-selling author Jesuit Father Richard Leonard offers readers an accessible, engaging and educational journey through the history, liturgy and theology of the seven sacraments. He walks through baptism, Eucharist, confirmation, penance, holy orders, marriage and anointing of the sick. He also touches upon the Rite of Christian Burial. Most books on the sacraments fall into three categories: catechetical material for children; material for adults preparing for the sacraments; or scholarly theological materials. This book bridges all three. Father Leonard also covers the truth that when the sacraments are celebrated well, they can be great tools of evangelization. Father Leonard, a Jesuit of the Australian Province, is the director of the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting.

“Rosemary Nyirumbe: Sewing Hope in Uganda”

Author: Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda
Publisher: Liturgical Press
Price: $14.95
Summary: This book offers a riveting account of Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe and her vocation of being a loving presence to African youth in the midst of cultural and societal upheaval. Sister Rosemary’s life is a testament to God’s presence, love and hope amid unimaginable violence. For many years her native Uganda and southern Sudan (now South Sudan) have suffered the effects of war and military clashes. Children have suffered greatly — being orphaned, kidnapped, and forced to become child soldiers and sex slaves. She is best known as the driving force who saved hundreds of children from abduction during the wars that devastated northern Uganda and Sudan for decades. The 134-page read highlights Sister Rosemary’s care for vulnerable girls and women.

“Leaving Boyhood Behind: Reclaiming Catholic Brotherhood”

Author: Jason M. Craig
Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor
Price: $19.95
Summary: Many men in our society do not feel they are equipped to answer the question, “What makes a man?” Author Jason M. Craig tackles that question in “Leaving Boyhood Behind.” Men struggle to pass on authentic manliness to their sons. The effects of male immaturity can be seen as a crisis throughout society. Jason Craig walks readers through the stages of initiation into manhood, explaining what rites of passage are and why they are necessary. The book even discusses Christ’s own rites of passage and initiation. Craig also explains what it means for a young man to put away childhood and the importance of belonging versus isolation in the life of men. The 143-page book also discusses discipline and masculine identity, and living the ultimate rite of passage.

“How Christianity Saved Civilization … And Must Do So Again”

Author: Mike Aquilina and James L. Papandrea
Publisher: Sophia Institute Press
Price: $18.95
Summary: “The Church of the future can learn from the Church of the past” is how authors Mike Aquilina and James L. Papandrea open “How Christianity Saved Civilization.” The book takes readers through the history of the Faith, from the ancient pagan Rome to a vigorous Christian society in just four centuries that has continued for 1,500 years. Rome’s early Christians faced a hostile culture, but they took steps to transform the culture. You will learn seven specific areas where paganism, ancient or modern, is particularly vulnerable. The book also provides a roadmap for modern Christians to reclaim the Faith in our own neo-pagan modern culture.

“Our Lady of Charity: How a Cuban Devotion to Mary Helped Me Grow in Faith and Love”

Author: Maria Morera Johnson
Publisher: Ave Maria Press
Price: $14.95
Summary: Author Maria Morera Johnson grew up knowing the Virgin Mary and had a special devotion for Our Lady of Charity, patroness of Cuba. After moving to the United States from Cuba, Johnson continued her devotion. This book shares the history of this Marian devotion in Johnson’s home country, and it embraces warm, witty stories of how Mary helped the author deepen her faith and led her to Jesus. Johnson also recounts her journey back to Cuba for the first time since her childhood for Pope Francis’ 2015 apostolic visit. The book serves as a spiritual memoir, modern-day travelogue and meditation on the role of faith, family and devotion.

“Eucharistic Adoration Prayer Book”

Author: Daughter of St. Paul Sister Marie Paul Curley
Publisher: Pauline Books and Media
Price: $18.95
Summary: Adoration of the Eucharist, the source and summit of the Catholic faith, allows devotees a privileged time to ponder the tremendous mystery of Christ’s self-giving love that we celebrate at Mass and that draws us deeper into the Paschal Mystery. The “Eucharistic Adoration Prayer Book” describes the Pauline Hour of Adoration, providing prayers, reflections, psalms, litanies, hymns and more that will enhance our prayer time during adoration and help us live our eucharistic faith more fully.

“Timeless: A History of the Catholic Church”

Author: Steve Weidenkopf
Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor
Price: $19.95
Summary: Author Steve Weidenkopf focuses on the history of the Church in the Western world, specifically Europe, in “Timeless: A History of the Catholic Church.” The 572 pages are filled with drama, intrigue, promise, love, hope and heartache, spanning 2,000 years. It’s not the average history book. Weidenkopf introduces readers to the dynamic story of God’s work in the world since Pentecost. He adds fascinating heroes and villains that are a part of the Catholic family tree. You will learn about the past to make sense of our world. Readers will know Christ better and will be prepared to defend their faith and the Church by learning where they fit in the greatest story ever told.

“Search No More: The Keys to Truth and Happiness”

Author: Steven R. Hemler
Publisher: TAN Books
Price: $24.95
Summary: Jesus and his Church offer the keys to truth and happiness. That is the claim author Steven R. Hemler makes to seekers. He tackles the big questions about happiness, Jesus, salvation and the Catholic faith and answers them in a clear, compelling and concise way. In an age of religious indifference, Hemler answers the questions, “Does the Church still matter today?” and “Why go to Mass?” He encourages parishes to flourish as communities of faith, action and hope, where believers are formed to renew the earth and where God’s people meet Jesus in the word and the sacraments.

“The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment at a Time”

Author: Dr. Gregory Bottaro
Publisher: Wellspring
Price: $24.95
Summary: Do you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day and craving a good night’s sleep, only to find your mind racing in a million directions? Do you find your prayers full of distractions and wandering? In the midst of conversations, do you find that you haven’t heard a word the other person spoke? Have you ever arrived at a destination with no recollection how you arrived? “The Mindful Catholic” presents mindfulness teaching alongside hundreds of years of Catholic spirituality. The book offers advice to help you become more mindful and teaches you how to pay attention to the full scope of your life. The simple exercises that optimize the way your mind works will help create a greater sense of freedom, joy and peace. As a Catholic psychologist, Dr. Bottaro views the mind as full of reality, allowing you to see thoughts and situations for what they really are. His eight-week process demonstrates how to gain control of your mind and restore balance.

“Breakthrough: A Journey from Desperation to Hope”

Author: Father Bob Galea
Publisher: Ave Maria Press
Price: $15.95
Summary: Do you feel disconnected from God? Do you feel your life has no hope? Father Bob Galea, as a teenager, reacted to the pain in his life through addiction, violence and destructive friendships. A recording artist and former contestant of the Australian “X Factor,” Father Galea’s life completely changed when he let God into his life. In “Breakthrough,” he shares his journey from a scared, lonely, angry teen to a passionate priest. A companion journal (sold separately) accompanies the book chapter by chapter and guides readers to consider their faith, relationship with God, their past and their future.

“For Love of My People I Will Not Remain Silent: On the Situation of the Church in China”

Author: Cardinal Joseph Zen
Publisher: Ignatius
Price: $16.95
Summary: It is no secret that the Catholic Church is at odds with the government of China. Cardinal Joseph Zen, the sixth bishop of Hong Kong, is one of the great witnesses of the 21st-century Church. There are two Catholic communities in China: the unofficial, underground Catholic Church and the government-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI sent a letter to Catholics, which is viewed as the magna carta of the Church in China. On the eighth anniversary of the letter, Cardinal Zen offered a series of eight lectures that analyzes the letter. These talks are presented in “For Love of My People I Will Not Remain Silent.” Cardinal Zen was an outspoken opponent of the deal to repair diplomatic relations that was signed by Beijing and the Holy See late last fall. The book offers insight to the deal’s dangers and faults and sets the foundation of the struggle that Catholics in China endure.

Our Sunday Visitor Staff

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