Category: book review

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Review Suffering: What Every Catholic Should Know

Mark Giszczak’s book, Suffering: What Every Catholic Should Know (Ignatius Press) resonated with me. Truth be told, I didn’t want it to affect me as deeply as it did. Long time readers of this blog know of my husband’s illness, and other members of my family are struggling with serious health concerns, as well. Beloved friends, too, have their share of suffering.

I hoped to glean a better understanding of the Church’s teaching on suffering, and I did. If that is all I had taken away from this book, I would have had a strong foundational understanding of the Theology of suffering. I knew there would be deep theological points, but Giszszcak has a direct style that remains formal, but flows conversationally. I enjoyed reading the book, even though the topic is close to my own experience.

Coping with suffering as Christians is not just about pain management but also includes certain spiritual practices that lead us to surrender our lives more fully to the Lord. (10)

What struck me right away is how I experienced all the things that Giszszcak names. Suffering is universal, a part of the human condition, as misunderstood as it is pervasive. He doesn’t avoid the WHY that so many of us ask of God. And so, he begins with the story of Job, and goes on to describe how suffering is deeply personal, yet filled with the power of hope and redemption.

I reflected upon the various times of suffering in my life, as daughter, wife, and mother, as friend and companion, spiritually and physically, and I was consoled.

In suffering, we are transformed. It aligns us with Christ’s suffering on the cross, and brings us closer to Him. Suffering is not endured in vain, but is a great spiritual gift.

A recommended read in good times and in bad.

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Augustine Institute – Ignatius Press; 1st edition (February 26, 2024)
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1955305587
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1955305587
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Book Review: Come to Me: Living the Nine First Fridays by Sister Anne Flanagan, FSP

Sr. Anne Flanagan’s new book, Come to Me: Living the Nine First Fridays, is a boon to my faith life.  Sr. Anne invites us to enter into the extraordinary devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and she does so through a foundational education that prepares the reader for heeding Christ’s call to a closer relationship with Him.

cover of Come to Me with beautiful sacred Heart imagery

Preparing Our Hearts

I was not unfamiliar with this devotion when I first picked up this book. In fact, I have often attempted this discipline of attending Mass and receiving Communion on and off for probably two decades with no success at completing the devotion. I often struggled with my spirit being willing but my flesh being weak (Matthew 26:41) and succumbing to whatever distraction kept me from finishing the devotion.

In Come to Me, Sr. Anne prepares our hearts to listen to Jesus and enter into an intimate sharing with Him. She details the meaning of the devotion, its history, and its practice, and includes a scriptural understanding of how this devotion shapes us and molds our hearts for Jesus. At the end of the book, she provides a beautifully curated selection of prayers for us to continue in our spiritual practice.

“Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a solid foundation for our life of prayer.” (4)

As my knowledge of this devotion increased, so did my desire to try again. Each chapter that accompanies a month of the devotion matches a theme with a Saint and an accompanying Adoration guide. I am confident that experiencing this devotion with the guided prayer for each month will yield great spiritual fruit for me, and I hope, for you as well.

Come to Me: Living the Nine First Fridays

Sister Anne Flanagan, FSP

Pailine Books & Media

2023

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Signs and Legacies of Faith

Today I’m playing at another blog, Reconciled to You with Allison Gingras celebrating the release of her book, Encountering Signs of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints, and the Abundant Grace of God. It’s a beautiful testament to the power of faith in our lives. This delightfully engaging book will teach so much about the saints and the value of having sacramental items around us. However, you’ll want to read this for the beautiful tapestry of faith that is woven throughout Allison’s journey on the way to finding her Faith: her precious adoptive daughter.

I find myself caught up in some very worldly things these days. My husband and I are reviewing our retirement plans, my aging mother will soon require a new level of attention, and some accounts from estates need to be set in order.

It’s a matter of memento mori, especially in this month when prayers for the dead are at the forefront, but also a question of life. Or perhaps specifically, a matter of how we have lived our lives in a way that leaves something behind.

Have I left a footprint on this earth? More importantly, have I left a footprint on a heart?

Have I left a footprint on a soul?

I hope so.

Continue reading at Reconciled to You.

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