Tip: See and read about the Vatican's real secrets

This book has been on my coffee table for some time now and often catches the eye of my friends. 

The lucky ones open it:

Learn more about the book on its website:

Written by Father Michael Collins, a Vatican insider and accomplished church historian, this beautifully illustrated reference takes a unique behind-the-scenes look at the world’s smallest nation and the spiritual center of the Catholic Church. Produced with the full cooperation of the Vatican, examine the 2,000 year long history of the Vatican and papal influence, experience daily life and governance of the world’s largest religious body, and discover the art collections and other priceless treasures rarely seen by the public. [Buy it on Amazon]

Book suggestion: The Catechist's Magic Kit

An AmP reader suggested this book which "teaches catechists how to use sleight-of-hand to teach the entire Catholic Catechism to kids and teens. It uses a pedagogic method called Gospel Magic first used by St. John Don Bosco in the 1800s. The book received an imprimatur from Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DeMazio"...

In the Mailbox: Called to Love

Carl Anderson, head of the Knights of Columbus, was in town yesterday promoting his new book:

It's his approach to John Paul II's Theology of the Body.

Here's what Archbishop Charles Chaput has to say about it:

“Carl Anderson and Father José Granados write with a clarity, beauty, and intelligence that make these pages a joy to read. But it’s the content that makes this book so important. In a culture that increasingly devalues human life, this is a compelling, wonderfully readable reflection on ‘the theology of the body’ and the meaning of human love and sexuality. I highly recommend it.”

... and that's more than good enough for me. It's on my (growing) to-read list! Purchase it here.

In the Mailbox - The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist

I received this title in the mail a few days ago - it's doing very well on the Amazon charts:

I offer the book upon the recommendation of my former professor Father Basil Cole O.P., who says the book is a "wake-up call" that "smashes the many myths created by Hollywood movies and other amateurs on the subject of exorcism and the role of the exorcist in the Catholic Church." That's high praise coming from Fr. Cole.

Be warned, however, that this subject matter is serious stuff and requires spiritual maturity to read.

In the mailbox: Seven Last Words of Jesus

Talk about fantastic lenten reading:

Description:

Addresses many everyday concerns: marriage, liturgy, suffering, vocations, etc. The sacred mysteries of Christ crucified carefully explored through the lens of sacred art.An invaluable companion a beautiful resource you will return to throughout the year An ideal gift for Catholics and for those who wish to understand the mystery of the Cross of Christ. Well suited for adult catechetical instruction and RCIA.

I've made it my AmP book-of-the-month and am going to begin reading it tonight.

In the mailbox: Praying the Rosary

Description:

The book explains the history and significance of the Rosary as well as instructions on how to get the most of the meditative and spiritual exercise of repeating prayers. The Rosary walks readers through each of twenty Mysteries combining biblical excerpts and by using reproductions of famous biblical artwork by Tissot, Raphael Gaugin and many others to illustrate the power of this beloved act of devotion.

I especially appreciate the "multidisciplinary" approach of placing the devotion of praying the rosary next to scripture and religious art. It will help me make praying the rosary a more regular habit.

In the mailbox: Priestblock 25487

During my travels this past weekend I read Fr. Jean Bernard's Priestblock 25487, the memoir of his Nazi imprisonment at the Dachau concentration camp. It was an incredibly moving read, telling the story of the brave Catholic priests who received (if it can be imagined) even worse treatment than other prisoners amidst the terrors of the Nazi regime.

It was especially inspiring to see how they brought their priestly vocation, in whatever small ways they could, into the depths of horror there. Talk about clinging to Christ! The writing is never needlessly graphic, and gives one courage to overcome the (relatively minor) crosses we are called to bear ourselves.

In the mailbox: Peggy Noonan's new book

It's called Patriotic Grace: What It Is and Why We Need It Now.

I read Peggy Noonan's weekly column for the Wall Street Journal faithfully, but lately I've begun to ask myself if I read it necessarily for her insights, or for her beautiful prose.

Reading her latest title, I hope to answer the former question, and either way, reap the benefits of the latter observation.

The book description:

In this long season of searing political attacks and angry partisan passions, Peggy Noonan's Wall Street Journal column has been must reading for thoughtful liberals and conservatives alike.

Now she issues an urgent, heartfelt call for all Americans to see each other anew, realize what time it is, and come together to support the next President—whoever he is. Because it is not the threats and challenges we face, but how we face them that defines us as a nation.

The terrible events of 9/11 brought us together in a way not seen since World War II. But the stresses and divisions of the Bush years have driven us apart to a point that is unhealthy and destructive.

Today, Noonan argues, the national mood is for a change in our politics and it is well past time for politicians to catch up. Americans are tired of the old partisan divisions and the campaign tricks that seek to widen and exploit them. We long for leaders who can summon us to greatness and unity, as they did in the long struggles against fascism and communism.

In this timely little book, written in the pamphleteering tradition of Tom Paine's Common Sense, Noonan reminds us that we must face our common challenges together—not by rising above partisanship, but by reaffirming what it means to be American. [More here.]

I also must remind myself to read this book of hers sometime: "Simply Speaking - How to Communicate Your Ideas with Style, Substance, and Clarity."

For anyone whose had to suffer through the twisted grammatical and syntactical results of my late-night blogging sessions, you have my sincere sympathy! =)

"The Case Against Barack Obama" booksigning

I just returned from a DC-area booksigning with the author of this book, David Freddoso. It's a hot one that has reached the top-5 on the New York Times and top-10 on the Amazon.com bestsellers lists:

Having covered the media reporting on Barack Obama for almost a year at this point, it is continually surprising for me to see how many troubling stories available on the public record (which are now presented in this book) have never before received any significant attention by the mainstream media.

I found this book to be a straightforward, informative read, with well-documented sources and footnotes. I don't hesitate to recommend it as the one-stop resource to learn about Obama's actual political track record.

Related: Read Freddoso's editorial in today's Wall Street Journal: "Obama Played by Chicago Rules."

Update: CNA talks about Freddoso and his book today.

In the mailbox: Archbishop Chaput's book on Catholics & Politics

I've been looking forward to reading this title since I first heard about it ...

From what I've read so far, I'm extremely impressed by the depth of the analysis and the breath of the examples and experience he draws from in his treatment.

It's not surprising to me that so many well-informed folks are saying this is the book to read on the topic of the proper interrelation between Catholic faith and political life.

In the mailbox: Janet Smith on the Right to Privacy

Co-published by Ignatius Press and the National Catholic Bioethics Center, available for pre-order:

It also features an excellent introduction by Robert H. Bork, of the Ave Maria School of Law.

From the book jacket:

"Janet E. Smith, the well-known philosophy professor and writer, presents a critical look at the meaning of the "right to privacy" taht has been so often employed by the Supreme Court in recent times to justify the creation of rights not found in the Constitution by any traditional method of interpreting a legal document. Smith demonstrates how such inventions have led to the legal protection of abortion, assisted suicide, homosexual acts and more.

... The Right to Privacy is an essentuial primer for any serious study of the current issues surrounding what Pope John Paul II called the Culture of Death, both here in the United States as well as internationally."

Janet Smith, with her typical crystal-clear logic and easy prose, shows the remarkable way in which "actions that were at one time considered abominable crimes are now considered inalienable rights."

In the Mailbox: Praying with St. Paul

When I first heard about this new book, I was very excited.

Today I received it in the mail, and I'm even more impressed! It contains a one-page entry for each day, (so 365 separate entries) with a quotation from St. Paul, a meditation on the verses, and a prayer to say.

What a wonderful way to start or end your day. Also consider adding it to your daily spiritual reading!

In the Mailbox: No One Sees God by Michael Novak

The fine folks at DoubleDay Religion sent me an advance copy of Michael Novak's new book No One Sees God: The Dark Night of Atheists and Believers, where he responds to the new athiests (Hitchens, Dawkins, etc.).

It's one of the best new reads I've come across in awhile, and I would highly recommend placing an advance order (it ships August 5th).

Novak explains the purpose of his book in an interview published by First Things here. And he does so again with this column published in the Washington Post.

Two points I've noticed: Novak remains courteous in making his arguments (something the new athiests would do well to mimic), and he speaks about the challenges faced by believers and non-believers alike.

In the mailbox: The Last Secret of Fatima

The latest from DoubleDay religion:

Wow, written by the Cardinal Secretary of State, and a forward by Pope Benedict XVI!

I'm going to start reading it this afternoon.

In the mailbox: JP2, SoJ, KoC & Anne Rice

Currently reading:

• Christ the Lord by Anne Rice (I see this everywhere, evidently popular).
• A Civilization of Love by Carl Anderson (Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus)
• John Paul II and the Meaning of Suffering by Robert Schroeder (from Our Sunday Visitor)
• A Long Retreat by Andrew Krivak (personal memoir of his time with the Society of Jesus)

In the Mailbox: Questions and Answers of Pope Benedict XVI

What a great idea. Our Sunday Visitor asked Michael Dubruiel to edit together the answers that Pope Benedict has given to a variety of interesting questions during his pontificate (and Fr. Z helped with the translations).

From the publisher: "Discover the Pope's insightful, personable, and refreshingly accessible responses to the questions we all want to ask. Live audiences of children, clergy, young adults, and others gain unprecedented access to ask the Pope about everything from divorce and remarriage to the Mass, consumerism, relativism, sacraments, Scripture, music, sex, vocations, and more."

Since many questions in the book originate from children, youth and young priests, this strikes me as an excellent book to give, perhaps as a confirmation or late baptism present, or as an "entry into seminary" gift.

It also provides an easy general introduction to the pope's thought and his winning pastoral style.

I've had the chance to read many of the Holy Father's speeches shortly after he delivered them, and I look forward to revisiting these texts at leisure now that I won't have to hunt them down individually.

In the Mailbox: The Faithful Departed

Hot off the press! Philip F. Lawler's new book (Phil is the editor of Catholic World News).

From the publisher: "Faithful Departed traces the rise and fall of the Catholic Church in Boston, showing how the Massachusetts experience set a pattern that echoed throughout the United States as religious institutions lost influence in the face of rising secularization. The collapse of Catholicism in Boston became apparent with the explosion of the sex-abuse crisis. Lawler shows that the sex-abuse scandal was neither the cause nor the beginning of Catholicism's decline in Boston."

The first chapter is available online here.

I just got my copy last night, and started reading it this morning. Review to follow shortly.

Sunday reading: books in the mailbox

Kelli and the kind folks at Doubleday's Religion division have been sending me plenty of recently released titles to keep my summer reading list full and varied, and I'd like to let you know about some of them (descriptions are taken from the Doubleday Religion page):

A highly respected physicist demonstrates that the essential beliefs of Christianity are wholly consistent with the scientific laws of the universe.

This book unravels the mysteries, corrects misunderstandings, and offers thoughtful straightforward responses to common objections about the Catholic faith.

Now in paperback, the bestselling biography of Mother Angelica, founder of the multimillion-dollar Eternal World Television Network.

Raymond Arroyo presents an inspiring collection of Mother Angelica's powerful insights, comic musings, and no-nonsense advice for everyone.

This insightful guide focuses on the true purpose and power of prayer, presenting ten prayers that will make real and lasting changes in the lives of readers of all faiths.

(I'll also be adding these to the sidebar eventually)