Catholic Company Book Review: Wholly Mary, Mother of God

Wholly Mary Mother of God

About the Book:

There's a little bit about Mary in Scripture. We can glean a bit more from the tradition of the Church. Some of the approved apparitions add a little insight, too. But where can we go to get the complete picture, to find out about the whole Mary? Wholly Mary does just that. In an engaging style, Chris Padgett walks us through what the Bible has to say about the Mother of God. What has she meant to the Church throughout the centuries, what do the apparitions add, what have the saints told us about her and, most importantly, what can we learn from her ourselves? Other facets of this explanation of the Blessed Mother include:

• The power of the rosary
• How the Mass relates to Mary
• Four important dogmas about Mary
• Mary and the Trinity
• Mary and ecumenism

With the enthusiasm and passion Chris Padgett is known for, Mary is sure to come alive for you in a wholly new way!

My Comments:

This is an easy engaging read that covers most of the Marian doctrines.  While it contains a section contrasting  the scriptural support for both the Protestant and Catholic views of Mary it is not primarily an apologetics book.  While there is a section on saying the rosary as a family, it isn't really a prayer book.  While apparitions are mentioned, it isn't really about them.  It is  a book about Mary in the life of the Catholic church and in the spiritual lives of  her children.  Its strength is its engaging style rather than its depth or the amount of material covered.  Grade:  B.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Wholly Mary - Mother of God. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

Catholic Company Book Review: Spirituality You Can Live With

Spirituality You Can Live With

About the Book:

Can you still be spiritual while dealing with life’s daily grind? Are you nearer to God now than you were a few years ago? Do you sometimes lose hope amid the chaos of your daily routine? Chris Padgett has some practical help for you – an easy-to-use guide for those interested in habits of holiness they can actually maintain amid the frantic pace of daily life. Thirty lively chapters geared to the busy person cover the essentials of the faith - from brokenness and repentance to joy, dryness in prayer, and loving yourself and your neighbor. Discover how to maintain an inner silence even while surrounded by noise. Each short chapter features 2 or 3 questions for reflection to help you examine your life and make small changes every day.

My Comments:

I've come to the conclusion that books about how to improve your spiritual life are a lot like books about how to lose weight.  In both cases, while they may try to put a different spin on the tried and true advice, when it comes right down to it, if weight loss is your goal you need to eat less and exercise more.  If getting closer to God is your goal you need to sin less and pray more.  

However, just as diet books can sometimes give you the structure and encouragement you need to eat less and exercise more, so spirituality books can give you the structure and encouragement you need to sin less and pray more.  Spirituality You Can Live With is a good thirty day guide.  Each day you read one chapter and then meditate on the questions at the end.  Chris Padgett is very practical and starts by asking the reader to look at life as it is now, and where Christ fits. He covers our weakness and being open to God.  Mary is discussed as are the sacraments.  In short, it is a good book to give structure and guidance to your prayer life for a month.

I'd like to thank The Catholic Company for  providing a review copy of this book.  Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Spirituality You Can Live With . They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.