I'm baaaack!  :-)
Summer is over and I am getting back on track with my library suggestions.
I hope that you are all ready to get to back to work too!  We need to keep
our public libraries up on all of the books that our Catholic community has to
offer.

Just as a refresher, here is how this list works:
I send out information on books of interest to our group. If you see a book
that you would like your library to carry, go to their website to see if it is
already in the library card catalog. If it is not, then fill out a patron
request form. Most libraries offer such a form online.

This is a very effective way to get good Catholic books in your library. I
have had many list members report to me that their public libraries have
purchased many of the books they request.

And once your library purchases the books that you have requested, make sure
to check them out!

Maureen :)


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I received the following email from a friend of mine:
"DaVinci Code is so popular, and next year it will be made into a movie. Our
library has three copies of DVC that are never available because they are
constantly checked out or on hold. However, we have no "debunking" DaVinci type
books. I suggest that the best one is DaVinci Hoax, by Carl Olsen and Sandra
Meisel, but whatever one you want to recommend (Amy Welborn has one, Steve
Kellmeyer has one, too) I think one of them would be good to recommend on your
St.
Nicholas list. Our libraries should tell the truth, too."


. . . If you go to our archives, you will find info on Welborn's book in
message #17 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PopeSaintNicholasV/message/17 .

Here is the Olsen and Meisel book:

Title:     The Da Vinci Hoax: Exposing the Errors in The Da Vinci Code
Author:     Carl E. Olson and Sandra Miesel
Publisher:     Ignatius Press
Date Published:     July, 2004
ISBN:     1586170341
Price:     Paperback $15.95
Comments:     A critical review of the #1 Bestseller The DaVinci Code


From amazon.com:
Editorial Reviews
Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago
"The definitive debunking."

Marvin Olasky, editor of World Magazine
"A clearly-written antidote."

Philip Jenkins, Distinguished Professor of History and Religious Studies,
Pennsylvania State University
"Unlike the original Code, The Da Vinci Hoax is a delight to read."

About the Author
Carl E. Olson is the editor of Envoy magazine. Raised in a Fundamentalist
home, he attended an Evangelical Bible college. Carl entered the Catholic Church
in 1997 and holds an MTS from the University of Dallas. A well-respected
author, he has written for First Things, This Rock, Envoy, Crisis, National
Review
Online, Our Sunday Visitor, and National Catholic Register. His bestselling
book, Will Catholic Be "Left Behind"? (Ignatius, 2003) was selected by the
Associated Press as one of the best religious titles of 2003. Carl lives with
his
wife and daughter in Eugene, Oregon.
Sandra Miesel holds masters’ degrees in biochemistry and medieval history
from the University of Illinois. Since 1983, she has written hundreds of
articles
for the Catholic press, chiefly on history, art, and hagiography. She
regularly appears in Crisis magazine and is a columnist for the diocesan paper
of
Norwich, Connecticut. Sandra has spoken at religious and academic conferences,
appeared on EWTN, and given numerous radio interviews. Outside the Catholic
sphere, she has also written, analyzed, and edited fiction. Sandra and her
husband
John have raised three children.

Excerpted from The Da Vinci Hoax: The Truth About Jesus, Christianity, Mary
Magdalene, and the Da Vinci Code by Carl E. Olson, Sandra Miesel. Copyright ©
2004. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
FOREWORD
The title of this book by Carl Olson and Sandra Miesel says it all. The
novel, The Da Vinci Code, is engaging and intriguing. It is a thriller presented
as
an historical novel. It is fiction, yet it seeks to convince the reader that
it is based on fact. It pushes an attack on the Catholic Church and claims to
do so in the name of historical authenticity and sound scholarship. The claim
is preposterous, but persuasive for many.
The authors of The Da Vinci Hoax deserve our gratitude for exposing in
considerable detail and with sure touch the fabrications of Dan Brown’s book.
Theirs
is the definitive debunking. In the end, the fallacy of Brown’s book is a
common one. It approaches the Christian faith as though its contents were to be
found in words and documents rather than in the witness and collective memory
of the community Christ himself left behind, His Church.
There have been such writings before and, no doubt, will be again. Why single
out this novel? I read it because so many people who read it kept asking me
questions about it. It has had a remarkably large and credulous readership,
reminding me of the dictum that those who have lost or don’t know the faith
are
likely to believe anything. It matters what we read, what films and television
we watch. If we feed our minds on error, we risk losing touch with the truth
about who we are and how we ought to live.
We find salvation through self-surrender in faith to Christ, not from
personal ideas or inspirations. Once the anchor of the Church’s authentic
witness and
teaching is abandoned, gnostic or other false theories inevitably appear.
Antagonism to the Church and her teaching ultimately entails some kind of
rejection of Jesus Christ as he has revealed himself in history. His truth is
always
a challenge to every egocentric vision of reality and to an unbounded will for
human autonomy. Besides, does anyone really think that all those martyrs went
to their deaths to protect the secret that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were
married?
—Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I.
Archbishop of Chicago

Book Description
The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown’s best selling novel, purports to be more than
fiction: it claims to be based on fact and scholarly research. Brown wants his
readers to believe that he is revealing the long-concealed truth about Jesus,
Mary Magdalene, and early Christianity, a truth that he says has been
suppressed by the malevolent and conspiratorial forces of the Catholic Church.
The
novel alleges that there has been throughout history a secret group of true
followers of a Gnostic Jesus and his wife, Mary Magdalene, the true "Holy
Grail".
Almost everything most Christians and non-Christians think they know about
Jesus, according to Dan Brown, is completely wrong, the result of Catholic
propaganda designed to hide the truth from the world.
But are The Da Vinci Code’s claims fact or just plain fiction? Is the novel
well-researched as claimed? What is the truth about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and
the early Church? Has the Catholic Church distorted the real Jesus? Why is the
novel so popular? What about the anti-Catholic, anti-Christian agenda behind
the novel?
Best selling author Carl Olson and journalist Sandra Miesel answer these and
other important questions. Their painstaking research into The Da Vinci Code
and its sources reveals some surprising truths. No one who has read or heard
about The Da Vinci Code should miss this provocative and illuminating new book.


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It pays to fill out those patron request forms.  This recent email is from
list member Nancy:

"OH! I had a surprise. Yesterday, the library called and told me two
books I'd requested were in. Usually that means ILL. So, imagine my
delight when I picked up Living the Mysteries, and Letters to a Young
Catholic, and saw that the library had actually PURCHASED them for
our collection! Thanks for your St. Nicholas list, because without
that, this would not have happened! Now, our library has at least two
good books, and maybe the reason I haven't heard about others is that
they are actually ordering them, which is so thrilling.
Have a great day,"


. . . Thanks for keeping me up-to-date Nancy!

Blessings,
Maureen :)


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Title:     The Shadow of the Bear
Author:     Regina Doman
Publisher:     Bethlehem Books
Date Published:     August 2002
ISBN:     1883937760
Price:     Paperback 11.95 (libraries receive generous discount)
Comments:     Original Title: Snow White & Rose Red, a Modern Fairytale


From amazon.com:
Read this book!! Then read the sequel!! It only gets better, August 9, 2004
I read this book years ago and loved it. Now, I've returned to it again only
to discover that it remains as good a read as ever. A little mystery and
danger mixed with some very easy to identify with characters. I feel as if I
know
them personally. Ms. Doman does a great job bringing this fairy tale into the
real world.

The reason that I've returned to this book is that it's sequel has just come
out "Black as Night". If you like "The Shadow of the Bear" - you will LOVE
"Black as Night". I really liked "The Shadow of the Bear" alot - I couldn't
imagine how a sequel would be. I have to say that I was much more than
pleasantly
surprised. "Black as Night" sucks you in from the first paragraph and doesn't
release you until the very last punctuation mark. It's wonderful to see a
writer hone their craft and come out with such an amazing piece of work. I'm
anxious to see the third book in this series!! Ms. Doman, if you're reading
this.....we want more!!!

I HIGHLY recommend that you read these books. While you're at it - order
another set to give as a gift to that book lover in your life!! (I already know
what my niece is getting for Christmas....if I can wait that long to share the
joy!)




Finally, a good young adult novel!, June 13, 2004

Finally! A novel for young adults that isn't trashy, goody-goody, or poorly
written! Though I read it in college, I absolutely loved this book. It has all
the elements that make a great story: a wonderful, intriguing plot, realistic
and interesting characters, and edifying morals and themes.
This book is about reality--not the false images this world gives us, but the
battles that are being fought behind the tiniest action or seemingly
insignificant words. It gives you a glimpse of the cosmic importance of every
person,
and how all are fighting, be it for good or for evil. This is makes this book
more than a well-written story, and makes it a classic. You won't see the
world in the same way after you finish it.
By the way, a sequel to this, called "Black as Night" should be out in July.
I was blessed to meet Regina Doman and hear her read 4 chapters of her new
manuscript. From the sounds of it, it will be awesome! If you liked this one, I
think the next will be just as good.



A winner for anyone who ever hated high school!, May 10, 2004

This book is superb. There are a lot of typos in this edition, but the book
itself is brilliant. I recommend the original hardcover version, because they
only changed the title so it would appeal to boys, and this cover is pretty
bad. Plot: two catholic ex-homeschool girls move to NYC after their father dies.
Blanche (aka Snow White) is a worrier, and super-shy. She gets made fun of
bigtime at their new catholic school. Her younger sister Rose (Rose Red) is
passionate and full of adventure. When they meet a mysterious stranger who calls
himself Bear, Blanche's suspicions and Rose's curiousity throw them into a
whirlwind of adventure and intrigue that kept me reading late into the night,
and
re-reading every year or two afterward. Anyone would love this book, but it
especially appeals to Catholics, homeschoolers, and/or fairy-tale addicts. Just
so you know, I am a fairy-tale fan, an ex-homeschooler, and a christian, and I
absolutely devoured it. I can't wait for the sequel!



Grant me three wishes . . ., June 10, 2003

and I would wish for three more books as outstanding as "The Shadow of the
Bear." This is a book to savor, to read while curled up in bed till the early
hours of dawn. A mysterious encounter with Bear lures loyal sisters Blanche and
Rose from their sheltered lives into a world of danger and deceit. The teens
become cloaked in Bear's shadow--but is it a shadow of protection . . . or
peril?
Set in modern New York City, this is nonetheless a timeless tale, woven with
a theme about recognizing the value of right and wrong--choosing right even
when it goes against the grain of popularity. You won't find preaching in these
pages. Noble ideas come through naturally, along with heart-thumping suspense
that builds to a dynamic climax and a satisfying ending. You also won't find
typical characters. Rose's spirit and Blanche's pensiveness complement each
other. While parents will approve of the heroines, teens won't find them dull or
"goody-goody"; they will readily identify with and admire them.
In the book's Acknowledgements, Ms. Doman herself calls "Shadow of the Bear"
an "odd" story--and indeed it is, in the most delightfully intriguing sense of
the word. Yes, the title includes "shadow," but the story sparkles with
excitement and even romance; it shines in this contemporary world with all the
charm of a fairy tale.
I recommend this book to everyone--not just as a reader, but as an author. If
my debut novel, "Past Suspicion" (a young adult suspense novel due out later
this summer by Publish America), is enjoyed in any way like "Shadow of the
Bear," I'll be elated, for it is along similar lines that I strive to write,
crafting a visionary novel offering a compelling story that champions faith and
hope in an often chaotic world.
By now the following should be obvious: "The Shadow of the Bear" is a book to
read and reread. In short, to treasure. I hear Ms. Doman is working on
sequels . . . my wishes are coming true!



A fairy tale, but not what you might think, March 18, 2003

Blanche and Rose are two teenage sisters who have recently moved to New York
City after living a secluded childhood in the country. The perky and social
Rose adjusts well to the big-city Catholic high school - making lots of friends
and even being invited to the Senior Prom by the most popular boy in school.
Blanche, on the other hand, more nervous and shy by nature, is incessantly
teased by her schoolmates and struggles with her own internal fears about life.
Despite Blanche's objections, Rose and their mother (who was recently
widowed) befriend a scruffy (dread-locked) transient, "Bear", who spent time in
Juvenile Hall for drug possession.
A page-turning adventure and mystery unfold in which appearances are not
always what they seem and the two sisters grow in faith, friendship and
determination.
In the background of the story whirl a myriad of ideas about life, love,
courage, fear, reality, death and much more that teenagers (and adults too)
struggle with. But in the end the reader walks away with a sense of hope and
that,
yes, life is difficult and many bad things can happen, but even so God is in
charge and the truth will come out in the end if we don't give up.
If the average person on the street today were asked how they would define "a
fairy tale", I think they would describe a story in which "perfect" people
had certain adventures, but in the end lived happily ever after. Unfortunately
our modern ideas of fairy tales come largely from animated Disney movies of the
past 50 years.
"The Shadow of the Bear" is based on the classic fairy tale "Snow White and
Rose Red". Yet it is nothing like our common idea of a fairy tale because our
modern definition is flawed. Reading this book, might, in fact, enhance your
idea of what a fairy tale is.



Enchanting real-life fairy tale, October 19, 2002

Previously published as "Snow White and Rose Red: A Modern Fairy Tale," this
is a wonderful, gritty retelling of an otherwise-uninteresting fairy tale.
This is a real-as-life story about true love and courage, with a dash of crime
and religion in there to balance it all out.
High-school students Blanche and Rose once lived in luxury in the country,
but since the death of their father they live in a slushy city with their
overworked mother. At their new school, they are generally ignored or abused,
especially Blanche, who frequently has dizzy spells.
The girls are, at first, less than thrilled when their mother brings a
homeless young man called "Bear" home. Despite their apprehension, soon they
become
close friends with him, based on a mutual love of poetry and jokes. But after
a disastrous prom night where Bear is thrown out of the dance and Rose is
intimidated by a would-be seducer, the girls find themselves in a potentially
deadly struggle with a ruthless man -- with a grudge against Bear and the
mysterious boy called "Fish."
Regina Doman manages to triumph in this book is several areas. Though there
are essential religious themes woven into the plotline, there is no irritating
sanctimonious air to the book. The two heroines aren't goody-goodies loved for
their virtues, but mocked for them. And it's not exactly squeaky-clean
either: there are themes such as child abandonment, homelessness, assault and
attempted murder, heart trouble, and Rose's boyfriend pressuring her for sex.
However, Doman is never less than tasteful, and her handling of these is in sync
with the vein of Roman Catholic beliefs that runs through the novel.
Blanche and Rose are another good accomplishment. Rather than being carbon
copies of one another, as siblings in many books are, the two girls have
strengths and weaknesses that complement each other. Bear is a gentle giant who
loves
poetry and swing dancing; he proves to be a character like an onion, that is
gradually unpeeled. And Fish is my personal favorite, a cocky wise-cracker who
doesn't let any situation (including attempted murder) keep him down for too
long.
One of the few "real life" fairy tale retellings that works. "Shadow of the
Bear" is an enchanting love story with a pulse-pounding storyline and likeable
characters.


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Title:     Black as Night
Author:     Regina Doman
Publisher:     Bethlehem Books
Date Published:     July 2004
ISBN:     1883937884
Price:     Paperback 11.95 (libraries receive discounts)
Comments:     Author of The Shadow of the Bear.

From amazon.com:

Great Book for Teens
Black as Night is the sequel to Ms. Doman's first book, Snow White and Rose
Red which follows the adventures of two sisters hitting their high school years
and beyond in the tender landscape of New York City. Black as Night continues
the story of the eldest sister (primarily) who runs into some trouble while
on her own for the summer (her family is on vacation and her should-be
boyfriend is in Europe trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life).
Ms.
Doman deals with romance and young adult angst, in a way that is totally
appropriate for any teenager (or their parents)to read while still keeping
everyone's
attention with an interesting and action-packed story line. I highly
recommend this to teenagers and young adults.


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From list member Sharon:


"The county library in my area purchased the Amy Welborn book based upon
my request from the information you sent on the list Maureen! "



Great news Sharon!  Everyone keep up the good work!!!!
Blessings,
Maureen :)


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Title:     Andrei Roublev  (1966)
Starring:     Anatoli Solonitsyn, Ivan Lapikov
Directed By:    Andrei Tarkovsky
Produced By:     DVD Criterion Collection, VHS Fox Lorber
Date Released:     DVD Feb. 1999, VHS Nov 1995
ASIN:     DVD 6305257450, VHS 6302426499
Price:     DVD 39.99, VHS
Comments:     From the Vatican's list of top 45 movies


"Brilliantly devised and directed account of the famous 15th century icon
painter, focusing on an age—old conflict: should an artist participate in the
political and social upheavals of the time, or should he simply record history
with his brush?" — Leonard Maltin

From the US Bishops:
Andrei Rublev (1969) Russian production about a 15th-century monk (Anatoli
Solonitzine) who perseveres in painting icons and other religious art despite
the civil disruptions and cruel turmoil of his times. Director Andrei Tarkovsky
visualizes brilliantly the story of a devout man seeking through his art to
find the transcendent in the savagery of the Tartar invasions and the unfeeling
brutality of Russian nobles. Subtitles. Stylized historical violence. The U.S.
Catholic Conference classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not
rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (Fox Lorber, $79.95)

From amazon.com:
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
At last, the complete version of Andrei Tarkovski's 1966 masterpiece about
the great 15th century Russian icon painter (a film suppressed by the Soviet
Union and unseen until 1971) is available. It's a complex and demanding
narrative
about the responsibility of the artist to participate in history rather than
documenting it from a safe distance. A landmark in Russian cinema, Andrei
Rublev is a beautifully lyrical black-and-white film about harmony and soulful
expression. As the late filmmaker says in a supplementary interview, each
generation must experience life for itself; it cannot simply absorb what has
preceded
it. In fact, a whole host of supplements accompanies the film in this
Criterion Collection release. Stick with it; it's worth the effort. --Bill
Desowitz

Description
Immediately suppressed by the Soviets in 1966, Andrei Tarkovsky's epic
masterpiece is a sweeping medieval tale of Russia's greatest icon painter. Too
experimental, too frightening, too violent, and too politically complicated to
be
released officially, Andrei Rublev has existed only in shortened, censored
versions until the Criterion Collection created this complete 205-minute
director's cut special edition, now available for the first time on DVD.


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Dear List Members,

Though this is a small email list of 58 members, we have made quite an impact
on our local public libraries.  All of the success stories that I receive are
evidence of that.

For this reason, I would love to see this list grow to include many more
members. In order to do that, I need your help.

If you belong to other Catholic email lists, please tell them about
PopeSaintNicholasV and invite them to join us.  Tell all of your friends.  If
you have
a website, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PopeSaintNicholasV/promote for
a button to link from your webpage to PopeStNick.

Thank you!
Blessings,
Maureen :)


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I recently sent information on books that refute The Da Vinci Code.  Now,
here is one that refutes the Left Behind series.

Title:     The Rapture Trap
Author:     Paul Thigpen
Publisher:     Ascension Press
Date Published:     October 2001
ISBN:     0965922820
Price:     Softcover 11.99
Comments:     A Catholic response to "end times" fever.

From amazon.com:
Editorial Reviews

Karl Keating, Author, What Catholics Really Believe
Paul Thigpen debunks the rapture theory with charity, clarity, and precision.


Steve Wood, Founder, St. Joseph's Covenant Keepers
...The Rapture Trap presents a reliable and trustworthy guide to Catholic
Teaching on the end times.


About the Author
Paul Thigpen, Ph.D., is a senior editor for Servant Publications, associate
editor of Envoy Magazine, and the best-selling author of more than 25 books,
including A Dictionary of Quotes From the Saints (Servant, 2001) and Blood of
the Martyrs, Seed of the Church (Servant, 2001). Thigpen is a former evangelical
Protestant pastor who entered the Catholic Church in 1993. He lives with his
wife, Leisa, and their two children in Savannah, Georgia.


Book Description
Paul Thigpen, Ph.D., lays out in clear, simple terms the biblical foundations
of Catholic teaching on the close of the age--the "end times." Along with
Scripture, he draws from Tradition, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Church
history, and contemporary experience to reveal the shortcomings of the rapture
doctrine and the larger tangle of twisted religious teachings to which it is
tied.


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Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it is,
put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right
away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.


Title:     My Heart Lies South: The Story of My Mexican Marriage
Author:     Elizabeth Borton De Trevino
Publisher:     Bethlehem Books, Young People Edition
Date Published:     Sept. 2001
ISBN:     1883937515
Price:     Softcover $14.95
Comments:     Lovely story of an American journalist's marriage and life in
Mexico in the 1930's.


From amazon.com:
  That fortress, the Family, February 6, 2003
Reviewer:  Gabriel Toscana (Monterrey, Mexico)

This book is an autobiography of an American woman who came to Mexico on what
she thought was going to be a brief assignment and ended marrying with a
Mexican and staying in Mexico for the rest of her happy life. But the book is
much
more than this. It describes the clash between the very different cultures of
Mexico and the USA which result, almost always, in hilarious situations.
Almost everything described happens in Monterrey, Mexico where she lived with
her husband and eventually with her children, but as she mentions in the
book, the extended family is extremely important in Mexico and she got to love
and
respect her "Mamacita" and "Papacito" (mother and father-in-law) as much, or
maybe even more, than her own parents. "To Mamacita and Papacito I dedicate
this book in loving memory."
The Trevi?o Borton family is, in my humble opinion, "every family of mankind,
the archetypal family about whom all mankind is dreaming." (Quoting from a
review of Finnegans Wake). As such, anyone may appreciate this book, but... for
Regiomontanos (people from Monterrey) it means much more: it describes the
inner workings of the social fabric in the city, it brings to life the infinite
subtlety of their ways, it gives a microscopic historical view of the 1930's
that you can hardly find anywhere else, it creates a deep longing for a
beautiful past.
I, like Borton, married with Monterrey. Her husband was Luis Trevi?o. My wife
is Olivia Trevi?o and through Borton I finally understood why "the Family" is
of such overwhelming importance for my wife.
The interest that this book generated in me was so great that I decided to
journey through Elizabeth's world... 70 years later.
I have built a web site where you can see how her house, her Mamacitas house,
and many other places she mentions in the book look TODAY... 70 YEARS LATER.
...
Many things have changed during the years but writing from Monterrey I can
say, as she once said, "I was then, as now, so safe, so happy, within that
fortress - the family."




  A delightful venture into 30s Mexico, December 27, 2000
Reviewer:  E. A Solinas "la_solinas" (Hanover, MD USA)


Reading this autobio, you can see why the author won a Newbery for "I, Juan
de Pareja." Recently reprinted, I was given this book as a gift and was stunned
by it

This short yet sweet accounting of the author's marriage and life in Mexico
is a joy to read. It begins in long ago in California, when a young woman named
Elizabeth Borton travels to Monterrey with a Mexican PR worker, a young man
named Luis Trevino. A few months later, they are married, and a modern young
woman from the US must get used to life in traditional Mexico, with all the joys
and cultural rifts that includes. A delightful extended family and
Elizabeth's excellent kids add to the cultural enjoyment over the course of the
book.

In her colorful, sparkling prose, you are transported to the world of
Mamacita and Papacita and Tia Rosa, of Robert's peculiar courtship of his
girlfriend
and the trials and tribulations of setting up house in a new country. How does
Elizabeth adjust to the cultura!l changes, the passionate natures of the
people around her, and the expectations of a Mexican wife and mother?

I was feeling depressed until I read this book, but it immediately perked me
up. Read it and enjoy!


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From a list member:

Dear Maureen,
Just had to tell you that our library recently purchased four of the
books you recommended (and I suggested) from your list, keep up the good
work!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

First check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it
is, put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form
right away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     The Flowers of Saint Francis
Starring: Aldo Fabrizi, Arabella Lemaitre, Brother Nazario Gerardi
Director:     Roberto Rossellini
Studio:Cineriz, Rizzoli
Rating:    NR
Date Released:     Original 1950
ASIN:
Price:
Comments:    From the Vatican's Best Films List


From US Catholic Bishops - Office of Film and Broadcasting:
The Flowers of St. Francis (1950) Remarkable Italian production about the
beginnings of the Franciscan Order as its founder sets the example of humility,
simplicity and obedience for his first followers at Portiuncula, a little
chapel near Assisi, from which they depart into the world to preach peace.
Directed
by Roberto Rossellini from a script co-written with Federico Fellini, the
movie's form is as simple and sincere as the subject of the narrative which
relates a series of little incidents realistically, yet with an infectious sense
of
joy marvellously conveyed by an anonymous cast of monks from a Roman
monastery. Subtitles. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-I --
general
patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (Facets
Multimedia, $34.95)


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Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it is,
put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right
away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     Body and Gift
Author:     Sam Torode
Publisher:     Philokalia Books
Date Published:     June 2003
ISBN:     0972535810
Price:     Hardcover $10.95
Comments:


From amazon.com
Editorial Reviews
Christopher West, author of Good News About Sex & Marriage
"Sam Torode provides a tremendous service by ‘translating’ the Pope’s
sublime reflections into ‘normal’ language."

J. Budziszewski, author of What We Can't Not Know
"...not theology ‘for dummies,’ but faith seeking understanding in everyday
speech. I hope the book will be read widely."

About the Author
Sam Torode, the editor of this series, is a freelance writer and artist whose
essays have appeared in Books & Culture, Boundless Webzine, Christianity
Today, The American Enterprise, World, and the anthology Best Christian Writing
2002. He and his wife, Bethany, are authors of Open Embrace, an introduction to
Natural Family Planning.

Book Description
In a series of talks known as "the theology of the body," Pope John Paul II
set out to answer some of the most important questions of our time about love
and sexuality. Now, the theology of the body is being made available in
simplified language for the general reader. Body and Gift, the first book in a
four-part series, begins with the creation of man as recorded in Genesis. What
does
this ancient book have to teach us today about the human body and God’s design
for marriage? Body and Gift expresses the heart of John Paul’s teachings on
this important subject.


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put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right
away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     The Dark Night of the Soul
Author:     St. John of the Cross
Publisher:     Image
Date Published:     Reprint 1959
ISBN:     0385029306
Price:     Paperback 11.95
Comments:     Classic, will be checked out for years to come!


From amazon.com:
Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
As a Carmelite monk, the 16th-century Spanish mystic St. John of the Cross
was well trained in the systematic theology of St. Thomas Aquinas. In Dark Night
of the Soul, St. John's sharply organized mind gives clean shape to his
mystical belief in a loving Being somewhere outside the realm of feeling,
thought,
or imagination, who can only be known through love. Dark Night of the Soul
describes the process of purgation, first of senses, and then of spirit, that
prec
edes the soul's loving Union with God. To quote from this book would detract
from the coiled power of its tightly focused picture of the soul's progress;
suffice it to say that there has never been a better book for discouraged
Christians. When you cannot understand what or why you believe, but you find
yourself unable to abandon faith, look to St. John for help. --Michael Joseph
Gross


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Spanish


Synopsis
He has been called the most sublime of all the Spanish mystics. Dark Night of
the Soul stnads as one fo the greatest contributions to the literature of
mysticism.


Ingram
"The most sublime of all the Spanish mystics, he soars aloft on the wings of
Divine love to heights known to hardly any of them...True to the character of
his thought, his style is always forceful and energetic, even to a fault.


From the Publisher
St. John of the Cross has been called "the most sublime of all Spanish
mystics," and his spiritual masterwork, Dark Night Of The Soul, stands as one of
the
greatest contributions to the literature of mysticism.


Inside Flap Copy
St. John of the Cross has been called "the most sublime of all Spanish
mystics," and his spiritual masterwork, Dark Night of the Soul, stands as one of
the
greatest contributions to the literature of mysticism.


Book Description
There comes to all souls, at least once in life, a severe test. It is known
as the Dark Night of the Soul. It is when we are beleaguered by darkness:
spiritual and mental and where no hope seems to be near and everything we try to
do
is thwarted. It is where the soul is forced to persist and enter into the
glorious Golden Dawn of Illumination and kinship with God, or relax into the
dull
slumber of a mediocre physical existence. You cannot avoid it. If this test
hasn't already come in your life-it will. How you deal with it is as important
as life itself. This book, written by a high initiate, St. John, will be your
counsel and guide. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.


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away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     Homeschooling with Gentleness: A Catholic Discovers Unschooling
Author:     Suzie Andries
Publisher:     Christendom Press, USA
Date Published:     2004
ISBN:     0-931888-79-4
Price:     Softcover 8.95
Comments:

From http://www.aquinasandmore.com/

General Description:
  Homeschooling with Gentleness - A Catholic Discovers Unschooling
Suzie Andres
"Suzie Andres' delightful blend of anxiety, second-guessing herself, trusting
herself, trusting her husband and her faith, is most fetching. It manifests
that she loves God, her family, and books, and for that reason alone this book
is a good read.
She seeks guidance in fine places: St. Therese of the Little Flower,
Aristotle, nature, John Holt, various homeschooling experts, and her own
experience.
What Suzie advocates is not for everybody, but it is for those who love to have
their children with them and love to teach them simply through the performing
of the tasks of daily life. They must be willing to cultivate in themselves
the ability to trust the natural desire for learning that God instilled in us
all and to rely upon the grace He so abundantly bestows upon us."
-Janet Smith, Professor of the Michael J. McGivney Chair of Life Issues,
Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, Michigan and Consulter to the Pontifical
Council for the Family
"Homeschooling With Gentleness is a stimulating book about the possibilities
of Catholic unschooling. It should prove helpful for those seeking to work
with their children while educating them at home."
-Patrick Farenga, Author of Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book of
Homeschooling
"Suzie Andres is a graceful writer with a clear understanding of what really
matters. Her management of the religious aspects of homeschooling — and life
—
  is original, and very, very comforting."
-John Taylor Gatto, Author of The Underground History of American Education
"Suzie Andres' wise and witty little hook is, as billed, a gentle approach to
home schooling. Any reader who comes to this subject with fears will have
them quickly allayed by the bright and positive discussion. You will find here
no
brief against the compulsory schools. Rather, home schooling is seen as the
natural way, the basic way, in which children can he taught. Suzie Andres
speaks to Catholic parents who must see their role as a comprehensive one. The
Church has always insisted that the parents are the primary educators of their
children. This little book spells out the implications of that."
-Ralph Mclnerny, Noted Author, Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies
and the Director of the Jacques Maritain Center, University of Notre Dame


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away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     My Life On the Rock: A Rebel Returns to the Catholic Faith
Author:     Jeff Cavins
Publisher:     Ascension Press, Pennsylvania
Date Published:     2nd Edition, March 2002
ISBN:     0965922839
Price:     Paperback $12.99
Comments:     Touching story of Jeff Cavins', popular Catholic talk show
host, return to the church of his youth.


From amazon.com:
Editorial Reviews

Bishop Robert Carlson , Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD
"Jeff Cavins' spiritual pilgrimage is quickly becoming one of the most well
known and inspiring stories of our time."


Bishop Paul V. Dudley, Retired
"What makes Jeff's story...appealing is that it deals with both the
theological and emotional issues related to returning..."


Archbishop Harry J. Flynn, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN
"This is a must read for those with a hungry heart."


Book Description
"My Life on the Rock", the dramatic conversion story of Jeff Cavins
(apologist and host of EWTN's "Life on the Rock"), is the true and bittersweet
story of
an emotional and spiritual search for peace in a chaotic world.
Jeff was a "rebel - and then he became a rebel for Jesus. This moving account
of his journey, told in his own words, is sometimes whimsical, sometimes
serious, but never boring (just like Jeff). You won't want to put this book
down.
Jeff's story recounts his early Catholic upbringing, rejection of the Faith,
ordination as a Protestant minister, and finally his return home to the
Catholic Church. It definitely was not a smooth trip: he went toe-to-toe with
his
own father and three Bishops in his search for truth.
So, if you are a Catholic searching for answers, or if you have a friend who
has fallen away from the Church, read Jeff's book - he's been there.


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Libraries also carry magazines.  Why not request that they subscribe to a few
of your favorites!



Title:     Catholic Parent
Publisher:     Our Sunday Visitor
Date Published:     Bi-monthly
ISBN:     B00007KXVS
Price:     38.16 / year

From the Publisher
Topical and hard-hitting, Catholic Parent magazine is designed to help you
raise your family Catholic. Award-winning writers contribute to each issue,
offering anecdotes and practical advice so you can help your kids (and yourself)
grapple with the challenges of faith. This publication is for parents of
children of all ages, from toddlers to high school.


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One of the many blessings of having seven children is that I can request
library purchases under their names <grin>. This way, my many requests are
spread
out amongst the family.  I always place young adult and children requests
under the library card of the child closest to the target age of the book that I
am suggesting.  So, my 15-year-old son requested Did Adam and Eve Have Belly
Buttons instead of me.



Title:     Did Adam & Eve Have Bellybuttons: And 199 other questions from
Catholic Teenagers
Author:     Matthew Pinto
Publisher:     Ascension Press, USA
Date Published:    Revised Edition 2003
ISBN:     096592288X
Price:     $12.99
Comments:     Also available on audio (cassette and cd).  Spiffy titles
almost guarantees that it'll be checked out often!

From amazon.com:
Paul Lauer, Publisher, YOU! Magazine
This book brings complex Catholic teachings down to a level that teens can
understand. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.


Mary Beth Bonacci, Author, Real Love
The most comprehensive question and answer book on the Catholic Faith that
I've ever seen! --This text refers to the Paperback edition.


Bud Macfarlane, Jr., Author, Pierced by a Sword
This book should be on the bookshelf of every Catholic home and gobbled up by
every Youth Group! --This text refers to the Paperback edition.


About the Author
Matthew Pinto is co-founder of the award winning magazine, Envoy and
CatholicExchange, an internet portal for Catholics. He is a former youth and
young
adult minister whose programs have received national acclaim. --This text refers
to the Paperback edition.


Book Description
Read by the author, this new audio version of his popular work offers today's
Catholic, young and old alike, a collection of clear and concise answers to
questions about the Catholic Faith. Best of all, the 200 questions addressed by
Mr. Pinto came from real Catholic teenagers from all over the United States.
A well-known apologist and co-founder of the popular apologetics journal
Envoy Magazine, Matt Pinto has an extensive personal background working with
Catholic youth. Working for the Archdiocese of San Diego in both youth and young
adult ministry, Matt developed a program of evangelization that has become a
national model for success. Popular Catholic speaker and host of EWTN's youth
oriented TV show Life on the Rock, Jeff Cavins says of Matt Pinto, "Those who
know the author are impressed with his energy and enthusiasm in his work with
young people. He knows how they think and the social and spiritual situations
they face. As a popular youth speaker, Matt Pinto is a master at applying the
truths of the Church to the ever-changing moral and social landscape. And now he
brings his energy, enthusiasm, and skills to the written page." And now St.
Joseph Communications has put his work into a format that can meet teens where
they are: at home, in the car, on the beach, or wherever they listen to tapes
or CDs!
Through his involvement in Catholic youth and young adult ministry, Matt
Pinto has personally witnessed hundreds of teens and "Generation Xers"
experience
genuine conversion and surety of faith after being effectively introduced to
the powerful life-changing teachings of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church.
What's the secret? According to Matt, teens want clear Catholic truth, and
respond most enthusiastically when the faith isn't "watered down." He relates
that, contrary to popular opinion among some DREs and other Catholic educators,
teens don't run from the "tough teachings" when Catholic truth is taught with
conviction. Teens are looking for a firm foundation in a changing world. The
Catholic Church provides that foundation and Did Adam and Eve Have Belly
Buttons?
provides the kind of uncompromising answers that teens are hungry for.
Matt Pinto insists that "Without a firm understanding of Catholic truth,
young Catholics will flounder. They will be unsure of who they are and what they
stand for." But with the answers in this timely presentation, young Catholics
will be equipped to embrace, explain, share and defend their faith. Did Adam
and Eve Have Belly Buttons? is perfect for Confirmation class, RCIA, youth group
or other religious education classes. Order today! --This text refers to the
Audio Cassette edition.


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First check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it
is, put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form
right away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     Francesco
Starring:     Mickey Rourke
Director:         Liliana Cavani
Studio:    Simitar Video
Date Released:     VHS 1993, DVD 1998
ASIN:     VHS 6304808259, DVD 6304810792
Rated: PG-13
Price:     $6.99 to 12.99
Comments:    From the Vatican's Best Films List


From US Catholic Bishops -- Office of Film and Broadcasting:
Francesco (1989) Overwrought Italian production portrays St. Francis of
Assisi (Mickey Rourke) as a spiritual agitator challenging the accepted values
of
his 13th-century contemporaries by embracing a life of utter poverty and
simplicity. Director Liliana Cavani builds an elaborate picture of the period's
social injustices but fails to evoke any convincing sense of religious
conviction
from Rourke's embarrassingly vacuous performance. English-language version.
Occasional scenes of violence, desperate poverty and brief nudity. The U.S.
Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture
Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned that
some
material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (Hemdale, $89.95)


From amazon.com review:
Casting Mickey Rourke as St. Francis of Assisi makes as much sense as giving
Doris Day the role of Medea! I mean, the guy looks old, flabby and tatooed;
not at all your average "Poverello"!
But maybe that's just the point director Liliana Cavani is trying to make:
that someone as crass as Rourke can become an extraordinary saint but by the
Grace of God. And if so, the movie works to perfection, avoiding the
don't-worry-be-happy, life-is-a-bowl-of-cherries attitude of 'Brother Sun,
Sister Moon'.
This St. Francis suffers, has doubts and pays a heavy price for the life he
seeks. It is perhaps too gloomy at times but certainly more accurate, and -I
think- complements the Zeffirelli classic by showing the other side of this
amazing man's persona.
I bought this film because a cousin of mine who works at the Vatican
recommended it to me. She told me the Pope was very distraught after seeing it,
and
that he even cried at the end. You may believe this or not (I do), but the movie
is surely far more intense and thought-provoking that whatever the cretinous
Mr. Maltin may say about it.


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away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     Princess & the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity
Author:     Jennie Bishop
Publisher:     Warner Press
Date Published:     July 2000
ISBN:     0871628686
Price:     Hardcover 10.99
Comments:     Preschool

From amazon.com:
Editorial Reviews

Excerpted from Princess & the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity by Jennie
Bishop. Copyright © 2000. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved
Long ago, in a wonderful castle on a mountain of splendor, a beautiful
princess was born. Her parents were the king and queen of the mountain and all
the
green valley below.
The king and queen loved the little princess even before she was born. On the
day she came into the world, the royal couple gave their daughter a very
special gift from God - her first kiss. While the princess was growing up, the
king and queen kept this precious gift safe in their care.
When the princess was finally grown, the king and queen called her to their
side.
"We have something very special to give you," said the queen.
Up, up, up the royal family went to a secret room in a tower of the castle.
On an elegant table in the center of the room was the same gift given to the
princess long ago ... the kiss.


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This is Greg's marriage book written for the general population and so may be
easier to get into libraries. It is still written with a Catholic worldview,
but in a way that a non-Catholic can digest it. I've given it to several
non-Catholic family members and they loved it!  The Catholic version is For
Better...Forever!: A Catholic Guide to Lifelong Marriage.

Title:     The Exceptional Seven Percent: The Nine Secrets of the Worlds
Happiest Couples
Author:     Gregory Popcak
Publisher:     Citadel Press
Date Published:     August 2002
ISBN:     0806523581
Price:     Paperback 14.95, Hardcover 19.94
Comments:     Teaches spouses how to be a part of the 7% of marriages that
are considered exceptional.


From amazon.com:
Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
With a mature style that is intellectually appealing, Popcak shares his
inspiring conviction that marriage can be a powerfully actualizing enterprise.
Drawing on the results of several marriage studies, he contends that while most
marriages are "conventional" (read: average), and some are even "impoverished,"
a fortunate 7% are "exceptional." Having a marriage in the exceptional
category, says Popcak, requires a commitment to live your life according to a
"Marital Imperative," a motto of sorts that identifies the most important
qualities
that each partner strives to manifest in life through the marriage. This
imperative then becomes the basis for all decision making, including even minor
daily activities. In this way, exceptional couples exhibit greater congruence
between their actions and beliefs and stand a much greater chance of faithfully
exemplifying their most desired personal qualities. Like Stephen Covey and
Abraham Harold Maslow, Popcak focuses on the refinement of peak performance.
Offering engaging exercises and checklists to help readers clarify their aims
and
progress along his theoretical pathway to self-actualization, he challenges
conventional couples to recognize how much better their marriage could be with a
few attitude adjustments and priority clarifications. Self-improvement
aficionados will find his approach a welcome and refreshing addition to the
genre.
Illustrations not seen by PW. (June)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the
Hardcover edition.


Ingram
A psychotherapist explores the rules, attitudes, and behaviors practiced in
exceptional marriages and explains how to make those characteristics flourish
in one's own relationship. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.


Book Description

If roughly 50 percent of marriages fail, what about the other 50 percent? Are
those couples who stay together necessarily happy? No. In fact, many
marriages that remain intact are miserable, some are just mediocre, and some are
only
pretty good. A mere 7 percent are really great--in fact, exceptional.
If less-than-exceptional marriages are formed by men from Mars and women from
Venus, what planet do exceptional couples come from? What do exceptional
couples know or do that others don't? And can what they know be taught? Most
marriage research and writing has focused on analyzing bad marriages and finding
ways to help couples in trouble. This book, on the other hand, looks at the
happiest, most successful couples and exposes their secrets so that others can
learn and benefit.
The Exceptional Seven Percent is about the rules, attitudes, and behaviors
practiced in exceptional marriages, based on solid research, validated by the
author's own professional observations, and ultimately tested in his own
marriage with fabulous results. It helps couples take an okay or pretty good
marriage
and make it extraordinary. Each chapter examines in detail one of the nine
basic characteristics of exceptional couples and explains how to make that trait
flourish in one's own marriage. Quizzes and worksheets in each chapter help
direct couples to areas in their marriage that need the most work.
The secrets are out--all nine of them. Let the good lovin' begin! --This text
refers to the Hardcover edition.

All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:

  Helped me more than any other marriage book, October 1, 2004
Reviewer:  Abraham D. Alsop (Boise, ID USA)

Many books on marriage are designed to teach the basics of communication
skills (love languages) to those desperate couples who are on the verge of
divorce
or abuse, helping them to rebuild their love. This book, however, is for the
rest of us, who are in a good position already, who are deeply in love, and
maybe even think we don't need help as it's all working just fine. Popcak calls
us to a higher ideal, tells us to not settle for being just fine, but to try
to be exceptional. Have that type of marriage that fulfills your life's dreams
and works for the good of your children and society. The Exceptional Seven
Percent does not hide the fact that it will take sacrifice and letting go of old
ways of thinking, but it will be well worth it. With surveys and questions
along the way, this book makes it easy to chart your progress as you advance
through the stages towards being one of the world's happiest couples. Yes, it
really is possible, if you're willing to work at it.


7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
  the only book on relationship that ever made sense, December 7, 2001
Reviewer:  R. Jones (Chantilly, VA USA)

Sometimes you come across a book that is like clear music, and that clears up
an area of your life that had been foggy forever. That is what this book was
like for me. I came out of a failed marriage, and I wanted to understand why I
had failed. I read various books. Then I came across this one. It's not the
best title, perhaps, since other titles in the same area scream out their
message louder. But it made such sense. Popcak speaks among other things of a
marital imperative, which both husband and wife commit to, helping each other
achieve lifetime goals, so that infidelity becomes far less likely, since
another
man or woman is not committed to helping you achieve your lifetime goals.
Marriage becomes a place where you develop more and more competence. I could go
on
and on. My only reservation is that it sounded like an awful lot of work, but
that could reflect my personal situation right now. I thought to myself, this
is how to do marriage and make it work and make it wonderful. Also, I don't
think it's just for the exceptional seven percent. And of course in this day and
age one would have to say it's not only for marriages. No matter where you
are in your relationship or relationship skills, this book might be the
revelation you are looking for. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition


  An Incredibly Exciting and Practical Approach to Marriage., February 13,
1999
Reviewer: A reader
With this inspiring and insightful guide, any couple who is as serious about
their future together as they are about their financial wellbeing will be
twice blessed by dusting off these tools and using them in their marriage. This
book provides the foundation and grounding that is available right here on Earth
without having to move to Mars or Venus to find happiness. Popcak creatively
presents a practical guide to measure your relationship right now, and
incorporates the tools to help you dig a little deeper. --This text refers to
the
Hardcover edition


  An Incredibly Exciting and Practical Approach to Marriage., February 13,
1999
Reviewer:  Tim Serban  (Portland, Oregon) -
With this inspiring and insightful guide, any couple who is as serious about
their future together as they are about their financial wellbeing will be
twice blessed by dusting off these tools and using them in their marriage. This
book provides the foundation and grounding that is available right here on Earth
without having to move to Mars or Venus to find happiness. Popcak creatively
presents a practical guide to measure your relationship right now, and
incorporates the tools to help you dig a little deeper. --This text refers to
the
Hardcover edition


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This is not a Catholic magazine, but an ecumenical one.  The editor, David
Mills, is a Catholic homeschooling dad.  See below for my thoughts on why this
magazine deserves to be in your library.


Title: Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity
Publisher: Fellowship Of St. James
ISBN:     B0001PBUDA
Price: 24.95 / one year (10 issues), $49.95 /  two years (20 issues)
Comments:


I love Touchstone because it is so unique. I'm told that the wonderful
theologian Fr. Ronald Lawler, God rest his soul, called it "First Things in
English"
and that everyone should subscribe.

Touchstone is an ecumenical magazine, which in their case seems to mean a
gathering of the best soldiers from all the allied armies to fight the common
enemy and engage the common challenges. They assume that it is in this common
work that what unity God will grant us on this earth will be found.

The best known members of the editorial board are probably the Catholic
historian James Hitchcock and Princeton's Robert George. I knew Dr. Hitchcock
way
back in my college days and I can say firsthand that he is an awesome Catholic.

The contributing editors range from Russell Moore, a dean at the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, to the Presbyterians Peter
Leithart and Phillip Johnson (the author of Darwin on Trial), to the Orthodox
Frederica Mathewes-Green, to the Catholic Elizabeth Fox-Genovese and Roberto
Rivera. I'm told that they all are securely, even fiercely, what they are and
yet each works quite happily with the others.
Most of their articles deal in some way with the engagement of the Christian
mind and worldview with the culture and try to bring the power of the
Christian heritage to bear upon the challenges we all face. Their articles try
to
teach something both useful and enjoyable about the Christian heritage,
something
other journals, including most Christian journals, don't seem offer.
You can read past articles on their website ( http://www.touchstonemag.com/ )
and more informal commentary on the weblog Mere Comments
(www.touchstonemag.com/merecomments.html ). "


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away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     Brigid's Cloak: An Ancient Irish Story
Author:         Bryce Milligan, illustrated by Helen Cann
Publisher:     Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Date Published:     August 2002
ISBN:     0802852246
Price:     Hardcover $16.00
Comments:     Ages 4 to 8

From amazon.com:
Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Told with the gripping delivery of a well-seasoned storyteller, this tale of
a fifth-century Irish saint has the broad appeal of folklore while retaining
the power to inspire religious awe. Milligan (With the Wind; Kevin Dolan) draws
in readers immediately with his evocation of "a wild and windy night" when
the slave daughter of a warrior prince is born. The infant receives a visit from
a Druid: "I am one of the fathers of old Ireland. I greet little Brigid, who
will be a mother to the new Ireland that is to come." The Druid gives Brigid a
blue cloak and blesses her with magic. Ten years later, Brigid finds herself
mystically transported to a stable in Bethlehem, where a man named Joseph
introduces himself and his wife, Mary: "Brigid felt as one does when a candle is
lit in a very dark room." She lends Mary her cloak, and blesses Mary and her
child. Returning to her own world, Brigid longs for the family in the stable-but
her cloak is now covered with tiny glowing stars. Cann (The Loving Arms of
God) matches Milligan's deceptively easy mix of intimacy and awe with her clear,
slightly stylized watercolors. Her Brigid is plain and sturdy, with cropped
red hair and freckles, her holy family tired but inwardly directed. Borders
along the bottom of the spreads incorporate Celtic motifs, echoed within the
illustrations with such patterns as the Druid's flowing locks of white hair, the
sheep's curling wool, the striping on the rams' horns. Readers don't have to
share Brigid's faith to enjoy this story, but those who do may find that faith
strengthened. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
K Up-This legend of one of Ireland's most beloved saints recalls how Brigid
was presented at birth with a royal blue cloak by an old Druid. As he blessed
her, he pronounced that she would be mother to the new Ireland. Years later,
while tending her flock of sheep in her worn blue cloak, she finds herself
transported back in time and place to the night in the stable in Bethlehem where
the Christ child was born. Upon waking, she is back home once more in Ireland,
transformed by her experience, and discovers that her old cloak is deep, rich
blue again and embellished with stars. Attractively designed, full-page
watercolor and mixed-media illustrations, framed with geometric patterned
borders,
enhance the timeless story.
Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 1-3. Milligan's folktale-flavored telling, which incorporates elements of
Druidic and early Christian beliefs, introduces Brigid, one of Ireland's
favorite saints, in a story that reveals the origin of her reputation for
generosity. Borders of Celtic designs frame Cann's mixed-media pictures and add
both
authenticity and wonder to the tale, which begins with her birth and goes on to
tell of a vision in which she is transplanted to Jerusalem at the time of
Jesus' birth, welcomes Mary and Joseph, and helps care for the newborn baby
Jesus. A full-page close-up of a Druid wizard holding the infant Brigid, wrapped
in
the blue cloak he gave her, is particularly impressive; his light-green eyes
exude wisdom as his white hair flows around his face. Just as good is the
portrait of the Holy Family, with Brigid in their midst, which evokes the peace
and happiness Brigid feels at Mary's kind words, "Thank you, child of the West.
Your generosity will be remembered always." An author's note explains more ab
out Brigid and the stories surrounding her cloak. Diane Foote
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Synopsis
Relates a legend about the Irish slave girl who became Saint Brigid,
beginning with a celestial song, a mysterious gift, and a prophecy on the night
of her
birth.


Card catalog description
Relates a legend about the Irish slave girl who became Saint Brigid,
beginning with a celestial song, a mysterious gift, and a prophecy on the night
of her
birth.


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Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it is,
put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right
away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     The How-To Book of the Bible: Everything You Need to Know But No
One Ever Told You
Author:     Karl A. Schultz
Publisher:     Our Sunday Visitor, Indiana
Date Published:     2004
ISBN:     1-59276-095-3
Price:     Paperback $13.95
Comments:     Step-by-step guidelines on reading, meditating, praying,
contemplating, and applying the Bible to your life.


From the publisher:
Perhaps you know very little about the Bible... or enough to realize there's
so much more to discover! Maybe your previous attempts to read the Bible have
not been fruitful, and you don't get much our of the readings at Mass.
The How-To Book of the Bible is your key to unlocking this treasure. Unlike
other Bible-related books, this one not only introduces you to the Scriptures
but also helps you develop a deep, fulfilling, and lasting bond with the Bible.


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Self help books are very popular.  Wouldn't it be nice to see some on your
library's shelf that have a Catholic ethos to them?!

Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it is,
put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right
away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     God Help Me! This Stress Is Driving Me Crazy: Finding Balance
Through God's Grace
Author:     Gregory Popcak,
Publisher:     Loyola Press
Date Published:     March 2003
ISBN:     082941788
Price:     $14.95 Paperback
Comments:     Overcoming anxiety due to stress.


From amazon.com:
From Publishers Weekly
"Overcoming anxiety is more than a possible dream; it is a central tenet of
Christian spirituality," writes Gregory Popcak, a professional counselor. In
God Help Me! This Stress Is Driving Me Crazy: Finding Balance Through God's
Grace, Popcak draws on psychology and Roman Catholic tradition to help readers
who
are struggling with worry and pain. Popcak writes well and clearly, weaving
his counselees' composite stories in with his own experiences (particularly
gripping is the story of one annus horribilis when his family faced grave
illness
and terrible financial trouble). He provides concrete spiritual tools (e.g.,
using icons and medallions, or partaking of the sacraments of Eucharist,
confession and anointing the sick) to remind readers of God's love for them and
His
power over their troubles.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


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Dear List Members,

I received the following email recently.  It made me laugh:


The other day, my husband came home from the library.
"Look what I found on the new books shelf? Isn't this great?"
He's holding "Living the Mysteries" by Mike Aquilina and Scott Hahn in his
hand!
This tells me two things:
1) We both like reading the same kind of books, and
2) I didn't tell him about my apostolate to get Catholic books in our
library!

I told him I had asked the library to purchase the book, and he slowly
realized that it was because of me that he had the book in his hand.
"Did you read it already?" he asked.
"Sure," I said, "I had them order it, and put it on hold so I could
read it first. I had it a couple weeks ago!"

He thought he was one step ahead of me, and found out I was one step
ahead of him! But anyway, the book's been checked out a couple times
already from our library, and that's a good thing!



Keep recommending Catholic books -- you CAN make a difference!
Blessings,
Maureen :)


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Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it is,
put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right
away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime: The Best Gift You Can Give Your
Kids
Author:     Dr. Ray Guarendi
Publisher:     Charis Books
Date Published:     April 2003
ISBN:     1569553688
Price:     Paperback $10.99
Comments:     Dr. Ray answers frequently asked questions.

From amazon.com:
Customer Reviews
Avg. Customer Review:

Best Parenting Advice!, November 22, 2003
Reviewer: A reader
Dr. Ray gives parents the "OK" to teach, nurture and discipline their
children without the nagging fear of what psychological damage those actions may
cause! He combines humor with good common sense that so many parenting books are
lacking. As you read, you can feel the love he has for his own children, which
makes you feel the love you have for you children even more. Great Book! I've
recommended it to many friends!


My second Bible, September 25, 2003
Reviewer:Adrianne P. Price (Leeds, AL United States)
Since I got my copy of Dr. Ray Guarendi's book, "Discipline That Lasts a
Lifetime," I have mentioned it to many of my friends with children. They like
what
they see in my own preteen son. I have loaned it out to many of my friends.
They are thrilled with the results they've had based on practicing the
down-to-earth advice given by Dr. Guarendi. It's practical, humorous (to help
take the
edge off of stressful situations), and respectful towards the all important
job of parenting. God bless this man for NOT taking the road of modern
psycho-babble and for actually using his own brain, spine and faith to give us
REAL
tools we need. This book helps me in many ways how to show my child that he is
loved, and it gives me tools, based on actual situations Dr. Gardened has dealt
with, which I need to deal with my own son and our own life challenges. I
would recommend this to parents with children of ALL AGES!


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Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it is,
put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right
away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     Sister Anne's Hands
Author:     Marybeth Lorbiecki, illustrated by K. Wendy Popp
Publisher:     Puffin
Date Published:     Nov. 2000
ISBN:     0140565345
Price:     Paperback 4.50, Library Binding 15.30, Hardcove 16.99
Comments:     Lovely story sure to be checked out for years, and often


From amazon.com:
From Publishers Weekly
An African American nun challenges the beliefs of her second-grade students
in this thought-provoking picture book set in the 1960s. When Sister Anne joins
the faculty at the local Catholic school, Anna overhears her father whisper,
"I don't know how a woman of her color is going to survive," and Anna wonders
what she'll be like. On the first day of class, Sister Anne demonstrates her
fun and unusual approaches to counting and storytelling. But the good times are
brought to a halt when a note about Sister Anne's skin color lands on her
desk. The teacher tells the class that she needs "some quiet time to think about
this," and next day she finds a way to educate the children about racism.
Lorbiecki (Just One Flick of a Finger) brings ever-relevant social issues into
sharp focus through Anna's heartfelt, intimate narration. While the '60s setting
is evident in Popp's (Princess Florecita and the Iron Shoes) historically
accurate, gauzy pastels, the text's subtle tone and universal message are
far-reaching and accessible to contemporary readers. And the warm, softly lit
portraits of students at rapt attention as they listen to the serene Sister Anne
add
to this book's considerable emotional appeal. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-A gifted and unique African-American teacher is just a little too
unique for some of the students and parents in a parochial school in the 1960s.
Seven-year-old Anna doesn't understand why her parents are concerned about
the problems Sister Anne's color might cause until a paper airplane sails
through the classroom with a poem on its wings. The teacher reads the poem
aloud:
"Roses are red,/Violets are blue./Don't let Sister Anne/get any black on you."
Embracing the moment, the woman teaches her students about her heritage.
Although a few children are pulled out of the class by their parents, those who
stay
have an unforgettable year. Based on the author's experience, the story has
honesty and integrity and the two main characters are well crafted. The velvety
pastel illustrations have the soft focus and pale palette of a distant memory
coupled with exquisite detail. Popp's realistic renderings capture the period
and are a perfect complement to a thoughtful text. Though ideally suited to
introductory units on civil rights, there are many groups and individuals ready
to share this gentle reminder.
Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 5^-8. When Sister Anne comes to teach in a small-town parochial school
in the 1960s, she brings fun and spirit to Anna Zabrocky's second-grade
classroom, but Sister Anne is black ("Her skin was darker than any person's I'd
ever
known"), and her presence makes Anna confront racism, in her community and in
herself. Sister Anne says that Anna's freckles show she has been kissed by
angels, and the nun reaches out to touch Anna's cheek, but the white child
dodges
the brown hand "as if it were hot." Then someone sends a hate note to Sister
Anne's classroom, and she teaches the children about segregation and
persecution, about "Whites Only" barriers and the struggle for civil rights.
Anna
cannot forget how she moved away when Sister Anne's hand reached out to her, but
the affecting pastel pictures show how she and the other children bond closely
with their great teacher as they laugh, learn, write, paint, and garden through
the school year. There is an idyllic quality to the story and the period
pictures of the perfect nun and her classroom, but the hurt is there, too, and
the
message of tolerance grows out of the personal experience, which confronts
the racism and gets beyond it. Hazel Rochman

Card catalog description
Seven-year-old Anna has her first encounter with racism in the 1960s when an
African American nun comes to teach at her parochial school.

Product Description:
It's the early 1960s, and Anna has never seen a person with dark skin-until
she meets Sister Anne. At first she is afraid of her new teacher, but she
quickly discovers how wonderful Sister Anne is. Then one of Anna's classmates
directs a racist remark toward Sister Anne. The teacher's wise way of turning
the
incident into a powerful learning experience has a profound impact on Anna.
This moving, timeless tale is perfectly illustrated with luminous, glowing
paintings.

"With humor and understanding, Lorbiecki writes about a young girl's coming
to terms with racial differences." -The Horn Book

Awards:

( A Child Study Children's Book Committee Children's Book of the Year
( Winner of a 1999 Storytelling World Award


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Dear List Members,

My library has yet to purchase any of the books that counter The Da Vinci
Code, but I am glad to hear of success at other public libraries.  Here is an
email from a list member, read on . . .


I was at the library yesterday, and they had a hold book for me, it was The
DaVinci Hoax by Carl Olsen and Sandra Meisel! Hurrah! Pope St. Nicholas strikes
again! Thanks to you and me, our library will now have this book come up when
patrons are searching for DaVinci Code, and maybe it will help somebody to
see the truth. I was thrilled to know that we are helping our community to know
the truth, thanks again for your list.


. . . make sure to let your online friends know about the PopeSaintNicholasV
list and encourage them to join us in this simple, yet effective, apostolate.

Blessings,
Maureen :)


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Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it is,
put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right
away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title:     Confessions (aka Confessions of St. Augustine)
Author:     Augustine
Publisher:     Widely published by several publishers
Date Published: varies
ISBN: varies
Price: varies
Comments: A classic, sure to be checked out often and for many years to come.

from amazon.com:
Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Augustine's Confessions is arguably the first, and unequivocally the most
influential, religious autobiography in the Christian tradition. Augustine (who
was a hard-core hedonist before his sudden conversion) writes about faith with
the reckless abandon of a lover; his descriptions of friendship are so
beautiful they'll bring tears to your eyes; and his tributes to his mother,
Monica,
cast eternally fresh light on the unofficial authority of women in the early
Church. --Michael Joseph Gross

From Library Journal
The latest volume in the series "Augustine for the Twenty-First Century,"
which will offer the first complete translation of all of Augustine's works into
English, adds yet another vision of the Confessions to the many already
available. The fourth-century bishop of Hippo in North Africa wrote this
extended
prayer, the first true autobiography, to confess his sins and God's goodness. It
has been a standard of spiritual literature ever since. Boulding (Marked for
Life, Abingdon, 1996), a Benedictine nun of Stanbrook Abbey, England, offers
us a fine, smooth translation that is a pleasure to read. Hers is also the
first English translation to use inclusive language. There is a complete index,
which greatly enhances the usefulness of this particular volume. For all
readers.?Augustine J. Curley, Newark Abbey, N.J.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
There is certainly no shortage of English translations of Augustine's
Confessions; but given its undeniable place as a classic of Christian
literature,
there is perhaps room for one more. Boulding's translation brings Augustine's
extended prayer to life with a sensitivity to his passion and poetry that should
make the text more accessible to contemporary English readers. Boulding
includes an introduction and a chronology that place Augustine in context and
guide
readers through the sometimes perplexing structure of the book. There is no
doubt that Augustine continues to reach contemporary readers across the 16
centuries that separate them from his writing and its context. This new
translation
should contribute to the clarity with which that reach is extended. Steve
Schroeder

Review
"In plain words--if you can accept them as plain--Christianity is the life
and death and resurrection of Christ going on day after day in the souls of
individual men and in the heart of society. It is this Christ-life, this
incorporation into the Body of Christ, this union with His death and
resurrection as a
matter of conscious experience, that  St. Augustine wrote of in his
Confessions."
--Thomas Merton

Language Notes
Text: English, Latin (translation)

From the Publisher
Kessinger Publishing reprints over 1,500 similar titles all available through
Amazon.com.

From the Inside Flap
The greatest spiritual autobiography of all time, this classic work is a
literary and theological masterpiece. John K. Ryan's masterful translation
brings
out the luster of Augustine's unmatched tale of his soul's journey to God.

From the Back Cover
"In plain words--if you can accept them as plain--Christianity is the life
and death and resurrection of Christ going on day after day in the souls of
individual men and in the heart of society. It is this Christ-life, this
incorporation into the Body of Christ, this union with His death and
resurrection as a
matter of conscious experience, that St. Augustine wrote of in his
Confessions."
--Thomas Merton

About the Author
Robin Lane Fox is Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and the author of
Pagans and Christians and Alexander the Great.
Philip Burton teaches at the School of Greek, Latin and Ancient History at
the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Product Description:
In his own day the dominant personality of the Western Church, Augustine of
Hippo today stands as perhaps the greatest thinker of Christian antiquity, and
his Confessions is one of the great works of Western literature. In this
intensely personal narrative, Augustine relates his rare ascent from a humble
Algerian farm to the edge of the corridors of power at the imperial court in
Milan,
his struggle against the domination of his sexual nature, his renunciation of
secular ambition and marriage, and the recovery of the faith his mother
Monica had taught him during his childhood. Now, Henry Chadwick, an eminent
scholar
of early Christianity, has given us the first new English translation in
thirty years of this classic spiritual journey. Chadwick renders the details of
Augustine's conversion in clear, modern English. We witness the future saint's
fascination with astrology and with the Manichees, and then follow him through
scepticism and disillusion with pagan myths until he finally reaches Christian
faith. There are brilliant philosophical musings about Platonism and the
nature of God, and touching portraits of Augustine's beloved mother, of St.
Ambrose of Milan, and of other early Christians like Victorinus, who gave up a
distinguished career as a rhetorician to adopt the orthodox faith. Augustine's
concerns are often strikingly contemporary, yet his work contains many
references
and allusions that are easily understood only with background information
about the ancient social and intellectual setting. To make The Confessions
accessible to contemporary readers, Chadwick provides the most complete and
informative notes of any recent translation, and includes an introduction to
establish
the context. The religious and philosophical value of The Confessions is
unquestionable--now modern readers will have easier access to St. Augustine's
deeply personal meditations. Chadwick's lucid translation and helpful
introduction
clear the way for a new experience of this classic.


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