The Bookshelf

My Life with the Saints

In his book, "My Life with the Saints," James Martin SJ shares his personal connection and stories related to particular saints or Saints. It is a very engaging and easy to read book. It is my favorites book written by him so far. I have recommended this book to others and given it as a gift. 

He gives you just enough information to want to learn more, way more, about each of these amazing people, and what’s more, you want to have the same type of relationships with the saints as he does.

I also found myself needing to stop and write down the names and authors of books that he was recommending about this saint or that saint. I might go so far as to say, “My Life with the Saint’s" helped me appreciate the wonderful communion of saints available to us on our daily journey.

Something Other Than God

"Something Other Than God: How I Passionately Sought Happiness and Accidentally Found It," by Jennifer Fulwiler is recommended by not only parishioners of St. Dominic Catholic Parish, but Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Brandon Vogt, who works as the Content Director for Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire Catholic Ministries.

Brandon has said, "Like Augustine and Lewis before her, Jennifer recounts her compelling journey of conversion through a colorful and stirring memoir.

Smart, inspiring, and absorbing, Jennifer's book will go down as one of the best spiritual memoirs since "Mere Christianity." It will lift her to her rightful place alongside Augustine and Lewis, troubled converts, talented memoirists, and courageous intellects who each followed the truth to its beautiful and unsettling conclusion."

Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion

"Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion," by Gregory Boyle was recommended by Rich Harter, now Director of Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, as a St. Dominic Book Club selection years ago. It remains one of my favorite books.

Gregory Boyle has run Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, the gang capital of the world, since 1988. In "Tattoos on the Heart", he describes his experience working in the ghetto through a series of moving parables inspired by faith.

Shared with humor and generosity of heart, he offers a window into how the joy in loving others and in being loved unconditionally is possible. We learn different lessons from each character: how to feel worthy of God's love, the importance of being present to others and in being known, and that patience with others, has it rewards.

It's a book about redemption, compassion, and the power of unconditional love. Highly recommended for those who are looking to go deeper into the Works of Mercy.