Come My Beloved: A Book Review



Edited By Ellen Gable Hrkach and Kathy Cassanto, released June 15, 2011, Full Quiver Publishing, Pakenham, Ontario, 152 pages, Paperback $9.99, Kindle: $2.99 (Amazon).


Reviewed by JEAN M. HEIMANN, freelance writer, wife and mother, graduate student in theology, retired educator, psychologist, and oblate with the Community of St. John.

Come My Beloved is a beautiful collection of twelve true inspiring stories of Catholic courtship. Ellen Gable Hrkach and Kathy Cassanto have interviewed married couples of all ages, from a variety of locales and backgrounds, and asked both the husband and wife to recount the details of their courtship. The stories, presented from both the male and the female perspective, are told in an intimate, conversational style, which easily arouse the reader’s interest and make it a quick, interesting read. What I found most appealing was that each story was very unique, and no two stories were alike. Each has its own theme, its own storyline, and its own unique characters.

While the stories presented are romantic in nature, the challenges each couple face and deal with are also discussed, which adds to the excitement of each story. The struggles vary. There is one story in which the woman is totally uninterested in the man initially, but his persistence pays off. Another story depicts the obstacles a previously married couple faces. Yet another focuses on the difficulties of a long-distance relationship.

Come My Beloved captured my heart, as it depicts stories of enduring love, based on Catholic teaching and Catholic values. Each couple honestly shares their love for God and how their relationship is based on that love. Each of the stories is faith-building, uplifting, inspirational, humorous, romantic, and hopeful. Each one left me with a sense of peace, joy, and hopefulness about the vocation of Catholic marriage.

I believe Come My Beloved is a valuable treasure for those who are discerning the vocation of marriage and it is uplifting reading for all those who enjoy a good love story.

~ © Jean M. Heimann, July, 2011 
-

Comments

  1. rhapsody8/21/11, 7:26 PM

    Thank you for the book recommendation, and too for visiting my blog.

    Would like to recommend a website to you (which you may or may not have visited yet). It's called the Ink Desk, and is the website of the Saint Austin Review (StAR) a wonderful magazine edited by biographer Joseph Pearce. If you haven't visited, please do - there are wonderful articles posted there by Pearce, as well other excellent contributors to this magazine - comments are welcome:

    http://www.staustinreview.com/ink_desk/

    God bless you.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Comments are moderated and are published at the blogger's discretion.

Blog Archive

Show more

Popular posts from this blog

The Spirituality and Miracles of St. Clare of Assisi

Image
August 11 is the memorial of St. Clare, one of my favorite saints. She was the first woman to follow the life of radical poverty practiced by St. Francis of Assisi and is the co-founder of the Poor Clares. Although I am not a Franciscan, I have had Franciscan friends, clergy, and spiritual directors instruct me on the beauty of St. Clare's spirituality. I have also learned a great deal from reading about her over the years. Clare and Francis (2007) is a film which depicts the fascinating story of her dramatic conversion and surrender to the will of God. St. Clare is the patron saint of television. She is also the patron of eye disorders, embroiderers, good weather, and telephones. The Contemplative Life The Lady Clare was born into a noble family in Assisi in 1193 and was admired for her great beauty. When she heard Francis of Assisi preach his Lenten homilies at the Church of San Giorgio, she was captivated by his words. At age eighteen, she heard him say: "When the
Read more

Saint Michael de Sanctis: Patron of Cancer Patients

Image
Today is the feast of Saint Michael de Sanctis, also known as St. Michael of the Saints, a Spanish Discalced Trinitarian priest, the patron of cancer patients. Michael Argemir was born on September 29, 1591 at Vic, Catalonia, Spain. At age 6, he told his parents that he planned to become a monk and began modeling his life after Saint Francis of Assisi. Michael’s parents died when he was about ten years old. He then served as an apprentice with a local merchant. During this apprenticeship, he continued his fervent devotion to the Lord, especially to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the age of 12, he joined the Trinitarian Friars at Barcelona, taking his vows at St. Lambert’s monastery in Saragosa four years later.  Shortly afterwards, Michael expressed a desire to join the reformed group of Trinitarians and was given permission to do so. He went to the Novitiate at Madrid and, after studies at Seville and Salamanca, he was ordained a priest. Twice he served as Superior of the hou
Read more

St. Raymond Nonnatus, Patron of Expectant Mothers, Midwives, and Newborn Babies

Image
The saint of the day for August 31 is St. Raymond Nonnatus. He is the patron of expectant mothers, midwives, obstetricians, infertile couples, and newborn babies. Raymond was born at Portella, Catalonia, Spain in 1204, the son of wealthy parents. He was delivered by cesarean section when his mother died in childbirth. Hence his name non natus (not born). In his childhood, he seemed to find pleasure only in his devotions and serious duties. His father, sensing that Raymond was drawn to religious life, ordered him to manage one of the family farms. Raymond readily obeyed but spent his time with the shepherds and workers, studying and praying until his father abandoned the idea of making his son a worldly success. Raymond later joined the the Order of Our Lady of Mercy or the Mercederians, which was founded by St. Peter Nolasco, who devoted to ransoming Christians captured by the Moors. He succeeded Peter as chief ransomer and went to Algeria to ransom slaves. He remained as hosta
Read more