Catholic Fire

With Lent only two weeks away, it's time to start looking at some inspiring reading material to help us grow in holiness. Of the books I have read, the following are my favorites for Lent: 1.   Bringing Lent Home with St. John Paul II: Prayers, Reflections, and Activities for Familie s by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle 2. Bringing Lent Home with St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Prayers, Reflections, and Activities for Families   by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle 3 . Seven Saints for Seven Virtues by Jean M. Heimann (helpful in learning to replace sin with specific virtues) 4. Practical Theology: Spiritual Direction from Saint Thomas Aquinas   by Peter Kreeft 5. The Grace of Yes: Eight Virtues for Generous Living by Lisa Hendey 6. Walking with Mary: A Biblical Journey from Nazareth to the Cross by Edward Sri 7. Magnifcat Lenten Companion All of these books are very readable and relevant. 

"The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin." — Catechism of the Catholic Church Gospel: Luke 1 :26-38 From a 2013 homily by Pope Francis on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary: The Gospel of St Luke presents us with Mary, a girl from Nazareth, a small town in Galilee, in the outskirts of the Roman Empire and on the outskirts of Israel as well. A village. Yet the Lord’s gaze rested on her, on this little girl from that distant village, on the one he had chosen to be the mother of his Son. In view of this motherhood, Mary was preserved from original sin, from that fracture in communion with God, with others and with creation, which deeply wounds every human being. But this fracture was healed in advance in the Mother of the One who c...

Written by Edward Sri In Walking with Mary , Edward Sri examines the key Scripture passages in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, taking us on a step-by-step Scripture study of her life. In a very readable format, he illuminates our understanding of the mysteries of her life, providing profound insights. Walking with Mary is a captivating book that nourishes both the mind and the soul. In 172 pages, Sri gives us a comprehensive analysis of the events in Mary’s life, beginning with her fiat at the annunciation and ending with her coronation as the Queen of heaven and earth. Sri takes us through Mary’s joys and sufferings via his synthesis of the original Greek texts and related Scripture passages, revealing Mary’s virtues and God’s promises to her. As a result of reading this book, I have gained a deeper, clearer, and a more comprehensive understanding of the events that took place in Mary’s life, her responses to God’s will in her life, and how to emulate her virtues in ...