2020 Reviews
December 2020
Let Go of Anger & Stress!: Be Transformed by the Fruits of the Spirit
By Gary Zimak
It’s easy to relegate religious influence to only Sunday mornings spent in church pews. But for Gary Zimak, recognizing the Holy Spirit’s presence in every moment of each day led to a more peaceful and charitable existence.
In Let Go of Anger & Stress!: Be Transformed by the Fruits of the Spirit, Zimak shares from his own experience with the Catholic charismatic movement how each one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit can lay the foundation for a life free of anger and stress—if you let them.
A helpful summary at the end of each chapter highlights key points to remember and questions to reflect upon before responding to a prompt about how a particular gift of the Spirit is working in your life. Each chapter’s concluding prayer leads readers further into embracing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control every day.
—Stephanie Clary, digital editor, U.S. Catholic
Ave Maria Press says using the nine fruits of the Spirit as a guide, bestselling author Gary Zimak will help you free yourself from anger and stress to find peace and to live the life God has planned for you.
Paperback: $14.95
Available at bookstores or from Ave Maria Press at 1-(800) 282-1865 or avemariapress.com
November 2020
The Way Up Is Down: Becoming Yourself by Forgetting Yourself
By Marlena Graves
Where do you go when you can’t fall any further? In The Way Up Is Down, Puerto Rican author and pastor Marlena Graves answers with a paradox: You go further down. Graves’ latest book is centered on the process of kenosis, or self-emptying to achieve union with God. She melds scriptural references, tales of personal trials and shortcomings, and ancient Christian spiritual practices to chart a path toward a Christlike life. You become who you are, she says, when you strip away all that is not God’s.
The Way Up Is Down often finds Graves reflecting on her experiences of poverty and racial injustice, holding up a mirror to the ways in which our society fails to practice the selflessness Christ asks of us. Part meditation, part social critique, this book is a great resource for Catholics seeking to step outside culture and take up their cross.
—Nathaniel Hunter, assistant editor, U.S. Catholic
InterVarsity Press says Marlena Graves describes the process of emptying herself, allowing herself to move upward toward God. Formation and justice always intertwine to a balanced life of both action and contemplation.
Hardcover: $22.00
Available at bookstores or from InterVarsity Press at 1-(800) 843-9487 or ivpress.com
October 2020
Christ in the Storm: An Extraordinary Blessing for a Suffering World
By Pope Francis
Christ in the Storm is a reprint of and meditation on Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi liturgy on March 27, 2020, when he led the world in an extraordinary prayer in the midst of the novel coronavirus. As the virus caused the world to hunker down, Pope Francis held up “to a suffering world the images of Jesus and the Blessed Mother.”
Teaching from Mark 4:35–41, the pontiff gave hope and encouragement to a world besieged with fear and despair, reminding us that “faith begins when we realize we are in need of salvation” and inviting us to welcome Christ into our lives to experience salvation from COVID-19. The prayer concluded with the ritual of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
With the liturgy Pope Francis reminded us that Christ is with us in the midst of pandemic. This book will continue to elicit hope and trust in God during crises to parishes, families, and individuals.
—Father Ferdinand Okorie, C.M.F., editor-in-chief, U.S. Catholic
Ave Maria Press says Christ in the Storm gathers color photos, readings, the pope’s homily and blessing and explains the symbolism and history of the Urbi et Orbi to create a powerful reminder that Jesus is always with us and that God’s love never fails.
Hardcover: $18.95
Available at bookstores or from Ave Maria Press at 1-(800) 282-1865 or avemariapress.com
September 2020
The Outsider: Pope Francis and His Battle to Reform the Church
By Christopher Lamb
Since his election to the papacy in 2013, Pope Francis’ dedication to living and proclaiming the gospel has attracted many but is also not without sustained opposition. In his new book, The Outsider: Pope Francis and His Battle to Reform the Church, author and journalist Christopher Lamb details the pope’s prophetic ministry and the inside forces that seek to upend it.
Lamb, a Rome correspondent for the British Catholic publication the Tablet, provides an honest, objective,and eye-opening guide to Francis’ critics as well as the neotraditionalist theology and politics influencing them. Engaging and informative, The Outsider is a critical read for Catholics who seek to understand how a good shepherd so quickly became an outsider in Rome.
—Sarah Butler, associate editor, U.S. Catholic
Orbis Books says Christopher Lamb, the Tablet’s reporter in Rome, examines Pope Francis’s ministry and agenda for the church, as well as the opposition against him. What does this portend for the Catholic Church now and in the future?
Paperback: $24.00
Available at bookstores or from Orbis Books at 1-(800) 258-5838 or orbisbooks.com
August 2020
I Want You to Be: On the God of Love
By Tomáš Halík
Czech theologian and best-selling author Tomáš Halík’s latest book, I Want You to Be: On the God of Love, borrows its title from a quote attributed to St. Augustine: Amo: volo ut sis, or “I love you: I want you to be.” Starting from this source of inspiration, Halík meditates on the Christian practice of love and its relationship to faith. He especially focuses on faith and love against the backdrop of modern European secularity and offers advice on how Christians can engage with nonbelievers through tolerance and understanding—in other words, through love.
Halík’s discussion explores the writings of prominent philosophers, including atheists such as Richard Dawkins and Friedrich Nietzsche and religious mystics such as Meister Eckhart. His analysis is both challenging and insightful. This book is recommended for Catholics interested in the mystery and theology of God’s loving relationship with humans.
—René Ostberg, editorial assistant, U.S. Catholic
University of Notre Dame Press says Tomáš Halík examines the connection between faith and love, meditating on a statement attributed to St. Augustine—Amo, volo ut sis, “I love you: I want you to be”—and its importance for contemporary Christian practice.
Paperback: $22.00
Available at bookstores or from University of Notre Dame Press at 1-(800) 848-6224 or undpress.nd.edu
July 2020
James Martin, SJ: In the Company of Jesus
By Jon M. Sweeney
It makes sense that Jesuit Father James Martin, one of the most recognized priests in the United States, is the most recent addition to Liturgical Press’ People of God series, which chronicles the lives of important 20th- and 21st-century Catholics. A follower and fan of Martin’s work, I was surprised how little I knew about his life and formation before reading Jon M. Sweeney’s James Martin, SJ: In the Company of Jesus.
In addition to chronicling Martin’s life as a Jesuit, notable public appearances, and publishing accomplishments, Sweeney manages to capture the driving force behind this General Electric executive turned Catholic priest: the notion that God moves through our desires. With each formational development shared in the book, it becomes increasingly clear that the prominent place Martin holds in Catholicism today is the result of his attention to the urgings of the Spirit made known through seeking fulfillment of interests and desires throughout his adult life and offering this wisdom to others along the way.
—Stephanie Clary, digital editor, U.S. Catholic
Liturgical Press says get to know Father James Martin: his life, ministry, and spirituality. Readers will come away with a much better understanding of one of today’s most interesting and influential Catholics.
Paperback: $16.95
eBook: $11.99
Available at bookstores or from Liturgical Press at 1-(800) 858-5450 or litpress.org
June 2020
Earth, Our Original Monastery: Cultivating Wonder and Gratitude through Intimacy with Nature
By Christine Valters Paintner
To develop a contemplative practice, we must look to the Earth, says Christine Valters Paintner in her new book, Earth, Our Original Monastery. Paintner makes the case that all monastic tradition has its roots in an intimate connection with nature. “All of creation is woven together in holiness,” she says, and we cannot truly understand God or our relationship to the holy until we remember our proper place within the web of creation.
To help us rediscover this and to deepen our own contemplative spirituality, Paintner outlines seven ways of seeing the Earth through the lens of faith. Each chapter pairs these spiritual reflections with lived practices: suggestions for meditative walks, growing herbs, and artistic pursuits. All these suggestions will help readers not just think about, but actually live out an incarnational theology that sees God in all creation.
—Emily Sanna, managing editor, U.S. Catholic
Ave Maria Press says Christine Valters Paintner shares how living contemplatively with an appreciation for the natural world can make you more aware of the presence of God in every aspect of your life.
Paperback: $15.95
Available at bookstores or from Ave Maria Press at 1-(800) 282-1865 or avemariapress.com
May 2020
Conscious Contact with God: The Psalms for Addiction and Recovery
by Kenneth W. Schmidt
The title of Conscious Contact with God: The Psalms for Addiction and Recovery by Kenneth W. Schmidt, a Catholic priest and licensed counselor, comes from Step 11 of the 12-step model of addiction treatment: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him.”
As Schmidt notes, this step can initially be difficult for people in recovery who grew up with a narrow, unyielding idea of God or prayer. They may have been taught only one way to pray or a judgmental concept of God. Additionally, their addiction may have convinced them they’re not worthy of God’s grace.
Schmidt’s solution is the Book of Psalms, an ideal “school for prayer” with themes that correspond to the recovery process, from despair to gratitude. As a twist, Schmidt has adapted the psalms using language familiar to people “working the steps,” making this book an affirming resource for anyone seeking a broader path to God.
—René Ostberg, editorial assistant, U.S. Catholic
Liturgical Press says this new paraphrase of the psalms reflects the experience of addiction and living in recovery. It speaks to anyone who shares those struggles to find God present in the midst of them.
Paperback: $19.95
eBook: $11.99
Available at bookstores or from Liturgical Press at 1-(800) 858-5450 or litpress.org
April 2020
Enough as You Are: Overcoming Self-Doubt and Appreciating the Gift of You
by Peggy Weber
For plenty of people, a short scroll through social media can trigger a spiral of self-doubt. Am I healthy enough? Smart enough? Successful enough? Catholic journalist and author Peggy Weber is no stranger to these feelings of inadequacy. “I have spent a lot of time wondering if I am any-number-of-things enough,” she writes. In her new book, Enough as You Are: Overcoming Self-Doubt and Appreciating the Gift of You, Weber explores modern issues that provoke self-doubt and offers timeless wisdom to make real change.
In 11 encouraging chapters focusing on different types of doubt, Weber invites readers to reflect honestly on what shapes their self-worth. Along with examples of self-doubt from her personal life, each chapter highlights a saint to pray with and includes a guided examen. With Weber’s help, anyone can tune out doubt and tune into God, finally saying with confidence that “I am enough as I am.”
—Sarah Butler, associate editor, U.S. Catholic
Loyola Press says Enough as You Are is the perfect book for women searching to rediscover their own self-worth and tune out the voices of self-doubt and insecurity while tuning into the truth that we are all created and loved by God, and that is enough.
Paperback: $13.95
Available at bookstores or from Loyola Press at 1-(800) 621-1008 or loyolapress.com
March 2020
Death: A Reader
by Mary Ann G. Cutter
Despite the fact that we all die, humans do not share the same view of death,” writes Mary Ann G. Cutter in her new book, Death: A Reader. How then can we talk about death and understand how to come to terms with it?
In Death: A Reader, Cutter attempts to solve this dilemma by exploring 13 themes regarding the nature of death, including physical disintegration, resurrection, the value of death, grieving, and physician-assisted suicide. For each theme, she lays out perspectives from a variety of time periods and religious and ethical traditions to help readers gain a vocabulary for talking about the theme in their own life. These writings are then paired with discussion questions to foster conversation about end-of-life issues.
This book is an important read for anyone seeking a way to come to terms with or talk about death—in other words, for everyone.
—Emily Sanna, managing editor, U.S. Catholic
University of Notre Dame Press says: “Death: A Reader provides a philosophically sophisticated guided tour of death. It also contains engaging practical exercises for having difficult conversations with loved ones on these hard topics.”
Paperback: $29.00
Available at bookstores or from University of Notre Dame Press at 1-(800) 848-6224 or undpress.nd.edu.
February 2020
Virgin, Mother, Queen: Encountering Mary in Time and Tradition
by Robert L. Fastiggi and Michael O’Neill
All Christians know who Mary was, but Catholics especially recognize her continuing intercession in our lives, including appearances to various individuals over the centuries. But while there have been countless reports of Marian apparitions, the Vatican has approved only a small number.
In Virgin, Mother, Queen: Encountering Mary in Time and Tradition, two experts gather 10 Vatican-recognized Marian apparitions—in Belgium, France, Ireland, Mexico, Portugal, and Rwanda—and uncover the details of each. Each chapter begins with the history and cultural context of an apparition written by Michael O’Neill, host of “The Miracle Hunter” radio program, followed by a summary of scripture and church teachings explaining the apparition’s significance and title by theologian and Marian expert Robert L. Fastiggi (for example, Mary as “Advocate,” “Virgin,” or “Mother of Mercy”). Featuring intercessory prayers and color images of artwork depicting each apparition, this book offers much to enjoy for readers looking to learn more about Mary.
—René Ostberg, editorial assistant, U.S. Catholic
Ave Maria Press says: “A quintessential and visually rich resource for those who want to understand how the more well-known of Mary’s many titles and attributes correspond with approved Marian apparitions across the globe.”
Paperback: $17.95
Available at bookstores or from Ave Maria Press at (800) 282-1865 or avemariapress.com.
January 2020
Becoming an Ordinary Mystic: Spirituality for the Rest of Us
by Albert Haase, O.F.M.
In today’s busy times, it’s easy to become spiritually lost and overwhelmed. As modern life demands more of our attention, Franciscan Father Albert Haase urges us to turn inward in his new book, Becoming an Ordinary Mystic: Spirituality for the Rest of Us. This book offers a practical way to feel God’s essence in all parts of our day.
In easy-to-digest chapters, Haase invites us to take a deep dive into our faith life and prioritize our personal spirituality. He presents daily practices that will set you on the path to seeing the spiritual in everyday life. Through relatable anecdotes and reflections from spiritual greats such as Thomas Merton and Teresa of Ávila, Haase sets readers up to live in the moment and bask in God’s glory. Although you may not consider yourself a mystic now, you just might after journeying with Becoming an Ordinary Mystic.
—Shanna Johnson, assistant editor, U.S. Catholic
InterVarsity Press says Franciscan priest Father Albert Haase affirms that we are all called to be ordinary mystics in his newest book.
Paperback: $16.00
Available at bookstores or from InterVarsity Press at 1-(800) 843-9487 or ivpress.com
