Advent 2017 Reading Plan Preparing for the Season

Advent 2017 Reading Plan

I have been thinking about the season of advent that begins on Sunday December 3rd, 2017. My understanding is that is the latest possible date it can start. It is a season of preparation, and a season of celebration. It is the season of beginnings. It is the beginning of the liturgical year, and we have many beginnings each year. For me having spent 20 years in university September is often when I think of a new year. And for many January first the beginning of the calendar year is a new beginning. It is a time to prepare for the birth of Jesus, a time to prepare by working on myself. Working to become a better husband, a better father, a better son, a better brother, and a better man. I have been thinking about this season often over the last few weeks, especially with how late the first Sunday of Advent is this year. I have decided what resources I am going to use this year. I have narrowed down my list for the season to the following:

Best Advent Ever - Matthew Kelly
The Dynamic Catholic Institute

This is a series of daily messages and videos delivered directly into your mailbox. I have been getting the Best Advent and Best Lent Ever emails for a few years now. I find they are a fantastic way to start the day. The video's, and personal stories in this series are incredible.

Welcome Baby Jesus
Sarah A. Reinhard
Liguori Publications
ISBN 9780764819971

This is the book I have decided to incorporate into my reading with my children, again. We read through it two years ago and the kids loved it. Especially the daily exercise. Each day is broken down into three sections based on that reading. They Are Think, Act and Pray. Having read the book Sarah edited this year, Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary I am really looking forward to her insights and reflections for the kids.

In Conversation With GodVolume #1: Advent and Christmastide
Francis Fernandez
ISBN 0906138205
Scepter Press
ISBN 0906138191

I love this series, It is intensive 6 pages for each day of the year a 2 volumes of special feasts with 6 pages each for those. I have read through this series a few times and now it is available in eBook formats which make it much easier and portable. This series was originally published in Spanish and was completed in January 1991; the English translation was completed in 1993. It has been immensely popular since they first started coming out in1988. They are published around the world, and have helped thousands of readers in enriching their spiritual lives. You can read my full review of this book here.

Advent of the Heart: Seasonal Sermons and Prison Writings, 1941-1944
Alfred Delp
Ignatius Press
ISBN 9781586170813
ASIN B003TFEFV8

I have not read this one before but really look forward to reading it based on other samples of his works I have read in translation. A few years ago I read With Bounds Hands by: Mary Frances Coady and was amazing by the story of this man's faith.

Those are the resources I am using this year. How are you preparing for the coming of Christ Jesus? And if none of those grab you attention then there is an amazing resource by Felix Just SJ available at Catholic-resources.org. It has an extensive list of resources at the bottom of the article. So prepare to prepare the way for celebrating Jesus coming.

Related Articles:
Advent Reading 2012
Thinking About Lent 2015
Advent 2015 Reading Plan Preparing for the Season

All Advent Articles. 

Glen Eyrie Castle & Conference Center - A Photo Essay Part 2

Glen Eyrie Castle & Conference Center - A Photo Essay Part 2

Back in the summer of 2002 I spend the better part of August in Colorado springs at Glen Eyrie Castle & Conference Center helping to run an international conference for work. The conference center is right next to the garden of the Gods. I captured some amazing photo's. (Part 1)

Rockcrok Root Vegetable Stew

Rockcrok Root Vegetable Stew

This Slow Cooker Stew recipe is thick and filling, wonderfully flavourful, and made nice and easy in the slow cooker!

Total Time: 4 Hours 10 Mins

Prep Time: 10 Mins
Cook Time: 4 Hours On High, 8 Hours On Low

Ingredients:
• 3-4 cups good-quality chicken or vegetable stock
• 6 potatoes (Any Variety)
• 3 Large sweet potatoes
• 4 Large carrots
• 1 Large onion
• 1 Head of garlic
• 2tsp Butter
• 1 tsp Pink Salt
• 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tsp white sage
• 1 tsp Oregano
• 1/3 cup coconut flour (can substitute regular if desire)

Optional Ingredients:
• 6 slices cooked sliced bacon
• 3 cooked and diced Chicken Breast
• 3 cooked and sliced sausages
• optional toppings: thinly-sliced green onions or chives, extra shredded cheese, extra bacon, sour cream
• You can add other root vegetables to make variations on the soup, beets, turnip, parsnips … Experiment, test have fun.

Directions:
• Sautee garlic and unions until transparent and add to crock pot
• Dice all root vegetables and add to crock pot
• Add all seasoning and broth to crock pot
• Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, or until the vegetables  are tender and cooked through.
• Once the soup has slow cooked and is about ready to serve, make a roux by mixing the flour with water into a paste and adding to crock pot. Stir recover on low for 20 minutes.
• Keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days. Note this recipe will not freeze well.
• Bowl and serve. Garnish with some of the options listed in the optional ingredients.

Raw Ingredients in the Pot.

Finished Stew.

Variation 1 with added Pepperettes.

My first new fall soup creation of 2017. Started with this as inspiration.

You can find other recipes, juices, and smoothies that I have created or collected here.

Storm of Fire and Blood - Taylor R. Marshall - Sword and Serpent Book III

Storm of Fire and Blood
Sword and Serpent Book III
Taylor R. Marshall
Saint John Press
ISBN 9780988442597
ASIN B077QVGDYR

I have finished this book twice now. I have read it and I have listened to it. I wanted to read it a second time before writing my review because I did not want to come off too much as a Fan Boy. My first thought when I finished it, was that it was incredible. Maybe even the best trilogy I have ever read! At the time of writing this review I have read 331 books so far this year, and 2238 books in the last 10 years, and this book is one of the best, and the series is by far the best series I have read in that time frame.  
Trilogies can be tricky business. Too many authors want to write a trilogy out of the blocks, and the story just does not have the staying power. Other authors do not know how to count, and you get trilogies of 9 books like the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, or Xanth that is now up to 40 published and 2 forthcoming in the series.  Obviously Piers Anthony and Douglas Adams cannot count.  I did finish the first of those series and gave up before 10 books on the second.  This series is finished at three books. It is a trilogy and it is an incredible trilogy. In Fact the only trilogy I liked as much were The Lord of The Rings by Tolkien, and I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga, and for vary different reason.
 In my review of Sword and Serpent I stated: “I believe that this would have been a book that both Tolkien and Lewis would have loved. I can picture the Inklings sitting with a pint discussing the story and speculating where it would go next.” And in my review of The Tenth Region of the Night I added: “I believe they would have loved this sequel and be eagerly awaiting book III.” And from where I sit it was worth the wait. It really is rare for books in a trilogy to get better with each book. Most authors cannot sustain that level of surprise, at least from the thousands of books I have read. But this series gets exponentially better with each book. And maybe that is due to the fact that this was his first foray into fiction. And as much as I love his theology, these historical fiction novels are incredible reading! 
In this book, and this series, Dr. Taylor Marshall writes in and around the lives of saints, drawing us back in time to when Christianity was a feared and persecuted religion. He has drawn extensively from historical sources and written this incredible tale around truth, and around the legends. He weaves together the stories of many well know saints and also a number of lesser known saints. This story focuses around Jurian (Saint George), his friend Minas (St. Christopher), but we also encounter Catherine of Alexandria, Saint Helena, and a young man who will eventually become Saint Constantine. And the incredible character of Saint Nicholas or Myrna. This novel continues directly from book two. Jurian has been exiled, and he is heading north with Constantinus, he has a mission to return the sword. But after he receives a word of knowledge he knows that the future he had hoped for might not be, for he will be forced to choose between his faith, and his life. The snake Casca plays a major role in this book, but there are some incredible plot twists and surprises in this story, and is one of those who will surprise readers of the series. 
This book is an amazing mix of history, legend and myth. While reading it you are transported to ancient Rome, North Africa, and Britannia. We travel by boat, sea, and by foot. We follow the stories of numerous characters, in different locals who are all being drawn to the Diocletian and a conflict between earthly and heavenly powers. Even with having read it twice I know I will read this book again. Maybe over the Christmas holidays read the whole series again. 
As stated this book is the best of the last 2200 books I have read in the last 10 years! It is incredible. It will be appreciated by fans of historical fiction. Also by those who are Christian or Catholic and want a real glimpse of what like would have been like prior to Christianity becoming an approved religion. It is an epic story and that really is the best kind! And though we will not have more stories about Saint George, I can only hope we will have more stories with some of the other characters in this book. Not since reading the Sky Stone series by Jack Whyte have I encountered such an incredible story that touches on Arthurian Legend, but this book and series is so much more than just that! If you enjoy a good read, you must read this series!
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Taylor R. Marshall:
Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages: The Layman's Quick Guide to Thomism
Saint Augustine in 50 Pages: The Layman's Quick Guide to Augustinianism
God's Birthday: Why Christ Was Born on December 25 and Why it Matters
Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within
The Rosary in 50 Pages: The Layman’s Quick Guide to Mary’s Psalter

...

Sword and Serpent Series:

Nikolaos

…

Sword and the Serpent
The Tenth Region of the Night
Storm of Fire and Blood

...

The Origins of Catholic Christianity Series:
The Crucified Rabbi: Judaism and the Origins of Catholic Christianity
The Catholic Perspective on Paul: Paul and the Origins of Catholic Christianity
The Eternal City: Rome & the Origins of Catholic Christianity

...

 

34th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2017 Christ the King – Solemnity

34th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2017

Christ the King – Solemnity

The time between. That is what this week feels like for me. Today and this week at daily masses the white vestments will be used. But next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, and the move to Purple vestments. I often this of this as waiting for New Year’s. It is the new church year. As someone who spent over 20 years in university I have three New Year’s each year. There is the new school year and as such September feels like a beginning to a year (even though I have not taken courses for seven years now.) The second New Year’s is the traditional calendar new year of January 1st. Though to be honest this one has the least meaning or impact on me. And the third is the movable First Sunday of Advent, also known as Advent Sunday.  But it is a week of waiting a week of preparing. A week of anticipation.  The new year is just around the corner. How are you preparing?

Note: The above image is from my children's school board. We are moving from the year of Hope to the year of Faith. My prayer for you my readers is that you will be blessed and challenged this year.

Related Posts:
The Colors of the Church Year
The Privilege of Altar Serving
Serving God, Altar Serving and Learning to Listen
Saturday 18th Week or Ordinary Time
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2017
Twenty-Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2017

34th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2017 Christ the King – Solemnity

Advent 2017 Reading Plan Preparing for the Season
1st Sunday of Advent 2017
Second Sunday of Advent 2017

...

Note: Link to all posts about St. Agnes Parish.

Today ... 2017-11-25

Today ... 2017-11-25

Today was a great day! My son was present with his orange belt at Karate. My oldest daughter tested for her orange belt. And I prepped for my upcoming test. It was my second class back after missing more tan two months between being sick, and some project work. 

Then this afternoon and evening we had an amazing visit with family. We ended up going out for Chinese food at Tien Lee's in Elmira. and then just hanging out and chatting. There were 5 kids from ages 6-14 and 6 adults. It was a blast.

And I just got off a long phone call with my aunt, and godmother. We chatted for a while and it was wonderful to catch up. 

And have been diffusing some amazing blends from doTerra all day.  

Some daily reflections from Wellspring Publishing formerly Beacon Publishing for Dynamic Catholic that I have saved recently. 

Amber Fang: Betrayal - Arthur Slade - Librarian. Assassin. Vampire. Book 2

Amber Fang: Betrayal 
Librarian. Assassin. Vampire. Book 2
Arthur Slade
Dava Enterprises
ISBN 9780988013933
ASIN B077J2G5B4

There are few contemporary Canadian authors who are always on my must read list; Arthur Slade, Cecil Castellucci, and Kenneth Oppel. So when a new book by Slade comes out it immediately jumps to the top of my reading pile. Since I was captivated by Dust, back in 2002 I have read or reread one of his books over 30 times. And this series if fun, and whimsical, humorous and a lot of action all mixed up in one. In my review of book 1 I stated that this series "reads like a cross between the TV series Dexter with Angel except the lead is a woman, and an aspiring librarian at that. Or a mash up of Tom Clancy, Anne Rice but with more than a little humour smattered in." And after book two I would say even more so. Though maybe a dash of Spider Robinson thrown in this time just to mix it up.

This book, and this series, has a little something for every reader. You have a secret government organization, that has been nearly wiped out. The lead character is a young beautiful vampire, but her mother raised her with a conscience (she only hunts murders and only if they have no remorse), you have academia. There is also a billionaire trying to create super soldiers. And a secret society of librarians around the world who are aware of the government organization, Aware of Amber and her Library studies, and aware of the conflict currently going on. But they want to stay impartial and just document. 

Amber Fang has been hunting, but not for her next meal. She is trying to find her mother. He mother has been missing for a while now, and has become Amber's first priority. But things do not always go as expected. 

In a novel that starts in Antarctica. And journeys around the globe. Amber Fang has a revelation that will change her world forever. But Sometimes it is worse when you find something you were not even aware you were looking for, and then have it turn out to not be what you though. 

But be warned this book ends with a huge cliff hanger! This book continues the wonderful Amber Fang series, vampire, assassin, librarian.  Now amber has gone from being a girl just trying to finish grad school and find her next meal. To a woman of the world, seeking answers and battling bad guys from more than one side. 


Books by Arthur Slade:
The Dragonfly's Journey (1996)
John Diefenbaker: an Appointment with Destiny (2000)
Dust (2001)
Tribes (2002)
Monsterology (2005)
Villainology (2005)
Megiddo's Shadow (2006)
Jolted (2008)
Shades: 17 Startling Stories (2011)
Flickers (2016)
Crimson (2018)
Death by Airship (2019)
Mr. Universe (2021)

...

Hunchback Assignments Series:
aka Modo Mission Clockwork Series:
The Hunchback Assignments (2009)
The Dark Deeps (2010)
Empire of Ruins (2011)
Island of Doom (2012)
Modo Embers End - Graphic Novel (2014)

The Northern Frights Series
Draugr (1997)
The Haunting of Drang Island (1998)
The Loki Wolf (2000)

Northern Frights Reprint Editions:

Draugr (2020)

Drang (2020)

Loki Wolf (2020)

...

The Canadian Chills Series
Return of the Grudstone Ghosts (2002)
Ghost Hotel (2004)
Invasion of the IQ Snatchers (2007)

...

The Canadian Chills Reprint Editions:

Return of the Grudstone Ghosts (2024)

Ghost Hotel (2024)

Invasion of the IQ Snatchers (2024)

...

Librarian. Assassin. Vampire Series:
Amber Fang: The Hunted
Amber Fang: Betrayed
Amber Fang: Revenge
Amber Fang Box Set Books 1-3
...

Dragon Assassin Series:
Twin Fury
Shadow Hunter
Dark Wings
Bitterwaters
Elder Magic
Royal Blood
Hidden Powers
Burning Empire
Old Enemies

Downfall

The Golden Spear

Deathwings

...

Dragon Assassin Novels (Omnibus editions):

Twin Fury

Royal Blood

Burning Empire

Downfall

Deathwings

…

I, Brax Series:

A Battle Divine

…

Books as Stephen Shea:
The Not So Simple Life
Damage
Viper - Short Story

...

Visual Bibliography for Arthur Slade
Author profile interview with Arthur Slade.
Author profile interview with Stephen Shea. 

 

Drive! - Corinna Turner - unSPARKed Book 1

Drive!
unSPARKed Book 1
Corinna Turner
Unseen Books
eISBN 9781910806623
eISBN 9781910806630
ASIN B077927BDS

And now for something completely different or at least that was my first thought as I started reading this book. This truly is a completely different type of story for Corinna. It sort of feels like a cross between Jurassic World and Mad Max! The story is set in a future when scientists have created dinosaurs and humans are no longer top of the food chain. Most humans live inside walled cities, the walls being layers of electrified fences.

This book was a lot of fun to read. In fact I read it three times over 2 days. Or I should say I read it twice and listened to it once. This is the story of a family that is in transition. Darryl, her brother Harry and their dad are farmers, they raise dinosaur meat. That means they live outside the safe cities. They live on a fenced farm. The farm is surrounded by a double electric fence. But their life has changed drastically. The last time their dad came home from the city he announced he was married. And this book is the story of their trip to the city to get Carol, a fashion designer, and bring her home to the farm. But things do not go as planned.

The family’s worst ever encounter with predators happens on Carol’s trip to the farm, and it just so happens to be her first trip on a highway outside the city. She encounters a stampeding group of longnecks. Sees a T.Rex take one down and block the highway right in front of them. And then Raptors attack. And these smart beasts are intent on getting in the truck. Not the quiet ride home for the new bride, to the new frontier. Not at all. 

I loved the brief story about St Desmond:

“Who… who’s this guy?” she quavers as Dad pulls away, indicating St Des. 
“That’s St Desmond,” says Harry eagerly, finding his voice. “Patron saint of people who live out-City. He was one crazy dude. But a really holy crazy dude!” 
Carol looks perplexed. “Why was he crazy?” 
“Because he lived unSPARKed in a cave, in raptor country.” 
Carol looks like she might faint. “He what?” 
“Yeah, he was a hermit,” says Dad. “Lived like that for twenty years, then just dropped dead one day from an undiagnosed illness. In all that time the raptors never ate him. Which is generally considered to be a miracle.”

This was a fantastic read. I am looking forward to sharing it with my son. It was fun, fast paced. And sets up an incredible new world. My understanding is that this is the first in a series of short novellas set in the world of unSPARKed, and if the rest are as entertaining as this one, than we are in for some great reads. And I hope at some point we get a story dedicated to Saint Desmond. A great little read, it is FANtastic!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Corinna Turner:
I Am Margaret Series:
0.0 The Underappreciated Virtues of Rusty Old Bicycles (A prequel)
0.5 Brothers (Prequel)
1.0 I Am Margaret
1.5 How Snakey Got His Name (Short Story)
2.0 The Three Most Wanted
3.0 Liberation
4.0 Bane's Eyes
5.0 Margo's (Attempted) Diary & Notebook
5.5 An Unexpected Guest
6.0 The Siege of Reginald Hill
6.5 Buttons (Short Story)
7.0 A Saint in the Family
I Am Margaret The Play - Fiorella de Maria

...

Yesterday and Tomorrow Series:
Someday
Tomorrow's Dead
...

unSPARKed Series:

Prequel Short Stories:

Liam and the Hunters of Lee'Vi

0.1 Breach

A Truly Clawful Christmas

0.2 A Mom with Blue Feathers

0.3 A Very Jurassic Christmas

0.3a A Very Jurassic Lent

0.4 A Dino Whisperer at the Zoo

Three Clawsome Tales

Novels:
 1.0 Drive!
 1.0a Please Don't Feed the Dinosaurs

 2.0 A Truly Rapror-Ous Welcome
 3.0 Panic! 
 4.0 Farmgirls Die in Cages
 5.0 Wild Life

 6.0 A Right Rex Rodeo

 7.0 FEAR

 8.0 A Different Kind of Camouflage

 9.0 A Different Kind of Freedom

10.0 What’s Done is Done

11.0 Weigh the Odds

12.0 A Nest of Piranha’saurs

...

Mandy Lamb Series:
Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon

The Wolf The Lamb and the Air Balloon

...

Friends in High Places:

1.0 The Boy Who Knew: Carlo Acutis

1.5 Do Carpenters Dream of Wooden Sheep? 

2.0 Old Men Don’t Walk to Egypt: Saint Joseph

3.0 Child, Unwanted: Margaret of Castello

4.0 A Lion for a Tomb: Ignatius of Antioch

...

Elfling Series:

Elfling

The Most Expensive Alley Cat in London

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Last Things Series:

Three last things or The hounding of Carl Jarrold, Soulless Assassin

A Changing of the Guard

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Other Books:
The Raven & The Yew
...

Contributed to:
Secrets: Visible & Invisible 7 Amazing Stories - Catholic Teen Books

Gifts Visible & Invisible 8 Christmas Stories for Teens
Treasures: Visible & Invisible 8 Stories for Teens

The Christmas Lights

Ashes Visible & Invisible 10 Stories for Teens

A Foul Christmas

A Saint Nicholas Eve Carol

The Gift of the Angel Tree 

Shadows Visible & Invisible 7 Stories for Teens

...

Author profile and interview with Corinna Turner

Prayer of the Day A Hunter's Prayer.

Original Cover of Book 1

 

Reform Yourself! - Shaun McAfee How to Pray, Find Peace, and Grow in Faith with the Saints of the Counter-Reformation

Reform Yourself! 

How to Pray, Find Peace, and Grow in Faith with the Saints of the Counter-Reformation

Shaun McAfee 

Paul Thigpen (Foreword)

Catholic Answers Press

ISBN 9781683570547

eISBN 9781683570561

ASIN B077F4TCPH

As soon as I saw the title and cover of this book I wanted to read it. And to be completely honest I did not know what it was about, other than the words REFORM YOURSELF! screaming at me. Part of the description for the book is:

"The sixteenth-century Catholic Church was definitely in need of reform. Too many of its leaders were worldly and corrupt; too many of the faithful were living in laxity or ignorance. Unfortunately, Protestantism brought revolution rather than reform, but the saints who rose up in response to it helped renew and transform the Church for generations to come.  

Our own souls, too, are in constant need of reform, of re-conversion to God and his will for us. We struggle with sin, we become distracted in prayer, we find it hard to be loving and easy to be selfish. In Reform Yourself!, Shaun McAfee (founder of Epic Pew and author of Filling Our Father's House) shows you how these magnificent saints can be guides in your own personal transformation." 

So drawing from saints from the Counter Reformation he does that. He gives clear concise guidance on how to work on yourself. For nearly 20 years my tag line in emails has been 'Learing to be' and when I was asked about it I would say I am striving to learn to be, and be good at being. This book uses the examples of 10 Saints to help us do just that. The saints that Shaun calls out in this book are:

St. Francis de Sales: The Apologist Next Door

St. Ignatius of Loyola: Reformer of Education and Spirituality

St. Teresa of Ávila: The Mystical Reformer

St. Robert Bellarmine: Our Model Apologist

St. Aloysius Gonzaga: Reformer of Youthful Piety

Pope St. Pius V: Reformer of Faithful Leadership

St. Philip Neri: Reformer of Solemn Humor

St. John of the Cross: The Contemplative Reformer

St. Jane Frances de Chantal: The Simple Reformer

St. Charles Borromeo: Our Consummate Pastor

Paul Thigpen begins the forward with these words:

"More than thirty years ago, I was a Protestant pastor working my way through a Ph.D. program in Church History at a Methodist university. The process was an essential factor in my eventually becoming Catholic. As Blessed John Henry Newman famously observed, "To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant."  

As I studied, I learned almost daily not only how much I didn't know, but also how much of what I thought I knew was actually untrue. 
One of the great surprises awaiting me when I studied what Church historians call the "Reformation Period" was the Catholic movement known as the Counter-Reformation. Many prefer to call it the Catholic Reformation, and for good reason: it was not just a reaction, a "counter," to the Protestant revolt. The spirit of genuine reform within the Catholic Church, as opposed to her attempted reform through fragmentation, long preceded Martin Luther's posting of the Ninety-Five Theses on October 31, 1517-the episode commonly considered the birth of the Protestant movement."

And looking back on this the 500th anniversary of the reformation One can only hope and pray for the unity that Christ called for among his followers. And Thigpen ends the forward with these words:

"In these pages you'll read about ten of these genuine spiritual heroes and what they have to teach us today. Their stories should stir us with admiration for their exceptional holiness, wisdom, courage, and perseverance-and often a fine sense of humor as well. But the author has given us much more than simple biography; he connects these stories to our everyday work of self-reform, of ongoing conversion, as well as to our baptismal call to explain and defend the Faith. Always, he approaches these saints with an essential question in mind: What can we learn from their example?  

I trust this book will find a wide audience. My hope is that readers will respond eagerly to the challenges it issues through its perceptive look at ten extraordinary saints with profound lessons for ordinary Catholics."

And after devouring this book I agree. I can think immediately of numerous friends and family who would benefit from reading this book. And I will likely read it again within the next few months. Shaun in the forward states:

"It is said that if you want to become a saint, you must read the saints. But I say, if you want to become a saint, you must do more than read: you must study the saints! You must read the saints in detail, analyzing them to the degree to which you come to know your own friends and family, taking an interest in every detail of their characters. To know these saints, we must devote ourselves to them. Only when we do this can we become like them." 

And this book is the beginning of that journey. The first saint covered in the book is St. Francis ds Sales, his feast day is my birthday and this chapter begins with this quote from him "Be who you are and be that well". Then the chapter on St. Ignatius of Loyola begins with this quote "To conquer himself is the greatest victory that man can gain.". Each chapter of this book begins with the key dates for the saint. It starts with a quote. Outlines the example that saint is in our process of reforming ourselves and then each chapter ends with one or more prayer. 

This book is very well written. It was hard to put down. The bibliography at the end it excellent for going deeper with one or more of the saints highlighted in the book. The only thing I fell the book really needed was a conclusion. It has a wonderful forward, and great introduction, incredible teaching and then just ends. But even with that it is a great read that I highly recommend.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Shaun McAfee:

Reform Yourself! How to Pray, Find Peace, and Grow in Faith with the Saints of the Counter-Reformation
Filling Our Father's House: What Converts Can Teach Us About Evangelization
St. Robert Bellarmine
Social Media Magisterium: A No-Nonsense Guide to the Proper Use of Media
I'm Catholic. Now What?
20 Answers Conversion - Catholic Answers
Epic Saints: Wild, Wonderful, and Weird Stories of God's Heroes 

20 Answers: Relics & Sacramentals

...

Contributed to:
Surprised By Life: 10 Converts Explain How Catholic Teachings On Life Led Them To The Church
Inseparable: Five Perspectives on Sex, Life, and Love in Defense of Humanae Vitae 
...

Other reviews of books from Catholic Answers.