Book Reviews and More: Companion to Faith - Deacon Nick Donnelly

Companion to Faith

Year of Faith Series

Catholic Truth Society

ISBN 9781860828171

CTS Booklet DO 860

This is the second volume I have read in the ‘Year of Faith’ Series from the Catholic Truth Society, it is also the twelfth from the pen of Deacon Nick Donnelly that I have read. Deacon Nick has written several wonderful volumes but this one is my current favorite, next to A Catholic Survival Guide for Times of Emergency. The ‘Year of Faith’ was from October 2012 through November 2013. I did not encounter any of these booklets during the year of faith, but from the two I have read so far, they are well worth tracking down and reading. So far, I have been able to discover 8 books and booklets that are marked as part of this series:

Companion to Faith

Praying The Creed In The Year Of Faith

The Essential Creed - Exploring the Apostles' Creed in the Year of Faith

Year of Faith Prayer Book

Year of Faith Stations of the Cross

Year of Faith with John Paul II

The Gift of Scripture

The Word of the Lord Discovering Verbum Domini

From those discovered some are clearly marked on the front cover and some have the Year of Faith logo on the back of the book. The description of this volume:

“Specially published for the Year of Faith called by Pope Benedict XVI, this booklet is full of practical suggestions and ideas for how to increase your knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Faith. Neatly divided into 12 sections, so as to be easy to use across the whole year, this companion offers: 12 films you really must see; 12 people or modern saints you need to know about; 12 books you really must read; 12 artists and scientist you really should know more about and much more.”

About the author of this volume, we are informed that:

“Reverend Nick Donnelly is a Deacon of Lancaster diocese. He is a well-known blogger and CTS author.”

The chapters and sections in this prayer book are:

Something marvelous is going to happen

Twelve films you really must see

Twelve books you really must read

Twelve prayers for the Year of Faith

Twelve modern Catholics and modern saints you should know

Twelve paragraphs of the Catechism to the Catholic Church you should read

Twelve steps to make a simple Rule of Lie

Twelve blogs you’ll find really interesting

Twelve websites you’ll find really useful

Twelve scientists you should know

Twelve works of art you really should see

Twelve devotions you should try

Twelve things you could try during the Year of Faith

This book is a truly a blessing. Our parish has a Formed Parish Subscription and many of the movies and some of the books mentioned in this work as available there. In each of the first 11 categories listed I have created a list of new resources to check out, and in each there were a few I had already done but will circle back and revisit. We have lists of 12 recommended films, books, prayers, and other resources to try.

Deacon nick has written a marvelous list. A reader could easily pick up this book and spend a year or two working through all the recommendations and at the end of that time come out better catechised, read, and with a deeper and broader knowledge of their faith and other faithful Catholics profiled. I highlighted a number of passages my first time through this booklet, they were:

“Something marvelous is happening to you, whether you’ve known it all your life or you’re just discovering it now for the first time. God is offering you a wonderful gift that gives you access to his own divine life, a gift that enables you to “share in the good things of God that utterly exceed the intelligence of the human mind”. (First Vatican Council). This marvelous gift is faith.

“For Edith Stein faith was the unexpected gift of a clear star rising out of the darkness of life’s suffering, leading her to the Catholic Church. As Edith knew, true faith leads to the Church, which she describes as the ‘gate’ to the path that leads to God.”

“So far we have looked as faith as light, as a clear star rising out of life’s suffering, as a gate that leads to our encounter with the light of Christ, but faith can also be an encounter with darkness.”

“Our generation of Catholics is confronted by two main challenges to faith, one of which is the perennial problem of evil and the other the challenge of science and technology.”

“Rather than being all about the Year of Faith, this booklet has been designed to help you do something practical for developing and deepening your faith over the course of the year.”

“The ultimate purpose of this Companion to Faith is to help you realise in your own life Pope Benedict’s hope for the Year of Faith, that each one of us becomes a credible witness in the world, “enlightened in mind and heart by the word of the Lord, and capable of opening the hearts and minds of many to the desire for God and for true life, life without end.” (Porta Fidei, 15)”

“Since the earliest days of the Church, Christians, either as individuals or groups, have sought holiness and closer communion with Jesus through living by a rule of life. Here are twelve steps to help you draw up a simple rule of life during the Year of Faith. You may also benefit from looking at much-loved rules, such as the rule of St Francis and the rule of St Benedict. Se also the CTS booklet, A Rule of Life for Daily Christian Living by Fr Michael Woodgate (Do 759).” (out of print but available online here.)

This is a wonderful volume. Out of print but well worth tracking down. Deacon Nick has crafter a school of faith in this volume. It is a resource I know I will return to frequently. It is an excellent offering from the pen of Deacon Nick and from the Catholic Truth Society. A great resource for spiritual growth and to help you deepen and grow in your faith!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

For reviews of other books in the Year of Faith Series click here.

CTS Year of Faith Books: