Book Reviews and More: September 2024

Sunday 29 September 2024

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Third Quarter 2024

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Third Quarter 2024

It has been a good year for reading so far. I am still averaging about a book a day. It was slower this year than the last few, but both work and home life have been much busier.

In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more.

This quarter I read 85 books and had 2 in added to the ‘did not finish’ list, low compared to the last few years, below is the comparison with the last 8 years:

2024 - 87

2023 – 102

2022 – 87

2022 – 79

2021 – 79

2020 – 61

2019 – 89

2018 – 91

2017 – 64

2016 – 94

As you can see this is right about on par, and last year was a serious outlier. But back to this quarter by the numbers:

Books Read: 87

First Time Reads: 70

Fiction: 36

Non-Fiction: 47

5/5 Stars: 60

I will note a few of the books I read this year are unpublished manuscripts. They will be released next year but this list is based on when they were read. A dip over the last few years overall so far this year, but this quarter was close to average. I can state again that looking back 2016 is a bit of an outlier as late that year I switched jobs and have since had much better work – life balance. In the spring of 2016, I worked through Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now (now available on ClaitasU). The year before that I removed all games from my phone and tablet and my reading had doubled.

Here is my top ten fiction and non-fiction books of the third quarter of 2024

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books:

1. Books by Pope Benedict XVI

The Fathers of the Church

Church Fathers From Clement of Rome to Augustine

The Medieval Fathers & Writers The Spiritual Masters

Church Fathers and Teachers: From Leo The Great to Peter Lombard

2. Holy Cards - Barbara Calamari and Sandra Di Pasqua

3. Are You Saved? The Catholic Understanding of Salvation - Fr. Mike Schmitz - Homilies Book 1

4. The Catechism in a Year Companion, Volume II - Fr. Mike Schmitz, Petroc Willey, Matthew Doeing, and Ann Koshute

5. Hearing Christ’s Voice: A New Lectionary for the Church - Bishop Hugh Gilbert, OSB

6. Visions of Mary: Mother of God - Sandra DiPasqua and Barbara Calamari

7. CTS Children's Books by Juliette Levivier

Praying with the First Christians

Praying with Mary

8. Walking with God in the Unimpressive Seasons of Life - Mike Schmitz

9. St. Michael the Archangel History, Lent and Prayers - Maria Alinne Costa

10. Saints Around the World Early Reader Collection - Meg Hunter-Kilmer and Lindsey Sanders

Royal and Warrior Saints Around the World

Talented Saints Around the World

Unshakable Saints Around the World

Adventurous Saints Around the World

Young Saints Around the World

Ordinary Saints Around the World

(Note available individually or as a set.)

Bonus Non-Fiction Books:

Saints: Ancient & Modern - Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua

Ministering the Word of God - Fr Allen Morris - CTS Books

My Simple Prayer Book - Pierpaolo Finaldi - CTS Children's Books

My Simple Mass Book - Pierpaolo Finaldi and David Belmont - CTS Children's Books

Top Ten Fiction Books:

1. Shadows Visible & Invisible - Catholic Teen Books Anthology

2. Honeymoon from Hell - Declan Finn

The Neck Romancer

Blood Country

Wyverns Never Die

(Forthcoming books available in 2025)

3. Little Red-Hood and the Wolf-man - Cedar Sanderson

4. Pop - Gordon Korman

5. The Voice of Angels - Nydia Hadi

6. Trickster Noir - Cedar Sanderson - Pixie for Hire Book 2

7. Snow in Her Eyes: A Paranormal Police Procedural - Cedar Sanderson - Witchward Book 1

8. Columbo The Grassy Knoll - William Harrington - TOR Columbo Series Book 1

9. Artificial Condition - Martha Wells - The Murderbot Diaries Book 2

10. Ennia in Faerie - Manuel Alfonseca

Bonus Fiction Books:

Memories of the Abyss - Cedar Sanderson

Born to Rock - Gordon Korman

Schooled - Gordon Korman

Plant Life - Cedar Sanderson

Stargazer - Cedar Sanderson

Faker - Gordon Korman

My reading has been up over each of the last few years, but it is staying pretty consistent at about a book a day over the year. I attribute in part to Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now, removing all games but 1 brain game from my devices. And I was commuting to work on a bus and read on the bus every day. Working from home reading took a little more discipline, and we are now back to a hybrid model with 5 days a month in the office, so things are changing again.

Note: I do not include books that have been read in previous years and were reread this year in my top ten lists, they are sometimes in the bonus section. But if you want more options check out my favourite books year by year list. Or this year not to flood the list with one specific author.

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2020

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2020

Top Ten Fiction Books 2020

Top Ten Books First Quarter 2021

Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2021

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2021

Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2021

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2021

Top Ten Fiction Books 2021

Top Ten Books First Quarter 2022

Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2022

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2022

Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2022

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2022

Top Ten Fiction Books 2022

Top Ten Books First Quarter 2023

Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2023

Top Ten Fiction Books Fourth Quarter 2023

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2023

Top Ten Fiction Books 2023

Top Ten Books First Quarter 2024

Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2024

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2024

Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2024

...

All Top Ten Lists on Book Reviews and More

Statistics Books Read By Year:
283 - 2023 January-September

455 - 2024

438 - 2022

365 - 2021

317 - 2020
392 - 2019
359 - 2018
380 - 2017
272 - 2016
177 - 2015
130 - 2014
88 - 2013
176 - 2012
163 - 2011
302 - 2010
142 - 2009
98 - 2008
83 - 2007
191 - 2006
151 - 2005
60 - 2004
52 - 2003
97 - 2002
50 - 2001
41 - 2000
71 - 1999
73 - 1998
131 - 1997
101 - 1996

Saturday 28 September 2024

Prayer of the Day Little Consecration

Little Consecration

Prayer of the Day

My Queen, My Mother.

I give myself entirely to you. And to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my entire self without reserve. As I am your own, my good Mother, guard me and defend me as your property and possession.

Amen.

I do not recall where I picked up this prayer. Likely a social media post. I added it to my prayer notebook in February of 2019, but checking around that date I do not see any book it would have come from. I typically say this one early in the morning but it is often one I pray often throughout the day.

Relates posts and links:

Prayer of the Day Posts

Prayer Book Reviews

My Prayer Notebook.

My Daily Prayer List April 2024

...

Friday 27 September 2024

Poems for the Soul: Susan M. Werner Compiled by Fr. Mark Goring CC

Poems for the Soul: Susan M. Werner

Compiled by Fr. Mark Goring CC

ISBN 9798333411983

ASIN B0D9NRW8RP

Poems for the Soul: Susan M. Werner Compiled by Fr. Mark Goring CC

I picked this book up as soon as Amazon suggested it. I have read many books by Father Mark, many books as part of his St Mark’s School of Reading. And two years ago we read a different volume of Susan’s poetry called, Always Near Volume 1, so I was excited to give this volume a try.

The description of the book I which is a poem by Susan is:

“The soul of a poet,

Is different I’m told,

Born of the blessings,

Of cherishing His word.

Poems are the altar,

Their rhythm my joy,

Each with a cadence,

For me to employ,

Receiving a message,

Meant to be shared,

With subtle reminders,

Of how deeply He cared.

I welcome all readers,

To read and to glean,

How these verses touch you,

And what each may mean.

Susan M. Werner”

This description is also the first entry in the volume. Unlike the previous volume I read by Susan none of the poems in this volume have titles. The second entry is an introduction from father Mark it states:

“A poem appears in my in box,

From someone I do not know.

Oh no!

Too many emails already,

I'm about to click "delete."

But I notice it's only a few short verses.

Maybe I'll glance at the first line or two.

simple , beautiful, gentle;

And so I read on ...

And now my soul is a little more peaceful.

Wow! What a wonderful poem.

The next day, there's another poem in my inbox.

And now Susan and I are good friends.”

So it appears this volume is a collection of some of those poems that Susan sent to Father Mark. It is a wonderful collection of 92 poems if you include the preface one that doubles as the description of the work. They vary in length from 8 lines to 17 I believe. And none have more than the one stanza. A few that really struck me are:

“How great Thou Art, how small I am,

Your grandeur humbles me,

Gentle waters cleanse my soul,

You softly set me free.

Love alone shall purify,

I stand in hope and awe,

Thank you, Lord, for Grace received,

I prayed, You came, I saw.”

“Our paths may have been different,

The call has been the same,

His voice has echoed in our hearts,

He has called us each by name.

Circumstances shape our lives,

Our choices different too,

May His love remain the bond,

That ties the "me" to you.”

“Remake me, Lord, and purify,

My heart seems dense as mud,

Soften it with streams of grace,

And blessings from above.

The perfect Craftsman Who You are,

Will keep me on the wheel,

To shape me in Your image,

Yes, I am Yours to heal.”

“You are a hero dear to me,

A sinner who heard God's call,

Struck by God's almighty hand,

You became a voice for all,

You suffered but you persevered,

Your words became the guide

Inspiring us through streams of Grace,

That move us deep inside.

Pray for me, beloved Paul,

That I may be like you,

Rich in Faith, steeped in Love,

With a heart that's always true.”

“St. Michael you surround me,

With you r shield of cobalt blue,

Watching and protecting,

All I say and do.

Your sword points at the ready,

Warning any who come near,

Not to touch or harm me,

It's you they'll come to fear.

That sword tip now encircles me,

I know you will defend,

My life in every circumstance,

From beginning to the end.

I honor you for loving me,

This and every day,

I sing your praises in my heart,

To you I always pray.”

I hope those poems give you a feel for this excellent little volume. I loved reading through this collection of poems. There are many excellent offerings in the collection. I can easily recommend this volume and look forward to reading it with the School of Reading soon.

A great little collection of poems I can easily recommend. I just wish there was an eBook edition of it.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!

Read as part of Father Mark Goring’s School of Reading for info click here.

For a list of all books that are part of Father Mark Goring's Saint Mark’s School of Reading click here.

Books by Susan Werner:

Always Near Volume 1

Always Near Volume 2

Always Near Volume 3

Always Near Volume 4

…

Poems for the Soul: Susan M. Werner Compiled by Fr. Mark Goring CC

...

Books by Father Mark Goring:

St. Joseph the Protector: A nine-day preparation for entrustment to St. Joseph

In His Zone: 7 Principles for Thriving in Solitude

Hold My Beer: An Apocalypse

You're not a Chicken

Proverbs Douay Rheims Bible Version

72 Crew: Manual 1st Edition

Poems for the Soul: Susan M. Werner

...

Journal's by Father Mark:

Treasure In Heaven: Journal Edition

40 Days Freedom Walk Journal: Volume I St. Matthew

40 Days Freedom Walk Journal: Volume II St. Mark

40 Days Freedom Walk Journal: Volume III St. Luke Workman Edition

40 Days Freedom Walk Journal: Volume IV St. John Life is Good Edition

I Love Journal

…

Notebooks by Father Mark:

Disciple Notebook: Discipleship. Living in the Spirit. Evangelization 2018

Disciple Notebook: Discipleship. Living in the Spirit. Evangelization 2019

Sparkly Star Notebook

...

Non-English Editions:

San Jose el Protector: Una Preparacion de Nueve Dias para Consagrarse a San Jose

Duc Thanh Giuse Dang Bao Tro: Chin Ngay Chuan Bi de Dang Minh Cho Duc Thanh Giuse

…

Father Marks - Saint Marks School of Reading

Father Marks - Saint Marks School of Reading The Reading List

...

Thursday 26 September 2024

Snow in Her Eyes - Cedar Sanderson - Witchward Book 1

Snow in Her Eyes

Witchward Book 1

Book 2 of Underhill

Cedar Sanderson

Sanderley Studios

ASIN B074FPY5FH

Snow in Her Eyes - Cedar Sanderson - Witchward Book 1

This is the twenty-first volume by Sanderson that I have read. I first encountered the works of Cedar several years back in Cracked: An Anthology of Eggsellent Chicken Stories, and after reading her piece there knew I had to track down and read more from her pen. And to date everything I have read has been entertaining and some have just been amazing stories. The description of this volume states:

“Detective Amaya Lombard is a witch hunter and a damn good one. Hated by the magical because she works with cops, feared by cops because she works with magic, she walks a fine line between malice and murder. When an entire family dies in magic and blood, only Amaya can find the truth that lies behind the seemingly senseless mayhem…because even the dead deserve answers.”

This was another amazing read from Sanderson’s masterful pen. It is different than a lot of her other works I have read. The subtitle of the book is ‘A Paranormal Police Procedural’ and it lives up to that in a unique way. Amaya really reminds me of Annie O'Malley by K.T. Galloway, except Annie uses perception and feelings to help the team and Amaya can sense magic and even track or trace it at times. I read a lot of British and Scottish crime novels the likes of the DCI Kett novels from Alex Smith and the DCI Will Blake novels from J.E. Mayhew. And the DCI Jack Logan books by J.D. Kirk. I have also read all the Reacher offerings from the Child brothers, and I can state this novella is right up there. It nails the police force and investigative vibe, but with that extra element.

The characters are incredibly well written. We cannot help but feel for Amaya who appears to be a bridge between 2 worlds or way of seeing the world. She works well with Officer James Starkey but he cannot be partnered with her all the time. Office Ramirez has reservations but is a good cop and will do what he is ordered to do. Captain McCune on the other hand reminds me of Barney Miller. This novella moves at a steady pace. It is an intriguing world Sanderson had created, and this novella leads into a much longer novel. But as of now there are just the two works set in this world.

I have been very impressed with all of Sanderson’s writing that I have read to date, and have very much enjoyed her recently works published under the name of Lilania Begley. A gal trying to get a hard job done, a job no one else could likely do, and one that has alienated her from much of her family. She is just trying to do the right thing and to serve in the force. It is a great novella. I can easily recommend this story and I look forward to the next story in the series.

Books by Cedar Sanderson:

Lab Gremlins

Warp Resonance

The Dwarf's Dryad

One-Eyed Dragon

Memories of the Abyss

Little Red-Hood and the Wolf-man

The Violet Mouse

Stargazer

The Eternity Symbiote

Plant Life

Sugar Skull

Snow Angel

Inktail & Friends: A Coloring Book

The Twisted Breath of God

Voyageur's Cap

Fairy Little Sister

Milkweed

Mindflow

The East Witch

The Case of the Perambulating Hatrack

Crow Moon

Zombie Maggots

Poor Gregory

…

The Groundskeeper Series:

Raking Up the Dead

The Hoodoo That You Do

My Ghoul

...

Pixie for Hire Series:

Pixie Noir

Trickster Noir

Dragon Noir

…

Pixie for Hire: Omnibus Edition

Children of Myth Series:

Vulcan's Kittens

The God’s Wolfling

…

The Tanager Series:

Jade Star

Tanager's Fledglings

…

Witchward Series:

Snow in Her Eyes

Possum Creek Massacre

…

Illustrated by Cedar:

Something Wicked #15

Jormungandr's Venom (Fenris Unchained Book 3)

Hunted Behavior

A Time To Die

Legion

…

Contributed to:

The Hearts' Enchantment

Cracked: An Anthology of Eggsellent Chicken Stories

Calexit- The Anthology

Supernatural Streets

Something Wicked Anthology, Vol One

Something Wicked #15

Mythic Delirium Magazine Issue 0.4

Ghosts of Malta

The Haunted Library Anthology: Volume 1

But Not Broken - Hope and Healing Book 2

Postcards From Mars - Postcard Stories Book 1

Space Cowboys - Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 4

Space Cowboys 2: Electric Rodeo - Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 5

Twisted Tropes

Steam-Powered Postcards - Postcard Stories Book 2

Space Marines - Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 6

Fanta-Fly Postcards: A Micro-Fiction Collection

Postcards from Foolz: A Micro-Fiction Collection

Falcons of Malta

Space Marines 2 - Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 9

Single Servings of Liberty - Postcard Stories Book 5

Tales From The Occupation: A Fae Wars Book 4

…

Books as Lilania Begley:

Slice of Pie

...

Sumire Series:

Djinn A Short Story

Dust Storm

Distress Signal

...

Bluehills Series:

Farmhand

Farmwife

Star Bright

...

Contributed to as Lilania Begley:

He Was Dead When I got There

...

Possum Creek Massacre - Cedar Sanderson - Witchward Book 2

Wednesday 25 September 2024

A Wrinkle in Time Stratford Festival 2023 A Review

A Wrinkle in Time

2023

Stratford Festival

Author: Madeleine L’Engle

Director Thomas Morgan Jones

Set Designer Teresa Przybylski

Costume Designer Robin Fisher

Lighting Designer Kimberly Purtell

Composer and Sound Designer Deanna H. Choi

Projection Designer jaymez*

Dramaturge Keith Barker

Producer David Auster

Casting Director Beth Russell

Creative Planning Director Jason Miller

A Wrinkle in Time Stratford Festival 2023 A Review

A Wrinkle in Time Stratford Festival 2023 A Review Stage Pre Show

First I must state that I never read Madeleine L’Engle as a child. I discovered her in my twenties and read over 30 of her works in a few short years. Reading a mix of her children’s fiction, young adult and adult fiction and her non-fiction and theology. I even had the opportunity to meet her at two conferences, one a religious conference and one for writers. I am a huge fan of her works.

Over the last few years my son, who is now 16, and I have attended a number of plays in Stratford at the festival. We eagerly await the announcements of the season’s shows and often debate what shows we want to attend and why and then we buy our tickets early in the winter. For the 2023 Season I did not get around to writing reviews during the season but wanted to still share my thoughts. And this production was just really intriguing. As a world premier adaptation we had nothing to consider before entering the theatre. It cannot be compared to either film adaptations, from 2003 or 2019. It was the penultimate of the five shows we saw in 2023, the others were: Frankenstein Revived, King Lear, Grand Magic, and Goblin Macbeth. But back to this production.

The cast in alphabetical order:

Aunt Beast, Camazotz Child, Camazotz Business Person, Man With Red Eyes Servant - Jahlen Barnes

Charles Wallace Murry - Noah Beemer

Meg Murry - Celeste Catena

Man With Red Eyes, Camazotz Child, Camazotz Business Person -Christine Desjardins

Mrs. Which, Camazotz Mother (Voiceover) - Kim Horsman

Camazotz Child, Camazotz Business Person, Man With Red Eyes Servant, Aunt Beast - Germaine Konji

Mother, Camazotz Mother, Camazotz Business Person, Voice Of Aunt Beast - Beck Lloyd

Mrs. Whatsit, Camazotz Mother (Voiceover) - Nestor Lozano Jr.

Father, Camazotz Business Person, Voice Of Man With Red Eyes - Jamie Mac

Calvin O’Keefe - Robert Markus

Happy Medium, Camazotz Child, Camazotz Business Person, Man With Red Eyes

Servant, Aunt Beast - Erica Peck

Mrs. Who, Camazotz Mother (Voiceover) - Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah

Understudies:

Charles Wallace Murry - Jahlen Barnes

Father, Voice Of Man With Red Eyes, Camazotz Business Person - Aidan Desalaiz

Calvin O’keefe - Nick Dolan

Aunt Beast, Man With Red Eyes Servant, Camazotz Child, Camazotz Business Person - Henry Firmston

Mrs. Who, Camazotz Mother (Voiceover), Happy Medium, Man With Red Eyes Servant, Aunt Beast, Camazotz Child, Camazotz Business Person - Kelly Holiff

Man With Red Eyes, Camazotz Child, Camazotz Business Person - Evangelia Kambites

Meg Murry - Germaine Konji

Mrs. Whatsit, Man With Red Eyes Servant, Aunt Beast, Camazotz Child, Camazotz Mother (Voiceover), Camazotz Business Person - Masini Mcdermott

Mrs. Which, Camazotz Mother (Voiceover) - Erica Peck

Mother, Camazotz Mother, Camazotz Business Person, Voice Of Aunt Beast - Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah

We attended one of the last performances of the production. And my 12 year old daughter joined us for this outing as well. They had seen both film versions and have encountered some of the books. It was stunning production visually. And It had a bit of a Pink Floyd The Wall feel to it. In part we picked this show because we are big fans of Jamie Mac, and in part because it was the play geared for younger audiences and the three of us could enjoy it together. And for the most part we did. Noah Beemer does an excellent job playing Charles. And Celeste Catena is outstanding as Meg. Kim Horseman nails Mrs Witch. Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah also is near perfect as Mrs Who. And we loved Jamie mac as both Mr Murry and as the voice of the man with the red eyes. And that juxtaposition of his roles worked very well. And Erica Peck played the Happy Medium to perfection. However all three of us felt that Nestor Lozano Jr. played the role of Mrs. Whatsit so over the top that at times it detracted from the rest of the performance and the staging. To the extent that when the kids found out they were playing Tinkerbell they lost interest in the 2024 production of Wendy and Peter Pan.

When considering the story many are unaware it is part of a quintet, and that there are further books featuring Meg and Calvin and their children, including the oldest boy named after Charles because of how close he and Meg were. Almost all productions of this story leave out the twin brothers that are between Meg and Charles and I feel it is always a gap. It would be interesting to see if someone would put one of the other books in this series on stage, for as much as this is the best known, the series actually gets better as it goes. I cannot help but wonder how Stratford would do putting on A Wind at the Door, Many Waters, A Swiftly Titling Planet or An Acceptable Time?

This was a good in the 2023 season.

A Wrinkle in Time Stratford Festival 2023 A Review 1

A Wrinkle in Time Stratford Festival 2023 A Review 2

A Wrinkle in Time Stratford Festival 2023 A Review 3

A Wrinkle in Time Stratford Festival 2023 A Review 4

A Wrinkle in Time Stratford Festival 2023 A Review 5

A Wrinkle in Time Stratford Festival 2023 A Review 6

Reviews of Other Stratford Productions:

Richard III – 2022

Hamlet – 2022

The Miser – 2022

King Lear – 2023

Frankenstein Revived – 2023

Grand Magic – 2023

A Wrinkle in Time – 2023

Goblin MacBeth - 2023

Something Rotten – 2024

Romeo & Juliette – 2024

Cymbeline – 2024

Twelfth Night – 2024

…

Romeo & Juliet - Oxford School Shakespeare

MacBeth - Oxford School Shakespeare

King Lear - Oxford School Shakespeare

Cymbeline - The Pelican Shakespeare

...

Tuesday 24 September 2024

Holy Cards - Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua

Holy Cards

Barbara Calamari

Sandra DiPasqua

ABRAMS

ISBN 9781419702273

eISBN 9781613126080

ASIN B00DS289TG

Holy Cards - Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua

I stumbled upon this volume while searching for prayer cards for the rack at the back of our church. The cover immediately attracted my attention. Not knowing either of the authors, nor having heard about this or any of the many other volumes they co-authored I was hesitant to pick it up. I was blown away by the volume and my 16 year old son read it as soon as I finished.

The description of this volume states:

“A treasury of the devotional art that has comforted and inspired millions of Catholics—portraying a remarkable gallery of saints.

Often used in daily rituals or given out at significant life events such as wakes and funerals, communions and confirmations, the holy card can be appreciated as both a religious tradition and a beautiful work of folk art.

This comprehensive volume offers a richly illustrated overview, organized thematically, along with brief biographies and attributes of prophets and angels, disciples and evangelists, hermits and visionaries, martyrs and mystics—in exquisite depictions that run the gamut from dramatic and disturbing to moving and comforting.

Including detailed explanations of the often-enigmatic symbolism found in these unique keepsakes, Holy Cards is a compendium that will fascinate anyone who enjoys the artistic beauty for which the Roman Catholic Church is renowned.”

The chapters and sections in it are:

Acknowledgements

Introduction

A Brief History

Prophets & Angels

St. John the Baptist

St. Gabriel the Archangel

St. Elias

St. Michael the Archangel

St. Raphael the Archangel

Disciples & Evangelists

St. Andrew

St. Peter

St. Paul

St. James

St. Jude

St. Matthew

St. John

St. Luke

St. Mark

St. Mary Magdalen

St. Bartholomew

Martyrs

St. Fidelis

St. Anthony of Hungary

St. John of Cologne

St. Eugene

St. Ursula Bl. Peter Sanz

St. Agnes

St. Lucy

St. Barbara

St. Cecilia

St. Susanna

St. Laurence

St. Sebastian

St. Liverius

St. Iraeneus

St. Renatus Vitalis

St. George

St. Philoterus

St. Margaret of Antioch

St. Peter of Verona

Hermits

St. Paul

St. Jerome

St. Alexis

Bl. Gundisalvus

Bl. Eve of Liege

St. Cyril

St. Meinrad

Visionaries & Mystics

St. Julienne

St. Rita

St. Rose of Lima

St. Gertrude the Great

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Martin de Porres

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Veronica Giuliani

St. Bernadette

St. Bridget of Sweden

St. Mechtild

St. Gerard Majella

St. Bénézet

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

St. Peter of Alcantara

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

St. Teresa of Avila

Religious Orders

Bl. Frances D’Amboise

Bl. Mary Bartholomea de Bagnesi

St. Gilbert of Neuffontaines

St. Francis de Sales

St. Jeanne Frances de Chantal

St. Alphonse Liguori

St. Angela Merici

St. Walburga

St. Othilia

St. Anthony of Padua

St. Clare

St. Alanus of Rupe

St. Colette

St. Benedict

St. Frances of Rome

St. Camillus

St. Aloysius Gonzaga

St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Raymund Pennafort

Missionaries

St. Francis Borgia

St. Patrick

St. Swithbert the Elder

St. Leonardo of Port Maurice Bl. Marie of the Incarnation

St. Francis Xavier

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

St. Hyacinth

Holy People

St. Joan of Arc

St. Monica

St. Liberata

St. Zita

St. Nicholas

St. Anne

St. Sofia

St. Joseph

St. Helena

St. Louis

St. Charles Borromeo

St. Jerome Emiliani

St. Roch

St. Veronica

Jesus Christ

The Virgin Mary

Halos

Significance Lists

Plants, Trees, Flowers & Fruit

Objects

Colors

Birds

Shapes and Numbers

Animals, Fish & Insects

Clothing

Body Parts

Bibliography

Picture Credits

I only highlight a few passages my first time through this volume, they are:

“FROM THE BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY, saints have inspired the classic works of Western art. They are human representatives of divine grace, and their stories of faith and suffering, and trial and transcendence, have fascinated the secular and comforted, consoled, and encouraged believers. One of the most important and endearing traditions of Catholic iconography is that of the holy card. Offering images of the saints, these portable objects of daily ritual are carried for protection; given as remembrances at communions, confirmations, and funerals; and collected and traded.”

“The saints were human beings with human problems. They had bad marriages, debts, wayward children; they came from all walks of life. Yet through divine grace they were able to overcome their own personal obstacles and transcend the burdens of the material world. To Catholics they are an extended family that serve as a great inspiration in the ability of prayer and faith to change one’s life. They have fascinating stories of suffering, failure, and victory, and many of us implore our favorite saints to pray with us and for us.”

“They are not idols with magical powers, but they are mentors with whom we are able to identify. Since great art, architecture, and music are believed to be divinely inspired, visual art is an important element in Catholic religious expression. Frescoes in churches and stained glass windows traditionally served to instruct those who could not read. Images had to be designed to tell a story using objects, symbols, and colors that had their own significance. Many holy cards, besides being a visual physical portrait, also display the elements of a saint’s story or patronage.”

“Presently, while holy cards are produced in the millions, there is less diversity in style and quality. Many companies still use the paintings of one hundred years ago with their mysterious objects and symbols embedded in them, but modern people are less able to read them. Cards of more recent saints like St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Mother Cabrini, or Padre Pio are basic photo-like portraits resembling head shots or publicity stills. It is no longer considered necessary to try and include the mysterious elements that tell a story. In perusing the many pages of artists’ lists it becomes apparent that the average person of a century ago was able to read much more into a picture than people of today.”

And finally:

“Holy cards are extremely important to Catholics. Many still carry them for protection or out of loyalty to a patron saint. They are given as remembrances for communions, confirmations, and most commonly, at wakes and funerals. Prayers are put on the back with the name of the deceased, their birth and death dates. Even the least devout save these cards as a tribute. They are used as bookmarks, kept in drawers, carried in wallets, or openly displayed. They contain images that are comforting, disturbing, and extremely powerful in that they trigger strong emotions. Because they are not considered precious works of art but standard everyday objects, holy cards are a wonderful example of folk art pieces that help expand our spiritual lives.”

The concept of reading Holy Cards was new to me. It is intriguing and moving. My youngest two children each have a prayer corner in their rooms and Holy cards play a key role in their space. They were encouraged by the sacramental prep team as then began their first communion journey to create a prayer space, and the Catholic grade school they attended had a prayer corner in each room and one in the entrance for the whole school. I myself have a small box full of prayer cards going back to my own teen years. And I have a small stand on my desk and pull out a different card each day to pray and spend time with that friend in heaven. Over the last many months I have been working to fill the prayer card rack at the back of our church.

Many years ago I was at church at a mass time I did not normally attend; a family was in front of me. The daughter had a prayer card she used in her missal a painting of Jesus, one I did not recognize but that spoke to me. After mass I asked if I could see it as it caught my attention to try and track down a copy. She gave it to me and for a long time I used it in my prayer book daily. I do not recall ever encountering the family again.

Holy cards are encouraging, inspiring and motivational. They are like photos of friends in heaven. And this volume which is part history part reflections and it has 101 cards as specific sections but there are a few cards in the information prior to that.

Overall I was awed and inspired by this volume. And have picked up the other books by the authors that are available as eBooks. There is 1 older volume I will try and track down in a physical edition. I can easily recommend this book and look forward to reading more from the authors.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!

My 16 year old son's prayer corner.

My 13 year old daughter's prayer corner.

Books by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua:

Novena: The Power of Prayer (1999)

Our Lady of Guadalupe in a Box: A Novena Prayer Kit (2002)

Visions of Mary (2004)

Our Lady of Guadalupe (2004)

Holy Cards (2004)

Saints: Ancient & Modern (2007)

Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards (2007)

Holy Places: Sacred Sites in Catholicism (2015)

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Novena App

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Books by Barbara Calamari:

The Bible Companion: The Complete Illustrated Handbook to the Holy Scriptures

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Patron Saints - Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua

Visions of Mary - Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua