Book review: The Heart of Catholicism by Bert Ghezzi

Last year, Eileen Ponder, Editor of Pastoral Ministry Resources at at Ave Maria Press asked the Roncalli Center to consider an endorsement for Bert Ghezzi's newest book The Heart of Catholism - Practicing the Everyday Habits that Shape Us, I agreed to read the manuscript and gave the book a hearty endorsement along with quite a few trusted names in Catholic church life. The book appealed to me on several levels:

1. Cradle Catholics who may want to refresh and invigorate their faith will find the book engaging in its enthusiasm for Catholicism's rich heritage, tradition and putting Catholic faith into practice. The first chapter opens with a question: "What does being Catholic mean to you?" 

2. New Catholics Christians will find a compendium of core practices and treatment of particular terms that are particular to Catholic faith life. Like any neophyte, new practices can be pretty confusing. I found the Notes and Glossary section helpful in regard to what seasoned Catholics may describe as basic terminology. Not so basic if it's all new to you! This will help. 

3.Inquirers who may find Catholicism appealing but mysterious will find some of the veil of obscurity lifted in Ghezzi's accessible writing. Readers are free to read and dwell, discover more, put aside for anothe time or uncover more by reading and sitting with the sections that really make you think and pray. 

4. People who may be searching for a book that is grounded in solid Catholic principles for group discussion will enjoy exploring the chapters on the foundations of Catholic faith followed by the question and discussion sections at the end of each chapter, followed by an action plan and a section for further study.

However readers decide to use the book, The Heart of Catholicism serves as a refreshing reminder that our habits shape, define and ground us in our Catholic faith. Sacramental and liturgical life, private prayer, scripture study, community service on behalf of social justice and exploring the lives of the communion of saints remind us all of who we are as baptized Christians - ordinary people called to be extraordinary human beings as we enter more deeply into the mysteries of our Catholic faith and life lived in Christ Jesus. 

The Heart of Catholicism is invitatory and practical. Ghezzi's organic enthusiasm for Catholic faith life directs readers to the mercy of God, not the judgment of God, to the love of Catholic faith rather than the duty and rubrics of Catholic faith. For seasoned Catholics, for persons who who may for one reason or another be away from active faith life and want to take that first step to return or for the person seeking a faith life but not quite sure where to turn, Give The Heart of Catholicism a try. Good habits take practice, one step at at time. Bert Ghezzi's book may be a good place to begin to practice everyday habits that shape us into what God dreams for us - joy, beauty and peace lived within a hearty faith life. That's how we change the world, one good habit at a time. 

Book review: Good Saint John XXIII by Brother Mickey McGrath, OFSF

First Encounter of a Close Kind

I met Brother Mickey O'Neill McGrath,OFSF and discovered his art in the early part of the 1980's. A friend serving as an associate pastor had designed a creative program on social justice for the Confirmation candidates. The first part of the presentation was a film on the life of St. Thea Bowman, Almost Home. which illustrates her riveting spirit, infectious joie de vivre, her activism and love of God, living fully until she died at the age of 57. (To read more about St. Thea Bowman, click here. 

The second component of the presentation involved the work of a brand new Catholic artist, Brother Mickey O’Neill McGrath, OFSF, who presented This Little Light of Mine, his painting of St. Thea Bowman, one of his favorite saints. Brother Mickey offered insights through St. Thea’s life and work. His art piece described how the Spirit of God shines through us as our own personalities and gifts emerge to light up the world and create positive change, like St. Thea Bowman.

The third component of the presentation included a small ensemble of jazz musicians who led us all in sung prayer, which included This Little Light of Mine, one of my all time favorite hymns. After that phenomenal afternoon, I was hooked on Brother Mickey’s art. 

Since that first encounter, I’ve been lucky enough to attend and thoroughly enjoy several more of Brother Mickey’s national presentations. Brother Mickey’s brush and paint disclose the God of delight and mirth; his art uncovers a playful and lively God that gently probes us to let go of anxieties, struggles and fears and not take ourselves too seriously. Yet, like any really great art, the more you study Brother Mickey’s paintings, you begin to uncover nuggets of wisdom, truth and healing that take you by surprise that draws you back to see what surprises Brother’s Mickey’s art will reveal. And Brother Mickey is like the sunshine - he just lights up a room. 

There’s a new book in town: Good Pope John XXIII: quotes and quips from the Prophet of Peace

When Fran Rossi Sypylczyn, author of There Will Be Bread and marketing associate for Clear Faith Publishing asked if I would consider reading and reviewing Brother Mickey’s latest book on one of my favorite people, Good Saint John, I couldn’t say yes quickly enough. I knew for sure that I would be in for a treat. However, I received far more than I anticipated.

Brother Mickey’s book Good Saint John XXIII is one of those gems that can entice the child within each one of us to emerge. Indeed, you can read with a youngster sitting in your lap and delve into Brother Mickey’s animated paintings and cartoons that make you smile, laugh out loud, whisper a prayer and encourage a prayerful adventure into the mysterious world of the sacred.

Brother Mickey suggests using the book as a resource of prayer and respite, to renew and invigorate faith, to create an opportunity for some good one-on-one time with the Holy within. Since I received the book, I’ve keep it on the top of my many ‘piles’, so when the mounds swell up and work or other life distractions become an obstacle to prayer, Good Pope John XXIII: quotes and quips from the Prophet of Peace is within my reach for a moment of reprieve. Whatever the experience as I read through the text or dwell on Brother Mickey’s art, I notice that I always leave the book with regret and with a smile on my face and peace in my heart. 

Two saints and pope, two popes and a saint

Brother Mickey integrates the wit and wisdom of Pope St. John XXIII, Pope Francis I and St. Frances de Sales, the founder of the religious order to which Brother Mickey belongs. In his young years as a seminarian, Angelo Roncalli (Pope John XXIII) discovered the spiritual writing of Francis de Sales in de Sales’ spiritual classic Introduction to the Devout Life. The young Roncalli began a hand written diary and continued that discipline until he died. The entries were published as a collection after his death as Journal of a Soul. St. Francis de Sales appears as a mentor and spiritual companion throughout so many of Angelo Roncalli's journal entries.

Brother Mickey intertwines the sayings and quips of Pope John with St. Francis de Sales and Pope Francis I. Intermingled with the art and cartoons are short written explanations of the life of Pope John, how Francis de Sales influenced his thinking and spirituality and how closely Pope Francis thinks, speaks and prays like these two saints. For example, in the section that Brother Mickey writes about Pope John’s years as a diplomat, the artist gives us three quotes from two saints and a pope:  

“To change the world we must change ourselves.” St. Francis de Sales

“I have always been more concerned with what unites than with what separates.” Pope John XXIII

“The future is in the respectful co-existence of diversity.” Pope Francis I

Humor galore

Pope John’s humor is widely documented. Brother Mickey expands on the humor in a section of the book called The Lighter Side of Good St. John XXIII. The captions capture the hilarity in a kind of pictorial Where's Waldo. You’ve got to search for the little dove (a.k.a. the Holy Spirit), who hides in the crevices and crannies and hangs out with Pope John in a series of comical depictions and quips. (My favorite is the pope sleeping with the dove wearing a beauty night mask – so great.)

Refreshing Aggiornamento

The Sources and Acknowledgment section of the book offers the reader an opportunity to mine the life of Pope John XXIII. However, I think that this little jewel of a book can stand on its own and be what Brother Mickey writes as his hope – a way to come to discover the living God who renews and restores us.

The book Good St. John XXIII veers from sarcasm, pessimism and “those prophets of doom who always foretell catastrophes as though the world were close to its end.” (Pope John XXIII, opening address of The Second Vatican Council). Rather, Brother Mickey follows the lead of two saints and a pope and steers us with his art and texts straight into hopeful confidence, a breath of fresh air and refreshing aggiornamento that inspires and impels us propel us forward to a new Pentecost within us and a new dawn of renewal in the church.

Perhaps you're looking for a new way to pray, to come to know God. Maybe you just want to read something different and enjoy some great art and good humor. Give Good Saint Pope John XXIII a try. Through Brother Mickey’s joyful art, tender humor and gentle prodding, readers come to know the living God within each of us, who always wants to spend time with us to restore and refresh us and, as Pope John XXIII said, “to make the human sojourn on earth less sad.”

I couldn’t agree more.

An entry from Journal of a Soul - Second Sunday of Easter, 1903

Diary entries are windows into someone's personhood. I wondered what Pope John XXIII might have been doing on the Second Sunday of Easter in past years. Rifling through Journal of a Soul, I found an entry written on April 26, 1903 on the Second Sunday of Easter. Young Angelo Roncalli was in seminary studies. 

Here is the text in its entirety on this day, April 27, 2014, the Second Sunday of Easter and the day of Pope John XXIII's canonization into the communion of saints. The last line of the entry is worth noting, especially today. 

"Today, the second Sunday after Easter, the seminary has been honouring its three young patron saints whose mortal remains are piously preserved beneath the altar in the chapel. It was one of the dear family feasts which are so good for the soul. The memory of martyrs, of their faith and love for God,is an everyday thing her in this Rome of blessed memories, where the earth is still stained with Christian blood, but the memory is dearer when there are stronger links to bind us to those holy souls.

These were three poor young men, as fresh and pure as three white lilies. The sword of the persecutor cut them down in the springtime of their lives, and they were indeed blessed. 'In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died but they are at peace.' (Wisdom 3: 2-3) Of them we only know that they lived, and that they died for Christ, nothing more. But they are well known to God; their names and virtues are written in the book of life. Their brows are crowned with glory, their joy is supreme, their memory immortal.

O beloved saints, Florentinus, Socius and Victorinus, pray for me too, that my life may be spent in obscrurity and lowliness and that, unknown to the world, I may shed my blood for the love of Jesus, provided that one day, robed in glory, I may join in your bliss and with you 'follow the Lamb wherever he goes.' (Rev.14:4) 

Pray for us, Saint John XXIII. 

Chewing on the Word, savoring the cud - mystagogy

While the secular world puts the chicks and chocolate bunnies and jelly beans on the sale counter to make room on the store counters for the next round of seasonal holidays, the church celebrates Eastertime for 50 days. The first eight days of Eastertime is the octave of Easter and lasts to the Second Sunday of Easter.  

The octave of Easter is one continuous celebration. Christians recount the gospel stories of the resurrection and reflect on the sacred mysteries of our immersion in the paschal mystery. In the Catholic Christian tradition, we take a step back in wonder and awe at Easter's implications. We chew on the Word and savor its cud. We ponder the awe of sacred mystery. We embrace and reflect with our beloved neophytes, those newly initiated Christians who we've accompanied through their inquiry, their acceptance, their election, their period of purification and finally their initiation into life as disciples of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Christian tradition calls this particular kind of theological reflection mystagogy, a word derived from Greek words that mean “to lead through the mysteries."

Easter mystagogy allows a faith community to theologically reflect on the period of time that expresses and shapes the life of a baptized people - the paschal season of Lent, Triduum and Eastertime. Whether or not a parish welcomes new members, its mission includes Eastertime mystagogy on the paschal mystery. The community needs to feast for 50 days; is the banquet prepared to welcome all strangers?  

Leadership, zeal and a parish's mission direct these days ahead of us. Eastertime requires attention and care, not only by the parish staff but by the entire parish community. If we take the minimalist approach during this miracle of paschal season, chances are that we'll miss the opportunity of a lifetime to intentionally seek those people who came to celebrate Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday Mass with great reluctance, others with hesitancy, some with curiosity, some at the invitation of someone that they love who was initiated into this counter cultural Christian faith life.

How do you welcome tourists? College kids home for Easter break? Seekers? Fallen away Catholics? Undercatechized and uncatechized adults? Baptized and non-baptized children? People of different faith traditions who are curious? They're in our midst. Are we as unaware as the disciples who walked with the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus and didn't know him? Christ is among us in the stranger in our pews. How well is our banquet prepared throughout these 50 days of Eastertime to draw them in?  

Are ministers of hospitality prepared to keep their eyes open for the unfamiliar face and invite them to return? Better yet, is the parish community reminded that the work of liturgy belongs to them? If just one of these people returns for a second helping of Eastertime feasting, what will they find when they return? So much attention is given in industry on excellence in service. Why should we expect less of ourselves as Catholic Christians when our very lives at at stake? Such a question should emerge often among parish staffs, parish councils, leadership teams and certainly in the parish community. 

During this Easter octave, consider sending a message out to faithful parishioners, infrequent guests or people you may know who need outreach, Zeal, energy, work and mission are at the heart of Christian discipleship. Who are we to be afraid? Christ is risen. Let's do our share as church to make this God's time, not ours. 

Come you all: enter into the joy of your Lord.

You the first and you the last, receive alike your reward;

you rich and you poor, dance together;

you sober and you weaklings, celebrate the day;

you who have kept the fast and you who have not, rejoice today.

The table is richly loaded: enjoy its royal banquet.

All of you enjoy the banquet of faith;

all of you receive the riches of his goodness.

Excerpts from the Easter homily by St. John Chrysostom

Why is Good Friday good?

A grey day begins. Something pervades the day, even among non-practicing Catholics and Christians and even unbelievers. Today is Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ death. So why do we call today “good”?

No one takes Jesus’ life from him. He gives his life freely, even though we read that he’s afraid to die. "Remove this cup,” Jesus pleads in the Garden of Gethsemane, petitioning God to spare him of what is sure to be a brutal death. He is 33 years old, far too young to die and in his prime when his ministry is cut short. But in his prayer, he arrives at the point of acceptance. This death must occur so that God can raise Jesus and show us that life does not end after mortal death for those who believe in Jesus. That’s good news for us.

Eastern Christians, both Catholic and Orthodox call today Holy and Great Friday. Depending on a particular country or continent, the word good seems nebulous for cultural reasons. In Germany, some call today Gottes Freitag (God’s Friday). However, to German Christians, today is Karfreitag – Sorrowful Friday or Suffering Friday. In Denmark, today is Long Friday.  South Africans call today Great Friday or Holy Friday. The Spanish call Good Friday "Viernes Santo” and carry the corpus of the cross through the streets in procession. Throughout the world today, Christians remember that Christ died, was buried, grieved by his mother and followers and buried in a borrowed tomb through the compassion of a friend.

Why do you call Good Friday “good”? What does the word, the day, the event mean for you?

If you haven’t stepped into a church for awhile, today might be a “good” day to stop in. Churches are open all day. The main service is sometimes held in the afternoon at 3pm. In ancient Jerusalem, this is the time when lambs were slaughtered in the temple in preparation for the feast of Passover. This is the time when Jesus died. To accomodate people who work and want to celebrate the main service of Good Friday, many churches celebrate at 7pm to remember, celebrate and recall what and why we believe that Good Friday is a good day.