Two of my favorite things are books and Catholicism. I love to read, and I love to read about my faith, to grow and to learn, all with the end goal of coming closer to God in all I do. The problem is that I don't have much time, and I don't have much money. So, you can imagine my excitement when I discovered that as a blogger with followers (thank you friends!)I could sign up to become a product reviewer for a wonderful little mail order business called The Catholic Company. It's blessedly simple. I sign up, select a product available for review and then they send it to me with the understanding that I will read it and share with you my honest opinion of the product. I can't think of a more perfect program! I do love to share my thoughts, and so I present to you my humble opinion of The Virtues, a collection of teachings from Pope Benedict XVI on the Christian virtues.
The book itself is a beautiful, small, hardcover book which makes it easy to transport in a medium-sized purse or to keep in your car or on your bedside table (or even in the bathroom if that is the only place you can find two minutes of peace and quiet). The book is perfect for busy people, especially mothers, because it is broken up into small bits, perfect for reading and studying in the small moments of peace that are surely more abundant than the lengthy periods of quiet needed for thoughtful discernment. Each chapter is devoted to one of the virtues, and the editor has pulled from the Holy Father's speeches, writings, and teachings the best and most thought-provoking of words relating to the specific virtue at hand. This lends itself to two types of uses: the first is just to pick it up, open it, read the first passage on which your eyes fall, and then stop to consider how that material applies to your life or someone you know. This consideration might lead you to prayer, which you can indulge in until someone knocks on the bathroom door demanding justice for the sibling who breathed his air, or until soccer practice ends and it's time to head home. However, in the spirit of being a contemplative in action, it's possible to still chew on the Holy Father's inspired words while driving or mediating while going about your work until the next quiet moment presents itself.
The other way the book can be used is to look purposefully look up and investigate Pope Benedict's thoughts on a certain virtue and pursue growth and knowledge in that virtue. For instance, in the moments between breakfast and the bus arriving, I might quickly look up the virtue of prudence, read what the Holy Father has to say about children and the media, and inform the children that Rome backs me up regarding the crassness of most tween-themed shows, for the Pope writes, "Media education should be positive. Children exposed to what is aesthetically and morally excellent are helped to develop appreciation, prudence, and the skills of discernment. Here it is important to recognize the fundamental value of parents' example and the benefits of introducing young people to children's classics in literature, to the fine arts, and to uplifting music...Beauty, a kind of mirror to the divine, inspires and vivifies young hearts and minds, while ugliness and coarseness have a depressing impact on attitudes and behavior." By now the children
's eyes will have surely glossed over, but you can simply interpret the Holy Father's wisdom by saying, "See, the Pope says Katy Perry videos and too many Disney shows can bring you down. Just like I said. Now turn off the t.v. and get ready for school!"
All humor aside, I really do feel this book would make a great gift for the busy mothers on your list. We don't have time to read and digest the Pope's encyclicals or homilies, no matter how strong our desire may be. In this work Jacquelyn Lindsey, the editor, has done all the hard work for us, distilling out the best, most spiritually nourishing nuggets that we can grow on. Buy it.
