Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus by Sherry Weddell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this book both very encouraging and very challenging – but above all very needed in the life of the contemporary Church. With so many opportunities to encourage people – both within and without the Church – to discipleship, Sherry Weddell examines not only the how but also the why of the need for a new evangelization in the life of the Church.

Evangelization, at least in the Catholic Church, has become almost a dirty word, “something we Catholics don’t do”, and yet the danger of not engaging in this fundamental activity is such that we will suffer in the long run. Or, more importantly, in the right now!

This book is a must read for anyone who takes the Christian life – their relationship with Jesus – seriously. A must read…

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In These or Similar Words: Praying and Crafting the Language of the Liturgy by Paul Turner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like every book by Paul Turner that I have read, this book does not disappoint. Written in clear, understandable language, yet clearly drawing on the author’s superior knowledge and insight in this field, this book is a must for anyone who presides over the liturgy of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, particularly those celebrated according to the third edition of the Roman Missal.

In the first two of the three distinct sections, Turner looks at the permitted opportunities for the presiding celebrant to use his own words in various points in the liturgy, places that previously were designated by the phrase “in these or similar words”. In doing so, Turner makes clear that there are some places during the celebration of the liturgy that have never been subject to this permission, even though some presiders have thought it existed. From the standpoint of a presider, it is helpful to have these opportunities clarified so that I might better carry out my function appropriately.

It should be noted, however, that Turner repeatedly warns against changes words where permitted just for the sake of doing so: to do so judiciously and for the right kind of reasons is more important than doing so just because one can. After all, as Turner rightly cautions, “The Mass already has a lot of words. Less is more.” (p 26)

The other major section looks at the ‘new’ words that have found their way into the revised English translation of the Roman Missal, and includes a most helpful glossary of some of these words that is helpful in understanding the context in which they are used, and thus enhancing the praying of these words during the liturgy. This section alone makes this book worthy of addition to a bookshelf.

From the back cover:

This book is an indispensable guide to discovering and understanding the directives in the revised translation of The Roman Missal that allow the celebrant either to follow the prescribed text or to use similar words of his own. Father Paul Turner, pastor and scholar, offers practical ways to craft that personalized language in a way that can enhance the liturgical celebration for all. A glossary is included to help celebrants and all who plan liturgies to better comprehend some of the more challenging or unfamiliar words in the new English translation of the missal. A bonus chapter quizzes readers about their knowledge about the rubrics of the Mass: when to bow, when to genuflect, when to make the sign of the cross, and so on.

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Jesus: A Pilgrimage by James Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m glad I left this book to be read during the summer ‘holiday’ period. Doing so allowed me to appreciate the significance of its contents all the more, and have the time to begin to plumb the depths of the insights that James Martin has peppered across the pages of his thought provoking and challenging account.

Described best perhaps as a mix between a personal journal of his Holy Land pilgrimage, a study of scriptural texts associated with places visited in the Holy Land, and a deep spiritual reflection on the significance of those texts as encountered while in the places where the probably took place, Jesus: A Pilgrimage is a very personal yet very public encounter with the person of Jesus.

I have found that, when read from a perspective of faith, this book has challenged my understanding of the Gospels, providing me with another way of looking at well-known passages from the life of Jesus, and yet at the same time has been profoundly comforting to my relationship with Jesus. Written in a very accessible and conversational tone, James Martin invites the reader to enter into the experience of his time of pilgrimage, not only physically but spiritually. I found the invitation very easy to accept.

I would highly recommend this thoughtful and thought-provoking book to anyone, be they persons of faith or none, who might like to know more about the background of the Gospel.

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