The Book Reviewer

ST. MARY’S PARISH L I B R A R Y AUGUST 2012

W EL CO ME The Great Themes of Scripture by Richard Rohr and Martos (Scripture) TO YO UR PARISH Many of us, perhaps most, The Jewish communities be a threat to national secu- have at some time or other which comprised the first rity. Giving food to the poor LIBRARY! been conflicted when read- “church” were not expect- can be seen as a threat to the ing scripture, especially ing their stories and beliefs economy.”

when reading about the life to be either scientifically or And as we see at present, and words of Jesus in the historically accurate. They  Located through affordable health care is New Testament. This understood the preaching the double glass perceived as a threat to book, written in a simple and the stories at a deeper doors in the religious freedom, and to and lucid style by Joseph level, and they knew that main vestibule of our pocket books. Espe- Martos, and taken from myths are not lies—they the church cially important is Fr. lectures by Richard Rohr, simply point to deep spiri- Rohr’s understanding of  The library is explains easily and grace- tual and psychological how both the temple ser- fully the meaning and con- truths. They were also open for all vice and the code of moral- text of each of the books, more comfortable living in masses ity of Jesus’s time, and the from Matthew through deep time—past, present, rituals and teachings of our  Find detailed Revelation. Context is of and future. Deep time is own churches can keep check-out primary importance be- God’s time—everything is people locked in spiritual instructions cause the first Christian present. immaturity. communities, two thousand posted near the Even so, things haven’t “If they do not invite people years ago, had a very differ- marble shelf changed all that much; the to a personal dialogue with a ent mind-set from our same moral blindness which living God, they become an  Materials may own. Traditionally used to led to the crucifixion of end in themselves…The op- be borrowed for ideas being presented in Jesus bedevils us. posite of a real faith is not myth and parable, they up to three “Helping the poor can be a atheism. It is religiosity.” were not nearly as literal- weeks threat to the rich. Telling peo- minded as we are. Reviewed by Clare Dinno  Donations of ple to love their enemies can books, DVDs, & CDs that reflect Catholic Chris- When you borrow library materials, please make sure to sign the yellow card attached tian faith and principles are to the book, CD, or DVD, write the due date on the card, and leave the card in the clear greatly appreci- plastic holder. Fill in the due date on a reminder bookmark, as well, which will help ated. Just drop you to remember to enjoy and then return what you borrowed within three weeks. If them off in the you have never used our library before, please fill out a blue registration card first! library! P A G E 2 The Golden String by Griffiths (Spirituality)

The Golden String is an ture and philosophy, divided always by the litur- apt metaphor for this spiri- through Homer to Dante, gical “hours”, beginning at tual autobiography; in Wil- Plato and Aristotle, led him four in the morning, and on liam Blake’s poem, and in finally to St. Thomas Aqui- through a day of study, ancient myth: nas and John Henry New- manual labor, mealtimes with lectio divina, short “only wind it into a ball, it man, and to the Catholic periods of recreation, and will lead you to heaven’s Church. one even shorter period— P L E A S E gate.” Dissatisfaction with the R E T U R N one half hour—of private Industrial Revolution led Y O U R In the course of his long prayer. B O R R O W E D life, Bede Griffiths faithfully him, with two of his Ox- “ It was some time before I I T E M S ASAP ! follows wherever he is lead ford friends, to experiment S O M E H A V E learned the true nature of by the Holy Spirit. Raised in with living an extremely NEVER BEEN contemplation. Contemplation a middle class family, he simple life in a Cotswold R E T U R N E D , is a habit of mind which en- managed to receive an ex- cottage. They ate local A N D I T I S ables the soul to keep in a EXPENSIVE cellent education, first in a dairy products, baked their state of recollection in the A N D “charity” school, where own bread, and grew their presence of God, whatever SOMETIMES parents paid only on the own vegetables. It was an IMPOSSIBLE may be the work with which basis of family income, and experiment which led, after TO REPLACE continuing intellectual we are occupied. In this sense THEM. later with scholarships to growth, to a Benedictine it is the goal and aim of every Oxford. monastery. After this Christian life.” His wide-ranging reading Are any of these preparation, he was per- The last 35 years of his led him first away from re- missing library fectly suited to the monas- life he spent in India, where ligion and from his Church materials hiding tic life. Being told that he he established an ashram, a of England roots; and then was entering the small monastic community on your shelves through a love of nature “contemplative life”, he was for people of different at home ? and romantic poetry he initially surprised at how faiths. gradually found his way very busy that life was: Reviewed by Clare Dinno back. His reading in litera- Books:

Darwin’s Pious Idea The Creative Spirit by June Boyce-Tillman (People of the Church)

The Forgotten Many books have been the arts, and healing, offers antiphons, then detailing a Desert Mothers written about the remark- us a compressed, some- related aspect of faith— able , times meandering account Prayer, Justice, Wisdom Prince Caspian the 12th century Benedic- of Hildegard’s life and and the Mary—

tine nun who left a legacy work. In explaining her the- enhanced by her writings, Audio Tapes: of poetry, music, and spiri- ology—which developed visions, and music. tual insights about our lov- from her sense of original Calling Catholics to Included are reflections ing creator, our humanity, goodness, leading to faith Be “Bible Christians” which use imagery to move and Vice Versa and our natural world. based on trust, not guilt— the reader toward healing Boyce-Tillman, a composer the author draws on the through an awareness of and founder of a world- holy woman’s own words, DVDs: harmony and wholeness, wide organization devoted introducing each chapter the matrix of Hildegard’s Life is Beautiful to harmonizing theology, with one of Hildegard’s entire life’s work. Reviewed by Susan Triplett THE BOOK REVIEWE R