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The Rosary (Wall Chart)

Book cover: 'The Rosary (Wall Chart)'

This simple wall chart offers colorful pictures for each mystery of the Rosary (Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious are included) along with an illustrated explanation of how to say the Rosary. Each mystery of the Rosary is labeled along with which days of the week to say each set of mysteries.

My children love having this chart on their bedroom wall where they listen to the Rosary on Catholic Radio at night. The pictures have really helped them in visualizing the mysteries and in getting a better understanding of the Life of Jesus.

Did Adam and Eve have Belly Buttons?

Book cover: Did Adam and Eve have Belly Buttons?
Author(s): 
Matthew J. Pinto

Not just a catchy title, "Did Adam & Eve have Belly Buttons?" is an actual question posed by an eighteen-year-old boy. In fact, the whole book is organized around questions from teenagers about the faith. To make it easier to follow, the author has grouped them into twelve categories: God, Creation and Man, Religion and the Bible, Jesus Christ, Catholic Morality, etc.

St. Thomas Aquinas

Book cover: 'St. Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox'
Author(s): 
G.K. Chesterton
This little book is interesting. It is NOT the definitive work on St. Thomas. It is NOT a primer on his philosophy. It is an interesting mix of: a story of his life (or rather stories from his life), a little taste of his genius, another taste of what his ideas mean to the world (including how relevant they are today) and ideas about why he was the way he was.

It does not seem adequate to compare it to a TV show but it reminds me of one of those really good PBS documentaries that gets you totally involved in something you didn't ever think was that big a deal.

Schoolhouse in the Woods

Book cover: 'Schoolhouse in the Woods'
Author(s): 
Rebecca Caudill
This second installment in the Fairchild Family Series (which starts with The Happy Little Family) is a charming account of young Bonnie enjoying her first few months in a little one room schoolhouse. She and her siblings enjoy playing with friends in the rural schoolyard, having the teacher stay at their house for a week and preparing for a Christmas pageant. The story makes a nice read-aloud or chapter book for young readers.

A Students' Guide to U.S. History

Book cover: 'A Students' Guide to U.S. History'
Author(s): 
Wilfred M. McClay
In A Students' Guide to U.S. History, author Wilfred M. McClay challenges the mind of the reader to think wider, deeper and higher about the study of American history. After explaining the purpose behind this book, he elaborates on what the study of history mistakenly is thought to be, before he realigns the reader's mind to what it should be. Taking a philosophical turn of mind, he dares the reader to search for truth; to do otherwise would be folly.

Catechism on the Real Presence

Book cover: 'Catechism on the Real Presence'
Author(s): 
Father John A. Hardon, S.J.

In September 1965, Pope Paul VI issued the encyclical titled Mysterium Fidei (Mystery of Faith) to provide the faithful with the teachings of the Catholic Church on the doctrine and worship of the Holy Eucharist. The first half of Catechism on the Real Presence is an eloquent question-and-answer catechism that carefully details each of the main points of Mysterium Fidei, cross-referenced to specific paragraphs in the document itself. The latter half of the book contains the entire text of the encyclical itself as a convenient reference.

Catholic Catechism on the Angels

Book cover: 'Catholic Catechism on the Angels'
Author(s): 
Father John A. Hardon, S.J.

In today's culture, angels are represented on everything from popular television programs to needlecraft projects, but they are rarely portrayed accurately. This little powerhouse of a book sets the record straight on Catholic teaching regarding our "holy helpers". Thorough but concise, it is written for upper high-school students and adults.

Gettysburg

Book cover: Gettysburg
Author(s): 
MacKinlay Kantor

The Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (July 1 – 3, 1863) is a complex, multi-faceted piece of history that would be difficult to understand after reading just one book. If you ever find yourself in the South-Central Pennsylvania, I would recommend a visit. I've been there twice and it's very a moving, historically interesting site.