Roman Holiday Books

Meredith Gould has done a great job of bringing together traditions from all around the world, and offering these as ways to grow in true faith, not just more items on holiday to-do lists. Her suggestions for Lenten prayer are particularly valuable. Written in a clear, concise, and humorous style, this compact book has earned its place as a family reference.

This is a very nice manual of catholic traditions that can be incorporated into everyday life. My husband and I were looking for something like this as we both weren't raised with any Catholic traditions and hope to raise our kids with a very Catholic home. This is a great starting point, and has a lot of interesting ideas that I had never heard of.

I ordered this for my sister as a gift. She suggested the book and I had no trouble finding it on Amazon. Thanks!

I love this book! I grew up in a Catholic family and in Catholic schools. However, that did not prepare me for passing along Catholic traditions to my own children and to my converted husband. The fear of offending anyone(especially my non-Catholic relatives) made me a little hesitant to "let religious identity permeate our home". Gould's book encourages and instructs on how to do so. She has specific ideas, traditions, and even recipes for living a richer life within the Church.

If you are interested in Catholic customs and traditions for your family, this is a wonderful book. Full of interesting facts for different feast days and practical ways to celebrate in the home. A wonderful tool for the family or individual!

I bought this book for my mother in law just before her trip to Italy and she loved it. She said she used it as a resource there and it was very interesting. I gave it 4 stars because it wasn't something I would buy for myself but my mother in law adored it to pieces! Great gift for any Italian or someone planning to visit Italy.

I'm glad this guide book exists. I have found it helpful and informative. I am currently living in Germany, and I find pilgrimages to be a far more meaningful way of exploring Western Europe than more traditional tours. With this in mind, I would like to respectfully suggest some revisions for future editions. First, I would really appreciate more and better maps. A simple blank map of each country with dots representing the pilgrimage locations would have been extremely helpful--- as would better directions and ideas of distances between major sites. More pictures would also be helpful. I plan on eventually visiting most of these sites, but the book on its own is not enough.

A very good book full of information. The only thing i didnt like is that they talk about certain images of The Blessed Virgin , but dont show her. Only the builing... I think more pictures of the statues at the shrine and less of the outside of them would be better. But i gave it five stars for the information. It great for that reason only.

I spent two semesters in Europe and this book was immensely helpful in deciding which pilgrimage sights to go to and then finding them! I love the little maps that are shown for the various shrines. At Franciscan University's campus in Austria, this book in particular is very popular, because it tells about the history of the place and how to find it. If you know a Catholic who is going to Europe and wants to visit shrines, then I highly recommend this book.

My brother and I both lived in Europe (in different places) and we both used this book extensively. The book unabled us to visit shrines that otherwise we would not have known existed. The book was easy to use and included the history of each shrine, directions on how to get there, where to stay and how to contact the shrine. There is also a picture of each shrine, with made it easy to choose which shrines we wanted to see. Our stay in Europe was greatly enriched by the use of this book.

King Midas has always been one of my very favorite stories I remember hearing it as a kid and never ever forgetting cause its that original! so I looked long and hard for the very best version of it and surely found it with Stewig and Rayyan's take on such a classic. Page by page it is a smorgasbord for the eyes! As soon as I received it and read it I was enchanted and very pleased with my purchase cause often I search and search for versions of such tales as "Hansel and Gretel" or "Jack and the beanstalk" and find myself pretty disappointed cause their Grimm stories and lets face it its hard to not make them a little scary for kids and when it came to King Midas of course it was a little easier cause you don't have the words like "die or hate" in them but it still needed fine tuning from the version I read as a kid cause I remember mine being a little dark but not this book in fact the very last line of this and I won't spoil it for those who intend to purchase brought tears to my eyes, its that beautifully constructed. So if youre looking for the best version of a very "golden tale" this is worth its weight in gold!

King Midas, the Classic Greek tale, presents the question if whether what you truly value is what you TRULY value? When King Midas turns even his own daughter and cat to cold gold ... he sees that wealth is not just in your value of your hard assets.

The story of King Midas is quite possibly the first classical myth that your children will learn; it's clever, humorous, moralistic, and (rarest of all in the massive canon of myths) has a happy ending! Those Greeks were great storytellers. As such, there are hundreds of Midas retellings out there - perhaps best known is K. Y. Craft's exquisitely illustrated version which I would also highly recommend. But if you're looking for the best - the very best; then (as much as I adore Craft's beautiful work) I'm going to have to recommend John Warren Stewig and Omar Rayyan's collaboration. By Craft's own admission, her illustrations for the myth take on a more Victoriana style, which - as beautiful as they are - grate slightly within the context of a classical myth, whilst Rayyan's illustrations are quintessentially Greek/Roman.

Painted in delicate watercolours in a style that is cartoonish and yet still realistic, Rayyan's creations light up the page. Throughout, there are several sly and humorous features hidden within the pictures, such as reoccurring sub-characters, modern elements and mythological creatures that frequent Midas's palace and watch the proceedings with languid interest. Especially well done is the mysterious stranger (never named, but obviously Dionysus/Bacchus what with his vines and leopard skin), and his wise, lazy, amused expressions; the face of a god.

But to match these gorgeous illustrations must be a narrative to match. In this Stewig adequately and often poignantly retells the famous story of the foolish king; in love with gold only a little less than with his pretty daughter Marygold. When a stranger offers him the gift of the Golden Touch Midas accepts without hesitation, certain that it is the key to his happiness: anything that he touches will magically transform into gold.

The following day brings the gift: his clothes, his furniture and his flowers are transformed - but then so are his spectacles, his food and then tragically, his beloved daughter. Cursing his newfound `gift', Midas willingly gives it back, restoring all he changed with the cleansing waters of the River Pactolus. Now he delights in telling his grandchildren: "Ever since that morning, I cannot stand the sight of gold, except in your hair."

But I really must go back to those illustrations! The modern elements - such as alarm clocks, sunglasses and "Plato Poseidon Puffs" brand cereal - far from being obtrusive, fit wonderfully into the context of the story, being both funny and whimsical. Likewise are the range of mythological creatures - centaurs, mermaids, fauns, satyrs, cherubs, harpies, minotaurs (and sometimes a blending of these creatures) - as well as Midas's exotic pets, who all tell their own little tales as they dart in and out of the illustrations. There are also little cameo appearances by characters from other books - but I could talk about the pictures for ages when I should really leave it up to yourself to discover. All in all, as perfect a picture book as you could wish to find with hours of entertainment to be found in the text and illustrations.

For reasons of my own, I recently set out to find the best possible picture book version of the tale of King Midas. I'm sure you've done the same yourself in your crazy youth. Now depending on how you characterize a picture book as the "best", there are many wonderful version of Midas out there. If you're a fan of prolific Demi's classical style then, "King Midas: The Golden Touch" is your best bet. If, on the other hand, you're addicted to eye-candy treats like those found in Charlotte Craft's, "King Midas and the Golden Touch", then there you would find your quintessential version. But for all Craft and Demi's charms, I give an excessive amount of credit to any picture book that is both faithful to its original story and hilarious to boot. Enter "King Midas" by John Warren Stewig. As well-told as the Demi tale and as lovely to the eye (in an entirely original way) as the Craft, "King Midas" provides one-stop-shopping for the reader looking for the "best" in Midas fare. A tip of the hat to the author. A tip of the hat to the illustrator.

There once was a man named Midas. He was a king and loved better than anything (except, possibly, his daughter) gold. It finally got to the point where Midas spent all his time in a room full of the stuff and it was there than he one day is visited by "some sort of god". The stranger offers Midas his greatest wish i.e. to have the Golden Touch. The next morning Midas wakes up and changes bedspreads, posts, curtains, and all sorts of stuff into gold. Things start turning for the worse when Midas goldifies his reading glasses. Then he finds that he can't eat or drink (with great pictures showing this to be the case). When his daughter attempts to comfort him, she too becomes gold and Midas is perturbed, to say the least. Back comes the stranger and Midas, repenting, is given a chance to change everything that is gold back again. He does so with water from the river (drenching his now thoroughly confused daughter) and for the rest of his days cannot stand the sight of that yellow mineral, except perhaps in the hair of his children and grandchildren.

The story is retold well here. Stewig has a keen ear and continually keeps the tale interesting. He does not modernize the reading or make it sound overly formal in any way. Instead, he provides us with a straightforward retelling that loses none of its humor in its faithfulness to the original text. That said, it's illustrator Omar Rayyan that deserves most of the credit for this one. First of all, as an official member of the Omar Rayyan Fan Club, I'd like to ask the man personally why he doesn't do MORE children's books these days? As far as I can determine, Mr. Rayyan does a lot of covers of children's books (his paperback cover for Susan Cooper's, "The Boggart" is so clever that I doubt that few people who see it will appreciate it) and once in a while will deign to do a picture book as well. The very few times he does, the results are continually eye-popping. In "King Midas", Rayyan goes for an over-the-top style that is filled with little in-jokes, visual beauties, and wonderful sweeping states. Peppering his pages with centaurs, harpies, fauns, and sphinxes, the story is both classic and helplessly modern. After the initial reading, kids will want to try a second or a third in an attempt to catch all the little details scattered about the place. Did you see the Atlas character mocked by Taurus? Did you notice that Midas wears Apollo Feet sandals or feeds his kitty Spot leopard chow? It seems odd to say, but what Rayyan has done here is combine the beautiful with the humorous into a single perfect picture book. While trying to outdo one another in cleverness, the illustrations in this book are also exceedingly lovely. This is a difficult combination (not to say impossible). I only wish the book was better known as a result.

Craft lovers may take me to task, but to my mind no Midas book has come to exceed or improve on that 1999 classic by Stewig and Rayyan. If you're looking for the one version of the story to proclaim to the masses, this be it, my pretties. This be it.

The story is a classic and Stewig did a wonderful job retelling it but in my opinion what really makes the book are the illustrations. Every time I go through the book I find something new in the pictures that I missed before. The book is full of visual jokes and allusions to greek mythology (like a cereal box full of "Poseidon Puffs" and a man with feathered wings falling from the sky). It is one of the most skillfuly (and definatly the most humerously) illustrated childrens books I have seen.

I cannot think of a book by Jim Forest that I did not enjoy, leran from and then recommend to others, even making gifts of several of them to freinds and family. I think here, to name just a few of his wonderful biography of Thomas Merton, Living with Wisdom, his books on praying with icons and on the Beatitudes, his book on confession and his new one Silent as a Stone, on St. Mother Maria Skobtsova's resuce of children during the roundup and imprisoning of French Jews during the Occupation in 1942. In many ways, The Road to Emmaus: pilgrimage as a way of life, brings together holy women and men Jim Forest has revered, learned from and written about. But in this lovely and lucid text, he also brings some of the most important of his subjects such as prayer, liturgy, sacred images, holy places. He assembles all these in the framework of that venerable project of seeting out and making the pilgrimage journey. This could be an excellent book to take along on a retreat, to use for spiritual reading during a season such as Advent or Lent, to gather a study group. The images within support Jim Forest's always accessible prose. He has also included his own pilgrimage through sickness towards healing. You will be in for adventure in reading this, just as much as any of Chaucer's pilgrims on the road to canterbury, or for that matter, thousands of others journeying to Compostella, Rome, Jerusalem or other holy places.

This book is one that I plan to add to the short list that I read regularly. I have been looking for material that will help break up the hard soil of my heart so that I can hear the unexpected messages God has for me on the road of life. I mean, whether one is an intentional pilgrim, a traveler, one who makes his or her rounds, or even a person limited by illness, Jim Forest addresses you with stories, words of Saints, and sage advice. He's been these all these persons, and he illustrates how God is there in these situations, speaking. If you're longing for those ears to hear the saving messages you fear you're missing, this book will help.

Jim Forest's latest book is a guide and companion for all of us, stripping away the cynicsm that modern readers may feel when asked to consider their lives as journeys.

The book deals with the physical act of pilgimage, with places of pilgrimage and with pilgrimage as a metaphor for life, but ultimately all forms of pilgrimage are resolved in the unexpected encounter between the downcast disciples and the Risen Christ on the Road to Emmaus. It is this journey that Forest challenges us to use as the pattern of our lives.

Whilst the approach is explicitly Christian and more particularly Orthodox Christian, it is always informed and enriched by Forest's encounters with representatives of other traditions and philosophies, and of course his friendships with Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh. Indeed, it is this warmth and openness to others that makes the book so attractive: whether we agree with one another or not, we all live together. And how many books encompass Tolkien and Dostoevsky, Chartres and the Anne Frank House, the Desert Fathers and the pilgrimage of illness?

A humane, wise book for a fearful time

Jim Forest's book: "The Road to Emmaus" presents a highly readable, lively account of this one, somewhat curious, aspect of spiritual living. In the book, the theme of pilgrimage is highlighted against a number of the places that the author has visited, together with those whom he has met along the way. Jim's characteristic ability to see the `eternal' present in situations which most would discard as simply ephemeral, gives the book a challenging, yet attractive, quality. The author takes us to `thin' places, where the presence of God is almost tangible, but also to `dark' places, where the presence of God seems to be wholly absent. I was particularly interested in the idea, throughout the book, that it is the journey, rather than the destination, which constitutes the pilgrimage itself, making pilgrimage an aspect of living in the moment, rather than (as is more normal) an idea of projecting ourselves into some future achievement. The book is freely laced with Jim's own attractive anecdotal style, and provides a fascinating personal insight into our journey towards the Kingdom of God.

I've been reading Jim Forest's books for years, and although I've never had the pleasure of actually meeting him, I think of him as a valued and much loved teacher. His latest book, this one on pilgrimage, is a beautiful reflection on what it means to be a homo viator, a pilgrim, a traveler on the way to God.

We typically think of pilgrimage as actual physical movement toward a holy place, and this is perfectly legitimate. But Forest reminds us that pilgrimage is fundamentally an alert attentiveness to God: a quiet listening, a prayerful waiting, a contemplative centering, a grateful bowing. Too much attention on physical holy places can distract us from the spiritual essence of pilgrimage. It risks turning would-be pilgrims into tourists. If God is a circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere, then we are always at the Holy Place we seek. The trick is realizing it.

In discussing pilgrimage, Forest's reflections on "thin places," where the presence of God seems especially palpable, and "dark places," where the absence of God feels so devastating that they can inspire a trek along the dark path of unknowing and unnaming. I was especially moved by his chapter on "The Pilgrimage of Illness." In it, Forest reveals that he's suffering from kidney failure which requires regular dialysis. But in the midst of his illness, he's also discovered a whole new opportunity for traveling to God.

A wonderful book worth reading slowly and meditatively. Thanks, Jim!

Wonderful book...inspiring telling of the story of Our Lady for all ages! I shared it with my Faith Formation class and parents and children alike were spellbound.

I like this story of Jaun Diego's vision. I read it over and over again. In choir, I learned the song Saddened Eyes. It's about Guadalope`, and one of my mom's favorite songs. I like the the picture of Guadalupe` on Juan Diego's touma. I love this book ever so much!

Ever seen the sun-shine-y Virgin on the back window of a pickup truck? Now you'll understand.

The first time I read this book to my daughter, I had to stop when I got to the page of Juan Diego kneeling with his tilma, as I swallowed back tears. It is a beautiful rendering of a beautiful story, that of the Mother of God appearing to an indigenous man to teach true peace. The Spaniards argued that the human sacrificing Aztecs and other Mexican religions must be destroyed, along with their culture, while the Franciscans who accompanied their journeys argued that the people need not change their language, traditions, etc. Our Lady of Guadalupe showed that culture need not be obliterated to bring the Christian faith to others. She showed her great love for the Mexican people, and the beauty of this love pierces DePaola's work. I love his iconic style of illustration and his children's books, but this is by far my favorite. The children love it.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the apparition of Mary appearing to a Native American in Mexico dressed in the simple clothes of a pregnant Indian maiden. Other miracles accompany these visitations, the end result of which is that millions of people who were unable to accept the religion of their ruthless Spanish conquerors were able to embrace the religion of this maiden and became Christians. Tomie De Paola is well known among elementary school and children's librarians as a great author and illustrator and this book is just another reason that she has this reputation. Of course, the events involved in how the Mexicans were able to accept the religion of their conquerors were great! And when you combine a great author and illustrator together with great events you have a great story! This book is wonderfully illustrated on every page with an average of 6 lines of the story per page. This book is billed as "reading level" ages 4-8. I would say that a four year old would enjoy having it read to them, but the reading level is that of the 3rd grade.

I liked this retelling of a classic -- especially in the slight twist - yes, the ants have foresight but they are workaholics and the grasshopper may not be industrious but he appreciats the beauty of a summer night. But it's the elegant illustrations that really catch my eye and highlight this story. Delicate ink strokes with sharp details on rice paper capture the spirit of chinese art and are a wonderful complement to the story's setting. Simply gorgeous and a treat for the eyes. It makes me believe that Aesop should have done this himself!

While the ants are hard at work collecting food for the long winter, the grasshopper only plays and does no work at all to prepare for the long harsh winter up ahead. Soon the winter comes and the ants are warm and have plenty of food to eat. However the grasshopper is out in the cold with no food at all. I liked the illustrations in this book, and I also enjoyed the way the author told the moral to the readers. The author's main moral was that there are times when you can play and times when you need to do work, and you can't play all the time. The moral is easily understandable so that children will be able to pick up on it. Also it is a great way in introduce time management to older children

This retelling of the classic Aesop fable is set in China, at the Emperor's Summer Palace. In this version, as in the classic, the ants work diligently over the summer to prepare for the long winter, when food will be in short supply and the temperature quite cold. The grasshopper, on the other hand, prefers to sing and dance during the long summer days, doing no preparation at all. In the end, the ants are rewaded for their hard work by being warm and full during the winter days, while the grasshopper is left to suffer in the cold. The illustrations were done on rice paper with ink and gouache paint. Not only do they support and enhance the text, but they are truly beautiful works of art. They are a delightful mix of soft, subtle colors and vibrant colors. The rice paper background provides a strong sense of texture and depth. Children ages 4 to 6 will be drawn in by the stunning illustrations, and will learn a valuable lession from the story as a whole.

From the author of the most widely read book in Christian spirituality after the Bible, THE IMITATION OF CHRIST, comes this jewel of spiritual insights on the Passion of Christ. The great Thomas A Kempis goes thru the four Gospels and covers the whole Passion of Chist in detail, giving profound meditations that really stir the soul. These are just beautiful insights on what Christ suffered, and how we can and should respond to this incredible love of the God made man. Perfect reading for Lent, or really for anytime of the year. A Kempis gives short to medium length meditations in 35 chapters, covering all aspects of the Passion, and concludes each chapter with a wonderful little prayer. This book has never been in English before, and its timing is perfect with all the interest in Christ's Passion. The combination of Thomas A Kempis and the four Gospels is a powerful means of spiritual inspiration and insight. The Passion of Christ will affect you as never before. Don't miss this book!

If you like "The Imitation of Christ" you will love this book. Thirty-five chapters, only a page or two each, examining in a prayerful way each step of Jesus' Passion. Five stars does not do this book justice. My husband and I are each reading a chapter a day for Lent and it is one of the most inspirational books we have ever read. The translation is at once clear and devout. My highest personal recommendation for this book.

Excellent meditations on the Passion of Christ based on the four Gospels. The meditations can be used as sources for prayer, and give much hope to the afflicted soul.

I enjoyed reading this book. It's written by an insider, a priest, who has lived in the Holy Land, and knows it well. He is quick to point out why certain places are believed to be actual sites where events occurred and what not to believe. He includes appropriate hymns and prayers for the holy sites. It is written for those taking a spiritual journey to the Holy Land.

I am leading a group of 48 people to the Holy Land and originally intended to compose a liturgy/sacred reading book for the group to use at each of the sites of our visit. I began to research all the relevant Scripture passages; for example, Elijah's battle with the Baals for our stop at Mt. Carmel; the Capernaum passages, etc. Then I discovered Fr. Doyle's book and Hallelujah! Saved me a ton of time. All the relevant Scripture references etc. and passages for all the key sites, along with appropos reflections, suitable hymns etc. This book is not an exegesis nor a history nor archeological text, but an excellent liturgical accompaniment.

I ordered 4 copies of this book last Sunday and paid for shipping next day air. You needed 1/2 days for handling. The books have not arrived and I'm leaving tomorrow (Sunday) for Israel. Please note: I'm not paying and will need to send these books back due to delay in arriving

Katerina Whitley's ability to take the reader into the hearts of her characters is beautifully continued with this book. She and Noyes Caperhart have worked together to bring out the humanity inherent in the walk to Calvary. For each of the stations Whitley has written a monologue for one of the observers in her honest, natural voice.
Our adult Sunday school class spent each week during Lent reading and exploring our reactions to the monologues and blockcuts. I would highly recommend the experience to any one who wishes to deepen their connection to Christ's walk during the Lenten season.

Before reading this book, I was only vaguely familiar with the Stations of the Cross. Though the illustrations are powerful enough to tell the story of each station on their own, the author has done an excellent job of placing the reader inside each station. The writing style the author uses enables the reader to be witness to the stations as they happen ~ as if you were actually there. The reader is moved to tears as the author sheds light on the gravity of the reality of Christ's crucifixion.
I read this book before seeing "The Passion of the Christ" recently.... had I not read the book, the movie would have been profound enough on its own, but the knowledge and perspective I gained from reading it added to the power of the movie and I am very thankful that I had the chance to read the book first.
If you have seen the movie, you will remember each scene distinctly as you read the book... If you haven't seen the movie, read the book first and the movie will be so much more powerful... Either way, I think anyone who reads this book will be so thankful that they did. For both the monologues as well as the illustrations. The artist is incredible ~ you will LOVE the pictures. They are so real and heartbreaking... you just have to see for yourself.

Walking the Way of Sorrows, Katerina Whitley's third book of biblical storytelling is both similar to and quite different from her previous books. In her earlier books the characters are all women. Each women's story stands alone, connected only by their mutual connection to God. In Walking the Way of Sorrows Whitley chose the linked narrative of the Stations of the Cross. The major change is that the presence of numerous men along the Via Dolorosa necessarily expanded her exploration to include men's reaction to meeting the divine. She speaks, in the introduction, of her trepidation at entering the unfamiliar territory of the male reaction to Jesus. But she needn't have worried. The men all come across as thoroughly masculine and as individual all any of the women she has written about.

The first narrative is of the soldier who escorted Jesus back to Pilate after his examination by Herod during the long night after his capture. He makes sure we understand he is a Roman soldier, not some barbarian riffraff, and that he is tough enough to do his job. But, "I looked into his eyes!" he cries, sorrowing for the good man who must go to underserved punishment because Pilate is afraid of political repercussions.

After a quick read I am looking forward to exploring each story in depth. I read through it in an afternoon, hoping to find material for a family Lenten study. The difficult part is not in deciding to use this book in my education ministry this Lent, but in finding the best way to present it to a group. With each monologue conducted by a different actor the book could lie at the heart an excellent Good Friday liturgy. On the other hand, read and discussed week by week, the narrations in Walking the Way of Sorrows would expand to fill the whole season with Whitley's vision of humanity's response to God.

This book is beautifully illustrated by Noyes Capehart's woodcuts. These illuminations enhance the reader's understanding of the people in the stories. Rather, since the woodcuts were the inspiration for the monologues, the stories enhance the illustrations. Whichever way you see them they also make admirable meditation pieces on their own.

Beautiful book, a must if you are to visit Bucharest. More than a travel book, this book is infused with photographs of everyday life, written with an insider's knowledge of where to go to experience the spirit of the city.

This book is a pleasure to read and behold. From the exquisite photography to the witty and informed observations this is a collection of Bucharest's best and most authentic legacies to the European culture. A must have for anyone that has any ties to this Romanian capital or desires to explore its truly unique blend of French flavour, Byzantynne architecture and Latin heritage.