Roman Holiday Books

I own the entire set of Days of the Lord which covers the Sunday readings of Years A,B,and C, Advent, Lent and Easter, and I finally got this volume which is a commentary on the Solemnities and Feasts of the liturgical year. In all of the volumes is a wealth of insight regarding the readings for any particular Sunday or holy day. It is not casual reading but simple enough for the laity to understand. I agree that this is a great resource for ministers and would creat sparks to start a homily with. But I also believe that for anyone who seriously wants to prepare and understand the Liturgy of the Word, this is an excellent tool. It puts you in the right disposition for Mass. As a Lector, it also helps me put more expression in my reading because I understand what it is all about. I highly recommend this and all the other volumes of this set.

Since the revision of the Roman Lectionary, scriptural based preaching has become the ideal and the norm. Unfortunately, many preachers find it difficult to make connections with all the readings for a given Sunday or Feast Day. The Days of the Lord series is not an exegetical commentary, but rather a guide for insights into what the Church desires to be preached from its selection of readings. The text is clear and easy to read. It provides some exegesis to ground the readings in the thought of the biblical world. But it also includes enough poetry and symbolic language to allow a good homilist to use these readings to speak to the people of today. These books are a great help in constructing a lectionary-based homily or sermon, thereby achieving the goals set forth by the bishops in their pastoral instruction on preaching.

This is a great travel book, a synthesis of fine writing, beautiful color pictures, and excellent Ordnance Survey maps. It pulls a region together and makes it feel like you are there.

Starting with a few wide range maps and a bit of history, this National Trail Guide sets the context of Hadrian's Wall in time and in space, both how to get there, and why you would want to visit. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a British National Trail (one of 13), and an important historical site, Hadrian's Wall offers many beautiful natural vistas, archaeological and Roman historical sites, and a cross section of British city, town, and country life. All arranged in a linear 84 mile (135 km) national park.

The book assumes a walking tour, with an introduction, 6 descriptive tour chapters, and a few sections on resources and additonal reading. The most interesting parts for me are the 6 tours. Each chapter is nicely arranged with a map or photo per page with descriptive text along side.

The Ordnance Survey maps are the best in the world - very readable and clear. This book reprints the 1:25,000 maps verbatim, the same as you get at Ordnance Survey Get-a-Map ( http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/). Similarly, the photos of buildings and vistas along the wall are well done - colorful and excellent resolution.

However, what is most impressive is the prose that winds along the maps and photos. "Where the verge path ends, cross the stile and continue on the footpath inside the wall. Now having joined the field, the Vallum looks even more impressive." Reading the words and following along the maps makes the tour completely life-like for me, making me feel like I am walking along with a tour guide.

The book is printed on thick paper with nicely embossed textured heavy-stock cover stock. The page corners are rounded nicely. Completely high quality.

Perhaps the book can be improved by more depth. I would love to read a bit more about the pubs or the sleeping accomodations. However, I too understand that this information would change quickly or perhaps be a bit too partisan.

In the end, the book makes me want to revisit the area. It also makes me want to get other titles in the series such as Offa's Dyke, The Pennine Way, or The Thame's Path - place I have never been. For me that is the mark of a true travelogue: it makes you want to rush out and see the place firsthand.

A lot of interesting and helpful information is packed into this small trail guide making it a must-have when walking Hadrian's Wall. The maps are clear and precise with commentary that allows the walker to interpret structures along the way. The small loop hikes included are an extra bonus and well worth taking. The text alerts the reader to small items of interest that might otherwise be missed along the footpath, like the Roman mile stone on the path to Vindolanda. Brief essays introduce the reader to a bit of context for the Wall. If you buy only one book, this should probably be it.

When I read to a child, I am at peace in this crazy world. The well-illustrated board book If Jesus Came to Visit Me by Jill Roman Lord is a good choice to share with toddlers, preschoolers or early readers. Engaging drawings by Renee Graef shows the possibility of a visit with Jesus. As we take a walk with an approachable Jesus, questions flood out. Why does the ostrich have wings but can't fly? How's Grandma doing in heaven? This inviting story helps the reader to realize we all have something to give Jesus. Looking for an excellent way to introduce Jesus to a special child in your life? Try If Jesus Came to Visit Me by Jill Roman Lord.

IF JESUS CAME TO VISIT ME is a precious story in rhyme that tells how a child imagines a visit from Jesus. The lovely illustrations by Renee Graef expressively portray the life of a young child. I especially liked the one of a little boy lying on the ground watching a spider. The text teaches love, service, and gratitude in an appealing and unforgettable way. Making Jesus comfortable, asking curious questions, and sharing with Him are some of the highlights. Lords writes with awareness of the heart and mind of a child. This is a wonderful book which will teach even the youngest toddler about Jesus. It would make a wonderful gift and would be a great addition to any church nursery.

Many travel guides can tell you locations and the history of the monuments around Jerusalem. But this one tells you the histories of the various Christian communities who worship there. Its focus is not architecture but worship. It provides insights into their traditions as well. Most importantly perhaps, it provides contact information and tells the schedules of worship services. The authors do not assume any prior theological or historical knowledge; everything is simple and straightforward. In the back of the book is a map of central Jerusalem on which most of the monuments can be located. There is a brief, helpful section on Bethlehem and Nazareth as well. In short, most travel guides are not written for Christian worshippers, but this one is. This books purpose is to enable Christian travellers to find communities, learn about them, and join with them in worship. If you want that experience to be part of your trip to Jerusalem and Israel, this is exactly the book you need.

Many travel guides can tell you locations and the history of the monuments around Jerusalem. But this one tells you the histories of the various Christian communities who worship there. Its focus is not architecture but worship. It provides insights into their traditions as well. Most importantly perhaps, it provides contact information and tells the schedules of worship services.

The authors do not assume any prior theological or historical knowledge; everything is simple and straightforward. In the back of the book is a map of central Jerusalem on which most of the monuments can be located. There is a brief, helpful section on Bethlehem and Nazareth as well.

In short, most travel guides are not written for Christian worshippers, but this one is. This books purpose is to enable Christian travellers to find communities, learn about them, and join with them in worship. If you want that experience to be part of your trip to Jerusalem and Israel, this is exactly the book you need.

A wonderful book to carry around with you in Rome. The book provides very detailed maps of the City with brief descriptions of what seems like every building in Rome. It is a great format for wandering and discovering as you go.

When we read this book, we are forced to feel atraction by those courageose men whom envolved the mistyries of Central Asia of the sevetheen to eightheen centuries. One of those men was Pª. Antonio of Andrade, a jesuit monk born in the village of Oleiros, Portgual, during the year of 1580. With 20 year of age, in 1600, we joined the fleed of vice-King Saldanha to India,togheter wiht nintheen fellow moks both italian and portguese. In 1624, as both the letters of priest Andrade and the scientific study of C. Wessels show, he manged take part on a budhist journey to Tsaparang, in nowadays part of modern Tibet. During this frist journey he became the first europeen to clim the Himalia and also he found the main source of River Ganges. In Tsanparang father Andrade found a jesuit mission, the first ever in Tibet, with the consent of the so called Kingndom of Guge. The importance of Wessels work is exterme beucause it is the most comprheesive study in Andrade's(and others) travells trough central asia. As mather of fact the only study in Portuguese language we can compare to the work of Wessels, is a history study of Andrade's letters by Francisco Maria Pereira Esteves, published in 1921 by Coimbra Universty Press. This way we realize that for the study of Tibetan History and the it's relations to what we call western civilazation is essential to read and analyse C. Wessels "Early Jesuit Travellers In Central Asia". To me as student of History, Wessels's revels itself as source of konwleged, a stronghold wich makes History last and not fall in to "oblivium".

I own virtually every book in print on English cathedrals and this book is an important addition to that collection for several reasons. First, the quality of the photography is superior to any other such book. They were all done for this book and were taken over a short period of time. Second, this book includes the Roman Catholic cathedrals as well as those of the Church of England. Third, it gives a handy summary of pertinent information about each cathedral. Finally, it has an enormously helpful map with the Anglican dioceses superimposed over the county boundaries, as well as small maps showing the Roman dioceses and two historic diocesan maps.

Of course, this book is not perfect. It lacks floor plans. Two cathedrals lack exterior views, and several other exterior shots fail to give a sense of what the building looks like -- even though some of the exterior pictures, such as that of St. Alban's, capture the most important architectural elements. The biggest disappointment to me is the comparative lack of architectural and design criticism. There is a tiny bit of chastisement of Victorian outrages, but I became accustomed to more pointed critiques in the first book on English cathedrals I owned, and on which I still rely, Collins Guide to Cathedrals, Abbeys & Priories of England and Wales, by Henry Thorold, 1986, and in many of my subsequent purchases. But that book has black-and-white photography and perhaps too much detail for many readers. This effort by Tatton-Brown and Crook is an excellent combination of coffee-table book beauty with sufficient academic context.

Robert Morneau's latest book, From Resurrection to Pentecost: Easter-Season Meditations, is not for spiritual novices. But if you're interested in a book of meditations based on the Daily Office, there is none better. From Resurrection to Pentecost is the third of a series that I hope will eventually include the whole church year. Providing daily meditations for the seven weeks between Easter and Pentecost, Morneau's format is effective. Each entry offers a brief contextual comment on the Gospel reading assigned for the day, an antiphon that can be used as a mantra for centering prayer, a selection of poetry, a commentary on the poem, three questions for personal or communal reflection, and a concluding prayer.

The seven poets selected are the glory of the book. Some of them, like William Blake and Gerard Manley Hopkins, were familiar to me. Others, like Ralph Wright and Morneau himself, were delightfully new. The selection for the Friday of the Third Week of Easter was typical. Reading Anne Higgins' "The Space Window at the Washington Cathedral" allowed me to preen a bit in my Anglican identity, but, more importantly, it illuminated Morneau's insight that "the Eucharist is God's stained-glass window."

This book makes Roman Numerals easy to understand. You can learn the system in a few easy lessons. It gives a hands on way to learn for those who like to touch and move things when they learn.

I checked it out from the library for my first born. Found it again for my second born and now have decided to buy it.

Even if you have the time and energy to read the entire original work, this study guide will provide worthwhile summaries for those who get bogged down in detail and need an overview of each work or chapter. For instance the Iliad, the author gives a one and a half page summary of each chapter with a brief comment explaining things like why a particular god appears in the scene or the meaning of a particular cultural practice. The chapters are labelled by the important happenings so you don't miss anything in the fine print like "Hector flees", "the funeral of Patroclus", "Hector desecrated", or "the gods intervene"

Personally I like to read the original first, then the notes to see if I agree with them and to keep all the details straight. Don't tell your professor you're reading Monarch notes, they don't like it even though they're written by professors; just read them and look good in the class discussion. I find the Monarch more sophisticated than some other published notes.

From the table of contents:

Greek--
Iliad, Odessy, Greek Lyric Poetry (Archilochus, Alcaeus, Sappho, Anacreon, Pindar), Greek Tradgedy (Aeschylus: Prometheus bound, Agamemnon, Choephoroe, Eumenides; Sophocles: Ajax, Antigone, Oedipus the King, Electra, Philoctetes, Oedipus at Colonus; Euripedes: Alcestis, Medea, Hippolytus, Torjan Women, Electra, Bacchae); Greek Comedy (Aristophanes: Clouds, Frogs, Lysistrata); Greek History (Herodotus: the histories, Thucydides: the peloponnesian war);Greek Philosophy (Plato: the republic, symposium, the apolgy, crito, Phaedo) Aristotle: Physics, the metaphysics, the ethics, politics, poetics)

Roman--

lucretius: on the nature of things; catullus: the poems, Virgil: aenid; horace:odes; livy: history; ovid: metamorphoses; tacitus: annals