Saint The Books

In today's society, the word "hero" is used all too frequently. However, in this wonderful book by Ethel Pochocki, you and your children will be introduced to many special individuals to whom the term truly applies. This book contains brief chapters about the lives of many well known saints and some lesser known individuals who may indeed be destined for sainthood.

Each of the book's chapters contains the story of a unique person or group of persons who have used God's grace and guidance to make our world a better place. Pochocki writes in a voice that will be appealing to both children and the adults who share these pages with them. The chapters can be read individually, but the tone is so engaging that you and your child or student may find it difficult to put this book down.

I have many "lives of the saints" books in my home, but this book holds a special place in my library - it offers hope, guidance and heroes to serve as true role models for my children and me.

The only complaint I have about Ethel Pochocki's Saints and Heroes for Kids , is that the title unjustly limits it.
It's straightforward prose and insistence on the everyday nature of goodness and faith, do make it available to children, but adult readers will be utterly moved by its simplicity and sincerity.
Saints, in Ethel Pochocki's treatment are very like the rest of us. They are striving and loving beings who took a few steps more than we have taken.
The treatment of recent heroic acts, such as that of Father Mycal judge, make the moral even more effective.

Facing the impossible decision of when to stop adding just one more saint or hero ("It's like eating peanuts and potato chips," the author says) Pochocki narrowed the field by choosing saints and heroes that seem especially meaningful to our lives today. The entries are presented chronologically, beginning with Saint Martin of Tours who was born in 316. The list includes individuals from all walks and stations of life. Nearly half of those presented lived in the 20th Century. Among the present-day "heroes" is Father Mychal Judge, who died ministering to firefighters at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The layout, which includes black and white sketches at the beginning of each chapter, and the vocabulary and style make this an ideal book for children to read or listen to.

A delightful little book. It exudes a warmth and character that makes it fun to read. After finishing one story, you want to turn to the next. The author should take care later versions live up to the charm of this one. He combines the history of the times with the lives of the saints thereby raising questions of looking for more. It would be a shame to not hear more from him.

"Saints for Young Christians" delivers what it promises: a succint anthology of saints and blessed for children and adolescents (and adults!) which is both interesting and informative. The charming stylized pen and ink illustrations which accompany each biography help to "give a face" to the lives retold. What makes this collection of saint's lives unique is its approach of presenting the spiritual heroes and heroines in the light of a particular Catholic doctrine or moral teaching which was most apparent in their living of the Faith. This volume would be a blessed complement to Christian education in the home or at school, as well as bedtime story-telling. I can only hope that "More Saints for Young Christians" is planned as a sequel to this book.

In another masterpiece by noted theological author David Previtali, "Saints for Young Christians" is the most comprehensive piece on the sainthood ever written. In this easy-to-read, informative book, Previtali provides a biography for each of the Catholic Church's main saints. Previtali is truly one of the greatest theological authors of the 20th century and he is at his best in this work of art. Whether you're teaching C.C.D. or educating your children on their faith, Previtali's book is perfect.

This was a wonderful book that captured my attention from the beginning. I was not able to put the book down and was transported back in time to a life that consisted of real friends, real feelings and real challenges. The book is well written and can have you moved from modern times to 1910 Idaho in a matter of minutes. I highly recommend this book!

This story set in Idaho in 1910 shows wonderful depth of young
peoples lives, the friendship and love shared, their courage and
survival through most treacherous conditions. A truly engaging novel that I could not put down. Highly recommended.

I could not have told you one thing about Idaho before I read this book. Not only do I have a fresh insight into a little known state, I have a knowledge of what life was like in 1910 when so many lives were changed. You just want to be there with the families, be a part of that life when adults were respected, and love was innocent still. You rarely see friendship based soley on companionship the way it was with Drew, Ollie and the gang. It made me long for that for my own life as well as for my children. The book just held me and pulled me right into the lives of these small town families. I would recommend this book to anyone who misses reading a piece of real literature. This is the real thing!

The excitement I felt upon holding this book in my hands was amazing. During the entire process of reading, the sword of truth disemboweled me of my misunderstandings and erroneous belief structures which was causing me to see through a glass darkly.

Only if you are unafraid of truth will you find it, and only after finding it, when you act upon it will you be truly free.

Welcome to freedom from established belief structures which bind the people down and take away their true joy and love.

The sealed portion translated by Christopher will truly bring you understanding and freedom and is destined to change the religious world forever. Truly empowering. Absoutely a wonderful book.

Dominic

Little did I know when starting this book, the events that would follow would lead me to such freedom. I've found this book to speak to me in the language that I recognized. Answers found in this book were things I'd asked for years and yet no one could answer. I remember as a child being told, "One day we'll have The Sealed Portion." I anxiously awaited that day thinking it would come in my lifetime. Then as surely as could be expected from a huge church that could lose much by this publication, the talk about a sealed portion seemed to cease from the pulpit, from the minds of leaders and from the general membership. Only those studying the Book of Mormon closely would find clues to this now published book. How this book ended up in my hands is only short of miraculous, but that was only the beginning. A great read if one is willing to accept the fact that this is in deed the other two thirds of the Book of Mormon.

This is a wonderful book. It answers so many questions that have until now been unknown.

The Sealed Portion, along with "666 America The Mark Of America, Seat of the Beast" (Revelation unfolded) are the only two books that will give the world the answers they seek to find peace and happiness.

Donna Skinner

The Seton Miracles, By James L. Carney, is an excellent discussion of the alleged miracles that took place in Lake Ridge, VA at the parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in the early 1990's. Carney's presentation is well-balanced, detailed, and scholarly--qualities that are unfortunately uncommon in this genre. Unlike many other books sympathetic to miracle claims, Carney does not ignore counter-evidence and he does not attempt to push mitigating circumstances under the rug. Nor is his presentation filled with an overabundance of devotional material that might lead the reader to doubt his ability to evaluate the data fairly. The only suggestion I would have to improve the work is to provide even more of the interview transcripts with key participants--though this would not necessarily make the book a more interesting read, it would further strengthen the already impressive archive of first-hand information, which could be of use to persons in the future.

Though I have never met or spoken to the author, the fact that such a seemingly sensible man is sympathetic to these reports (and indeed has been an eyewitness to many of the events) is a great testament to their seriousness and importance.

What a WONDERFUL Book! Written in a very readable, journal style, by author James L. Carney, this fascinating, amazing, inspirational TRUE-LIFE story "pulled me in" to the true accounts of weeping Madonna statues, changing-color rosaries, miracle colors and lights in the sky, miraculous healings, Father Bruse's stigmata wounds, and events surrounding this humble parish priest, from 1991 to 1993, right here in the Lake Ridge area of Woodbridge, VA. USA! When I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down, until I'd read the whole story, and gone back several times to review, and study the color photographs, too. I was personally, very emotionally moved, to tears, by this true and powerful history of events. James Carney has included experiences and eyewitness observations of his own, of his wife, and of many other people interviewed, who had personal, life-changing experiences and observed incredible physical phenomena. I would highly recommend this book to readers of any faith or religion, and even to skeptical "non-believers".

In this well-written, thought provoking book, the author, James L. Carney, describes for the reader the dramatic spiritual journey experienced by many at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Lake Ridge, VA from November 1991 through 1993. Factual eyewitness accounts permit the reader to interpret for themselves the meaning of the numerous miraculous events. As one of the eyewitnesses, I feel that my personal experience and the book serve as powerful reminders of the reassuring words spoken by Jesus, "And know that I am with you always." (Matthew 28:20) I highly recommend this inspiring book.

This is the perfect book for teaching your daughter how to sew or for learning how to sew yourself. I would have loved a basic book for beginners like this when I was first learning.

If you are already a "sewing mama" then the extras in this book make it worth having on the shelf as a resource or just an interesting read. History, ideas, patterns, poems, tidbits of fascinating information, thoughtful advice, a glossary and of course... beautiful reminders to pray!

I think what I love most about this book is what you won't find printed in black and white. The spirit of this book inspires so much within the hearts of little girls and those of us who remember being little girls long, long ago.

My girls and I can't get enough of it..I love the illustrations, and the steps are simple and easy..I have 2 girls (ages 16 & 10), and they just love it..We can't wait to start making some of the "bigger" projects..We are starting slow, because we're newbies at sewing..

The author must have many hours in the hand drawn illustrations. It's spiritual and has nice projects to help both mother and daughter learn.

I enjoyed this book. It is written for kids of youth book age, but the warm happiness it exudes made it a pleasure for me to read myself. Parents and teachers of religious education will want to recommend the book because they'll see it as a way for kids of religious background to develop a closer relationship with God. The story is told by young characters, who are writing in their teen diaries, sharing their thoughts with God. I wish my own children had read this book in their teens, learning to bring their worries, hopes, and their new self-understanding into a conversation with God.

Signs and Wonders from Our Journals is a rare gem geared to the pre-teen engulfed in that "who am I? - doesn't anybody understand?" stage. Through the journals of a diverse group of middle-school students, young readers discover that nobody has it easy, and that they are not alone. While Buckman's book appeals to these kids, perhaps more importantly, it offers a unique and profound insight to adult readers.

Signs & Wonders from our Journals is a powerful testament to the value of journal writing both as a coping mechanism and as a personal and spiritual growth tool. As we read their journal entries, we recognize milestones in the lives of each character, and tag along as they discover the lessons of life.

The real value of this book for the adult reader is in Buckman's ability to transport us back to the awkward and often painful world of adolescence, and to help reacquaint us with the emotional roller coaster of growing up. Any adult struggling to understand the seemingly random and irrational behavior and thought processes of a middle-school child will appreciate the insightful quality of this book.

Adults and pre-teens alike will enjoy this book. I highly recommend it as an important resource for counselors, religious education instructors, and other youth leaders using journal writing as a personal growth tool for kids.

Author Carole Buckman has done an amazing thing-- she has entered the scary place of the young adult's experience and invited her readers in for some quality time. In her new novel, Signs and Wonders From Our Journals, readers get to invade the lives of several middle school-aged kids by reading their secret journals. As one reads these journal entries, stereotypes and preconceptions about pre-teens fade away, leaving only real human beings with real problems. The challenges these students survive (obese parents, fear of being dumb, the results of cruel practical jokes on other people) are not contrived, but reminders of the universal (and ageless) human struggle. Instead of focusing exclusively on what we think pre-teens worry about (being popular, making cheerleader), Buckman focuses on deeper questions that concern every human (who am I? where do I fit in this world? how do I know God?). Mostly, this book will engage readers because it tells wonderful and hopeful stories about people helping people and learning to survive in an imperfect world. Although this book could be used wonderfully in Sunday School classes as a fun teaching tool, don't be afraid to give it to any non-religious middle schooler, boy or girl. Not only will they (and their parents) find it a delightful read, they'll also feel, perhaps, a little less alone after meeting the characters. A fabulous investment that gives me hope for our childrens' futures.

unknown scrawling lyrical madness on boxcars of desire
too fast too fast ...
a street poet, not a beat poet
poet, even? sure
wordsmith of no reknown
kind kindred of whitman prosey past
knock down drag out breaking hearts
put it down long ago
i am finding out now
read it aloud in the streets of your youth
don't pretend to understand but leave a little room for the
beauty that is everywhere ...

at long last jack micheline has been given a fitting tribute...of course following in the great american tradition you must of course be dead to acquire fame and or at least a hint of reception...this is a fabulous collection of poetry artwork reviews and correspondence...this is the tip of an enormous unpublished iceberg that is the scattered works of jack micheline.

A lot of ink has been spilled on the "beat" writers but many of these beats spent much of their time in front of cameras and at writing conferences. Jack Micheline lived, breathed, laboured and endured as a street poet. He lived in run-down hotel rooms and captured what he saw.He writes about real people. This volume, done masterfully by Matt Gonzalez is an important contribution to real American literary history and not the media hype. I love all the photo's and Micheline art work and extra's.

I purchased 7 of these books for my relatives & myself & everyone loved it. It is something the whole family can look at.

I really enjoyed this book. Who knew so many of the movers and shakers, the entertainers and entertained were LDS? Highly recommended as a book to have on hand (like an almanac for LDS). Non-LDS people would also be amazed at how many LDS people are in the public eye.

Review
======

Title: The Skousen Book of Mormon World Records
Author: Paul B. Skousen
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Year Published: 2004
Number of Pages: 478
Binding: Quality Paperback
ISBN: 1-555517-811-1
Price: $19.95

Reviewed by Jeffrey Needle

Move over, Mr. Guinness, there's a new player in the "world records" game, and his name is Paul B. Skousen.

When this book arrived for review, I groaned just a bit. So much of what comes from the presses these days seems rather pointless, a solution looking for a problem. So much repetition, so much dreary, boring stuff. I feared this book would fit that description.

Instead, I found the Skousen book to be lively, informative, and, ultimately, a lot of fun. It explores the varied ways in which Latter-day Saints have contributed to society - in politics, sports, culture, etc. As I thumbed through the book, I wondered why Skousen spent the time and money to gather all this information! In the end, I was glad he did.

So, here's a test: name the artist who emigrated from Cuba under partial sponsorship by Ernest Hemingway, who went on to draw many of the superheroes (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash Gordon), and then went to work for Disney, Dreamworks, etc. Answer: Ric Estrada, member of Scotsdale Ward, New York.

Didn't get that one? Okay, try this one: BYU 4th Ward has a hamburger feed to celebrate the opening of each new school year. Who holds the record for eating the most hamburgers in one sitting? Answer: Jake McCready of Saratoga California, who downed 13 hamburgers at the event. (I'll leave it to Mr. McCready to explain his blatant violation of the Word of Wisdom - eat red meat sparingly - in order to attain this record...<grin>)

On a more serious note, this book describes LDS inventors, statesmen, and word record holders. You can also learn who first converted to Mormonism from several world religions. And who were the oldest and youngest men to be ordained apostles?

You get the idea - this is a treasure trove of Mormon trivia, facts that the author clearly worked very hard to gather.

While one will not consider this book required reading, it certainly ranks high as a book to be savored and enjoyed. Opening it at random is a little like panning for gold - you don't know what you're going to get, but you sometimes find a rich treasure of information and insight.

I liked this book, and recommend it to those in the Latter-day Saint community who wish to learn more about the accomplishments of their fellow members around the world and throughout history.


-----------------------------------
Jeff Needle
jeff.needle@general-net.com

I have read the book and think it is excellent. Iam a 25 year old male and I have visited the House of Prayer in Achill Co.Mayo,the ''HOUSE OF TRUTH" set up by Christina. A year ago I wouldn't have taken any heed of Our Lady's messages but having been to the "HOUSE OF PRAYER" my whole life has changed! Christina is a sincere,genuine,loving,warm and saintly woman who has only been trying to do what Our Lady has asked her to do. I think it is terrible that this wonderful person has received so much rejection from the Irish people. I have met with Christina on a number of occasions. She speaks the TRUTH and people have just got to listen to her messages from heaven before it is too late! Iwas down in the House of Prayer last weekend (12th of November) and Christina's message was very strong! Her most recent message from Our Lady tells us that this millenium or year of the millenium will see the world and Ireland brought to it's knees! Christina warns us of two countries in the world joining forces and spreading their errors throughout the entire world. When this happens so much suffering will come about. Christina pleaded with us last Saturday not to wait for the millenium to change our lives. She strongly says CHANGE YOUR LIVES NOW! ,while there is still time. We were asked to spread this very important message. So, whoever reads my review please take heed of this very serious message and tell as many people as you possibly can. If people are able to get to the "House of Prayer" in Achill Sound Co. Mayo please go as if you are in a state of grace you will receive the seal of the BLOOD OF JESUS,a very special seal for the times we are living in,which is of course the apocalypse. Please spread the message and God bless you!

A friend lent me his book, he said I would not be able to put it down, and I couldn't. What courage it must take to have apparitions and visions of God, Jesus, Mary and many Saints, plus Heaven and Hell?! Yet, to be belittled by the press, made fun of by others and to be treated at best..as weird. May God's Blessings always be upon Christina Gallagher and upon all of us, especially if we do not have the faith it takes to believe.

tom petrisko has a unique way of telling what he has heard, the stories of the visionaries,the apparitions of the people, he captures the heart of what is going on in these messages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!