Book Description
A comprehensive manual on the skills of Christian meditative prayer, including the history of the Rosary, the history of the devotion, the theology behind it, and its many connections to art, architecture, liturgy, and other forms of prayer. Includes a chapter on each of the fifteen Mysteries, examining them from archaeological, anthropological, textual, and other viewpoints, and a thorough explanation of the many promises conveyed by apparitions of Mary to St. Dominic and Bl. Alan de Rupe, drawn largely from the Fathers of the Church. Throughout the text, the immense spiritual and social benefits of the Rosary and of meditative prayer emerge through the stories of the great saints who re-converted England, France, Italy, and other countries by encouraging the practice.
Customer Reviews:
One of the Best.......2006-01-29
An absolutely fabulous book by a wonderful, witty writer...wish I could tell more people about it...nothing compares in breadth and knowledge.
A must read for every seeker of the Truth.......2003-07-26
This is an excellent book. It tells of the early history leading to the development of the rosary. A history of a people seeking a closer communion with God. The author tells a story that needs telling -- a story of heresies and misunderstandings, of the power of the rosary to draw us to the saving power of Christ. This is a story about how the rosary should be said and has been said over the course of centuries. This story is easy to read, well organized, and answers the call of the many who search for an answer to the problems besetting the Church today. It is excellent reading.
Disappointing..........2003-05-17
I was really looking forward to this title based on the other reviews and the index which was full of saints .... What I found was very disappointing.
Although the author seems initially quite successful at building credibility with his reader - the tone is quite authoritative - not popular piety -- and the content at first glance seems well researched. But when the author mentioned that marriage is the main reason the Roman Empire fell - I started to get nervous. Marriage at best may have been one of several factors, and thats perhaps a stretch - but to assert it is the primary reason for the fall of the Roman Empire is outrageous. And worse in that it calls into question the other facts that the author presents in this work.
The meditations are also very wanting. They seem devoid of any personal touch and they are hardly suited to meditation or even a 'science of the saints' type of consideration of related virtues. The author throughout the book is long winded and seems to enjoy relaying facts irregardless of if they have any relevance to the content. For example, I'm not sure how or why a reflection on the 'agony of the garden' somehow launches into a discussion of how all competitive sports are evil.
Finally, although the list of resources seems extensive, I was disappointed overall with the selections of saints quotations used throughout the book.
Overall, I know that rosary books of any meaningful size are hard to come by (hopefully this 'year of the rosary' will change that), I'd start with 'The Rosary, The Little Summa' or 'Mystery Stories: A Journey Through the Rosary'
Something Wonderful.......2001-09-20
I found this book to be simply wonderful. I borrowed it from the library and wanted my own copy. It can appeal to a person of any denomination since it includes early Church history, cultural history, philosophy. It gives an excellent discussion of the reasons why the Catholic Church things the way it does and the reason behind many Catholic beliefs that may seem difficult for non-Catholics.
Rosary.......2001-01-17
This is a very detailed but clearly written work on all aspects of the Rosary. As a non-Catholic who is becoming more and more interested in the Catholic Church, I found this book very enlightening. It wiped away many of the prejudices I (as a long-time Baptist) had held toward the Church. I would recommend it to everyone, especially to those seeking a better prayer life.
Book Description
An introduction to the rich tradition of rosary devotion, with new material on the recently added luminous mysteries.
The rosary is a central element in the prayer lives of countless people, though it is still often neglected and misunderstood. The Rosary, an updated and revised version of The Seeker's Guide to the Rosary (Loyola Press, 2001), is a comprehensive look at the history, practice, and benefits of rosary devotion. Designed to introduce the reader to the mysteries of this simple meditative prayer, author Liz Kelly gently guides the reader on an exploration of this powerful prayer that is well suited even to this modern world.
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyable Read.......2007-01-17
As a non-Catholic I found this to be not only a simple, clear introduction to praying the rosary but an enjoyable and enlightening book to read.
Great !!!.......2006-09-03
This is a book I have loaned to a number of non-catholic friends to help them understand the Rosary and how it is used to deepen your faith. Everyone I have lent it to has come away with fresh insight and clearer vision. Kelly does an excellent job of showing the history of the rosary, and it's purpose in our lives. Her chapters are:
1. What is the Rosary
2. The Rosary Then and Now
3. Mary in Our Lives
4. A Part into Prayer
5. The Rosary as Meditation
6. We Joyfully Adore: The Joyful Mysteries
7. Hold the Lamp: The Luminous Mysteries
8. Sorrow in the Mix: The Sorrowful Mysteries
9. The Promise of Glory: The Glorious Mysteries
10. A Place to Grow: Variations on the Rosary
This book is a great tool in your spiritual toolbox.
Simple yet Inspiring.......2006-06-26
With this helpful guide to the Roaary Liz Kelly provides not only a basic introduction into how to pray this ancient form of devotional prayer, but also why we should be praying it. This new updated look includes an examination of each of the sets of mysteries, including the new Luminious mysteries. I greatly enjoyed reading the book's introductory chapter "Why the Rosary?" which should encourage us all to pray this beautiful prayer on a more regular basis.
Book Description
From the author of MARKED FOR MURDER comes the first Father Koesler mystery. Someone is killing the nuns and priests of Detroit. It all begins on Ash Wednesday -- and now it won't stop. The only remarkable thing about the crimes is the killer's macabre calling card: a plain black rosary was wrapped around each corpse's wrist. The police are stumped. But Father Koesler sees a pattern, a consuming religious obsession that is driving one man to serial murder. There's danger ahead as the killer moves inexorably toward an encounter with Father Koesler -- in the eerie stillness of his confessional.
"Father Koesler is on the case, thank God!" (Baltimore Sun)
Customer Reviews:
The Rosary Murders Imagery.......2004-02-23
The Rosary Murders
In William Kienzle's The Rosary Murders the shockingly gory imagery of the novel strengthens it greatly. The diction Kienzle uses puts horrifying images in the mind of the reader. By going through every single detail of each murder there is a sense of what is soon to come. As the killer leaves rosary beads in the fingers of each victim, the imagery thickens. The diction is what brings the most imagery. If someone hears the word blood when discussing death they tend to get a little sick. Or when hearing how the victim got their throat sliced and their guts torn out, stomachs start to turn. Kienzle makes sure that you get the feeling of your stomach turning. At the begging of the novel the murders are not as bloodthirsty as those at the end. Kienzle sets the reader up to believe that they are reading a book that gives you enough feeling to get sick but not to feel vomit sick enough to turn pale. Hearing the way the victims die only makes the story even more ferocious to the point that it makes you wants to read until it is done. The individual image of each murder sets up the next vision of the next murder. This helps make the imagery even more strong. Without the strong, well-built structure of the imagery, The Rosary Murders would be just another book on the shelf.
Amateurish, silly, incredible..........2002-10-29
The author of this book used to be a priest and thus knows a lot about the inner workings of the Church in Detroit, but is obviously disgruntled and estranged. His hero in the book is what he would that he would be if he were still in good standing in the Church. Frankly, I found the writing amateurish, the plot silly and incredible. The book has lots of gore and everything about the book is unsubtle and heavy-handed and I suppose that is why it is published by a publisher few have ever heard of rather than a major publisher.
Catholic Whodunit.......2002-10-02
First published in 1989, this was the first of William X. Kienzle's popular Father Koesler series. I found it a bit dated in parts, and a bit shocking in others, but on the whole, it's a good mystery, fun and easy to read.
Father Frank Koesler is the editor of the Detroit Catholic, a modest but well-read periodical aimed at Detroit's large Catholic community. Koesler is a good priest and a good man, but realistic about the state of his church in the post-Vatican II era. Like priests nationwide, he and his fellow Detroit priests note with wry despair the dwindling church attendance in their respective parishes.
Suddenly, everything changes. An apparent serial killer is targeting priests and nuns, murdering them with professional and cold-blooded efficiency. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the killings, and the police are helpless to stop him. Detective Sergeant Koznicki, himself raised in a rigidly conventional Catholic household, is put in charge of the task force assigned to find and stop the killer. As part of his methodical and excellent police work, he asks Father Koesler, a devotee of paperback murder mysteries, to add his own clerical expertise to the problem at hand.
As interesting as the mystery is the behind-the-scenes interplay between the community of priests, who are not above a game of poker, a stiff drink, and heavy smoking when off-duty. As a non-Catholic, I found some of this private look into clerical life a bit disturbing, but interesting, nonetheless. Of special interest was the priests' ongoing and friendly debate on the havoc Vatican II wreaked upon their church, and the endless, corny, and often risque jokes of Father Joe Farmer, who cracks himself up every time upon reaching the punchline, leaving his friends annoyed and bemused.
A subplot involving two young reporters at the Detroit Free Press adds real humor to this tale of a tortured murderer and his crazed and deadly mission. A good read, good enough to make the reader want to pick up another Father Koesler mystery.
Talk about TIMELY for the Catholic Church.......2002-04-15
Although this was published in '89, I was riveted by the timeliness in lieu of today's headlines. In this context, the "moral" or theme of the story is brilliant. The serial killer, a man with a serious problem doesn't need a tired priest to give him a standard penance - so many "Hail Marys" and "Our Fathers". The man with the problem needs HELP. I couldn't help but ponder that the well-publicized pedophile priests of late do not need to be shuffled by the church to another congregation - they need HELP. Ok, stop me when this gets complicated . . . Maybe the Chruch should do something about helping these people?
On a lighter note, the book maintains its riveting suspense. The characters are well-drawn, and as a non-Catholic, I enjoyed being a "fly on the wall" during discussions, arguments and joking sessions among priests. I certainly got a real sense of individuals, not of stoic men in clerical collars. Well done. I'm looking forward to another Kienzle read in the near future!
The Rosary Murders.......2000-04-07
One of the finest whodunits I've ever read, and by far the best of the Father Koesler books. This one is hard to put down after the reader opens the front cover. The action never stops, and drags the very reluctant Fr. Koesler right along with it.
Customer Reviews:
Great tool!.......2007-09-14
We use this book often, it helps the children remember what they are meditaiting on and they have asked more questions becasue of it. I have found that it makes a great gift when given with a Rosary.
Just beautiful...........2006-04-10
Caryll Houselander has done it. This is the best prayers book I have!
Lovely and evocative.......2002-04-04
The first part of the book contains the instructions on how to pray the Rosary, as I would expect in any Rosary book. It is after that that this book differs from most of the other small Rosary guides. Each Mystery is introduced with an appropriate Biblical passage (The Annunciation is introduced by Luke 1:35) and closed with a prayer by Caryll Houselander that reflects the nature and spirit of that Mystery.
A fine way to enrich your study of the Rosary, or to add more thoughts and meditations on the Holy Mysteries. If you want to deepen your spiritual approach to the Rosary, this book will be a loved addition to your library. The book is small enough to be included in almost anyone's luggage, or even in a large pocket, bag, or purse, and can therefore be taken along as a pocket resource on the Rosary and the relevent Biblical passages. Since I occasionally make gemstone Rosaries, I am often asked to recommend a book, and have found this book to be an excellent accompaniment to the gift of a Rosary.
If you are looking for more information about the history of the Rosary instead, then I suggest "Stories of the Rose" or any of the other fine books on the Rosary's history and practice, as this small book does not cover historical practice.
God Bless Caryll Houselander.......2000-11-19
A valuable introduction to the Rosary for newcomers; a welcome refresher-course for those who might be out of practice. Veterans of the Rosary will doubtless value the fifteen poem-prayers that Caryll Houselander (1901-1954) wrote for each of the Mysteries: each prayer, a small masterpiece of ardour, humility, and unpretentious artistry.
A book for everyone.......2000-04-10
This is a great book. For beginners it has bead-by-bead instructions and diagram. For people that already know the rosary it has Prayers at the end of each Mystery. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have! God Bless
Average customer rating:
|
The Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II: The Rosary Hour
Pope John Paul II
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
 Bible | Religion & Spirituality | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books | Bibles
General | Religion & Spirituality | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
Inspiration & Philosophy | Religion & Spirituality | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Bibles | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books | Formats | Greek | New Testament | Other | Specific Types | Translations
General | Bible Study | Reference | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Inspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Pope John Paul II | ( P ) | Authors, A-Z | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Bible & Other Sacred Texts | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
-
Words of Inspiration: The Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II
-
John Paul II's Book of Mary
-
The Way to Christ : Spiritual Exercises
-
Rise, Let Us Be on Our Way
-
Pope John Paul II: In My Own Words
ASIN: 0743526430 |
Book Description
THE PRIVATE PRAYERS OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
The Rosary Hour
The Rosary is an essential form of prayer for many Catholics. It offers the mysteries of Christ's life alongside those of Mary, who has always held a special place for Pope John Paul II. The Pope has said that the Rosary is his favorite prayer and his commitment to it is undiminished. "The Rosary is a prayer about Mary united with Christ in his mission as the savior. At the same time it is a prayer to Mary -- our best mediator with her Son. It is, finally, a prayer that in a special way we say with Mary, just as the Apostles at the last supper prayed with her, preparing to receive the Holy Spirit."
The Rosary Hour is a celebration of the Pope's love of the prayer. It collects many of his public pronouncements and offers examples during the fifteen decades showing how the Rosary is a vibrant, living celebration of faith: "Reciting the holy Rosary is not a matter of repeating formulas but, rather, of entering into confidential conversation with Mary, speaking to her, showing her our hopes, confiding our pain, opening our heart to her, declaring to her our willingness to accept the plan of God, promising faithfulness to her in all circumstances, and especially those which are difficult and painful, sure of her protection and certain that she will obtain for us, from her Son, the grace necessary for our salvation."
Book Description
101 true, real-life experiences will show you just how powerful the rosary is. "Sr Paricia has put together a knock-your-socks-off collection of true stories that will inspire both new and veteran prayers of the rosary...you're going to love this book." (Recommendation from cover by authors Mitch and Kathy Finley.)
From the forward,Bishop William Skylstad writes: "Each story carries with it a witness of faith that helps to make up our common spiritual heritage in the Catholic Church. I suspect that each of us in reading these accounts will come more into contact with our own experience of praying the rosary and appreciate even more its transforming and consoling power."
Includes beautiful meditations for the rosary (Mysteries of Light, too!); Apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II on the rosary; History of rosary by Fr Richard Gribble; How to pray the Rosary.
Customer Reviews:
blessed.......2006-02-28
i loved reading the inspiring stories of help from Our Lady by praying the rosary, which i also pray and believe in. if you want to be really "touched" by some wonderful accounts of miracles, then buy this book. i am sure you won't be able to put it down. i marked several pages so i can find them and read them whenever i get a little blue. this book will pick you up!!
barbara
Wonderful tool for energizing faith in prayer.......2005-05-21
The rosary is a prayerful devotion that is more than a millennium old. It comprises praying specific prayers while meditating on events from the New Testament.
"101 Inspirational Stories of the Rosary" was written for "the year of the rosary," 2003. The book comprises a collection of short personal tales from average people all over the world, who believe that they have received help from God from challenges in their life or assistance for those they love, through praying the rosary. Many of the stories are remarkable miracles of healings from mortal illnesses and saving during accidents or on the battlefield. Others are testimonies of incidences of personal inner healing experienced or witnessed. The stories are short and can easily be read as uplifting food for meditation and encouragement before going to bed, or for when the reader wants a quit does of faith and hope during a hectic day. The chapters of the book are peppered with biblical quotes and quotes from the ages expressing people's belief in the power of the rosary, such as Mother Theresa, Patrick Peyton, and Lucia, of the children who allegedly received messages about the rosary at Fatima, and many others who have been recognized as saints. The writing is easily accessible to people of all ages.
The book also includes an extensive appendix to answer any questions the reader might have about the rosary; its history and promises associated with recourse of the rosary; directions on how to pray with one; a list of web site that provide additional information, including one operated by the author (www.rosary101.com , which has more chapters from the book available for viewing); instructions for making your own rosary; and encyclical published during the year of the rosary (one of the last documents drafted by Pope John Paul II). The is a great gift to people who are struggling with spiritual dryness, spiritual seekers looking for new ways to pray, or people who recently return to or enter a church. I have found it to be an immeasurable source of encouragement during difficult times, for helping me retain my faith and strongly recommend it to any one open to learning about powerful Christian prayer.
Spiritual Aid and inspiration!.......2004-10-20
This book was most inspiring in my prayer life. I look forward to another of the same with more input from men.
Rosary Stories, Yes ..... but much more!.......2004-03-12
On thing that many people in the Church lack today is a sense of "Catholic Identity"! This book, compiled by Sr. Patricia Proctor, O.S.C. is a good stride toward realizing that Catholicism is alive and well due, in part, to a renewal of devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, because she leads us to her Son, the Reason for and basis of our Faith. This book certainly illustrates this reality many times over.
Inspiring!.......2004-02-24
Reading these stories of the different ways the Blessed Mother has touched other's lives made me feel good. Some were just normal everyday experiences, others were quite inspiring. I read a bit each night and kept looking forward to the next story. I have shared the book with a number of people.....
Customer Reviews:
The Complete Still Waters Rosary CD.......2007-01-05
Perfect addition to praying the rosary -perfect for use in the car or at home when you would want to pray aloud.A nice gift for someone in the hospital or homebound who has devotion to the rosary as a prayer. The reflections are short and meaningful and the recitation clear -helpful for someone who struggles with hearing issues.
This is a very affordable addition to a prayer collection.
Average customer rating:
- Just what I was looking for!
- Well -researched, informative
- Shedding Light on the Mysteries
- Mystery Stories: A Journey Through the Rosary
- Sources for Prayer, Meditation, and Homiletic Material
|
Mystery Stories: A Journey Through the Rosary
James L. Carney
Manufacturer: Crown of Mary Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Meditations | Reference | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Study | New Testament | Reference | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
New Testament | Stories | Reference | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Inspirational | Catholicism | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Roman Catholicism | Catholicism | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Faith | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Meditations | Worship & Devotion | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
-
The How-To Book of the Mass: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You
-
Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light
-
Jesus of Nazareth
ASIN: 096733280X |
Book Description
Based upon the latest historical, archaeological and medical research, and fully grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church, this book takes you back to ancient Palestine and places you at the scene as Mary is greeted by the Angel Gabriel, Jesus spends his last week on earth, the disciples encounter the resurrected Jesus, and Heaven welcomes Mary home when she is assumed body and soul from her resting place on earth. [From the Agony in the Garden]: Midnight came. The Last Supper was over. They sang hymns of praise and thanksgiving, strong voices filled with sincerity and hope and love. Then Jesus led them out of the house, down the stone stairs on Mount Zion within shouting distance of the palace of Caiaphas and out of the city through the Fountain Gate. The moon was high and full and cast their shadows at their feet as they walked through the Kidron Valley, past the great white stones of the Temple Mount towering hundreds of feet above them. Jesus walked more slowly than usual, and seemed agitated. The still of the night pressed down ominously all around the little group of twelve men. The sound of their sandaled feet scuffing along the road was unnaturally loud, seeming to thunder their passage to the disapproving darkness. The men shivered against the cold and a terrible feeling of dread. They turned off the road and crossed the arched bridge spanning the little brook murmuring of a rainy season past. The garden of the olive press lay hushed and foreboding amid deep, mournful shadows. Olive trees with gnarled trunks and lacy, silver-green foliage stood motionless among outcrops of craggy, limestone rock. The whole world seemed to be holding its breath.
Customer Reviews:
Just what I was looking for!.......2002-01-24
This is fantastic! Anyone who prays the Rosary regularly knows that sometimes you really need some "meat" for your meditation. And most of the Rosary booklets out there are just that - booklets, which are fine in their way but don't really give you much to think about. I prefer to have LOTS of material to chew over while I'm meditating on each mystery, so much that I can't possibly finish it all in one sitting. There is an average of 15 pages devoted to EACH mystery, which provides a very substantial meal! I'd compare it to Kevin Orlin Johnson's "Rosary : Mysteries, Meditations, and the Telling of the Beads" - if you liked that one you'll love this one too!
Well -researched, informative.......2002-01-08
This book if full of information to make the mysteries of the rosary come alive. It is very well researched and documented. I highly recommend it to anyone, not just Christians and not just Catholics.
Shedding Light on the Mysteries.......2000-12-25
James L. Carney's "Mystery Stories: A Journey through the Rosary" is an important work. There is nothing else like it on the market -- no one has made such a devoted effort to bring the mysteries of the Rosary to life in such a meaningful, genuine, and spiritually-uplifting manner. His book has given me new insights into the real people that populate Scripture -- from Jesus, Mary, and Peter to smaller characters such as Elizabeth or Pontius Pilate. So often in the past I viewed these figures as two-dimensional, "holier than holy" characters that lived in a "different" world than my own -- and I subsequently found myself struggling with my Scriptural readings. Mr. Carney's book has helped me bridge this gap.
The author's research is meticulous, his prose clear, and his passion evident. His reflection questions at the end of each chapter are great aids for personal meditation, small faith communities, or catechesis. The Sorrowful Mysteries are particularly powerful as meditative reflections for the Lenten season -- I would recommend these for Christians of all stripes.
This book has expanded my appreciation and understanding of the Rosary, of Scripture, and of my own relationship with Christ. "Mystery Stories" will remain an essential element of my prayer life for years to come. I commend Mr. Carney for his inspired effort, and encourage readers to take a chance on this book.
Mystery Stories: A Journey Through the Rosary.......2000-08-28
This profoundly moving book is really more than a book; it is an experience in the humanizing of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, their family and friends as well as Jesus' enemies and detractors. All of these individuals become very real, and very much alive. The author's docudrama approach realistically fills in historical gaps with skill and imagination.
The power of the 15 stories, as told by Carney, and the emotions they bring forth in the reader, require some time to pause for reflection and settling in. They wrench your emotions with both their beauty and their pain. At once, this book will fill your spirit and nurture your soul.
Friends who do not read very much could not put the book down. Mystery Stories: A Journey Through the Rosary, is nothing short of inspired.
Sources for Prayer, Meditation, and Homiletic Material.......2000-07-19
I found Jim Carney's "Mystery Stories" a fruitful source for prayer and meditation. In the past, some authors tended to make their reflections on the life of Jesus and Mary so pietistic and saccharine that they were unpalatable. Thankfully, Carney's writing is based on scripture and on real true humanity as we experience it. Whether the rosary is your favorite devotion or not, Carney's "Mystery Stories" are such that I found myself becoming part of the scenes and conversations between Jesus, Mary and the people, both good and bad, who filled their lives. He treats the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries not as devotional treastises but as real life experiences of Jesus and Mary as they walked this earth, the same one you and I journey on as we live out our own personal salvation history.
Average customer rating:
- Great !!!
- Beautifully put together, well-written, and transformative
- Peculiar and perplexing
- A Rosary Primer for the Ages
- Avoid this book if you want to understand the Rosary as the Church does.
|
The Rosary
Garry Wills
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Inspirational | Catholicism | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Catholic | Theology | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Devotionals | Worship & Devotion | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Worship | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Ritual | Other Practices | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
History | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Prayer | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Devotionals | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
-
What Jesus Meant
-
Why I Am a Catholic
-
What Paul Meant
-
Saint Augustine (Penguin Lives Biographies)
-
Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit
ASIN: 0143037978 |
Book Description
In an age when self -help methods abound and meditation is a common prescriptive, Garry Wills—one of the most respected writers on religious topics today—offers an extraordinary journey through one of the oldest aids to spiritual contemplation.
Drawing together history and readings from scripture, Wills explains the beads on the rosary and the moments in Christ's life they represent, illustrating each mystery with a stunning Tintoretto painting. The result is an illuminating and poignant exploration of the power of prayer that will edify and inspire readers.
Customer Reviews:
Great !!!.......2006-09-03
Wills writes a great book that is good for both Catholics and non-Catholics. He writes in an enjoyable and engaging style. Has a nice chapter going into depth on each of the 20 mysteries. I have loaned it to a few close friends one from an Anglican Background and one Mennonite both enjoyed the book and found it very useful. A book can not receive more praise than that.
Beautifully put together, well-written, and transformative.......2006-07-05
This is the only book I can recall having read in one sitting! It was simply that enjoyable. An entire chapter is devoted to each mystery. Wills uses beautiful artwork from a 16th century Venetian artist (Tintoretto) and quotes from the likes of Pope John Paul II and Chesterton to illuminate the various mysteries. Wills integrates historical information with his own thoughtful exegeses on relevant New Testament passages.
The writing and organization of the book are both very clear and logical. It is full of beautiful illustrations of Tintoretto's works in both color and black and white.
The focus of this book is on the mysteries themselves and there is only one chatper on the historical background. Some Catholics may critisize Wills for his approach to the history of the Rosary because he does not go into the legend that credits St. Dominic as having received the Rosary from Mary herself. Wills does not outright deny the legend. He points to evidence that the history of praying a psalter of Our Fathers and Hail Marys predates St. Dominic and that the habit of meditating upon the mysteries post-dates him. This is not to say that St. Dominic did not receive a vision from Mary and that he did not play an important role in the history of the Rosary. It is possible to reconcile the historical with the legendary. Also lack of faith in the legendary origins of the Rosary is not necessarily anti-Church as faith in such revelations has always been left to individuals' discretion. This is probably why he also leaves out the prayer taught by Our Lady of Fatima. For the book to have incorporated all this information it would have become unwieldly and too ambitious.
I appreciate Wills' conscience choice to present the book as it is, because it seems to me that the goal of the book is to be an introduction to the Rosary, a primer. The heart of the Rosary is in its ancient structure of Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Doxology. The key is proper meditation upon the mysteries. Wills explains the above prayers quite well and gives beautiful explanations of the mysteries that will help one to begin a lifetime of meditation. Reading this book has certainly transformed my devotion to the Rosary for the better.
If after reading Wills' book you want to know more about the history of the Rosary, Wills has suggested background reading listed in the back. Also I would recommend "The Secret of the Rosary" by St. Louis De Monfort. In this book the more legendary origins of the Rosary (involving St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche) which require faith to accept, are discussed at length.
Peculiar and perplexing.......2006-05-26
While I'm generally a fan of Garry Wills, this is one peculiar little book.
"The Rosary" is a book bound to please no one. Traditional Catholics are unlikely to be impressed by Wills's pooh-poohing of the rosary's legendary origins - directly from the Virgin into the hands of Saint Dominic. And less will they be interested in his explication of the eschatological perspective of the Lord's Prayer. Wills's other audience - liberals, progressives and Protestants -- are unlikely to be drawn to the rosary either.
Then again, Wills' made some odd choices about the book's organization. On the positive side, Wills lays out the Mysteries in order: Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful (which term Wills's can't leave alone, calling "Sad") and Glorious. But rosary lovers are often drawn to the art work that illustrates the mysteries. Wills does the same, but with a twist that blunts the effect. He is evidently besotted with the work of Renaissance painter Tintoretto. His idea is to accompany each mystery of the rosary by one of this master's paintings. Unfortunately, Tintoretto didn't paint a Pentecost or a Crowning with Thorns or a Sermon on the Mount. But Wills's monomania about Tintoretto schema requires him to substitute other paintings or to omit an illustration altogether.
Still, there are items of interest. The explanation of the Lord's Prayer is helpful to those seeking an insight into the eschatological side of Christ's teaching. And Wills's more-or-less literal translation of Mark's gospel makes evident that writer's lack of fluency with Greek.
But for all his attempts to get nearer the mystery of Christ, Wills often goes astray. Translating the "glory of God" as "the dazzle of God" misses the mark significantly. And Wills's descriptions of the painting, while poetic, don't seem to describe the same art I was looking at. In "Christ Carrying the Cross," Wills completely misidentifies the figure supposed to be Simon of Cyrene.
I would love it Wills had written a corrective to the hyper-pious drivel that is often published about the rosary. But in the end, "The Rosary" is less a work about that beloved and ancient prayer form than about Wills's personal journey of faith and understanding. As such, it might have been better left in a personal diary than released to the mass market.
A Rosary Primer for the Ages.......2006-04-19
As one reads this book it becomes very clear that Mr. Wills is not a traditional or orthodox Catholic. All through the book he takes little digs at various Catholic beliefs and even uses the term absurd to describe one bit of Church teaching. Don't allow this to turn you off to what the author is saying however for the message to be found in this book is both quite powerful and quite positive. In fact, this book contains one of the most pertinent arguments that I have seen in a long time concerning the benefits of praying the Rosary.
Mr. Wills begins with a history of this grand old prayer of the Church and he does an excellent job of explaining the origin of the Rosary itself and of it's various components. Most devotees of the Rosary realize that some additions such as the Fatima Prayer are fairly recent but even among the people most devoted to the Rosary most of it's history is shrouded in the mist of time. Wills clears the mist so that we can all see clearly how one of our favorite devotions came into being.
After taking the reader through the history of the Rosary the author then proceeds to explain each mystery one at a time. As he does so the author tells us of his own reflections concerning each mystery and then describes in detail the paintings depicting most of the mysteries by Jacobo Tintoretto. These marvelous paintings are included in full color and these images alone are worth the price of the book.
Wills does a fine job of reflecting on each of the mysteries but his main theme is the importance of the entire Rosary to post Vatican II Catholics. He points out that this wonderful prayer is often scoffed at by modern Catholics as an "old ladies prayer" or as simple minded repetition but that it is neither of these things and if prayed correctly the Rosary will certainly lead to closer relationship with God. If anything, Wills argues, the Rosary may be even more important today than it ever has been because it gives us a chance to take a break from our fast paced world and simply meditate on the wonders of our faith.
Anyone who is devoted to the Rosary will certainly find new insights within the pages of this book and any Catholic who thinks that the Rosary is an outdated prayer will find a powerful argument to the contrary. This book belongs in every Catholic's personal library and I assure you that you will refer to it often.
Avoid this book if you want to understand the Rosary as the Church does........2006-04-04
If you hope to grow in your appreciation of how the Church herself understands and cherishes the Rosary, avoid Garry Wills' recent book, "The Rosary". Reading Wills' text for this purpose would be a bit like making determinations about a political candidate based on assertions and implications forwarded by his opponent. Unfortunately, despite packaging seemingly designed to indicate the contrary, Garry Wills is in fact that opponent---not of a political candidate, but of the Church and her mission.
That Wills is hostile to Catholicism may be seen by a cursory review of his prior work (e.g., "Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit"). Nor does he hesitate to reveal his rejection of Church teaching in "The Rosary". Consider, for example, his rejection of the (still taught) doctrine on indulgences. He writes, "The very idea of indulgences was tainted from the outset. The claim that the pope could give partial or total reprieves from time spent in purgatory is absurd on the face of it" (p. 7).
If you want to read about the Rosary from someone who is hostile to the very Church who gave it to us and to her teachings, this book may be for you. Perhaps you are an academic. If however, as I suspect, you are like most potential readers, hoping to develop a devotion to the Rosary and to grow in its understanding as perenially taught by the Church, this book will fall far short. It doesn't make sense to learn about the Republicans from a Democrat, and in "The Rosary", we again find confirmation that it doesn't make sense to learn about Catholicism from Garry Wills.
Book Description
Responding to the Pope's Apostolic Letter on the Rosary, his five new "Luminous Mysteries", and declaration of 2003 as "The Year of the Rosary", Fr. Groeschel presents this new book of meditations on all 20 mysteries of the rosary. Drawing on his vast personal experiences as well as the grand traditions of the Church, he takes us on a spiritual journey that will inspire us to greater depths of prayer. This special book includes: The Pope's Letter on the Rosary, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, and lavishly illustrated with 20 classic color paintings.
Customer Reviews:
Very good, for what it is........2004-02-09
This book contains a prayer and an approximately page-long reflection on each mystery of the rosary (including the luminous ones), and also a coulour painting for each one. There is also the full text of the apostolic letter "Rosarium Virginis Mariae." The reflections are good, and the Pope's letter is interesting, but I was looking for something with a bit more instruction on the rosary, as I feel there's more for me to learn about it. This is a fine book for someone who is familiar with the rosary, looking for new prayers or meditations, but it's not really the best introduction to the rosary.
Books:
- Scandalous Again
- Second Chance: Three Presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower
- Secondhand Bride (McKettrick Cowboys Trilogy #3)
- Seven Seconds or Less: My Season on the Bench with the Runnin' and Gunnin' Phoenix Suns
- Sexy Beast II (Aphrodisia)
- Sins of the Night (A Dark-Hunter Novel, Book 8)
- Someone to Love Me (Bluford Series, Number 4)
- Spy: The Inside Story of How the FBI's Robert Hanssen Betrayed America
- Stealing the Fire from Heaven
- Swept Away (Avon Red)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices
- Cucina Simpatica: Robust Trattoria Cooking From Al Forno
- Saponins
- The Killer Angels: A Novel of the Civil War
- Watercolor Basics: Let's Get Started
- Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty
- A Good Start in Life: Understanding Your Child's Brain and Behavior from Birth to Age 6
- Treasury of Floral Designs and Initials for Artists and Craftspeople
- The Elements of Dynamic Symmetry
- The Road to Randado
Apparitions: Mystic Phenomena and What They Mean
The Essential Rosary: Prayers
The Secret of the Rosary
Why Do Catholics Do That?
Beads and Prayers: The Rosary in History and Devotion
