I encourage any faithful Catholic to pick up a copy of these volumes and begin to pray the Divine Office (a.k.a. Liturgy of the Hours).

The bulk of the Office is the reading of the Psalms on a four week cycle. The remainder are scripture readings, hymns, prayers of intercession etc.

Be forewarned however, that if you are completely unfamiliar with the Office you will need a bit of a tutorial...

For those of you who don't have the money to buy all of the volumes at one time, make the effort to buy them invidually either here or elsewhere. Be persistent and you can the vinyl covered volumes in this way. I have yet to find the leather volumes sold individually. Although I would certainly recommend this leather set, the vinyl volumes are very nice as well.

However, the main point is that praying the Divine Office has steadily increased my faith in, and understanding of, Jesus Christ. Now I know why the Church has prayed the office for these long hundreds of years. The Divine Office is truly amazing and life changing.

I have no hesitation in recommending the Divine Office to all of my Catholic brothers and sisters. May your faith, hope, love and charity grow the "Prayer of the Church."

The Liturgy of the Hours is an ancient Catholic spiritual practice featuring daily readings, segmented in various "hours" of the day, from the psalms and Christian and Hebrew scriptures. Readings are arranged to follow the Roman Catholic liturgical year and are a wonderful way to daily follow the seasons through Word and song. Recommended as a method for centering prayer and as a living reminder of the larger community of faith, living and dead, of whom we are a part.

The Liturgy of the Hours is a tremendous aid to Christian prayer. Based in the psalms, the four volume set provides the pray-er with the all that is needed for Morning Prayer, Daytime Prayer, Evening and Night Prayer as well as the Office of Readings. It takes a little learning of "how to" - but a comprehensive guide is provided. EXCELLENT for individual or group use.

This is one of those books that actually helps one in developing their spirituality. There are many books out there for spiritual fulfillment, yet they often leave you in a state of limbo or barely touched, this books is much different. St. Louis DeMontfort writes straight from the heart and speaks of Mary as a child for love of his mother. At the same time, his theology is one to be reckoned with, especially one so Marian yet so Christological. John Paul II attributed this book to his great marian devotion and Mother Teresa recommended the pope make him a doctor of the Church, as a result of this sound and very well laid out Marian theology. I recommend this book highly and, although there are times when his theology can become hard to follow, it is worth the time and effort to figure it out, you will not be disappointed.

This is a new reprint of the much acclaimed Father Frederick Faber translation which has been out-of-print for several years. True Devotion To Mary by St. Louis Marie Grignion De Montfort (1673-1716) is considered to be the greatest single book on the Blessed Virgin Mary ever written. Seemingly divinely inspired, it is the classic statement on the spiritual way to Jesus Christ through Our Lady. Beloved by countless souls, this books sums up the entire Christian life, showing a way of holiness that is short, easy, secure and perfect - a way of life chosen by Our Lord Himself, as explained here in this book by the "Apostle of Mary." In this beautiful and sublimely inspiring book, St. Louis De Montfort explains the wonderful spiritual effects which True Devotion to Mary brings about in a person's life, leaving the reader with no doubt that this devotion provides the key both to sanctity and to salvation. No Catholic should reach age 20 without having read this book. 215pp. PB. Imprimatur.

Saint Louis de Monfort, in his masterwork dedicated to marian devotion, explains who is Mary, why the Mother of God must be glorified and why honouring Mary is also a form that the faithful has to honour Jesus.

This is an ideal book to improve the growth of spiritual life and, considering the truths that presents, should be known by all the catholics, very especially those ones blinded by post-conciliar confusion or, even, by protestant teachings about Mary.

Finally, the way Saint Louis de Monfort writes is a pleasant surprise: simple, clear, concise, direct and modern... without being modernist. Excellent!

Here is a book that every adult Catholic ought to read-a few times. Steve Clark has done a masterful job of explaining Catholic teaching about the Eucharist from the Scriptures. This is not an apologetics tract, although it aims to help non-Catholics who love Scripture see why Catholics believe what they do about the Eucharist. It is a profound explication of the Old Testament teaching on how Israel worshiped God, as well as a thoughtful, careful examination of how the New Testament preserves the wine of this transcendent worship in the new wine skins of Christian worship. In addition, Clark has included a most wonderful section in his book called, "Hearing God's Word," in which he reminds Catholics of their great heritage in the Scriptures and urges them to engage their hearts and minds in serious reflection on God's Word. Clark has done his work in the light of Vatican II, which describes the Scripture as the soul of Catholic theology. It is written for laymen. It deserves the widest possible readership.

This is a perfect example of true Vatican II theology. The author explains the place of the Eucharist in Catholic worship and life in language accessible to ordinary readers while drawing on the depths of theological scholarship and Scripture study. True to the spirit of the Second Vatican Council represented by Pope John Paul II, his exposition is scriptural, patristic, liturgical, and ecumenical. Rather than focusing on particular points of controversy, this book treats the Eucharistic liturgy as a single act of sacrifice uniting the believer to Christ. In the course of this discussion, the author delves into such topics as the inspiration of Scripture, the meaning of sacrifice in Israelite worship, and the roots of the Christian liturgy in the Old Testament. This book is for anyone who wants to know what Catholics really believe about the Eucharist, and especially for Catholics who want to know why Sunday Mass in the parish really is the most important activity of every week.

I found Steve Clark's book, Catholics and the Eucharist, an engaging, inspiring, and informative read. The book's theology flows out of Holy Scripture, the Divine Liturgy (of both East and West) and Christian tradition. The result is that one learns not only about Holy Communion but about God Himself and His intention for His children (a little Christian history too). A confession: I'm not even Catholic; I'm Greek Orthodox. But, I have always found Steve's books to be thought provoking, so I gave a book addressed to Catholics a try - and was not disappointed. Great scholarship and a thoughtful presentation! I strongly recommend this book to any Christian - especially Catholics.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the Eucharist is the "source and summit" of the Christian Faith. The Eucharist is the actual Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, of the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. Yet many Catholics doubt this belief, are confused by it, or reject is altogether. This book provides both answers and challenges for Catholics looking for a better understanding of the reality and Real Presence of the Eucharist.

Dave Pearson initially set out to write a theological and apologetic work aimed at clarifying Catholic teaching about the Real Presence. Wanting to include some personal anecdotes, he interviewed several people active in regular Eucharistic adoration. Realizing the power of their experiences, he compiled these nine interviews. Frank, open, and often vulnerable, these ordinary folks gives witness to the reality of the Real Presence and its tranforming power. As nineteen year old Dylan states so well, the Eucharist is "a radical invitation to love and be loved." This is a book that will challenge and encourage those seeking a deeper, more intimate relationship with their Savior.

[Carl Olson is editor of Envoy magazine.]

In "No Wonder They Call It The Real Presence," David Pearson conducts a multi-voiced chorus of praise to our Lord present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

The people David interviews -laymen and women all - are themselves a mirror of the Eucharist: quietly hiding beneath the common things of this world and yet in their substance full of power and majesty and grace. In a time when tragedy is so often twisted into farce, these folks tell of lives transformed through the renewing of their minds and hearts in adoration of Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament.

This book will remind you that while laymen and priests and bishops may sometimes fail us, the Church never does, because only through her do we receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

"A lot of very down-to-earth, nonfanatical people are having very transcendent, mystical, religious experiences in Eucharistic adoration chapels," writes David Pearson in this book. That is the fundamental message of this book.

The nine people Pearson interviews come from a wide variety of backgrounds and life experiences. He allows them to tell their own stories, simply coaxing them along now and then with a few probing questions.

These folks offer their stories without trying to come off as pious saints or theologians. They simply and generously offer us a window into their own lives, especially their spiritual lives, parts of people we rarely see unless they are our spouse or close friend.

Sure, we hear about their moments of rapt joy at the realization of Jesus present in the Eucharist. But we also hear about the dry and boring times of prayer, and about the difficulties and tragedies of life and the place Jesus in the Eucharist has there.

I'll keep this one, and probably pick it up again in my own moments of spiritual dryness, boredom, and questioning. To me, it's a written record of God's grace in the lives of everyday folks.

A friend sent me a review of Cooking the Roman Way. The reviewer made it sound too good to be true, so I ordered a copy to find out. Even for a passionate but untrained foodie like me, I've got to say that this is a great piece of work -- it's funny and articulate -- a literate cookbook that reads like a cross between fine travel writing and memoir. I have also found a bunch of classic Roman recipes that anyone can do -- bruschetta, spaghetti with garlic and hot pepper, Carbonara, Amatriciana, crostini with anchovies (my girlfriend loved that one in particular). I have been to Rome a couple of times and everything in the book rang true -- the atmosphere, the cooking style, the sites, the sensuality. Now I'm recommending the book to everyone I know, both for their own use and as gifts. What a find. Kudos (or however you say it in Italian) to the the author and photographer!

The recipes are great. I especially loved the carbonara and the spicy Amatriciana tomato sauce. Finally I have a cookbook with my favorite recipes! I own many Italian cookbooks but I wasn't aware that some of the classics I love are from Rome. A friend gave this book to me as a gift. It's a beautiful book with lavish color photos. I like it so much I'm going to give it to everyone on my Christmas list.

A book on the cooking of Rome was long overdue. Hooray for David Downie and his meticulous research into the myriad secrets of Rome's great culinary traditions! I was enchanted to find a recipe for Vignarola, that incomparable Roman spring vegetable stew, and to discover delicious new pasta dishes such as a mouth-watering concoction of spaghetti with fresh favas, lettuce hearts and pancetta. Not to mention the sublime sweet peppers stuffed with mozzarella and anchovies and the delectable fried artichokes - Roman-style. David Downie vividly brings alive the day-to-day, season-to-season, rich kaleidoscope of the eternal city's trattorias, open-air markets, butchers, bakers and grocers galore.This beautiful book is richly illustrated by Alison Harris's marvellous photographs which admirably capture the essence of Rome and the Romans. Bravo Downie and Harris for an indispensable addition to any food lover or serious cook's library. Cooking the Roman Way certainly tops my Christmas gift list!

St. Francis de Sales is one of the greatest of spiritual writers and writers, period. It is easy to be charmed by this guide to the spiritual life. He inspires the reader with a gentle, loving touch which I found delightful. He was also a very learned and experienced adviser when it came to things of the spirit. He seemed to have known about every difficulty that one has in the spiritual life and offers practical and wise solutions that anyone can carry out. If you are interested in reading the great spiritual classics, be certain not to miss this one. It will be well worth your time. I cannot imagine anyone finishing this volume without obtaining some excellent advice from it and also without making progress just from reading it. The only drawback is that it IS several hundreds years old and some of the theology is dated and will seem strange to modern, post Vatican 2 Christians. Do not let that keep you from this book, just keep it in mind when reading it. Highly recommended.

Although this original text was written in the 1600's, it is as timely in todays modern world as ever. If anyone is looking for spiritual guidance and a way to grow closer to God, this book may help. Many of De Sale's examples are drawn from nature and help us to see our own sin and need for a loving God. The author provides insights on areas such as our own creation, on God's benefactions, on sin, on death, on paradise and our election and choice of heaven. It has changed my life and could change yours....

A spiritual masterpiece for all Christians, Introduction to the Devout Life is rich with spritiual reflections and excercises. It mandates a slow, reflective read. The book focuses the reader on their past and present life rallying them to purge themselves of past sin and affection for present sins. St. Francis recommends spiritual exercises to avoid future spiritual decline, and unites the reader's future devotion with GOD. Introduction to the Devout Life is a "life" changer.

Evslin does an oustanding job telling the most famous of the greek myths and does it with his hands tied or does he? Evslin wrote this book, I think, intending it for a young audience, and so does not delve into the prose that others have when attacking these greek myths. Yet with simple language and direct verse, he quite excellently brings out a depth in the characters and a second meaning in stories which have rung hollow or been lost by other, supposedly great poets. Even if you don't fancy yourself a myth lover, this is an excellent read and easy, yet thoroughly satisfying.

It was soincredibly interesting and fun. not only did I enjoy reading the hella cool stories, i learned that Greek mythology does affect our language today. i learned how alot of things now, came from what we learn in mythology. the stories are so entertaining and fun toread, Sime are sad, some are happy but all of them kept me flipin' pages. I'm happy I read this book because it gave me knowledge about history and it made me know cool stories and I liked Disneys Hercules alot more. I felt smarter watching it. it a great book, props to the auther who wrote it in a non boring way. Thanks!

I have read this book with my sixth grade students each of the last twenty years. Every year I have the pleasure of watching Bernard Evslin's book cast its spell upon a new and enthusiatic audience. His clear, straightforward narrative resonates with wit and humor all at a level that my students can appreciate. Mr. Evslin's book is highly entertaining. What a lovely way to introduce children to Greek Mythology. Three cheers for Bernard Evslin!

I consider myself a connosieur of the classics, so when I heard of an ancient novel concerned with sex, illicit sex, and illicit donkey sex, I decided to take a closer look.

And I'm glad that I did. At the back end of the classical Western literary tradition of silliness, which includes such hallowed humorists as Chaucer, Bocaccio, Rabelais, Cervantes, and, in its divine form, Shakespeare, we find the one tale that may have excited them all--Lucius Apuleius's Golden Ass.

The Golden Ass is filled with adventure, suspense, humor, and nonsense. I had a grin on my face most of the way through, and I got the feeling that the author did too. Tip o' the hat to Robert Graves for delivering an authentic translation that brings us Apuleius in his bawdy best.

The only thing I found occasionally irritating was that, like Cervantes, Apuleius has a tendency to digress. Big time. He inserts the entire myth of Cupid and Psyche right into the middle of the narrative, for example. Does this add to the mythological message of the whole? Probably, but it subtracts from the fantastic flow of the story. My urgent plea to Apuleius, were he alive today, would be, "Stick to the ass!"

There are a number of reasons that traditionally bring people to this book: to study Classical Rome, classic literature, mythology, psychology... maybe you're curious about the intimate lives of donkeys. Whatever has brought you to this novel, now that you're going to read it, perhaps the best thing to do is to take the advice of the author himself, who says, "Read on and enjoy yourself!"

I thought only cats were supposed to have nine lives, but this donkey has at least that many. This book is great fun, I couldn't put it down for too long, and it is incredible that something written so long ago (18 centuries?) can be so accessible, captivating, and hilarious to a modern reader. The events in The Golden Ass resemble the ribald, bawdy exuberance of the Decameron, and no doubt Boccaccio was somewhat inspired by the writings of Apuleius. According to the introduction, the adjective "golden" in the title implies "the ass par excellence" or "the best of all stories about an ass." The story follows the misadventures of Lucius, an enterprising young man who gets far too close to the world of magic, is transformed into a donkey and is constantly thwarted in his attempt to procure the antidote to his assness. It's human mind trapped in donkey bawdy! Totally imaginative, classically written, hilarious fun. As a writer, Apuleius was MILLENNIUMS ahead of his time! (Note: my review is based on the Robert Graves translation, rather than the William Adlington).

I read The Golden Ass for a Classic art course I took while at university I loved it! It is fun, entertaining and comical- not your typical dry Roman read. It is a great story and a great look into history.I highly recommend this tale to anyone who not wants to laugh but is interested in an important text from antiquity.

All my life I've been burdened by a punishing and vengeful image of God. After reading this book, I feel that for the first time, I actually drew a peaceful breath. This book has given me a wonderful feeling of hope that I too will be saved. I think that no catechism should ever be distributed without a copy of this book. I love my new "God", even if he/she is just a cartoon image of love.

I discovered this book by accident and am SO glad I did. While it was written by Roman Catholics it certainly is not exclusive to them. I am a Presbyterian and I have shared it with people of other faiths who enjoyed it as much as I did. "God loves us at least as much as the person who loves us most." This is the jumping off point for this book. If we can accept this idea then it follows that we need not fear divine retribution. God has and will continue to make an infinite number of attempts at reconciliation with us. Because He loves us. This is the only book I have ever felt compelled to share with my co-workers. Give it a shot. You won't be dissapointed.

"Good Goats" is a gem of a book. First loaned to me by my spiritual director, it takes on the very reasons people should fuss with God. The Linns argue that the guilt of sin and the fear of hell are two very BAD reasons to give for believing in God - all that does is drive people away. They also grapple lightly but thoughtfully with Anselmian atonement (substitutionary atonement)as understood in today's religious environment, arguing that this theory simply makes no sense if God is indeed Love. Hooray! Excellent book for teaching. Authors are Roman Catholic and it shows, but this Episcopalian found this not to be an obstacle but a blessing in this Ecumenical Age.

This is a monumental work of immense perspective and considerable depth; and it is narrated with an unmatchable brilliance of style. Durant's history is the most impressive out of any single volume concerning the roots of Roman civilization, its growth, granduer, and decline, its art, literature, law, religion, social, economical, domestic, military, and everyday living spirit. Durant displays the rise of Christianity as a battle between Caesar and Christ - a battle which Christ won. Durant shows how the Roman spirit lives inside of us one-thousand times a day, which is a further testimony to the eternal legacy of Rome. This is an enduring consolidation of facts, scholarship, and Roman history in general...certainly a rewarding read.

If you are a student of history, than you will like this book. The late Will Durant is a prolific writer and historian. This title is one of my favorites in the Story of Civilization series. Durant's style is fascinating and unique, because he probes a lot deeper into history -he offers more than a mere political history of the times. It's no wonder so many historians of his day were so critical - a classic case of genius-envy. Durant's vivid prose and kind insight as a historian compelled me to get the whole Story of Civilization set.

FYI the title cover published by Fine Communications looks a whole lot better than the old one Amazon listed- hopefully they will update it.

This third volume from Will Durant (with substantial assistance from his wife) is a great history book. Imagine a book about ancient history that - though completely factual - reads like a smooth work of fiction. Durant's epic work, tracing the beginnings of Roman civilization until Constantine, is difficult to put down. After a few pages, the reader begins to understand not only the political dealing of the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians, but also their intellectuall and moral philosophies, religions, art, writings, society and intimate lives. All aspects of life are covered in this well-researched book, as much as our own information about this time will allow. Perhaps the best thing about this book - and all of the books in this series - is how evenly and fairly each person and religion is treated. The reader is left to decide whether a person could be considered "great" based on the good and bad things they accomplished in their life. The reader is left with a better understanding of how our own lives are still influenced by a society that ended over 1500 years ago. An excellent book.