In "Speaking to the Heart: A Father's Guide to Growth in Virtue," Stephen Gabriel sets out a clear, disciplined program for spiritual growth. In 20 chapters, he covers 20 character traits that will help men make their homes happier, their lives more productive and their faith stronger.

Each chapter begins with a meditative essay on a virtue--faith, integrity, justice, order and so on--then proceeds to "Considerations for Growth" in that virtue. The latter portion is chock-full of practical applications for everyday life, presented as a probing examination of conscience.

There's a crisis of fatherhood in our culture today. It's a spiritual problem that challenges even the best homes. The only cure is within each dad. But this book goes a long way in developing the inner strength of individual dads. It's a great buy for yourself, your men's group or the men you know.

"Speaking to the Heart is a great encouragement to men who want to be better husbands and fathers. It is both a practical job description of fatherhood-showing how fathers build strength in their children-and an inspiring call to family leadership. Any father who takes this book to heart and puts its wisdom into action will be known to his children as a great man."

'Speaking to the Heart' is a most practical guide to the biggest work any man can take on: raising his children. But it is more than a practical book, it is very solid, for it outlines the virtues each man must acquire if he is to be a good father, if he is to develop the character he needs for the job. It is based on the three supernatural virtues of faith hope and charity, the four cardinal virtues of prudence (balancing the virtues), justice, fortitude/ courage and temperance (appropriate use of the means). Some other virtues special to fatherhood get extra attention: patience, integrity, cheerfulness, perseverance, friendship, and (few would think of this one): poverty or detachment. Each chapter is short enough to be read through in two or three minutes, but yields enough for hours of reflection and meditation, and leads to very practical resolutions to be put into practice that very day. Because there are twenty chapters, it can be worked through in four weeks, on the five work days. I plan to read a chapter each day on the way to work, and repeat this every few months. It is a very practical way to keep this most imporrtant part of my life in focus and on a steady incline of growth.

Patrick F. Fagan William H. G. FitzGerald Fellow in Family and Culture Studies The Heritage Foundation Washington DC

For those who want to compliment their interior and prayer life with spiritual reflections that incorporate both the ancient teachings of the Church, especially Thomism, and the modern mysticism of the Carmelite theology will find this tome a treasure for daily use before, after, or during Mass, the Divine Office, and/or other spiritual activities. I've used the two-part reading and prayerful meditation assigned for each day with the Liturgy of the Hours to great avail. Even though some of the reflections and meditations no longer correspond to the scriptural readings assigned by Lectionary after Vatican II (this applies only to Sunday lections), the reflections are wholly self-contained and no less relevant. This book would be an excellent addition to any Christian desiring to deepen one's faith and pair it with the works of faith.

This book is a treasure. The full title is "Divine Intimacy: meditations on the interior life for every day of the liturgical year" and the author is Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D., an Italian Carmelite priest. This version corresponds to the traditional Mass and was written in the early 50s. Apparently there's a newer version which corresponds to the New Mass, also available from Amazon.com, although I'm not familiar with this revision.

For those who are serious about really getting to know God (and I don't mean in a purely intellectual sense) this is the book for you. As the title says, there are meditations for every day of the liturgical year. The first part deals with the Temporal cycle and the second part has the major feasts and holy days (e.g., the Assumption, the Immaculate Conception, the Sacred Heart, etc.)

The real genius of this book is the way the author penetrates to the heart of each Sunday and feast day using quotations from the popes, doctors of the Church, saints and blesseds. The author being a Carmelite, he definitely favors the saints of that order, like St. Theresa of Jesus, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of the Infant Jesus and the Holy Face, etc., but there are many wonderful quotes from other giants like St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine of Siena, the Curé of Ars and many more.

Each day's reading begins with a one sentence prayer under the heading "Presence of God", which is designed, as it suggests, to bring your mind and heart into the presence of the One with Whom you are about to commune. Next is the "Meditation" section, which is divided into two parts. The meditations for the Sundays and Holy Days are based on the readings from the Liturgy of that day. The Meditations throughout the week usually continue the theme of the Sunday and/or the particular liturgical season (Advent, Lent, Pascaltide, etc.)

As you go through the book, the author guides you one by one to the consideration of the Virtues, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc. and gives you reflections which lead you to make a greater and more detailed examination of conscience. Don't lose heart! It can be daunting when you first start using this book. You are tempted to give up, thinking that there is no way you could measure up to the standards so beautifully expressed by the author and the spiritual masters he quotes. It's essential to remember that the author is outlining and bringing into ever sharper focus the goal, which ultimately, is Jesus Christ. Saints are not made in a day! Persevere, as the author continually reminds us, and the reward will be great. Finally, at the end of each entry is a "colloquy" or prayer, which is almost entirely made up of prayers of one or more of the saints whose writings were quoted in the meditation. These are often astonishing in their beauty and depth.

Another great thing about this book is that it avoids the excessive negativity of some books of meditation. Although stern reminders and warnings are not absent, and are very helpful, the emphasis here is on the love of the Holy Trinity and preparing ourselves to spend Eternity with Him by coming as close to Him as we can here below, recognizing our own radical insufficiency and relying entirely on His Mercy, Grace and Love to draw us up to Him.

It's important to remember that these readings should not take the place of meditation or prayer but should be used as a springboard for it. It may even be beneficial to contemplate part one in the morning and part two in the evening. Nevertheless, if you find you don't have time, at least continue to read the entries (often we think that but when we look at what we do, we realize we clutter our days with things far less important). It's always possible to come back in your mind to these reflections throughout the day - on a break, on the way to or from work, whenever. Ideally we should devote some time each day (at least 15 mins.) to reflection where there as few outside distractions as possible but it's still better to have several brief moments of contemplation than nothing at all. Don't allow your perfectionism to get in the way. Thinking about and conversing with God is the main thing and this can and should be done many times throughout the day, even if you can't spend 30 minutes or an hour continuously, although this would of course be the ideal.

After each quotation, the author and source are given in abbreviated form. There's a key at the front to tell you what the abbreviations stand for. For example it might say "TCJ, St 6" which means Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Story of a Soul, chapter 6. You will frequently find yourself wanting more and this is a good way to find excellent books for your spiritual reading.

In short I can't recommend this book highly enough! If you're serious about improving your interior life and walk with Our Lord, you could not do much better than to start here.

I read the 1994 release of this book from my local library and I liked it so much that I am going to purchase it.

It mainly deals with the end-times and how we are living in them now (the trumpet is to the lips, even), according to hundreds of reported apparitions, many Scriptural passages, natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes increasing rapidly, and more.

Much of the work mainly contains reports of apparitions from angels to very religious individuals and even to unbelievers, turning their hearts to Christ as a result. There are even relations of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Medjugorge and Fatima, as well as many others. He points out, though, that many apparitions have been known to be deceiving spirits (siting some of the known false ones), and he leaves it up to you whether to accept them as such or not.

He also goes in to how there are many deceiving spirits fooling a lot of people with psychic phenomena (he was at one time a sort of "paranormal investigator", in a scientific sense, and even interviewed Uri Geller). He even mentions how fallen angels and demons tie in to the UFO abductions and sightings. Also, this one really surprised me (I did NOT expect to see it mentioned), he mentions the connections between the beast in Revelations and the Illuminati!

Overall, I found it to be an excellent book which compiles many reports, writings, and events into an easy to understand book on just what the heck is going on in these confusing times, and with a Christian perspective.

His bibliography in the "Notes" section is wonderful, too.

Buy it, it's definitely worth the measely ten bucks.

I just finished reading this book. It is written for all Christian denominations. It presents the warnings being given to people on this earth over the last 30-40 years as well as instances of spiritual interventions on earth over the same time period. It is objective and allows the reader to decide for themselves whether or not to believe. He also balances with stories of false apparitions. It is a good general introduction to modern day apparitions, prophesies, and interactions with the spiritual world-the world of the "heavenlies". You will re-think your perceptions of the world we live in.

"I am the way, the truth and the life," Jesus says in John 14:6. That is what I expect to find in any Catholic catechism: the way - the how of being Catholic, the truth - the set of beliefs that the catechumen or candidate will ascribe to, the life - the promises that will belong to the baptized person as a result of belief and practice. And I am not disappointed in finding it in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. What the surprise is in the Catechism is that Jesus shows us the love of God. How reassuring to read the focus of the Catechism as "love that never ends."

However, though the Catechism begins with that statement in #25, it is easy to overlook it in the press of understanding the doctrines and the rules and the rituals. An interested non-Christian, concerned with the infrastructure of the church where he or she is considering membership, might easily miss the centrality to everything Catholic of the love that God has for His creatures. Most non-Christian religions do not have this emphasis or focus of love. Even the table of contents and titles of the sections of the Catechism itself move quickly to the creed, cult, and codes of Catholicism.

A catechist, instructing other Christians in the differences and similarities between Catholicism and various Protestant creeds and practices, might easily state this fundamental truth of God's love and then move quickly into the teaching of the faith, the handing down of specifically Catholic theology, practice, information, etc. A focus or emphasis on the personal love that God has for each of us is important and needs to be maintained in the presentation of all doctrine, all aspects of the Catholic practice. And that is what this little book reminds its reader.

It is pleasant, reassuring and uplifting to read on the dust cover of this book "The key to the Catechism is the mystery of the triune God - 'the love that never ends.'" As a focused and well-prepared instructor, even as a prayer warrior concerned about my students, interested in providing the right environment and content for conversion, I find it tempting to divert from catechesis on God's love in each of the pillars of the Catechism. Will the baptism or profession of faith of the new Catholic-to-be be properly supported by understanding of doctrine and rituals; will there be enough practice in prayer, sufficient support by intercessor and sponsor and godparent? However, it is not this re-presentation of the catechetical truths and codes that will save, nor even the support the faith of, the potential Catholic.

This book reminded me of the great need to echo the voice of Christ as He has spoken to His Church. The inner comparison, taking place within the inquirer, between Christ's voice and grace within himself or herself and the catechesis of Christ's voice within the setting of the Church, is the process of conversion. Recognizing the Shepherd's voice as the voice of love as well as way-truth-life will empower the inquirer toward conversion and prepare the soul for the joy of communion.

What indeed can a catechism offer for Catholics if not the universality of love of God? Surely, other creeds are easier to live, there are less codes to follow, less difficulties in being what that church might call "holy." The very love of God in calling us to live His very life is distinct and different from every other faith. It is, after all, union with Christ in His Church, in a common union with all the holy human saints of history, that is being offered in a Catholic conversion. Not a lifestyle, not a set of beliefs, not a set of practices. Nothing less than union in love with Love itself. That changes the focus of presenting Catholicism to an inquirer to "courting the catechumen" - we are proposing a marriage to the inquirer, through the truth, the way and the life outlined in the Catechism. That reminder throughout the book is what moved me as I read it.

this book is unique in that i have never read a book that completely talked about why a person should say the rosary-and what benefits a person can derive from saying it. it is very thouroughly explained and if a person is serious about prayer -this book can help in the development of a better prayer life because as you will read, the rosary leads to contemplative prayer, the highest type of prayer. the book also talks about the evolution of the rosary -how it really came to be-beyond what it basically known. it is a very good book

Father Gabriele Amorth, one of Rome's primary exorcists, wrote this work as a continuation of his first, the best-selling book "An Exorcist Tells His Story." In this present work, he sheds further light upon points discussed in his previous book, while he gives concrete examples from his own experiences--and from other leading exorcists as well--in order to back up his points. "An Exorcist: More Stories," is an excellent, instructive, and helpful guide to understanding and overcoming the presence of evil in the world of today. It is recommend for everyone: it will compel skeptics to consider the possibility of demons looming in the air, and it will equip those who already believe in demons with all the essential knowledge needed to thwart evil.

Thank God for Fr. Amorth! Here's a guy doing a dirty, thankless job for an inept institution that hardly seems to recognize there is even a problem, yet he doesn't get disheartened or bogged down in dogma. Though not a thriller, this book is a tremendous resouce for those seeking to understand the nature of evil and ways to address it.

If you loved Father Amorth's first book yet found yourself wanting more, this is the book for you. Written in the same clear cut style, Father Amorth once again lays out spiritual truths in a way understandable to everyone.

I found it terribly disturbing in this book when, upon reading this right wing rant of a book, that being a prominent politician entitles one to handle a dead infant's body, taking it home so that one's entire family may observe the new family member, and then burying the remains. And conservatives call late term abortions barbaric?! To induct a dead infant into a family is downright insane, and it is sad that so many do not see this for the mere political grandstanding that it is. I guess that a white Christian male senator from Pennsylvania should speak for all women in America who carry fetuses in pregnancies that are potentially life-threatening. And for a political faction that places so much emphasis on the role of God in morality, it is intriguing that such a public official would assume the authority to judge when, or even if, a pregnant woman's life is in danger due to a pregnancy. Maybe Rick Santorum professes so much faith in God because he believes himself to be that very deity.

I hope there are some good Democrats running for the Senate in Pennysylvania for 2006.

This book is a great way to explore the depraved thinking of right-wing Christians. The part where Karen brings the fetus home to have her children handle it before burying "Gabriel" makes one think that she needs psychiatric counseling! I do feel sorry for her for being married to that idiot, however.

I hope the reader from San Francisco never has to experience the death of a child...I have, and holding my child before my wife and I gave her to God was one of the most precious events of my life. I applaud Mrs Santorum on having the strength to write a book that could help many, many people. The comment that she needs mental help for wanting to share the experience is bitter and evil. although you are a negative, horrible person (who is too much of a coward to use your name), I know her response would be the same as mine...May God have mercy on your soul....

And I hope God blesses the Santorums

I was seeking general information about the recent debates between reformed churches. After wading through the first 35 pages it became very clear this book was meant for seminary students armed with a dictionary. I found this book to be useless for my purposes which was to seek general information in layman's terms. At least every other page makes reference to historical works that you should be familiar with in order to follow along. But if you are a seminary student I bet this would be a great book for you!

I was seeking specific information about the recent debates between reformed churches. After wading through the first 35 pages it became very clear this book was meant for thoughtful persons interested in exploring these debates. I found this book to be useful for my purposes. At least every other page makes reference to historical works that you should be familiar with in order to enhance your reading experience. If you are a thoughtful person wishing to explore these issues, this would be a great book for you!