Books – Page 8 – Daily Graces

I am part of a prayer group at church and we use the Magnificat daily prayers and readings. Every so often, something will strike me and I will earmark a page and eventually, I write it down. I was recently going through and recording these thoughts and prayers when I came across this from the December issue:

Long familiarity with the Passion narratives can dull our awareness of the acute suffering that Christ endured for our sake.

These Sacred Days #Lent #Daily Graces #BookReview #Triduum I know that I fall into this trap. Thank goodness there are authors out there like Br. Richard Contino, OSF, who have the courage to write a book like These Sacred Days: Walking with Jesus through the Sacred Triduum.

This short book is packed with meaning. Contino hones in on the drama that unfolds during the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. Instead of simply narrating the story, the reader is submerged in it, witnessing the events through the eyes and ears of those who were actually there. I do not recommend reading it in one sitting. This is a book meant to be prayed over, to be read and re-read as you allow yourself to walk the Way of the Cross with Christ.

Christmas has only just ended but Lent is fast approaching. As you begin to consider how you are going to celebrate the Lenten season, I highly encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. It can easily be read a few pages at a time throughout the whole season, or be used as the text for a book club or bible study. I believe that your Lent, or any season of the year, would be enhanced and your spiritual life edified.

The world is growing in knowledge and appreciation for the writings of G.K. Chesterton. As we expand our knowledge about this prolific man, Nancy Carpentier Brown adds a critical piece to the story: a biography of Chesterton’s wife, Frances, entitled The Woman who was Chesterton. Prior to Brown’s book, very little was known about Frances. However, Brown reveals that in order to truly know and appreciate G.K. Chesterton, we have to acquaint ourselves with the woman behind the man.

I found Brown’s depiction of Frances to be graceful, thorough and insightful. She brings Frances to life in a way that respects her memory while adding many missing pieces to her previously unknown life. As I read this biography, I grew in my fondness for Frances and by coming to know her, I desire to know more about her writings as well as her husband’s.

Frances was a devoted wife. Brown highlights her humility and her wisdom that we can see throughout her life. Though Frances was a literary talent, she recognize the genius her husband possessed. She was the one who made sure he made it to speaking engagements on time. She maintained nearly all of the couple’s correspondence. She was his sounding board, helping him clarify and hone in on his ideas.

Brown deftly shows us that Frances is a person in her own right, worth noticing and knowing. If anyone is interested in the work of G.K. Chesterton, their study is not complete until they have come to know the woman who made the man possible.