By Rebecca W. Martin; illustrated by Steliyana Doneva

At this time of year, your diocese is probably about to celebrate priestly ordinations, so now is the perfect time for OSV Kids to launch a new picture book about the daily lives of priests! In Father Drew, What Do You Do? Rebecca W. Martin, author of Meet Sister Mary Margaret, tells what a parish priest does on a typical day and shows the many ways priests serve God and bring God’s love to the people they encounter. Best of all, it opens the door for young children to start thinking about how they can serve God when they grow up.

A Lesson on Vocation, Sacraments, Prayer, and Friendship

In a friendly, approachable tone, the title character introduces himself and explains what a priest does. Steliyana Doneva’s illustrations bring the book to life, showing Father Drew celebrating Mass, preaching a homily, visiting the sick, administering sacraments, and even grocery shopping.

The pages highlighting the sacraments explain the different ways God reaches out to people through each sacrament. The book also mentions that priests pray, both by spending time with Jesus in Adoration and by praying the Liturgy of the Hours (I loved that “you can learn to pray it, too” is emphasized here).

Father Drew is also depicted visiting families at their homes, serving the poor, and enjoying hobbies like cooking or playing musical instruments. Priests from a few religious orders are also mentioned in the book and shown wearing their habits.

Father Drew, What Do You Do? ends with a prayer for the child to pray, asking God to help them know His will for them; this would be an excellent addition to your family’s morning or bedtime prayer routine. Bonus pages for parents include a note about vocabulary and a brief explanation of why only men can be priests, as well as a beautiful prayer for our children’s vocations (of all kinds). I’d recommend that prayer to every parent of young children!

Learning New Words While Learning About Priestly Life

As parents (or teachers, or catechists) read this book with children, they’ll notice that some words are larger and bolder than others. Some of these include ordained, parish, homily, sacraments, and vocation. Those words are explained through context clues and will help children enrich their vocabulary as they learn about the life of a priest.

Ask for Father Drew, What Do You Do? at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Our Sunday Visitor.

Copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Photos copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz, all rights reserved.
This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation to me when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!

An Open Book: March 2025 Reads

March 5, 2025March 2, 2025 franciscanmom2 Comments

The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading:

Currently in progress (and highly recommended):

The King’s Curse, historical fiction by Philippa Gregory. From the summary on Amazon: As an heir to the Plantagenets, Margaret is seen by the King’s mother, the Red Queen, as a rival to the Tudor claim to the throne. She is buried in marriage to a Tudor supporter — Sir Richard Pole, governor of Wales—and becomes guardian to Arthur, the young Prince of Wales, and his beautiful bride, Katherine of Aragon. But Margaret’s destiny, as cousin to the White Princess, is not for a life in the shadows. Tragedy throws her into poverty, yet a royal death restores her to her place at young Henry VIII’s court where she becomes chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine. There she watches the dominance of the Spanish queen over her husband and her tragic decline.

Media Fasting: Six Weeks to Recharge in Christ by Sister Nancy Usselmann, FSP (Pauline Books & Media). I’m just getting started with this book, but I’m already seeing a difference. From the publisher’s summary: Do you ever feel sluggish, anxious, or overwhelmed after too much screen time? Does media leave you feeling disconnected from God? Recharge your spiritual life and find freedom and peace with Media Fasting, a six-week journey to grow closer to God and develop a Christ-centered strategy for your media use. Evaluate your current media habits; create your own media fasting plan; and deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ through daily devotional readings, reflection questions, and prayers.

Nonfiction:

A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters Who Taught Me to ~~Be a Badass~~ Age with Grace by Maria Morera Johnson (Ave Maria Press). Women in all stages of life will find encouragement and inspiration in this new book that intersperses the stories of saints and holy women with tales from the author’s own life. You’ll want to binge-read this one, but I encourage you to take it slowly and consider the questions at the end of each chapter for journaling or discussing over coffee with a friend or three. This is a follow-up to My Badass Book of Saints but can be read on its own.

Opening the Holy Door: Hope-Filled Scripture Reflections from St. Peter’s Basilica by Joan Watson (Ave Maria Press). If you’re looking for a wonderful way to mark the Jubilee of Hope, I highly recommend this book. I knew there was a Holy Door in Rome but was unaware that it’s comprised of a series of bronze images that depict the salvation story. Joan Watson offers guided reflections on 12 of these images. The book includes large photos of each image featured so readers can closely examine it as they read the reflections, delve into Scripture, and then respond in faith. I read this book in the Adoration chapel over a series of weeks. (Review copy received from publisher.)

Fiction:

The Bennetts Bloom by Katie Fitzgerald. I’ve been reading this novel in bits and pieces for a couple of years now. The author, Katie Fitzgerald, first presented this book as microfiction on Instagram, and I (and many other readers) were hooked by the story of a fairly oblivious widowed dad of a toddler and his sweet single neighbor. Everyone knows where Fern and Dave’s story is going long before Dave does, and that’s what makes the ride so worth it. Katie eventually compiled all the stories in chronological order into a novel told in moments. This sweet romance is sure to make you smile.

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh is a fun read about a young woman who thinks that rerouting her life means she’s giving up her dreams. Rosie wants to be a Broadway star, but several years in, she’s behind on rent and getting nowhere. Desperation leads her to apply for jobs without thoroughly reading the descriptions, and this lands her a summer gig as a theatre director in what turns out to be a luxury retirement community in Wisconsin. Of course there’s a love interest in this clean romance, but the real fun comes with the quirky side characters who help Rosie realize what it means to live your dream, as well as her talented troupe of friends who show just how much they believe in her. This story will make your day. (Netgalley)

Book 3 in the Sons of Scandal series is Uneasy Street by Becky Wade. Former best friends and business partners Max and Sloane parted ways four years ago, but they’re thrown together again when Sloane returns to Max’s hometown to care for her teenage niece for a few months. Realizing to her horror that she’d rented an apartment from her nemesis Max, Sloane tries to ignore the sparks (which, of course, her niece delightedly encourages) while Max attempts to pull strings to force her to spend time with him. I’m not the biggest fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and honestly, I didn’t appreciate Max’s underhanded tactics, but this author does tell a good story. (Netgalley)

Young Adult:

Book 3 in Leslea Wahl’s Finding Faith series, In Plain Sight, revolves around a couple of mysteries: what’s up with the secret passages and hidden doorways in an old lodge Emerson’s dad is renovating — and what happened to Em’s mother and sisters? It’s clear that Em has suffered a great loss and that she’s to blame; lonely and bored, she finds herself caught up in figuring out the history behind the old building her father is working on, enjoying the company of a few new friends she can’t completely confide in, and finding out that the lodge owner’s teenage son is as interested in her as she is in him. This story features characters from the other two books in the series but definitely works as a standalone.

Bad Influence by Claire Ahn takes a look at the decidedly unglamorous world behind social-media influencer beauty in this story of a Korean-American high-school student who secretly aspires to be an influencer but hides her work from her parents, lying to them about the source of the money she hands over to help the household after her father’s work accident. Charlotte soon learns how quickly online fans can turn against someone when they give in to temptation to represent a brand that’s tainted by rumors of hate, and how much her own hunger to be liked by strangers online has risked her own friendships, family life, and more. Recommended for high-school students. (Netgalley; releases April 29, 2025)

Children’s Books:

God’s Little Flowers by Lindsay Schlegel; illustrated by Joy Laforme (Our Sunday Visitor) is a sweet introduction to a beloved saint. I love that Lindsay Schlegel has taken my very favorite Saint Thérèse quote and built an entire storybook around it! This picture book, with its simple and cheerful illustrations, shines a light on the truth we need to share with all the children in our lives: each of us is uniquely gifted by God and has something special to share with the world — and all our gifts are important! Lindsay also stresses that not all gifts are as obvious as skill at a particular sport, art, or music. Share this book with a young girl you know, and help her identify her own gifts and those of the people special to her! (Review copy received from publisher)

Theresa Linden’s Jumping into Joy cleverly integrates some of my favorite characters from Theresa’s West Brothers series in a chapter book for young readers. Caitlin encourages her friend Peter to use his imagination during the family Rosary to keep from falling asleep; as she demonstrates this, the children pass through a portal into the ancient town of Nazareth and seek to discover the virtues attached to the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. This book would make a great classroom read-aloud for children in first through third grades.

ICYMI: my reviews of Lenten resources

Praying with the Church Through Lent by Father Edward Looney (Sophia Institute Press)

Simply Scripture for Lent and Easter by Colleen Reiss Vermuelen (Ave Maria Press)

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.

Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!

The Lenten Meal Is Only a Penance for the Cook in the Family

February 27, 2025 franciscanmomLeave a comment

Unless it involves the grill, I’m the cook in the family.

Unless it involves Costco, I’m the grocery shopper.

This means that normally the meal planning is left to me. Except on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

On those two days, my husband has always requested that I serve the dinner his mom always served on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday: grilled cheese sandwiches and canned soup.

I’ve got nothing against grilled cheese. If I can find a good tomato (good luck finding a good tomato at this time of year), so much the better. And just the other day I had a little bit of caramelized onions left over from the previous night’s burgers, and I added those into a grilled Swiss on pumpernickel with Koszkiusko mustard … heavenly.

But we’re talking Campbell’s tomato soup (made with milk, in my husband’s ideal world) or Chunky New England clam chowder. Those are the only soup options allowed. Usually I skip the soup and just have a sandwich for dinner.

The Penitential Meal During Lent

If you want to make a meal penitential for me, lock me into a recipe routine. For me, all the fun is in the variety. I’ve been sharing meatless recipes on CatholicMom.com for 12 years now, at least eight times a year … that’s a lot of recipes. Trying new recipes or finding new spins on old favorites makes cooking fun for me, in a way that flipping grilled cheeses and heating up canned soup is … not.

My family, however, thinks this is the Best Dinner Ever.

One Lent, I decided my penance would be serving up soup and grilled cheese every single Friday. I was the Hero of Lent in my house. Everyone looked forward to Friday dinner.

That was humbling. I’m spending an hour in the kitchen every other day of the week and all they want is canned soup and a sandwich?

That Lent was super penitential for me, and I would have done well to pray the Litany of Humility every Friday before getting the griddle out.

What’s for Dinner this Ash Wednesday?

Last night at dinner, the subject of Ash Wednesday came up, and the dinner expectations were made clear.

“Ash Wednesday is next week?! Best dinner! Let’s gooooooooooooooo!”

What’s for dinner this Ash Wednesday? Grilled cheese and canned soup all around, and a slice of humble pie for the cook.

Praying with the Church Through Lent

February 13, 2025 franciscanmom1 Comment

Praying with the Church Through Lent

By Father Edward Looney
Publisher: Sophia Institute Press

Father Edward Looney’s new book of daily Lenten meditations is inspired by the Collect (the Opening Prayer at Mass, also used during the Liturgy of the Hours). In Praying with the Church Through Lent, Father Looney shares reflections on the Collect for each day of the season.

Reflections Based on a Prayer We Often Miss

Between music ministry every Sunday and lectoring at daily Mass twice a week, I’m often a little bit distracted when the Collect is prayed during Mass. I admit to being focused on my next cue, so I’ll do (or sing) what I need to at the right time. Before I know it, the Collect has gone by and all I hear is, “Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.”

The Collect is a beautiful prayer, though, and I don’t want to miss it! Just as we are encouraged to read and reflect on the Mass readings ahead of time (or even after Mass, if that’s what your schedule permits), we can reflect on the Collect as well and make it part of our personal prayer, whether or not we pray the Liturgy of the Hours.

A Format for Daily Prayer

Father Looney opens each day’s entry with the Collect, which is printed on a page by itself. I found that using a large card as a bookmark allowed me to cover the facing page, so I can focus completely on the Collect for a few moments before moving forward.

Next, each day there is a two-page reflection. Father Looney is excellent at offering clear explanations that help the reader make a connection between prayer, Lenten disciplines, and living the Christian life. Finally, three reflection questions close each day’s entry. There is generous space to write your answers in the book beneath each question.

This book is undated, with each entry referred to only as the day within the liturgical year: for example, Ash Wednesday, Friday of the First Week of Lent, Third Sunday in Lent. That means it can be used year after year (especially if you write your responses to the questions in a journal rather than the book).

The reflections in Praying with the Church Through Lent span the full season and include Easter Sunday as a bonus. I’m hoping that in the future, Father Looney will write Praying with the Church Through Easter. That would be a beautiful companion volume to this excellent book.

Ask for Praying with the Church Through Lent at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Sophia Institute Press.

Amazon affiliate links included in this article. Your purchases through these links support FranciscanMom.com at no cost to you. I received a review copy of this book from the publisher in consideration of my honest review.

Review: Simply Scripture for Lent and Easter

January 14, 2025 franciscanmomLeave a comment

Simply Scripture for Lent and Easter: A Daily Guide to Reading the Bible

By Colleen Reiss Vermeulen
Publisher: Ave Maria Press

When I looked inside Simply Scripture for Lent and Easter, I was excited to see a prayer format that seems to fit me just right. Each day’s entries contain prayer inspiration from the Liturgy of the Hours and the daily Scripture readings, both of which are already part of my prayer routine. Colleen Reiss Vermeulen has taken prayer elements I’m already familiar with and invited me to go deeper.

If you don’t pray the Liturgy of the Hours, you can still use this book — and perhaps it will spark your interest in learning more about this beautiful way to pray. The psalm verses from the Liturgy of the Hours open the door to prayerful reflection on the Scripture readings (passages from Mark’s Gospel during Lent and the Acts of the Apostles for the Easter season).

This book is designed to be used one, two, or three times per day. In the section called “How to Use This Book,” the author shares strategies for adapting the prayers into separate sessions or praying all at once, whichever best fits your schedule and your inclination. It’s not so important when you pray … as long as you pray! There are even ways to incorporate these elements into your family prayer time.

What you’ll find in each day’s prayers

Each day’s prayer entries include:

A Psalm verse from Morning Prayer (Liturgy of the Hours)
A sentence or two based on this verse, to aid in your contemplation, followed by a brief prayer
Introduction to the day’s Scripture reading
Scripture reference for that day’s reading (bring your own Bible)
A Scripture verse each week to memorize, from Evening Prayer (Liturgy of the Hours)
Invitation to respond to God’s word, with questions to ponder
Closing prayer

This looks like a lot, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. You can use as much or as little of this material as you like, and what works for you on some days of the week might not be the same as what works on other days!

An invitation to fruitful prayer

Ahead of Lent (which begins March 5), treat yourself to a copy of Simply Scripture for Lent and Easter — and a new journal to go along with it. Then, resolve to spend some time each day in prayer with this excellent resource as your guide.

Ask for Simply Scripture for Lent and Easter at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Ave Maria Press.

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

An Open Book: December 2024

December 4, 2024December 4, 2024 franciscanmom4 Comments

The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading:

Christmas (which deserves its own category at this time of year)

A Very Chapel Falls Christmas

by Amanda Lauer

This brand-new Christmas novel has it all: a couple who broke up but never fell out of love, a beautiful and talented villain who wants to break them up for good, and a small town with enough Christmas festivals on the calendar to leave Santa too tired to make his Christmas-Eve rounds. And it’s all tied up in a ribbon of faith. This short, sweet romance is the perfect accompaniment to fireside cookies and hot chocolate. (Advance copy provided for review)

Christmas with a Crank

by Courtney Walsh

Set on a Christmas tree farm, this grumpy/sunshine novel brings together childhood crushes Liam and Olive, who were separated in middle school when Liam’s family moved to the tree farm. Now the farm is to be sold, and Olive’s been hired to help make the last Christmas at the farm a magical one — but Liam has never felt the magic and definitely doesn’t want to. Instead, he focuses on the beautiful artwork Olive had created but hadn’t been able to sell when she opened a small business.

An Evergreen Christmas (The Christmas Lights Collection)

by Jaycee Weaver, Cathe Swanson, Chautona Hauvig, and Teresa Tisinger

So far I’ve only read the first book in this box set, and I don’t believe the novellas are connected. Cooking up Christmas by Jaycee Weaver. I lost track of the number of coincidences in this story, but that was part of its charm rather than being an annoyance. This delightful novella features an overwhelmed restauranteur and a young woman who’d left town years before after failing to live up to her parents’ high expectations. The two fall for each other but try to keep it platonic while planning an anniversary party for a couple who owns a tree farm and do everything Christmas-related in the most over-the-top way possible. I look forward to the other stories in this set. (UPDATED to add: these are Christian novellas, and I’m up to the fourth one now. One of the stories had an unnecessary slam on Catholics, which was not appreciated.)

The Christmas Cookie Wars

by Eliza Evans

This story was extra fun because it includes hilarious 12-year-old twins. Their single mom, Melody has a crush on Jonathan, the school principal, and even though she can’t cook a thing and doesn’t have the time for this, she takes over a series of baking-themed events as a school fundraiser after the local Queen Bee Mom bails out. This soon becomes a bake-off between Melody and Jonathan, even as events are sabotaged and it looks like one of Melody’s sons is involved. I got a big kick out of the kids.

A Wood-Fired Christmas (A Mistletoe Kisses Romance)

by Maddie Evans

I don’t think I’d every read a book set in a pizza shop before. Ezra has been running a pizza shop for years, but the absentee owner has just delegated his niece to take over … and that doesn’t sit well with someone who’s happy keeping things just the way they are. As Lacey seeks to innovate to improve business at Loveless Pizza, Ezra digs in his heels because he’s afraid of hurting the business. Maddie Evans writes some of the best banter out there, and this story is no exception. Warning: you will want pizza while reading this book.

Fiction

Misshelved Magic (The Liminal Library Book 1)

by S.R. Crickard

I don’t usually read speculative fiction, but how could I resist a novel set in one of my favorite kinds of places: a library? This is a beautifully written book that immediately drew me in despite my hesitancy about the genre. Adelina and Leon live in a world of magic, but not everyone in that world has magical gifts. Adelina does not, but she works in a library that houses all the spells in the world. Leon is a student at the university and must come up with an original final project that incorporates his magical gifts. When Adelina steps into the forbidden magical section of the library to return a misshelved spell, she encounters mysterious creatures who seek to protect the library and its visitors from dangerous magic. Leon begins to act as a go-between to keep a power-hungry king and his followers from accessing magic that could imperil the whole nation. If you’ve never read a novel in this genre before, don’t let that stop you! (Advance review copy provided by the publisher)

Library Lovebirds

by Katie Fitzgerald

There’s nothing I enjoy more than a nice 350-page novel, but Katie Fitzgerald has a real way with short stories, including really short stories, and I admire her ability to set a scene in a small space. There are six short stories in this collection, all library themed. Grab this one for your Kindle, and enjoy these fun episodes when you have only a few free moments to read.

Thanksgiving on Johnson Creek

by Hillary Ibarra

(Full disclosure: I edited this book, as well as two others in the series.) Hillary Ibarra is an exceptional storyteller and makes the reader feel as if they’re right there with the family of six in 1970s rural Tennessee. As autumn comes to Johnson Creek, the family prepares for winter and hardworking parents Jack and Karen agree to help a neighbor and find themselves trying to broker a reunion among estranged members of the neighbor’s family, unwittingly becoming separated from their own children as a storm threatens to keep them apart for Thanksgiving. This book is the last in a series, but you can read it as a standalone.

YA/Children’s

The Devil’s Ransom (Harwood Mysteries Book 6)

by Antony Barone Kolenc

The stakes couldn’t get higher in The Devil’s Ransom, the final book in the Harwood Mysteries series by Antony Barone Kolenc: Xan is now a married man, on a dangerous journey and responsible for not only his wife, but his friend Lucy and her hapless brother. His objective is to rescue his uncle, who’s been captured by the Moors, and return to England to reboot his uncle’s merchant trade. This time, he’s not going to be rescued by his uncle, Lucy’s father, or one of the monks who raised him after he was orphaned. This time, he’s on his own. (Advance review copy received from author.) Read my full review.

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.

Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!

The Devil’s Ransom: The Final Chapter in The Harwood Mysteries for Teens

December 1, 2024 franciscanmom1 Comment

The Devil’s Ransom (Harwood Mysteries Book 6)

by Antony Barone Kolenc

Published by Loyola Press

Release date: December 3

“No one can face down a pack of demons alone.” (110)

The lesson Xan needs to learn, though, is that he’s not on his own anymore. He is responsible for the safety of others, and he can’t simply act on his own impulses without considering the consequences.

That’s really what a coming-of-age story is about: acting like the adult you’ve become, whether you want to or not, whether you feel ready or not.

Readers will find elements of this story reminiscent of the Gospel stories of the legion of demons that possessed a man and were eventually cast out by Jesus, entering a herd of swine and causing them to run over the side of a cliff to their deaths.

Parents and teachers will appreciate the two-page readers guide, “How to read historical fiction,” at the front of the book, and the author has also provided a map of Xan’s world, a glossary of religious and historical terms, and an author’s historical note that explains Church and feudal practices of that time and place, as well as offering historical context about the Crusades. These bonus materials have been included with each book in the series and are informative and useful without being condescending.

The Devil’s Ransom is best enjoyed as part of the six-book series, but Kolenc skillfully provides enough background information that a reader new to the series can jump in anywhere.

As with many series that begin with characters who are 10 or 11 years of age, the later books in the Harwood Mysteries seem more geared toward younger teen readers than middle-grade. I’d recommend this book (and books 4 and 5) for readers 12 and up; the first three books in the series are fine for middle-grade readers and up.

Want to catch up on the other books in the series?

The virtue of integrity is central to Shadow in the Dark, as Xan and his friends discover which of the people around them are who they say they are — and who can be trusted. In this story, Xan is taken in at a monastery after his village is burned down and his parents killed; Xan has little memory of the tragedy and does not know who he is. This mystery story provides a fascinating glimpse inside the feudal world and the monastic life during the Middle Ages.

The Haunted Cathedral, Book 2, contains fictional characters and events set in a historical place and time. Lincoln Castle and Lincoln Cathedral, both of which figure in the story, were constructed about a century before the story takes place — and parts of these buildings still stand today. And you’ll find no spoilers here, but a significant event in the story was actually recorded in history! When Xan is forced to travel to the city of Lincoln with Carlo, who was involved in Xan’s parents’ death, he faces multiple obstacles that challenge him to forgive—and he learns firsthand the consequences for himself and others when he withholds forgiveness.

In The Fire of Eden, an accident causes John, who’s been Xan’s nemesis in the monastery for quite some time, to lose his sight. Angry at his sudden dependence on those around him, John is more cruel than ever, but Xan is forced to cooperate with him as they seek to solve the mystery of a missing precious ruby belonging to a young monk who’s about to be ordained to the priesthood. Along the way, they encounter dishonest monks, traitorous guards, and a frightening magician who lives in the woods.

In The Merchant’s Curse, Xan and his companions progress through their teen years, the challenges they face — both in their faith and in their struggle to protect themselves and those they love from the very real threats they experience—have ever-higher stakes. In this story, Xan’s uncle William, who has provided him with both meaningful work and shelter, comes under threat when his business partner becomes deathly ill. His partner’s nephew, Nigel, blames the illness on a curse from a woman reputed to be a witch, but evil also seems to be lurking around William’s shop in the form of a group of thugs, and Nigel furthers the danger by befriending an enemy of the king.

In Murder at Penwood Manor, Xan seeks to exonerate a crusader who has returned from the Holy Land and is now accused of the murder of a romantic rival. He is accompanied in his quest to save Laurence the crusader by two young women, one in formation at a local abbey and another who appears to be his love interest. Xan, Lucy, and Christina all have a lot to lose by standing up for Laurence in front of the sheriff and the townsfolk, all of whom are ready to see him put to death. Lucy even risks her religious vocation by disobeying her superiors and leaving the monastery to help solve the mystery behind the murder that opens the story.

Ask for The Devil’s Ransom at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Loyola Press.

This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you.

On My Bookshelf: ‘The Legend of Saint Rocco and his Dog’

November 17, 2024 franciscanmomLeave a comment

If you have young children interested in the story of how a saint grew up and came to live a holy life, a new book by Dessi Jackson will captivate their interest. The Legend of Saint Rocco and his Dog, illustrated by Martina Parnelli, also includes a Christmas tie-in and, as the title indicates, a dog.

Rocco was fascinated by the story of Saint Francis of Assisi, who had lived about a century earlier. Even as a child, he wanted to help people in need, particularly children. By the time he was a young adult, Rocco had been orphaned and he gave up the chance of a life of luxury to live as a pilgrim, joining the Third Order of Saint Francis (now known as the Secular Franciscans) and walking from town to town, praying and helping others.

As you and your child read this book together, you’ll learn about how Rocco saved an entire village from a terrible plague and how his depiction of a live Nativity converted a man’s hard heart. Rocco eventually became ill, and his own life was saved by a mysterious dog that brought him food each day. But this is just the beginning of the fascinating story of a little-known saint and his devoted dog.

This book will make a fun read-aloud for children ages 5 and up.

[A personal note: one of my grandmothers had a great devotion to Saint Rocco (also known as Saint Roch), and kept a statue of the saint and his little dog near her bed. I had no idea that Rocco was a Franciscan saint until very recently.]

This book is now available on Amazon.com and will make a great addition to your Advent book basket!

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

Three Books to Buy Before Advent

November 6, 2024November 6, 2024 franciscanmom1 Comment

As you plan your prayer routine and family celebrations for Advent and beyond, you’ll greatly benefit from three new Catholic resources. I’m looking forward to using them on my own and with my family in the new liturgical year.

Festive Faith: Catholic Celebrations Through the Year and Around the World

by Steffani Aquila
Publisher: Ave Maria Press

When my children were young, I purchased a few books about living the liturgical year as a family. Those were great — until my children were not so young. Steffani Aquila widens the liturgical-living focus in Festive Faith so readers can find ideas for carrying on our rich Catholic traditions at home and in our parish communities. In this book, you’ll find a wealth of ideas for seasonal or feast-day celebrations, ideas you can adapt to families of different ages and sizes and to parishes large and small.

For every feast day, holiday, or season included in this book, Aquila includes the story behind the tradition, a description of the tradition itself, and several ideas for carrying on these customs with your parish or family. Finally, some entries include an extra section, “A Living Tradition,” in which various contributing writers share their own reflections on celebrations special to them.

Highly recommended for families, Catholic schools, and parish leaders!

2025: A Book of Grace-Filled Days

by Vinita Hampton Wrights
Publisher: Loyola Press

Unlike many daily devotionals that begin on January 1, 2025: A Book of Grace-Filled Days follows the liturgical year. The first entry is dated December 1, the First Sunday of Advent. So you won’t need to wait until January to start praying with this book — and you won’t want to wait, I promise! It also does include all of December 2025, for a total of 13 months of daily reflections.

In this lovely book, you’ll find reflections to jumpstart your morning prayer or to enjoy during a prayer break during the day (I’m thinking this will be a great way to collect myself for the afternoon when I return to my office after lunch!). The daily reflections include a brief Scripture passage and a short paragraph offering food for thought, prayer, or even journaling. This would be an excellent Christmas gift!

Pray with Us: A Saint for Every Day

by Belinda Terro Mooney
Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor

Belinda Terro Mooney’s new book invites readers to learn about and pray with 365 saints (including a few blesseds). I love that we’re reminded of the focus of each month (January: The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus, and so on).

Of course, I went looking through Pray with Us for my favorite saints on their feast-days, and in the process I discovered a new-to-me saint who’s my birthday patron. There’s a handy index by date in the back, too.

Pray with Us is an excellent book to use on your own or with your family during your daily prayer time. This book is organized according to the calendar year, but there’s no reason you can’t jump right to December and begin on the First Sunday of Advent to pray for the intercession of these fascinating saints.

Copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images: Canva
Some links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!
Review copies of all three of these books were provided by the publisher. Opinions are my own.

How to Pray for the Faithful Departed

October 18, 2024 franciscanmomLeave a comment

Essential Prayer for the Dead

by Sister Mary Leonora WIlson, FSP
Published by Pauline Books & Media

Our faith teaches us that it’s everyone’s job to pray for the dead (2 Maccabees 12:45). It’s not something we usually think about unless we’re attending a funeral, but it’s something we can find a way to do every day. The new book, Essential Prayers for the Dead, provides not only a collection of prayer options drawn from the Bible and the traditions of the Church, but also a brief, clear discussion of Purgatory and the role of the laity in helping those who have died through our prayers.

What’s in this book?

Sister Mary Leonora Wilson, FSP, lists 12 ways we can help our beloved dead through prayer. In this book, she has gathered prayers that can easily be incorporated into your family’s prayer routine or your personal devotions, and encourages practices such as arranging to have a Mass offered for a deceased loved one and making small charitable acts or acts of self-denial for those in Purgatory.

In this book, you’ll also find information about indulgences and how the gift of certain prayers and good works can be offered for souls in Purgatory, as well as the comforting knowledge that suffering souls can also pray for us.

The book includes psalms of comfort and penitence, prayers for our beloved dead, the Stations of the Cross for the souls in Purgatory, meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary for the souls in Purgatory, and much more.

Perfect during the Month of the Holy Souls and all year long

During November, the Month of the Holy Souls, we focus on praying for our deceased loved ones and the souls in Purgatory. But this is not something we should do for only one month of the year. The faithful departed need our prayers, no matter what the season.

Ask for Essential Prayers for the Dead at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Pauline Books & Media.

Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

A Lesson on Vocation, Sacraments, Prayer, and Friendship

Learning New Words While Learning About Priestly Life

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Currently in progress (and highly recommended):

Nonfiction:

Fiction:

Young Adult:

Children’s Books:

ICYMI: my reviews of Lenten resources

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The Penitential Meal During Lent

What’s for Dinner this Ash Wednesday?

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Reflections Based on a Prayer We Often Miss

A Format for Daily Prayer

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What you’ll find in each day’s prayers

An invitation to fruitful prayer

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Christmas (which deserves its own category at this time of year)

Fiction

YA/Children’s

The Devil’s Ransom (Harwood Mysteries Book 6)

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Want to catch up on the other books in the series?

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What’s in this book?

Perfect during the Month of the Holy Souls and all year long

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