Free Audio Books and eBooks

I just found out about Books Should Be Free with FREE audiobooks and eBooks. Some of the audiobooks are linked to LibriVox, but others are part of their website. Many are part of the MODG curriculum. I have not had a chance to listen to them. A head's up; parents should not allow their children to look at the website unattended because of some of the book covers and some of the books listed in the children's category clearly do not belong there--Margaret Sanger. Books that she recommends include Outlaws-of-Ravenhurst, Priest-on-Horseback, Tom-Playfair, Man-Who-Fought-the-Devil, God's-Troubadour, First-Communion-Days, and more. Enjoy!

Les Miserables: A Review

Les Miserables: To See or Not to See.

Ever since she heard the movie was coming out, my daughter (who is 24) has been waiting anxiously to see it. Years ago, she saw the spectacular Broadway version. She sings the incredible music all the time. My other children also like to play the music on the piano. It is very dramatic and moving. The words are inspiring. My husband and I have also seen the theater production. All three of us have read the book. I don't think you need to read the book to understand the storyline, but it definitely offers a depth to understanding the complete story and the times. The author, by the way, likes to digress from the storyline and pontificate.

There have been discussions on blogs asking for advice on whether or not to see the movie and what age is it appropriate for? First off, I think the film industry was disingenuous in giving the movie a PG-13 rating. After seeing the movie, I would not let my 12 or 15-year-old see the movie. It should be rated R for the sexual content. That being said. They probably didn't give it an R because they felt there was not enough nudity. It is too bad the producer(s) decided to add some extra images that did not need to be included. I was hoping to take my younger daughters to see it.

The problem is images. They stick in your mind. The question is whether the negative images stick more or the positive images? If you want to close your eyes to avoid the negative images (as someone suggested), then the 2 parts to avoid are when Fantine sells her body to the soldier. She has nothing else to sell and she fears for her daughter. The other part is the song "Master of the House."

The song "Master of the House" displays the depravity and debauchery of man (humankind--for those who are politically correct). How low will a man sink? The Thenardiers are a direct contrast to the other characters who are trying to lift themselves up. They seem to know no bounds on how far they can sink.

In reading some comments on various sites I want to also add that the movie is not doing great at the box office, because they know how to market it to a Christian audience, breitbart.com, but because of the theme of the movie of love, mercy, kindness, and redemption--a universal message of Christian love. It is the innate desire of the human heart, as St. Augustine says, "Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in thee." The movie also shows how one person's choice can dramatically affect another. It is perhaps even more sad that people don't understand poetry. They truly don't understand the line "To love another person is to see the face of God."

 "To love another person is to see the face of God" is the message of Bl. Mother Teresa. She said, “Seeking the face of God in everything, everyone, all the time, and his hand in every happening; This is what it means to be contemplative in the heart of the world. Seeing and adoring the presence of Jesus, especially in the lowly appearance of bread, and in the distressing disguise of the poor” (In the Heart of the World: Thought, Stories and Prayers).

This movie has one of the most Catholic inspiring messages I have ever seen. The ending alone is something to reflect upon. Where does JeanValjean die? In a convent! In front of the Eucharist!!!!  It is peaceful and quiet and the candles are flickering. What is he doing? Praying for his "daughter" and her husband to be: Cosette and Marius. When he dies, who comes to greet him? Fantine. Why? Because he has turned his hatred and bitterness into love. He loved another person--truly loved--with pure intentions, not expecting anything in return and at great personal expense to himself.

To fully understand the closing moments of the movie is to reflect back on the very beginning and to meditate on all the choices Valjean makes. Repeatedly, he comes to a crossroads and has to make a decision. When he wavers and starts to think about himself instead of those around him is when his poor choice leads to Fantine losing her job and sinking into depravity.

He could have chosen not to help the man who is trapped under the cart. By doing so, Javert would have found it more difficult to recognize him. But in freeing the man from under the cart, the man was later there to help Valjean to find a place of refuge. It is an incredible movie of love and forgiveness. 

Javert also contrasts with Valjean. Javert embodies justice without mercy to the bitter end. He despairs because he cannot accept mercy. He does not understand it. Through the Bishop's kindness and forgiveness, Valjean begins his journey to understanding mercy. He is at first the receiver of mercy, but then he must learn to pass mercy onto others. He does this multiple times: Stepping forward to save the man condemned because he looked like him, saving the man under the cart, interceding on Fantine's behalf, saving Marius' life, and sparing Javert's life. He personifies Christ's command to us to forgive "seventy times seven."

The movie is all about choices. It challenges the viewer, "Are you going to make choices so that you too can be like Valjean at the end of your life?"

"Come with me, where chains will never bind you
All your grief, at last, at last behind you
Lord in heaven, look down on him with mercy
Forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your glory."

"Take my hands
I'll lead you to salvation
Take my love for love is everlasting
And remember the truth that once was spoken
To love another person is to see the face of God"

The Complete Text Below:

 VALJEAN:
Now you are here
Again beside me
Now I can die in peace
For now my life is blessed

COSSETTE:
You will live, papa
You're going to live
It's too soon to ever say goodbye

VALJEAN:
Yes, cossette
Forbid me now to die
I'll obey
I will try

On this page
I write my last confession
Read it well
When I at last am sleeping
It's a story of those who always loved you
Your mother gave her life for you and gave you to my keeping

FANTINE:
Come with me
Where chains will never bind you
All your grief
At last, at last behind you
Lord in heaven;
Look down on him in mercy

VALJEAN:
Forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your glory

FANTINE, VALJEAN AND EPONINE:
Take my hand
And lead me to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken:
To love another person is to see the face of god

ALL:
Do you hear the people sing?
Lost in the valley of the night
It is the music of a people who are climbing to the light
For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies
Even the darkest nights will end and the sun will rise

They will live again in freedom in the garden of the lord
They will walk behind the ploughshare
They will put away the sword
The chain will be broken and all men will have their reward!

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes!
REPEAT

Aaaaah, aaaaah, aaaah,
Tomorrow comes!

One Thing You Should Do Every Day

While it is easy to ask God to intercede on behalf of a particular person or problem, do we remember to thank him for all his generous gifts of love: a glorious sunset, a child's smile, a beautiful flower, a shimmering star, . . .
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

Do we begin each day with a morning offering?

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer thee my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice throughout the world. Amen. (There are longer versions)

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/heart/offer_mary.htm#ixzz2CZvYmRyh

he Daily Offering to the Immaculate Heart of MaryO Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and suffering of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.
I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sins, the reunion of all Christians;
I offer them for the intentions of our Bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.


Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/heart/offer_mary.htm#ixzz2CZvYmRyh

he Daily Offering to the Immaculate Heart of MaryO Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and suffering of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.
I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sins, the reunion of all Christians;
I offer them for the intentions of our Bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.


Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/heart/offer_mary.htm#ixzz2CZvYmRyh

Do we end each day with an examination of conscience?

Do we make simple acts of praise? As we say during the Stations of the Cross
V.) We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee (Genuflect) 
R.) Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world (Rise)
 
 Where do you meet your Heavenly Father each day? Do you keep your appointed hour?

What is the one thing we should do every day? Thank our Divine Papa for the gift of life!
 

Papal nuncio: Catholic division undermines religious freedom

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano has told the University of Notre Dame that there is a concrete “menace” to religious liberty in the U.S. that is advancing in part because some influential Catholic public figures and university professors are allied with those opposed to Church teaching.

“Evidence is emerging which demonstrates that the threat to religious freedom is not solely a concern for non-democratic and totalitarian regimes,” he said. “Unfortunately it is surfacing with greater regularity in what many consider the great democracies of the world.”

The apostolic nuncio, who serves as the Pope’s diplomatic representative to the U.S., said this is a “tragedy” for both the believer and for democratic society.

Archbishop Vigano’s Nov. 4 speech keynoted the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Church Life conference. He discussed martyrdom, persecution, and religious freedom, with a particular focus on the United States.

He cited Catholics’ duties to be disciples of Christ, not elements of a political or secular ideology. He lamented the fact that many Catholics are publicly supporting “a major political party” that has “intrinsic evils among its basic principles.”

“There is a divisive strategy at work here, an intentional dividing of the Church; through this strategy, the body of the Church is weakened, and thus the Church can be more easily persecuted,” the nuncio said.

Archbishop Vigano observed that some influential Catholic public officials and university professors are allied with forces opposed to the Church’s fundamental moral teachings on “critical issues” like abortion, population control, the redefinition of marriage, embryonic stem cell research and “problematic adoptions.”

He said it is a “grave and major problem” when self-professed Catholic faculty at Catholic institutions are the sources of teachings that conflict with Church teaching on important policy issues rather than defend it.

While Archbishop Vigano noted that most Americans believe they are “essentially a religious people” and still give some importance to religion, he also saw reasons this could change.
He said that the problem of persecution begins with “reluctance to accept the public role of religion,” especially where protecting religious freedom “involves beliefs that the powerful of the political society do not share.”

The nuncio said it is “essential” to pray for a just resolution to religious freedom controversies, including the controversy over the new federal mandate requiring many Catholic employers to provide morally objectionable insurance coverage for sterilization and contraception, including some abortion-causing drugs.

The issues that the Catholic bishops have identified in this mandate are “very real” and “pose grave threats to the vitality of Catholicism in the United States,” Archbishop Vigano said.
The nuncio also discussed other religious liberty threats.

He cited a Massachusetts public school curriculum that required young students to take courses that presented same-sex relations as “natural and wholesome.” Civil authorities rejected parents’ requests for a procedure to exempt their children from the “morally unacceptable” classes.

“If these children were to remain in public schools, they had to participate in the indoctrination of what the public schools thought was proper for young children,” the archbishop said. “Put simply, religious freedom was forcefully pushed aside once again.”

Catholic Charities agencies have also been kicked out of social service programs because they would not institute policies or practices that violate “fundamental moral principles of the Catholic faith.”
Archbishop Vigano cited several countries that have witnessed severe persecution like China, Pakistan, India and the Middle East. He praised the martyrs past and present who would not compromise on “the principles of faith.”

While some forms of persecution are violent and cruel, others aim to incapacitate the faith by encouraging people to renounce their beliefs or the public aspects of their faith, in the face of “great hardships.”

Fidelity to God and the Church has “hastened martyrdom and persecution for many believers of the past, and of today,” he said.

“In all of these instances, we see that the faithful persist in their fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Holy Church! For throughout her history, the Church has gained strength when persecuted,” the archbishop said.

Religious liberty is a human, civil and natural right that is not conferred by the state, he said, adding “religious freedom is the exercise of fidelity to God and his Holy Church without compromise.”
“What God has given, the servant state does not have the competence to remove,” Archbishop Vigano affirmed.

This article is from Catholic News Agency Also found at National Catholic Register

Year of Faith Idea

One of my husband's favorite apps is http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/. It combines the daily reading with music. Although it is designed for the commuter, anyone would enjoy listening to the readings and benefit from the thought provoking questions.

Ice Tea, Umbrella, and a Relaxing Lounge Chair

Ice tea, umbrella, a relaxing lounge chair and a a murder mystery by Sibella Giorello are all you need for a new perspective on life--okay, that is an exaggeration. But it is a great way to escape reality for a few minutes.

I don't remember how I happened upon this author and I usually don't read adult murder mysteries, but so far, of the books I have read by Sibella Giorello, they have been highly entertaining. Her snippets about forensics and geology have also been fascinating. I did not read them in order. I first read The Mountains Bow Down. I was so impressed with the depth and style of her writing that I then read The Stones Cry Out. They are dangerous in that you will want to steal away to find out what will happen next and be remiss in doing the necessary. I take no responsibly for your actions. My one caveat is that there is a line or two of theology that I would disagree with, nothing unusual or earthshaking, just the usual. She is a Christian author, but not overtly in your face. Although there are adult themes addressed, I appreciate the way she handles them. If you are looking for a good summer read, this author is highly addictive. Now to find out about the rest of her books.

Testimony of Hope

Testimony of Hope: The Spiritual Exercises of Pope John Paul II by Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, Pauline Books and Media, 2000.

". . . only Christian love can change hearts, not weapons, not threats, and not the media.

It is love that prepares the way for the announcement of the Gospel.

Omnia vincit amor, 'love conquers everything.!'

When love is true, it stirs a response of greater love. Then a person loves and is loved in return, and the new commandment of Jesus, 'Love one another as I have loved you' (Jn 15:12), is realized. Reciprocal love is the fulfillment of the art of loving."

Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

Testimony of Hope

Testimony of Hope: The Spiritual Exercises of Pope John Paul II by Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, Pauline Books and Media, 2000.

Continuing with the previous posts.

"'I left everything to follow Jesus, because I love the defects of Jesus.'

The fifth defect : Jesus doesn't understand finances or economics.


Recall the parable of the workers in the vineyard. . . . (Mt 20:1-16).


If Jesus were named the administrator of a community or the director of a business, the institution would surely fail and go bankrupt. How can anyone pay someone who began working at 5:00 P.M. the very same wage paid to the person who has been working since early morning? Is this merely an oversight? Is Jesus' accounting wrong? No! He does it on purpose, as he explains, 'Can I not do what I want with what is mine? Or are you jealous because I am generous?' (Mt 20:15)."

Testimony of Hope

Testimony of Hope: The Spiritual Exercises of Pope John Paul II by Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, Pauline Books and Media, 2000.


Continuing on with the previous post.

"'I left everything to follow Jesus, because I love the defects of Jesus.'

The publicity manager of a company or someone running an election campaign prepares a precise program, which includes many promises.

Nothing of the kind for Jesus! His publicity campaign, judged with a human eye, is doomed to failure.

Jesus promises trials and persecutions for those who follow him.

To his disciples who have left everything for him, he does not guarantee food or lodging, but only a share in his own way of life.

To a scribe who wants to join him as a follower, Jesus responds, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head' (Mt. 8:20).  . . .

The disciples had faith in this risk-taker. For 2000 years, and until the end of the world, the multitudes following Jesus will never be exhausted. It is sufficient to look at the saints of every age. Many of them belong to his blessed association of risk-takers--with no address, with no telephone, with no fax machine!"

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization (Politically Incorrect Guides) by Anthony Esolen, pbk, 2008 (The hard cover is OP).

I know I shouldn't recommend a book I haven't read completely, but there are too many parts that say, "Read me." He recommends watching A Man for All Seasons. Two thumbs up just for that! He quotes Popes and saints! He speaks the truth about "Planned Non-Parenthood." He dares to speak out about the negative effects about the Pill. He talks about Marxism in America. Okay, I could go on and on. Read it.

Memories Before and After the Sound of Music: An Autobiography, Review

Memories Before and After the Sound of Music: An Autobiography by Agathe Von Trapp, pbk, 2010.

Memories Before and After the Sound of Music: An Autobiography is the true story of the Von Trapp Family Singers, made famous through the movie/musical The Sound of Music. Told  from the point of view of Agathe, the oldest girl and 2nd oldest child, she shares her experiences of what it was like to grow up in the Von Trapp family.

As stated in the title, the story begins long before "Maria" enters the picture. In fact, it begins with how Agatha's first mother met her father, fell in love, married him and together raised their growing family--a child approximately every 2 years.

She talks about her happy childhood when they were living with her Grandmother during WWI in the Austrian Alps on a lake, while her father served as a submarine captain.

Especially interesting was to learn how little remarks can have a profound effect on a child, like her governess talking to her about God, as they were out taking a nature walk.

Sometime after the War, the children and then her mother came down with Scarlett fever. Sadly, her mother died, leaving behind 7 children who loved and missed her dearly.

At a later date, "Maria" entered the picture. Agatha's father eventually married her, even though she was much younger. The story continues up to 2002 with Agatha sharing her happy memories of her family sailing with their father, touring around the world as a singing group, the development of the lodge and summer music camps and the need to breakup the musical group, so they could develop their own talents. The book includes many private family photos.

In seeking to correct the many inaccuracies of the movie/musical, Agatha brings to light a moving portrait of a wonderful childhood from another era. Even though there was great strife in the world throughout her childhood and young adult life--World War I, World War II, starvation, economic insecurites, her mother losing all her inheritance through a bank failure, political instabiliy, etc.--, we see a family that values the beauty and joy of children, willing to sacrfice through hard work and ingenuity to give their children a warm and loving family life.

The story is a stark contrast to the empty values of modern society. Agatha's story is a refreshing reminder that life is never easy, but it does have purpose. The sacrifices and loving attention of the parents are returned a hundred fold to the parents through their children's love and devotion. From the opening pages its hard not to miss Agatha's loving adoration of her parents--not because of things, but because they loved their children, they inspired their devotion. May we as parents inspire such devotion and love. Memories Before and After the Sound of Music: An Autobiography is a heartwarming story that you will find inspiring as well as hard to put down.

A Memory for Wonders: A True Story: Review

A Memory for Wonders: A True Story by Veronica Namoyo Le Goulard, Ignatius Press, pbk, 1993. I don't know where I picked up this inspiring, true story. But when I did I added it to my vast collection. Since I was bedridden, I scanned my shelves and found this unbelievable story. What is so unbelievable? This is the story of a French girl whose communist parents fled their Catholic, French roots to bring up their daughter in the ideal world, where they alone could influence her and bring her up without the trappings of her Catholic faith, especially her grandparent's ideas. Although they sought to stamp out God in her impressionable young mind, they could not stop God from seeking her out on his own terms. This gripping story will keep you wanting to read more.