Inaugural review in my 2018 Book Challenge. Read this for January 1st, the Feast of Mary. Enjoyed reading this short book to my kids during the ChristInaugural review in my 2018 Book Challenge. Read this for January 1st, the Feast of Mary. Enjoyed reading this short book to my kids during the Christmas season, to imagine hearing the story from Mary's perspective. Great when paired with hearing the original scripture proclaimed in Mass. The illustrations are gentle and contemplative, a fresh take on traditional interpretations of Mary. Video review here: https://youtu.be/bPymQ76dlx0...more
In many ways, this is a story too amazing to be true. It is a book I have been looking to read for a long time. Years ago, I read a swath of Paulo FriIn many ways, this is a story too amazing to be true. It is a book I have been looking to read for a long time. Years ago, I read a swath of Paulo Friere's work, hoping for practical details about how he implemented his wildly successful adult literacy campaigns in Brazil and around the world. I was also looking for clues about how Friere's faith and the Second Vatican Council impacted his philosophy and systems. Unfortunately, it was not overtly present in Friere's prolific written works; for me, his transcendence is the downfall of his writing. I needed more information to move from inspired, to active. But Fr Fernando has been there, succeeded, and shared.
As both an adult educator struggling to serve underserved adults in the U.S., and a Catholic struggling to find the crux between social change and lived faith, I needed this book. I was attracted to Fr Fernando's example as both a Jesuit Priest and the leader of a massive adult literacy campaign in Nicaragua. This book is not transcendent: it is a very particular and personal description of the life and experiences of a very unique man who had a central role in a revolutionary moment. His memoir gives the details I was looking for... and in the process helped me determine the secrets to his success.
In short, he heard and responded to the deep needs of the people. "I wanted my Christianity to be seen as the force that pushed me to love, to serve, and to work. I wanted to show that Christianity is beautiful and that its fundamental commandment was love." He was also able to work with the reality of circumstances and people. As Minister of Education, "We created something I called education in poverty, which did not mean a poor education, but rather an education grounded in our reality. Despite so many limitations, the spirit we tried to promote was one of initiative and creativity with educators in their communities." This is the truth and beauty of the Gospel, translated to the 20th century. We are finite beings, living within constraints, but with generosity and community and love, we can accomplish the improbable.
Most improbable was Fr Fernando's re-admittance to the Jesuit order after choosing to remain in the Sandinista government against the orders of the Pope and Canon Law. His was truly a unique case: the only reinstatement in the history of the order. Again, the particulars of his story matter a great deal. How can one remain faithful to a calling and a hierarchy after such a dramatic conflict? The personal recollections and details of the exchanges over the years is truly dramatic, and a read that I found increased my own faith and joy....more
After dozens of kid's books on Old St Nick that are pure fantasy, I wanted something more historically accurate. This is the best I have found in thisAfter dozens of kid's books on Old St Nick that are pure fantasy, I wanted something more historically accurate. This is the best I have found in this category, though it is more about the history of legends about St Nicholas of Myra than a true record of his life. I found the author flipped rather loosely between imagination and historical documents. At the same time, the vivid stories depicted several tumultuous period of Christian history. In addition to the lovable gift giver, St Nick's potent memory has been invoked in epic conflicts, including the transition from the Roman and Greek pantheons to Christianity after Constantine's conversion in the 4th century, and later from Christian to Muslim control of Myra, Turkey in the 11th cent. This is heavier than the "inspirational" genre, but a more light-hearted look at Christian history than your typical academic tome....more
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