Thriller draws Vatican archivist into intrigue

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By Sharon Boehlefeld
The Observer

“Gods in the Ruins,” which came out last spring, is the first in Msgr. Eric Barr’s Vatican Archives Thriller series. 

As the book opens in 2003, an 8-year-old boy, Daniel Aziz, receives a gift from Saddam Hussein in Baghdad. The boy, the son of a Catholic archeologist, is surprised by the gift, but not nearly as surprised as he is years later when his father discovers a mysterious artifact in a tomb in Babylon, an artifact that is written in an ancient language – all except for a date in modern English that is said to be the day when the world will end – Nov. 1, All Saints Day in the liturgical calendar.

Filipina-American author debuts with cozy mystery

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Reviewed by Sharon Boehlefeld | The Observer

For some traditional Filipinos, it’s already Christmas time.

“In the Philippines they have the longest running Christmas season,” says Mia P. Manansala. They celebrate during “The ‘ber’ months — September, October, November, December.”

Manansala, who is a Filipina-American, launched her debut novel, “Arsenic and Adobo,” the first of her Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series, last summer. 

French couple sets example for faithful lives

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 For readers with a little imagination, it will be easy to envision the scenes in “Salt and Light” by Bernadette Chovelon as part of a mid-20th century Technicolor movie extravanganza. 

With a backdrop of Paris during La Belle Époque at the turn of the last century, this tale of two lovers and their journeys of and toward faith come to life amid balls, worlds fairs, travels in Europe and North Africa, and more.

Chovelon’s book, however, is not a novel. It is a well-told recounting of the lives of Elisabeth and Felix Leseur, translated into English by Mary Dudro.

Book benefits SVdP Society, among others

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 By Amanda Hudson | News Editor

Kim-Doan Katrina Nguyen, MD, is Vietnamese by heritage and Catholic since childhood.

She is also a big fan of the St. Vincent de Paul Society as evidenced by her book signing in early August with SVdP as the recipient of $9 per $15 book sold.

“I was able to donate $600,” she says of that event, noting that the money was divided between the four Rockford parish conferences: St. Rita, St. James, Cathedral of St. Peter and Holy Family.

She became active with the Holy Family conference of the SVdP Society in late 2016 and serves on the conference’s fundraising team. Her family’s experiences as refugees and the support they received along the way, are part of her attraction to the society and its spirit, she says.

Forgiving -- Chicago author draws on Catholic education for her mystery Novels

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 By Sharon Boehlefeld | Features Editor

Tracy Clark’s first published mystery story started one day during a moment when her mind slipped away from a homily at St. Philip Neri Parish in Chicago.

“I looked at the confessional, and I thought, ‘You could put a body in there.’”

When that passing thought eventually coalesced with a character she’d been imagining since she was about 12, “Broken Promises” was born. In that first novel, Cass Raines was the private detective who wanted to solve the murder of her favorite priest in a Chicago parish much like Clark’s own.

Mysteries and more make summer reading for kids

These are among books suitable for kids’ summer reading according to Catholic News Service reviewer Regina Lordan.

"Brilliant! 25 Catholic Scientists, Mathematicians and Super Smart People" by David Michael Warren, illustrated by Jaclyn Warren. Pauline Books and Media (Boston, 2020). 101 pp., $24.95.

If there was ever any doubt about the intrinsically compatible relationship between faith and science before, it surely will be debunked after reading "Brilliant!" Although not the intention of the book, the remarkable men and women of faith featured within will surely amplify the aforementioned. The illuminating illustrations pair perfectly with the stories, perhaps a natural result of the collaboration between the married author-illustrator creators of the book. 

One center helps five women find success

The July 4th weekend is the perfect time to dip into tales of five immigrant women and the Dominican Sisters of Springfield who helped prepare them for successful lives in the U.S.

Written by retired journalist Anna Marie Kukec Tomczyk, the book artfully weaves stories of struggle and success in “We Are Eagles: Inspiring Stories of immigrant Women Who Took Bold Steps in Life through Literacy.”

Books offer perspectives on road to sainthood

 

Sainthood. 

It's a matter of faith that Catholics who die in a state of grace join the communion of saints in heaven. Indeed, the church has codified that recognition in the celebration of All Saints' Day each Nov. 1.

For a few extraordinary Catholics, however, the recognition of sanctity takes a more public form. In a process known as canonization, Vatican officials examine the lives of certain Catholics to determine if they are, indeed, worthy of special commemoration. When the church is convinced of the truth of sanctity, the pope grants formal sainthood.

The process of canonization can be arduous, so supporters seek to advance these causes through books and articles. Two recent books offer insight into the process; both are informative contributions to our understanding of the canon of saints.

Pilgrimage book weaves spiritual meaning with Holy Land geography

 

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A Christian pilgrim to the Holy Land is quickly impressed by the proximity of many holy sites associated with the life of Jesus. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher contains both the place of Christ's crucifixion and his burial tomb. As walking was a major means of biblical travel, sacred sites often are a quick bus drive apart.

Another sharp realization is that many Christian sites are steeped in Old Testament history and the Judaic foundations of Christianity. Also notable is the importance to Islam of many places, as mosques have been built upon churches built upon synagogues.

Christophers honor books for adults, kids

 

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NEW YORK (CNS)—In addition to honoring feature films and television shows, this year’s Christopher Awards honored a number of books.

The winners in the books for adults category were: 

“After the Last Border” by Jessica Goudeau, 

“A Knock at Midnight” by Brittany K. Barnett;

“Nothing General About It” by “General Hospital” star Maurice Benard with Susan Black; 

Dinner In: Author’s Latest Book is Fanciful, Faith-filled Gathering of Saints

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By Penny Wiegert | The Observer Editor

The breaking of bread is central to our Catholic faith and to our very existence as humans. Food and the sharing of it is part of our story and is many times front and center when we share those stories.

Maybe that’s what makes the charming new book by Woodeene Koenig-Bricker, “Dinner Party with the Saints” such a great addition to anyone’s library. 

Koenig-Bricker has written many times about the saints of the Catholic Church but never quite like this.

Two inspired to remember 2020 in different ways

Reviewed by Sharon Boehlefeld | The Observer Features Editor

A pair of Catholic teachers from the Rockford Diocese were inspired by the pandemic to record the historic year of 2020. But they went about it in quite different ways.

Layla Groleau’s “Worst Case Scenario Best Life Ever” is a volume of vignettes about two dozen people, the challenges they faced and the ways they overcame them.

The Aurora resident attends St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Sugar Grove,

She opens with a reflection on what inspired her to write the book, saying, “What I have noticed, and I’m not alone, is that the pain, suffering and isolation which so many people are experiencing have prompted self-sacrifice, compassion, and an outpouring of love — such as this generation has never seen.” 

Among the stories she shares is "Distilling for Good," about Whiskey Acres near DeKalb. Owned and operated by Nick Nagels, and Jim and Jamie Walter, she talks about their decision to stop making whiskey and switch their operation to hand sanitizer. (See stories in The Observer on April 28, 2017, and May 15, 2020, to learn more about the history of the operation.)

When they realized such a change could be a way Whiskey Acres could support first responders during the pandemic, they did what they needed to -- including jumping a variety of health "hoops" and calling on the aid of a state legislator -- so they could bottle the needed sanitizer.

Three novels with Catholic themes make for engaging winter reading

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Reviewed by Nancy L. Roberts | Catholic News Service

This trio of novels with Catholic themes offers plenty of engaging wintertime reading.

In "A Clean Heart," John Rosengren creates memorable characters such as Carter Kirchner, a substance abuse counselor at a drug treatment center for teenagers. Besides the usual challenges of helping his young clients navigate the road to sobriety, he also must deal with the heavy drinking of his boss, Sister Mary Xavier, which threatens both her well-being and the center's. Then his mother is suddenly hospitalized with advanced cirrhosis, the result of her long-standing alcoholism.

McHenry author shares two years of witness at ‘a peculiar institution’

Reviewed by Sharon Boehlefeld | The Observer Features Editor

Several years ago, a book club I belonged to opted to read a collection of the records of Lewis and Clark from their expedition to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.

I must admit, I didn’t get the book finished by our discussion, but I wanted to read it all. As it happened, we scheduled the discussion to coincide with the launching of the expedition, which was on May 14, 1804.

Former Lutheran makes case for becoming Catholic

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 Robert C. Koons, the author of this remarkable book, is professor of philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin, and he declares that he makes no claim to being a theologian. A lifelong Lutheran (Missouri Synod), he became a Catholic in 2007.

His slim volume is a detailed explanation of why he believes that being Catholic makes more sense, historically, scripturally and theologically, than being Lutheran or, by extension, any other kind of mainline Protestant.