The Catholic Book Club discussion

It is time to consider and vote for our July 2017 BOTM.

You may vote for up to two of the books listed below. Enter your votes by replying in this thread. Voting will end sometime after 5 PM, Central time, on June 18.

A book will be randomly selected for elimination from the nominations list from among those that don't receive any votes. A Postcard from the Volcano: A Novel of Pre-War Germany, by Lucy Beckett and Saint Thomas Aquinas, by G.K. Chesterton are exempted from the randomizer as this is their first month on the voting list.

This month's nominations are:

A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller Jr..
Winner of the 1961 Hugo Award for Best Novel and widely considered one of the most accomplished, powerful, and enduring classics of modern speculative fiction, Walter M. Miller, Jr.'s A Canticle for Leibowitz is a true landmark of twentieth-century literature—a chilling and still provocative look at a post-apocalyptic future.

Champions of the Rosary: The History and Heroes of a Spiritual Weapon, by Donald H. Calloway. From the best-selling author of the classic Catholic conversion story, No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy by Fr. Donald H. Calloway, comes a powerful and comprehensive history of a spiritual weapon: the rosary.

Church of Spies: The Pope's Secret War Against Hitler, by Mark Riebling
In Church of Spies, the intelligence expert Mark Riebling draws on a wealth of recently uncovered documents to argue that, far from being Hitler’s lackey, Pius was an active anti-Nazi spymaster. He directed a vast network of Vatican operatives—priests and laypeople alike—who partnered with the German resistance, tipped the Allies off to Hitler’s invasions of France and Russia, and involved themselves in three separate plots to assassinate Hitler.

The Coat Without Seam, by Maurice Baring. The story of a miraculous relic, believed to be a piece of the seamless coat won by a soldier on Mount Golgotha after Jesus of Nazareth’s crucifixion, captivates young Christopher Trevenen after his sister dies tragically and motivates the very core of his existence from then on, culminating in a profound and tragic realisation.

The Life of St. Catharine of Sienna, by Raymond of Capua
One of the key works on St. Catharine's life, written shortly after her death by her spiritual director.

Life of St Peter of Alcantara, by Father Marianus
Life and miracles of sixteenth century Franciscan reformer, mystic and friend of St Teresa of Avila by a Franciscan Tertiary. This is followed by a Brief Explanation of his Treatise on Mental Prayer by Father Marianus OSFC. St Peter of Alcantara is known as "The Saint of Prayer.

A Martyr for the Truth: Jerzy Popieuszko, by Grazyna Sikorska

On the God of the Christians:, by Rémi Brague -
[The book description on GR is in French. The following is excerpted from Amazon, which indicates it is from the back cover of the book.]
On the God of the Christians tries to explain how Christians conceive of the God whom they worship. No proof for His existence is offered, but simply a description of the Christian image of God.

Past Suspicion, by Therese Heckenkamp
Don't trust anyone ... So whispers Robin 's mother just moments before she dies. As this intriguing story of suspense unfolds, seventeen-year-old Robin is forced from her California home to live in Wisconsin with an uncle she never knew existed. Here in her mother 's hometown, Robin meets two young men and, while unraveling the secrets of her mother 's past, becomes involved in a treacherous plot, not realizing the importance of untangling her own life if she is to find a direction for her future. Feelings of betrayal and resentment burn strong. Robin 's heart becomes torn as she tries to figure out where she belongs and whom she can trust. Amidst an atmosphere of mystery, amongst the activities of small town life, and while exploring an abandoned mansion, Robin not only searches for a treasure map, but more importantly discovers the far-reaching consequences of making the right or wrong decision.

A Postcard from the Volcano: A Novel of Pre-War Germany, by Lucy Beckett
Beginning in 1914 and ending on the eve of World War II, this epic story follows the coming of age and early manhood of the Prussian aristocrat, Max von Hofmannswaldau. From the idyllic surroundings of his ancestral home to the streets of cosmopolitan Breslau menaced by the Nazi SS, Hofmannswaldau uncovers the truth about his own identity and confronts the modern ideologies that threaten the annihilation of millions of people. A Postcard from the Volcano opens with the outbreak of World War I and the Prussian pride and patriotism that blind the noble von Hofmannswaldau family to the destruction that lies ahead for their country. The well-researched narrative follows the young count as he leaves home to finish his education and ends up a stranger in the land of his birth. Both intelligent and sensitive, Beckett's prose explores the complex philosophical and political questions that led Europe into a second world war, while never losing sight of a man whose life is shaped by his times. A deeply moving historical novel that shows the horrific impact that two world wars had on whole countries, and how individuals struggled to deal with the incredible challenges presented by such devastation.

Reasonable Pleasures: The Strange Coherences of Catholicism, by James V. Schall
The fact of pleasure is obvious to us, but its relation to reason is less understood. We are beings who laugh and run, sing and dance, but we too seldom reflect on why we do these things. Above all, we are beings who think and who want to know whether our lives make sense. In this thought-provoking study of the relationship between our reason and our experience of pleasure, popular professor and author Fr. James Schall shows how reason, religion and pleasure are not in conflict with one another. Religion has to do with how man relates to God. Catholicism is not so much a religion as a revelation. It records and recalls how God relates to man.The popular mood of our time is that neither religion nor revelation has much to do with real life. Yet when we look at things as having meaning and order, they fit together in surprising ways. This coherence should bring us joy, and teach us how reason, religion and pleasure can work together for our benefit. Schall shows us in this book why we have many reasons to think that our lives make sense, that our pleasures can be reasonable, and our reason itself is a pleasure.

Return to Order: From a Frenzied Economy to an Organic Christian Society, by John Horvat
In times of crisis, we are forced to reexamine our ways and ponder our future. It is in this framework that we need to consider our present economic plight and the charting of our path forward. John Horvat focuses on the present crisis with great insight and clarity. He claims modern economy has become cold, impersonal, and out of balance. Gone are the human elements of honor and trust so essential to our daily lives. Society has discarded the natural restraining influence of the human institutions and values that should temper our economic activities.

Saint Thomas Aquinas, by G.K. Chesterton
G.K. Chesterton's brilliant sketch of the life and thought of Thomas Aquinas is as relevant today as when it was published in 1933. Then it earned the praise of such distinguished writers as Etienne Gilson, Jacques Martain, and Anton Pegis as the best book ever written on the great thirteenth-century Dominican. Today Chesterton's classic stands poised to reveal Thomas to a new generation.

The Spiritual Combat, by Dom Lorenzo Scupuli
The Combat is a practical manual of living. At first it teaches that the sense of life is incessant fighting against egoistic longings and replacing them with sacrifice and charity. The one who does not do this loses, and suffers in Hell; the one who does it, trusting not in his own, but God's power, triumphs and is happy in Heaven. The work of Scupoli analyses various usual situations and advises how to cope with them, preserving a pure conscience and improving virtue. It emphasizes also the boundless goodness of God, which is the cause of all good. What is bad originates from the human who rebels against God.

Under an orange sky, by Manuel Alfonseca
In the year 2041, the Earth government initiates the colonization of Mars. In the ship goes the journalist Irene Pinedo, who will transmit to the Earth the adventures of the trip. After arriving at Mars, Irene makes two sensational discoveries that make her confront her chiefs and the Earth government.

I am new here. How do I vote for the books?

Thanks
Kimberly

Kimberly wrote: "I am new here. How do I vote for the books?

Thanks
Kimberly"

You must write in this page the two books that you would like that this group read them.

I vote for "The Coat Without Seam", by Maurice Baring and A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller Jr.

Fonch wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I am new here. How do I vote for the books?

Thanks
Kimberly"

You must write in this page the two books that you would like that this group read them."

One correction - it does not have to be two. If there is only one book on the list you want to read, you may vote for just one.

I vote for "A Canticle for Leibowitz" by Walter M. Miller Jr. and "Church of Spies: The Pope's Secret War Against Hitler"
by Mark Riebling

as always, too many good choices!!!
Coat without Seam
Postcard from the Volcano

1. Return to Order
2. St. Thomas Aquinas

Coat Without Seam
Under an Orange Sky

A Postcard from the Volcano
St. Thomas Aquinas

"A Canticle for Leibowitz" by Walter M. Miller Jr.

Champions of the Rosary or Past Suspicions


Champions of the Rosary has been on my list for a while.

Coat without seam.
St Thomas Aquinas

1) The Coat Without Seam
2) Reasonable Pleasures: The Strange Coherences of Catholicism

My son and daughter in law are visiting, so I may not close out the voting right at 5:00, but will try to get to as soon as possible this evening.

Voting is over. Results will be posted shortly.