Great for the sinner, bad for the saint lol.
925994
I think this book is great. It's really hard to seriously be Pissed off and actually read some of the words you might be saying out loud with pretty colors around it. Be warned, every page has big bold awear words on it. It was deffinately a great laugh going through some of the pages and realizing just how blunt this book really is. This book is obviously so not for young kids but great for adults who just need something differect than pretty butterflies. Seller is awesome and very helpful. I got the Kindle download able pdf version. I received this book for free or at a discounted price for my honest review. I would post pics of some of the pages but I just can't lol.
506275
Father Cassian is my great Uncle. He is currently not doing well at the age of 92. I am going to talk to the necessary people to try and have him considered for sainthood.
1938216
This a a beautifully done broad view of the Catholic faith and as such it would deserve five stars except for two serious flaws. First, the narrator and creator of the series, Father Barron, says the Gospel of Mark was written in 70AD in Rome. Does he know this? He does not, its his uneducated opinion, yet he voices it as if it were a definite fact. Mark is considered the founder and first bishop of the Church in Egypt and the Coptic Church says he brought his Gospel to Egypt with him and a number of years later, after establishing the church there, was martyred in Egypt. The year he was martyred according to the Copts? 68 AD, two years before Father Barron says he wrote his gospel in Rome. Now, IMHO, if anyone has a correct tradition of when Mark died it is the Church that he founded. Therefore: minus one star.
  The second flaw in Father Barron's beautiful work is his statement, "If anyone is in hell, and again I say if because we don't know, if anyone is there it's because they stubbornly are sitting in the corner while the whole thing [heaven] festively swirls around them." Now what does Jesus and the Catechism of the Catholic Church say about this "possibly empty hell" of Father Barron's? Of hell, the Catechism says, "To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from Him forever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called 'hell'." (1033) So does Father Barron really believe that over 2000 years it's possible that no one, among the billions of people who have lived on this earth, committed a mortal sin and then died, for example in an accident, before repenting of the sin? Does he believe that Hitler, unrepentant until the end when he committed yet another mortal sin by killing himself, is not in hell. But more directly, what does Father Barron think of what Jesus is quoted as saying in reference 1034 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, that Jesus "will send his angels and they will gather all evil doers, and throw them into the furnace of fire" (Mt13:41-42) and that Jesus will pronounce the condemnation: "Depart from me, you cursed, into eternal fire." (Mt25:41)
  Now it is true that we don't know that any particular person is in hell. That judgement is up to God. In that sense Father Barron is right, but his stress on the possibility of hell being empty is silly. And this means minus another star.
  Do I recommend buying/watching this beautiful series? Yes. A watcher gets a beautiful overview of the Church, its teachings, its history, its worldwide ministry and its art. But I think one needs to know that Father Barron, based on the above two flaws in his presentation and on many statements he makes and quotes he uses, is a fairly liberal practicing Catholic; a "social justice" Catholic who, in my opinion, would probably if he were a college president, like the president of Notre Dame did two years ago, invite (and therefore honor) pro-abortion, anti-Catholic President Obama to speak before the student body. Father Barron is another Chicagoan, an open-minded guy, a little too open-minded. One must love the sinner but condemn the sin. Father Barron doesn't seem to like that approach and maybe that's why he's hoping against hope that hell is nearly empty.
3858201
Great motivator for leading the Christian life.  What great men they were!  And to think I complain about every day trials & tribulations...these wonderful saints suffered unbelievable persecution unto death all for what they knew to be the truth and for love of their savior.
279832
The overall book was a fascinating and informative read, however, the stark Anti-Catholic bias of the authors was a distraction.  While I am no fan of the excesses and sins of the Catholic Church, the ONE BILLION Catholics on the planet, do, indeed, represent a large segment of Jesus-loving Christians.  As such, I feel that this book may have been a turn off to many of them instead of an apocalyptic call to repentance.  Whether we Protestants like it or not---the Catholic Church has a profound part to play in the end times scenario.  It is the original Church of Christ from the 1st century and Jesus said "the gates of hell will not prevail against it".  We may see a collapse of the Vatican but we will never see a collapse of the indomitable Christian spirit found in many God-loving Catholics.  Lastly, we need to find some middle ground on the issue of Mary.  While clearly the Bible and the ten commandments prohibit worship of anyone besides God--it is my humble opinion that most Protestants treat her with disrespect--almost like an "egg donor" instead of a highly venerated servant of God.  Remember, this woman was literally the MOTHER OF GOD for goodness sakes!  If one of the ten commandments is to "honor your Father and your Mother" why would we expect anything less than a position of HONOR for Mary?  Catholics and Protestands (and Messianic Jews) need to coalesce against the secular, Socialist evil forces prevalent today in the World systems and present a united front against the forces that would try to prevail against the Church.
3719200
This book is like any other sinners of saints book. Someone more or less not likable turns into someone likable. And finds true love with someone he is supposed to help and protect
2105574
This Fr Lefebvre makes some great points and traditional Catholics can't help but agree with him. I'm only of average intelligence (in my view) so when he goes off into complex diatribes I have difficulty following the thread. If you thought that the Ecumenical Council of Pope John 23rd was a good thing and beneficial to the Catholic CHurch, then I would suspect you will NOT like this book. GOd Bless us, all of us.
2861569
Provan builds a great case for the Biblical teaching against contraception, utilizing scripture, the testimony of Protestant church fathers (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli and the like), and the testimony of  various Protestant church councils.
What one finds most tragic, though,  in reading this book is that nobody in the Protestant church is listening.  This is the fruit that the Protestant reformation has sown.  In rejecting  the teaching ministry of the Church in favor of Sola Scriptura, the  individual Protestant can look at the scriptural arguments Provan makes and  say "nice exegesis, but I don't agree".  Likewise, the individual  Protestant can look at the testimony of the Protestant fathers and  Protestant Councils and say "well, they're not infallible".
Another irony...Provan takes great pains to show his readers that he's  no Catholic, by including several anti-Catholic quotations.  Yet here he  is, reinventing the wheel on an important Christian doctrine, on which the  Catholic church's teaching has been consistent. If he is right in his  exegesis, and the Bible forbids contraception, his next question should be  "what church teaches this?  Where I will find the truth?"  When  he finds that there is only one church that teaches this, he would know  that that is the church that God established, one, holy, catholic and  apostolic...
In making his case against contraception, Provan ultimately  makes a case for the Catholic Church and against the Protestant  Reformation.  And thats a case that needs to be made, again and again,  until once again the Christian church can stand unified before the world.
1476873
Good movie overall.  I especially appreciated the depiction of St JPII as a real human being with people who called him "Karol" and with a fire for secular politics.  The late pope and newly-minted saint is too often seen as a pious ethereal being, but not here.  I am not a great fan of JPII, but this film's depiction of him, if true, would raise my opinion of him a notch or two.  If you are into RC Church history and politics, then you will enjoy this film, I think.  I did.
2552102
The song reminds me of Annelies Frank. PLEASE SOMEONE TELL POPE FRANCIS THERE ARE NO MORE POPES AFTER BENEDICT THE QUITTER!!!
I WISH I COULD QUIT MY POST LIKE BENEDICT DID.
2555618
Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. My first observation is that I know nothing of the credentials of the author.  This is very important when dealing with (reading) such a book. Perhaps the most interesting aspect is that it confirms much of my understanding of what has and is still taking place in the Continuing Anglican Movement south of the 49th. As a priest within the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada I am aware of how much of what goes on in the U.S Church gradually enters Canada. Not all of this is good, sadly. I cringe at the description of devious and deceitful behaviour. I realize it is in Canada too and it appears to be growing.  The author has done us a great service and I pray that his sincere efforts awake those who seem to be content to sleep on, regardless. Thank you Mr. Bess.

The Rev'd., Fr. Richard S. Mowry, TSF

  (a.k.a The Rev'd., Bro. Cuthbert, TSF)
3437328
Well there is just so much time in one day...as a practicing lawyer in Texas I have come to realize my intellectual shortcomings.  As a priest, canon lawyer, Gregorian University trained..."sentire cum ecclesia"..and now 80..life has been wonderful..  Love of the Church was reenforced with Pope John Paul II ...in Threshold of Hope...and confirming in my soul Christ died for all..and living by one's principles, let's him take us with Him....so I am amused by those who want to restrict Catholics..who may not know or be psychologically able to accept various moral teachings...and call them hypocrites...

I love the Rosary..and travelling around from city to city..as I ponder the mysteries, know the love Christ has for His Body...I ask Mary to let His Body, the Church, drop some of its juridical requirements so a group united with Him..would be in each..And how can that happen without dropping the restrictions established by juridical moralists?
2160639
This man was so brilliant that it is difficult for the average person to understand much of what he says.  His overriding devotion to the religious life is impressive.  He did a great deal for the Trappists changing and helped his community change from overwhelming hardness and regulation to genuine contemplation and connection to the Trinity and Our Lady.  Some have said he should be made a Saint but I believe if were able to say anything he would laugh at that thought.  He might be more prone to accept the title of "Head Sinner."
2508287
If a priest today spoke like this in his homilies he would probably be reported to his bishop and censored for being "insensitive" and instilling unreasonable fear in his congregation. It is precisely because priests and bishops don't speak like this that the Catholic Church is so impotent today, its enemies so strong, and the world in such a miserable state. The salt has lost its savor and therefore gets thrown out and trampled underfoot by its enemies, who are both outside as well as within the Church. If reading these meditations by this great 18th Century bishop and Doctor of the Church doesn't move one to a deeper spiritual life and moral conversion, I don't think much else would.
3099814
After reading all reviews and the book, cover to cover:

If you are catholic or Christian the book is very empowering. Somewhat slow read, until mid-point after which it shows in the reviews you will be moved with hope at the prospect of a sound future in Christian principles or cower in anger and throw it in the trash. So.....controversial you bet.)

Its quite obvious the Naysayers either;  hate medjugorje or libertarian views. Cringe at casting left wing views as evil. Additionally believe all catholic change progress and insight belongs to church hierarchy, quite funny.
3529806
This is really just sad. Jenny,I don't think the Catholic Church is making you feel guilty,I think YOU ARE THE ONE making yourself feel guilty. Why else would you go out on such a crusade to bad mouth and bash a religon that a great deal of the world practices and is at peace with? (Bill Maher anyone?)

Masturbation and sex. Yeah,Jenny everyone has done it,is doing it and will continue to do it. Everyone knows this and has known it;but thanks YET AGAIN for pointing this out. I'm glad to see that at least you have your priorities straight and won't let any one thing dictate your life.

"The guy in the big white hat".... okay,let's demonize Pope John Paul II,but see nothing wrong with Hugh Hefner. Something tells me that a single World Youth Day has more people in attendance than all of your book signings and "movie" premieres put together.

"Jesus was my Justin Beiber. He is hawt!" Way to advocate "coexistance and tolerance." Disrespect and sexualize a spiritual figure held sacred by millions... Hey Jen,try that type of disrespect toward Ala and Muhamuad. You would soon find your air head severed from your plastic body.

This sounds really cliche,but I am going to start praying for this woman--not because of her "lust" or "sex sin" to which she is so hung up over,but rather the constant blasphemy and sacrilege. This is all under the guise of "funny" but it is just hateful and malicous. To be percise; it is evil.

Oh and another misconception that Jenny tosses out about the Catholic faith (she does that ALOT in her last book Love,Lust and Faking it--see review) The subject of euthinasia is not as extreme as she makes it to be; 1.) I am a practicing Catholic and have had PRIESTS (note the plural form of the word) tell me that IT IS NOT A SIN TO PUT AN ANIMAL DOWN WHEN IT IS SUFFERING/DYING. Again,Jenny read up on Vatican II or study the Caticisim of the Catholic church before you start ranting about how horrible the faith is. As for euthinasia with a human being;if the person cannot live without life support,you can let that person pass. If the person is terminal,you are only obligated to give that person food/water but you ARE NOT required to keep giving them medicine to keep them alive longer.

The Catholic Church has been around for 2000+ years and there are still people converting to the faith--especially the world over. The Catholic Church has survived Nazisim and Communisim--I'm sure it can survive the attatcks of a dysfunctional,angry girl whose main purpose was to be eye candy ( autisim activist... pfffft! ) The question is will the church of Jenny McCarthy still be around 2000 years from now?
1549921
If you are interested in bashing the catholic church this is a book for you.  I found it insulting.  Most Catholic's know some of the horrible things that have happened, but not all Catholic's are puppets of the church.  If one lives by the laws that Jesus gave us you are a good
 Christian.