Whether a committed Catholic or just curious...
359017
This is a great read for anyone whether you are a more well read and engaged Catholic, or a seeker looking for an honest explanation of what life in God really means.

Jon Leonetti has a gift for expressing the richness and beauty of Catholicism in a simple straightforward way without watering it down. His honesty and passion come through in this book. He does a great job of articulating what many of us know and have a hard time expressing or just a hard time remembering.
3791673
As a man entering the Catholic Church, it sure does open my eyes to the vastness of the world and how different it is.
I find it astonishing the Maronites speak Arabic. More reason for me to learn Arabic, am I right?

I've an interest in the Maronite church for some time. But you'll truly feel an empowering presence of God by the music of his worshipers.
2199974
I am always fascinated by the testimony of those who convert to Catholicism. This book contains 11 such tales, and none of them disappoint the reader.
It is truly remarkable to read of the anguish that people feel as they discover the doctrines of the Church, and become "surprised by truth."
I am touched by the sacrifices that many have made by becoming Catholic. They risk alienation from family and friends, and in come cases even their livelihood. This book permits many insights into the thoughts and doubts that are part of the conversion process.
I especially enjoyed seeing how the converts reasoned from scripture, how each started from a different point, and all ended up in the same place! Each testimony is a mini-course in apologetics, and demonstrates the scriptural basis of the Catholic Faith.
1787205
The background of Peter Seewald sets the tone for the book. He does not shy from his questions and this brings out more of Cardinal Ratzinger. I was not dissappointed as C. Ratzinger provides more than standard answers. His answer on women as priests was excellent. One thing that strike me most was when he was asked a particular question, he asked to be excused. The author assumes that he leaves for a prayer and comes back to answer his question. C. Ratzinger answers his question based on the search of truth in the Catholic faith.
3417472
This book proves to be a refreshing insight into our faith, removing the stigma that has been attached to Catholicism for many years.  Father McNeely provides answers to the questions we have had but were afraid to ask.  Written in layman's terms, it is easy to understand and enjoyable as he interjects levity along with explaining doctrine.  A great read for not only practicing Catholics but for those who have given up on our faith.
4065373
This is a somewhat academic book, but once you get used to its rhythms, it really is quite fascinating.  Gives you keen insights into some of our most intriguing Catholic writers and theologians.
4336612
Intriguing insights from a convert herself on the workings of God's grace upon the internal longings of the soul.  The stories are illustrative of the old saw, "Don't judge a book by its cover."  The book is well worth the reading by cradle-born Catholics and by those who are searching and feeling a urge toward the faith.
3107494
If  you like films based on facts, you' be very intrigued by this one.  Catholics may find it a bit unnerving.
2855658
These Locutions do not contradict Catholic teaching, they have been incredibly accurate and are inspiring.  They are worth reading and discerning.  One of the reasons I will continue to read them are the many, recent detractors.  The recent critics are many but their evidence is weak.  These "Catholics" demand that narrow interpretations of the text come true without regard for other considerations.  The more they protest, the more I wonder.
1612346
HEY, I'M A CATHOLIC . . . WHAT DO YOU EXPECT ME TO SAY?
1716156
First the "flaw": other reviewers have noted that interjecting his own personal religious journey is off-putting and I agree that it frequently is, but not always. I have always liked James Carroll's works and have read a lot of them. He and I share, in limited part, a similar background: my parents were "old school" Irish Catholics, and, while I enjoyed the company of the fair sex too much to consider the seminary, I was educated in high school and college by the Jesuits, for which I have always been very, very grateful. It was a superb process for those who wanted to study. Like him, I began to question the validity of the religion in which I had been raised, but a lawyer's lot does not often permit in depth study of subjects other than the law, so my questions remained that until health matters forced retirement about three years ago. Then books like De Rosa's "Vicars of Christ: The Dark Side of the Papacy", Morris' "American Catholic", "Unholy Trinity" by Aarons & Loftus, "Papal Sin" by Wills and "Hitler's Pope" by Cornwell led me to the understanding that there was a deep and established evil in Catholicism, especially in its "heirarchy". I was conflicted by the profound goodness of the Christian message to love one another in the context of a corrupt messenger - the Church. I had started Carroll's book, but set it aside to pursue Middle Eastern study in the light of September 11. So it slipped from mind for a while until I returned to it after the pederast priest scandal re-kindled my anger at the hypocrisy of Church politics. I was both pleased and surprised to find my questions concerning the Christian message vs Catholic corruption answered in the context of historical analysis. Yes, this books is concerned with determining why Catholicism (and other Christian faiths) have demonstrated consistent anti-semitism over the centuries, but for me, the satisfaction was derived from understanding how an essentially medieval institution got to be that way, and why it refuses to change. I was able to see how this medieval mind set was responsible, through the 4th Lateran Council (1215 CE), for the establishment of doctrine which the Church still clings to today, in the face of clear and known error in its bases, and how that docrine led to such truly monstrous events as the Crusades and the Inquisition. Carroll is informed and lucid in showing how fears for the survival of an institution based on beliefs premised on medieval concepts in the light of scientific, philosophical and political change caused a frightened Pope Pius IX to promulgate the concept of papal infallibility. And he, at least, has a vision of a changed Church coming into harmony with modern times, although I am far less sanguine about the possibilty of meaningful change in an institution whose well established power base is cemented into middle ages philosophical concepts. I do agree wholeheartedly with his conclusion that Christ's purpose was revelation of God's message to love one another, rather than salvation. This is no book for "pray, pay and obey" Catholics, but for those who, like Carroll and me, have become disenchanted by that "old time religion", it provides accurate, although deeply troubling answers to questions about why things are as they are. I did not mind sharing Carroll's own quest, because it provided some help as to how he internalized what he learned, but a little less of this distraction from the historical analysis would have been better for this reader. This is a well researched and well written book, and further illustrates the frequently upsetting rightness of the concept that "the truth shall set you free".
729952
Venerable Mary of Agreda received some of the most increditable visions I feel like I have learned a great deal about the Holy Trinity, Mother Mary. Heaven has a plan and the more you read and learn the more faith you have. Amen
3931284
I am not Catholic.  I am a hybrid of Anglican and Presbyterian.  That said, Pope Francis knows Jesus like few men who walk the earth.  He challenges us as Christians and leaders to approach both God and humanity with humility and grace.
3926062
It's easy to see that, with minimal familiarity, people would think this is a book for nuns or former nuns, for women, for Catholics, for Christians... NO! It's a book for anyone born with that hole of yearning in her or his heart--yearning to SEE more, yearning to BE more, yearning to live what life at any age can be about.
2341511
Good discussion of  one of the the Central mysteries of the church.
1170619
This book is for the questioning and inquiring mind into the history of the Christian religion.  It is eye opening  to say the least.  Is the typical Christian really following what Christ taught?
4511970
This book was given to me as an Advanced Review Copy for an honest opinion of it, and I thank the media department, and a whole lotta luck, for letting me get this copy.

Whew!  I feel like I've been to confession with the universe, (not God, that's a bad fairytale) and I've been absolved of ....something.  Thank you, Dr. Wenke, for putting into words and print and citing sources for what I've been thinking about religion, especially Catholicism for a long time. As a kid, I really wanted to believe in God, and if there had been the least bit of evidence for one he would have had me.  But I kept looking and nothing....  And I saw, even as a kid, how our congregation was condescendingly treated by the Catholic Church, and I didn't like it.

As Dr. Wenke did, I grew up in a large but lower, lower middle class Catholic family, and went to Catholic school. And in my case, he was certainly right about Catholic School in the 60's and having to memorize the Baltimore Catechism.  I do remember once in first or second grade trying to ask a question of the priest teaching us out of the catechism.  I also vividly remember being stared down like I was some kind of squished worm, and my question was totally ignored.  But as Dr. Wenke also notes, we can all write long, long books about those days. And yes, there was a lot of physical and emotional abuse being dealt out. So I completely understood where Dr. Wenke was coming from.

One of the best things I liked while reading this book, was the feeling that the author and I were holding a really good interesting conversation. And while he cited sources to support his arguments, I never felt like I was being talked/wrote down to as much scholarly religious work seems to do. Yes, Some reviewers have taken him to task, for the organization of his work, and his apparent "anger" with the Church. I never saw any of this in his writing. Yes, he expressed frustration, but who wouldn't?  And another reviewer tried to make the point that he repeated himself over and over again.  Not surprising at all when one can see that he's trying to break through the indoctrination the Church brainwashes into their students and parents.  Parents who rarely had even completed high school, let me add, and who often didn't have the money or energy to question the Church's procedures.

The one thought that kept repeating for me throughout the book, was that I need to buy about 2 dozen copies of this and hand them out to my family members, and at least try to spark a conversation.  Because you seen when dealing with these kind of religious beliefs it's often like running your head into a wall over and over.

I encourage you to read this book, especially if you're afraid to read this book.  Dr. Wenke makes his points, back them up and makes a completely convincing case that organized religion works only to take over our minds and lives.  They certainly don't want us thinking for ourselves.