If Marian apparitions move you, this book is for you.
599384
A wonderful attempt to investigate various Marian apparitions. I say "attempt" only because no one can definitively and objectively explain these apparitions to the satisfaction of all. Mr. Sullivan does a commendable job and is as objective as possible.
1813620
Whats the difference between a magician and a mystic? The magician tricks you into seeing visible things that aren't really there, and the mystic opens your eyes to invisible things that really are. Whats that got to do with Bert Ghezzis new book? Its mystics use all sorts of inexplicable marvels  visions, healings, prophecies, you name it  to help you see your way to the ultimate unseen reality: God.
The miracles are mind-blowing, no question about that. Were talking otherworldly, occasionally bizarre incidents  phenomena that would seem like so much sleight of hand if not for the sanctity of the souls around whom the jaw-dropping oddities regularly occurred. St. Dominic raises the dead. Padre Pio receives the wounds of Christ and is physically present in two places at once. St. Theresa Margarets body refuses to decay, to this day, since her death in 1770. And so on.
But consider yourself forewarned: If its a sideshow you're after, youll waste your time and money on this title. For Ghezzis only so interested in the signs and wonders that followed his subjects wherever they went. What hes really after is the unfailingly generous way they answered Gods call to holiness  and what their example can teach us about answering that call ourselves.
Ghezzi excels at combining concise, fast-paced biographical sketches with carefully selected, illustrative anecdotes that show the mystics faith in action. Yet its his personal, sometimes bracingly candid, reflections on the impact the mystics have made on his own life that, for me, set this volume apart from others of its kind.
I also like the way Ghezzi helps make sense of the mystical phenomena he cites by separating it into six categories  miracles of love; miraculous prayer; dreams, visions, and other wonders; miracles of conversion; miracles to awaken us; and miracles that changed the course of history.
About the only thing I would have liked to see more of, particularly when reading about some of the more eye-popping occurrences, is direct referencing to sources and eyewitness accounts. Alas, thats probably the journalist in me. Or maybe its my inner Doubting Thomas. Either way, I don't think Im the only reader who will be tempted to ask, when reading about, for example, Jesus appearing to St. Gertrude and transporting her from her cell to a separate part of her convent: Come on  did this really happen?
And maybe my skepticism is a sign of how much I need a book like this. Not so much as a reference work, but as a guide to prayer and contemplation. Ghezzi was way ahead of me on that thought.
...
No argument here. And heres hoping my enjoyment of Ghezzis book is not the fascination of a bystander drawn to the believe-it-or-not hour, but rather a manifestation of rightly ordered mysticism, or some small semblance of it, at work in my own life.
...
184451
How wonderful this book is to read, for a devout Catholic, was even more than I had dared to hope. I have already reread it from cover to cover and have not taken it off my bed yet as I will be re-reading yet again any day now. Best thing in years for close devotees of Our Lady of Fatima.
3461477
Luisa Teish is a wonderful storyteller. To put Voodoo and Hoodoo charms and rituals described in this book in proper context, she also shares the story about her daily life and about her spiritual experiences in a charming and often a humorous way.

You will find stories related to the history of Black Americans and the hardships they went through, Luisa's poems, and chants and rituals for different occasions.

Here is one blessing chant:

"To my kindred ___ [name the person an place where they live]
May the blessing of the spirit be upon you.
May you be your best self.
May you walk in beauty.
May your guides be with you at every crossroads.
May you be honorable greeted when you arrive."

You will find information on seven African powers - Ellegua, Obatala, Yemaya, Oya, Oshun, Chango, Ogun - and the corresponding Haitian Loas - how to get in tune with these energies and honor them, how to create cleansing baths, how to work with candles, how to set up your altar, how to practice water gazing, how to create charms and rituals for purification, healing, abundance, relationships, for peace at home and protection and many other things.

There is a blessing you can use while cooking and here is a lovely prayer for mealtime:

"O Great Mother, who bestows abundance upon us,
We thank you for the living things [name the things you are eating]
That have sacrificed their lives to  nourish us.
We take this offering into our bodies that we may be strong.
Make us strong, Abundant Mother, that we may be able to replenish the earth."

More than just charms and rituals in this book, I have truly enjoyed partaking of Luisa's heartwarming spirit.
4559669
I loved this book.  It takes you on a journey through Mary's live from a young child to adulthood. I cried in certain parts of this book.  It was very touching.  She was kidnapped as a child, taught about the Talmud, married her best friend, became insane as a result of the kidnapping and went to follow Jesus.  It is a very warm, touching, loving story, that shows you who Mary Madalene was.  As a book on Catholic Fiction I know you will enjoy this.  It is one of the most realistic books I have ever read.  It cites stories fromt he Bible that everyone is familiar with, it is not preachy, it is about a young woman who's live started out norman, ended up in total chaos, only to return to normality after meeting Jesus.  If you are looking for a great book to read, I would strongly suggest this book.  Again, it is one of the best that I have ever read.
4946771
It's easy to see why early members of AA read this book. The stories of conversion just grab you and get your mind moving. I was fortunate enough to get an original copy and will treasure it. For a book over 100 years old it is just so relevant to the process of change a person goes through when the spirit hits. Not only that, but the most low of the low are pictured here. I thought the stories in the big book were significant, but these people seem like they were beyond help. Shows what can happen to anyone, at any time. Excellent read.
4804308
This book explains why the Catholic Church loves and is devoted to Mary, the Mother of God.  If you already know you love her, than this book will explain how you can take that love ,for the Mother of God, a little deeper in order for her to nuture Christ within us.  This book is one that has changed my life and devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, forever and I think one that will change you too.
2001193
We are less than a week away from having two new saints in the Church - Louis and Zlie Martin! I have a family of friends who are so excited for their canonization, you'd think they were distant relatives of theirs. For those of you unfamiliar with these two future saints, they are the parents of St. Thrse of Lisieux as well as many other children including four nuns! They were truly a holy family and a model for us all, and I believe we should read more about them, so that we can emulate them. TAN Books is one of the best sources for books about the Martin family, and I'd like to tell you about a few of them today.

The Story of a Family was published in the 1940s, reprinted in 1994 by TAN Books, and now has been reprinted again in 2015 in time for the canonization of Louis and Zlie Martin. The book is only fifteen chapters in length, but it is full of detail as it spans 400+ pages. The book begins by giving us a backstory of the two parents and their early years. We learn that Louis was a watchmaker and Zlie was a lacemaker. It was these two professions that led to their chance meeting. Both felt a call to the religious life, but chose to marry. Interestingly enough, after marriage, Louis Martin wanted to live a celibate married life, like Mary and Joseph, but Zlie had strong maternal instincts. We also learn about the children they had, the children they lost, and a great deal about Thrse.

Chapter 13 - 'The Offering of the Children" was my favorite chapter. In this chapter, we learn of the Martins deep desire to give birth a future priest. They lost two boys, and therefore their hope was lost after this. However, with each girl, they had dreams, which came true, of populating the cloister. "They were not of the number of those pusillanimous parents who dread sacrificing to God what they have no hesitation in handing over to a creature." It was surprising to me to read these words, not because they were so accepting and encouraging of religious vocations, but because even that far in the past, parents were still hesitant to embrace the idea of religious vocations for their children. May the Martins serve as an example for all of us with children!

I have two final observations to leave you with regarding this book. First, the true treasure of this book is found in the images. We as Catholics have a lot of older saints who we see depicted in ancient artwork, but no real actual photographic evidence. Being able to see actual pictures of these recent saints, help demonstrate to us that they were humans just like us, and that we too can be saints if we follow their examples and say Yes to Jesus! Second, the age of the book is reflected in the writing style and language, but that doesn't mean that it is impossible to read. As a fan of classic literature, I personally enjoy that style, but it isn't for everyone. I for one am grateful that this book is back in print, and think it is a very good introduction to the Martin family. After reading this, I plan to read some more books about the Martin family, mainly The Father of the Little Flower, The Mother of the Little Flower, and My Sister Saint Thrse. All of these were written by Sr. Genevieve of the Holy Face (Celine Martin), the sister of St. Thrse and should provide a more personal and intimate look at the Martins.
3426466
The positive energy and enthusiasm of the authors shines through their material. The Magi Within is one of those books to be worked with on a daily basis and not just read and set aside.  The journey home to your Self is a long one. Not only will you need some snacks in your backpack, youll also need a guide book or two, a few blank journals and a dozen pens. The artwork is inspired and beautiful, a nice addition straight from the hearts of the authors. There is not just one tool, book, or technique that will bring you Home. You will be given many on your journey. If you find yourself reading this review, then perhaps this guide book is meant for you.

Laurie Williams, Storyteller / Author
Me and My Divine Self: Her Journey Home coming in Winter 2016
www.meandmydivineself.com
1339260
The Benedict Option was coined by Rod Dreher after same-sex marriage was approved in the United States. He stated that Christians in post-Christian America needed to adopt St. Benedict as their guide and to try to strengthen the church if they wanted it to survive. Since the publication of this book there have been many books choosing other saints or saintly figures. However, Dr. Carrie Gress is the first to realize and point out that for any renewal to take place, we must have Christ's mother Mary at the heart of the renewal. That is why she penned The Marian Option.

The book begins by talking about the persecution Christians have faced since their origin. For 2000 years, there have been many tests and trials Christians have undergone. During these times, different people responded and reacted in different ways. St. Benedict, who is covered in this first chapter, experienced a crumbling Roman society much like we are facing a crumbling American society. Dr. Gress examines him more closely and discusses why he chose to retreat to the desert. She then spends the next two chapters explaining how Mary is considered the most important woman in human history and how we she has influenced art, architecture, music, literature, etc.  The next three chapters focus on her geopolitical influence in three of her most famous apparitions - Guadalupe, Lourdes, and Fatima. The next four chapters are the meat of the book and focus on tough issues that Catholics have to always answer and defend. How much or how little devotion is Mary due? What is her relationship with the three Persons of the Trinity? How is she our Mother and the Mother of the Church? And lastly, why is it people are so anti-Mary? The final chapters of the book provide concrete ways to have Mary at the heart of our lives including practical and simple ways for a family to do this, such as praying the Rosary, going to Mass, wearing a Brown Scapular and/or Miraculous Medal, consecrating yourself to Mary, and many other easy things.

The Marian Option is a simple but brilliant book that walks us through not only the historical and cultural significance of Mary, but also her spiritual significance as well. I particularly enjoyed the case study at the end of the book on Pope John Paul II. If anyone in recent memory has shown us how to live a life devoted to Mary, it was this great man. What makes this book stand out from other books on Mary, apart from the message inside, is the beautiful presentation on the outside. It is a beautiful, blue hardcover with gold lettering on the cover, and a dust jacket to match. It is a worthy presentation for a book that you will want to read more than once. If you can read just one book on Mary this year, I recommend it be this one.

This book was provided to me for free by TAN Books in exchange for an honest review.
4748011
I give this book out everytime someone is telling me some troubling things in their lives.  Although we have to be careful about satan imitating the apparition in modern times, this book is a must.  She leaves out major ones like Our Lady of La Salette, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal or Our Lady of the Miracle (this one is mentioned in marypages.com and click on Our Lady of the Miracle)
3909258
I found Spirit Conjuring for Witches: Magical Evocation Simplified by Frater Barrabbas to be a rather intriguing book.  This book has a lot of information.  I'm not initiated into Alexandrian like the author, but I do have former experience with ceremonial magick in a temple setting through other means(Golden Dawn.)
Here's what I love about this book.  If you have any former experience with Ceremonial/Ritual magick, then you will be able to follow along with this book no problem.  I think this stuff is pretty straight forward with the steps and interestingly, no need to be an adept or pass a certain grade/degree to do any of this work.  You just need to be willing to put in the practice.
There is stuff in this book I would try out for sure, such as the 5 steps for evocation.  There is also stuff in this book that I will never even consider.  So be prepared to decide what your own limits are when practicing this work.
704043
An excellent resource for those intent on progressing in the spiritual life. Although this Marian Vow is one taken by members of the Franciscans of the Immaculate, it can be useful for anyone on their spiritual journey.
4428065
I was very touched by this book. It goes much beyond words, in a very particular way. I think when any saint or holy man's life is documented well, it emits a certain energy or aura that touches the reader. This is one of those books that does that, it carries the magic of Papaji, and through the interviews with some of his close students, this magic is transmitted beautifully.
2407205
Mariann Burke's book Reimagining Mary is profound.  She develops the theme of the Annunciation through exploring varieties of ways it has been depicted in great art, especially, though not only, Fra Angelico, and she does so in a way that will be illuminating for readers.  She links understandings of Mary, and especially of the Annunciation, with mythic experience that goes well beyond Christianity, and in this way she opens up possibilities of what Mary can mean for many people and many cultures.  Her inclusion of multiple pieces of art and her commentaries on these pieces make the art, the artists, and the Marian themes being explored come alive.  Her analysis according to Jungian themes also brings valuable insights, leading readers to awareness of Mary's significance that goes beyond the solely intellectual.

Burke leads the reader on a learning journey by describing her own explorations and greater awareness as these have evolved over several decades of serious research and deep contemplation.  She teaches us how to "look" at great art and shows us how much more can be seen in it if we appreciate the deep human archetypal experiences to which it is linked.  She is humble in her writing; truthful about her experiences, her limits and her questions in ways that validate and stimulate readers' own explorations.

The book includes wry humor throughout.  It is also very convincing, especially when she describes insights about proper (and improper) roles of women in organized religion that of necessity flow from her studies.  This is a very valuable book to read and then to continue to reflect on.
1730898
Read the book and now taking the actual course.  Mighty intense and gives you a new appreciative view of how we should accept the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
6979
St. Kolbe's favorite mariologist was this book's author (they corresponded with eachother) and said that anyone preparing to consecrate themselves to Our Lady should have this book for regulat meditation.  I have read it twice and I know I will be rereading it for the rest of my life.  It had profoundly impacted me. A classic on Marian devotion.