Catholic Women's Book Group

Meeting Time and Location
The book group meets the first Tuesday of each month from 2-3:30pm in the Parish Ministry Center. For more information, contact Sue Andzik (719-359-2471 or sandzik@gmail.com).

2023 Book List

  • January         Life is Messy by Matthew Kelly
  • February       A Song for Nagasaki: The Story of Takashi Nagai: Scientist, Convert, and Survivor of the Atomic Bomb by Paul Glenn 
  • March            Just Rest: Receiving God’s Renewing Presence in the Deserts of Your Life by Sonja Corbitt
  • April                From Worry to Wonder: A Catholic Guide to Finding Peace Through Scripture by Melissa Overmyer
  • May                Reveal the Gift: Living the Feminine Genius by Lisa Cotter
  • June               My Grandfather’s Son: A Memoir by Clarence Thomas
  • July                A Declaration of Dependence: Trusting God Amidst Totalitarianism, Paganism, and War by Fulton Sheen
  • August           In the School of the Holy Spirit by Jacques Philippe
  • September   How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization by Thomas Woods
  • October         Conceived by Science: Thinking Carefully and Compassionately about Infertility and IVF by Stephanie Gray Connors
  • November     Friendship with the Fathers: How the Early Church Evangelized by Mike Aquilina
  • December     The True Meaning of Christmas: The Birth of Jesus and the Origins of the Season by Michael Barber
​2023 Book Reviews
Ratings 1–5 †
May 2023
Reveal the Gift: Living the Feminine Genius by Lisa Cotter (†††††)

Synopsis: Comments taken from Ascension Press Reviews: Have you ever wondered if
you are doing this whole "womanhood thing" right? Lisa Cotter sure did. Coming of
age in a world that told her women should be like men, she often found herself confused
and frustrated with the concept of femininity. That was until she encountered St. John
Paul II's writings on the "feminine genius". In Reveal the Gift: Living the Feminine
Genius, Lisa uncovers a transformational vision of a woman's purpose, meaning, and
gifts, which might not be exactly what you expect. "In an age where the terms 'woman';
and 'femininity'; have seemingly become arbitrary, Lisa engages with the wisdom of the
Church to find the authentic and beautiful meaning of what it means to be 'woman'.
Sharing the examples of some stellar female saints to expound on St. John Paul II's
'feminine genius,' Lisa helps women of all ages know their true dignity and worth and
finally delight and rest in being a woman."

Comments from the group:
  • It certainly gave me a lot of food for thought.
  • I particularly liked the sections where she spoke of an individual saint. I learned some things about women saints I had never really heard of before during the time of the Reformation in France. There was an edict that said all woman should be married which eliminated any woman who wanted to take a religious vow of celibacy.
  • I have so much respect for Jewish women during the holocaust. Even though Edith Stein converted to Catholicism long before and was a Carmelite nun, she was martyred because she was Jewish just days before liberation. What courage she had and showed to all
  • She uplifted women beautifully in her writing and I liked that she emphasized that we are strong just the way we are made to be, and I also liked her pointing out that women are so instinctual.
  • Going in I didn’t know so much about John Paul II’s writings on women. He was certainly so intuitive himself about the virtues of women.
  • The book was so easy to pick up and just start reading. It wasn’t strenuous at all and I loved reading about the little-known female saints—one right here in Denver whose casket has been moved into the Basilica in Denver. Her life was amazing—and if she could do it in her poverty, I think we could all strive to be holier in our lack of want.
  • I liked her discussion question at the end of the chapters. They always gave me something to really think about, to grow closer to Jesus/Mary/God by truthfully answering.
  • She gave some practical steps on how we can achieve some of these traits of great saints. For instance, “how can we stop focusing on ourselves and start focusing on others?” She wrote out the steps we could take—practical ideas--to help us on our journey.
April 2023
From Worry to Wonder, A Catholic Guide to Finding Peace Through Scripture by Melissa Overmyer (††††)

Synopsis: Even though Catholics know God is all-powerful, worries and negative thoughts can still threaten one’s peace of mind. In “From Worry to Wonder: A Catholic Guide to Finding Peace Through Scripture” Melissa Overmyer offers inspiration and practical tips to remember God’s love and power, no matter the circumstances.  She has steeped her book in Scripture and helps Catholics look to the timeless guidance of God’s Word to let go of worry and embrace awe in the Lord. She offers 7 steps to help Catholics bring about their own transformation from worry to wonder and place their trust in God.  Within these pages Catholics will find: Scripture verses to remind them of God’s guidance and care;  biblical stories of God’s loving power; tips for trusting God; a forty-day guided journal to practice turning to God daily, and much more!

Comments from the group:
  • I loved the book and all the Scripture references, especially since we’re in Lent.  It was certainly the basic instructions before leaving earth we’ve heard of in so many different places.  She emphasizes scripture memorizing which is SO important.
  • I thought the book was a little redundant and there are other books I prefer over this one, however, the more you read the more you learn and the more you want to read.  It is so true that when we feel most vulnerable is the time the devil can creep in so many forms.  Opportunists are always there around us when we are vulnerable, and so we must grow closer to our Lord, keeping us guarded from evil suggestions.
  • We are reminded to put on the armor of God and of the power in Jesus’ name. We need to rely on God more and always ask ourselves before we jump into something: “is this doing God’s will?”
  • I liked the reminders that we need to avoid both self-reliance and self-doubt lest we become prideful or shrink from God’s will for us because we’ve lost our trust in Him.  AND we need to go to confession regularly!
  • I enjoyed the journal in the back of the book because it was bringing out what I was thinking.  It was therapeutic for me and something I will continue to do.
  • I especially liked the story about Pres. Lincoln’s son taking a common man with a problem directly to see his dad!  Her descriptions of listening to Christian praise music, having healthy boundaries for our thoughts, being in constant prayer were game-changers for me!


QUOTE:
  “Prayer is the best weapon we have, a key that opens the heart of God.”  St. Padre Pio
March 2023
Just Rest, A Study of Exodus - Receiving God's Renewing Presence in the Deserts of Your Life by Sonja Corbit (†††)

Synopsis: Review taken from information on the St. Patrick’s Guild webpage.
Sonja Corbitt explores the desert wanderings of the Chosen People in what can be used as a 5-Week Bible study that leads the reader in applying the spiritual lessons of the Exodus into your own life, identify areas of desolation and need, and better understanding God’s greater purposes in times of adversity and dryness. The book breaks open both the Exodus and gives an overview of it found in Hebrews 3–4.  To show how it is a powerful metaphor for the spiritual life: everything we need—spiritual, emotional, and physical rest and replenishment—is found not at the end of our journey but in the desert itself.  It reveals that the heavenly sustenance God provided to the Chosen People in the desert is available to us today if we open ourselves to it.

Some Comments from the Group’s Discussion:
  • This book just wasn’t for me, I couldn’t really get into it.  However, I did like her bringing the “Sabath Rest” back—the suggestion of making our Sunday a holier day, also a day free from anxiety and fear is putting ourselves back in line with God.
  • After watching an interview with Sonja Corbitt I could connect with the author a little more. I agree when she says that by listening to another person’s story helps pull you into that person’s life and you can understand them better.
  • She said that having faith can free us from fear, and I totally agree. We need to develop the discipline of turning to God each day for our needs and remove our attachments to security and comfort.  
  • I really enjoyed the book and I love the part she talks about the brain. What we say and what we believe can affect not just our physical body but our minds as well as she quotes from Prov 4:23 and Rm 12:2 which reads “do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”
  • I liked her visualization exercises on negative emotions—remembering that we are always in the presence of the Holy Spirit and we can always put our emotions in God’s hands.
 
Quotes: 
  • “Besides the scriptures, an important way to change our thoughts is through gratitude. Gratitude focuses on the positive, and gratitude is a magnet for miracles.”
  • “God will always provide what I need from the infinite possibilities of who HE is.” 
February 2023
A Song for Nagasaki: The Story of Takashi Nagai by Paul Glenn (†††††)

Synopsis: 
On August 9, 1945, an American B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, killing tens of thousands of people in the blink of an eye, while fatally injuring and poisoning thousands more. Among the survivors was Takashi Nagai, a pioneer in radiology research and a convert to the Catholic Faith. Living in the rubble of the ruined city and suffering from leukemia caused by over-exposure to radiation, Nagai lived out the remainder of his remarkable life by bringing physical and spiritual healing to his war-weary people.  It reveals the inspiring story of Nagai’s remarkable spiritual journey from Shintoism to atheism to Catholicism.  The biography traces Nagai’s spiritual quest as he studied medicine at Nagasaki University, served as a medic with the Japanese army, and returned to Nagasaki to dedicate himself to the science of radiology. The historic Catholic district of the city, where Nagai became a Catholic and began a family, was ground zero for the atomic bomb.  After the bomb disaster that killed thousands, including Nagai’s beloved wife, Nagai, then Dean of Radiology at Nagasaki University, threw himself into service to the countless victims of the bomb explosion, even though it meant deadly exposure to the radiation which eventually would cause his own death. While dying, he also wrote powerful books that became best-sellers in Japan. These included The Bells of Nagasaki, which resonated deeply with the Japanese people in their great suffering as it explores the Christian message of love and forgiveness.

Some Comments from the Group’s Discussion:
  • This is an exceptional book!! I was impressed with so many things in the book: his wife Midori”s devotion to him and to prayer throughout his illness before the bomb, how Nagai served his community after the bomb without bitterness, his letters to his children, and so much more. 
  • The book was so moving and inspirational. Nagai accepted the loss of his wife as God’s will because he knew God had a plan for the rest of his life and he trusted God totally. I was moved by the letters he wrote to his children when he knew they would be left orphans.  
  • I liked Nagai’s dedication to the truth, so much so that when he became curious about Christianity, he decided to carry out a scientific experiment by boarding with a Japanese Catholic family while he attended the university in Nagasaki, and learning it was the whole truth converted to Catholicism. 
  • I was moved by his thinking and reasoning: ‘prayer is as essential to the spirit as air is essential for the lungs’; ‘face pain right on so that your suffering has meaning.’
  • I learned things from this book that I didn’t know or understand: that St. Francis Xavior and St. Maxamilian Kolbe were both in Japan and helped Catholicism grow. Prayers were even said to Fr. Kolbe long before he was sainted and Nagai’s health improved.
  • It was amazing that one statue of Mary remained unshattered, and in rebuilding the bombed area Nagai led the people to quickly build small huts for themselves so that they could focus on building what was most important—rebuilding the Church so they all could worship and praise God together.
 
Some Quotes to Remember: 
“God will not be interested in who or what we were but in how we lived.”
“Did we use our talents well and for His glory?”
“If you haven’t cried, you can’t whip another’s eyes.”
“Unless you’ve walked in darkness, you can’t help wonderers find the way.”
“Suffering, gracefully accepted, refines the human heart, and the experience of darkness sharpens the human spirit.”
January 2023
Life is Messy by Matthew Kelly (†††††)

Synopsis: 
The mess of life is both inevitable and unexpected. It is filled with delightful mysteries and frustrating predicaments. In our disposable culture, we throw broken things away. So, what will we do with broken people, broken relationships, broken institutions, broken families, and of course, our very own broken selves?  This book is about putting our lives back together, and allowing ourselves to be put back together, when life doesn't turn out as we expected it to. Based on his own heart-wrenching personal journals, Matthew Kelly shares how the worst three years of his life affected him, by exploring this question: Can someone who has been broken be healed and become more beautiful and more lovable than ever before? The answer will fill you with hope.

Some Comments from the Group’s Discussion:
  • I call Kelly's books (all the ones I’ve read) Catholic Light literature, but they are extremely practical. There are several experiences in my life that I can relate to when I read his book.
  • His book does have a lot of good food for thought, such as when he says that life is messy because it can be random and unpredictable.  But we don’t like random and unpredictable, we like the illusion of being in control even though we are not in control. The reality is that while we can influence a great many outcomes, we are not in control. Despite this indisputable reality, we waste so much energy laboring under the illusion, trying to control people, situations, and outcomes.  Comments of his I liked were “Life isn’t a race, it’s a dance” and “when we make decisions based on how we want to appear to be, we make bad decisions.” The book is well worth reading, reminding us that we are all imperfect and we are all living “messy” lives.
  • I’ve read many of his books--some I liked and some I don’t.  He had so many good points in this book on how our lives turn out (unexpectedly) and how we respond and deal with it.
  • I liked the part on the four absolutes—honesty, unselfishness, purity, and love—all powerful guides, and his three appointments:  to self, to God, and finally to death itself.
  • The book got better and better as I read to the end, asking some very poignant questions: do you feel like you are doing what you were born to do? How do you measure your life? What is really important in your life?
  • I loved his story about talking with the author of Shindler’s Ark (made into the movie Shindler’s List) who talked about the Polish Holocaust survivor who was very slow to make friends because he would always wonder “would they hide me?” Kelly asks the reader “How many people would you be willing to hide?”—in other words—risk your life for? Would they do the same for you?
  • He writes about how our society is changing and how we have lost our honor, our sense of worth. “When immorality becomes your morality, you are profoundly lost. And immorality has become the morality of an alarming number of the most influential people in our society….  And so we become desensitized to evil.”
 
Quotes of note: “If you wish to live a good life, fill your life with goodness. Fill your life with love, kindness, gratitude, compassion, and generosity.”   
“Celebrate goodness every chance you get.”