Cristo En Mi » Book Reviews

Review of The Mission

Ricky — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:40:49 +0000

In this Oscar-winning 1986 film, Jeremy Irons stars as a Jesuit Catholic priest who establishes a mission in the jungle of a Spanish occupied part of South America in the late 1700’s. The Jesuits, including a young Liam Neeson (who probably speaks only twice in the entire movie), are welcomed into the community by the Guaraní. A strong bond is formed between them as they teach the Guaraní how to play musical instruments, how to sing, how to speak spanish, and of course Christianity, and the mission flourishes.

There is tension in the area because the mission lies on territory that is being fought over by Spain and Portugal. Since the Portuguese are pro-slavery, the Jesuits are fighting to convince a Papal emissary that they should be protected by the Church. Robert DeNiro, who stars as a mercenary and slave trader, hunts the native peoples and brings them back to be sold onto plantations as slaves. It’s a great example of how Jesus taught that God is love and through humility and fraternity any community can thrive. It also shows the evil of men, even men of God, and although the Church is capable of error and wrongdoing, it is the words and actions of those who call themselves the Church that decide it’s path.

The Mission won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe and was nominated for numerous others. The visuals are amazing of the enormous Iguazu Falls and the surrounding jungle. The film definitely keeps the viewers attention throughout and there are no dry or slow-moving parts. I would give this film a 4 out of 5 and I recommend it to all my visitors. I don’t want to give too much of the story away, so you’ll have to visit your local video store or library, or buy the 2-Disc Special Edition DVD at Amazon.com.

The Lamb’s Supper

Ricky — Mon, 31 May 2010 17:21:13 +0000

Dr. Scott Hahn is a former Presbyterian pastor turned ardent Catholic New Testament scholar, author, and founder of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. In less than 200 pages he relates the book of Revelation to the Mass as what he rightly calls Heaven on Earth. As always he has toned it down so that the book is very is easy to read and written on a level that anyone could understand. Even non-Catholics could get a lot out of this book. Dr. Hahn walks the reader through Revelation and then the Mass relating the two with quotes from the Fathers and others, such as this from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, “Dogma is by definition nothing other than an interpretation of Scripture… which has sprung from the faith over the centuries.”

The book begins with Dr. Hahn’s story of his first experience at Mass as a Protestant hiding in the back of the pews. His realization of the richness of scripture throughout the Mass had a major effect on what would later be his conversion to Catholicism. In the second section he goes through John’s Revelation giving detailed interpretations of all the rich symbolism and liturgical undertones. He discusses the different point of views that people have had about Revelation over the years and explains the reasoning behind his own.

“When we begin to see that heaven awaits us in the Mass, we begin already to bring our home to heaven.”

In the Lamb’s Supper, Dr. Scott Hahn speaks to Catholics and all others inviting them to experience the richness of the Mass and to treat it as such. “When we begin to see that heaven awaits us in the Mass, we begin already to bring our home to heaven.” The author is disappointed that more Catholics don’t see the Mass for what it is, heaven on earth. To Dr. Scott Hahn the Mass is the eternal sacrifice of Jesus, the supper of the Lamb, the opening of heaven, and the key to understanding and interpreting John’s Revelation.

I personally found this book to be a quick read and as a Catholic convert it really opened my eyes to the Mass. Dr. Hahn goes way beyond what I learned in RCIA and even Bible Study and I’m definitely glad I picked this up. I recommend that all Catholics read this book, especially those who are feeling like they “don’t get enough out of the Mass.” As Father Benedict Groeschel explains in the foreword, the Mass is not like any other “religious service,” because “the Mass is not a religious service.” If you are interested in learning more about the Mass and want to see the book of Revelation for what it really is, I recommend Dr. Scott Hahn’s the Lamb’s Supper.

Photo by Tim Vickers

The Collar by John Englert

Ricky — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:34:18 +0000

Many Catholics have questions or doubts about what goes on in the formation of a priest. Or at least I did before reading this book. What goes on inside the seminary is a closely guarded secret. I found this book as I scanned through the small bookshelf of a thrift store in Pasadena with hopes of finding something at least remotely interesting. The title on the spine of the book caught my eye, “The Collar,” and reached hopefully for the book. After reading the summary on the back I was sure that it would be a great insight into the formation of Catholic priests. And it helped that the author of the book, John Englert, was a Catholic convert.

The book takes place in a Catholic Seminary called Sacred Heart in Milwaukee, which specializes in preparing of older men, even retired and widowed men, for ordination into the Catholic priesthood. Englert takes a different approach by narrating the story as if the reader had been living alongside the men in their time in the seminary. There are some interesting characters that bring the story to life, although at times their personal lives take the spotlight away from their experience in the seminary.

Englert’s take on the Catholic seminary really opened my eyes to all that our priests go through before ordination. Many men are called to enter, but many don’t make it through. The reasons range from problems with authority and hierarchy to old ex-girlfriends. He explains how each seminarian goes through phases and at times come very close to losing their faith, but at the last minute it is renewed and fulfilled. Our Catholic priests are good men, but this book helps us to remember that they are just that, men.

I recommend this book to all my fellow Catholics, as well as my non-catholic brothers and sisters. At just under 300 pages it’s not a difficult read. The Collar will enlighten you to the truth about what happens behind the scenes at the seminary and you’ll understand and appreciate your priest even more. I give this book a four out of five, for the slow parts, but as a whole it’s great addition to my collection.

Find “The Collar” by Jonathon Englert at Amazon.com.