The Catholic Family Handbook: Time-Tested Techniques to Help You Strengthen Your Marriage and Raise Good Kids [Abridged, Unknown format] [Paperback]

Lawrence G. Lovasik (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2000

Here is a crucial book for you if you want to shield your family from the effects of our selfish secular culture, which destroys families and poisons relationships. Fr. Lawrence Lovasik, the renowned author of The Hidden Power of Kindness, gives faithful Catholics all the essential ingredients of a stable and loving Catholic marriage and family — ingredients that are in danger of being lost in our turbulent age. Using Scripture and Church teachings in an easy-to-follow step-by-step format, Fr. Lovasik helps you understand the proper role of the Catholic father and mother and the blessings of having a large family. He shows you how you can secure happiness in marriage, develop the virtues necessary for a successful marriage, raise children in a truly Catholic way, and much more. Unlike most guides for parents, The Catholic Family Handbook details simple but often overlooked ways that you can instill good character in your children, protect them from the many sinful and dangerous enticements of the world, and make child-rearing truly spiritual. He even explains how to teach your children the all-but vanished art of good manners, and gives you common-sense tips on how to deal with misbehavior, use punishment prudently, and even how to discipline teenagers wisely and effectively. Here is a timely, much-needed, and comprehensive handbook.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A guide to the enduring insights on which genuine family holiness is built.” -- Paul and Leisa Thigpen, Building Catholic Family Traditions

“A masterpiece! An encouragement and a practical guide for all couples and families striving for holiness in our turbulent age.” -- Michaelann Martin, The Catholic Parent Book of Feasts

“A timely resource of timeless truths to strengthen marriages and families. Highly recommended.” -- Kimberly Hahn, Catholic Education: Homeward Bound

About the Author

Lawrence G. Lovasik (1913-1986): “Life is short, and we must all give account of it on the Day of Judgment,” said Fr. Lawrence Lovasik. “I am in earnest about using the time allotted to me by God on this earth to the best advantage in carrying out the ideal of my life - to make God more known and loved through my writings.” The oldest of eight children, Lawrence Lovasik was born of Slovak parents in the steel-industry town of Tarentum, Pennsylvania. He was accepted into the Sacred Heart Mission Seminary in Girard, Pennsylvania, at the age of twelve and, after thirteen years of study and training, was ordained to the priesthood at St. Mary’s Mission Seminary in Techny, Illinois, in 1938. Fr. Lovasik studied further at Rome’s Gregorian Papal University, spent three years as a teacher and prefect of seminarians, and went on to do missionary work in America’s coal and steel regions. In 1955, he founded the Sisters of the Divine Spirit, an American religious congregation of home and foreign missionaries whose services included teaching in schools and in catechetical classes, visiting homes, and assisting in social work. Fr. Lovasik devoted much of his time to giving missions and retreats. These experiences and that of his earlier missionary work acquainted him with the spiritual needs, personal and family problems, and individual plans and longings of God’s people, and he yearned to help them. Christ’s exhortation to His first priests - “Go, and make disciples of all nations” - was his inspiration. “I wanted to reach the hearts of people,” he said, “but my voice could be heard only by those to whom I was able to preach.” Writing, he found, was his way to preach God’s love and truth to the many, and it was his personal love for Christ, for the Blessed Mother, and for all immortal souls that drove him to dedicate as much time as possible to this talent. Prayer and the Holy Eucharist are the emphases of many of the several books and more than fifty pamphlets that Fr. Lovasik wrote. His style is simple, sincere, and highly practical. He combines his vision of the transforming power of holiness and his compassionate understanding of man’s desires and weaknesses to offer sound spiritual direction that motivates and inspires his readers, leads them step by step toward holiness, warns them against spiritual and temporal pitfalls, and guides them back to the right path when they go astray. Fr. Lovasik’s wisdom not only reveals the often overlooked strength of holiness, but also continues to make real his life’s ideal - to make God more known and loved.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Sophia Inst Pr; Abridged edition (December 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1928832172
• ISBN-13: 978-1928832171
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #925,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have for all newlyweds!!!!, June 2, 2006

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Catherine D. Greenland Rn - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Catholic Family Handbook: Time-Tested Techniques to Help You Strengthen Your Marriage and Raise Good Kids (Paperback)

This would make the greatest wedding gift...Great book with many many insights on keeping the closeness and true love in your marraige with God as your guide. The other half of the book is on raising great children in todays society.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love the book, February 21, 2009

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Dana (Purcellville, VA, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Catholic Family Handbook: Time-Tested Techniques to Help You Strengthen Your Marriage and Raise Good Kids (Paperback)

I am in the process, along with my 2 kids, of becoming Catholic and I can't get enough books to read because of my total amazement of how I have missed this in the past. This book is a wonderful guide to how to incorporate the Catholic beliefs into your home. Some of it did not apply (we homeschool and it had parts about sending your kids to school - but very small).... but I have since passed the book onto my husband and told him it would be good for him - even if he just read 1 or 2 chapters.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book for any Catholic/Christian Family, September 23, 2010

By 

Jessica - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Catholic Family Handbook: Time-Tested Techniques to Help You Strengthen Your Marriage and Raise Good Kids (Paperback)

The Catholic Family Handbook is an excellent resource for any Catholic family. Fr. Lovasik explains simple ideas to help strengthen your marriage and raise responsible children in the faith of the Catholic Church. He discusses the importance of the marital bond and how that love filters down to strengthen family unity. He discusses techniques for raising your children in the Faith, effective discipline, developing character and communicating love. Fr. Lovasik has written a wonderful book for families of all walks of life!