Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For young moms, for all moms, November 9, 2006
This review is from: The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home (Paperback)
This is a lovely book, steeped in understanding of and respect for mothers.
"I think we can all agree that mothers in our day could use some encouragement and recognition," Donna writes in the introduction. This book offers both, as well as some practical advice, mom to mom.
Donna begins by pointing out that the "ordinary" vocation of motherhood is actually quite extraordinary in both its requirements and rewards, and moves on to remind us that Mary is our model for motherhood. Lest that sound too lofty, I can say that Donna remains firmly rooted on earth as seen in this passage on the Rosary:
"When teaching our children to pray, we should try not to inadvertently turn our children away from prayer by being unrealistic in what we expect from them or by becoming overly regimented with them ... Setting a prayerful example for them is much more articulate than harping at them to pray could ever be."
In a chapter entitled, "Splinters from the Cross and the Kiss of Jesus," Donna takes an unflinching look at the fact that wholehearted mothering demands sacrifices. She quotes Pope John Paul II:
"Humanity's future depends on people who rely on the truth and whose lives are enlightened by lofty moral principles that enable their hearts to love to the point of sacrifice."
Clearly, mothers live in this category. The point is reinforced with a quote from Donna's friend and spiritual director, Fr. Bill Smith, who says, "Good, faithful mothers skip purgatory and go straight to Heaven!"
As she did in her Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers, Donna also draws on her friendship and correspondence with Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. One of my favorite quotations in the book is from Blessed Teresa. It's not new, it's not earth-shaking, but it's true, and how often we all need these true and vital reminders:
"The best and surest way to learn the love of Jesus is through the family. Whatever you do in your family for your children, for your husband, for your wife -- you do for Jesus."
What I really like about this book is that it takes timeless concepts, solid teachings of the Church, and the words of giants such as John Paul the Great and Blessed Teresa and weaves them into an eminently readable book with a vital message: motherhood is a necessary and powerful vocation that can and will turn our lives into prayers.
The next time I head out the door to teach baptism classes at our parish, I'll be bringing Donna's book along with me. It's perfect for young and new moms who are just beginning to realize the implications of their role in the family. But it's for all moms, too -- we all need to hear the message that what we do is important and holy.
What we do is our path to heaven. That is the heart of motherhood.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent & Beautiful book for all Catholic Mothers, July 11, 2007
This review is from: The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home (Paperback)
I've read MANY books about being Catholic, being a Mom & being a Catholic Mom...but none of them have touched my heart & mind the way this one did. It was SO common sense about how to weave our Catholicity into our daily lives when there are children at our feet before 5 AM (when it's near impossible to get up before them to pray...even if we really, really want to) and at night, we just pass out, not fall asleep. I read this book twice, have MUCH highlighting throughout & even bought a 2nd copy to give to my sil for her birthday this past Feb. Being a Mom can seem to be a thankless job, being a stay-at-home mom is less than respected in today's society and being a Catholic Mom in the truest sense of the word, can be rougher than anything else I could imagine. Using the practical wisdom in this book helped me to see that even though I can't physically be on my knees in prayer, my heart can be bowed down & focused on Our Lord all day, everyday, keeping my focus on the true Heart of (Catholic) Motherhood.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read for Any Catholic Mother, May 10, 2007
This review is from: The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home (Paperback)
During May, Mary's month and the month in which we celebrate the vocation of motherhood, it seems fitting to write about what is undoubtedly one of my favorite mothering books in recent years. The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home by noted author Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle offers and encouraging and inspirational look at the vocation of motherhood.
In her introductory remarks, Donna-Marie shares that today's mothers need encouragement and recognition. Her mission statement for the book comes in these early pages:
"My hope is that I can help more mothers realize and embrace the sublimity of their missions as mothers, responsible for the souls entrusted to our care."
Having savored the pages of this book through several readings, I would say that Cooper O'Boyle manages to hit that mark head on. Among the highlights of this book, along with Donna-Marie's warm and engaging writing style, are the many quotations she shares from two luminaries of our Church: Pope John Paul II and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, with whom the author shared a personal correspondence. The Heart of Motherhood is the type of parenting book I favor most. Concise enough to be read in a few short settings, yet thought provoking enough to invite its reader back repeatedly for in depth illumination. Each chapter ends with dual prayers, inspiring pause and reflection upon the content discussed.
In her chapter on the need for saints in our world today, Cooper O'Boyle shares the life story of Mother Teresa, reminding readers that each of us is called to be a saint in our own walk of life. It is fitting that the author reminds mothers that any task, done with love, becomes an act of faith, love and prayer. In this manner, she commends and affirms the role of any mother who may feel that the mendacity of her day to day lives is not "good enough" or sufficiently holy. Remarks by Pope John Paul II reinforce the dignity of the role of every mother. Cooper O'Boyle also underscores the vital necessity for mothers to take breaks for prayer and refreshment throughout the course of their daily familial service.
As Catholics, we have in the Blessed Virgin Mary the greatest role model for parenting with faith and love. Cooper O'Boyle reminds mothers to strive to imitate Mary and her virtues in their lives and to turn to Mary, mother of Jesus and our mother, when in need of help or consolation. Additionally, she reminds mothers of their duty to pray on a regular basis, to teach their children to lead lives of constant prayer, and to seek out opportunities for evangelization in our everyday relationships. The age old conundrum of taking small children to Mass is lovingly and patiently discussed as the author shares her own experience as a mother of five. Donna-Marie encourages mothers to pray throughout their day and to model this prayer to their families. Families should emphasize family dinner as a time of spiritual and physical nourishment and each day should end in quiet prayer with our children.
In subsequent chapters, Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle shares the story of female saints whose lives of quiet service to their families shine as a true lesson for today's mothers. Additionally, and with great charm, Donna-Marie addresses the topic of suffering as a form of prayer and encourages mothers to look for life's "everyday miracles", those moments of grace and opportunity that are sprinkled throughout family life.
I have loved and followed the progression of Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle's writing from her previous book [...]. With The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home it is certain that Donna-Marie continues to encourage and support the vocation of motherhood with gentle and loving care.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
