We Believe: Forty Meditations on the Nicene Creed [Paperback]

Richard Maffeo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 2007

Richard Maffeo has written a heartfelt and heartwarming commentary on the Nicene Creed. His words and story will help every reader recognize the Risen Lord on their journey of life. - Fr. Michael McDermott, Pastor, St. Charles Borromeo, Tacoma, WA. Rich Maffeo provides us with a wonderful meditation on the fundamental profession of our Catholic faith. These meditations come out of a long and reflective spiritual journey that has taken him from Evangelical Protestant churches to a faithful and practicing member of the Roman Catholic community. This is a "must read" for laymen and women who seek a better understanding of Catholic faith in relationship to the experiences of daily living. Richard shares his journey and faith so each of us may grow together as a Holy People. - Fr. Thomas FX Hoar, SSE, Ph.D, President of St. Edmund's Retreat, Mystic, CT. For more than three decades, Richard Maffeo worshiped in evangelical Protestant churches. He earned his baccalaureate and masters degrees from Pentecostal schools. His religious articles have appeared in dozens of Christian publications. In 2003, a friend challenged him to study Catholic doctrine and compare it to what he already knew of Scripture and Church history. What he discovered caught him by surprise. Two years later, during the Easter Vigil of 2005, Richard was received into the Catholic Church. Richard and his wife, Nancy, attend St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, in Tacoma, Washington, where he serves as a catechist for sixth graders and a Lay Eucharistic Minister. He and his wife are married more than thirty-two years and have three grown children. This is his first book. His second - A Journey of Reflection - has a planned publication date in 2008.

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Xulon Press (March 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602662053
• ISBN-13: 978-1602662056
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #680,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Call for Simple Truth, June 28, 2007

By 

Albert D. Niebergall - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: We Believe: Forty Meditations on the Nicene Creed (Paperback)

"We Believe" June 28,2007
A D "Bud" Niebergall, Fircrest, WA.

Richard's book, "We Believe", Forty Meditations on the Nicene Creed, is long overdue. I have waited for many years to see and "hear" the deep truths of Christianity revealed and described in such a down to earth, straight forward manner.
The Nicene Creed, explained in the context of the Word of God and Richard's personal life, is unique and a real winner. His uncluttered manner of expression, gives a simplicity and power that can be readily taken into the heart of Catholic Christians, especially those who may never see or examine a Vatican Encyclical, or a Catholic Catechism.
I would recommend "We Believe" as a "must read" for any Christian in search of truth, and new life in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thank you Richard,the book has been an inspiration to me.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars We Believe, April 27, 2007

By 

Maddy (Port Ludlow, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: We Believe: Forty Meditations on the Nicene Creed (Paperback)

I Enjoyed reading the book, it had great insight into the Nicene Creed and its meaning into our lives. It also had personal example of Richards lifes experiences and how it might relate to us. I recommend it for a daily meditation and prayer.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Catechism or devotional -- two great uses!, May 16, 2007

By 

Helen Spalding "Chapmeister" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: We Believe: Forty Meditations on the Nicene Creed (Paperback)

"We Believe" makes an excellent addition to an older youth or adult catechism program. It is well thought out and personal in its approach. There are not many direct references to the Roman Catholic tradition that would deter most "free church" or evangelicals from being able to find its meditations accessible and highly useful in their personal devotional life.

For those in a more liturgical tradition, it also makes an excellent Lenten meditation guide. It's divided into 40 sections that have a unified focus for that given meditation. Maffeo takes the most basic creedal statement on which Christians can agree and applies real life situations that he either saw or participated in. It's a timely reminder of what it is that we Christians do believe as the world challenges us over our core beliefs.

Not only does Maffeo explore our beliefs, but he also challenges us to a deeper relationship with our God. It is that living relationship with the Triune God that is the key difference between Christianity and other faith traditions. He references each meditation with applicable Scripture and ends each with an appropriate short prayer. Some of the creeds statements deserve and are given several meditations.

The book is exceptionally well paced and smoothly written. While it is easy to read, it's also thought provoking. We Believe is a winner in content, outline, and style! Buy this gem if you want to deepen your walk.

Helen Spalding
retired Navy Chaplain