The Bad Catholic's Guide to Good Living: A Loving Look at the Lighter Side of Catholic Faith, with Recipes for Feast and Fun (Bad Catholic's guides) (Paperback)

by John Zmirak (Author), Densie Matychowiak (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
*Celebrate the Feast Days of the Saints—and don’t forget your trampoline!*

A zany but ultimately reverent look at the saints, doctrines, customs and folklore of the Catholic Church, with recipes for food and fun from all over the world, and crackpot, delightful party ideas. Written by a Catholic journalist and a four-star chef, it’s an entertaining guide and guerilla catechism, wrapped up in one hilarious package.

From the Back Cover
"The book is outrageous… What rescues it is that it is not based on a sophomoric parody of Catholic exaggeration, but on a clear love for the sheer facticity of Catholicism." -- Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete, theologian and author, former president of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and professor at the John Paul II Institute for Studies in Marriage and Family.

"Silly some of the time, respectful most of the time and hilarious all of the time, even the squirrel recipes sound delicious and will have me driving slower thru the red states, chumming for low cost snacks on the two lane all the way to Mardi Gras." -- Mario Batali, chef, host of Molto Mario, Mario Eats Italy, and Ciao America on the Food Network, author, The Babbo Cookbook.

"The ideas outlined here for food and fun are zany, sophisticated, and delightful! How many guides to seasonal cooking urge their readers to flambé chickens, smother squirrels, put antidepressants in the punch bowl and sell indulgences? Not nearly enough, if you ask me." -- Georges Briguet, proprietor, Le Perigord, NYC, which opened April 1,1964.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: The Crossroad Publishing Company (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824523008
• ISBN-13: 978-0824523008
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #136,398 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Food, Good Laughs, Good Theology!, October 15, 2005

By	Robert T. Davis "Deacon Bob" (Blairstown, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was hooked on this book by page three, and by page seven had decided that it was going to be my Christmas gift to my pastor, priest friends, fellow deacons, and more than a few others!

It starts out with an introduction by Pope Alexender VI, one of the better Borgia popes, who died in 1503 and, according to the introduction, currently resides in the Seventh Terrace of Purgatory. That gives the reader a clue as to the sense of humor John Zmirak and Denise Matychowiak will inflict upon the reader!

The book is organized chronologically, and includes feast days both great and obscure. Just about every one includes suggestions for a celebratory meal or other, occasionally twisted, but always fun, way to observe the day. Sprinkled throughout are informative pieces on the sacraments, and any mention of Catholic practices and beliefs is, if humorous, always accurate.

It's not often you'll find yourself laughing outloud at a "cookbook", as I did at the Dallas airport, but if you love the Church, and you love to laugh, and you love to eat, this book is definitely for you!!!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun with Faith., September 20, 2005

By	Meredith Gould "'The Catholic Home' author" (Princeton, NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Zmirak and Matychowiak have found -- and tickled -- the funny bone in the Body of Christ. Thanks be to GOD. Their wickedly smart book about sacraments, saints, and holy days is grounded in rigorous research, solid scholarship, and clearly a love for Catholicism, oddities and all. Every page includes laugh out loud funny observations about Catholic belief and practice. Church doctrine is poked at with wise irreverence. The illustrations are brilliant. What kind of [adjective] would choose a poodle to illustrate the Hound of Heaven? Too too funny. I love this book as much as my own! Actually, I'm jealous. John? Denise? Is that a sin??

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We can be Faithful and Funny, September 2, 2005

By	Marty (Queens NYC) - See all my reviews

You will not find a book on the Saints or Church history like this, anywhere! As a traditionaly minded Catholic, I have wanted fellowship with other like minded Catholics. All too often the Catholics I met were not people I wanted to "hang out" with, they could not laugh at themselves.
Zmirak & Matychowiak show Catholics that The Faith can be fun and interesting. The authors are real poeple, that are not afraid to wrestle with their Faith, but remain orthodox.
In the book you will learn little known facts about the Church, her Saints and her history. They also provide fun and clever ideas and recipes, to celebrate the Feasts of the Church.
You will laugh out loud and grow in virtue. What a great and welcomed combination.

Traditional, as well as Christmas and Easter Catholics, will enjoy this book. You will use it throughout the year and many years to come.

I really enjoyed the story of St. Agatha found on February 5th. I can't wait to put into practice the author's recommended recipes and action for that day.

Enjoy the book!