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The American Catholic Almanac: A Daily Reader of Patriots, Saints, Rogues, and Ordinary People Who Changed the United States
WHAT DO BUFFALO BILL, JOHN F. KENNEDY, VINCE LOMBARDI, DOROTHY DAY, FULTON SHEEN, AND ANDY WARHOL HAVE IN COMMON? They’re all Catholics who have shaped America. In this page-a-day history, 365 inspiring stories celebrate the historic contributions of American men and women shaped by their Catholic faith. From famous figures to lesser-known saints and sinners, The American Catholic Almanac tells the fascinating, funny, uplifting, and unlikely tales of Catholics’ influence on American history, culture, and politics. Spanning the scope of the Revolutionary War to Notre Dame football, this unique collection of stories highlights the transformative role of the Catholic Church in American public life over the last 400 years.Did you know…• The first immigrant to arrive in America via Ellis Island was a 15-year-old Irish Catholic girl?• Al Capone’s tombstone reads “MY JESUS MERCY”?• Andrew Jackson credited America’s victory in the Battle of New Orleans to the prayers of the Virgin Mary and the Ursuline Sisters?• Five Franciscans died in sixteenth-century Georgia defending the Church’s teachings on marriage?• Jack Kerouac died wanting to be known as a Catholic and not only as a beat poet?• Catholic missionaries lived in Virginia 36 years before the English settled Jamestown?
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2014
39 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 5, 2023
I'm a sucker for daily readers whether they are devotionals, writings of the saints, or historical almanacs. So if you combine American History with Catholicism naturally I'm going to be interested. I grew even more interested when a cursory glance revealed that General Longstreet, Buffalo Bill, and General Sherman were all Catholics. I did know that John Wayne became Catholic but not that famed director, and Wayne's longtime friend, John Ford was Catholic. Some of these famous men were more devout than others, some were late comers to the faith, but Catholicism helped define who each of them were.
The American Catholic Almanac by Brian Burch and Emily Stimpson looks not only at famous Catholics but at famous people who flirted with the faith in one way or another (Ronald Reagan and Mark Twain among them) although they never went all the way. It also tells us about people and events who are much less known but should be remembered by all of us today.
I was really interested to see how many "modern" hot button topics were a struggle for Catholics much earlier in our history. Separation of church and state became a Catholic issue in 1828 when schismatic priests appealed to President Andrew Jackson complaining the pope was acting like a "sovereign ruler." Nuns of today who shed their habits as a sign of "freedom" might be surprised to learn that in 1843 the Sisters of Mercy longed for the freedom to wear their habits but had to wear secular clothing because of the prevalent anti-Catholicism. The eugenics enthusiasts of 1927 would be openly approving of today's ability to test for such things as Down's Syndrome and would approve even more of the modern trend to abort any baby who the test shows might have it. We haven't really progressed as far as we'd like to think in that area. And those who lambast today's courts for not holding the high ideals of old times, might be surprised to learn that the Supreme Court supported Virginia's eugenics law with only one justice, a Catholic, dissenting. The authors don't make those comparisons for us, by the way. They leave us to draw our own conclusions and simply present the facts for our perusal.
It's not all serious, of course. In addition to tales of the famous people I mentioned above, there are stories of explorers, tales of churches, celebrations of faithful Catholics, and reminders of those who were not a credit to the faith. There is no telling when something will pop up to remind you how you are connected to the faith throughout our history and across our country. I was surprised to learn there is a cathedral in Dodge City, Kansas, where I lived for a year and a minor basilica in Victoria, Kansas. My husband and I were interested to read about the founding of St. Mary's in Galveston, Texas, because that is the church his grandmother fled to as a child during the devastating 1900 hurricane. It stood and she survived.
Speaking of my husband, I must praise the cover for this book which caught his attention and made him begin perusing it. He's not given to reading about Catholicism but this grounding of it in American history is right down his alley. Chalk one up for the value of having a printed book around to pique interest and keep him asking, "Who is it about today?" when he sees me pick it up for breakfast reading.
The one flaw is that it needs an index. There are a few appendices but if you want to find Sherman or Longstreet or Edgar Allen Poe then you've got to page through the book hoping they aren't too buried in the pages. Hopefully there will be a reprinting and this lack can be rectified.
Regardless of the lack of an index, this is a really great book and I highly recommend it.
NOTE
I received a review e-book and print copy of this work. My comments, as readers here know, are solely my own opinion.
The American Catholic Almanac by Brian Burch and Emily Stimpson looks not only at famous Catholics but at famous people who flirted with the faith in one way or another (Ronald Reagan and Mark Twain among them) although they never went all the way. It also tells us about people and events who are much less known but should be remembered by all of us today.
I was really interested to see how many "modern" hot button topics were a struggle for Catholics much earlier in our history. Separation of church and state became a Catholic issue in 1828 when schismatic priests appealed to President Andrew Jackson complaining the pope was acting like a "sovereign ruler." Nuns of today who shed their habits as a sign of "freedom" might be surprised to learn that in 1843 the Sisters of Mercy longed for the freedom to wear their habits but had to wear secular clothing because of the prevalent anti-Catholicism. The eugenics enthusiasts of 1927 would be openly approving of today's ability to test for such things as Down's Syndrome and would approve even more of the modern trend to abort any baby who the test shows might have it. We haven't really progressed as far as we'd like to think in that area. And those who lambast today's courts for not holding the high ideals of old times, might be surprised to learn that the Supreme Court supported Virginia's eugenics law with only one justice, a Catholic, dissenting. The authors don't make those comparisons for us, by the way. They leave us to draw our own conclusions and simply present the facts for our perusal.
It's not all serious, of course. In addition to tales of the famous people I mentioned above, there are stories of explorers, tales of churches, celebrations of faithful Catholics, and reminders of those who were not a credit to the faith. There is no telling when something will pop up to remind you how you are connected to the faith throughout our history and across our country. I was surprised to learn there is a cathedral in Dodge City, Kansas, where I lived for a year and a minor basilica in Victoria, Kansas. My husband and I were interested to read about the founding of St. Mary's in Galveston, Texas, because that is the church his grandmother fled to as a child during the devastating 1900 hurricane. It stood and she survived.
Speaking of my husband, I must praise the cover for this book which caught his attention and made him begin perusing it. He's not given to reading about Catholicism but this grounding of it in American history is right down his alley. Chalk one up for the value of having a printed book around to pique interest and keep him asking, "Who is it about today?" when he sees me pick it up for breakfast reading.
The one flaw is that it needs an index. There are a few appendices but if you want to find Sherman or Longstreet or Edgar Allen Poe then you've got to page through the book hoping they aren't too buried in the pages. Hopefully there will be a reprinting and this lack can be rectified.
Regardless of the lack of an index, this is a really great book and I highly recommend it.
NOTE
I received a review e-book and print copy of this work. My comments, as readers here know, are solely my own opinion.
August 28, 2017
This is a book that combines history of the U.S. and a person from America who is Catholic and what their contribution to our Nation was. Some stories I have heard but I must say many of them I had not. I found this to be a very interesting and informational book that was written in a lite easy way that honored the person and their faith. A very good book. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
January 21, 2015
The American Catholic Almanac by Brian Burch and Emily Stimpson is a lovely and interesting book. I am Catholic and have read/used many different Saint books, but this one is different. It tells the story of everyday people, priests, a president, etc. that have helped shaped American Catholicism. It is easy to read and provides great information on American Catholics. There are so many wonderful stories in this book. It is well-written and very informative. I look forward to reading a new story each day and learning more about American Catholicism. Happy Reading!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...
January 1, 2016
I really learned a lot from this book on how the Catholic Church influenced the USA!
December 31, 2020
What a fun daily reader! Of course, I didn't read it every day as intended, but I didn't mind reading 2 or 3 pages when I missed a weekend or a couple days.
There's a lot of info about Catholic settlers to America, and fun facts about people I didn't know were Catholic. Al Capone isn't a shining example of good virtue, but he donated much of his (illicit) funds to the Church. "Roe" of Roe v. Wade ultimately converted and became a pro-life activist. There are many missionaries who braved the frontiers of the midwest and Alaska, and there are stories of building cathedrals, schools, and parishes. It's a history I'd like to learn more about, one that shaped Catholicism in America and the country itself.
There's a lot of info about Catholic settlers to America, and fun facts about people I didn't know were Catholic. Al Capone isn't a shining example of good virtue, but he donated much of his (illicit) funds to the Church. "Roe" of Roe v. Wade ultimately converted and became a pro-life activist. There are many missionaries who braved the frontiers of the midwest and Alaska, and there are stories of building cathedrals, schools, and parishes. It's a history I'd like to learn more about, one that shaped Catholicism in America and the country itself.
September 16, 2020
Probably because I'm reading this in 2020 I found that this book really needed to be updated. And check their research. Some of it was plain out wrong. And some were included threat had no relation whatsoever to the US which is what this almanac is supposed to be about. And there were repeats which goes back to the research. Great idea, poor execution.
June 14, 2017
I learned so much from this book. Catholicism in America has a very rich and wonderful history.
March 6, 2018
What a great read. So many catholics helped America become great.
December 31, 2023
A good look at some Catholic Americans with brief write ups of their lives.
February 18, 2015
The good news is that I can officially add The American Catholic Almanac by Brian Burch and Emily Stimpson to my read shelf on Goodreads, having devoured the entire thing. The bad news is the book is meant to last an entire year (one entry per day) and I gorged on the entire book in between naps, setting up the crock pot, and sub-par monitoring of my daughter's paint project on the kitchen table (seriously, that got messy ya'll!). As my toddler likes to say, the book is "all gone."
Each entry is a single page devoted to recording interesting and often unknown (OK, so they were all pretty much unknown to me) snippets of Americana, Catholic style. Each story portrayed a prominent historical figure or time in history starring a Catholic individual. The book cover totes several examples including:
The first immigrant to arrive in America via Ellis Island was a 15-year-old Irish Catholic girl? (this one is really sweet...FYI....a true story of sibling love)
Al Capone’s tombstone reads “MY JESUS MERCY”?
Andrew Jackson credited America’s victory in the Battle of New Orleans to the prayers of the Virgin Mary and the Ursuline Sisters?
Five Franciscans died in sixteenth-century Georgia defending the Church’s teachings on marriage?
Jack Kerouac died wanting to be known as a Catholic and not only as a beat poet?
Catholic missionaries lived in Virginia 36 years before the English settled Jamestown?
A personal favorite is May 4th, starring Reverend Fulton J. Sheen, of Sheenazing Awards fame. He lends his ear and patience to a struggling congresswoman dealing with the unexpected and tragic death of her daughter. Credited with the unfortunate, but popular phrases, "No good deed goes unpunished," and "Widowhood is a fringe benefit of marriage," she was an unlikely Catholic convert, but convert she did and go on to do many wonderful things for her faith. She is the founder of South Carolina's Mepkin Abbey.
The book is filled with inspiring and interesting stories like these, some starring very prominent historical figures, others lesser known characters. I found myself wondering if all the stories were factually accurate, but the few that I googled seemed to be at least consistent with Internet based data. I think this would be a wonderful gift for a Catholic history buff or person who likes to read some interesting intellectual content in small snippets throughout the day - read Catholic Home Schooling Mama! LOL
Have you read it? What did you think? Did you have a favorite story?
Each entry is a single page devoted to recording interesting and often unknown (OK, so they were all pretty much unknown to me) snippets of Americana, Catholic style. Each story portrayed a prominent historical figure or time in history starring a Catholic individual. The book cover totes several examples including:
The first immigrant to arrive in America via Ellis Island was a 15-year-old Irish Catholic girl? (this one is really sweet...FYI....a true story of sibling love)
Al Capone’s tombstone reads “MY JESUS MERCY”?
Andrew Jackson credited America’s victory in the Battle of New Orleans to the prayers of the Virgin Mary and the Ursuline Sisters?
Five Franciscans died in sixteenth-century Georgia defending the Church’s teachings on marriage?
Jack Kerouac died wanting to be known as a Catholic and not only as a beat poet?
Catholic missionaries lived in Virginia 36 years before the English settled Jamestown?
A personal favorite is May 4th, starring Reverend Fulton J. Sheen, of Sheenazing Awards fame. He lends his ear and patience to a struggling congresswoman dealing with the unexpected and tragic death of her daughter. Credited with the unfortunate, but popular phrases, "No good deed goes unpunished," and "Widowhood is a fringe benefit of marriage," she was an unlikely Catholic convert, but convert she did and go on to do many wonderful things for her faith. She is the founder of South Carolina's Mepkin Abbey.
The book is filled with inspiring and interesting stories like these, some starring very prominent historical figures, others lesser known characters. I found myself wondering if all the stories were factually accurate, but the few that I googled seemed to be at least consistent with Internet based data. I think this would be a wonderful gift for a Catholic history buff or person who likes to read some interesting intellectual content in small snippets throughout the day - read Catholic Home Schooling Mama! LOL
Have you read it? What did you think? Did you have a favorite story?
From the Publisher:
WHAT DO BUFFALO BILL , JOHN F. KENNEDY, VINCE LOMBARDI , DOROTHY DAY, FULTON SHEEN, AND ANDY WARHOL HAVE IN COMMON?
They’re all Catholics who have shaped America. In this page-a-day history, 365 inspiring stories celebrate the historic contributions of American men and women shaped by their Catholic faith. From famous figures to lesser-known saints and sinners, The American Catholic Almanac tells the fascinating, funny, uplifting, and unlikely tales of Catholics’ influence on American history, culture, and politics. Spanning the scope of the Revolutionary War to Notre Dame football, this unique collection of stories highlights the transformative role of the Catholic Church in American public life over the last 400 years.
Did you know…
• The first immigrant to arrive in America via Ellis Island was a 15-year-old Irish Catholic girl?
• Al Capone’s tombstone reads “MY JESUS MERCY”?
• Andrew Jackson credited America’s victory in the Battle of New Orleans to the prayers of the Virgin Mary and the Ursuline Sisters?
• Five Franciscans died in sixteenth-century Georgia defending the Church’s teachings on marriage?
• Jack Kerouac died wanting to be known as a Catholic and not only as a beat poet?
• Catholic missionaries lived in Virginia 36 years before the English settled Jamestown?I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
December 31, 2022
I've read daily for 4 years. This will be my last year. The biggest impact on me from this book was the anti Catholicism in America, especially in the early days. Catholics were persecuted in so many ways. This is my last year reading.
November 19, 2014
Here is My Book Review:
The American Catholic Almanac…. A Daily Reader of Patriots, Saints, Rogues, and Ordinary People (Catholic) Who Changed the United States, by Brian Burch & Emily Stimpson
This is a incredible and easy-to-read, family book. We keep it in our bedroom, for now, because that is where we do our nightly readings, prayers, etc. Each night, my son reads to us from this book. It’s very exciting to him, because he loves the bond of sharing our Faith with people from so long ago.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book this past October, and because each day has a reading assigned to it, I have only read about five weeks worth of readings. In that time we’ve read about the founder of Detroit, Stagecoach Mary (slave), Dutch Schultz (gangster) and so many other fascinating characters who we never knew were Catholic. These Catholic people were politicians, diplomats, teachers, athletes, doctors, scientists, Bishops, slaves, gangsters – literally people of every race and station in life. But they all persevered and changed our Country for the better (ok, well most of them… maybe not the gangsters, though they were Catholic, sigh).
We love History and, of course, as a Catholic, we love Catholic History. My child is fascinated that so many people who did great things in America are Catholic. John Wayne and Buffalo Bill Cody both died Catholics. Did you know that? Our state, Texas, was actually started by Catholics… ok, mostly because you had to be Catholic in order to be allowed to move here from Mexico… but still!
When reading reviews, one of the most interesting points kept cropping up, and that is, how much of yesteryear in good old America mirrors today. That is something that really hit home with me. That and the fact that I, perhaps sadly, had no idea how many Catholics had shaped the course of our country in so many unbelievable and meaningful ways.
In the Preface of the book, one of the topics that resonated with me is how much we know about Catholic History as it pertains to the Crusades and Europe, etc…. but how little we all know about the Catholics who came here from Europe and sacrificed so much.
“Because we don’t know those stories, because we don’t know what those early American Catholics sacrificed, we also don’t know how much we’ve gained. And that puts us at a serious disadvantage, especially when it comes to the ongoing debate over the place of religion in public life.”
We plan to read it all as a family, and then it will become, what my mother used to call a “coffee table book”, because when people come over and they want to read something, it’s a perfect quick read. I’m sure our friends will be just as fascinated.
I both won this book from a give away, and then received it from Blogging for Books. I have earmarked it for a friend for the Holidays. But I’ve got to state this, “I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.”
I hope and pray you like this review and find it helpful.
Blessings,
Emily
The American Catholic Almanac…. A Daily Reader of Patriots, Saints, Rogues, and Ordinary People (Catholic) Who Changed the United States, by Brian Burch & Emily Stimpson
This is a incredible and easy-to-read, family book. We keep it in our bedroom, for now, because that is where we do our nightly readings, prayers, etc. Each night, my son reads to us from this book. It’s very exciting to him, because he loves the bond of sharing our Faith with people from so long ago.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book this past October, and because each day has a reading assigned to it, I have only read about five weeks worth of readings. In that time we’ve read about the founder of Detroit, Stagecoach Mary (slave), Dutch Schultz (gangster) and so many other fascinating characters who we never knew were Catholic. These Catholic people were politicians, diplomats, teachers, athletes, doctors, scientists, Bishops, slaves, gangsters – literally people of every race and station in life. But they all persevered and changed our Country for the better (ok, well most of them… maybe not the gangsters, though they were Catholic, sigh).
We love History and, of course, as a Catholic, we love Catholic History. My child is fascinated that so many people who did great things in America are Catholic. John Wayne and Buffalo Bill Cody both died Catholics. Did you know that? Our state, Texas, was actually started by Catholics… ok, mostly because you had to be Catholic in order to be allowed to move here from Mexico… but still!
When reading reviews, one of the most interesting points kept cropping up, and that is, how much of yesteryear in good old America mirrors today. That is something that really hit home with me. That and the fact that I, perhaps sadly, had no idea how many Catholics had shaped the course of our country in so many unbelievable and meaningful ways.
In the Preface of the book, one of the topics that resonated with me is how much we know about Catholic History as it pertains to the Crusades and Europe, etc…. but how little we all know about the Catholics who came here from Europe and sacrificed so much.
“Because we don’t know those stories, because we don’t know what those early American Catholics sacrificed, we also don’t know how much we’ve gained. And that puts us at a serious disadvantage, especially when it comes to the ongoing debate over the place of religion in public life.”
We plan to read it all as a family, and then it will become, what my mother used to call a “coffee table book”, because when people come over and they want to read something, it’s a perfect quick read. I’m sure our friends will be just as fascinated.
I both won this book from a give away, and then received it from Blogging for Books. I have earmarked it for a friend for the Holidays. But I’ve got to state this, “I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.”
I hope and pray you like this review and find it helpful.
Blessings,
Emily
October 7, 2014
When I first started reading The American Catholic Almanac, I was afraid that it might be boring because I link the term “almanac” with dull statistical facts, but this reference book is anything but boring. Since I home school my kids, we know a fair amount about American Catholic history, so some of the stories and histories were familiar, but they were taken from such various personal perspectives that I found myself truly drawn into the story behind the history.
The American Catholic Almanac achieves several things at once. First of all, it clearly outlines the enormous impact that Catholics have had on the United States both in helping to shape it and in surviving some of its more brutal policies. Most of the people described are wonderful and supportive, but the authors, Brian Burch and Emily Stimpson, do not shy away from including some of histories and actions of the more unsavory Catholic figures and their grievous effects on this nation.
Secondly, I was reminded of the challenges that Catholic Americans have had to face throughout our history, in terms of persecution. It seems hard to believe, educated as I was through a public school system which insisted that the United States was always the bastion of religious freedom, to realize how often Catholics were excluded from free expression of our faith and, in fact, severely penalized for simply being Catholic. Here is an untold story revealed. It is one of both tragic suffering and heroic endurance.
Third, I have come to better appreciate the influence that the Catholic faith has had on the moral compass of Americans. Famous and influential, as well as ordinary Catholic citizens, have had more than a marginal hand in forming the best aspects of our nation. It was when certain Catholics decided that they needed to be more American than Catholic and separated their faith from their public duty that tragedy in the form of ill-advised and outright evil legislation was passed with little accountability from those who should have known better and acted differently.
I highly recommend The American Catholic Almanac to anyone who wants to understand our nation better and take a closer look at some of the heroic examples of selfless love which have helped to make this country truly great.
The American Catholic Almanac achieves several things at once. First of all, it clearly outlines the enormous impact that Catholics have had on the United States both in helping to shape it and in surviving some of its more brutal policies. Most of the people described are wonderful and supportive, but the authors, Brian Burch and Emily Stimpson, do not shy away from including some of histories and actions of the more unsavory Catholic figures and their grievous effects on this nation.
Secondly, I was reminded of the challenges that Catholic Americans have had to face throughout our history, in terms of persecution. It seems hard to believe, educated as I was through a public school system which insisted that the United States was always the bastion of religious freedom, to realize how often Catholics were excluded from free expression of our faith and, in fact, severely penalized for simply being Catholic. Here is an untold story revealed. It is one of both tragic suffering and heroic endurance.
Third, I have come to better appreciate the influence that the Catholic faith has had on the moral compass of Americans. Famous and influential, as well as ordinary Catholic citizens, have had more than a marginal hand in forming the best aspects of our nation. It was when certain Catholics decided that they needed to be more American than Catholic and separated their faith from their public duty that tragedy in the form of ill-advised and outright evil legislation was passed with little accountability from those who should have known better and acted differently.
I highly recommend The American Catholic Almanac to anyone who wants to understand our nation better and take a closer look at some of the heroic examples of selfless love which have helped to make this country truly great.
May 17, 2016
The American Catholic Almanac is a fascinating look at the brave people, historical circumstances, and stalwart faith that shaped the Catholic Church in the United States.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this motley crew of individuals recognized for their holiness as well as their boldness for Christ. A masterful mix of well-known figures and lesser-known characters united to bring the faith to this country and keep it going.
This is not a mere jog through the litany of saints. Though a number of individuals written about in these pages have received this distinction from the Vatican, many of these men and women haven’t yet and may never make it into the latest edition of Saint of the Day.
The variety of reasons a certain person or incident is chosen for each particular day of the year adds intrigue and diversity. Not only birthdays, death dates, and saints’ feast days are mentioned and recorded in this daily reader, but also many other 24-hour periods significant to history in America. Some other entries mark the anniversaries of when a battle was reenacted, prestigious Catholic colleges and universities began a conference, a personal letter was penned, Prohibition ended, a new order of religious women came into being, and the elevation of a cathedral to the status of basilica.
It was fun not knowing what to expect for each day, priest or laity, patriot or rogue, commoner or coincidence. As unexpected as much of America’s history, this tome illustrates the excitement and danger embodied in the Catholic quest for eternal salvation.
I would recommend this book for history buffs, well-read Catholics, as well as those who are just getting to know the overarching attributes characteristic of the usual suspects for sainthood.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this motley crew of individuals recognized for their holiness as well as their boldness for Christ. A masterful mix of well-known figures and lesser-known characters united to bring the faith to this country and keep it going.
This is not a mere jog through the litany of saints. Though a number of individuals written about in these pages have received this distinction from the Vatican, many of these men and women haven’t yet and may never make it into the latest edition of Saint of the Day.
The variety of reasons a certain person or incident is chosen for each particular day of the year adds intrigue and diversity. Not only birthdays, death dates, and saints’ feast days are mentioned and recorded in this daily reader, but also many other 24-hour periods significant to history in America. Some other entries mark the anniversaries of when a battle was reenacted, prestigious Catholic colleges and universities began a conference, a personal letter was penned, Prohibition ended, a new order of religious women came into being, and the elevation of a cathedral to the status of basilica.
It was fun not knowing what to expect for each day, priest or laity, patriot or rogue, commoner or coincidence. As unexpected as much of America’s history, this tome illustrates the excitement and danger embodied in the Catholic quest for eternal salvation.
I would recommend this book for history buffs, well-read Catholics, as well as those who are just getting to know the overarching attributes characteristic of the usual suspects for sainthood.
October 22, 2015
My eyes have been opened to the rich history and beauty of American Catholicism. The subtitle of this book is “A Daily Reader of Patriots, Saints, Rogues, and Ordinary people". This subtitle gives a glimpse into a history punctuated with many different spiritual paths of specific Americans. In this book, there are famous people you have heard of, like Fulton Sheen, Michael McGivney and many not so famous like Theodora Guerin, Rene Goupil. All of the stories are interesting histories of real Americans. There are stories of establishments of dioceses and designations of minor basilicas in America. There are also fun stories like the one of Al Capone.
I like the one story a day format, so you can break it up to once a day reading. You could incorporate this into your daily prayer time or ponder their stories throughout your day. You could also look up a special day like your birthday to see what happened in American Catholic history on that day.
It does need lend itself to reading straight through like a novel because this is not the intended format. There is a jumping around of timelines which is a bit confusing but probably not as much if not reading straight through. It is hard to sum up someone's life in one page but the authors do a good job of giving you the essence of what contribution this person has made to American Catholic history.
I would recommend this book to expand your historical knowledge of American Catholicism and to give you a sense of being part of a rich Christian heritage in America. Even those who are not Catholic will enjoy these stories of American Christians who helped shape the religious landscape of American history.
I like the one story a day format, so you can break it up to once a day reading. You could incorporate this into your daily prayer time or ponder their stories throughout your day. You could also look up a special day like your birthday to see what happened in American Catholic history on that day.
It does need lend itself to reading straight through like a novel because this is not the intended format. There is a jumping around of timelines which is a bit confusing but probably not as much if not reading straight through. It is hard to sum up someone's life in one page but the authors do a good job of giving you the essence of what contribution this person has made to American Catholic history.
I would recommend this book to expand your historical knowledge of American Catholicism and to give you a sense of being part of a rich Christian heritage in America. Even those who are not Catholic will enjoy these stories of American Christians who helped shape the religious landscape of American history.
October 30, 2016
How Catholics influence/d America?
Informative and well-researched book about the people (from well-known historical figures to lesser known individuals/groups) and historical happenings who and what helped to shape the U.S.
The novel is in the form of the daily reader, but it is no devotional (as there are no meditations/prayers for everyday read), it is more like a historical journal telling the stories about the Catholics in America. The period is from the Amerigo Vespucci times till todays, the characters are Catholics (or those who were influenced by Catholicism, like Ronald Reagan, whose mother had converted to another denomination before his birth) - but not just saintly characters. The book is not shy to tell the stories about controversial characters as well. The book covers interesting facts, small history pieces, big events and heroic acts, and this pele-mele is both interesting and inspiring.
The tone is more like non-fiction, but very readable still.
I am European, living in the country with a quite high percentage of Catholics - but also the post-communist one. So I know firsthand how complicated the religious/anti-religious discussions can be. This book can help its reader (both Catholic and non-Catholic) to have a broader scope of history and to understand how useful Catholics were/are for the country and to be proud of the American Catholic heritage.
In the complicated days of church people sinning, it is good to know that there are not just sinners, but people of good character and even saints, too, who can spread the goodwill and the moral message for the benefit of all.
Informative and well-researched book about the people (from well-known historical figures to lesser known individuals/groups) and historical happenings who and what helped to shape the U.S.
The novel is in the form of the daily reader, but it is no devotional (as there are no meditations/prayers for everyday read), it is more like a historical journal telling the stories about the Catholics in America. The period is from the Amerigo Vespucci times till todays, the characters are Catholics (or those who were influenced by Catholicism, like Ronald Reagan, whose mother had converted to another denomination before his birth) - but not just saintly characters. The book is not shy to tell the stories about controversial characters as well. The book covers interesting facts, small history pieces, big events and heroic acts, and this pele-mele is both interesting and inspiring.
The tone is more like non-fiction, but very readable still.
I am European, living in the country with a quite high percentage of Catholics - but also the post-communist one. So I know firsthand how complicated the religious/anti-religious discussions can be. This book can help its reader (both Catholic and non-Catholic) to have a broader scope of history and to understand how useful Catholics were/are for the country and to be proud of the American Catholic heritage.
In the complicated days of church people sinning, it is good to know that there are not just sinners, but people of good character and even saints, too, who can spread the goodwill and the moral message for the benefit of all.
January 25, 2020
This book is fascinating to read and it covers a tremendous amount of history. It is meant to be read daily although I cheated a bit and read quite a bit already. Prior to this, I’ve read several books and many stories about Catholic Saints so when I saw that this book was available to review on Blogging For Books I knew right away that I wanted to request it. This book makes for an easy to read daily look at people and events that helped shaped the Catholic Church in America. For example: Who knew that Catholic Missionaries had actually lived in Virginia 36 years before the English settled Jamestown?
Not me and I was surprised to learn that and it so intrigued me that I researched a little more. That’s what reading this book has been like for me. It’s such an interesting collection of history and also helped me gain so much more understanding in regards to the sacrifices and the love for the Catholic Church. There are so many inspiring people and stories that are included in this book, some you may have heard of and many you probably haven’t.
I know that I'll enjoy this book for a long time and I'm doing my best to read it one day at a time like it was intended although sometimes I still cheat now and then and read ahead. What would I change about the book? The text throughout the book is rather plain but overall it's a wonderful book.
Not me and I was surprised to learn that and it so intrigued me that I researched a little more. That’s what reading this book has been like for me. It’s such an interesting collection of history and also helped me gain so much more understanding in regards to the sacrifices and the love for the Catholic Church. There are so many inspiring people and stories that are included in this book, some you may have heard of and many you probably haven’t.
I know that I'll enjoy this book for a long time and I'm doing my best to read it one day at a time like it was intended although sometimes I still cheat now and then and read ahead. What would I change about the book? The text throughout the book is rather plain but overall it's a wonderful book.
May 25, 2015
The Catholic Almanac is more than a book. It is a daily journey through American Catholic history. Each of the 365 days highlights a specific Catholic person and something that ties them to that specific date (birth, death, ordination, etc.). For example on January 15, 1844, the Indiana Legislature granted Fr. Edward Sorin a college charter, and that was the birth of Notre Dame. The beauty of this book is that there are both famous and ordinary people highlighted in this book; people who were great Catholics and people who had some general connection to Catholics. Some of the names in this book are John F. Kennedy, Al Capone, and Jack Kerouac to name a few.
The book is what I call an appetizer book. It whets your appetite, gets you interested in a specific person/subject, and hopefully leads you to read more about the specific person/subject. The best use of this book I see is in a Catholic classroom or a homeschool setting. It is also just an interesting read if you are a history buff. Just so we're clear, this book is not a devotional, but it is a book you can read after your daily devotional (if you are the daily devotional type). Another minor pet peeve of mine is that there is no February 29th. I know it only comes up every four years, but it would have been nice to have unless nothing interesting was found for that day. Four stars!
The book is what I call an appetizer book. It whets your appetite, gets you interested in a specific person/subject, and hopefully leads you to read more about the specific person/subject. The best use of this book I see is in a Catholic classroom or a homeschool setting. It is also just an interesting read if you are a history buff. Just so we're clear, this book is not a devotional, but it is a book you can read after your daily devotional (if you are the daily devotional type). Another minor pet peeve of mine is that there is no February 29th. I know it only comes up every four years, but it would have been nice to have unless nothing interesting was found for that day. Four stars!
October 14, 2015
This book is a daily reader, so it will be on my reading list for quite some time. I began reading it the day I received it from the First Reads program on Oct. 6. On that day I read about the legendary Christopher ‘Kit’ Carson who entered the Catholic Church in 1842 at the behest of his third wife who bore him eight children. Each day contains a short essay about an historic figure, some notorious, some saintly . . ., but all having Catholicism as a common denominator. In the past six weeks or so I’ve read about nuns who were thanked by U.S. Commander General Andrew Jackson for saving the city of New Orleans; Mary Fields, a sharp-shooting, whisky-drinking, cigar-puffing, pants-wearing, punch-throwing, six-foot-tall former slave known as “Stagecoach Mary”; famed actress Dolores Hart who gave up a promising Hollywood career to become a Benedictine nun, Father Charles Coughlin, an anti-Semite priest who was silenced by the Vatican, American Naval Commander Jeremiah Denton, Jr. who credited his prayers during his tenure as a POW during the Vietnam war with saving his life, which he devoted to helping veterans during his remaining years . . . . the list goes on and on. It is definitely a thought-provoking glimpse at American History from an interesting perspective.
February 4, 2015
Much of it is very interesting. Definitely cool to see the role Catholics have played in the US.
That being said, Stimpson and Burch clearly have an agenda. While unfortunate, this is not surprising given their Catholic Vote background.
One example, the Catholic Worker section states "it hoped to help the most susceptible to Communism's appeal realize that another, better alternative existed." While the CW certainly was against Communism it was also against capitalism and I think the headline from the April 1948 is clear enough "Passionate condemnation of UMT (Universal Military Training) as un-Catholic and atheistic. Advocates Catholics become conscientious objectors. Condemns Americanism and rabid Anti-Communism." To sum up the CW as anti-communist and helpers of the poor is reductionist at best, and misinformation at worst.
Also the myth that JFK was a supply-sider conservative. See here: http://www.usnews.com/opinion/article... and here http://www.slate.com/articles/news_an....
It is not a true almanac and has a conservative slant. Though, I don't know why I would have expected anything different.
That being said, Stimpson and Burch clearly have an agenda. While unfortunate, this is not surprising given their Catholic Vote background.
One example, the Catholic Worker section states "it hoped to help the most susceptible to Communism's appeal realize that another, better alternative existed." While the CW certainly was against Communism it was also against capitalism and I think the headline from the April 1948 is clear enough "Passionate condemnation of UMT (Universal Military Training) as un-Catholic and atheistic. Advocates Catholics become conscientious objectors. Condemns Americanism and rabid Anti-Communism." To sum up the CW as anti-communist and helpers of the poor is reductionist at best, and misinformation at worst.
Also the myth that JFK was a supply-sider conservative. See here: http://www.usnews.com/opinion/article... and here http://www.slate.com/articles/news_an....
It is not a true almanac and has a conservative slant. Though, I don't know why I would have expected anything different.
September 22, 2016
I love this book! I really love this book! I think this book is one of the most awesome books ever! Here’s why:
For every day of the year, you get a one page reading on an interesting chapter in American Catholic history. These stories include well-known people like Edgar Allan Poe and people you wish you knew like Margaret Haughery, an uneducated, illiterate businesswoman who rose above her past to raise $600,000 for charity and was buried with a crucifix from the pope! The history of the Catholic Church in America is a woefully unappreciated subcategory of Catholic history. We’ve been here since the beginning. Our story has high highs and low lows. It contains characters from all walks of life. We’ve done some great things and some not-so-great things.
One thing I can guarantee is, if your loved one is a Catholic nerd, they will never be bored with this book.
I got this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review. Buy it, you won’t regret it. And totally join me on Blogging for Books if you want free books to blog about.
Review appeared at: https://truedignityofwomen.wordpress....
For every day of the year, you get a one page reading on an interesting chapter in American Catholic history. These stories include well-known people like Edgar Allan Poe and people you wish you knew like Margaret Haughery, an uneducated, illiterate businesswoman who rose above her past to raise $600,000 for charity and was buried with a crucifix from the pope! The history of the Catholic Church in America is a woefully unappreciated subcategory of Catholic history. We’ve been here since the beginning. Our story has high highs and low lows. It contains characters from all walks of life. We’ve done some great things and some not-so-great things.
One thing I can guarantee is, if your loved one is a Catholic nerd, they will never be bored with this book.
I got this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review. Buy it, you won’t regret it. And totally join me on Blogging for Books if you want free books to blog about.
Review appeared at: https://truedignityofwomen.wordpress....
November 13, 2014
St. Catherine of Siena famously said, “If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!”
Less well-known is a quote by St. Edith Stein. She didn’t say it about American Catholics, but definitely fits: “The nation doesn’t simply need what we have. It needs what we are.”
Neither of those quotes are in "The American Catholic Almanac: A Daily Reader of Patriots, Saints, Rogues, and Ordinary People Who Changed the United States."
But they explain the appeal of this treasury that explores how a varied cast of characters and events shaped the nation and its Catholic culture.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://readingcatholic.com/american-a...
Less well-known is a quote by St. Edith Stein. She didn’t say it about American Catholics, but definitely fits: “The nation doesn’t simply need what we have. It needs what we are.”
Neither of those quotes are in "The American Catholic Almanac: A Daily Reader of Patriots, Saints, Rogues, and Ordinary People Who Changed the United States."
But they explain the appeal of this treasury that explores how a varied cast of characters and events shaped the nation and its Catholic culture.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://readingcatholic.com/american-a...
May 15, 2016
Normally I find myself falling far behind on daily readers, but this one is so engaging I'm more likely to pick it up, only to be disappointed to find I've already read the day's entry.
To the request in Julie's review, below, for an index, I'd like to add one for a bibliography. The authors manage to present engaging accounts in their allotted only one page per story, but it still leaves the reader wanting more, and I'd love to see some of the sources of their research in order to delve deeper myself.
To the request in Julie's review, below, for an index, I'd like to add one for a bibliography. The authors manage to present engaging accounts in their allotted only one page per story, but it still leaves the reader wanting more, and I'd love to see some of the sources of their research in order to delve deeper myself.
January 26, 2016
I read this throughout the past year and recently finished the year. There are some fascinating people and events mentioned. But the authors' political and religious biases come through - which is not surprising. We all come with our biases. But I sometime felt that people I think are rogues were presented more as saints. I also felt that being a patriot was more important than someone being a saint. But those are my biases.
March 15, 2016
So many inspiring stories of Catholics I didn't know diddly squat about!
June 27, 2016
Got to March, then I had to return it to the library.
This would be a good book to own and reference periodically.
This would be a good book to own and reference periodically.
July 23, 2018
Brian Burch and Emily Stimpson clearly worked hard to craft thoughtful reflections for each day of the year for American Catholics. The book is organized by months and days in which the reader digests reflections about Catholic Americans past and how they affected our present. I would love to try to become a part of our future!
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