If you're hoping to get to heaven, you'll need a plan to reach your goal. Do you pray? Give any thought to the virtues? Do works of mercy? And what about the sacraments? Been to confession lately? Are you doing any spiritual reading?
This handy manual not only presents all the elements of a successful life, it also helps you incorporate those elements into everyday practice. Be Holy is the guide you need to achieve holiness now and heaven later.
This is the second book I have read by Father Thomas G. Morrow, the other published under the name Rev T.G. Morrow. Both books were excellent. But having read Overcoming Sinful Anger prior to reading this book I had really high expectations. Father Morrow writes in a very engaging way. Both of his book I have read have really benefited my spiritual life. To be honest this book has so much good content I am likely to go back and reread it again in a year, just as a check in to see how I am doing and as a reminder.
The sections in this book are: Foreword by Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl Introduction Part One: Motivations for Holiness The Delight of Heaven: The Divine Marriage The Reality of Hell The Suffering of Purgatory The Pursuit of Happiness Part Two: The Life of Grace The Foundation: Prayer Beginning Prayer Spiritual Reading Meditation and Contemplation Difficulties in Prayer Commitment to Prayer The Sacrament of Penance The Mass, "Source and Summit of the Christian Life" Eucharistic Adoration Part Three: Loving Our Neighbor The Spiritual Works of Mercy The Corporal Works of Mercy Part Four: The Life of Virtue The Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity Prudence, Justice and Fortitude Temperance The Fruits of the Holy Spirit The Shortest Way to the Kingdom Afterword Notes
In these 20 chapters and coming in at under 200 pages this book packs a lot of great content in tightly. In the forward Archbishop Wuerl states "My hope is that Be Holy: A Catholic's Guide to the Spiritual Life will help readers grow in appreciation of the many gifts Christ has given to assist us as we make our way toward union with God in heaven. As Father Morrow reminds us, "holiness is the happiest way to live" because it brings us to share forever in the life of the Holy Trinity." And having read this book I can state that if you read it with an open heart it will live up to that expectation. In the introduction Rev Morrow states "There is no way we can overestimate the tremendous happiness of heaven, nor the horror of hell and the great suffering of purgatory for those who do not take seriously the universal call to holiness (Lumen Gentium, 40). It seems certain that if more people kept in mind that they will surely die one day and meet the Lord-at which time their eternal destiny will be sealed-they might be more dedicated to preparing for that crucial day. This is a powerful motivation to live the gospel." And the rest of the book has the purpose of convincing us of this truth and giving us tools and guidance to live it.
There were so many lessons I took from this book, lessons on temperance, patience, joy; but also about choice, choosing to live joy, choosing to be obedient, choosing to learn to love. This is a great read with the goal of helping us get to heaven. It does so by looking at a plan of life, the virtues, works of mercy, the sacraments, spiritual reading and more.
An excellent resource for any serious Catholic!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Rev. Thomas G. Morrow.
It takes time for me to read as I feel I need to ponder and how to put them into practice. There are practical and simple ways to follow and also to remind me to go back to Jesus like how I know when I am a child.
To understand my children as they grow as individuals and I am only their guardian on earth.