#thecatholicbookworm

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Maria Keffler on her book Desist, Detrans & Detox: Getting Your Child Out of the Gender Cult (November 25, 2024) In this actionable analysis of one of the most damaging movements of the modern age, renowned author Maria Keffler makes a compelling case that what lies at the core of the transgender phenomenon is a crisis of identity, and that only a loving but firm reality check can staunch the hysteria.Keffler makes unassailable arguments: Maleness and femaleness are immutable biological facts. Masculinity and femininity are personality constructs, conditioned by societal norms.But “gender,” the term favored by activists, has no solid definition. The language introduced by gender ideology is entirely subjective, which allows emotions to redefine reality. The very premise of the ideology is flawed and requires mental gymnastics of its adherents.Keffler outlines the disturbing parallels between cults and gender ideology: recruitment tactics that prey upon insecurities, indoctrination in nonsensical beliefs that must never be questioned, requirements to shun nonbelievers, and in-group newspeak which cultivates a sense of belonging.She exposes the cult of gender ideology with journalistic detail, digging into aspects the mainstream media chooses to ignore. She investigates:

The origins of modern gender ideology in the 1960s 

How the obsession to “affirm” gender identity leads to medical negligence in overlooking mental health issues

The role of bullying and peer pressure in the gender cult

The rapidly growing community of detransitioners and their insightful firsthand testimonies

Keffler also provides a manual for parenting children during the time they are most vulnerable to predatory gender activism. She instructs parents in navigating this brave new world, including discerning fact from fiction, setting boundaries regarding names and pronouns, how to find a trustworthy therapist, and how to determine what vulnerabilities led the child to the gender cult in the first place.The book includes an abundance of resources for parents whose children are currently in the throes of or recovering from gender dysphoria. Central to her approach is unconditional love and forgiveness, with a focus on moving forward together.Packed with statistical data, reasoned arguments, and practical advice, Desist, Detrans, and Detox equips readers to prevent, work through, and heal from the “medical scandal of the 21st century.” Desist, Detrans & Detox - Sophia Institute Press

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Christopher on his chapter in the book Contemporary Bioethics: Catholic Wisdom for a Confused Culture by the National Catholic Bioethics Center entitled "Seven Christian Principles for Thriving with Artificial Intelligence." Contemporary Bioethics: Catholic Wisdom for a Confused Culture, the latest book from The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC), provides some key answers and updates in the fascinating and troubling world of bioethics. The book is geared towards people who realize bioethics is increasingly impacting our lives. We all can benefit from knowledge of and good responses to LGBTQ+ demands, genome editing, artificial intelligence, challenges in end-of-life care, etc. The nine short chapters from interdisciplinary authors in the varied fields of medicine, law, theology, and philosophy empower readers to speak to contemporary issues from informed and reasoned positions grounded in the light of truth. We live in an apostolic age, when the moral beliefs of faithful Christians are opposed to those of the dominant culture. It is essential to be prepared to present a countercultural, Catholic vision in science, health care, politics, and everyday life. Catholic bioethics can and should be the conscience of our technological civilization. Readers with an interest in the pressing issues discussed here can go on to be effective witnesses to the moral and ethical teachings of Christ and the Church in their conversations with colleagues, family, and even strangers. We need to be informed and to speak the truth in love in contemporary bioethics. Take the first decisive step by buying this book. Contemporary Bioethics: Catholic Wisdom for a Confused Culture — The National Catholic Bioethics Center

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Janine Rainwater on her book The Melody of Love (November 20, 2024) In this ethereal bedtime story, readers are transported to a peaceful, starlit town on a quiet night where a child sleeps soundly under the caring watch of the heavens.But this is no ordinary child. He is Jesus, and with His arrival, a new melody of Love is born.As this enchanting melody takes flight, it awakens a sleeping world. It stirs the creatures of the forest and those in the depths of the sea with its irresistible song.Ideal for bedtime reading, this beautifully illustrated book shows young readers how Jesus’ love transcends time and reassures us that we are deeply, individually loved.Through rhythmic verses and captivating imagery, Janine Rainwater weaves a story that will enchant children and adults alike. Her book reveals:

The peaceful and magical night of Jesus’ birth

The awakening of nature through the melody of love

The timeless message of Jesus’ love and its relevance today

The truth that all creatures great and small are connected in a symphony of grace

 Ideal for parents, grandparents, and loved ones, The Melody of Love is a heartwarming addition to any children's book collection. Let this story inspire a sense of wonder and the assurance of being unconditionally loved.  The Melody of Love: Rainwater, Janine: 9798889114024: Amazon.com: Books

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Fr. Dennis Billy, CSsR, on his book Holy Exercises: St. Alphonsus de Liguori and the Spirituality of Practice. (November 19, 2024) The purpose of Alphonsian spirituality is to preach the Gospel by our words and actions. The conversion of the world presupposes our own inner conversion of heart which, in turn, presupposes developing heartfelt spiritual practices that make a life of radical personal and communal conversion possible. This book focuses on a number of such practices that Alphonsus found to be helpful aids for his own spiritual journey and that he wished to share with others. They do not take the place of attending Mass and praying the Breviary, but rather complement them by helping us to deepen out love for Christ and walking the way of holiness. Holy Exercises: St. Alphonsus de Liguori and the Spirituality of Practice by Fr. Dennis J. Billy, C.Ss.R. | En Route Books and Media

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Andrew Sodergren and Emily Dowdell on Gender Ideology and Pastoral Practice. This book has been designed to assist Catholics doing pastoral work and ministering to children and families caught up in a destructive ideology. Questions the editors of this volume and many of the contributors to it have heard most often and have been fielding for over a decade as they have worked with dioceses, parishes, and families include the following: 

What is a gender transition?

What does the Church teach on this issue?

How should we respond when a school child tells us he or she is non-binary?

What is the appropriate way for the Church to help and support families when their children say they are transgender?

How do we navigate sacraments and pastoral care? How did we get here?

In addressing questions such as these, the contributors seek to prepare clergy and lay pastoral ministers to understand and be responsive to the issues that arise in a parish or parochial school setting when someone asserts a “gender identity” that does not align with his or her bodily sex.  https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/genderideology/

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Helen Hoffner on her book The Rosary Collector's Guide. With 240 color photos and engaging text, this is the first book devoted to collecting rosaries. Hundreds of examples and informative text enables antique lovers, historians, and collectors of religious artifacts to identify variations of rosaries, and their crosses, crucifixes, and religious medals, determining their age and place of origin. It contains historical insights and descriptions, explaining materials used and legends associated with various rosaries. Background information on rosary makers, answers to frequently asked questions, and a glossary to define related terms are also included. With the information enclosed, readers searching brick and mortar stores or online will be able to distinguish between genuine antiques, reproductions, and rosaries that have been altered. The color photographs and concise descriptions identify old and new rosaries in detail. From the boxwood rosary owned by England's King Henry VIII to the newest Mysteries of Light Rosary developed by Pope John Paul II, this volume spans the ages and brings new understanding of both the rosary's beauty and its place in history. https://www.amazon.com/Rosary-Collectors-Guide-Gloria-Hoffner/dp/0764345354 https://www.catholic365.com/article/43381/the-rosary-collectors-guide.html

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Jennifer Roback Morse on her chapter entitled "The Sexual Revolution and Its Victims: The Church was Right All Along" in the book "Lived Experience and the Search for Truth: Revisiting Catholic Sexual Morality." This book is an initial attempt to arrive inductively at the truths embedded in the moral teaching of the Church through the lived experience of faithful men and women, rendered intelligible in conceptual terms. While attending to one’s own experience is certainly one step in coming to understand oneself, it provides but a glimpse – a partial clue – into the mystery of who one is and is meant to be. Indeed, experience is not alienated from human cognition but integral to it. Wisdom is the fruit of both experience and reason. But, contrary to claims of those who would give primacy to subjective personal experience over and against the conclusions of right reason, it is only possible to arrive at the full truth about oneself if the intellect is allowed to pursue its proper end, not mere knowledge but understanding. We hope to persuade the reader that a proper grasp of the place of lived experience in the search for truth reveals that the Catholic understanding of the human person and human sexuality provide the only sure route to human happiness.  --  Jennifer Roback Morse is the founder of The Ruth Institute, an interfaith international coalition to defend the family and build a Civilization of Love. She taught economics at Yale and George Mason Universities for 15 years. She resigned her tenured teaching position in 1996 to care for her children, a badly neglected Romanian adopted son, and a birth daughter. She founded the Ruth Institute in 2008, and has devoted her professional skills to developing a defense of traditional Catholic teaching on marriage, family and human sexuality.  https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/livedexperience/

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Dr. Andrew Abela on Superhabits: The Universal System for a Successful Life (October 30, 2024) For too many of us, life is harder than it needs to be. We have forgotten the ancient system of “super habits” — a specific set of habits for making decisions, managing our emotions, and dealing with other people that fosters lives of greater ease, happiness, and power. Ancient civilizations relied on these habits to produce some of the greatest achievements in human history. Now, contemporary researchers in psychology, education, and management are rediscovering these habits and empirically demonstrating the power and goodness that they bring to everyday life. As many self-help gurus will tell you, we are the summation of our daily habits. What has so far been missing is a comprehensive guide to which habits are most valuable to us and how they work together as a system, for the best impact on our lives. This invaluable book by Dr. Andrew Abela shows how attaining virtue requires not a herculean effort but, rather, steady daily practice, which is accessible to all. He explains how the genius of a thirteenth-century philosopher-monk codified the super habits into a veritable human operating system, one that’s more relevant today than ever. Abela highlights: 

How super habits make life easier — because once something becomes a habit, it takes less effort

Why super habits lead to lasting joy rather than just temporary gratification 

The effects of super habits on physical, mental, and emotional health 

In a culture that prioritizes short-term fixes over long-term solutions, Super Habits offers a foundational, back-to-basics plan that produces both immediate and enduring results.  Whatever issue you are struggling with right now, whatever challenge you may be facing, there is a super habit to help you overcome it. Dr. Abela equips readers with the tools needed to embrace the lifelong pursuit of self-improvement to attain a life of greater ease, joy, and strength. Superhabits: The Universal System for a Successful Life: Abela, Andrew V.: 9798889113409: Amazon.com: Books

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Dr. Deborah Savage on her edited volume Lived Experience and the Search for Truth: Revisiting Catholic Sexual Morality. This book is an initial attempt to arrive inductively at the truths embedded in the moral teaching of the Church through the lived experience of faithful men and women, rendered intelligible in conceptual terms. While attending to one’s own experience is certainly one step in coming to understand oneself, it provides but a glimpse – a partial clue – into the mystery of who one is and is meant to be. Indeed, experience is not alienated from human cognition but integral to it. Wisdom is the fruit of both experience and reason. But, contrary to claims of those who would give primacy to subjective personal experience over and against the conclusions of right reason, it is only possible to arrive at the full truth about oneself if the intellect is allowed to pursue its proper end, not mere knowledge but understanding. We hope to persuade the reader that a proper grasp of the place of lived experience in the search for truth reveals that the Catholic understanding of the human person and human sexuality provide the only sure route to human happiness. https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/livedexperience/

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Jay Morris on his book Masterpiece: Our Journey to Spiritual Transformation (October 25, 2024) We all must ask crucial questions about our life here on earth. Am I experiencing life the way God, the Master Creator, designed my life to be lived? Or am I living a lesser, devolving life of my own choosing? We, God’s ultimate creations, can only understand our purpose in life if we learn to see ourselves through the eyes of our Creator. This book provides practical steps on walking with the Holy Spirit. It will transform your soul if you follow the instructions. Amazon.com: Masterpiece: Our Journey to Spiritual Transformation: 9781625862525: Morris PhD, Jay: Books

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Antony Kolenc on his book Shadows: Visible and Invisible. (October 21, 2024) Shadows: Visible and Invisible is a collection of Hallowtide-themed short stories by seven Catholic Teen Books authors. Grace and the Grave Robber: Grace doesn't know what it means to go "souling," but she certainly wasn't expecting it to be like this! Bogey in the Belfry: A storm drives William and his friends inside the dark church for shelter. Are animals making noises in the loft or is it something more sinister? A Very Jurassic Hallowtide: Trapped in the mountains by a blizzard and a pack of T. rex, Darryl, Joshua and Harry's All Hallows' Eve is looking dangerous enough, even before things take an eerie turn. Lucy and the Forbidden Secret: A medieval girl in a nunnery struggles with conflicts when another novice breaks her vows on the day of All Souls, revealing a shocking secret. Helpless: Vanessa doesn't need anyone's help, and she sets out to prove it by going alone to investigate strange lights in the cemetery. At the End of His Tether: When you live on a spaceship like Philip does, visiting the cemetery to pray for the dead always comes with the risk of joining them. The Far End of the Cemetery: It's another All Hallowtide, and on this All Souls' Day, a young man finds himself at the cemetery yet again, but he's not alone. Will tonight be the night, or will the torment continue? Amazon.com: Shadows: Visible & Invisible (Catholic Teen Books Visible & Invisible Anthology Series): 9798985348521: Wahl, Leslea, Astfalk, Carolyn, Turner, Corinna, Kolenc, Antony B., Linden, Theresa, Keiser, Marie C., Gaouette, T. M.: Books

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Dr. Sarah Bartel on her ministry My Delight: A 90-Day Program to More Intimacy, Joy and Pleasure in Sex (October 9, 2024) Bring all your honest questions about sex in marriage that you didn't know who to ask!

What is okay and not is not allowed for Catholics?

How far is too far when you're using fertility awareness to avoid?

How do I talk to him about sex?

How do I figure out my body? 

What if I have low desire? What if HE has low desire?

You come with your questions and a willing heart. I'll bring my expertise as a Catholic moral theologian, a satisfied wife of 22 years, and my 10+ years of experience in marriage and family ministry.  Together, we'll devote 90 days to building a beautiful and fulfilling sex life in your marriage! My Delight Waitlist (canafeast.com)

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Frank Ravanelli on his book Pages of the Aduir: Journey to the Peninsia Throne (October 3, 2024) The continents of Innrealm and Jugoria stand on the brink of destruction, under the Dark Lord Voloc’s tyrannical rule. Uriel, a young boy, unknowingly holds the fate of these lands in his hands. As Voloc’s influence spreads, Uriel is thrust into training for a deadly tournament. Unaware of the full burden of his destiny, Uriel embarks on a perilous journey, facing not only Voloc but the formidable army that follows him. Along the way, Uriel forges deep bonds with fellow young warriors, all of whom are also training for the tournament. Among them is Gideon, his best friend and loyal companion, who harbors a destiny of his own. Guided by the immaculate Queen Eliza, Uriel must navigate a treacherous path, uncover his true potential, and realign the constellations to restore balance to the land. In this epic saga of destiny, rebellion, and redemption, Uriel faces the ultimate choice: rise against the encroaching darkness or witness the fall of everything he holds dear. A prophecy speaks of a savior—but will Uriel become the hero the realm desperately needs, or will the forces of darkness prevail? Home – Frankravs (frankravanelli.com)

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Rebecca Martin on her book Love in the Eternal City: A Swiss Guard Romance (October 2, 2024) Rome—once the heart of an empire, now the heart of the Catholic Church—has witnessed many love stories. When the Eternal City draws together a Swiss Guard and an American expat, a modern-day romance blooms in the shadow of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Haunted by a broken engagement and betrayed by her best friend, Elena Gattino travels to Rome for a new job and the hope of a new life. Fueled by pasta and bolstered by prayer, she becomes brave enough to forge new friendships with the Rechsteiner siblings as she explores Rome and finds her footing at work. Benedikt Rechsteiner is comfortable serving in the Swiss Guard, even if he recognizes his life lacks a special something…or someone. Simmering family tensions and uncertainty about his future have left Beni wary of relationships, but his unexpected feelings for Elena challenge him to face his fears. Soon, Beni and Elena’s friendship turns into more, thanks to the matchmaking meddling of a Vatican spymaster, a Swiss Guard comrade-in-arms, and Beni’s overenthusiastic yet lovable sister. But then Elena’s past follows her to Rome, putting her in danger that even Beni may not be able to save her from. And if Beni wants to be with Elena, he’ll need to discern where his own future lies—and reconcile with his father after years of bitterness. Can the two forge a relationship strong enough to withstand the suffering that comes their way? Or will the tensions of their own lives pull them apart? Love in the Eternal City - (chrismpress.com)

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Andrew Mioni on his book Altar Against Altar: An Analysis of Catholic Traditionalism. (September 25, 2024) When does the crisis in the Church end? May priests universally minister without any canonical mission? Can one Eucharist be offered against another in legitimate Catholic worship? Using the Scriptures, patristic sources, and magisterial declarations, Altar Against Altar answers these and many other questions, and demonstrates how the independent traditionalist ministry does not provide a remedy for the current crisis, but only perpetuates it. Altar Against Altar: An Analysis of Catholic Traditionalism by Andrew Mioni | En Route Books and Media

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In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Cathy Colver Garland and Randy Colver on their book Revelationship: Transformative Intimacy with Christ (September 23, 2024) Revelationship is how God reveals himself as he pursues us for relationship.In a world deconstructing, Christ reveals himself —the indestructible cornerstone of all that it means to thrive. When we embrace Christ’s revelations of his character and his great passion for intimacy, he personally and uniquely meets our deepest needs, wrestles our deepest questions, and heals our deepest hurt.This book will open readers to encounters with Christ in many of the ways he reveals himself. Our spiritual lives languish if we limit how God can reveal himself or emphasize one form of revelation over another.Revelationship will restore intimacy with Christ to the church. We hope that this book will act as a primer of sorts to guide Christians to transformational intimacy with Christ. Revelationship: Transformative Intimacy with Christ by Cathy Garland and Dr. Randy Colver | En Route Books and Media