Food for Thought: C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity

Mere Christianity is divided into four individual, but coherent, books: Clue to the Meaning of the Universe, What Christians Believe, Christian Behavior, and Beyond Personality. C.S. Lewis, the author, addresses morality, human nature, the cardinal and theological virtues, sexual morality, Christian marriage, forgiveness, and pride. 
A few quotes really jumped out to me. In Book III, Chapter 8, C.S. Lewis wrote, "the more (pride) we have ourselves, the more we dislike it in others...the point is that each person's pride is in competition with everyone else's pride." I liked this passage because it made me uncomfortable. One, I really do dislike pride in others. Two, I could remember lots of times my pride had been in competition with other people's pride and how I had acted toward them. This passage definitely didn't make me feel warm and fuzzy, and I'm glad it didn't. It was a nice little rebuke that put me back in my place. 
One thing to realize, as C.S. Lewis points out, is that everyone is driven by something--anger, greed, and so on, but everything is rooted in pride--pride in self, pride in possessions, etc. It would be a good habit to start exercising acts of humility to combat that pride.  

C.S. Lewis also describes the meaning of "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God." He explains that you should stop manufacturing feelings in yourself, trying to make yourself love God. Instead, we should ask ourselves, "'If I were sure that I loved God, what would I do?'" (Book III, Christian Behavior, Ch. 9)  

This is just a short review showcasing of the gems of wisdom that Mere Christianity offers within its pages. It if you have time on a rainy afternoon, pick up a copy of C.S. Lewis's book at the library and take a look at it. And read whatever jumps out at you. 

Other Books by C.S. Lewis 
                                                                       

Giveaway: Tea and Cake with the Saints

The time has come for a giveaway! 

We'll be giving away Tea and Cake with the Saints, by Alice Cantrell. The book is split into four parts: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Each section contains delicious recipes (my favorite being the Vanilla Tea Cake and Cream Cheese Mints), simple yet charming gift ideas, brief lists of saints' feasts, and engaging articles (a few being about Mary Gardens, tea, and letter writing). Tea and Cake with the Saints also provides spiritual bouquet cards and recipe cards to be printed off and further decorated. There are also easy party suggestions for all four seasons, like cookie exchanges and picnicking.

This really is a wonderful book--and definitely an essential one for Catholic teen girls! In my own copy, you'll find that there are many dog-eared pages and smudges on all the recipes. 

So, enter, enter, enter!

                                                       Rafflecopter giveaway 


Even if you don't win, make this book a part of your collection! You can find the book here at Amazon.

Winter Reading

I recently ordered a few books from Amazon--just in time, too! I spent the entire morning wrapped in a blanket, drinking caffe mocha, and reading them while snowstorm raged on outside.

I bought the Catholic Women's Devotional Bible after happening to pick up my older sister's copy and ended up liking it so much that I wanted a one of my own. I originally had the standard New American Bible, but the nice thing about the Catholic Women's is that it contains articles on Biblical women, Tradition, and has daily devotions, prayers, and meditations scattered throughout. It also has a lectionary in the back if you're interested in reading daily Scripture readings. Another book I purchased was 33 Days to Morning Glory to go along with my copy of Saint Louis de Montfort's True Devotion to Mary. Eight popes have done the consecration to Mary through the True Devotion book and have highly recommended it. 33 Days to Morning Glory by Micheal E. Gaitley, MIC, breaks the Consecration into smaller steps and makes the Devotion easier to perform and simpler to understand. Vatican II stated that "everyone should have a genuine devotion to Mary and entrust his life to her motherly care." What better way to honor our Blessed Mother and grow in holiness as young ladies? Try starting this Devotion by forming a small group with your friends and beginning it together.

If you're looking for even more good books to read during your wintry evenings, be sure to check out The Ultimate List of Catholic Books here.

Consecration Prayer to Mary
I, (name), a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in thy hands the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before. In the presence of all the heavenly court, I choose thee this day for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God in time and in eternity. Amen.

The Ultimate List of Catholic Books For Catholic Girls

Ernest Hemingway once said, “there is no friend as loyal as a book.” Saint Alphonsus Liguori also said, "Without good books and spiritual reading, it will be morally impossible to save our souls." Below is the ultimate list of Catholic books that most Catholic teen girls should take the time to read. I have included a few favorite Christian books of mine. They're not necessarily Catholic, but noteworthy all the same.


                                     Tea & Cake with the Saints, by Alice Cantrell

The Youcat, the essential Catholic handbook

Beautiful Girlhood, by Karen Andrea 

Pure Faith prayer book

Ablaze: Stories of Daring Teen Saints, 

 by Colleen Swaim

Radiate: More Stories of Teen Saints,

by Colleen Swaim

That One Girl, by Christina Mead

An Easy Way to Become a Saint, 

by Fr. Paul O'Sullivan

Fictional Catholic books

NOTE: The books below have some very mature themes, so if you're under 

fourteen years old, check with your parents to see if you can read them.

Ten Commandments for Kissing Gloria Jean, 

by Britt Leigh

The Shadow of the Bear, 

by Regina Doman

I am Margaret, by Corinna Turner

This is where my list ends! I hope this was helpful to you. Please pass it on. And do tell, what are your favorite Catholic books? What do you think of the books I've listed? Comment below!