About Us
Contact Us
Related Links
View Your Quick Shopping Cart:
View Your Pay Pal Shopping Cart:
"Lap Book"TM is a trademark owned by Michael and Tammy Duby of Tobin's Lab. Used by permission.
www.tobinslab.com
I recently became part of a new and fun Product Reviewer Program through The Catholic Company. As a member of the program I
am priviledged to receive newly or soon to be published Catholic materials to read and review. You can read about the products I have reviewed here. Please visit
The Catholic Company
website for these and many more great Catholic products.
Faith Database CD
"The searchable resource for Christain Growth"
This review was written as part of The Catholic Company product reviewer program. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Heaven's Song.
Heaven's Song: Sexual Love as it was Meant to Be
By Christopher West
I am a bit ashamed to admit that while I have had a copy of Pope John Paul II"s "Theology of the Body" for a few years now, I have just barely read past the Table of Contents. When I first opened the pages of the book I remember commenting to my husband that even the Table of Contents was "deep". I am also a bit ashamed to admit that even as a teacher of Natural Family Planning I have yet to read anything by Christopher West. That is, until I entered this wonderful new program from The Catholic Company. When given a list of publications to choose from I was thrilled to see "Heaven's Song: Sexual Love as it was Meant to Be" by West as one of the choices. The description from the program director stated this was a galley copy, not yet available to the public. A chance to read a galley copy by a top selling author and on a topic I have studied but am always ready to study further, this is too good to be true. I immediately replied to the email asking to be on the list to receive "Heaven's Song". I was excited and anxious to receive my copy.
As soon as the package arrived at my doorstep I opened it with great anticipation. While the description said it was a galley copy, I was still a bit surprised to receive the computer print out, wrapped in a rubber band, paper copy of a book. Wow, this really is exciting! Despite the fact that it was time to prepare lunch for my six children, I had to steal a moment and take a peek at the contents. In skimming through the Introduction I discovered this book was an exploration of the "Hidden Talks" of John Paul II. Hidden talks, what is this all about? Well you see, John Paul II delivered 129 talks we know to be the "Theology of the Body" but researchers have discovered the full manuscript in the Vatican archives which reveals there were actually 135 talks. It was after reading that portion of the Introduction that I moved on to my motherly obligations, but my mind remained on this book sitting on my desk. I could not wait until bedtime when the house would be quiet and I could dive into this new found treasure.
As the day progressed, though, I began to have doubts. Considering that I had never read "Theology of the Body" or any works by Christopher West, I wondered if there would be gaps in this new book that I would be missing without previous knowledge of the other texts? Did I need a full understanding of the original 129 talks before I could grasp the newly discovered six? Even though I had not read any of West's works, I had listened to some audio presentations of his. I began to wonder if I would be able to grasp this newly written material of his without beging familiar with his other works. These were all questions and doubts entering my mind. That night, as I was finally able to sit down and begin my journey through the pages, my concerns were eliminated. While Heaven's Song focuses on the newest gift from our beloved John Paul II, West provides the reader with a solid foundation and source of background information that brings it all together. I may not have needed to read "Theology of the Body" to grasp "Heaven's Song," but reading "Heaven's Song" made me that much more eager to read "Theology of the Body," the full edition with all 135 talks of Pope John Paul II.
Christopher West's newest release walks the reader through the reflections Pope John Paul II felt were too delicate to be released at the time of his Wednesday audiences. These reflections illustrate how the true "language of the body" and God's plan for marriage are revealed in the Biblical writings contained in the Song of Songs and the Old Testament marriage of Tobias and Sarah. West helps the reader understand John Paul II's and now Pope Benedict XVI's inspired teaching of God's desire for married love to become liturgical and how the liturgy of the Church is "modeled after the loving union of spouses." (Heaven's Song p. 11). Sound deep and theological? It is, but West brings it to a level that is easy to understand. Each chapter of the book begins and ends with a real life example of the theological concept within the chapter. These real life examples clearly illustrate the difference between what is referred to as the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death. Additional invaluable tools offered by West in this book are the reflection questions and suggested prayers following each chapter. West's thorough exploration and explanation of Pope John Paul II's "Hidden Talks" are a must read for every Catholic.
Now that I have read this magnificient galley copy before the book has been released, what do I do with the knowledge I have gained? I think I will do as suggested in the epilogue by Christopher West himself. "You have just finished reading a challenging book. John Paul II"s theology of the body is mystical stuff, and mystical theology is never something easily grasped. It needs time to penetrate. So where do you go from here? Actually, the first thing I would recommend is to read this book again. But this time, take it with you into the adoration chapel. That, in fact, as I learned during a visit with Cardinal Dziwisz, is where John Paul II wrote his TOB, before the tabernacle in his private chapel. So, I'd suggest not merely that you read through this book again: pray through it with expectant faith that Christ desires to pour out his helaing and integrating love into those wounded places of our hearts. If you found anything in this book particularly difficult or even troubling, take those things into prayer. Test everything, probe everything, submit everything in prayer to Christ. I am a fallible author and a fallible interpreter of John Paul II's work, but I am confident that Christ will show you what, if anything, in this book he desires for you to spend more time with." So, order your copy of "Heaven's Song: Sexual Love as it was Meant to Be" today and begin your journey with Christ and Pope John Paul II.
This review was written as part of The Catholic Company product reviewer program. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Heaven's Song.