In this month, which contains both the solemn observance of Lent and the joyous celebration of Easter, we will often find ourselves in prayer. Here are some resources to help enhance your prayer life:
Chicken Sunday, by Patricia Polacco. After being accepted into a neighbor’s family, a young Russian American girl and her African American brothers decide to buy their Gramma Eula a beautiful Easter hat. But their good intentions are misunderstood, until they discover just the right way to pay for the hat that Eula had her eye on. This is a loving family story woven from the author’s childhood.
Mary Magdalene: Fact, Fiction & Mystery, by Father Raymond Collins. Other than the Virgin Mary, no woman from Scripture has so captivated our attention as Mary from Magdala. In this fascinating audio course from Father Raymond Collins, you will explore Mary Magdalene in the Gospels, Gnosticism and popular culture. As you do so, you will gain a powerful portrait of this Galilean follower of Jesus. Study guide included.
Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week from the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection, by Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Benedict XVI explores the truth that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God; not a myth, revolutionary or misunderstood prophet. In this text, Pope Benedict maintains that the evidence from historical scholarship, fairly considered, brings us face-to-face with the challenge of Jesus—a real man who taught and acted in ways that were tantamount to claims of divine authority.
To borrow these or other resources, the diocesan library and Office of Faith Formation and Lay Ecclesial Ministry are open for in-person visits and consultations 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. You may also visit the library online. Once you make your selections, you can email the request to mhynes@youngstowndiocese.org.
