Thursday, July 13, 2006

My Path to Heaven





This is an excellent book (Sophia Institute Press) to use as a family. All ages can find value in the pictures and 'mini-retreats'. We have used it on vacation, during Sundays in Lent, etc. And you can use over and over again-as the kids get older they will gain new insights in the topics.

Basically, there are 12 topics which roughly follow an Ignatian retreat. Each topic has a wonderfully and very detailed pictorial. The idea is that you look at the picture for a minute or so. Then you read 6-7 paragraphs about the topic and how the picture relates. Finally you go back and study the picture. Ideally this second study of the picture, with the background provided in the text, will help the reader contemplate the subject at their own level.

In our family we usually discuss how the picture relates to the topic and what we see in it. For instance, one chapter may depict Hell at the bottom of the picture and Heaven at the top. In between are pictures or various paths one may take in life. Riches and pleasure would fall towards Hell. Lives of sacrifice would lay close to Heaven.

We have 4 copies so we can have two people to a book when we pull it out. Recommended reading....

2 comments:

Heather said...

I love all the resources and books you point out. I would probably never find them on my own. On your suggestion I ordered the Catholic Men's Quarterly for my Dad for Father's Day. I think I will look into getting this book, too. Sounds just like something I was looking for!

Anonymous said...

We have used this book successfully with other families,it helps to build those bridges between like minded families,who have to live in the real world but not be of the real world.