Rosary Army: Free Rosary, Catholic Podcasts, and More

One of our challenges as Catholics is to continue to grow in our faith. It is easy to fall into a comfortable rut of attending Mass and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation randomly, or just once a year, in short, operating at the minimum level. We don’t just shortshrift ourselves when we do that, we shortshrift God.

And yet, there is so much available to guide our exploration of our faith. Our beloved Pope John Paul II, a prolific writer, has written a body of work that addresses our needs, not just as Christians, but as human beings made in the likeness of God, and provides profound insight into God’s love for us and how we can love God in return.

Although these documents exist for us to study and nurture our faith, many Catholics, including myself, are intimidated by them, fearing that they may be too academic, perhaps too esoteric for the common reader. The Theology of the Body was one of those documents that seemed inaccessible to me.

Enter Christopher West, Catholic author and speaker well-known for his on-going work on John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. West brings his understanding of marriage and sexuality to people thirsty for knowledge and understanding about a topic that is often relegated to whispers if it is spoken about at all.

His newest book, Heaven’s Song, available in September 2008, continues the exploration of John Paul II’s theology of the body with new material never released by the Pope. In these new talks, West reveals the Pope’s study of the Song of Songs and the marriage of Sarah and Tobias.

I have to admit that I was a little intimidated when I received an advance copy of his book for review. The Song of Songs was just not something I was drawn to, and Sarah – didn’t all her husbands die on their wedding night? It seemed so obscure.

Yet West’s easy, almost conversational writing style engaged me immediately. He approaches the subject of human sexuality so clearly, so humbly that he is able to introduce delicate topics in a non-threatening, comprehensive way that both educates and celebrates our God-given sexuality.

I couldn’t put it down and had to make a concerted effort to slow down and absorb the material. Each chapter not only ends with some thought-provoking questions, but a prayer to engage the reader in living “heaven’s song,” the purest form of prayer.

The beauty of this book is in its ability to convey John Paul II’s message in terms I can understand. Perhaps the greatest compliment I can give Christopher West is that it has inspired me to examine my own life; personally; within my marriage; within my family; and within the plan that God has for me.

I yearn to sing with all my heart, heaven’s song.