Long Lost Spiritual Secrets

The Life of Mary: As Seen by the Mystics, a Paperback (Mar. 31, 2009) by Raphael Brown, is, hands down, one of my favorite Catholic books. It is a composition compiled by "mystics", truly dedicated religious, who lived in different centuries and spoke different languages. These mystics, under obedience to the Church, wrote of their visions and other locutions to their spiritual advisers, in many cases. Amazingly, scholars who read the written works of these ancients found that their stories, filled with details and hidden ideas, had enough overlap for a single book! I highly recommend this book.  The release of the book I first read was published in 1991.  It has now been updated.  The last time I checked, this book was readily available at Amazon and Ignatius Press (see the Link I placed at the left).

Here is what an anonymous reviewer posted at Amazon:

5.0 out of 5 stars 

By A Customer

This review is from: The Life of Mary: As Seen by the Mystics (Paperback)

"Since the beginning of Christianity, Our Blessed Lord and His Mother have favored a select few people with special revelations containing information on their lives that is not to be found anywhere else. This inspiring work blends all the magnificent visions granted to four of the most privileged souls in the history of the Church. Raphael Brown has compiled an unforgettable masterpiece on the life of Our Lady by combining the writings from Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich, Ven. Mary of Agreda, St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Elizabeth of Schoenau. The wonderful mental pictures obtained from this enthralling narration will so impress you that they will stay with you the rest of your life. These images can't help but enhance our understanding of the New Testament and our love for Jesus, Mary and Joseph which is why the Church allows and encourages the circulation of these writings. Perhaps just as important as the telling of Mary's life according to these famous mystics is the most valuable explanation included on how the Church deals with the contradictions on historical details that sometimes occur in writings of people who receive private revelations. "

Review of Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed
The book Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed is an excellent book that builds up understanding from the atheist's or agnostic's perspective to basic Christian and then basic Catholic understandings.  The book is written without jargon (Protestants and Catholics tend to use the same words, but with different meanings), which makes it wonderful for everyone to understand clearly.  The books if not a compendium of dogma, doctrine, and discipline but rather a very thoughtful logical derivation beginning with basic realities that we all know, yet written in clear prose.  This book speaks very well to the newbie, although some familiarity with the Bible would allow a person to get more out of it.  The book even suggests what parts of the Bible to read.

On Amazon, this book gets 5 out of 5 stars.

Here is what A Customer (why this person again?  It is not me, I promise!):
5 out of 5 stars
By A Customer
This review is from: Theology for Beginners (Paperback)
If you want to know God in a more profound way, this is the book to read. Sheed really delivers with his easy-to-understand, explanations about the mysteries of God, the Trinity, Mary and the Catholic faith. There were so many "lightbulbs turned on" in reading this book that I now feel immensely closer to God and more knowledgeable of His plan and His works. This book is invaluable as an introduction to Theology. I am now reading Sheed's "Theology and Sanity", which is a deeper study of the subjects found in "Theology for Beginners".
"Theology for Beginners" is a MUST READ for anyone who wants to know God better.