Meme

Since the original quote was not by St. Francis, this is just as accurate.

Photo credit: Dave Cross via photopin cc

Jennifer Fulwiler of Conversion Diary starts a meme.

I want to see where you write! On Wednesday, I’m going to put up a linky list where fellow bloggers and writers can link to posts where they give us a tour of the spaces where they write, so start snapping pictures now. (And I’m defining “writer” very loosely here: if you create Facebook status updates, you’re a writer in my book.)

I realize that not everyone in the world thinks that this is a fascinating topic — but I am fascinated by it enough to make up for them. And I want details! How do you organize your space? What kind of pens do you have in your cupholders? What else do you use this area of your home for? What does your chair look like?

Well for one thing my workspace is totally scorpion free. (Inside joke for fans of Jennifer Fulwiler).  I am glad she is defining “writer” very loosely, since I very loosely would describe myself as a writer.

Well the answer about pens is easy, I hardly use one. My illegible handwriting skills would have got me in to med school. My organization is almost all virtual via the computer.

The majority of the writing and coding I do is in my living room.

Though I take my iPad throughout the house for reading and research of stories I react to or inspire me towards a a new parody.

Mac McLernon of Mulier Fortis received a new Kindle and decided to create a meme in regards to book recommendations.

So, here are the rules. You post the rules and a link back to the person who tagged you. You also tell them that they’ve been tagged on their own blog, rather than just hoping they’ll discover it for themselves. Then you decide what three books are essential reading for anyone with a Kindle. Reasons would be good, but not essential. Then you tag five people.

She then tagged me with this meme.

Now providing book recommendations is right up my alley, but limiting me to three books is rather cruel. As a book addict I go through that many books in a week.  As ebooks go I have close to 600 on my iPad, almost all of which I have read.  Oh well I will give it a shot even if I bend the rules a bit.

First off this is not Kindle specific, just book recommendations which also are also available as ebooks. Plus ven Kindle books can be read on tablet apps and Windows and Macs.

So to bend the rules a bit I will provide three  recommendations in three categories. These recommendations are also not my canonical opinion, but more of what comes to mind and there are many many alternatives I could add to the suggestions.

Apologetics:

1. New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy by Fr. Robert J. Spitzer S.J. On my mind since I recently reviewed it and I just found it so excellent.
2. Theology and Sanity
   by Frank Sheed. Just so good and the explanation of the mystery of the Trinity is the best one I have ever read. I could also add all of Frank Sheed’s books on this list especially “To Know Christ Jesus”.
3. Handbook of Christian Apologetics by Peter Kreeft & Fr. Ronald K. Tacelli.  As an atheist coming to faith this book so helped me out in seeing I hadn’t just totally gone off my rocker.  The Summa-style format is very helpful and Peter Kreeft is another author that I can easily suggest reading all he has written, voluminous is it is with maybe one or two exceptions.

Literature with a explicitly Catholic elements:  (Though a Catholic novel certainly does not mean explicitly Catholic elements):

1. A Postcard From the Volcano: A Novel of Pre-War Germany by Lucy Beckett.  Just loved this novel and another one that remains with me afterwards.
2. A Cry of Stoneby Michel D. O’Brien.  While I have enjoyed almost all of his books including his latest. This one sticks out for me with a character so rich and so demonstrative of the path of sanctity.
3. And to throw in one from my favorite genre of SF  Eifelheim by Michael Flynn. First contact of aliens involving a priest – what more could you want? Well how about one where the idea is taken seriously and won’t make you cry with bad theology.  I really need to read this again I so enjoyed it.  I recently finished up reading all of Mr. Flynn’s books and while the fact that he is a serious Catholic is a bonus, the fact that he is a great SF writer is what counts.  His latest book continues on an excellent series, but the last book of his I read “The Wreck of the River of Stars” was wonderful and haunting.

Spiritual Reading:

1. Transformation in Christ by Dietrich Von Hildebrand.  Called by many his greatest work among great works this book is a serious and practical look at the path to holiness.  It made me the saint I am today, well actually I think I need to reread it again and in fact I think I will do so this Lent.
2. The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila.  I just love love love St. Teresa of Avila whose marvelous wit and common sense really comes through and brings the spiritual life to you in such a way as you don’t just think of the way of perfection as something limited to the great saints.  While you can find free copies of this online I recommend the translation from the Institute of Carmelite Studies which has all their books available for Kindle, Nook, iBooks and at only $.99.
3. While Orthodoxyby G.K. Chesterton might not normally be considered spiritual reading, I see it as such.  Spiritual reading opens you up to truth and worship of God.  I try to rad Orthodoxy annually since it is such a polyvalent book of me.  Chesterton’s insights just keep appearing even from previously read texts.  The thought that I might never had read Chesterton, especially Orthodoxy rather scares me.

Now who should I inflict, I mean pass this meme on to? Well how about my fellow book addicts:

Happy Catholic

The Thin Veil

Video meliora, proboque; Deteriora seqor

Domine, da mihi hanc aquam! (Since father is always hawking his readers to buy him Kindle books)

Aliens in this world (Whose book suggestions populate my shelves both actual and virtual)

Happy Catholic tagged me with this meme which calls for me to name my five favorite devotions.

• Rosary
• Liturgy of the Hours
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
• Sacred Heart of Jesus
• The Jesus Prayer

I tag

• Standing on my Head
• Acts of the Apostasy
• Big C Catholics
• Deeps of Time
• Oblique House

I always find it ironic that we use the term meme on Catholic blogs considering the term was coined by Richard Dawkins in The Selfish Gene.

Lisa Hendley wrote a a piece on the Top Ten most fascinating Catholics in 2008 and Jean of Catholic Fire decided to make it into a meme and tagged me.

1. Pope Benedict XVI. Yes at the top of everybody’s list, but for good
   reason. Oh B16 how do I love thee, let me count the ways. Or maybe too many
   to count. If John Paul II becomes generally known as Pope John Paul the
   Great, I think Benedict will be known as Pope Benedict the Pretty Awesome
   Also.
2. Rosalyn Moss. Jewish convert first as an Evangelical and then later Catholic and unto recently
   on the staff of Catholic Answers. This year she became Sister Rosalyn Moss
   with a new order she received permission to start called "Daughters of Mary,
   Mother of Israel’s Hope." I have loved her wisdom on Catholic Answers as
   she mainly answered spiritual questions with great wisdom.
3. Fr. Frank Pavone. The tireless pro-life advocate who is a modern St. Paul for
   the pro-life movement. He speaks everywhere and is willing to use whatever
   medium to advance the culture of life. His YouTube videos on abortion are
   excellent.
4. John C. Wright. Mr. Wright came into the Church this year at Easter. He had been
   an atheist until his conversion to Christ and then later to Christ’s Church.
   I do so enjoy all of his books which are in the Science Fiction/Fantasy
   genre. His blog is also one of the most interesting. Whether he is advancing
   the cause for the Space Princess movement, the cogent responses he has made
   to atheists, or the multitude of other topics on his blog I always delight
   when there is a new post.
5. Fr. Roderick Vonhögen. When I first heard of the Catholic Insider podcast and that it is was created
   from a priest in the Netherlands I was rather skeptical of the orthodoxy
   of the contents. The first episode I heard was when he was at Rome on the
   Day Pope Benedict XVI was elected. His joy and excitement at Josef Ratzinger
   being elected convinced put my hesitations aside. Over the years as he went
   on to start the Star Quest Production Network and his daily show during the
   week called the Daily Breakfast he has continued to entertain and delight
   me as he talks about everything from culture, gaming, entertainment, to theology
   to advance the truth of the Catholic faith.
6. Doug Kmiec. Yeah right.
7. Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM. The bishop is a favorite of mine for years and
   this year was no exception. He spoke out multiple times this year and not
   just about the election. Whether he is speaking out to defend life, sex abuse,
   immigration, etc – he has been willing to engage the media instead of complaining
   about how unfair it is. This year he wrote the book "Render onto Caesar."
8. Bishop Martino. There were many bishops who spoke out this year and who responded to the silly
   comments from Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden. But I especially give the tip of
   the Jester’s hat to Bishop Morlino for saying "The USCCB doesn’t speak for me." It is certainly the bishop who is the primary
   teacher in his diocese and his excellency takes this seriously. Too many
   bishops allow the USCCB provide cover so they don’t have to be as strong
   as they could be, not so in this bishops case.
9. Jimmy Akin I am a great fan of Catholic Answers and all the people on their staff.
   Tim Staples was a great addition to them. I started listening to Catholic
   Answer on my way into the Church and it was Jimmy Akin who had the most influence
   on me. I love his ability to explain the faith and the multiple examples
   he uses to do so. Especially enjoy when he brings science fiction into it
   as a way to explain something. I am also amazed at the amount of his knowledge
   in multiple areas, but really love that he never tries to go farther than
   what he knows. He tries to explain what the Church actually teaches and not
   to go beyond with his own opinion on a subject. This year though he had many
   memorable responses. My favorite was when the show was almost over he asked
   his opinion on Galileo and he responded "he was a big jerk." Now that was
   funny and and accurate diagnosis on the brilliant but egotistical man who
   clashed not only with theologians but with other scientists around him.
10. Laura Ingraham My favorite talk show host and a convert to the Catholic faith
    in recent years. I do so enjoy her show which addresses more than just political
    matters and talks about the toxic culture. She invites on and engages those
    who support abortion and are part of pro-abortion organizations. These conversations
    are usually quite good and really expose the logic used to defend the indefensible.
    She also often has on her friend from EWTN News Raymond Arroyo and this usually
    makes a great segment on they talk on politics and culture. My one caveat
    is that she really needs to learn what the Church’s teaching is on torture.
    Ironically she interviewed a former head interrogator in Iraq and it was he
    that talked about torture and how it would damage any person using it.
11. Greg and Jennifer Willits. They started the Rosary Army as an organization to
    make and then give away Rosaries "Make them, Pray them, Give Them Away."
    This lead to them later starting the Rosary Army podcast which was one of
    my favorite shows. This year they got a job as hosts on The Catholic Channel
    part of Sirius satellite radio with their show "The Catholics Next Door."
    They can also be heard on XM radio now also. Recently they announced that
    they
    were quitting the podcast, but while I was sad to hear this I understood
    their reasons. Over the years they have seemed more like family members than
    a couple with a podcast as I followed the ups and downs of their family life.
    So while I miss them on the podcast, satellite radio listeners have gained
    a funny, orthodox, and entertaining Catholic couple.

Now such a list can go on and on and I could name so many of my fellow bloggers
whose blogs have entertained and taught me along with Catholic Podcasters.
I would also give a shout out to my Twitter/Facebook/Plurk friends

Plus here is an honorable mention for a future facinating Catholic who I met
via Twitter/Plurk. He got dragged into an Easter Mass this year by a friend
and at the Mass was converted to Christ from atheism. Since then he has been
reading everything he can on the Catholic faith and is discerning a call to
the priesthood. I do love his zeal and it reminds me of my own awakening into
the Catholic faith and the joy of discovering the truth.

I tag the following for this meme.

A Catholic View

Conversion Diary

Creative Minority Report

June Cleaver After a Six Pack

Oblique House