On any given Saturday morning, you can find a group of men gathered in the Fireside Room at Saint Timothy Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel.
For nearly 35 years, Manna4Men, as the group is known, has been studying and discussing books and topics relevant to our Catholic faith….
The first book studied by Manna4Men was Joshua by the retired American priest and now full-time author, Fr. Joseph F. Girzone.
Kinsey estimates that nearly 60 books have been studied, discussed and examined since the group began. Recently, the scope has been expanded to include DVD studies, and even some musical interpretations.
Over the years, Manna4Men has read and examined books such as The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr; Nothing is Impossible with God by John Michael Talbot; In His Spirit: A Guide to Today’s Spirituality by Richard J. Hauser, S.J.; Rediscover Jesus and Rediscover Catholicism by Matthew Kelly; as well as several of Bishop Robert Barron’s teaching series DVDs, including The Mass, about our encounter with Christ.
Additionally, the group has been engaging in the monastic practice of Lectio Divina (Latin for Divine Reading to study the upcoming Sunday’s Scriptures. Lectio Divina is a method of praying the Scriptures dating back to the sixth century when St. Benedict made it a regular practice in monasteries. Although it was originally intended for those in religious life, Lectio Divina is now widely used by lay persons.
Currently, Manna4Men has been studying What Does it All Mean?: A Guide to Being More Faithful, Hopeful and Loving by the Australian Jesuit priest, author, educator and film critic, Fr. Richard Leonard, SJ.
There are other lists but this is good one:
https://brandonvogt.com/best-catholic-books-of-all-time/
This is a classic reading list. Manna4Men— Mathew Kelly??
Ministry to men is important and necessary. That said, (except for his earliest works) the works of Fr. Richard Rohr are problematic. There are lots of good Catholic men’s resources available. Some free resources are available at Heroic Men at:
https://heroicmen.com/
And, see below, as one example of, a critique of Rohr’s work:
https://www.catholic.com/qa/a-primer-on-richard-rohr
I do not trust Richard Rohr, either.
No books by Pope Benedict? And how about one more excellent book– the beautiful 1941 novel, “The Song of Bernadette,” by Franz Werfel? It was made into a beautiful movie, too! Another book I’ve always loved is “The Practice of the Presence of God,” by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. It is similar to the beautiful books, “Abandonment to Divine Providence,” and “Sacrament of the Present Moment,” by the Jesuit priest, Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade. Love all the Catholic spiritual classics!
Many modern Catholic authors have been influenced by the liberal-leftist, secularized, superficial “Social Gospel” and babyish “touchy-feely” stuff. I prefer the spiritual classics, along with the very few best modern Catholic authors.
If any of the men vote for Democrat politicians, then they haven’t learned enough from their reading because Catholics cannot support the Democrat Party while being faithful Catholics. The presence of Richard Rohr as an author on the reading list is inauspicious because Rohr is well-known for his modernist, New Age and leftist leanings.
It is simply not true that Catholics cannot support the Democratic Party while being faithful Catholics. You (and maybe Bishop Strickland and Frank Pavone) made that up. You don’t get to pontificate on such things. Frank Pavone, for his part, was defrocked for saying those kinds of things and working for the Donald.
Your handle is an oxymoron. You might as well call yourself a Male Female.
Are you a supporter of the sinful, false “Catholic” Democratic politicians, who must not receive Holy Communion (until repentance of mortal sin) — Pres. Joe Biden and Rep. Nancy Pelosi? The Democratic Party platform statement of their beliefs and goals is totally anti-Christian and Satanic. Read it for yourself and see. Until this political party totally changes its platform, no decent Christian voters should ever support it and its candidates. You might as well vote for candidates whose platform, and all they stand for, is of the Satanic Temple, and Devil worship. The Satanic Temple states that their “sacrament,” is abortion– killing unborn children.
You might as well call yourself ignorant of what the Catholic Church actually teaches. And insofar as you think Democrat is a bad word, you equate Female with Democrat and hence a bad word. Maybe you should try being a little less sexist next time you post.
Are you a supporter of the sinful, false “Catholic” Democratic politicians, who must not receive Holy Communion (until repentance of mortal sin) — Pres. Joe Biden and Rep. Nancy Pelosi? The Democratic Party platform statement of their beliefs and goals is totally anti-Christian and Satanic. Read it for yourself and see. Until this political party totally changes its platform, no decent Christian voters should ever support it and its candidates. You might as well vote for candidates whose platform, and all they stand for, is of the Satanic Temple, and Devil worship. The Satanic Temple states that their “sacrament,” is abortion– killing unborn children.
Why do people just make things up?
Is it really “pontificating” when someone reaches the logical conclusion that a Catholic, who by faith is supposed to oppose abortion, gay marriage, transgenderism, cannot possibly support or vote for politicians whose party loyalty leads them to support all those things that Catholics must oppose? Some would call that thinking correctly.
You don’t get to believe whatever you want. Your faith should be intelligent and rational, and your actions should be intelligently and rationally consonant with the faith you profess.
Besides, one does not have to be a Catholic to realize that Democrats are sorely wrong and destructive about almost everything. Common sense and rational thought take care of that. No faith required.
Please correct me if I am wrong. I have heard it told that to vote democrat precisely because of their abortion stand would be a mortal sin. Right or wrong? Please advise, and thanks in advance.
Yes.
Got issues?
It is an article about a book club.
There is nothing political in this.
This is what trolling really is.
Somebody decides to add a comment about something unrelated and hijacks the thread.
The Catholic Church is not the Republican Party in prayer (I am writing this not as a Democrat nor a Republican). The Catholic Church is grander and bigger than any of the American political parties. Her concerns and issues straddle between the two parties, and her teachings do not fall neatly into one political party’s platform. Because the preeminent issue of abortion is being supported by the Democrats, every Catholic should be mindful of that when voting. But in no way is the equation “Catholic = Republican.” No.
i am (wo) man, hear me Rohr.
Democrats in the House voted this week to support post-birth abortion. 210 Democrats: all except one Democrat believe babies born during failed abortion attempts should be left to die instead of cared for. Tell me, how can a Catholic support the evil Democrat Party?
To clarify, the House passed a bill requiring doctors to try to preserve the life of a baby who survives an abortion attempt.