In Conversation with God

trimont · #1 May 23, '04, 12:30 pm

I've recently discovered Francis Fernandez' series of prayer books entitled In Conversation with God. Written in 1987, how could I have missed out on these treasures for so long? I began using it daily last Ash Wednesday and find this resource to be incredibly rich and challenging. Does anyone out there use this tool in their prayer life?

whosebob · #2 May 23, '04, 6:23 pm

Yes, I do. And yes, those seven volumes are of tremendous help to any Christian who wishes to live in a more authentic and radical, but wholly "realistic," manner his/her baptismal call to holiness.

I wonder if they will be "updated" to take into account the "second half" of JPII's pontificate, since the daily meditations so frequently draw from his encyclicals and homilies. Also, the two volumes that cover the Proper of Saints are pretty "thin" at present -- perhaps the author(s) is working on expanded volumes in that context.

Buy the seven volume set here . . .

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...641350-6596009

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Marie · #3 May 23, '04, 6:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by trimont

I've recently discovered Francis Fernandez' series of prayer books entitled In Conversation with God. Written in 1987, how could I have missed out on these treasures for so long? I began using it daily last Ash Wednesday and find this resource to be incredibly rich and challenging. Does anyone out there use this tool in their prayer life?

The only thing I know about it...if it is the same set of books, (can't be sure) is our dioceses found them to contain some doctrinal error and has said "Don't buy them and don't use them."
I believe some publisher or other was pushing them for our Catholic Schools. Now as I said, the title's the same as the one which is not kosher but I am not sure it is the same set of books.

whosebob · #4 May 23, '04, 8:10 pm

My question is . . . what diocese?

Some diocese are "better" than others when it comes to judging the quality and orthodoxy of various materials, programs, etc.

For example, there is a diocese in Ohio where the bishop forbid his priests and visiting preachers to speak about Gibson's Passion movie. There is also a diocese in Ohio where the bishop "kicked out" Regnum Christi and the Legionaires of Christ (could be the same diocese, not sure). . . and I'm sure there are lots of other examples where a judgment was made against orthodoxy or doctrinal fidelity and the judgment was, well, bogus.

In Conversation with God is put out by Scepter Publishers, wich is the publishing "arm" of Opus Dei, and the books are solidly orthodox -- if someone tells you otherwise then they are either mistaken or they have a personal agenda or issue that really puts their own doctrinal fidelity in question. I personally have met several Catholic Church priests and lay employees for whom this is the case, and specifically regarding these books. Sometimes a judgment will be made automatically against anything Opus Dei "puts out" because as you may know, Opus Dei is not so highly regarded by many people within and without the Church.

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Marie · #5 May 23, '04, 8:24 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by whosebob

My question is . . . what diocese?

Some diocese are "better" than others when it comes to judging the quality and orthodoxy of various materials, programs, etc.

For example, there is a diocese in Ohio where the bishop forbid his priests and visiting preachers to speak about Gibson's Passion movie. There is also a diocese in Ohio where the bishop "kicked out" Regnum Christi and the Legionaires of Christ (could be the same diocese, not sure). . . and I'm sure there are lots of other examples where a judgment was made against orthodoxy or doctrinal fidelity and the judgment was, well, bogus.

In Conversation with God is put out by Scepter Publishers, wich is the publishing "arm" of Opus Dei, and the books are solidly orthodox -- if someone tells you otherwise then they are either mistaken or they have a personal agenda or issue that really puts their own doctrinal fidelity in question. I personally have met several Catholic Church priests and lay employees for whom this is the case, and specifically regarding these books. Sometimes a judgment will be made automatically against anything Opus Dei "puts out" because as you may know, Opus Dei is not so highly regarded by many people within and without the Church.

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

If it is the Opus Dei one, then that is not the one I am talking about. The one that we are urged to avoid is written in very New Age, gender sesitive (gag!) language. Mother God strike a bell?

trimont · #6 May 24, '04, 4:04 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by whosebob

I wonder if they will be "updated" to take into account the "second half" of JPII's pontificate, since the daily meditations so frequently draw from his encyclicals and homilies..

I'd love to see them updated, as well. Francis Fernandez seems to have a gift for gathering the relevant - I see he's published an anthology of 6,000 quotes from spiritual writers throughout the ages. Another title that looks very interesting is Lukewarmness - the Devil in Disguise. Any reviews out there?

(whosebob) - Since you use these, maybe you can verify that next Monday we move on to Volume 3, with the 9th Wk, Monday? Something there seemed a week off, not sure why. Maybe you can let me know? Thanks.

trimont · #7 May 24, '04, 4:39 am

BTW, whosebob left a link to order the 7 volume set which is a little expensive if you're not sure. Here's a link where you can buy them separately...more affordable this way if you'd like to check it out before investing in the whole set. (Definitely worth checking out!!!)

http://www.catholiccompany.com/displ...m?category=262

Robin L. in TX · #8 May 24, '04, 9:11 am

I really like these books. My own catechesis was very sketchy, and I particularly enjoy the books' emphasis on learning how to implement the virtues and mortifications in my life. It is helping me to become more "Catholic" even though I hadn't been taught it when young by reason of an early Confirmation, my own family's lack of religious fervor, and no more formation after that until Spirit-driven in adulthood...

whosebob · #9 May 24, '04, 9:32 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by trimont

(whosebob) - Since you use these, maybe you can verify that next Monday we move on to Volume 3, with the 9th Wk, Monday? Something there seemed a week off, not sure why. Maybe you can let me know? Thanks.

Hi, trimont.

I just looked, and yes, you are correct -- next Monday you would move to volume 3, starting with Monday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time. Also, you will need volume 6 if you would like to read the meditations that are specifically tailored to Trinity Sunday and the Feast of Corpus Christi (the two successive Sundays that always follow Pentecost and "replace" whatever "Sundays in Ordinary Time" they happen to be on top of, this year it's Sundays 10 and 11).

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

trimont · #10 May 24, '04, 9:38 am

Thanks, whosebob - I just ordered Volume 6 this morning, but should have it in time... Now I'm wondering what I've missed - but you did say those volumes are a little lacking?

Pax,
trimont

whosebob · #11 May 24, '04, 9:53 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by trimont

Thanks, whosebob - I just ordered Volume 6 this morning, but should have it in time... Now I'm wondering what I've missed - but you did say those volumes are a little lacking?

By lacking (or I said "thin") I meant that compared to the number of memorials, feasts, etc. in the Proper of Saints, the number of meditations in volumes 6 and 7 is relatively small. Maybe only 5%- 10% of that part of the Church's calendar is "covered" by Fernandez, whereas he pretty much exhausts the Proper of Seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Eastertide, etc.). Again, though, that's not to say the latter might not could be updated as we mentioned earlier.

On the other hand, if each celebration in the Proper of Saints were expounded upon, the book series would probably more than double in length -- instead of volumes 6 and 7, you would probably have volumes 6 through 12! So maybe Fernandez deliberately chose the "highlights" he thought it important to cover and he plans to leave it at that.

BUT, the meditations in volumes 6 and 7 are just as rich as those in volumes 1 through 5 and I think it's terrific you are adding at least half of them to your library.

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Poisson · #12 Jun 2, '04, 12:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marie

The only thing I know about it...if it is the same set of books, (can't be sure) is our dioceses found them to contain some doctrinal error and has said "Don't buy them and don't use them."
I believe some publisher or other was pushing them for our Catholic Schools. Now as I said, the title's the same as the one which is not kosher but I am not sure it is the same set of books.

You could be thinking of the series called "Conversations With God" by Walsch which clearly does not conform to Catholic Church teaching. The books "In Conversation With God" by Fernandez which seems much better.

Strider · #13 Jun 2, '04, 12:56 pm

Be careful. "In Conversation with God" is the 7 volume Catholic set, but "Converstions with God" is a new age set of books that you want to avoid. Just double check.

baltobetsy · #14 Jun 2, '04, 2:34 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by trimont

Another title that looks very interesting is Lukewarmness - the Devil in Disguise. Any reviews out there?

Excellent book when you need a kick in the pants. The kind of book you read on retreat. Buy it.

Betsy

Amy · #15 Jun 3, '04, 12:50 am

I bought the seven volume set a few months ago at a retreat house run by the local Franciscan Sisters. I had never heard of the set. I flipped through a few of the volumes and couldn't believe what a gem I found!

I use Magnificat Magazine for the daily Readings. Now I have a sound homily to go along with the Readings! Besides, the Franciscans will never lead you astray!!

Ave Maria!
Amy