The Confessions.... In A Week? II Catholic Reading Challenge!

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Have you ever struggled to get through a spiritual classic?

[@vesnastihovic7014]

Augustine encountered a line of thought which had an immense influence on his ideas regarding the important question of how far human beings could work out their own salvation and how far they are dependent on God to help them by the intervention of his grace. It also encouraged him to think about predestination and to come to the conclusion that God pedestines those he saves for heaven. These were significant issues for the city of God, whose membership, Augustine concluded, must consist only of those God had chosen to be its citizens.

[@NewEnglanderatHeart]

I started Screwtape Letters over and over again but couldn’t get very far. This summer there was a book study on it at my parish and I finally read it all the way through. Being part of a study group definitely helped. I love your strategy of the audio book. Congrats!

[@mindys3581]

I’ve tried to read the Confessions and failed. Maybe one day! I like the idea of watching the movie first.

[@conceptacasserly1360]

Well done Jennifer, you're an inspiration for all of us 🙏🏻

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Thank you! Just skip the part, though, about all my failed attempts, lol. I hope everyone makes it through on the first try :)

[@Roni78z]

I would have made reading that book a New Year’s resolution for 2025.. take 2! 🎬 😅☺️✨

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Whew- that was plan B for me, and I almost had to put it into action!

[@saintdonoghue]

Look at that old Barnes & Noble hardcover - wonderful to see it again! But honestly, I don't know how anybody could STOP reading the Confessions. I love it so much.

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

I can see how you would love it… there is so much there to ponder, and you could keep rereading it and learn something new every time :)

[@aishaa309]

Congrats, so proud of you🎉🎉 Loved the "crime never pays" remark😂 I have both St. Augustine's Confessions & The City of God & I want to read them really badly. Maybe that'll be one of my 2025 goals! Thanks for the inspiration 🎉

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Having it on paper as a goal was highly motivating for me- lol, I felt I was going to let Kate down, also, if I failed in this attempt. Having that deadline really helped :)

[@SaraMGreads]

Good job slogging through!! Audiobooks can be a life saver!

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Amen! It made all the difference for me

[@elizabeth-o4e]

Bravo...you did it...good girl 😁👍...Have a wonderful day!!!

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Thank you! It was a long time coming :)

[@MtHa-yu2sf]

I like your commitment to this challenge!

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Thank you! After all my failed attempts, I really wanted to make this a go

[@jenlovesjesus]

Well done you! Way to finish the year on a high note.😊

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Thank you! I truly am glad that I finally made it through :)

[@Gaga30714]

Wow, I loved hearing about your struggles reading this book! I’m so happy you found an audio version. I was going to suggest that. I just heard Jimmy Akin speak about how he cannot read books. He loves listening to audio versions or podcast. ❤ I’m so happy I found your channel. 🎉

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

We're so glad you found us! I think I must have listened to the same podcast as you did with Jimmy Akin. He was discussing his dyslexia and different ways he's worked around that? He is always so interesting!

[@myrigarou]

Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉 ! 😊

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Thank you so much 😀

[@ChelJT]

I would love to read this! Thanks for your great tips!! Audio version and rewatch Restless Heart ❤️ And congrats 😀

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Thank you! It took me- ahem- awhile, though, to finally get through it! Let me know if you tackle it :)

[@shelbycollier3586]

I’m reading Confessions too! I’ve tried two times before but this time I am determined! It’s been an amazing book so far!

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Yay! You will make it all the way through- we are cheering for you here. Like you, I enjoyed it so much more on this attempt :)

[@vesnastihovic7014]

I'm reading The City of God! 😊

[@aishaa309]

@vesnastihovic7014 How is it? I have it & it's on my TBR list.

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

That one may be next for me… but maybe in a couple of years, lol. Are you enjoying it?

[@vesnastihovic7014]

​@catholicmomanddaughter It's good but little bit overwhelming. Augustine's discontent with himself and his understanding of the world and the purpose of life continued throughout his twenties, while he remained an adherent of the Manichees. He later looked back with some self-discussed on the idea he once held that he could give it to fleshy pleasures and subsequently atone by taking food to the holy elect, who would transmute matter to spirit as they digested it and bring into being spiritual forces for good. Augustine did not immediately break down his connections with the Manichees, for he did not know where else to turn to find a better religious and philosophical system, but in some disturbance of spirit he found that he was disillusioned. And even after he has ceased altogether to be a Manichee and become a Christian, the Manichee bundle of the beliefs included ideas which stayed with Augustine for a long time. One was that the material world was evil and the world of the spirit good. Even after he had accepted that the omnipotent Christian God was the creator of matter as well as spirit, Augustine continued to believe that, as a matter of common experience, the body and soul were at war in each individual. He came to the conclusion that God pedestines those he saves for heaven. In the city of God, membership, Augustine concluded, must consist only of those God had chosen to be its citizens.

[@MargaretUIUC]

I'm impressed . . . and a little jealous that you made it through the Confessions and I still haven't. I may have to try the audio book. I am no philosopher, nor am I a theologian. I love Godsplaining because I love the banter among the friars, but I confess that my eyes glaze over when they settle down to the subject at hand if it involves (as it usually does) deep, philosophical thinking. Maybe that's why I haven't made it through the Confessions yet. St. Augustine, pray for me!

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Well, lol, Margaret- don't be too impressed since it only took me upteen tries. I so very much wish Fr. Joe Roesch of the Marian Fathers would take on the Confessions. I did St. Faustina's Diary and Imitation of Christ with him, and he just has a beautiful way of explaining things. Maybe I will email him and ask… couldn't hurt!

[@lorettat.8413]

"Crime doesn't pay." haha, that got me laughing. 😄. Congrats! You analyzed the situation, made adjustments as needed and you did it! A good lesson for all of life's challenges I think. And thank you for the tips - will keep them in mind when I am brave enough to begin reading!

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Lol- I was fairly bummed when I realized that I had to go back and start again on normal speed, but in the end it was worth it! Let me know if you give it a try :)

[@LenaSheppard]

Well done! Thanks for sharing your tips. I don't know if I could ever do an audio book; my mind wanders easily & I'm sure I'd have to start over. I appreciate you being here for me !

[@MargaretUIUC]

My mind also wanders, Lena . . . and I'm afraid that someday it will wander too far and won't find its way back!😅

[@LenaSheppard]

@MargaretUIUC Oh lol! I just get distracted too easily

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

You and Margaret are cracking us up, Lean. God bless you both!

[@MaryAshleyElizabeth]

This is the January book on my Fable book club

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Awesome- keep us updated on how it goes! Have a blessed Advent :)

[@Goshdarnet]

Interesting Tidbit: did you know that Alec Guinness, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars films, was Catholic? He had a charming experience while playing a priest in a film (its on his Wikipedia page if you're interested) and it brought him to a conversion. I read the majority of my books thrlugh audiobook and man, a good narrator can make or break a book. I have had to quit books because the narrator was terrible, and this past year, the only way I managed to make it through Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Baugh was because it was narrated by Jeremy Irons.

[@catholicmomanddaughter]

Thanks for the tip about the story- it's such a great one! We agree that a bad narrator is nothing short of painful; we've also abandoned audiobooks for the same reason, so we stand with you.