Life and Times of Martin Luther Roth-Beck Book Review

The Life and Times of Martin Luther

The Life and Times of Martin Luther
Meike Roth-Beck, author
Klaus Ensikat, illustrator
Laura Watkinson, translator

Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2017
ISBN: 97808028549547
44 pages
List price 18.00

Publisher recommended for children ages 7 years and up.

Book review by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.

About the Book
An illustrated history written at the time of commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran denomination within the Christian Church.

On the Eerdmans web page for this book is stated:

This sophisticated book commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation by examining the details of Martin Luther's life and his lasting legacy.

Perspective: My Review
Life and Times of Martin Luther should have been reviewed on my Christian children book review blog, but the content of this book lends itself more to the older reader.

The text is mature for children and even for some adults. 

In relating the history of the times and Luther himself nothing is new or creatively presented. You will get the facts without very much story telling.

The illustrations are imaginative and well done. Luther's story, if known by the reader or presenter, is told through the drawings and much more understandable for children.  

I am not certain as to why the publisher named this a book for children as young as seven years other than because it is a picture book. 

Even further out of line with the text is on Amazon.com where it's recommended for children in grades 3-6.  It is true, perhaps, that a small minority of kids in that age bracket will be able to relate the meaning of what they read, or is being read to them.

Perhaps the clue to determining whether the publisher knew of the inappropriateness of their age determination for category is in their descriptive word sophisticated. 

The Little Book of Holy Gratitude by Frederick Faber Book Review

The Little Book of Holy Gratitude
Fr. Frederica Faber
Sophia Institute Press

The Little Book of Holy Gratitude
Fr. Frederick Faber
Manchester NH: Sophia Institute Press, 2016

116 pages
ISBN 978-1-622823-437
Price: 14.95

Recommended Book.

Book review by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com. 

Bible quotes source: BibleGateway.com.

Beginning with Jesus' parable on the healing of the ten lepers, Fr. William Faber successfully demonstrates the importance of giving thanks.  The ten, suffering from leprosy, begged Jesus.

They stood at a distance, and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"  Luke 17: 11-19

Healed by Jesus, only one returned to offer thanks and praise.  

Then he said to him,, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."  I wonder about that.  Were the nine lepers who didn't give thanks healed of the physical ailment but not in the matter that counts for eternity?  Luke 17: 11-19

The Little Book of Holy Gratitude, containing selections from Fr. Faber's writing, is most definitely directed to the Roman Catholic Christian, talking about the Sacred Heart of Jesus, mortification, merits and praying to Saints, yet this work packs an inspirational and motivating message for all Christians. 

It is so easy to forget to be thankful.  I am not a Roman Catholic, but appreciated what I read, and having been reminded of neglecting to offer thanks and praise in gratitude for all our Good Lord has done, I am remembering to...

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Fr. Faber's works are now in the public domain and available for reading online at no charge, though here in this little book his inspiring words are available in a compact format, ready to take along, read and re-read anywhere, and also to share with others. 

I recommend The Little Book of Holy Gratitude.

Back Cover: The Little Book of Holy Gratitude by Fr. Frederick Faber

About Fr. Faber from Wikipedia
LINK to article.
Frederick William Faber (1814-1863) was a noted English hymn writer and theologian, who converted from Anglicanism to the Catholic priesthood. 

Faber's family was of Huguenot descent, and Calvinist beliefs were strongly held by them. When Faber had come to Oxford, he was exposed to the Anglo-Catholic preaching of the Oxford Movement which was beginning to develop in the Church of England. 

One of its most prominent proponents was the popular preacher John Henry Newman, vicar of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. Faber struggled with these divergent forms of Christian beliefs and life. In order to relieve his tension, he would take long vacations in the Lake District, where he would write poetry. There he was befriended by another poet, William Wordsworth. He finally abandoned the Calvinistic views of his youth and became an enthusiastic follower of Newman.

Faber had never enjoyed good health. He had suffered from illness for years, developing what was eventually diagnosed as Bright's Disease, which was to prove fatal. In spite of his weak health, much work was crowded into those years. He published a number of theological works, and edited the Oratorian Lives of the Saints.