Father Stubna's Recommendations - test note
Includes bibliography and index.
Status
Available
Call number
Publication
New York : Doubleday, c2005.
Physical description
xvi, 384 p.; 25 cm
User reviews
LibraryThing member maryanntherese
Raymond Arroyo weaves a fascinating tale of the sickly, unwanted child who rises to become arguably the most powerful woman in the world, controlling a broadcasting empire reaching into 100 million homes around the globe.
Arroyo, anchor of the EWTN news program "The World Over," does not sugar-coat
The tale of her early life, with it's suffering and lonliness, makes for good reading. Who can not relate on some level to the physical, emotional and spiritual trials she suffered? The tales of life in the cloister are interesting and surprising. Arroyo includes all of the phases Mother and her nuns went through, from the charismatic renewal, short veils and a swimming pool and back again to strict enclosure, chapter faults and silence. As the tale unfolds we see plainly how a Lenten retreat for lay women at the monastery evolved through the years into EWTN.
But the most intriguing part of the story, for me, begins with World Youth Day 1993. Mother was incensed when the Stations of the Cross were presented, from Denver, live on EWTN for all the world to see, with a female Jesus. From that time until Mother's resignation as Chairman of the Board of EWTN in 2000 there is a trail of political wrangling between Mother, EWTN, the Bishops' Conference and the Vatican. Here Arroyo deftly chronicles it all month by month, year by year.
Arroyo's writing style is engaging, although he does tend to change the way he refers to himself throughout the book. Sometimes in the first person, "I" or "me," sometimes as "the author" or "this author." One style carried through would have been easier on the reader. Otherwise, aside from some errors on the dates in the photo section, the book is wonderfully written. Arroyo has a sense of timing and suspense which makes the book, especially the post-World Youth Day years, a page-turner.
Arroyo, anchor of the EWTN news program "The World Over," does not sugar-coat
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his portrayal of Mother's life, as someone so close to her might well be suspected of doing. Nor is this simply a digest of Mother's reminisces. Arroyo has done plenty of his own research and interviews to present the fact surrounding Mother, her network and her monastic foundations.The tale of her early life, with it's suffering and lonliness, makes for good reading. Who can not relate on some level to the physical, emotional and spiritual trials she suffered? The tales of life in the cloister are interesting and surprising. Arroyo includes all of the phases Mother and her nuns went through, from the charismatic renewal, short veils and a swimming pool and back again to strict enclosure, chapter faults and silence. As the tale unfolds we see plainly how a Lenten retreat for lay women at the monastery evolved through the years into EWTN.
But the most intriguing part of the story, for me, begins with World Youth Day 1993. Mother was incensed when the Stations of the Cross were presented, from Denver, live on EWTN for all the world to see, with a female Jesus. From that time until Mother's resignation as Chairman of the Board of EWTN in 2000 there is a trail of political wrangling between Mother, EWTN, the Bishops' Conference and the Vatican. Here Arroyo deftly chronicles it all month by month, year by year.
Arroyo's writing style is engaging, although he does tend to change the way he refers to himself throughout the book. Sometimes in the first person, "I" or "me," sometimes as "the author" or "this author." One style carried through would have been easier on the reader. Otherwise, aside from some errors on the dates in the photo section, the book is wonderfully written. Arroyo has a sense of timing and suspense which makes the book, especially the post-World Youth Day years, a page-turner.
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Original publication date
2005
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