Book Reviews

The Virtues of Saint Mary of the Cross, Mary MacKillop 1842 – 1909

Author: Paul Gardner sj   Price: $15.00 each

This book presents the Christian virtues of Mother Mary MacKillop, the Australian-born woman who has become Saint Mary of the Cross. It is not a biography, but rather a character portrait, tracing the outline of the virtues exemplified all through her life.

The Virtues is written by Fr Paul Gardner S.J., the Postulator of the cause of her canonisation, and was presented to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 1989, along with the 2-volume work which contains her official biography, since published as The Life of Saint Mary of the Cross, Mary MacKillop 1842 – 1909 (Miegunyah Press, Melbourne, 2015).

The present text, printed privately in 1989, is now published for the first time revealing that Mother Mary practised the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, and the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude, in a manner that was not simply noteworthy but indeed heroic. Tested by pressures of life that would have shown up anything counterfeit or superficial, Mother Mary lived the virtues in a way that can only be described as rock solid throughout the many storms that beset her personally and the institute and works that she founded.

 

Little Lon

Author: Andrew Kelly, illustrated by Heather Potter & Mark Jackson   Price: $25.00 each

Marie and her friends sailed boats in the gutters, ate Mr Bracchi’s ice-creams in summer and roast chestnuts in winter, all in the centre of a big busy city, behind fancy fronts of the main boulevards. Here lay the network of lanes and houses called Little Lon.

Times were different when Marie was growing up. The families may not have been rich, but they were a community.

A surprising history in every way. There are a limited number of copies available in store signed by the author.

 

A Daily Cuppa with Mary and Julian

Meditations with St Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods
Author: Sue and Leo Kane   Price: $25.00 each

A book designed for those little pauses in the day, perhaps over a cuppa, that allow our souls to catch up with the rest of our lives.

A great gift idea for any occasion.

 

Mary MacKillop – A Great Australian

Author: Joan Goodwin   ~   Price: $9.95 each

On Saint Joseph’s day 1866 Mary MacKillop exchanged her ordinary clothes for a simple black dress and dedicated her life to God and to the teaching and care of poor children. She was the Australian-born foundress of a religious congregation and is now Australia’s first canonised saint.

Today her Sisters continue her work, not just teaching in schools but also caring for the poor, the sick and the homeless.

Ideal for Middle Primary. Picture story book. 30 pages. 30-40 words per page.

Relates the story of how Father Woods guided Mary in identifying God’s will, to educate poor children, especially in outback areas of Australia, and assist the poor wherever there was a need. It traces the humble beginning of the Sisters of St Joseph and the expansion of the Order.

 

The Black Dress

Author: Pamela Freeman   ~   Price: $20.00 each

260 pages. For a good reader. Year 6.

The story focuses on Mary’s early life in Victoria, leading up to her taking her vows as the first Sister of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart. It is written in narrative format and it is told from Mary’s viewpoint as an elderly woman looking back over her life journey.  It gives a detailed account of Mary’s early life; it is set in the context of the early settlement of colonial Melbourne and has good historical detail.

 

Six Little Stories about Mary MacKillop for her youngest friends

Author: Anne Power RSJ   ~   Price: $5.00 each

This is a little book for little people about Mary MacKillop whom we often forget was once a little person too. The stories in this book remind us that Mary, who grew up in a family with a loving father and mother and four brothers and two sisters, was a little Australian girl who grew up helping people to be good and happy. The stories are not too long and the words are not too hard for little people to read.”

Ideal for Foundation, Years 1 and 2.

Picture Story book. 36 pages.

Six short stories that reflect the specialness of Mary even as a young girl.

Stories 4 to 5 pages with one coloured picture per story.

 

Politeness – A little book prepared for the children (1929)

 
Author: B Herder Book Co.   ~   Price: $5.00 each

This is a little book on politeness used by the Sisters of Saint Joseph in their Josephite schools. It includes tips on how to conduct oneself in a polite manner and show respect to everyone. Tips include: when you a told a secret keep it; yawning is very impolite. If obliged to do so, keep your handkerchief before your mouth; avoid reading or whispering during a lecture, concert or sermon; and, do not touch your nose, mouth, ears or hair in company. This is a little gem and worth sharing with students.

 

For any enquiries please contact MMHC on (03) 9926 9300 or email admin.mmhc@sosj.org.au.

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