Explaining my conversion to Catholicism isn't easy. Even trying to express it to the the home crowd, I can never get the right balance. There is too much.
Protestant Fundamentalism/Evangelicalism is a bookish kind of life. Dominated (rightly) by the Bible, it comes naturally to hand a book to a friend when you are trying to explain the things that matter to you and that are leading to greater spiritual growth in your life. There are many terrific books about Catholicism that I could give to Protestant friends, but the responses would range from burning the book to politely allowing it to collect dust.
I keep looking for books that open windows of understanding on my Catholic beliefs and practices with a simple, open-handed honesty that allows the reader to take it or leave it. My sponsor Jane handed me the first book of this type at my Confirmation--Catholic and Christian. I have finally found a second.
My Life with the Saints tackles the very sticky wicket, the communion of the saints. I remember discussing my prayer life with a Protestant friend who suddenly gasped and said, "You don't pray to Mary, do you?" For the record, yes, I do. For some of my friends that is inconceivable. For them that means I worship the saints. For the record, no, I don't.
Understanding how Catholics really think about the saints could be truly helpful in understanding this surprising and important part of Catholic life. To James Martin, S.J., the saints are our models, intercessors, and friends. He opens up the intertwining of his life with the lives of the saints, spreading all his inner thinking out for the world to see--including my Protestant friends. The work of the saints is there to be seen in abundance, but I'm afraid evidence of idolatry is clearly lacking.
You can't convince the hard-hearted of anything, but for those who would truly like to understand their brothers and sisters a little better, this book could be helpful.
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