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In Conversation with God – Volume 1 Part 1: Advent
In Conversation with God – Volume 1 Part 1: Advent is now available for Kindle. It consists of 29 meditations for the whole of Advent and ends on Christmas Eve.In Conversation with God – Volume 1 Part 2: Christmas and Epiphany will shortly become available separately as a companion volume. It consists of 22 meditations for the whole of Christmastide, up to and including the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the First Sunday of Ordinary Time.The complete work of In Conversation with God has more than 450 meditations for every day of the year. These meditations deal with the main topics of Christian doctrine and life. Author Francis Fernandez makes generous use of the writings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, the Fathers and the great saints, as he brings you focused and moving meditations on themes taken from the Mass readings for that day, the liturgical season, and more. This work is rich and extensive enough to serve as your spiritual reading and for a meditative prayer, as it helps you relate the particulars of the message of Christ to the ordinary circumstances of your day.
- GenresCatholicNonfiction
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2011
90 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Francisco Fernández-Carvajal
252 books38 followersFrancisco Fernández-Carvajal, natural de Albolote, Granada, es Licenciado en Historia por la Universidad de Navarra y Doctor en Derecho Canónico por el Angelicum de Roma. Sacerdote de la Prelatura del Opus Dei. Durante más de diez años fue Redactor-Jefe de la revista Palabra.
Es uno de los autores contemporáneos de obras de espiritualidad más conocido.
En Ediciones Palabra ha publicado Hablar con Dios, del que se han editado más de dos millones de ejemplares. Esta gran obra contiene más de quinientas cincuenta meditaciones para cada día del año. Ha sido traducida al inglés, francés, italiano, portugués, alemán, holandés, rumano, eslovaco, checo y polaco. Actualmente se está llevando a cabo la traducción al ruso y al húngaro.
También en esta misma editorial se han publicado -con numerosas reediciones- otras obras suyas: Vida de Jesús, Donde duerme la ilusión (La tibieza), Hijos de Dios (en colaboración con Pedro Beteta), Quédate conmigo, Como quieras Tú (meditaciones sobre la Pasión del Señor), El día que cambié mi vida, Antología de textos para la oración y la predicación, y Para llegar a puerto (El sentido de la ayuda espiritual).
Es uno de los autores contemporáneos de obras de espiritualidad más conocido.
En Ediciones Palabra ha publicado Hablar con Dios, del que se han editado más de dos millones de ejemplares. Esta gran obra contiene más de quinientas cincuenta meditaciones para cada día del año. Ha sido traducida al inglés, francés, italiano, portugués, alemán, holandés, rumano, eslovaco, checo y polaco. Actualmente se está llevando a cabo la traducción al ruso y al húngaro.
También en esta misma editorial se han publicado -con numerosas reediciones- otras obras suyas: Vida de Jesús, Donde duerme la ilusión (La tibieza), Hijos de Dios (en colaboración con Pedro Beteta), Quédate conmigo, Como quieras Tú (meditaciones sobre la Pasión del Señor), El día que cambié mi vida, Antología de textos para la oración y la predicación, y Para llegar a puerto (El sentido de la ayuda espiritual).
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 8, 2024
I first reviewed this series almost 10 years ago. And have been reading them off and on for over 26 years now since they were first released starting in 1989. And to be honest I have been waiting for eBooks or an app version to come out for a number of years. There are many things I love about the eBook editions. First I can have the whole series with me all the time. So not only can I read the daily devotion for that day and for any special feasts that day. But I can use them for study and use the extensive indexes to read specific points or search for something I read before. The biggest difference with the eBook editions is each of the 7 volumes is split in two parts.
I have read through this whole series 6 or 7 times and every time I get something more out of them. I have owned 3 copies of the physical books and now own the eBooks. I find that starting them again this year in ebooks, with no underlining of passages or notes in the margins that they are new and fresh. Though to be honest over the 4 weeks of Advent I highlighted over 20 passages my first time through in the eBook. I will share some of those passages to show you the power in these devotions:
"Holy purity entails a daily self conquest, for it is not acquired once and for all. There may be times when the struggle becomes more intense, so that it is necessary to have more frequent recourse to the Blessed Virgin and to use, perhaps, some more unusual remedy."
"Other ways of caring for and cultivating this virtue are those small, customary mortifications which help to keep the body under control. If we want to keep intact the most beautiful of all the virtues, which is chastity, we must realise that it is a rose that only blooms in the midst of thorns, for which reason it is only to be found, as are the other virtues, in a mortified person."
"To become like children at heart while remaining adults can be costly. It requires real determination and strength of will, and a total abandonment to God. To become children we must renounce our pride and self sufficiency, recognising that we can do nothing by ourselves. We must realise that we need grace and the help of God our Father to find our way and keep to it. To be little, you have to abandon yourself as children do, believe as children believe, beg as children beg."
"For each one of us, our vocation is the central theme of our lives. It is the axis around which everything else turns. Everything, or almost everything, depends on our knowing and carrying out what God asks of us."
"Our Lord calls every one of us by our own name, today as much as ever. He needs us, it seems. Furthermore He calls all of us to a holy vocation, a vocation to follow him in a new life whose secret He alone possesses."
"The humble person knows his place, however exalted or lowly it be. He feels he belongs there and is happy in his work. He knows his limitations and possibilities, and does not allow himself to be deceived by mere ambition. His qualifications are the right ones for his job, to a greater or lesser degree: he is never a dead weight, holding others back. He carries out his work as well as he might, as a member of a team."
"The Christian way of life demands a radical change in attitude towards earthly things; they should be procured and used, not as an end in themselves, but as a means of serving God. Because they are only a means they are not worth putting our hearts into; true goods are something else altogether."
I am greatly looking forward to reading this series with fresh eyes this year. And doing so through the eBook versions. These devotions all follow the same format. Each day has about 6 pages of readings broken into three sections. In the past I have read the whole thing at once in the morning, or broken it up and read part in the morning, part at lunch and part in the evening. There is so much great material in these books. I know people who have read them every year for decades now and they still get something more from them each year.
It is my prayer that these book will enrich my life this year and if you give them a try that they will be of abundant spiritual blessing to you also.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Francis Fernandez.
(Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)
I have read through this whole series 6 or 7 times and every time I get something more out of them. I have owned 3 copies of the physical books and now own the eBooks. I find that starting them again this year in ebooks, with no underlining of passages or notes in the margins that they are new and fresh. Though to be honest over the 4 weeks of Advent I highlighted over 20 passages my first time through in the eBook. I will share some of those passages to show you the power in these devotions:
"Holy purity entails a daily self conquest, for it is not acquired once and for all. There may be times when the struggle becomes more intense, so that it is necessary to have more frequent recourse to the Blessed Virgin and to use, perhaps, some more unusual remedy."
"Other ways of caring for and cultivating this virtue are those small, customary mortifications which help to keep the body under control. If we want to keep intact the most beautiful of all the virtues, which is chastity, we must realise that it is a rose that only blooms in the midst of thorns, for which reason it is only to be found, as are the other virtues, in a mortified person."
"To become like children at heart while remaining adults can be costly. It requires real determination and strength of will, and a total abandonment to God. To become children we must renounce our pride and self sufficiency, recognising that we can do nothing by ourselves. We must realise that we need grace and the help of God our Father to find our way and keep to it. To be little, you have to abandon yourself as children do, believe as children believe, beg as children beg."
"For each one of us, our vocation is the central theme of our lives. It is the axis around which everything else turns. Everything, or almost everything, depends on our knowing and carrying out what God asks of us."
"Our Lord calls every one of us by our own name, today as much as ever. He needs us, it seems. Furthermore He calls all of us to a holy vocation, a vocation to follow him in a new life whose secret He alone possesses."
"The humble person knows his place, however exalted or lowly it be. He feels he belongs there and is happy in his work. He knows his limitations and possibilities, and does not allow himself to be deceived by mere ambition. His qualifications are the right ones for his job, to a greater or lesser degree: he is never a dead weight, holding others back. He carries out his work as well as he might, as a member of a team."
"The Christian way of life demands a radical change in attitude towards earthly things; they should be procured and used, not as an end in themselves, but as a means of serving God. Because they are only a means they are not worth putting our hearts into; true goods are something else altogether."
I am greatly looking forward to reading this series with fresh eyes this year. And doing so through the eBook versions. These devotions all follow the same format. Each day has about 6 pages of readings broken into three sections. In the past I have read the whole thing at once in the morning, or broken it up and read part in the morning, part at lunch and part in the evening. There is so much great material in these books. I know people who have read them every year for decades now and they still get something more from them each year.
It is my prayer that these book will enrich my life this year and if you give them a try that they will be of abundant spiritual blessing to you also.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Francis Fernandez.
(Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)
December 19, 2019
i don't know how many years I've read this for Advent. it still manages to teach me and guide me. indeed the whole series is priceless. another gift I'll be making sure the kids receive as they move out.
January 9, 2024
I read this every single day for all of advent, quite possibly the first time I’ve had 100% on time completion of a devotional for any liturgical season (shoutout to Relevant Radio for having a podcast so I could listen on days I couldn’t read). It was accessible, relatable, inspiring and attainable. Perfect for the student, working adult or stay at home mom. Will probably read again next advent.
February 13, 2022
My first time reading any books from this series! It came highly recommended by so many people within a couple weeks time, so I felt like I had to read it! This was the “Advent and Christmas” volume and I loved using it to pray during advent and Christmas season. I think it will be a wonderful tradition to come back year after year to pray with this. I got myself the Lent and Easter volume as a Christmas present.
December 25, 2024
Fantastic companion for daily prayer
This series was recommended to me by a friend. When I found it on kindle, I immediately purchased it and began using it daily. It will forever be a daily read of mine…as soon as I purchase every single other volume! It is simple, excellent, and helped me be the most focused and prepared that I have been for Advent and the arrival of Christmas. Blessed be the arrival of the Christ Child! Highly recommend!
This series was recommended to me by a friend. When I found it on kindle, I immediately purchased it and began using it daily. It will forever be a daily read of mine…as soon as I purchase every single other volume! It is simple, excellent, and helped me be the most focused and prepared that I have been for Advent and the arrival of Christmas. Blessed be the arrival of the Christ Child! Highly recommend!
December 23, 2018
Helpful Aid
It’s a very helpful aid when one does a mental prayer.
I never do one without it. Without it, my prayers are mostly distracted.
It’s a very helpful aid when one does a mental prayer.
I never do one without it. Without it, my prayers are mostly distracted.
October 21, 2015
These books have been around for years, yet continue to inspire me. The series are meant to be read over the course of the entire church year for daily supplementation of the mass readings, and are designed to do so for each church year (all cycles). I'm so happy they are finally available in Kindle format now for even greater accessibility.
They touch me, inspire me, enlighten me and soothe my soul. I highly recommend this series and the practice of daily Bible readings.
They touch me, inspire me, enlighten me and soothe my soul. I highly recommend this series and the practice of daily Bible readings.
May 22, 2014
excellent - everyone should read this book. Good for self - introspection.
December 25, 2016
Great preparation for Christmas
Daily meditations to prepare you. Too easy to focus on the rush up to Christmas. A little time each morning to refocus.
Daily meditations to prepare you. Too easy to focus on the rush up to Christmas. A little time each morning to refocus.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews