April 2026 Voting > Likes and Comments
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"The Secret of the Holy Face" and "With Two Eyes Into Gehenna"-but I would happily read several others,here!
The Cypresses Believe in God and Pilgrims
I vote for "Dilexit Nos". The month of April is all about the Paschal Mystery, which is an expression of the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
This Thing is Darkness and With Two Eyes into Gehenna!
The Cypresses Believe in GodDilexit Nos
The Secret of the Holy Face: The Devotion Destined to Save Society by Fr. Lawrence Daniel Carney III
Anti-Mary Exposed, by Carrie Gress.Why religion went obsolete, by Christian Smith.
Dilexit Nos and Genius of Christianity
Dilexit Nos: On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus ChristFourth Encyclical of Pope Francis
In his fourth encyclical, Dilexit Nos ("He loved us"), Pope Francis writes, at a time of profound global challenges, on the human and divine love of the heart of Jesus Christ.
Secret of the Holy Face: The Devotion Destined to Save Society~ Fr. Lawrence Daniel Carney III
In this powerful book, Father Carney reveals the essence and history of the Holy Face Devotion, and how to save society and the Church from her foes. Do you long for a deeper connection with Christ, one that brings comfort, forgiveness, and healing to your soul? If so, you’re not alone because this book was written just for you.
The Cypresses Believe in God or “The Rifle,” and other Stories both sound interesting.Blessings!
CR
I will vote for:The Cypresses Believe in God: Spain on the Eve of Civil War - A Novel
and
The Burning Bush
The secret of the holy face. A devotion that needs renewed in all churches and would be beneficial reasoning during this Lenten time.
“The Secret of the Holy Face”“The Burning Bush”
I actually want to get more involved with my book clubs this year! ☺️
Dilexit NosThe Cypresses Believe in God
The Rifle, and Other Stories by Tomás CarrasquillaWith Two Eyes Into Gehenna, by Jane Lebak
The Cypresses Believe in GodThis Thing of Darkness
I vote for The Cypresses Believe in God: Spain on the Eve of Civil War - A Novel (Los cipreses creen en Dios) by José María Gironella and War Demons, by Russell S. Newquist.
The book(s) with the most votes will be our BOTM. If there is a tie, the moderator uses a random list generator to determine the order and they are all read over however many months. Books that receive fewer than 2 votes will be removed from the Voting List, with those that receive 1 vote being placed at the end of the Nominations List.
Voting will end at approximately 11:00 AM Eastern Time on Wednesday, February 18.
The Voting List for April is:
The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity by Carrie Gress, nominated by Emmy
In the late ’60s, a small group of elite American women convinced an overwhelming majority of the country that destroying the most fundamental of relationships—that of mother and child—was necessary for women to have productive and happy lives. From the spoiling of this relationship followed the decay of the entire family, and almost overnight, our once pro-life culture became pro-lifestyle, embracing everything that felt good. Sixty million abortions later, women aren’t showing signs of health, happiness, and fulfillment.
Voting History: November 2025: 4; January: 6; February: 4
The Burning Bush by Sigrid Undset, nominated by Fonch
Second part to The Wild Orchid, which we read in December 2021. See discussion here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
Voting History: NONE
Champions of the Rosary by Donald H. Calloway, nominated by Ann
From the best-selling author of the classic Catholic conversion story, No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy by Fr. Donald H. Calloway, comes a powerful and comprehensive history of a spiritual weapon: the rosary.
Voting History: April 2025: 3; June 2025: 2; July 2025: 2; August 2025: 2; November 2025: 4; January: 6; February: 3
Conversation With Christ: The Teaching of St. Teresa of Avila About Personal Prayer by Peter-Thomas Rohrbach nominated by Sebastian and Fonch
The practicality of St. Teresa's teaching about mental prayer shines through in this wonderful synopsis of her writings about it–something she said "the whole world could not purchase." Learn how we should pray, in order to grow in the spiritual life.
Voting History: February: 4
The Cypresses Believe in God: Spain on the Eve of Civil War - A Novel (Los cipreses creen en Dios) by José María Gironella, nominated by Susan
Considered by many critics to be the greatest novel about the Spanish Civil War, this classic work by Spaniard Jose Maria Gironella is an unbiased account of the complicated events, movements and personalities that led up to the war. Beginning in 1931, Cypresses covers the next five years of political unrest, culminating in the explosion of the brutal war that wreaked such great havoc on Spain and its citizens. In his epic novel, both gripping and suspenseful, Gironella deftly portrays the human conflict, both internal and external. The most influential philosophical movements of the 20th century are embodied in various characters.
Voting History: February: 4
The Genius of Christianity or the Spirit and Beauty of the Christian Religion, by François-René de Chateaubriand, nominated by Fonch
The Genius of Christianity or The Spirit and Beauty of the Christian Religion is a book written by Viscount Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand, a French writer and diplomat, in 1802. The book is an exploration of the Christian faith and its impact on human civilization, culture, and society. De Chateaubriand argues that Christianity is the most sublime and beautiful religion, and that it has played a crucial role in shaping the Western world.
Voting History: NONE
Pilgrims by M.R. Leonard, nominated by M.R.
Out-of-work Latin teacher and borderline alcoholic Austin DeSantis is determined to spend his final days in the arms of a prostitute—that is if the aliens don’t exterminate humanity first . . . But when the aliens land at the Vatican, begin speaking Latin, and reveal themselves to be Catholic, the world turns upside down.
Voting History: January: 2; February: 2
Reclaiming Quiet: Cultivating a Life of Holy Attention by Sarah Clarkson, nominated by Jill
In a noisy world, the cultivation of quiet may feel like a luxury you do not have. But it is also vital to your spiritual life. When we spend our days distracted by social media, news, entertainment, and jam-packed schedules, we make it nearly impossible to experience the kind of thought life that allows us to grow into the people God created us to be--to become more and more like Jesus.
Voting History: NONE
The Rifle, and Other Stories by Tomás Carrasquilla, nominated by Steven R.
The Rifle, and Other Stories collects eleven stories spanning the literary career of Tomás Carrasquilla, the "first Colombian novelist", whose work is widely known within the country, and a high-school standard in the department of Antioquia, home to the city of Medellín. His novels and short stories straddle the traditional stylings of Costumbrismo and an anti-Modernist, picaresque realism, with a consistent focus on manifestations of Catholicism in both domestic and communal spheres.
Voting History: NONE
The Secret of the Holy Face: The Devotion Destined to Save Society by Fr. Lawrence Daniel Carney III, nominated by Sandralena
From the creation of man to the current ecclesial infiltration and world revolution, the devil and his minions have sought to destroy the human race made in the image of God. No longer attacking from without, they are now secretly laying siege from within the Holy Roman Catholic Church. But why is God allowing this? He loves to see souls heroically battle for the faith.
Voting History: NONE
The Seven Spiritual Weapons by Catherine of Bologna, nominated by Maggie
St. Catherine of Bologna, much venerated in her own city, has been little known outside of her native region but interest in her is now increasing. The outline of her life is clear and her own work, The Seven Spiritual Weapons, tells a good deal about her inner experiences and early years in the cloister. The introduction to this translation situates her life in the history of Ferrara and Bologna and studies how the external history of the community impinged on Catherine's own religious experience and how it was interwoven with her successful struggle against depression.
Voting History: NONE
This Thing of Darkness by K.V. Turley and Fiorella De Maria, nominated by Emmy
Hollywood, 1956. Journalist and war widow Evangeline Kilhooley is assigned to write a "star profile" of the fading actor Bela Lugosi, made famous by his role as Count Dracula. During a series of interviews, Lugosi draws Evi into his curious Eastern European background, gradually revealing the link between Old World shadows and the twilight realm of modern horror films.
Voting History: June 2025: 4; July 2025: 4; August 2025: 4; November 2025: 3; January: 2; February: 4
War Demons, by Russell S. Newquist, nominated by Fonch
Driven by vengeance, Michael Alexander enlisted in the Army the day after 9/11. Five years later, disillusioned and broken by the horrors he witnessed in Afghanistan, Michael returns home to Georgia seeking to begin a new life. But he didn't come alone. Something evil followed him, and it's leaving a path of destruction in its wake.
Voting History: NONE
Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith in America by Christian Smith nominated by Jill
Traditional religion in the United States has suffered huge losses in recent decades. The number of Americans identifying as "not religious" has increased remarkably. Religious affiliation, service attendance, and belief in God have declined. More and more people claim to be "spiritual but not religious." Religious organizations have been reeling from revelations of sexual and financial scandals and cover-ups. Public trust in "organized religion" has declined significantly. Crucially, these religious losses are concentrated among younger generations. This means that, barring unlikely religious revivals among youth, the losses will continue and accelerate in time, as less-religious younger Americans replace older more-religious ones and increasingly fewer American children are raised by religious parents.
Voting History: NONE
With Two Eyes Into Gehenna, by Jane Lebak, nominated by Steven R.
A rosary in one hand. A dagger in the other. Sister Magdalena never heard of the Catherinite nuns until the day she faced her own death sentence. Rome, 1562. It’s the era of the Index of Banned Books and the Roman Inquisition. Kings still burn heretics. The worst threats come from within the Church itself. Only seventeen, Magdalena killed a priest who tried to rape her within the walls of her convent. His powerful family will see her executed, and then they’ll destroy her mother and young sister.
Instead, the pope makes an offer. To save her life and protect her family, Magdalena can disappear into a secret religious order, one with a demanding physical regimen to go along with the prayers.
Voting History: February: 2
And from the current interest list:
Dilexit nos - He loved us: Encyclical letter about the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus-Christ by Pope Francis, nominated by Manuel