1. Along the way

[Manuel]

1. Use this question to share your thoughts and comments that arise while reading the novel, "along the way." Or to discuss topics not raised by other questions.

[Mariangel]

If you have access to FORMED, the 10-part video series with the same title as this book is excellent.

[Jill]

I find the author's enthusiastic exaggeration off-putting and his tone a little too casual/colloquial. I'm not convinced our age is any more evil than previous ones, or that grace and mercy are more available than they've always been.
Of course total trust and invoking mercy on ourselves and the whole world are central, but insisting on this particular formula/wording/set of prayers for doing it borders on magical thinking: if I do xyz, God is obligated to do abc.
I was struck by his analysis of the first sin being more about lack of trust than about pride.
Visions of hell (as to the children at Fatima) leave me with a huge quandary. Free choice must logically necessitate the possibility that a person can choose to reject God's love. But how can I be happy in heaven if I know even one of my loved ones has chosen not to be there? Didn't St. John Paul II once say we are obligated to believe there is a hell but not that there is a single person in hell?

[Manuel]

Jill wrote: "Didn't St. John Paul II once say we are obligated to believe there is a hell but not that there is a single person in hell?"

The Church has said this since a millennium ago. It is forbidden to assert that "this person is in Hell," not even Judas, not even Hitler (the latter name, of course, was not mentioned so far back).

[Jill]

All recent Popes have had a profound devotion to Mary, one reason I can't dismiss it as readily as I'm inclined to do.
I had trouble with the assertion that earlier consecrations of Russia to Mary were "unsuccessful," imperfect, incomplete. I can't believe Russia wouldn't have become Communist and World War II could have been avoided if and only if some prayer was said exactly right! What about Hitler??!!
I tend not to think of myself as much of a sinner. I know that is a problem and not objectively true, but I don't know what to do about it.

[Manuel]

Jill wrote: "I can't believe Russia wouldn't have become Communist and World War II could have been avoided if and only if some prayer was said exactly right! What about Hitler??!!"

The Fatima miracle took place on October 13 1917. On November 7 1917 the Communists took the government (they called it the October revolution because they were using the Julian calendar). The civil war in Russia started the next year and didn't end until 1922. Perhaps, if there had been many prayers, things would have been different and the communist revolution would have failed, saving Russia and the world from a 70 years tyranny?

About Hitler: he came to power in Germany in 1932, after democratic elections where the nazi party was the most voted, but not enough to govern alone. Then in 1933 President Hindenburg designated Hitler Prime Minister and after that democracy ended and he started a tyranny.

I think there were many points where prayer could have deflected history. In 1929, Lucia dos Santos saw the Virgin Mary, who told her that the Pope should consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart together with all the Bishops of the world. If this had been done, who knows what would have happened?

When St. John Paul II finally consecrated Russia in 1984, it was followed by the fall of Communism in half of Europe in just 5 years. Nobody had foreseen that this could happen.

[Manuel]

This is my review of this book:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jill]

I like the fact that the author's religious order has a particular role for those who suffer.

[John]

Jill wrote: "I find the author's enthusiastic exaggeration off-putting and his tone a little too casual/colloquial. I'm not convinced our age is any more evil than previous ones, or that grace and mercy are mor..."

Jill, I find I have a similar reaction - to the point that I am struggling finishing the book. Without taking anything away from St. Faustina, St. Pope John Paul II, Fatima (where I hope to visit next year) or Guadalupe, cobbling together these stories doesn't make his story the second greatest ever, and it feels a little idolatrous to claim it is.

[Manuel]

John wrote: "cobbling together these stories doesn't make his story the second greatest ever, and it feels a little idolatrous to claim it is."

I don't think it's idolatrous, for the core of the story is God's Mercy. The three Polish saints are presented as tools of God's Mercy, they are not offered for our worship.

[Fonch]

Veneración not adoration

[John]

Manuel wrote: "John wrote: "cobbling together these stories doesn't make his story the second greatest ever, and it feels a little idolatrous to claim it is."

I don't think it's idolatrous, for the core of the s..."

Perhaps "idolatry" is the wrong word, but the core of the Greatest Story ever told is God's mercy. The Incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are, fundamentally, the story of God's Mercy. To claim that God's Mercy is the second greatest story seemed, to me, to elevate these particular saints, these particular stories about God's mercy to nearly the level of Jesus, and that's what I was addressing.

[Fonch]

I want to remember that "The Greatest Story Ever Told" is a biography of Jesus Christ written by Fulton Oursler and inspired the George Stevens movie played by Max von Sydow with the most important stars of Hollywood at this moment.

[Manuel]

John wrote: "To claim that God's Mercy is the second greatest story seemed, to me, to elevate these particular saints, these particular stories about God's mercy to nearly the level of Jesus, and that's what I was addressing."

I think you haven't got the book right.

The first greatest story ever told is Divine Mercy expressed in Christ's death in the cross to save us all from sin and his resurrection.

The second greatest story ever told (in Gaitley's opinion) is Divine Mercy expressed in Christ's promotion of the Divine Mercy devotion in the 20th century to save us from global destruction, with the help of His Mother in Fatima and using as tools the three Polish saints.

I can see no sign of idolatry towards those saints anywhere.

[John]

Manuel wrote: "John wrote: "To claim that God's Mercy is the second greatest story seemed, to me, to elevate these particular saints, these particular stories about God's mercy to nearly the level of Jesus, and t..."

You are right. I've used the wrong word and expressed myself poorly. I can't put my finger on it, but there is something in the style in which this book is written that rubs me the wrong way.

[Mariangel]

I also find something in the style that does not agree with me, and it is noticeable in this book, and even more in the book 33 Days to Morning Glory by the same author.

However, the video series based on this book and presented by the author Fr. Gaitley does not affect me in the same way. I love the video series.

[Emmy]

I thought it was very interesting that the first sin was attributed to a lack of trust. I suppose you could look at it as pride as well, but the sin was borne of the concern that God was holding back. "He does not want me to have the knowledge He has, so I need to take it for myself," instead of wondering why He has not shared this piece with us.

I loved Fr. Gaitley's book 33 Days to Morning Glory, so naturally I'm very excited to read this one. My whole family is very devoted to Divine Mercy, and I'm interested in catching up with them. I think this book is going to be a great place to start.

Also, I've been a devotee of St. Margaret Mary for years, but Fr. Gaitley presented her visions of Jesus in a way that I never thought of:

On December 27, 1673, from the tabernacle, Jesus cast his gaze out on all of Europe, searching for a true friend on whom he could unburden some of his heartache...

I have never thought of the visions like that. To me, it was always a bit more authoritarian: "I'm coming to tell you what you must do." Perhaps this is a sign that I need to open my heart more to Divine Mercy, since I sometimes see God as more of a serious father than a loving one (thankfully, not all the time, but still).