Yesterday I mentioned a particular line in the Faure piece that was sung at Nick and Natasha's wedding.
O Christ, be kind to your faithful ones/now gathered to bless you.
I said that I put it on the quilt to say something like, “We heard this in Church, and now you are starting your journey of gathering a people for Him in the sanctuary of your home — a little place of blessing to God. May He be kind to you and those of us who love you.”
You could say that this little lyric embodies the theme of the book I wrote with David Clayton (illustrated by him as well, with beautiful icons that you can actually take out and use — and also by Deirdre, with little drawings throughout!).
It's about the connection between the person, the home, the Church, and the world.
I was blown away by what Scott Hahn said about our book. As David said, if we had been asked to ghost-write his blurb, we wouldn't have dared to put it this way, but he gets what we were trying to do:
This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever seen. How I wish I'd had it when I first became a Catholic, not just for myself, as a husband and father, but for my family, too. It's a commonplace of Christian tradition to call the home a sanctuary or “domestic church,” but before a home can be a church, it must become an oratory — a place of prayer. The authors of this book know that there are many obstacles, and they show us how to overcome them. This book is inspiring yet practical, realistic yet revolutionary.
If one book has the potential to transform the Catholic family (and society), this is it.
Here at the beginning (before the first chapter), we tell you how to use the book, because it's meant to be very practical as well as theological, and I for one have never seen a book like this.
Since the book is unusual and you might not realize how it works, right at the beginning we let you know exactly what the images in the book are and how to use them. You can also download them (and more!) from the book site — making the Kindle edition just as useful, if not absolutely permanent in itself. If you use good heavy photo quality paper in your printer, you will have excellent prints for framing. This is also useful if you spoil a page or just don't want to take it out. (Note the perforations in the page, though — it makes it very easy to get it out safely.)
The introduction is simply to say, we know how it can be. We get that feeling that if you commit to one thing, you are missing out on the rest, and that mainly you are just too busy, overwhelmed, and/or tired to deal.
Our organizing principle — what we think helps sort things out — is the prayer table in the home; the little oratory. Why? It has to do with the home as “domestic church” in St. Augustine's phrase. So that you know that your prayer life is personal and connected to the universe, and thus that what you do in the sanctuary of the home isn't random.
You can order The Little Oratory here at Sophia Institute Press or from Amazon.
Thanks to those kind readers who have left reviews on Amazon!
If you've read it and haven't done so, would you consider leaving a rating and review there?
Thanks so much!
(The book is now readily available except, I think, in Canada through Amazon — the US Amazon supplies the Canadian one with this book, and we are at their mercy. Perhaps if you've pre-ordered through Amazon, you can cancel your order and go through the Sophia website instead? I really don't know what to say about that!)
Anne Marie says
Stopped in yesterday at my sister’s tiny Catholic bookstore in our tiny Nebraska town, and there was your book, front and center! Mothers Day and my birthday this month …. hmmm!
Elizabeth says
Mine arrived from Amazon last week, and I’m so excited to delve into it! It is really lovely, and I’m sure the words will be a treasure as well. I can’t wait to read it.
Kate says
I’m thinking of ordering a couple for my nieces that are marrying this summer. Someone else can buy them a toaster.
Mamabearjd says
I am indulgent and justified not just the print version, but the Kindle version also! I’ve been a reader here for several years, and as I read the book I find myself reading it in the same “voice.” I’ve been wanting you to write your own Year and Our Children, but you’ve done something better. I’ve been meaning to email or tweet, but I’ll leave it here, the book is truly amazing. I wish I’d had it 11 years ago when I started my family, but I will happily embrace it now as I continue to piece our domestic church together. You have blessed us. Scott Hahn is right, and wow, what a compliment!
Rayna says
It is! I’m still reading – there’s a lot of information to absorb. But no pressure! I mean, there’s a standard of course (it’s Auntie Leila, after all). but there’s also lots of encouragement for beginners, perfectionists who give up too easily (talking right to me!), the easily overwhelmed, and the high-minded-and-idealistic dealing with limited resources and a gaggle of fidgety littles.
It’s really wonderful. Not a fast read, but not hard, just full of wisdom and comfort and love.
And Deirdre’s drawings make it the homiest of books.
If you’re a regular reader here at LMLD, I can’t recommend it enough!
Leila says
Thanks, Mamabearjd! I appreciate you leaving your sweet comment here. I encourage you to leave it on Amazon as well! It would really help! Thanks for all your encouragement over the years! It’s our dear readers who have spurred us on around here, truly.
Sue says
Would this book be helpful for Protestants?
Leila says
Sue, we wrote it for everyone. There’s even an appendix at the end that encourages those who have a nature table to see if they can gently make it into a “living the seasons of the Lord” kind of table.
Why not read a chapter and see what you think? The sample chapter can be found here: http://www.sophiainstitute.com/landing/little-oratory/
Mary says
How wonderful Leila! It is a beautiful book and very informative and helpful. A true family treasure.
Sue says
I got mine a few days ago – all the way over here in Japan!!! I am loving it, relishing reading through it slowly.
Dianna says
My husband, by the way, has immensely enjoyed the book as well (and kept stealing it from me as I read it!) As they speak to it so clearly in the book, may I recommend for readers to encourage your husbands to read it as well? Also, getting him on board put into high speed getting another bookshelf for our corner, which frees up the spare table we previously used.
Will there be some method for sharing readers’ oratories and prayer corners, pour encourager les autres? Ours is very much a work in progress, but I would love to see what other people have done – and, frankly, it’s hard to find examples online which aren’t Eastern in style and artistic sensibility. Maybe a Pinterest board or on, gulp, Facebook?
Kaitlin @ More Like Mary says
Leila, you need to designate a hashtag so we can all see each other’s progress!
Leila says
May and Kaitlin, we are going to get together several ways to share! Right now, you can join the conversation on the book’s Facebook page, here:
https://www.facebook.com/TheLittleOratory
The hashtag is #LittleOratory for sharing on Twitter, etc.
We will soon get a board together — working on it!
Alice says
Since mine has arrived, I think you can safely say that even we poor chilly souls in Canada are provided for.
Ingrid says
I just received my copy of your book and I LOVE IT!! I stumbled upon the book on Amazon and then your blog. It’s been a delight to read the book and then read more on your blog. I was amazed that you are a convert and laughed so hard at your explanation of trying to figure out all the prayers and devotions. I can only imagine how that must feel to a new catholic? Very entertaining and beautifully written. Every home should have a copy! It would be a great wedding gift!