Ada Tarcau

Humanness

Reviewed: 10-06-24

Excelent biography, excelent narration, amazing story… truth indeed is stranger than fiction. I was very moved. And unexpectedly found myself a kindered spirit in many ways. I couldn’t believe it possible I would love the second volume as much as I did the first, but yes, I do. They’re both amazing.

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Engaging & moving

Reviewed: 04-04-24

Beautiful writing, engaging narration, convincing arguments and moving portrayals. Also makes a great Lenten resource

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Well documented & argued

Reviewed: 09-07-23

The book describes in a well-documented way the aftermath of the Sexual Revolution and offers very compelling arguments against hook-up culture, in favor for marriage and family.

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Excellent!

Reviewed: 07-10-23

Deep. Nuanced. Clarifying. Takes you to the core of the issue. Also very practical - plenty of tools and occasions to get involved (like raising very good questions).

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Fascinating!

Reviewed: 02-23-23

I had no idea Economics was SO interesting! I have learnt a lot! Easy to understand even for those with no knowledge on the subject. Loved illustrative comparisons and the often-times humorous tone.

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Beautiful reflections on the story of Christ in the gosple of Mark

Reviewed: 04-15-21

Tender, insightful, piercing, introspective, glorious reflections on Jesus’s life as recorded in the gosple of Mark.

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Full of sense and rich in worthwhile ideas

Reviewed: 10-08-20

Very grounded and inspiring book on children’s education by the daugther of Francis Schaeffer. Surpassed my expectations! Plenty of great ideas to implement

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A jewellery tour-book through great literature

Reviewed: 08-14-20

This book! I don’t even know where to begin describing what this jewellery of a book has done for me.
This book has been a most cherished companion in the last couple of months - it has guided me through 12 amazing works of literature of which I have undertaken to read 9 before each of their respective chapters. I was awe-stricken and stirred in my thoughts so much of the time (and the effect has not worn off yet, I’m still haunted by “The Tale of Two Cities”, by “Faith”, by Ivan’s dead life, by O’Connor’s short stories). I feel a whole world has opened up, it has given me a great appetite to keep reading classics (I have already read 3 more works along the way by some of the authors that appear in the selection, I have fell in love with some, like O’Connor, of whom I knew nothing of before).
Besides introducing me to these great works that are really diverse from one another not just in worlds but also in styles and narrative techniques (this guide also gives some precious hints as to how to read and judge each work to make the most of it), I was also very appreciative of the condensed, full of substance and revelatory manner of expanding each virtue, fitting in exquisite insight from great philosophers and Christian thinkers (I now have a fresh motivation to read Thomas Aquinas, and also a curiosity for some other works that were mentioned along the way, like The Canterbury Tales, The Divine Comedy, The City of God and others).

“Reading literature, more than informing us, forms us.” says K. S. Prior in her introduction. I do feel reading all these works has been formative.


Notable ideas and quotes about each virtue abound, I’ll try to select 1-2 ideas that have striked me for each of the 12 virtues analysed in this book:

1. Prudence
In classical art, the goddess Prudentia is often depicted with a mirror (to represent self-knowledge or conscience) and a serpent (an ancient symbol of wisdom). The image conveys the understanding that prudence requires knowledge of both universal principles and the particulars of a given situation, along with the idea that, as Aquinas says, a prudent person is one who sees from afar.

2. Temperance
"Temperance helps us to desire pleasures in a reasonable manner, desiring them neither too much nor too little, the virtuous mean between the vices of self-indulgence and insensibility."

3. Justice
"In a perfect world, what is just is also fair. In a fallen world, however, justice does not always feel fair. in our fallen humidity we often bristle at the holiness of a God who's justice does not always strike us as fair.”

4. Courage
Courage (fortitude = the habit of facing difficulties well) and its link with the heart (root word): getting your heart in the right place at the right time despite the obstacles; putting the greater good before the lesser good in spite of opposition.

5. Faith:
New Testament scholars describe faith as having three primary elements: belief (cognitive), trust (relational), and fidelity (obedience). … "Thus, rather than having faith in faith itself, as a point of certainty that relies on our volition only, true faith is a childlike trust in God, who allows his children to question him as they might question their earthly parent, and to do so in the certainty of the relational knowledge and trust of the Father.”

"What does it mean to practice faith well? While our works cannot save us, our habits can strengthen our faith."

6. Hope:
"Hope gives birth to love and activity." T. Aquinas

7. Love:
goal: communion
(from The Death of Ivan Ilyich: not self-interest, self-advancement, no drawing of lines after which you’ll not extend yourself because of comfort and self-protection)

8. Diligence:
Diligence (root: single out, prize, love, esteem, value) is carefulness, attentiveness (vs negligence), steady persistent effort. Opposite: Sloth = carelessness, apathy (no appetite/desire), oppressive sorrow that weights so upon a man’s mind that he wants to do nothing; sluggishness of the mind which neglects to initiate the good, robs us of our appetite/zest/interest/enjoyment of God, stops us from seeking Him and His righteousness.
"Paradoxically, people of business and frenetic activity can be the most slothful."
Diligence: taking one step at a time towards the goal not getting distracted not giving up

9. Patience:
Patience is willingness to endure suffering. When faced with suffering/wrong, the virtuous person responds neither with wrath (overcome wrong by doing wrong, unwillingness to accept this reality) nor stoicism/carelessness/sloth/disspiritness (withdrawal from this reality), but with patience, which is not lack of care/inaction/passivity, but virtuous anger, perseverance, anchored both in present reality and future hope.

"Patience is a complex of other virtues: generosity, self-control and humility (they take us out of our natural egocentrism); patience is the place where faith, hope and love meet up" (NTW)

10. Kindness


Envy (sorrow for another’s good) vs Kindness (when something good happens to another, to rejoice as it happened to you, not to envy it)

11. Humility:
(root: earth, ground)
Being truly humble is being grounded.
EXPERIENCE is rooted in the self and therefore is a source of knowledge that is ripe for pride (pride: placing faith in oneself) and is therefore a way of knowing that sharply contrasts with REVELATION (Seeing who we really are--which requires seeing ourselves in relationship to God--is true humility; self-knowledge perfected; man’s estimation of himself according to the truth)
"None has raised high enough to look down on others."

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4 people found this helpful

Great guide, the best I know of for boy-moms

Reviewed: 12-29-19

Full of wisdom, practical, inspiring, I have enjoyed this parenting book like no other! Really puts things into perspective, touches soo many topics, it is a portal to so many great resources! Love love love it!!!

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Her light shines brighter than the stars!

Reviewed: 09-19-19

Marvelous, moving story of the inexhaustible love and powerful joy that can overflow from one person who has decided to follow Christ, living by faith in the centre of God’s will... Amazing what God can do through the courageous obedience of ONE, how life can enter and move along and change entire communities...
The message spoken by her life is very uncomfortable, I really felt so convicted in my selfish, whining, comfort&security-seeking ways, it feels I cannot live the same way again, I hope I won’t. It is also a very hopeful message to pluck up the courage to leave all the worldly pursuit of acomplishments and securities behind and step through faith into the unknowns of following Christ to whatever end...
God bless you, Katie! Your light shines like the stars!

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