How to read Catholic books in three months?

I bought all these books (no, most of them) in a span of 10 months and I haven’t even finished one of them.

You’ll notice that all of them (except the two text books on the bottom) are Catholic books.

None of them are novels; some are collection of essays, reference materials, or devotional books. I cannot just read them on one or two sittings. I want to finish reading them all before the end of March. 

I don’t know if I can achieve my goal. But I’ll update and see if I can even write reviews of each of them. So please pray for me and I implore too the intercession of our Doctor Saints, especially St. Thomas Aquinas. 

Let’s do this!

Things worth looking forward to

Finally, a fast internet connection. I was in a hiatus just because of the slow connection in the past months. Allow me to free-write.

Last January, I purchased a Kobo tablet (an outdated model) and downloaded WordPress app and it didn’t help; I can’t even use the app. I’ve been itching for a long time already to post something here in WP and the circumstances just doesn’t help me. Another factor is that I am using a computer room with 20 plus units, all desktops. We don’t have a WiFi connection in the fraternity (our house) and I need to use the desktop just to be online. It’s even more convenient to do this than to get my tablet and go to a WiFi zone. I heard something about the Free Internet project in the Philippines this coming July and I don’t know how this will roll out. Just one of the few good news in the country since what’s happening here in the news is quite depressing. It is an issue close to my heart and not just a random rambling of a typical Manilenyo who doesn’t even know (and care) about Mindanao and its history.

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I read a lot now because of Kobo. Reading is different. I miss blogging.

I’m not yet back since I’m preparing for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) which is quite unique here in the Philippines since we have an oversupply of aspiring teachers. When I was young, I never dreamed of becoming a teacher. Just to be clear. Even if I did not aspire to actually become one, I must. I think I’m starting to like it now. I haven’t got the experience yet not even a full-time practice teaching stint in the school. I’m becoming stressed a lot now because of the LET review. Actually, it’s not a review but a study since it’s not my major in college and I just took 18 units in Education just to qualify in the PRC requirements. But let’s see how will I fare in the exam. Until next time. Cheers!

How I found a rare and old book

I just finished reading The Seven Storey Mountain. Definitely, I will reread it again next time. So I need to find another to read. Luckily, I stumbled upon a book that I was looking for a long time already. This is how it happened:

I remember in our retreat last March before our first profession of vows, our novice director gave us an excerpt of a book. We were on a one-week retreat in the Trappistine Monastery in South Cotabato. The excerpt was the first exercise of the book Sadhana, which means spirituality. After reading this, I decided to look after this book and get a copy. It’s not easy since it cannot be found in our bookstores here in the country.

Last Friday, our community decided to clean our library since no one is maintaining it due to the lack of a librarian. We re-shelved the books left by some of our brothers who graduated last October. Because of the re-shelving, I got more familiar where to look the books I might be interested reading on the future. But I did not think of Sadhana.

Last Tuesday before our classes starts, I tried to look for a copy of General Directory for Catechesis (GDC). I saw some copies of it during our re-shelving. Before I went up to the library, our Dean of Studies saw me and called my name. I was running that time. I know it was rude but I said “wait” since our classes are about to start and I need to see a book. So I hurriedly looked for the book. During the search, I ended up seeing the book Sadhana by Anthony de Mello. I grabbed it and decided not to pick the GDC. So I have the book I was looking for a long time as I went back to the Dean.

And that’s how I found a rare old book.