Sing to Your Soul: Volume II

Fantastic series

This is an exceptional volume filled with pearls on every page. St. John Chrysostom's vision of the Church is organic: we united to the Church and through that experience Christ initiates us into His salvific Mysteries. This is a world away from an administrative or even institutional model for the Church that can sometimes dominate discourse and, consequently, our thoughts. Of especial importance is St. John's thoughts on the martyric quality of the Church and the Church's relationship (and therefore, our relationship) with the martyrs. In only a few paragraphs, St. John presents us with an antidote to a culture saturated with self-love and pleasure-seeking. Given the topic, it would easy to imagine St. John adopting a superior tone; rather, his tone his encouraging and that of a friend. Just as we are received into the Church, St. John receives us into this timeless wisdom...the wisdom of the martyrs and the Way that Christ teaches.

Dr. David Ford has provided a beautifully translated, easy-to-read volume that is filled with inspiration, compassion, and encouragement. It is clear that Ford has intimate experience with the teachings, stories, and insights expressed in this text; to produce so transparent of a volume is a difficult task that only appears easy and is only possible through experience, familiarity, insight, and wisdom...and, knowing how to translate and compile for the present generation with its particular virtues and challenges.

A welcome translation from the works of St. John Chrysostom. Whether you read the book or are fortunate enough to have Dr. Ford visit your parish, St. John will come to life. There is no doubt that St. John is rightfully known as one of the Three Holy Fathers of the Church from the first century. A great book for daily reflection, study groups, seminarians, pastors and parishioners. Don't forget to add volume one to your library.

Who better than Dr. David Ford, who has such an intimacy with St. John Chrysostom's writings and great love for him, to put together this volume as well as the first volume in the series Sing to Your Soul? The selection of passages in this volume are not only carefully selected and easily readable, but are organized to offer the reader a well-rounded accounting of life in the Church. The versatility of this text as a devotional and catechism will serve the Church well. Of particular importance, however, is the way both volumes offer our youth the wisdom of one of the most beloved saints of our Church. May these volumes find their way especially into the hands of our youth.

We are loving the book you sent. So simple, alive, filled with such love and enlightening. We read a little each night together before closing our eyes.