Quiet, Dignity, and Grace: Catholics Come Home: A Book Review

I was lucky enough to meet Tom Peterson in person a couple of years ago. ?He spoke to the Archdiocese of New Orleans' New Evangelization Society dinner about his conversion and his media apostolate, Catholics Come Home. ?For those who haven't heard the name before, I have posted one of their many commercials at the bottom of this post. ?It's a great example of the work that apostolate is doing, and the way that it is reaching out to Catholics and gently inviting them back home. ?When I heard that Tom had written a book, I was eager to get my hands on it.

A Spiritual Pep Talk
This is how I would characterize the tone of Tom's written work. ?While his evangomercials are well-known for being positive and uplifting, highlighting the beauty and good work of the Church, his book is even more full of encouragement. ?Though he is certainly not writing high level theology, this book's down to earth approach is very likely just what most Catholics could use.

He fills the pages with short examples of basic spiritual principles taken from the lives of saints, or from his own experience of conversion. ?While Tom is primarily known for targeting former Catholics, I think this book would be good reading for the average Sunday Catholic. ?His writing is very high energy, just as his speaking is, and he constantly reminds us all that we are called to holiness, and that if we ever hope to get there, we need daily prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments, and that we all need to downsize and simplify a bit.

Personal Witness
When I heard Tom speak, he downplayed his background as a successful marketing and advertising executive. ?In the book, he speaks a bit more about his life before becoming a media missionary. ?Tom's drive and dedication served him and his family well financially, and very early on in his life he was earning extraordinary amounts of money. ?He relates, for instance, debating with himself about whether to buy a Ferrari or a condo at the ripe old age of 22!

As he grew older and his family grew, his dedication to work led to many long nights and in time he became almost obsessive about his work. ?While he was flourishing financially, he admits that he never felt much satisfaction with his life. ?This led to a greater push to find the next gadget, or car, or vacation, but in the end nothing seemed to last.

Interestingly, he was attending Mass every weekend, out of a sense of obligation, but admits that he wasn't praying and certainly wasn't actively participating in his Catholic faith. ?Then out of the blue he accepted an invitation to a retreat and during that retreat, the scales came off. ?He realized life's true goal, to be a saint, and he set out actively pursuing that.

Practical Advice
One of the things I loved about this book was the constant refrain of encouraging Catholics to do the simple, basic things. ?While he may have a background in marketing, he isn't offering alluring suggestions, just the basic substance of the faith that has sustained the Church through the centuries. ?He encourages everyone to make time to read Scripture, to pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit, to go to Mass more than once a week, and especially to make frequent Confession a normal practice. ?In essence, those are the keys to his own spiritual life, and they have helped him make a major shift in lifestyle and in career.

With Easter coming up and most of us looking to either rejuvenate our Lenten practices or to keep up the good work, I'd highly recommend this quick read to anyone looking for some encouraging words and sage, humble advice. ?Tom knows he's not a saint yet, but he wants everyone to join in the pursuit of that goal. ?Why not tag along for the ride?

Want to learn more? ?Check out the excellent Catholics Come Home website here.

Pax,

Luke

Source: http://lukearredondo.blogspot.com/2013/03/catholics-come-home-book-review.html

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