The Better Part
The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer by Fr. John Bartunek, LC This book should be declared a national treasure! We lead tremendously busy lives, with 1,001 things to do. Even so, every saint and renowned spiritual director through the ages has said the same thing: If we desire to become saints, we must spend time daily in meditation. With this book (which sold out of its first printing), Fr. Bartunek has created an extensive, Christ-centered resource to serve as a daily meditation companion. It is a Bible study on the four Gospels, a survey of saints' writings, a guide to prayer, and a fresh introduction to Jesus rolled into one. The Better Part enables us to read, meditate, absorb and apply the Gospels to our lives, and it serves as a catalyst to personalize times of prayer, enabling us to follow the Holy Spirit's lead into holiness. Sections for each Gospel on Christ as Lord, Christ as Teacher, Christ as Friend, and Christ in my Life The book's title is a reference to Mary (sister of Martha) who chose the better part in listening to Christ. Fr. John Bartunek, LC, gives us a guide to listen to Christ and enter in to conversation with him. The four Gospels are the means of hearing Christ speak to us. The book includes the entire Gospel from the Jerusalem Bible, a beautifully written translation. The starting point is a 50 page introduction to prayer and meditation, with guidance on how to best use the book. Fr. Bartunek explains that the content is not designed as a treatise on the spiritual life, nor bible exegesis, nor catechesis. The objective is to encounter Christ in prayer though the Gospel and by way of the will, the mind, and the heart in order to incorporate Christ's message into daily life. Because the book is a resource rather than a fixed method, there are many ways to approach the book depending personal preferences. One index matches readings with the liturgical calendar and a second is arranged by topics. The book can also be adapted for use in small groups by using the four discussion questions at the end of each section. There are 303 sections divided into six parts: 1. the Gospel text, 2. Christ the Lord, 3. Christ the Teacher, 4. Christ the Friend, 5. Christ in My Life, and 6. Questions for small group discussion. There are quotes from saints and popes at the beginning of each section and references to the Catechism following the discussion questions. Each section is about 4 pages long, totaling 1020 pages. The high-quality binding and paper make The Better Part an enduring devotional resource for personal use or as a gift. About the Author Fr John Bartunek, LC, ThD, received his BA in History from Stanford University in 1990, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He comes from an evangelical Christian background and became a member of the Catholic Church in 1991. After college he worked as a high school history teacher, drama director, and baseball coach. He then spent a year as a professional actor in Chicago before entering the religious Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1993. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 2003 and earned his doctorate in moral theology summa cum laude in 2010. He provided spiritual support on the set of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ while researching the 2005 Catholic best seller, Inside the Passion, the only authorized, behind-the-scene explanation of the film. Fr John has contributed news commentary regarding religious issues on CNN, Fox, and the BBC. He has appeared on Larry King Live, Hannity, and the Laura Ingraham radio show. He also served as the English-language press liaison for the Vatican's 2005 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist. His most widely known book is called: The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer. He has also published two other titles: Meditations for Mothers and A Guide to Christian Meditation. Fr John currently resides in New York, where he is continuing his writing apostolate and teaching Ethics at the Legionaries of Christ Center for Higher Studies. $34.95
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