I loved this book a lot! I loved the verses said and the narrators voice was poetic! This book was truly inspiring and I look forward to listening to it again and again

This was Inspirational and Heartwarming ! I am so happy to have the audiobook. The narration is so inviting … I plan to meditate on these passages as recommended …

I enjoyed reading this book. Such beautiful lyricism, honoring the mystery of God. I believe that it is so important for voices from the past to be heard now.

a very insightful, informative, and encouraging read ! i dearly loved its intent to simplify the writings of Saint Catherine of Genoa and how it can reach the minds and souls of younger generations. Most of the time, when it comes to religious stories, people always have this second doubt of loving it and even reading it. And so, I feel like with this way of editing the writings that are too deep for some to understand is a great way to end those second doubts.

i received this book as an audiobook and I loved the narrator’s voice so much ! everyone did a great job <3 thank you so much for this !!

"Love's Guest," edited by Marc Aronoff, beautifully presents the profound mysticism of Saint Catherine of Genoa through an Annotated Selection from her Spiritual Dialogues. The book, adorned with captivating illustrations by Jan Richardson, not only offers a glimpse into Catherine's intimate and universal journey but also serves as a gentle reminder of love's transformative power in the face of turmoil. Aronoff's insightful curation and Brother Paul's affirming afterword make this book a timeless treasure that cultivates hope and faith in the indestructible nature of divine love, resonating across the centuries with relevance for our challenging times.

As a librarian, I continually look for encouraging books that will help the mental health of the reader. This book, while not for everyone, will encourage the reader during times of sadness, despair, loneliness and depression, while also giving a spiritual context.

Not much to read, but an excellent reflection and mindfulness setup. :) I enjoyed the spiritual practices and teachings that are in here.

When I decided to read this book, I did not realize that it was a Catholic book, so that was a surprise as I started but right off the bat, I was concerned as I listened to this book. He talks a lot about mystical experiences and while that, when defined rightly, can be part of the Christian walk, it must be rooted in the truth of scripture and not just prayer, meditation, and what you “think” you know about Jesus. Catherine’s husband was transformed and though I have no doubt that her transformation is what sparked her husbands change, ultimately it is God himself doing a miracle of regeneration in a person that saves and transforms, of this there is no mention. The author also talks about a God cord and how we all have and must remember it, for that connects us to the divine- but I would reason that it is not a God cord that connects us to the divine but rather the person of Jesus Christ. He is the one that connects us and without the regeneration of the Spirit we have no relationship with the Father. The author also claims that the conditions that influence Catherine’s husband to be vile also contained the seeds of His transformation- this is false. We know that our own flesh is corrupt, that we are sinners under Adam’s curse and that is why her husband was vile. The reason a person is truly transformed is because of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made and the Holy Spirit, read Ephesians 2. He must repent and believe and be made new. The author talks of how Catherine had such moving experiences that she could not speak or act in normal ways and yet managed to learn how to function in normal ways, I don’t see that sort of experience recorded in Scripture, the closest being the apostle Paul, but He had it only once at conversion and even his experience seems to be much different than Catherine’s in that Paul was still able to talk and act normally aside from being blinded for a time and then was able to fully carry out his mission after being healed of his blindness, because of this, I do find it concerning that she could not function normally. Along with that, he talks about her writings being canonized. In my Bible, I do not have nor believe that her writings should be there. The canon was closed many many years before her writings. He speaks of her writings inspiration and origin as having no formal studying or source but simply meditation, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. I think this is dangerous territory to tread upon and that claiming her teachings to be scripture when she seemed to have not even written them alongside scripture is not okay in the least. He talks about love as not just a subject to be discussed, I agree, but says it’s a profound feeling to be experienced. While I do agree that love has feelings attached to it, God is love as 1 John states and therefore it is not so much a feeling to be experienced but a person that you get to know through reading scripture and the Holy Spirit, and you must have BOTH.
Even though I had no real desire to continue the book after the introduction alone, I did for the sake of the review. In Catherine’s writing she talks about how we cannot know God and how His workings are done in secret. If she would have written this alongside scripture, she would see that this cannot be true though He is far beyond what we can fully comprehend we can know Him, John 17:3 says “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Also, John 1:14, Romans 1:19-20, 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Peter 1:2, Philippians 3:10 and more. Yes, eternal life starts now as John writes about often, with that the indwelling of the Spirit and knowing God. Catherine writes that we cannot know our own condition, but again the Bible is clear on that, we are either sinners in need of a Savior or we are repentant, trusting Jesus, and considered saints who have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. She talks about how as we are transformed we are unfit for earthly operations, but again, I would disagree. Though it is true that the things we will focus on will be that of God’s will as we are transformed, we can see by Jesus’ life that we should not be neglecting the things that comprise this world. Jesus was a carpenter, He gave the disciples the miracle of the fish when they could not catch many, He washed His disciples feet, changed water to wine, and spent time teaching and feeding crowds of people. Earthly operations and God’s will work together as we walk this earth, in fact we see that God told Adam and Eve to work the garden and take care of it. We are not to neglect the simple things of earth for the things that would be considered more godly, but rather do all things in the name and power of Jesus Christ.
Another thing to note. While purgatory is not written of much in this book, it is mentioned, and I believe it is false due to what I read or rather do not see written in the 66 books of the Christian Bible.
Though there are things written in the book that are true, it is scattered with writings that I do not believe nor wish to promote. I was excited to read the book due to the beautiful cover and intriguing title but was saddened by what was written on the pages.

I just reviewed Love's Guest by Saint Catherine of Genoa, Ed. by Marc Aronoff, Illustrations by Jan Richardson. #NetGalley
A beautiful book with nuggets to lead you to search out and appreciate the love in your life. I will be purchasing this book to enjoy it again and again.

Approximately 20% of this book is an introduction. It is an interesting introduction, about Saint Catherine of Genoa and her life story. It then moves onto the main section.

Firstly, I found it difficult to listen to Saint Catherine of Genoa's words read by a male voice. I think I might have connected more with the words had they been performed by a woman, to create the tone with which they would have been dictated. This is only a minor note and is not a comment on the quality of the narrator's work. He's a good narrator. I just felt his voice didn't fit with the text.

I found the audiobook very difficult to follow. I think this book is better suited to physical form, as the spoken words run together, creating an uncomfortable repetition. It mentions that the paperback and eBook versions have beautiful illustrations and I think that would have added to the reading experience.

I didn't find the bulk of this book as profound as the introduction led me to expect. I actually found it a little weak, when in the context of the big build-up of the introduction. I can't recall any specific mention of scripture and it is almost a little "new-age fluffy" in parts.

The reflection guide is good and I liked how the prompts invite the reader to dive deeper and apply the wisdom to our own lives. Again, this didn't really work in the audio version, unless the reader is going to write down the passage and the prompt every time. In my opinion, it would be very difficult to meditate on the passage without having the words in front of you, and it would be cumbersome to keep rewinding the audiobook to replay the passage over and over again. This section confirmed my initial suspicion that I would greatly prefer the physical version.

I personally didn't connect with this book very much and I don't think I could tell you anything specific, productive, or particularly worthwhile that I learned from reading it. However, I do wonder if I'd feel differently if I'd read the paperback first.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher, Monkfish Publishing, Red Elixir, for review purposes. Love's Guest was published on 1st December 2023.

"Love's Guest" by Saint Catherine of Genoa, beautifully edited by Marc Aronoff and adorned with exquisite illustrations by Jan Richardson, is a captivating journey into the depths of spiritual introspection. Saint Catherine's profound insights into the nature of love and devotion are timeless, and Aronoff's meticulous editing preserves the essence of her wisdom.

The book is a testament to the transformative power of love, offering readers a glimpse into the mystic experiences of Saint Catherine. Aronoff's careful curation ensures a seamless flow of the narrative, allowing readers to absorb the spiritual teachings with ease.

Jan Richardson's illustrations are a visual delight, enhancing the overall reading experience. Rich in symbolism, they complement Saint Catherine's words, adding an extra layer of depth to the contemplative atmosphere.

"Love's Guest" is a gem for those seeking spiritual enrichment. It's not just a book; it's a companion on the journey to understanding the profound and boundless nature of love. Whether you're familiar with Saint Catherine's teachings or a newcomer to her wisdom, this edition is a treasure that invites readers to open their hearts to the transformative power of divine love.

This was a very inspirational book even though it was short it wasn't it was very interesting well organized and inspiring I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys encouragement type book it I would read it again it kept my interest till the end and I would purchase the book

Just Lovely

This was a really nice and encouraging and inspiring book.

I thought it was very impactful and timeless too.

Definitely check this short gem up!

Especially a great read during the current Christmas season!

Highly recommended.

4.8/5

I truly wanted to love this book, however, I struggled with this one. Generally, I love books about the Saints. However, the ones I usually read give much more information about the person themselves. Unfortunately this book not only gave little to no info about Catherine, but also about the author, what his background is and why we should give any creedance to his opinion. And, unfortunately, the majority of the book is opinion. There are no anchors to scripture, theology, history or psychology. It was odd to have no introduction to the author and randomly have him drop anecdotes about his practise as a psychotherapist. Or the "spiritual cord" with nothing to back that concept up, except that he uses it. The author definitely needed more guidance in outline and content. As is, it is thin and messy.