"I Have Called You...:" A Review of The Catholic Baby Name Book ~

 My friend, Patrice, of Spiritual Woman  and Catholic Lane

requested  that I review her brand new, hot off the press,

 The Catholic Baby Name Book,
 published by Ave Maria Press.
To say I am honored is an understatement.

I have called you by name and you are mine.

~ Isaiah 43:1

            So begins the brilliantly researched and thorough reference 

which is sure to become  well loved and dog-eared 

as it graces the shelves of many an expectant family…

And many a family who will enjoy being enlightened

 by the roots of their children’s names.

            Mrs MacArthur's  in-depth survey of saints’ biographical information

 at 526 pages and over 10,000 names

 is intriguing and reads like no other baby name book you have ever perused.

            This is readily apparent as one initially becomes engrossed

 in the engaging foreword by Lisa Hendey, 

of Catholic Mom,

 which includes a story of her website development 

as well as thankfulness for the many friends she has gathered along the way

AND her personal anecdotes relative to naming.

 These thoughts flow beautifully, so much so,

 that one may feel as if she is sitting at her kitchen table chatting with friends,

 into Mrs MacArthur’s  “Introduction,”

 followed by “How to Use this Book,”

(a section I positively love for its comprehensive explanation)

and eventually to the masterfully compiled list of Catholic names,

 separated by section into  gender.

                You will be compelled to keep those pages turning 

from the boys’ listings of  Aaren ~  Zygysundo 

to the girls’ Aami ~ Zytka,

as well as the historical information 

within the Appendices as to 

Recently Canonized Saints,  

Top 100 Names ( of 2011) and

Most Popular Catholic Names By Decade ( 1960s to 2000s).

Let me give you a glimpse into the listing for "Veronica,"

my favorite saint (and my confirmation name),

 so that you can determine

just how  intriguing the collection is:

Veronica

Saint 

(the name may be that of a saint or virtue or come from the Old or New Testament

Latin

(the language of the name's origin)

true image

(the meaning)

(many variations of the name are provided here

 and for "Veronica," there are 33!)

St. Veronica,

St Veronica Giuliani

(saints with this name)

St Veronica (1st century) 

was a woman from Jerusalem who wiped the face of Jesus 

as He carried the cross on his way to be crucified.

The cloth was imprinted with Jesus's face.

According to legend,

 Veronica later used the cloth to cure

 Emperor Tiberius of an illness.

Her act of kindness toward Jesus 

is remembered in the Stations of the Cross.

(Commentary about the life of the most prominent saint with this name)

              

  Mrs Hendey’s and Mrs MacArthur’s styles are  enchanting … 

So much so that a reader  may feel as if she  knows them forever. 

 I am, in fact, honored to count them among my friends, 

 although we have not met ( yet) face to face.

Yes, I know well the connection which is referenced in the foreword.

 I know beyond a doubt that many who read this lovely book will feel the same,

 as well as new friends who will gather through this lovely collection.

          

Friends, thank you for stopping in today for a peek into 

The Catholic Baby Name Book!

I will be back tomorrow with photos
 as my millennium baby  

 becomes a teen ! 

Have a  lovely day!

I hope today finds you peaceful and happy...

 Until next time,

~Chris