Christ Is My Life

Rating:
Summary: The devil is in the details
Review: I read this book as an after thought, trying to figure out how someone who seemed to be a traditional Catholic could draw as much criticism as he has. I refer the reader to Quesion #49, pages 72-73, where his self-professed style of functioning alone should convince the reader that, unlike Christ himself, Father Maciel's way to Christianity is about as far apart from Christ's way as one can get and still call themselves Catholic. Not a way of life for a person who embraces free will as a God-given right and his Church within the exercise of this freedom.

Rating:
Summary: A faithful son of the Church
Review: If you thought the Catholic Church was dead, look again! Fr. Maciel is a true son of the Church, faithful to what God asked of him, and -at 83 years old- is still going strong. This book is candid and historically accurate, showing how a 20 year old seminarian was able to found a religious congregation that is one of the fastest growing in the Church today. "You shall know a tree by its fruits;" for anyone who has heard of the work of the Legionaries of Christ, this book is a chance to see the roots.

The questions are insightful, especially about how a true Catholic looks at the Church and the world of today.

I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Catholic Church, especially after Vatican II. The lesson? As the Psalmist says: "The Lord blesses the faithful man with an abundance of gifts."

Rating:
Summary: AWESOME GROUP OF GUYS !
Review: The Legionaries of Christ are the hope of the Church !
Father Maciel's courage and faith in Christ is a true
inspiration for young men and women to face truth and to live
the truth and not turn away from the truth no matter what
lies ahead. To love truth is to love Jesus Christ. To love
Jesus Christ is to love God the Father to love God the Father is to love God the Holy Spirit.......and to love them ALL is ultimate love and dedication to the Church, His people.
Thank you Amazon.com for putting forth such a great book about
a great man who inspires us all !!!

Rating:
Summary: Great Book about an Amazing Man
Review: The story of Fr. Maciel and The Legion of Christ is inspiring and beautiful. Despite trial and long odds, faithfulness and courage triumph. Fr. Maciel's reflections on his childhood, his vocation and the growth of The Legion provide great insight into the future of the Church. Untiring determination mixed with a strong faith in the Church's timeless teachings, rooted in love of Christ is a powerful combination.

Rating:
Summary: More of the same
Review: This is sadly more of the same rehash of the myth of Marcial Maciel, accuse pederast.

The Legion of Christ has just announced on their website that a new book, Christ is My Life, which purports to be an interview with Marcial Maciel is "...far and away the fastest-selling book in the Catholic market today"

This claim is based on the fact that Sophia Institute Press has reportedly sold 21,000 copies of the book in just 9 days. The number is deceiving. The truth of this matter is that, upon contacting Sophia to print this book, the Legion of Christ ordered and bought 16,000 copies for itself. If 21,000 are sold, that means that only 5,000 others have been sold through Sophia Institute Press itself. The Legion, however, asserts that: "In just nine days, Sophia Institute Press has sold 21,000 copies of Christ is My Life, its 304-page interview with 83-year-old Father Marcial Maciel, LC, the founder and director of the Legionaries of Christ." This is a tactic widely used in the past by groups like the Scientologists, who published a book called Dianetics, bought up thousands of copies in-house, and thus boosted the groups popularity with the public through the contrived multiple printings. The remainder have been bought by families of Legionaries, and Regnum Christi members.

The 'interview' itself is also a sham, since the alleged interviewer, Jesus Colina, is not an independent journalist as they claim, but a Legionary employee and RC member who heads up their news organization called Zenit. He received the material for the publication from the Legionary superiors as quotes from the letters of the Legionaries' founder, most of which are not even authored by Maciel himself. His ghost writers have included many Legionaries over the years.

There was no need to make such bold sales assertions, which only reveal the duplicity of the marketing techniques of this group. When will the Legion of Christ simply tell the truth about matters such as this?

Their credibility is very much at stake here.

As for the content of the book, how much of this grandstanding and false pietism can we take? The pretensions are overwhelming. The truth is sadly absent about Marcial Maciel, the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christi. This is a disservice to the Chruch and her work to bring souls to Christ. It is a narcisitic attempt to bring people, resources and money to Marcial Maciel.

Rating:
Summary: Testimony of a servant's submission to the power of God.
Review: When I first heard that the new Christ Is My Life Book was going to be in an interview format, I was not expecting it to be very long. I was surprised to find that the book was actually 267 pages with 152 questions covering topics such as Fr. Maciel's childhood and call to the priesthood, the Legion of Christ, Regnum Christi, the Catholic Church, and the world of today and tomorrow.

Although the book gives ample attention to explaining the role of the Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi in the springtime of evangelization (excellent for those who are curious or members themselves,) one certainly doesn't need to be affiliated with either to thoroughly enjoy this book. It is filled with spiritual wisdom and practical advice that any Catholic trying to live a holy and faithful life could benefit from. It is also a beautiful and powerful example of God's desire to use lowly people to bring about great works for the Church.

Granted there will always be hecklers who claim the book is nothing more than a propaganda piece - but that is to be expected. If Christ Himself was ridiculed and maligned, a servant of God should expect no less.