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Summary: The best Catholic Youth Bible yet finds a valuable companion
Review: "There are many books designed to teach youth how to read the Scriptures. This book tells them why," says Kathleen Chesto in praise of Know It! Pray it! Live It! The author, Lisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart, is something of a staple part of the current St Mary's Press diet. Herself a contributor to the long-awaited Catholic Youth Bible (St Mary's Press, 2000), she presents here a companion to the CYB that attempts to break open Scripture for young people. Know It!... is a compelling thematic tour guide through the Scriptures. Seven chapters each take a major life question (Why are we here? How do we live? How long does it take? Why do we die? How do we make a comeback? What are we called to be? Who is God?) and unpack it with reference to believable youth scenarios, analysis, bible reference, factual detail, action ideas and prayer. Know It!... gets an extra vote for taking as its platform a family-centered model of youth ministry. An extensive introduction clearly outlines how to use the book as a family or as an individual. Does it work? Well, it isn't the easiest of tasks getting today's young Catholic into the Scripture but this approach certainly has more going for it than most. Calderone-Stewart knows the world of the young and enters easily into the experiences and reality that is often so foreign as to be inaccessible to adults. This is perhaps best expressed in her final chapter set in an Internet chat room complete with standard chat room formatting and grammar. One can only guess what the editors made of this on first draft! Yet it powerfully explores the issue exactly as our young people do in such forums today. If your teenager is interested in these deeper questions and is open to challenge, throw them in. Even better, accept the challenge and dive in with them!
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