All Things Benedict

This weekend, while at Sacred Heart bookstore to buy a cross for a wedding gift for the convalidation we attended this weekend, I also bought a few cool things for myself. As most readers know by this point, I have this special affinity for the St. Benedict jubilee medal. Well, the bookstore had a rather nifty little St. Benedict rosary (like the one in this picture), so I had to get it. It's very cool - I love the black beads. The only thing tricky about getting anything with a St. Benedict medal is that I have to get it blessed with a certain prayer that is specific for St. Benedict jubliee medals. And it takes a bit for the prayers to be said. But it's worth it to have these sacramentals as part of my devotions.

I also got my very own copy of the hot-off-the-presses book "Decoding Mary Magdalene" by Amy Welborn. I figure it was a slightly better way to spend my money than to see The DaVinci Code this weekend. I've read quite a bit about Mary Magdalene since deciding to pick her as one of my Conversion saints, and I am looking forward to getting to read even more about her, especially from an established Catholic author.

Finally, I was able to procure a copy of the new Compendium to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. So far I really love the layout, but I'll have to give you another review once I've gotten through the entire book. I love the prayers in Latin in the back. I'm trying to memorize the Anima Christi, so that I can say it during my post-communion prayers in Mass. It's my favorite prayer in Latin.