--- title: "The Jeweler's Shop: The Right Book for These Times" description: Lisa Schmidt highlights a book that will remain with her for a very long time. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/11/03/the-jewelers-shop-the-right-book-for-these-times#) # The Jeweler's Shop: The Right Book for These Times Nov 3, 2014 9:30:33 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) October 22 --- my husband's and my wedding anniversary AND the feast day of St. John Paul II. Pope John Paul was a preeminent champion of marriage and family life and someone who greatly strengthened our marriage and ministry. Admittedly, I'm still a little giddy that our anniversary falls on his feast day. Actually, that coincidence has served as a nudge to press on with our various ministries. Maybe not a coincidence, after all? On the subject of Pope John Paul, did you know he, then Karol Wojtyla, wrote a three-act play called [The Jeweler's Shop](http://ow.ly/DBklk)? I wasn't aware until about three months ago, and now thanks to the [Well-Read Mom book club](http://www.wellreadmom.com/), I know all about it! When this year's [book list](http://www.wellreadmom.com/books/year-of-the-spouse/) came out, [The Jeweler's Shop](http://ow.ly/DBklk) was the one I was most excited to read. In it, Wojtyla explores relationships between men and women, the joys --- and pains --- of love and marriage. It's a poignant and poetic play about the mysteries and pitfalls of human love through the lives of three couples. ![65525_817972834890000_6984272344294424749_n](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/65525_817972834890000_6984272344294424749_n.jpg?width=600&height=600&name=65525_817972834890000_6984272344294424749_n.jpg) So are you ready for another coincidence? It just so happened that The Jeweler's Shop was playing onstage at a theatre company in Minneapolis, a four-hour drive from our home in Des Moines, over the same weekend as our tenth wedding anniversary. In celebration, my husband bought us tickets, and we headed north to the [Open Window Theatre](http://openwindowtheatre.org/). On our drive, we read the book aloud together (I read, Joel drove!). Every word of it oozes with meaning as if hand-picked, *à la *St. John Paul II. After our read-aloud, I said to my husband, "Wow, would that every married or engaged couple read and be moved by the wisdom here." It's one of those books that will remain with me for a very long time. As one reviewer said, it is "an indispensable meditation on the mystery of marriage." As our Church continues on with [Synod of Bishops on the Family](http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/2014-2015-synods-of-bishops-on-the-family.cfm) and plans for the [2015 World Meeting of Families](http://www.worldmeeting2015.org/), [The Jeweler's Shop](http://ow.ly/DBklk) feels like the right book for these times. **Have you read it? Thoughts?** *Copyright 2014 Lisa Schmidt* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F11%2F03%2Fthe-jewelers-shop-the-right-book-for-these-times%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F11%2F03%2Fthe-jewelers-shop-the-right-book-for-these-times%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F11%2F03%2Fthe-jewelers-shop-the-right-book-for-these-times%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=The%20Jeweler%27s%20Shop%3A%20The%20Right%20Book%20for%20These%20Times) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F11%2F03%2Fthe-jewelers-shop-the-right-book-for-these-times%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F11%2F03%2Fthe-jewelers-shop-the-right-book-for-these-times%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. Please support our guest writers by visiting their sites, purchasing their work, and leaving comments to thank them for sharing their gifts here on CatholicMom.com. To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ The Jeweled Cross by Genevieve Kineke Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/03/24/the-jeweled-cross-by-genevieve-kineke) [ 5 Ways to Combat Spiritual Dryness during Advent and Throughout the Year Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/12/20/5-ways-combat-spiritual-dryness-advent-throughout-year) [ Free Youth Ministry Resources for the Canonization of Saint John Paul II Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/04/17/free-youth-ministry-resources-for-the-canonization-of-saint-john-paul-ii) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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