--- title: "Book Notes: A Catholic Gardener's Spiritual Almanac" description: "Book Notes: A Catholic Gardener's Spiritual Almanac" --- [![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/2015/04/16/book-notes-a-catholic-gardeners-spiritual-almanac#) # Book Notes: A Catholic Gardener's Spiritual Almanac Apr 16, 2015 12:00:15 PM  |  by [Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-m-hendey) [![Book Notes 720 x 340 medium blue outline and medium blue pen _ Notes light blue (2)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Book-Notes-720-x-340-medium-blue-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-2-90.png?width=720&height=340&name=Book-Notes-720-x-340-medium-blue-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-2-90.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Book-Notes-720-x-340-medium-blue-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-2-90.png) *Today it's my pleasure to share news of a gardening book published by CatholicMom.com's own [Margaret Rose Realy](http://catholicmom.com/author/mrealy/), who generously shares her wisdom with our readers twice each month. --Lisa* [![catholic gardener spiritual almanac](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/catholic-gardener-spiritual-almanac-267x400-1.jpg?width=267&height=400&name=catholic-gardener-spiritual-almanac-267x400-1.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/catholic-gardener-spiritual-almanac-4.jpg)Benedictine oblate and lay hermit, Margaret Rose Realy, offers her third book, [***A Catholic Gardener’s Spiritual Almanac: Cultivating Your Faith throughout the Year***](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1594714843/catholicmom). The book was released this year on the first day of spring by the publisher, Ave Maria Press. Written within the spiritual tradition of the Benedictine Rule, *ora et labora*, to pray and work, Margaret has attempted to echo the words of St. Basil the Great, “ I want to awaken in you a deep admiration for creation, until you in every place, contemplating plants and flowers are overcome by a living remembrance of the Creator…I want creation to penetrate you with so much admiration that wherever you go, the least plant may bring you a clear remembrance of the Creator…one blade of grass or one speck of dust be enough to occupy your entire mind in beholding the art with which it has been made.” Reviewers had the following to say: Margaret’s book is full of the rich symbology of the Catholic Church and shows us the unbreakable bond between our faith lives and the cycle of nature. From those profound roots, Margaret then offers a wide range of delightful ways to incorporate those ideas into both our lives and our gardens. Not a how-to garden book, this book goes beyond, exploring the ways God communicates with us via nature and ways we can enrich our faith journeys through the act of toiling in our gardens, or in simply beholding and appreciating nature's beauty. ~L. Lynch [![Author photo courtesy of Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/LH-Prarie-8x10-318x400.jpg?width=318&height=400&name=LH-Prarie-8x10-318x400.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/LH-Prarie-8x10.jpg) Author photo courtesy of Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB. Margaret’s words convey the spirit that she reaches back to the first Garden, when the unity between visible creation and its spiritual significance was crystal clear and a source of joy. In that Garden, vision, understanding and experience were all so integrated it was natural for God to walk with man in the cool of the evening. Anyone smitten with the love of gardening knows it touches something deeper, more primordial in the soul. There is some mysterious reason God made the Garden with all its seasonal beauties, our first home and our first work. And there is something in us that wants to return to that original gift. Outside of the very practical and concrete information this book provides, one of its real treasures is to display the riches of the Catholic vision. One sees that even creation manifests a liturgy of praise and worship. ~Sister A. Walsh Margaret’s book is a true almanac of spiritual and horticultural treasures. Whether you’re new or experienced at gardening, recently converted or cradle Catholic, this book is sure to inspire. **When you purchase this book through any of the affiliate links in this post, you support the work we do at CatholicMom.com at no extra cost to you!** Be sure to check out [our Book Notes archive](http://catholicmom.com/category/book-notes/). *Copyright 2015 Lisa Hendey. Author photo courtesy of Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB. All rights reserved.* ### 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%2F2015%2F04%2F16%2Fbook-notes-a-catholic-gardeners-spiritual-almanac%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%2F2015%2F04%2F16%2Fbook-notes-a-catholic-gardeners-spiritual-almanac%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F04%2F16%2Fbook-notes-a-catholic-gardeners-spiritual-almanac%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Book%20Notes%3A%20A%20Catholic%20Gardener%27s%20Spiritual%20Almanac) [![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%2F2015%2F04%2F16%2Fbook-notes-a-catholic-gardeners-spiritual-almanac%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F04%2F16%2Fbook-notes-a-catholic-gardeners-spiritual-almanac%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Lisa%20M%20Hendey%202024.png) ### [Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-m-hendey) Lisa M. Hendey is the founder of CatholicMom.com, a bestselling author and an international speaker. A frequent radio and television guest, Hendey travels internationally giving workshops on faith, family, and communications. Visit Lisa at [LisaHendey.com](http://lisahendey.com), on her Substack at [LisaHendey.Substack.com](http://lisahendey.substack.com/), or on social media @LisaHendey for information on her speaking schedule or to invite her to visit your group, parish, school or organization. [Find Lisa’s books on her Amazon author page](https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-M-Hendey/e/B002ZM9FH0). [**](http://facebook.com/lisamhendey) [**](http://twitter.com/lisahendey) ## Related Blog Articles [ "A Garden of Visible Prayer" Blooms Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/04/15/a-garden-of-visible-prayer-blooms) [ Margaret Rose Realy on Celebrating God through His Beautiful Creation Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/04/07/margaret-rose-realy-on-celebrating-god-through-his-beautiful-creation) [ A Gardening Book Even Beginners Can Use: A Catholic Gardener's Spiritual Almanac Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/04/08/a-gardening-book-even-beginners-can-use-a-catholic-gardeners-spiritual-almanac) ## 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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