--- title: "Book Notes: Witness to Wonder" description: "Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS reviews Dr. Regis Martin's \"Witness to Wonder,\" which celebrates the eternal beauty in our day-to-day faith." --- [![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/2017/06/21/book-notes-witness-wonder#) # Book Notes: Witness to Wonder Jun 21, 2017 1:00:03 PM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) [![Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336-235.png?width=702&height=336&name=Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336-235.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336-235.png) Author and Franciscan University professor Dr. Regis Martin's new book was written with committed Catholics in mind. Designed for the reader who wants to go deeper into the beauty and meaning of the Catholic faith, [*Witness to Wonder*](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B06VXG878X/catholicmom) (Emmaus Road, 2017) delves into theology and poetry that energize Catholics in the appreciation and practice of the Faith. [![](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/witness-to-wonder.jpg?width=467&height=700&name=witness-to-wonder.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/witness-to-wonder.jpg) [tweet "By @franciscanmom: review of #WitnesstoWonder book on sacramental life @EmmausBooks"] This book is not a practical guide to the sacraments, but a celebration of the sacramental view that is central to Catholic life. > It is through the channel of sacrament that one may discover the deepest point of entry into the Mystery. (1) Dr. Martin generously peppers his essays with quotes from T.S. Eliot, Hans Urs von Balthasar, G.K. Chesterton, Teilhard de Chardin and other poets, authors and philosophers as he underscores the beauty and importance of sacrament in the Catholic faith. > The natural setting for sacrament, for the enactment of the sign pointing us along the way of salvation, is charged with an implicit sense of wonder, of surprise and delight. (9) My favorite section was chapter XI, which speaks of the aim of worship and the liturgical year. > [The Catholic Mass] is, simply put, God's greatest, most powerful act of self-giving love the world has ever seen. And not just seen, as if liturgy were a spectator sport, but ratified and received in the minds and hearts--and bodies!--of those who believe. And not mere mortals, either, who happen to fill the worship space on any given day. But also the angels . . . (63) Dr. Martin's description of the liturgical year is both beautiful and poetic, and includes a long passage from St. John Paul II's *Tertio Millennio Adventiente* that discusses time, the solar year, the liturgical year, and eternity. The chapter emphasizes the ways in which the Church interweaves its feasts and celebrations throughout the terrestrial year; this could be a topic for a book all by itself! [*Witness to Wonder*](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B06VXG878X/catholicmom) is not a light read, but it is definitely a worthwhile one. Plan to spend time pondering these essays celebrating the eternal beauty in our day-to-day faith. **Buy this book through our Amazon link and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase!** **Be sure to check out [our Book Notes archive](http://catholicmom.com/category/book-notes/).** *Copyright 2017 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS* ### 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%2F2017%2F06%2F21%2Fbook-notes-witness-wonder%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%2F2017%2F06%2F21%2Fbook-notes-witness-wonder%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F06%2F21%2Fbook-notes-witness-wonder%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Book%20Notes%3A%20Witness%20to%20Wonder) [![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%2F2017%2F06%2F21%2Fbook-notes-witness-wonder%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F06%2F21%2Fbook-notes-witness-wonder%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Meatless Friday: Four Red, White, and Blue Specials for the Fourth of July Weekend Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-four-red-white-and-blue-specials-for-the-fourth-of-july-weekend) [ Tech Talk FAQ: Daily Gospel Reflections All-Access Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/08/26/tech-talk-faq-daily-gospel-reflections-access) [ Meatless Friday: Hash-Brown Breakfast Casserole Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-hash-brown-breakfast-casserole) ## 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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