Hello, everyone! I’m Jennifer from Catholic Inspired. My husband, Jonathan, and I will be interviewing one blogger each month here on CBN! We have decided to do these interviews in the order in which they have been given to us and so today, for our very first post, we are interviewing Pete Socks from “The Catholic Book Blogger”.
Interviewing Pete for our first interview is a bit odd because one of Pete’s weekly posts is an interview with a Catholic author! So we are amateurs compared to him!
Pete’s blog is a gold mine for any one searching for good books to read about the Catholic faith. Pete posts a review every Thursday, a giveaway of the reviewed book on Friday which runs for one week, and an interview with the author of the book the following Monday. In addition to that, he posts The Clergy Speaks columns on Tuesdays. He also posts an excerpt from the book A Year with the Church Fathers each day. This is done through the cooperation of author Mike Aquilina and publisher Saint Benedict Press. When time allows he posts a New and Notables column which features upcoming titles which he feels may be interesting. Additionally, on Mondays, he may feature a CD from Lighthouse Catholic Media through his role as LHCM Account Manager.
Whew! That’s one busy guy and so organized! Let’s start the interview and learn more about Pete, who he is, and what he’s been up to!
Jennifer: How long have you been blogging?
Pete: I began my blog in Nov. 2012 via self-hosting. In Oct. 2013 I was invited by Elizabeth Scalia, managing editor of the Patheos Catholic web portal to move my blog under their umbrella. My blog has been hosted there since.
Jennifer: How do you help Catholics through your blog?
Pete: My blog aids readers in selecting quality, enriching Catholic books that help them in their faith journey.
Jennifer: How do you find time to blog?
Pete: I am asked this question often and specifically how do I read so much so here goes. It’s a gift. I have always been an avid reader. In the summer of 2011 I was given a copy of Be A Man by Father Larry Richards. Admittedly up to that point I had been a lukewarm Catholic. That book changed my life (though has not made me perfect…you can verify that with my wife!). After reading the book I looked for a way to share the faith and decided to use my love of reading to serve the Church. Thus, The Catholic Book Blogger was born.
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| Pete with Father Larry Richards |
Jennifer: Why is it important to find this time?
Pete: I have made this work my form of evangelizing which we are all called to do.
Jonathan: What have you learned through blogging?
Pete: Simple….my faith. When I set out to provide guidance on good books little did I know how rewarding it would be for myself as well. There is a huge ocean of information out there if you take the time to access it and read. You would be amazed at the quantity of books I receive from publishers to review. The access I have to new and unreleased books affords me the opportunity to first and foremost educate myself. Though that may sound selfish it is a key step in evangelization…..education of self.
Jennifer: What are your 3 favorite/most popular posts on your blog?
Pete: I have a huge project in the works right now that will team me up with someone I have great respect for. It has the potential of being something the church has never seen before…unfortunately….we are not quite ready to announce it so keep your eyes open.
One thing I can talk about in depth is my weekly “The Clergy Speaks” column. I have been getting amazing feedback and the willingness of many clergy to participate in the simple one question feature. “What 5 books would you recommend as must reads for Catholics today?” It’s really exciting for me to share what our Bishops, Cardinals and well known priests are coming up with each week.
In a few weeks I will be launching the companion column to “The Clergy Speaks” which will be called “The Laity Speaks”. It will comprise the same question but posed to prominent members of the laity. There are some other things in the works as well but suffice it to say 2015 will be an exciting year at CBB.
Jennifer: List your three favorite Catholic blogs or resource websites?
Pete: I humbly submit the Patheos Catholic Portal. We have some great writers over there including Deacon Greg Kandra, Father Dwight Longenecker, Elizabeth Scalia and Simcha Fisher.
Jennifer: What are some things that few people know about you?
Pete: Well first that the creator of Catholic Inspired (Jen Lawrence) is my sister-in -law. Second I am coordinating retreats at my local parish for the parish, deanery, and diocese as a whole. In 2013 Mike Aquilina came to town, Scott Hahn was here this August and next year Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle and Matt Leonard are coming. Third, I’m a convert to the Catholic faith and I joined the church in 1996.
Jennifer: What do you love most about being Catholic?
Pete: The part that excites me most about the Catholic faith is our history. We have an unbroken chain back to Christ himself. One area I have delved into the past two years is the Church Fathers. If you have not spent time with the writings of the Church Fathers you are doing yourself a huge dis-service. I cannot recommend enough the multitude of fine books patristic expert Mike Aquilina has written.
Jennifer: Who would you most like to meet in Heaven and what would you ask or say to them?
Pete: There’s a loaded question! I’ll put it this way. If I am privileged to make it to Heaven I would be happy to be in the presence of the Holy ones that arrived before me.
Jennifer: Who is your favorite saint and why?
Pete: I have always been drawn to Padre Pio. What a fascinating, holy person with some absolutely incredible gifts! We cannot forget one of our newest Saints our beloved Pope John Paul II. I think we are only just learning the magnitude of the love he had for his flock.
Jonathan: Most of us only get to know writers by their books but since you speak to them on a more personal level, what are your personal feelings about Catholic writers, in general?
Pete: Catholic authors are an amazing bunch. In the 2 years of reviews and interviews at CBB I have formed many friendships. Mike Aquilina was the first author I interviewed. He is one of the most humble men I know and will take no credit for what I am about to say. He has been a tremendous sounding board throughout these 2 years of blogging. I treasure his friendship and owe him much. I came to know Maura Zagrans while working on an interview with her for her book Camerado: I Give You My Hand. She is a delightful person with a refreshingly free-spirit that has been a great support as well. My buddy Matt Leonard will be coming to New Oxford to speak in 2015. This guy has pulled me through on a number of looming deadlines. Then there is The Anchoress, Elizabeth Scalia. She took a relatively unknown, one year blogger (yeah I’m talking about me) and brought him on board the largest Catholic portal on the web at Patheos. She took a chance on me and I am forever grateful to her.
These are just a few examples of Catholic authors and the great bunch they are. Every author I have had the pleasure to either exchange emails or phone calls with is the same. Genuine, caring and willing to help however they can. Not only do they write about Catholicism, they openly practice it in their interactions.
Jonathan: Why do you feel the work of Catholic writers today is so important?
Pete: Because they are answering the call of the New Evangelization. They are producing books that are educational in the faith and inspiring in practice. They are providing a much needed resource for a world that has greatly fallen away. In recent years there has been a resurgence in Catholic books being published. I think there are two reasons for this. First there is a genuine need for enriching material. People are buying and publishers are responding. Second, as I stated earlier, the call of the New Evangelization is being answered. The bell was rung during Vatican II, Pope John Paul II made it a hallmark of his pontificate. Pope Benediction XVI continued to promote it. I think now we are just beginning to see the New Evangelization take shape and reach its potential.
Jonathan: Looking at the times we live in, have you seen any works that are uniquely helpful for average Catholics today?
Pete: As I mentioned in the previous question there is a real resurgence in Catholic material being printed the past few years. There are some really fantastic books I can point out as recommendations. I’ll approach this as my own five must reads.
Be A Man by Father Larry Richards.
Men need this book. I needed this book. This book is the one that changed my
life. Had it not been for a close Deacon friend of mine lending me that book,
The Catholic Book Blogger may never have been. Here is my review of the book. You can also
find my sit down interview with Father Larry here.
One of the first books I reviewed was a short but
powerful book on the early church. Faith of Our Fathers: Why the Early
Christians Still Matter and Always Will by my good friend Mike Aquilina.
This book is a great primer on the early church. If you want to understand the
times we live in, read about the early church. You think we got problems, this
is nothing. Try being faced with a regime that openly killed you for practicing
your faith. Read the review here and interview with Mike here. Keep in mind this
was my first interview so you can see how my style has progressed between that
one and more recent ones.
Evangelizing Catholics: A Mission Manual for the New
Evangelization by Scott Hahn is MUST read for anyone interested in
knowing what they need to do to be part of the New Evangelization. Scott lays
out what the New Evangelization is (evangelizing the de-christianized) and how
to go about doing it. A short but inspiring read and if you are looking for a new
book to start please start here. My review can be found here and interview
with Scott on this book here.
Not necessarily a book on
the faith but a great book on what someone deeply faithful can accomplish is
the book Camerado: I Give You My Hand. Maura Zagrans writes the story of
Father David Link, a widow who became a priest and has taken up the mission of
prison ministry. This book was an eye opener for me on prison life. Father
David’s story is incredible and what is even more incredible is his work. Read the review here and interview with Maura here.
The Light is On For You: The Life-Changing Power of
Confession by
Cardinal Donald Wuerl is a much needed book on the sacrament of confession. As
confessional lines diminish in some parishes it is evident a reawakening is
needed. Cardinal Wuerl gives people a refresher on the sacrament in this book.
The book is based around the program of the same name he began in the
Archdiocese of Washington. You can read my review here and the
interview I did with the Cardinal here.
Lastly a few titles to mention that are on my review
pile that I am anxiously awaiting to get to. Seeking First the Kingdom: 30
Meditations on How to Love God with All Your Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength
by Fr. John Bartunek. When The Church was Young: Voices of the Early Church
Fathers by Marcellino D’Ambrosio. Praying for Priests: Mission for the New Evangelization by
Kathleen Beckman. My Battle Against Hilter by Dietrich Von Hildebrand.
And lastly Saints and Social Justice: A Guide to Changing the World by
Brandon Vogt. These are just a few of the many titles on the pile currently!
Jennifer: Since interviewing Catholic writers is a major part of your blog, how has it felt being on the flip side of the interviewing table?
Pete: Much more difficult than I thought it would be! Seriously though, I enjoyed the interview. Great questions and thanks for taking the time to ask. I enjoy sharing my work and hope readers find it of benefit to them on their spiritual journeys.
Jennifer and Jonathan: Thank you, Pete, for your time and all of your efforts to inform us about all of the wonderful Catholic literature that is available!
Okay, there you have it folks! The amazing Pete Socks! I’m a bit surprised he was willing to admit that I’m his sister-in-law, but don’t hold that against him! Be sure to check out Pete’s blog
HERE:
About the interviewers:
Jennifer and Jonathan have been married for 17 years and they have 9 children (ages 16 to 3), who they home-educate in Pennsylvania. Jennifer blogs about the faith and creative ways to share it at home and school at
Catholic Inspired.
