Three Minutes a Day, Edited by Stephanie Rea and published The Christophers, 12 East 48^th St., New York, N.Y., 10017.

Reviewed by Michael F. Flach
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 12/2/04)

Can you spare three minutes each day for prayerful reflection? The Christophers — whose motto is "It’s better to light one candle than curse the darkness" — is helping people find the time to change their lives.

The non-profit organization has just published Volume 39 of its popular series of inspirational stories Three Minutes a Day. The book includes a brief story, followed by a Scripture verse and short prayer for each day of the year. It has used this same successful formula since the first edition of the series was published in 1949.

One of the purposes of the series is to encourage readers to lift their minds and hearts to God, said Dennis Heaney, president of The Christophers and former general manager of The Catholic Spirit in St. Paul-Minneapolis. "Devoting three minutes a day to these meditations is an enjoyable and easy way to start," Heaney said.

Sister of Mercy Carol Anne Corley takes fly-fishing seriously. The entry for March 22 tells how she helped form the U.S. Youth Fly-Fishing Association in 1999 to interest young people in the sport, especially those from broken homes or with other problems. She believes that fly-fishing has spiritual powers that rival prayer.

The entry for July 30 "On Seeking Justice" briefly relates the tragic story of the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis by a Japanese submarine during the waning days of World War II and how an 11-year-old boy helped overturn the Navy’s unjust court-martial of Captain Charles McVay. The accompanying prayer is: "Give me the courage and commitment, Holy God, to seek and to speak the truth."

I recommend you find the time to read this practical and informative collection of stories. The paperback version of Three Minutes a Day is printed in large, easy-to-read type. It is available online at www.christophers.org/catalog.html or can be ordered by calling The Christophers toll free at 1-888-298-4050.