Augustine Wetta

The Eighth Arrow: Odysseus in the Underworld. J.Augustine Wetta, O. S. B. 2018. What a clever story! Odysseus decides to break out of hell, and asks the goddess Athena Parthenos for help. She sends him on a journey through Dante’s hell! For readers unfamiliar with The Illiad, The Odyssey, and The Divine Comedy, Wetta includes a map of Dante’s hell, and a helpful glossary of names and ample notes. Wetta certainly knows Homer and Dante’s inferno. The book is interesting and witty, and at times it seems as though Wetta is a little too witty and clever. It is almost as though he is showing out. It might have been better had it been a graphic novel! And in that format it would appeal to teens who like fantasy and it might encourage them to dip into Homer and Dante. I prefer his other book, Humility Rules: Saint Benedict’s Twelve Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem.… (más)

Humility Rules: Saint Benedict’s Twelve-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem. J. Augustine Wetta, 2018. I love everything about this lovely devotional self-help guide. It was written for young adults but the truths explained and examined are for everyone, believers and non-believers. Wetta, a Benedictine monk, uses Saint Benedict’s 12 Step guide,“ The Ladder of Humility,” as a how-to-guide to loving God, other people, and ourselves. The steps are Fear of God, Self-Denial, Obedience, Perseverance, Repentance, Serenity, Self-Abasements, Prudence, Silence, Dignity, Discretion, and Reverence. He begins each ladder with a quote from The Rule of Saint Benedict and then explains how to apply this rule in thought, word, and deed. He ends with a home work suggestion such as “Spend the entire day without correcting anyone.” The book is illustrated with medieval prints in which modern items and people are cleverly placed. It is filled with practical advice on how to live.… (más)