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Christine
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| Posted: June 12 2013 at 7:26am | IP Logged
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In the past few weeks, I have had three people mention The Family that Overtook Christ to me. One person recommended the study edition. Is it worthwhile paying a few extra dollars for the latter book?
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Christine
Mommy to 4 girls, 5 boys, & 2 in God's care
Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother
Pretty Lilla Rose
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Amber-v
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I'm not familiar with the study edition, but I am almost done with the book and it is wonderful!! I've been reading it slowly just to get to enjoy it more.
I find it fascinating not just because of the content, but also because of the different narrative techniques the author uses to tell the story.
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Amber
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JennGM
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I'm not familiar with the study editions at all. But I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. It reads like fiction, but is the story of Bernard of Clairvaux and his family. It impressed my mother and I so much how his personality and deep convictions put his family on fire, and almost everyone became religious. This glimpse of his life really makes him more like St. Francis of Assisi, setting everyone on fire. When I read the short biographies I really always thought of Bernard as a monk who stayed within his walls or founded monasteries, but never thought of him as influencing so many. 
This book is one of a trilogy, but the other books are harder to find and don't deal with always recognizable names or saints, so this is the book that is always reprinted.
I'd recommend anything by Father Raymond. I'm reading his "NOW!" right now and loving it!
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Servant2theKing
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| Posted: June 13 2013 at 11:38am | IP Logged
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This is one of my favorite living faith books. I thoroughly echo Jenn's enthusiasm for this spiritual gem!
We used the Study Edition as a family read aloud during Confirmation preparation for two of our dc. I highly recommend it. Janet MacKenzie does an excellent job of footnoting definitions for less commonly used words or terms, as well as Scripture references. My favorite feature of the study version has to be the Quotations for Discussion and Meditation at the end of each chapter, with page numbers for reference from the text.
A perfect example of the riches contained in the Study Edition comes from the Quotations for Discussion and Meditation at the end of the very first chapter: "We decided that there was a way to change the whole world and that was by changing ourselves. We determined on the cardinal principle that the soul of all reformation is the reformation of the individual soul. We decided that God had placed us in this tiny speck of the universe, that we call Fontaines, for the one purpose of making that tiny speck beautiful for Him." Oh, that every Catholic soul might contemplate and embrace that profound and wondrous truth!
I've actually purchased three copies. Many years ago I gave our first copy to a fellow Catholic homeschooler who scoffed at reading about the lives of the saints. Ever after I kept yearning to revisit "our lost treasure" and was delighted when I discovered the Study Edition. In my enthusiasm I actually purchased both versions you linked! I have to say I equally appreciate them! The IVE Press copy for the beautiful cover image of St. Bernard and Our Lord, its finer paper, page layout and font ~ the BRP Study Edition for the footnotes, along with the discussion and meditation portions for each chapter. If I felt led to give away another copy, I would be quite torn over which to keep, but I would probably give away the Study Edition with the fervent prayer that it would bless the recipient as much as it has blessed our family!
No matter which version you choose, I hope you find the book inspiring.
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MarilynW
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I recommend the study edition. The footnotes are very helpful, and the quotations at the end of each chapter.
This is one of our family's very favorite books ever. My husband did it as a family evening read aloud a couple of years ago when we had a kids being confirmed and receiving First Holy Communion. Everyone - infant and up - listened, and we had some very interesting discussions. Some children were not happy that the married brothers of Saint Bernard left their wives and families to go to Cluny - and we had many discussions. My oldest daughter was very inspired by Blessed Alice of Montbar. There is very little information in English on Blessed Alice, so my daughter is determined to go to France, do research and write a book on Blessed Alice.
When we read this, we also had something else we read - I have to try and remember what it is. It was something from the UCSSB, on the Spiritual Motherhood of Priests - and it had many inspiring stories of vocations and other godly families where most of the members were priest/religious and where there are multiple saints/blessed from within one family. It was inspiring to me.
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Christine
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Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to answer my question. I really appreciate it.
Jenn, one of the people who recommended The Family that Overtook Christ, loaned me Father Raymond's The Man Who Got Even with God. I haven't read it yet, but I will try to remember to let you know what I think of it. 
Servant2theKing, thank you for letting me know the differences between the two editions. 
Marilyn, I will have a First Holy Communicant in 2014 and may have a daughter preparing for Confirmation, starting in the fall. If you remember what else you read, please let me know. 
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Christine
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MarilynW
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| Posted: June 13 2013 at 5:41pm | IP Logged
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Christine - I think it was this. I found it very interesting - especially all the mothers praying for vocations!
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Marilyn
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Christine
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| Posted: June 18 2013 at 12:15pm | IP Logged
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Thank you, Marilyn. What a great resource!
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Christine
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: The Family that Overtook Christ
