Reaching for Heaven
Description
As you grow older, you’ll find that life takes on a new rhythm, one where you can shed the responsibilities that once consumed your days. The hours at work and the bustling activities of parenthood or other vocations have now transformed into something different—a fresh chapter of life, filled with new opportunities for reflection and growth. It’s your time to pivot and focus on how God will judge your life and how to make a final push for getting to heaven.
Through personal stories, humor, and practical advice, Michael Amodei—a lifelong Catholic with a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary and the University of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish—shares fourteen practices to help enrich your spirituality as you strive for heaven.
In Reaching for Heaven, seasoned book editor Michael Amodei shares what older Catholics need to hear to make the most of their time. “This book is a kind of wake-up call,” he writes, “a chance to become a better Catholic so that when we face that one-on-one with Jesus, we don’t have to fear what is coming.”
He contends that even a small investment in time and energy thinking about your golden years can have a rich payoff as you remember the past, act in the present, and plan for the future. He builds on his own spiritually rich memories—including his view from the fifty-yard line at Notre Dame Stadium—to show how you can invent your own life plan by selecting from spiritual habits and practices that have formed and strengthened Catholics for centuries. By creating both short- and long-term goals, you can
- cultivate a deeper prayer life by praying the Liturgy of the Hours;
- get more out of scripture by taking a class or participating in a group Bible study;
- make a pilgrimage to a holy site or shrine (Amodei recommends the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto either in France or at the University of Notre Dame);
- correct past wrongs and heal past injuries not only by apologizing to someone you’ve hurt but also by making amends;
- strengthen family bonds by writing notes to tell family members what you appreciate about them; and
- draw closer to Mary by consecrating yourself to her.
He guides you to use the power of memory to shape your understanding of who God is and who you truly are by putting what you learn into practice incrementally over time to achieve the optimal plan for meeting Jesus face to face. This plan can lead you towards Judgment Day with confidence, knowing that you’ve lived a life dedicated to love, service, and spiritual growth.
The book includes questions for reflection. It is an excellent resource for personal or small-group study. Additional resources are also available online.
Product Details
THE Perfect Book for a Small-Group Study
If you would like the author Michael Amodei to lead an open group meeting on Zoom or in person, please contact him at mamodei@nd.edu.
Group members choose one chapter and read it on their own. They come prepared to share their own memories about the goal, how they already practice the goal, and how they might practice it in a new or enhanced way.
At the meeting, everyone shares memories related to the goal; for example, “when I have been most authentic self” (chapter 1); “when I experienced an answered prayer” (chapter 2); and so on.
Discuss the questions on the last page of each chapter.
Share both realistic and dream plans related to the goal for the future.
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“Gem of a guide.”
“In this gem of a guide, Michael Amodei offers a thoughtful and practical framework for how we can turn our attention, devotion, and action to God in our post-retirement years. With wit and wisdom, the book offers a template for how reflections of our past, present, and current plans and prayer can serve as a compass on our return journey to God. For those who are intentional about their salvation, this book is a companion.”
Carolyn Woo
Distinguished President’s Fellow for Global Development, Purdue University
Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Relief Services -
“Deeply practical.”
“Mike Amodei and I are together on the field for every Notre Dame football game as he's the field supervisor of ushers and I'm the team chaplain. We both agree it's a piece of heaven, and our conversations are often edifying and spirit-filled. In this book, Amodei shares some deeply practical ways to truly prepare for eternal life from things we might already know but can all improve upon: praying, friendship, empathizing with the poor, and devoting ourselves to Mary.”
Fr. Nate Wills, CSC
The Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, Alliance for Catholic Education
University of Notre Dame Football Chaplain -
“Easy-to-read book.”
“Knowing him for almost half his life, I know that Mike Amodei loves God, his Church, and Notre Dame (I’m pretty sure in that order!). In this easy-to-read book, Amodei shares his own experiences and reflections on the relationships that have shaped his life as he prepares to enter retirement. His insights and suggestions will spur the thoughts and commitments of Catholics wishing to make the final stages of their earthly journey the most meaningful.”
Mary Elizabeth Sperry
Author of Making Room for God: Decluttering and the Spiritual Life -
“Miracles can happen.”
“Happiness is not about getting what you want but being content with what you have. Based on my personal experience, if you follow these suggestions—attend Mass daily, serve the poor, make a pilgrimage, and reconnect with friends—you will have a happy life. I have known Mike Amodei for the past twenty-plus years, and I do not know a finer Catholic who cares more about people and the future of this country. If you buy this book, read it, and put your faith in Our Lady, miracles can happen.”
Lou Holtz
Former University of Notre Dame Football Coach
Author of the bestselling The Fighting Spirit and A Teen’s Game Plan for Life -
“Helps guide readers into their senior years and beyond.”
“I draw renewed inspiration from Michael Amodei's new book, Reaching for Heaven: 14 Spiritual Goals as You Grow Older. Sharing an abundance of personal experiences, Michael makes the stories of the Bible and teachings of the Church come alive with life lessons to help guide readers into their senior years and beyond, reminding us that our life today is only the beginning as we look forward to the glories of heaven.”
Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki
Bishop of Springfield in Illinois -
“Confidence and hope.”
“As a long-time friend and parishioner at St. Monica, Mike Amodei has spent most of his life in faithful service to God and the Church. This book is a testimony of someone who spent more than thirty years in adult faith formation. Mike Amodei combines humor with wisdom to show you how to face your golden years with confidence and hope.”
Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson
Pastor, St. Monica Catholic Community, Santa Monica, California
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