Not without parables: Stories of yesterday, today, and eternity

This book left my family and I breathless with regards to its noble simplicity, spiritual depth and excellent story-telling. It is truly one of Catherine's classics. This book is divided into three parts, each of them equally soulwarming, all of which build upon Christ's usage of the parable to teach a spiritual truth.The first part retells a number of Russian spiritual parable Catherine remembers from her youth before the Communist revolution forced her from her home. The second part is series of tales recounting God's providence and men's conversion during the the Great Depression era when Catherine ran Friendship House in the inner cities to feed (both physically and spiritually) the poor and homeless. From the touching story of a young couple with a baby who showed up homeless like the Holy Family on Catherine's doorstep Christ Mass Eve to the atheist who, after God answered his challenge, discerned a vocation to priesthood -- the reader is left spiritually inspired.The third part is a series of parables dealing with Christian virtue which Catherine wrote to assist a holy Trappist monk who was recuperating at Madonna House after suffering a series of severe seizures.All are heartwarming stories which can be shared with the family.