Speaking One’s Soul: Magnifying God’s Word in a Madly Godless World

by Patti Hershwitzky, Ed.S. and Mary Sobel Ott

Innumerous works through the ages have addressed the contradictions and conflicts between religion and government, particularly from the Catholic perspective over the past 2000 years, with emphasis on societies choosing either God’s soul work or deceptive soul destruction. What sets apart Speaking One’s Soul from those well researched and inspired forums, books, commentaries, and media is its focus on saving the spiritually endangered individual born into the post WWII era, often referenced as a Baby Boomer.  Partly confessional, the authors, Catholic reverts, emphasize the need for unifying friendship and community, but foremost salvational truth. The text integrates the timeless power of Scripture, emphasized in a personalized Rosary; narratives illustrating the deadly impact of deceptive snares but also tales of virtuous heroism; extraordinary relatable conversion stories; and many resources to enable serene commitment, conviction, and courage when confronting evil while endeavoring to save souls. 

Among the points of emphasis:

  • Understanding the finite time God has permitted the Evil One and each of us.
  • Examining one’s personal life from birth onward as St. Francis de Sales advised.
  • Establishing prayer as an indispensable, daily foundational practice, optimally with Scripture, daily Mass attendance and frequent confession. 
  • Recatechizing oneself through Church history, the Church Fathers and Doctors,  Scripture; the Catholic Catechism; numerous timeless, universal encyclicals; and exploring sound treatises on Church politics to successfully navigate the world.
  • Cherishing the marvelous holy examples of the past and present. 
  • Recognizing igneous reactivity vs. responsible response.
  • Distinguishing resignation to evil from surrender to Divine Mercy. 
  • Embracing all persons in the Light of God, Author of all Life. 
  • Cultivating healthy unity and community. 
  • Envisioning the defeat of the Evil One and embracing the joy of Heaven forever.

Paperback: $19.95| Kindle: $9.99

PAPERBACK
eBOOK
BULK ORDERS

TESTIMONIALS

“A fascinating new way to live our faith through prayer related to the evils of our times.”  – Dr. Ronda Chervin, Catholic philosopher, writer, and TV presenter

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Patricia (Patti) Hershwitzky, Ed.S., is the author of two books:  The Third Millennium Woman, CMJ Catholic Books and West Las Vegas, Arcadia Publications; past magazine articles in Hearts Aflame Magazine, Canticle, Hearth, and Crisis; and numerous published communications. 

Preceded by a childhood as an Army dependent who traveled the world and during some of its worst post World War II crises, the author of Teaching the City of God in the City of Man brings a varied and sometimes conflicting background that spans over fifty years in political science, journalism-writing, and education.  Her journey has taken her from being a Young Democrat in San Francisco’s Moscone-Milk-Feinstein era to campaigning for conservative candidates in several states on both coasts.  While her  initial career was initiated by working for a tourist magazine and then as a public relations and advertising account executive,  disillusionment with the world, turned her back to the one, holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church and an entry into education.  Yet, even in the late 1980’s that field was already being contaminated by agnostic, at best, influences that nearly derailed her credential program.

It was also a period of realization that Catholic schools, while employing good hearted and capable teachers, were being misdirected and unduly affected by unChristian concepts.  Following ten years in Catholic schools in California and Maryland, the author ventured into the public system for twelve years, candidly necessitated by economic factors but also in the hopes of being a Catholic presence albeit subtly.  Even more startling realities about the state of education, overall awaited her.  In twelve years, despite numerous endeavors and community interaction, some in leadership roles, the author concluded that American culture had so far deteriorated that nothing short of an almost miraculous intervention would alter the downward trajectory.   

Afterwards, re-entering Catholic schooling as a principal, she experienced a deep fissure in attitude towards both the Faith and its role in education among parents and teachers.  Within one generation, the situation had grown more perilous.  Even some well intentioned, good hearted educators seemed more intent on accommodating parents— “consumer satisfaction” dilemma —and appearing democratic than contemplating students’ souls and the Kingdom of God.  

It would be the culmination of a life that had went down a wrong path for well over a decade, followed by the rediscovery of Catholic identity, and then sorrow and stark dread of so many lost people that compelled the author to first envision better texts. Ultimately, an entirely different approach to preparing Catholic educators became the mission as so many, through no fault of their own,  had been descendants of diluted teaching for several generations.  Yet, it had to be an enterprise that had its footing in the world but its head directed by Heaven.

Thus ultimately arose Teaching the City of God in the City of Man.

Mary Ott is new to the Christian publishing environment. A cradle-Catholic and a graduate of a Catholic college in California, Mary fully returned to the Catholic faith in early 2023, after a personal experience which she calls “nothing short of a miracle.” Following her illumination of conscience, she began a ‘journey of the soul’ back to Jesus.

While on this journey, she discovered her sister, Patti, was also a faith-soulmate, as well. Following hours of conversation with her sister about life as traditional women, wives, mothers, and grandmothers, along with discussing their differences and similarities, Mary and Patti began a mission to speak from their soul to others about how the modern world is a difficult pathway to walk as a faithful Catholic.

Fueled by a lifelong passion for writing, painting, photography, research, and genealogy after she retired from her business career in 2012, Mary combined her life experience and education skills to co-produce the book, Speaking One’s Soul. Their book also produced a website, https://www.cultivatingyoursoul.com, and a future podcast series called, Cultivating Your Soul, which will align with the book’s theme.

Currently involved in painting and doing her professional genealogy work, at her business, Before The Ink Fades, located in El Dorado Hills, California, Mary finds that her time is also currently devoted to writing another book. When she is not working, Mary spends valuable time with her husband, adult kids, and grandchildren.

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