# Made for More – A Book Review and the Glorious Mysteries
*2024-02-19*

> Bill Young shares his thoughts on Curtis Martin’s book *Made for More* and then leads listeners through the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, praying for peace in Israel and for all souls.

## Why I Picked Up *Made for More*

I first found Curtis Martin’s *Made for More* at a parish outreach table. It’s a short, six‑chapter work first published in 2008, and I was struck by how clearly it tells the story of a man who was adopted, raised Catholic, drifted away in college, and then returned to the faith. Martin’s honesty about his own “lukewarm” years resonated with many of us who have struggled to stay rooted.

He also contrasts two models of Christian witness—Mother Teresa and Billy Graham—showing how each reflects a different emphasis in the Church’s mission. The book reminds us that, like the wheat and the weeds in Jesus’ parable, we must allow both the faithful and the struggling to grow together until the final judgment.

## Key Insights from the Book

Martin highlights three points that have stayed with me:

1. **The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds** – We are called to nurture the wheat (the faithful) while trusting that God will separate the weeds at the end of time.
2. **The Church’s Hierarchy** – He likens the King to Christ, the Queen Mother to Mary, and the Prime Minister to the Pope, underscoring the unity of the Church’s leadership.
3. **The Importance of Community** – Drawing on early‑Church writings, Martin stresses that true discipleship is lived out in communion with one another, not in isolated devotion.

These themes challenge us to examine whether we are merely “borderline Catholics” or fully engaged disciples.

## How to Get the Book

If you’re interested in reading *Made for More*, it’s inexpensive—about $2 per copy. Many parishes keep it in their library, and it’s also available through DynamicCatholics.com. The author’s ministry, Focus, supports Catholic university students, so you might find copies on campus ministries as well.

## The Glorious Mysteries

After the review, we moved into the Rosary, focusing on the Glorious Mysteries because today is Wednesday. We began with the Sign of the Cross and the Apostles’ Creed, then prayed the Our Father, three Hail Marys for each mystery, and the Glory Be.

For each mystery—Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost, Assumption, and Coronation—we reflected on the fruit of the mystery (faith, hope, love, grace, and trust) and offered prayers for the hostages in Israel, for the dying, and for all souls.

We concluded with the Hail Holy Queen and a series of intercessory prayers to the Blessed Virgin, St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist, St. Peter and Paul, and finally a prayer for the whole Church to be a beacon of faith and charity.

*We are indeed made for more than a lukewarm faith; the call is to grow fully into the wheat that bears fruit for God’s kingdom.*