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In this episode of Author to Author, Dr. Cynthia Toolin-Wilson interviews Rich Agnello on his books Going to Williamsport and Our Marian Pulpit: From a Lector’s Soul House (February 27, 2024)

Going to Williamsport

What would you do if you were the 12-year-old new ace pitcher of a very small town baseball team, and you and your teammates went on in one magical year to represent your far western Oklahoma panhandle roots at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and you were much too embarrassed beyond mere words to see your own mother cheer you on in the bleachers as you take the big stage hundreds of miles away?
This is Sooner's situation, and his story is Going to Williamsport, as he experiences his mom suffering through acute paranoid psychosis during the early years of deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill in the Eisenhower administration. Without the option to "just put her away" anymore, the only child Sooner sees his own embarrassment and severe contempt for a Semper Fi father who will not deny his marriage vows, nor his unbelievable love for his own son.
Going to Williamsport matters more than anything to Sooner, but definitely not at the expense of seeing "her" in those stands. In his own words, he takes as much as he possibly can, and then makes incredibly clear in the clearest of places that he alone, with his Cimarron Coyotes team is Going to Williamsport, without Dad and certainly without Mom.

Amazon.com: Going to Williamsport: 9781643786537: Agnello, Rich: Books

Our Marian Pulpit: From A Lector’s Soul House

Humans can be devoted to many things. For Catholics Christians in particular, devotion has special purpose and meaning, especially to Our Savior’s Mother.

Too often for those in the Lector ministry, though, devotion is synonymous with dedication, as it merely applies to the skill or craft of performing a role in liturgy. Preparation and execution then become separate and apart from any prayer and purpose, and this demeans both God’s Word and the Liturgy of the Word building into the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Author Rich Agnello can certainly advocate from a craft view, applying 50 years nationally to this ministry, including eight at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., not to mention his Marquette University College of Communication academic training.

Yet this is not Agnello’s focus, nor that of his book Our Marian Pulpit: From a Lector’s Soul House. Undoubtedly, mechanics are indeed important here, and the author’s detailed and desire-focused review of twelve Lector Elements, or LEs, are evidence of this. What is much more essential, however, is primary intention, or in the spiritual sphere, primary devotion. Agnello builds this devotion development in a manner similar to building a house, or to the individual Catholic Lector, their own soul house.

For the author, the depth of our devotion to life as a time of salvation preparation is most essential. While we may think we fully know Christ and his Church through reading the Sacred Scriptures, the Catholic essential is that nobody knows Him quite like She does, both on earth and in heaven.

Therefore, the Lector’s place to proclaim the Mass’ readings is Our Marian Pulpit. From this place, all Lay Ministers of the word see the Bible--and ultimately see Jesus--through Our Lady’s vision. Incredibly, from that vision born in us, most any spiritually devout Catholic can share their own testimony of faith effectively through their Lector ministry. This is identical to our relationship with the Lord: Lectors must own this responsibility and lead all of us to the Eucharist, just as Mary guides all of us to Jesus.

Those who are new to this ministry will find Our Marian Pulpit: From a Lector’s Soul Housea tremendous foundation to use a prayer life of depth for a humble role of service. Moreover, experienced Lectors will discover a springboard for renewal in this book, as they take a profound Marian way from very good to profoundly better in both their personal and liturgical holiness.

Our Marian Pulpit: From A Lector’s Soul House: Agnello, Rich: 9798874003326: Amazon.com: Books