Reaching for Heaven: 14 Spiritual Goals as You Grow Older

by Michael Amodei

Overview

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

ISBN-13:	9781646802746
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	02/02/2024
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Michael Amodei is executive editor and curriculum development manager at Ave Maria Press, where he writes and edits Catholic high school religion textbooks. He is the author of Reaching for Heaven: 14 Spiritual Goals as You Grow Older, Send Out Your Spirit, Catholic Essentials, The Ave Guide to the Scriptural Rosary, and The Ave Guide to Eucharistic Adoration. Amodei has also acquired a number of spirituality books for Ave Maria Press, including A Teen’s Game Plan for Life by Lou Holtz, Holy Goals for Body and Soul by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, and Expect More! by Muffet McGraw.

Amodei earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, where he also earned a master’s degree in religious education. He previously served as director of religious education and as a youth minister at St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica, California. He also taught math, religion, and gym and coached Catholic Youth Organization sports at St. Monica Elementary School.

He is leader of the Ave Maria Press Chapter of Catholic Relief Services, a member of the Association of Catholic Publishers, and a third degree in the Knights of Columbus. Amodei has been a youth sports coach for more than forty years and is the field supervisor for home football games at the University of Notre Dame.

Amodei lives with his family in South Bend, Indiana.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“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

“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

“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

“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

“When I was in my forties, I ran a ten-mile race and was feeling pretty good about running seven-minute miles until we approached the finish line and I heard the public address announcer congratulating the seventy-eight-year-old runner who finished just ahead of me! At first, I was mortified that I was beaten by someone who was almost an octogenarian. Then I was inspired to keep running well into my senior years. Now in my seventies myself and still running, 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

“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