The other evening Sister Brendon sent me a review of my book Cherished by Jesus that she had discovered in the publication Homiletic & Pastoral Review. I was grateful to her because I hadn’t seen it myself. It is the most thorough and most glowing review any of my books has ever elicited. I can’t resist sharing it with you. . . .
Book Reviews – November 2026
Glavich, Mary Kathleen, SND. Cherished by Jesus: A Daily Devotional for Women. Chicago: Loyola Press, 2024. 397 pages.
Reviewed by Katrina J.E. Milton.
In the one-page introduction of the book, Sr. Glavich explains that her one-a-day reflection book is a way for women to know that they are cherished by Jesus.
Each day’s reflection begins with a quote from the New Testament, which Sr. Glavich describes as a love note from Jesus, direct quotes spoken by Him in the Gospel. Through those quotes from Scripture, Jesus “teaches you, comforts you, strengthens you, and above all, assures you of His love” (page v). Sr. Glavich ends each day’s reflection with a short response, or prayer, to Jesus, which summarizes the main topic or theme of the day.
Knowing that I would be writing a review of the book, and wanting to fully participate in the reflection process, I purchased a 365-day journal. Each day, I would write the Biblical passage on the top of my journal’s page, take notes as I read, and create goals for myself from the reflection. Some of my goals included “remember that God always loves you,” “be a blessing unto others,” and “have faith in God’s will.” Taking notes and writing your own reflection is not needed to enjoy the book; you can just read and think after each day’s devotion. However, I found that the process of setting aside 10 minutes in the evening to read, think of God, make goals, and plan for the future was a beneficial, calming, and relaxing end to my day. Reading each day’s reflection took only a minute or two, but I enjoyed savoring my own thoughts and reflections as much as I did reading Sr. Glavich’s words.
I found that the book’s reflections had two main themes: make yourself a more pious follower of Jesus and help others. Examples of helping others include sharing meals, sharing your faith, and donating clothes and money to the needy, even if it is the two copper coins of the widow’s offering (Mark 12:41–44 and Luke 21:1–4). Many of the daily reflections focus on the desire of love: to be wanted, to be loved and cherished, and to have happiness and joy. Sr. Glavich reiterates throughout the book that true love and true happiness can only be found in God and will one day be ours in Heaven.
Throughout the book, Sr. Glavich quotes the saints and tells stories about their lives, focusing on the good they have done on earth during their lifetimes. A few saints that are mentioned and quoted include St. Augustine, St. Ignatius, St. Carlo Acutis, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Athanasius, St. Katharine Drexel, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux. My favorite story was the one shared on Dec. 31 of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Although she was only five feet tall and coped with frail health all her life, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was able to found 67 institutions for the sick and poor in the U.S. Even though she was afraid of water, she crossed the ocean 27 times to do God’s work.
Sr. Glavich’s advice is intrinsically Catholic: teaching about the Trinity, exemplifying Mary, and urging readings to attend Mass, receive the Eucharist, go to confession, pray the rosary, and read the Bible. A non-Catholic reading the book may be a bit confused by the Catholic vocabulary used, such as references to Mass, saints, and Church history. Although a non-Catholic can read and appreciate the book’s advice and daily reflections, it would be understood and appreciated more fully by a Catholic reader.
According to the title, the book’s audience is women. Of course, men could read the book, but the book is written with women in mind and has advice about how to be a better, holier Catholic woman. Sr. Glavich gives advice on how to be more Mary-like and full of grace, how to be a good hostess, and how to be a good friend. Shoes and lipstick are mentioned, but the book is feminine in more ways than just those generalizations. It offers woman-centric advice, such as do your hair and nails, not out of vanity, but because your body is created in God’s image and is His temple. Martha is often mentioned as a role model, because she opens her home to Jesus, prepares her home for visitors, and treats Jesus as a special guest.
Some of my favorite reflections feature adages that showcase Sr. Glavich’s wisdom: serve God by serving others, do not judge others because you never know what burdens they are carrying, remember to write thank you notes, create a gratitude list to return to in difficult times, reward yourself with a donut, and buy yourself flowers.
I enjoyed learning more about Sr. Glavich’s life, her family, her travels, and even her first memory: attending Mass with her grandmother and crying because of the incense. She often tells humorous stories, such as responding to an ad for “free” compression socks and unknowingly joining a health club membership for $25 a month, deer eating her potted geraniums, fear of the apocalypse after watching scary movies as a child, and being called a worrywart by her first-grade teacher. Stories of her own life were a fun, relatable, and personal addition, intermixed with the lives of saints, popes, and Jesus.
I also enjoyed Sr. Glavich’s inclusion of popular culture and other famous works, such as C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Dante’s Divine Comedy, Star Wars, West Side Story, Shel Silverstein’s book The Giving Tree, and ancient Greek mythology and stories, including the Trojan War.
Sr. Glavich is a trustworthy and patient guide for the year of reflections, offering kind advice that is never too critical, judgmental, or harsh. She offers the kind of advice a friendly aunt would, full of positivity, friendliness, and support. Sometimes she admonishes you for your bad habits, but her comments and advice are altruistic and caring. Through reading the reflections, you get a clear sense of Sr. Glavich’s personality and joy. She wrote each reflection out of love: a love of God, a love of Jesus, and a love for her readers: “If you are a mother, teacher, nurse, or beautician, you are pleased when your advice is taken. You know you have made someone happier and maybe kept them from harm.” (Jan. 24).
My only complaint of the book is that I wish certain days had more of a theme to them, such as Christmas on Dec. 25, All Soul’s Day on Nov. 2, and saints’ feast days. However, I did notice that some spring dates mentioned Easter and summer dates mentioned the sun/light and picnics. I also hope that a version for men is created, if not written by Sr. Glavich, then by a male clergyman using her outline and framework for daily reflections.
This book would make a fantastic gift for a young woman graduating high school or college, but it would be beneficial for women of any age or background: those that are single, mothers, sisters, grandmothers, or in a religious order. Any woman could benefit from Sr. Glavich’s reflections and by making their own reflections each day. They could keep a daily journal as I did, or keep the book by their bedside for a quick read before sleep.
Ultimately, Sr. Glavich’s message throughout the book is a message of positivity and faith. Her words each day are uplifting, sharing with readers that through trust in God, good deeds, and living out your faith, you have the possibility of eternal life, the forgiveness of sins, and a union with God and Jesus in Heaven after death. Her message is that of God’s love: “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Katrina J.E. Milton is a graduate of The Catholic University of America. She lives in her native state of Illinois, where she oversees an educational program for a nonprofit organization. She previously worked as a journalist for 10 years, winning numerous awards for her writing and photography.
Katrina purchased a journal for writing her reflections, but in the back of my book are lined pages for readers to make notes:
When do you especially feel cherished by God?
What Scripture verses about God’s love do you cherish?
A song about God’s love:
