This month’s book recommendations by Sr Joanna at Pauline Books & Media.
In this book of wise spiritual insights, Sr Genevieve Glen, OSB draws heavily on years of reflecting on Scripture especially through the practice of Lectio Divina. Sr Genevieve invites the reader into a deeper relationship with Jesus of Nazareth, the Word made flesh, who is our Light and Guide, our food and our hope. Her biblical reflections for different times of the year include themes from Nazareth to Emmaus, psalms to beatitudes, Advent to Pentecost. She brings to life biblical characters, stories, and prayers, and takes us to new places in texts we thought we knew.
As we journey through stories from the Old and New Testaments, we are taken inward to discover our true selves and the Christ who dwells within us. Available online from Pauline Books & Media.
“A retreat is a vote of confidence in our own capacity to hear and respond to the God who dwells within us.” – Gemma Simmonds
In this practical and helpful little book, Sr Gemma Simmonds shows how we can all make space for a spiritual retreat even without going to a residential retreat centre. She guides us through the practices and disciplines of retreats and, with insights from the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, explores how we can fold these practices into daily life and shows that a rich life of prayer, in which we have time and space to let God be present, is achievable even in a busy working or family life.
Dancing at the Still Point will help you find a richer and more balanced life, where the spiritual takes its rightful place amid all the other calls on time and attention. Available online from Pauline Books & Media.
If you have ever been interested to learn something about the mystics, this book on Julian of Norwich by Margaret Paton, RSJ, is a great place to start. A fourteenth-century English mystic, Julian had a remarkable gift with language that enabled her to express her intense experience of Divine Love and her particular love of the Trinity. She left us the hope-filled message that ‘all shall be well’ and challenged the accepted notion of punishing God.
In each chapter Sr Margaret explores the rich depths of the language of one of Julian’s “showings” or revelations, exploring the original Middle English meaning of significant words. She then leaves us with a brief reflection and Julian’s own writing on that revelation for our personal reflection. By paying particular attention to the words Julian uses Sr Margaret enters into Julian’s contemplative experience and enables modern readers to hear Julian’s teachings with the freshness that would have characterised Julian’s message to her original listeners.
In her time, as a woman, Julian’s voice would have been a solitary one unlike the voices of women across our planet today. We can be grateful that her heartfelt desire to share her experience of the saving love of God with others has come to us across the centuries. Available online from Pauline Books & Media.
Ever wonder how some people become enthusiastic and on fire about their relationship with God?
In thirty-three short chapters, Albert Haase provides the insights and tools for self-awareness to kindle the spark of God in your life – and then shows you how to fan it into flame until you are set ablaze. He invites us to sit with our personal history, to recognise the difference between our imperfections and sins, and to explore opportunities to break our bad habits and move into a loving relationship with God and ourselves. His humour and use of stories are attention grabbing. Available online from Pauline Books & Media.
Sr Joanna Coleiro, fsp, is a Daughter of St Paul with a long-time interest in the spiritual growth, faith development and religious experience of both adults and children.
Pauline Books & Media is run by The Daughters of St Paul, which is an international congregation of religious women founded to spread the Gospel through the channels of the modern media. Why not visit the book shop at 7 Denmark Hill Road, East Hawthorn. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm and Saturday 9.00 am to 12 noon.
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