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McCabe Renewal Center - Book Reviews
Reading & Spiritual Possibilities
Reviewed by Jane Haubrich Casperson
Assistant Director, McCabe Renewal Center
“Every life is braided with luminous moments,” John O’Donohue, author, philosopher. Thus begins O’Donohue’s book, Beauty: The Invisible Embrace.
Last fall I spent a weekend retreat listening to this remarkable Celt’s endearing Irish brogue and soaking in his shared wisdom. His words struck a deep note of recognition about how these luminous moments appear in the most mundane of tasks.
For example, while braiding my daughter’s coal black twists of hair, I felt awed by her exquisitely dark physical presence, rivaled only by her inquisitive, reflective inner beauty. As I plaited thick strands of ebony curls away from her almond eyes, I gratefully recalled her Afro-Vincentian ancestors and marveled at God-Mysterious who made all things possible for her and me to be together. Praise God, oh Luminous Moment!
In Beauty, O’Donohue intends to arouse his reader with the understanding that simple beauty can unite one with the neglected and forgotten grandeur of life. Beauty––wherever and however you find it––is an antidote for anyone entering a new year drowsy from the demands of life. Now is the time to get in tune with a new CD, grab a familiar devotional or a fresh spiritual read, and discover the wondrous possibilities for making ’08 one filled with beauty.
Please look over McCabe Renewal Center’s book racks the next time you visit. We have dozens of traditional and contemporary spiritual writings for sale.
Pray All Ways: A Book for Daily Worship Using All Your Senses.
Edward Hays, Ave Maria Press, 2007
In this new edition of his classic, Pray All Ways, retired Catholic priest Edward Hays challenges us to use the ordinariness of our bodies and our lives to become whole and holy people of God. It is a joyful book, inviting us to free our cemented way of thinking about prayer. In his chapter entitled, “Play as Prayer,” Hays remarks, “Perhaps if we were not so ‘proper,’ we might discover God in unlikely places.” Perhaps, indeed!
Circle of Compassion: Meditations for Caring–For the Self and for the World.
Gail Straub, Journey Editions, 2001.
These brief meditations are designed to help individuals understand and balance their compassionate care of self and care of others. One is inwardly focused; one outwardly. Knowing the “when” and the “what” of our needs deepens our ability to live compassionately and recognize how our own health is inseparable from the health of the world.
‘Tis a Gift to be Free: Daily Choices on Life’s Path.
Virginia Ann Froehle, R.S.M., Ave Maria Press, 2001.
With her down-to-earth examples, Virginia Froehle offers simple, practical ways to relax and love ourselves and others more. This powerful, mustard seed of a book completes each short chapter with three parts: choosing––suggests steps to becoming freer–daily; paying the price––reminds us of what we must accept or give up in the freeing of ourselves; praying––offers a one-sentence prayer to repeat in supporting our life choices.