Awake My Soul: Contemporary Catholics on Traditional Devotions by James Martin (Editor)

From the Publisher

In Awake My Soul, editor James Martin, S.J., offers a meaningful collection of fascinating essays focusing on devotions and their place in the life of contemporary believers. Originally published as part of a Lenten series in America magazine, the essays discuss a favorite devotion, its history, its place in an individualís life, and its role in the life of contemporary Catholics.

Some of todayís top Catholic writers celebrate many traditional Catholic devotions such as the rosary, the stations of the cross, holy water, novenas, relics, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and more. Contributors include Ron Hansen; Emilie Griffin; Joan Chittister, O.S.B.; and Eric Stoltz. Awake My Soul introduces the practice of devotions to a new generation, and shows how the tradition of prayer can help people regain a sense of the mystery at the center of the Catholic faith.

Publishers Weekly

As the liturgical reforms of the last four decades have given much of Catholic worship a decidedly Protestant patina, many Catholics have continued to find meaning in such distinctive devotional practices as praying the Rosary and venerating the saints. These traditional observances are examined in this little collection of short essays assembled by Martin, a Jesuit priest and associate editor of America magazine, which first published a shorter version of the series. Martin invited 19 contributors, some in their 30s and 40s, to reflect on practices that hold particular meaning for them. Aware that many younger Catholics are rediscovering devotions that had been abandoned by some of their elders in the wake of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council of the early 1960s, he seeks to bring the practices into the light of contemporary times while explaining their origins and purposes. Most of the pieces are highly informative and place each devotion in the context of the reforming council's teaching on worship. The best incorporate a meaningful personal story, such as Therese Borchard's reflection on "The Stations of the Cross," in which the author compares her yearly ritual recalling her father's passing to the way Catholics relive the events of Christ's suffering and death. Catholics and non-Catholics who are curious about practices like holy water blessings, novenas and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will find this compilation both helpful and enlightening. (Feb.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents