Books
For Lovers of God Everywhere: Poems of the Christian Mystics
For Lovers of God Everywhere: Poems of the Christian Mystics by Roger Housden
Hay House, Inc.
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
This is a remarkable book—a true story giving a much fuller picture of the daily life of women in Afghanistan under the Taliban rule in 1996 than is possible simply by reading anecdotes or descriptions of individual events during that time.
Kamila Sediqi, 19 years old, is thrust into the role of caring for her four younger sisters and brother when her parents and older brother flee Kabul to avoid being forced into the Taliban army. She must keep them safe and be their breadwinner.
Even though she had never sewn, she decides to become a seamstress. Her older sister, who lives nearby, gives Kamila a crash course in sewing. Kamila and her sisters begin to sew dresses and sell them to shopkeepers. Her bravery and cleverness in dealing with the Taliban in order to sell the dresses is almost beyond belief. She ultimately employs 34 young women, turning no one away who comes to her for help.
The author, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, is herself quite remarkable. She left ABC news in order to write about women entrepreneurs in conflict zones—Afghanistan, Bosnia, Rwanda. She was in Afghanistan in 2005, interviewing women and met Kamila. Gayle knew that she had to bring her story to readers.
Author or Credit to:
review by Marlene Bertke, OSB
Bearing Witness: A Zen Master’s Lessons in Making Peace by Bernie Glassman
Bearing Witness: A Zen Master’s Lessons in Making Peace by Bernie Glassman (Bell Tower)
An engaging and inspirational account of how and why Glassamn started a new Order, the Zen Peacemaker Order, where members “bear witness” in places of conflict and violence.
As an expression of engaged Buddhism, members live and meditate on the streets of New York, the gates of Auchwitz and other places devoid of humanity.
Awakening the Mystic in You
Awakening the Mystic in You is an interactive book designed to help readers deepen their relationship with the Divine by connecting to the vibrancy of life. This book provides the cosmic message of hope subjectively revealed by fifty-two Christian mystics in an easy-to-read format. It is meant to be read without hurry, while taking time to ponder and absorb the wisdom of these great mystics. Receive the gift of your inner mystic, an intimate friend and guide, here to accompany you on your earthly adventure. This wisdom transcends religion and is meant to be heard by people who wish to expand their spirituality, regardless of any religious preference. A word of caution: Awakening the Mystic in You may be the catalyst for extraordinary new beginnings in your life.
Sr. Joan's 2 news books, Sept 2011
Sr. Joan has two new books, both being released in September:
Happiness and
The Radical Christian Life: A Year with Saint Benedict
Happiness (Eerdmans, hardcover, 234 pages)
Everyone wants to be happy, yet many wrongly believe that happiness comes from having enough money, fame, personal comfort, worldly success, or even dumb luck. Happiness seems to be an elusive, arbitrary thing—something, all too often, just out of reach. Joan Chittister sees happiness differently—as a personal quality to be learned, mastered, and fearlessly wielded. In Happiness she embarks on a “great happiness dig” through sociology, biology, neurology, psychology, philosophy, history, and world religions to develop “an archaeology of happiness.” Sifting through the wisdom of the ages, Chittister offers inspiring insights that will help seekers everywhere cultivate true and lasting happiness within themselves.
Click here to order http://store.benetvision.org/happiness.html
The Radical Christian Life: A Year with Saint Benedict (Liturgical Press, paper back, 160 pages)
Very little in this world stays fresh and life-giving for 1,500 years. But when that happens we should ask ourselves why and what that had to do with us.
In this book, The Radical Christian Life: A Year with Saint Benedict, Joan Chittister encourages us to look at that question. In an introductory essay she examines how the insights and values of the sixth-century visionary Saint Benedict can illuminate today’s search for a meaningful life. Then she leads us through the year, reflecting on twelve stories from Benedict’s life, anecdotes that give us glimpses into his soul. More than that, she draws from these stories daily thoughts for the development of our own spiritual lives in this day and age.
Click here to order: http://store.benetvision.org/rachli.html
Other books by Joan Chittister
Other books by Joan Chittister especially helpful for ongoing formation for Monastery of the Heart groups.