Customer Reviews

Awake My Soul: Contemporary Catholics on Traditional Devotions

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I'm a Catholic, but knew about only a few of these things--like the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross. But I learned so much not just about the history and the traditions behind these devotions (and others--my favorite essay was on what the tradition of the saints means) but also on the ways that the individual writers find personal meaning in these ways of prayer. My favorite essay was by Christopher Ruddy, a young Catholic theologian, who talked about the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a way of pondering the way that Jesus loved. I really liked that. This is a fantastic book for Catholics interested in learning (and refreshing) an old tradition, that will speak to them today. It would be a great book for almost any Catholic, I think

Reading "Awake My Soul" is like stepping into the sunshine on the first morning of spring when the smell of new grass fills the air. Father Martin appropriately took the title of this marvelous little book from the opening verses of Psalm 108. Reading it IS an experience of awakening, because the essays bring a fresh perspective to spiritual practices which have enabled Catholics for centuries to experience spiritual intimacy. Unfortunately, in the wake of Vatican II, the meaning behind many of these had been lost as religious leaders sought to make the Faith more relevant to contemporary church goers. Rediscovering their history and the meaning they hold to those who practice them today makes them new again.

I didn't know much about Catholic devotions, but this book really helped me to understand things like the rosary, and the saints and relics, etc. It's a great collection of beautiful essays by wonderful writers, and I would recommend it highly. I really liked the essay by Lawrence Cunningham on the saints, in particular. It would be great for book reading groups, too.

Again, a wonderful work of James Martin, SJ. This collection of essays - which, I believe, originally appeared in America Magazine - written by a variety of men, women, religious and lay is very inspirational and educational. A great read!

I should start off by saying that I'm a young Catholic that has been spending the last couple of years trying to better understand my faith. Raised with nearly no formal catechisis I drifted away from the faith during adolescence only to find my way home after starting college. I bought this book believing that it would explain these various traditional devotions. A sort of "how to guide" combined with the insights of those who practice said devotions.

That is not what this book is.

This book is a series of very short essays written by people who enjoy whatever particular devotion or sacramental they are writing about. Most of the essays are beyond vague and seem to only focus on the "warm and fuzzy" feelings each person gets when engaged in their preferred form of personal piety. Now I'm glad that these various devotions and sacramentals give peace and joy to these people, but how does that really help anyone else? I love to pray the rosary, but does my stating this fact really help anyone better understand the rosary?

In the end I gave this book a 3 star rating because it's not the various essayists' fault that I misunderstood what this book is supposed to be about. However, I couldn't rate it higher than a 3 since even for what it is supposed to be ("chicken soup for the Catholic devotions") it is a rather mediocre series of stories.

I hope this review helps to keep someone else from making the same error that I did.

I'm a cradle Catholic, and throughout my life I've seen many devotions of older Catholics as just that... something the "old school" Catholics did, not anything relevant to my life. After all, some of those practices are exactly what confuses our protestant friends-- for example, we don't really pray TO Saints or their statues, but it can easily be misinterpreted that way. For many years I thought it was just easier to stay away from these kinds of devotions all together.

This book asks Catholics in various ages and stages of life to talk about particular devotions and what they mean to them personally. Some of the stories really touched me, as I could see how a particular tradition really enhanced a person's connection to God.

I found several practices discussed which I'd never even heard of, and others that I'd heard of, but did not understand. Among those discussed are: devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Holy Water, The Angelus, the Rosary, and many more.

I had placed this book on my wishlist and was blessed with a copy for Christmas. I'd recommend it to anyone, Catholic or not, looking to learn more about Catholic traditions.