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Forgotten Among the Lilies: Learning to Love Beyond Our Fears

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Ronald Rolheiser has many gifts he brings to spiritual writing. First he is a person of deep faith. He is also aware of the world we live in today, both its good points and its flaws. Combine this with a keen insight into people and a Catholicism that combines the best of the Catholic tradition with current insights into what feeds and nourishes people and you get an idea of what he brings to the table.

FORGOTTEN AMONG THE LILIES is a departure from some of his other works. Instead of being a monograph about a certain subject, it is a collection of essays based on article sand columns he has written over the years and talks he has given. He divides them into thirteen categories and in each category there is a selection of essays. Most are short and can be read in one sitting and used for reflection. The themes of Rolheisser's earlier works such as the emptiness we can experience without God, the need for a fruitful prayer life, and the importance of belonging to a community of believers can be found in this volume. His writings reflect the concerns of the time including the aftermath of September 11, 2001 and the clergy sexual abuse scandal facing the Catholic Church but are focused solely on the two situations.

At times I have been in discussion groups where articles by Rolheiser have been used to begin the debate. I have found that lively and interesting conversations have followed reading his works. This book which is ideal for either individual or group reading will certainly enliven a reading group or adult education class.

This new book is a collection of his columns on spirituality. Ron Rolheiser continues to invite me deeper into intimacy with God, by considering my deep passions, addictions, longings, and to believe that God is present in all things. By his own honesty and transparency in this book, Father Rolheiser invites you and me to be real and honest with God and ourselves. Father Brad Karelius, Pastor, Messiah Episcopal Church, Santa Ana, CA

This is a wonderful book for readers who have enjoyed other works of Ron Rohlheiser. The title comes from the last stanza of the pem "Dark Night of the Soul" and assures us that we can leave our fears, guilt, anxieties, compulsions, etc. to be "forgotten among the lilies" when we rest our heats on the bossom of Jesus. It is a contemporary book on Providence.

I found this book to be very helpful and one to reflect on. I think this is one of Rolheiser's best.

I am still reading. It is not a quick read in my opinion. I will read it slowly and gradually but it makes me nod my head in agreement often. I love Rollheiser's writing and spirituality.

This is a wonderful little book of short, easy to read essays which encourage us to find a deeper relationship with the God Who is Love. Fr. Rolheiser encourages us to step away from the cultural madness of a Western society which has lost any ability to think beyond the dollar sign and the idea of personal comfort at all cost. He urges us to take God's love seriously and stop to experience not only a deeper level of relationship with God, but a deeper level of living out that relationship in both appreciating the world around us and living Christ's love to that world and those in it who need that love.

The only unfortunate point in this otherwise fine book is that Fr. Rolheiser, like Richard Rohr and others of the liberal Catholic bent, cannot help himself but to use his writing to stump for women's ordination in the Catholic Church. For this reason alone I was unable to give it the full five stars it would have gotten if Fr. Rolheiser had been able to restrain himself from beating the dead horse of women's ordination. I find his attitude strange inasmuch as in the book, in the chapter SOCIAL JUSTICE AND CONTEMPLATION, he admits that one of the problems with liberalism is that liberals are not pious people. Then he goes and commits an act of impiety (rebellion against the Church). Sheeeeeeeeesh!!! Go figure!!

For the first two thirds of the book, his liberalism was a well kept secret to me. But towards the end, it comes to full bloom with this paragraph which opens the chapter ALIVE WITH PROPHETIC PAIN

I HAD A LENGTHY TALK WITH A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A CATHOLIC FEMINIST. ARTICULATE AND NOT AFRAID TO EXPRESS HER ANGER, SHE TALKED OPENLY ABOUT HER PAIN. SHE IS FRUSTRATED WITH INEQUALITY IN THE CHURCH, FRUSTRATED THAT SHE CAN NEVER BE ORDAINED. THE TEARS FLOWED FREELY, SHE WANTED TO LEAVE THE CHURCH SHE HAD GROWN UP IN, BUT SOMETHING HELD HER BACK.

One wonders if Fr. Rolheiser counseled this young woman at all regarding the numerous covenantal, anthropomorphic, and thological reasons that a woman simply cannot be a priest. Doubt it. Most likely he commisserated with her, agreeing that the Church is an organization of eklessiastical bullies who have no regards for her deepest needs.

Oh well! :-(

Otherwise, a fine book with many chapters that should set you to thinking about how one should properly live out one's Catholic Faith in the decadence of the West.

Just be wary of the liberal landmines in it!

Ed

I received this book in a timely manner & in great shape. The book is an easy read with very helpful information.