The Hidden Power of Kindness: A Practical Handbook for Souls Who Dare to Transform the World, One Deed at a Time [Paperback]

Lawrence G. Lovasik (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1999

You're almost certainly not as kind as you ought to be - and your relationships with God and those you love may be suffering as a result. Probably you just can't find the time - and can't ever seem to develop the patience - that you need in order to be consistently kind amid the irritations that afflict you daily. That's why these pages are such a godsend. You'll learn how to be kinder, even in difficult circumstances! There's nothing complicated or magical about learning to be kinder; it just takes greater attention to the things that you do and how you do them. These pages show you how to become more aware of even your most offhand daily actions. You'll find simple, step-by-step, and spiritually crucial directions for how to overcome the habitual unkindnesses that creep - undetected - into the behavior of even the most careful souls. If you want to make progress in the spiritual life you can't afford to miss the bracing insights in this handbook for souls who yearn to be kinder. They'll give you years of solid help in overcoming sin so that you'll live more fully with others - and truly transform your corner of the world!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Supremely practical. If you would like to improve your relations with others and so lead a more happy and peaceful life, get this book and read it carefully. -- Fr. Kenneth Baker, Homiletic and Pastoral Review

This wonderful book increases our insights into the wonders of the message that speaks so powerfully to us: 'Love is patient, love is kind . . . ' -- Sr. Mary Rose McGeady, Covenant House

About the Author

Lawrence G. Lovasik (1913-1986) did missionary work in America's coal and steel regions, founded the Sisters of the Divine Spirit, a missionary congregation, and wrote numerous books and pamphlets emphasizing prayer and the Eucharist.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Sophia Institute Press (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1928832008
• ISBN-13: 978-1928832003
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,114 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book saved the life of my pilgrimage director, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hidden Power of Kindness: A Practical Handbook for Souls Who Dare to Transform the World, One Deed at a Time (Paperback)

I was recently on a pilgrimage to Rome. My pilgrimage director was so atrocious, had I not taken this wonderful book with it's simple guides on charity, patience, and kindness, I would certainly have killed her. The simple pledges, and easily applied steps, helped me not only hold my tongue, but led me to enjoy what could have been an otherwise unbearable experience(...even though the surroundings were spectacular!) If you're serious about improving your daily relations with the people you deal with, you have to read this book!

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovasik's "Power" - ful Kind of Book on Daily Christian Living, May 11, 2006

By 

Anthony G Pizza "trivialtony" (FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hidden Power of Kindness: A Practical Handbook for Souls Who Dare to Transform the World, One Deed at a Time (Paperback)

Read this book's appendix first. It's a series of questions which, answered one after another, takes your temperment temperature and provide Catholics a confession checklist. It also proves the book's back cover tagline, ""You're almost certainly not as kind as you ought to be..."

"The Hidden Power of Kindness" is written firmly from a Catholic mindset to a Catholic audience. Author Lawrence Lovasik, a Catholic priest, condemns birth control and points to criticism of clergy and religious as egregious sins against charity. His somewhat scolding tone (you'll faintly smell fire and brimstone) recalls "old-school" Catholicism, the book first published in 1962. But this book provides any faith-based person timely reasons and reminders to place more Christian kindness and charity into their daily lives.

Building his case from Scripture and quotes and anecdotes from Catholic Saints, Fr. Lovasik shows examples of kindness in word, deed, and thought. He urges readers to reconsider how they treat words spoken in confidence and jest (with especially harsh words on sarcasm), inner thoughts on forgiveness to people who've hurt them, how to act when two people disagree. He cites empathy and punctuality as examples of kind behavior, and silence as "the language of God," and key means to holiness. Throughout, Lovasik's narrative and chosen quotes stress charity and kindness aren't alone virtues without Christ-like purpose.

The book is inspiring, its wisdom timeless (especially its poetic words on how to treat those who are sick and dying) and its tips practical when embedding kinder behavior in everyday life. (It also gives the lie to a now common idea of rude, even cruel behavior being acceptable in the name of "honesty.") "The Hidden Power of Kindness" shows how kind words and actions, born from love and fear of God and desire for God's glory, provide unseen dividends in a society unused to them. Recommended as a practical,near-reference manual for daily human interaction.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, January 7, 2005

By 

R. Brouwer "bikerruth" (Augusta) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hidden Power of Kindness: A Practical Handbook for Souls Who Dare to Transform the World, One Deed at a Time (Paperback)

This book should not be read as a means to prevent murder. (See review above!) Much more help than this book is needed for that penchant. But if you want a book to clarify for you your shortcomings, and give you practical, simple advice on how to overcome them, this is your book. At first glance the advice seems simplistic and superficial, but the deeper you get into the book, the more you realize you are getting life altering advice. Reading the book is easy...it's a "lite read". Applying the book to your life will become a vocation.