Customer Reviews

Peace of Soul

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I read Fulton Sheen's book a couple of years ago. While rereading it, many things come back to me which have pointed my life away from depending on the material, the immoral and the un-helpful ways of finding peace in friends and psychiatrists who have just about tried to separate me from the true faith Catholicism and to separate me from Jesus Christ. I find it quite interesting that the chapter of his where he compares psychology vs faith in the Healing Physician (ie Jesus Christ Himself) is very much the core of why people keep going to their shrinks when they might do better going to Holy Mass and meditating on where their souls are at the present time. My biggest recommendation to all is that our souls are the highest possession we have from God above, and that in communing with His Son and the Saints (esp Fulton Sheen, because I know he is in heaven and should be a saint) is our passport to heaven. I feel much gratitude to Fulton J Sheen, and will always be indebted to him and his teachings for where I am and who I am now. Peaceable and contemplative.

ARCHBISHOP SHEEN DOES A REMARKABLE JOB OF SHOWING THE READER HOW THE ONLY TRUE WAY TO ACHIVE ABSOLUTE FREEDOM AND ARRIVE AT BEING A TOTAL PERSON IS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE GRACE OF GOD ALMIGHTY. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ALL WHO ARE HURTING BOTH SPIRITUALLY AND MENTALLY AND WANT TO FIND TRUE "PEACE OF SOUL".

Bishop Sheen has done an outstanding job of bringing Christian revelation to bear on modern problems and modern understandings of the psyche and the soul. Sheen shows that Christian revelation about the soul is the only true answer to man's neurosis. The book is wholly, and entirely, Orthodox and represents the best of modern Catholic thinking. THe Catholic tradition of thinking has always been involved in an engagement of Christian revelation with contemporary intellectual thinking. Not only was a harmonization of the best of secular thinking and Divine Revelation achieved by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 1200's, but it was also the achievement of the Fathers of the Church as well. Sheen stands in this tradition, addressing pastoral and moral concerns of contemporary man. Sheen will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the finest pastoral theologians of this century.

In modern society, it is common for personal problems to be attributed to psychological makeup, and in particular to the paternal relationships of the individual. Anxiety, guilt, depression and other negative human experiences in general are not seen as the consequences of bad personal decisions but instead are linked to repressions of feelings that go back to early childhood. Freedom from these repressions--often translated into a license to do what one formerly resisted to do--is what constitutes the end of psychology as a means of improving mental well-being.

Bishop Fulton Sheen acknowledges the usefulness of psychology and many of the methods used in the field to help individuals sort out their psychological problems. However, he also is critical of particular mindsets that accompany some of these methods. He disagrees with the view, common among many psychologists, that there is no sin. He also frowns on psychologists who separate feelings of guilt from wrongdoing committed. Bishop Sheen professes that besides psychological illness there is spiritual illness, which only can be healed by confession of sin as sin and the receiving of forgiveness, exemplified by the sacrament of confession.

The first 2/3 of the book is heavily noted with references to Freud and terms associated with him and his followers (e.g. psychoanalysis, Oedipus Complex, unconsciousness, ID, Ego, Superego). These references are in some cases lengthy, the notes nearly as long as a chapter in itself. The information contained in these notes is quite informative, but the debate with Freudian thought results in several protracted arguments that cause the theme of how to attain peace of soul to fade temporarily.

The last 4-5 chapters are the true gems of the work. It is here that conversion and the acquiring peace of soul through inner change receive central treatment.

Overall, a Fulton Sheen work that offers astute commentary and worthwhile quotes.

I am a fond reader of science non-fiction and spiritual transcendental books and have always yearned for a book which can fuse this dichotomy. Mind you, souls and physics/origins of the universe great logic the 2 do not make! However one cannot argue that there are issues which science cannot answer and theologies which religions hold true. (that being the soul or our humanity)

This book is able to convey the importance of the belief in souls/spirituality w/o referencing biblical fiction which would cross realms of scientific culpability (ie turning to salt or creating the world in 6 days). It simply reminds us of our humanity and that our human essence is not grounded in physical origin but rather in a place far greater than our physical existence. He also recounts the human error of solving many psychological problems with drugs rather than possibly sourcing it to something beyond the brain. That our being far exceeds the sum of our physical parts, and that in attending to this, we may truly find peace in this world as well as any others that follow.

Of the many great excerpts from this book, one seems to resonate frequently - that our souls will not find peace in finite things of this world. That to truly find peace, we must find it in the infinite.

There are many references to God that I believe a Christian reader can benefit from moreso than readers from a different theology. However a modicum of understanding of souls and spiritualism will benefit many other readers as well.

All in all, I believe this book is truly uplifting - and I'm not talking endorphin and serotonin rushes here - Fulton is able to truly center on that "something else" which makes you human and brings you to a place so great that makes you KNOW that you can LIVE and DIE in peace.

GODSPEED..

Our world today is so warped and distorted and puts many people's heads into a whirlwind.

Our media and society does not do a great job of helping people see Christianity in a venue that reveals the peace it can bring to ones life.

This book puts life in a perspective that will do nothing less than help any Christian.

It could also help many Non-Christians to see their lives as well as Christianity in the light it is meant to been seen.

Sheen helps the reader see things in a clear, spiritual and intellectual fashion that will help anyone learn more and understand more of the truth about Jesus.

The more you read his works, the more you will want to read his works.

The end product is all about Christ and the truth, mercy, love, peace and healing that is found through Christ.

That being said. It's a win win situation. :)

Beeeeeeeeautiful! One feels blessed while reading the delightfully estute and directional offerings of Fulton. It even makes one not fear any challenges it may present. It's insight makes me laugh out loud.

The Native Americans, Twelve Step guru's, Hindu's, Jews, Taoists, all know that we need guides and mentors else we become lost and half of our selves. We become flat, half-dead and we can definitely feel it. We even grow to not mind the half dead feeling thinking it is just natural human moods.

We all must encounter Rites of Passage and that is why the Catholics have the sacraments.

It has been scientifically PROVEN that the state of Peace is the most beneficial to the human body. Not just the mind - the body. The Twelve Steppers say, "Bring the body, the mind will follow." Fulton knows that our minds are always trying to return to Peace so the act of constantly understanding what we each do personally that distracts us from the blessed state of peace, must be understood. We must understand how to Transition back to Peace. I believe the Catholic church is now going to call The Eucharist (Thanksgiving) the Sacrament of Transition. If Jesus of Nazareth is really the Prince of Peace, and I mean inner peace, than this is a welcomed new title for Communion. They are not erasing the names Eucharist or Communion, just adding that the receiving of it - will transition the receiver back to Peace. Faith, Hope, Love, Charity, etc. are all under the umbrella of Peace.

I think it is very smart and wise that the Catholic faith intends to keep our minds engaged on spiritual matters and contains pools of spiritual discussion, practice and thought. It attempts to engage us so we have less time to focus elsewhere. (So, sister Joseph Anne...was right after all)

It's a wild thing to believe the whole, Father, Son and Holy Spirit trifecta and all that it entails. But if your body feels it...you can't deny that something is there. May I suggest you spend one hour a week in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Find a church that hosts the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Remember when we were kids and it felt like punishment to sit there in church before it. Woah....do it now. Tell me it doesn't blow your mind. Don't be suprised if you find yourself wanting to skip along the street instead of walking....just like when you were a child.

God Bless this modern day prophet who thankfully will be canonized a saint any day now. Modern day saints must exist to distract us from the antithesis. They become the magnet for our eyes, hearts and minds...as Jesus would say..."The better part!" Aside from all the grossly unfortunate corruptions that have been exposed in the Catholic ORGANIZATION over the past few years, I have found the Catholic FAITH the real deal spiritually. At base it is all about moderation, joy and yes, the most blessed state. Peace. The Prince of Peace...and anyone who chooses to receive that blessings knows the source. Jesus of Nazareth.

Fulton knows EXACTLY what he is talking about...God Bless Him and Make Him a Saint any minute.

May Christ's Peace be with you all!

Very nice product. Seller easy to deal with and quickly processed order. Thank you for everything

If you are open and ready to follow Christ no matter what then you will truly find peace for your soul. He shows you the only truth that is true not his opinion but what Christ says through His Church.

I purchased Bishop Sheen's "Peace of Soul" to replace one I lost. Loved it and wanted to read it again. Very inspirational and helpful in attaining peace in this hurried, harried world.