Customer Reviews

Your Sorrow Is My Sorrow: Hope and Strength in Times of Suffering

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Your Sorrow is My Sorrow is one of those once in a lifetime books. I happened to pick this up by accident, or should I say by divine Providence. The words are comforting whether you have lost a loved one, to death, drugs or mistrust...this book will carry you through. The words of Mary come striking through to the heart and lay to rest in the lap of comfort and solace. The prayers are simple yet heartfelt. This is a book that will get you through the rough times. Thank you Joyce Rupp!

I would just like to say to any woman out there contemplating the purchase of this book, don't wait, hit "purchase with one click" now! Not only will you enjoy every word, the message will be imprinted on your heart forever. It is the most transforming lesson from Mary's perspective any woman can hope to gleen while living in this world.

A kinship with Mary will develop and you will never look at motherhood the same way again. Enjoy.

I purchased this book because I was looking for meditations on the sorrows of Mary, I liked the idea of reflections from Our Lady's point of view, and the reviews were all positive. My first hesitation came in the Introduction, when the author reflected on her experiences at a Buddhist temple. Farther into the book, I felt a discomfort, but couldn't put my finger on it. Then, I got to page 55 where the author is talking about "Herods" in peoples' lives (in her reflections on the 2nd Sorrow of Mary - the Flight into Egypt). She states, "We may have to leave a religion, or a congregation, that has lost the essence of its spiritual inspiration and has become a source of inner death rather than spiritual life." A writer being faithful to the magisterium (the teaching authority of the Catholic Church) would not say that! The teaching of the Catholic Church is that it is the one true faith, instituted by Christ. The "essence of its spiritual inspiration" comes directly from the Holy Spirit and therefore can never be "a source of inner death," but is in fact always the source of life. Then on p. 56, the author talks about a woman minister who was struggling with keeping her homosexuality a secret from her congregation. The author speaks glowingly of this woman's coming out and how well she was received and states, "she was free of the 'Herod' of secrecy that had pushed and cornered her so many times." An author faithful to the magisterium would not use a female minister, let alone a lesbian one coming out, as an example to be modeled. At this point, I stopped reading the book and did what I should have done in the first place -- looked for evidence of authentic Catholic teaching. I checked for an imprimateur (A Catholic Bishop's mark that nothing in a book is contrary to Catholic faith or morals) - there is none. I looked at the scripture citation copyright notice -- references are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, but it does not state that it's the Catholic Version, which must mean she used the regular, protestant version. And, I researched the author, whom I discovered has a reputation for mixing Catholic teaching with new age spirituality. I also read that she has spoken at conferences where occult practices are featured. She has a masters in "transpersonal psychology", a branch of psychology called "the classic approach in New Age" by a pontifical council. I tore up the book and threw it away. If you're looking for a meditation on Our Lady's Sorrows, pass this one by and keep looking for one that is authentically Catholic.

This author was recommended to me by one of the sisters in the order. The book 'Your Sorrow is My Sorrow' I chose because I had a card with one of the poems on and it impressed me. I have not long started using the book but I find that the meditations, the poetry and the suggestions for using the ideas have enabled me to pray better and to relate the prayer to everyday life. It's not a book that will be read quickly, but it will be a companion for me on my spiritual journey for some time.

I have been a fan of Joyce Rupp for years. This book, tastefully done, gorgeously illustrated, and written with Joyce's customary wisdom arrived in my life at just the right moment. To say it was key to my recovery from my son's death does not do it justice. I recommend it highly to anyone recently, or not so recently, bereaved as essential reading. I intend to keep an extra copy as a gift for the next person I know experiencing a loss.

This book does give an amazing outlook for hope & the strength to carry on during the difficult times of life.

Cannot say enough about this book and the healing it's brought me! I read it, gave my copy away, then ordered two more to have on hand. Joyce Rupp's prayers and devotions bring comfort to a hurting heart as we're reminded how our Blessed Mother is united with us in our suffering, and when she is there, so is her Son, Jesus. This book is a blessing and I would recommend it to anyone.

Excellent service. Book is awesome revelation of Mary's journey of sorrows as Christ's Mother. Profoundly moving and spiritually sound

My prayer group chose this book for reflection and discussion and we all feel that it is a wonderful resource. Joyce Rupp manages to make Mary human, understandable and relatable in a reverent manner. Part of what drew us to this book was Joyce's inclusion of perspectives of the elders of her community so you have not just Joyce Rupp's view but those of other women she respects as well.

The quality of the book exceeded my expectation. Though this was second-hand, its condition was as if it were brand new.