The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality

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Summary: This is a really great book for thinking people
Review: This is a really great book for thinking people who want to improve the deep roots from which they live their lives. It is also a great book for wounded people who may be ready to leave behind more of the baggage from their lives and move on. Fr. Rolheiser writes two chapters later in the book which will be my reasons for keeping it for many years to reread. This is not a Catholic book. It is a book for human beings no matter what their belief system. He writes about how each of us has a responsibility to work for peace and justice in whatever ways we can in a world that seems obsessed with greed and power but doesn't much care who gets stepped on in the process as long as "I get what I want when I want it." The second chapter I found powerful was the chapter on sexuality approached from a reverent perspective that gets to the heart of who each of us is as a person and how we should act if we truly respect the sexuality of another, not from the genital perspective of which we are bombarded daily. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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Summary: A Classic in Modern Spirituality
Review: This is a spiritual treasure reminiscent of Henri Nouwen and Thomas Merton. I came across it at a time of my faith journey when I really needed some grounding in where my beliefs are and this book was extremely helpful. I reccommend it to anyone who feels they are on a spiritual search.

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Summary: Deserves To Become a Classic
Review: This is easily one of the best pieces of writing about Christianity that I've seen come down the pike in a long time. A sharp and engaging reflection on Christian spirituality which steers clear of both the vague, New Agey blather and humorless Evangelicalism filling Christianity sections of bookstores these days. Rolheiser is a Catholic priest, but the book is written with a wide audience in mind, and should be quite appealing to people who, like myself, come from another Christian tradition. The fact that I took issue with some of Rolheiser's arguments only increased my admiration for the book since it simply encouraged more reflection and never caused me to stop reading on. I heartily recommend this book to anyone looking for thoughtful guidance on what living an authentic Christian spirituality actually involves.

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Summary: A book to treasure and to give away
Review: This is one of those books to read with a pen nearby- you will be underlining and making notes in the margins! Father Rolheiser stops the reader cold with many of his insights such as -"that is why we invented the term hyperactivity,so that we can, in good conscience,sedate the spontaneous joy in many of our children." Read it, treasure your copy and give it as a gift to the ones you love.

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Summary: Inspiration for the new millennium
Review: This is the most inspirational--and challenging--book I've read in this or any year. This book is full of practical advice for increasing the spirituality of both the individual and the church. While Rolheiser is a Catholic priest, the issues he discusses are relevant to all Christians. His ideas on the concept of community I found especially thought-provoking with regard both to church and family. They provide useful ways of maintaining the focus on God even in the loud, messy chaos of everyday life and for worshipping with a community of believers, all of which you might not choose to associate with in other circumstances. Rolheiser's chapter on Christian sexuality as energy can be inspirational for both single individuals and those who are married or in other relationships. I would highly recommend this book for individual study or group discussion among thoughtful Christians of all denominations.

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Summary: Thought-provoking and insightful; great discussion starter
Review: We chose this as the first book for our parish spirituality book club, and all participants loved it. It generated some excellent discussion, and we found ourselves reflecting on different passages or stories often. Fr. Rolheiser is excellent at putting a slightly different emphasis on some common truths so that they stand out and are relevant to us today; he also promotes a true, healthy balance, which is always important.I especially appreciated his focus on community and our empowerment to make Christ's presence known in the world. Highly recommended!