Awake My Soul: Contemporary Catholics on Traditional Devotions

Again, a wonderful work of James Martin, SJ. This collection of essays - which, I believe, originally appeared in America Magazine - written by a variety of men, women, religious and lay is very inspirational and educational. A great read!

Reading "Awake My Soul" is like stepping into the sunshine on the first morning of spring when the smell of new grass fills the air. Father Martin appropriately took the title of this marvelous little book from the opening verses of Psalm 108. Reading it IS an experience of awakening, because the essays bring a fresh perspective to spiritual practices which have enabled Catholics for centuries to experience spiritual intimacy. Unfortunately, in the wake of Vatican II, the meaning behind many of these had been lost as religious leaders sought to make the Faith more relevant to contemporary church goers. Rediscovering their history and the meaning they hold to those who practice them today makes them new again.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I'm a Catholic, but knew about only a few of these things--like the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross. But I learned so much not just about the history and the traditions behind these devotions (and others--my favorite essay was on what the tradition of the saints means) but also on the ways that the individual writers find personal meaning in these ways of prayer. My favorite essay was by Christopher Ruddy, a young Catholic theologian, who talked about the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a way of pondering the way that Jesus loved. I really liked that. This is a fantastic book for Catholics interested in learning (and refreshing) an old tradition, that will speak to them today. It would be a great book for almost any Catholic, I think

I didn't know much about Catholic devotions, but this book really helped me to understand things like the rosary, and the saints and relics, etc. It's a great collection of beautiful essays by wonderful writers, and I would recommend it highly. I really liked the essay by Lawrence Cunningham on the saints, in particular. It would be great for book reading groups, too.