Becoming Who You Are: Insights on the True Self from Thomas Merton and Other Saints

I feel it was like looking in the refrigerator for the ketchup and yelling "It's not there!" Only when you take a step back, do you really see that it was really in front of you and only when you gave some room, did you see it clearly. This book is exactly that! lol. It was life changing for me, and I wish everyone would read it. I highly recommend it. I really feel this book gave a twist. It helps one to realize and to explore on ones own who they really are, instead of telling you how. It made me think for myself, instead of telling me what to do.

This book insightfully helps you understand why and how our lives change as we pass through them. By analyzing the lives of two prominent Christian authors, it looks skilfully at the life of Christ. He gives ample opportunity to make a comparison with our own lives. The author has an engaging style that makes a deep subject easy to read. He gives sense to why we change and removes the anxiety about why we change. It was one of the most enjoyable books I have read in years. I highly recommend it to fans of Thomas Merton and Henry Nouwen.

The author of "My Life With the Saints" (Loyola Press, 2006) explores the path to holiness in "Becoming Who You Are: Insights on the True Self from Thomas Merton and Other Saints." Fr. James Martin's life was profoundly changed by reading the writings of Thomas Merton, a 20th century Trappist monk who came to his own vocation via a rather circuitous route. In his book, "New Seeds of Contemplation," Merton wrote "For me to be a saint means to be myself. . . Therefore the problem of sanctity and salvation is in fact the problem of finding out who I am and discovering my true self." This brief book is an exploration of that idea. Martin offers a short biography of Merton's life as well as an overview of his own life. Then he delves into the heart of the issue. We are all created for holiness, yet our particular brand of holiness is unique to each one of us. In the process of reaching for holiness, "one's own individuality, one's own brand of holiness is gradually revealed. Our personalities are not eradicated as much as they are made fuller, more real, and finally more holy." Martin briefly touches on the unique brands of holiness illustrated in the lives of the first Apostles, Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day, St. Bernadette and St. Therese. He also offers a longer exploration of the life of Henri Nouwen, another major influence in the author's life. Perhaps the most interesting chapter of the book focuses on the life of Jesus Christ. He speculates on how Jesus came to realize who he was and how to live out his mission in the world. In "Becoming Who You Are," Martin encourages all of us to embrace the way that God made us, the circumstances of our lives, and our unique path to holiness. While purists may object to Martin's use of the word "saints" to describe Merton and Nouwen who have not been formally recognized as such by the Church, one cannot argue with the dramatic effect that these men had on Martin's life. Martin embraces a broad understanding of sanctity, and in doing so, opens the door for us to appreciate the sanctity within each one of us. It is a much-needed message.

I have yet to be disappointed with a book by James Martin. While much of this little paperback is reminiscent of the ideas floated in Martin's "My Life With The Saints" (perhaps his masterpiece work), a good number of his thoughts are expanded and buttressed with additional material. The Length of this book, its size and its content makes this book perfect for segmented devotional reading. Providing much to meditate on, "Becoming Who You Are" is a great read for the subway commute or the quiet time in the morning/evening/before church. The message of this book is key. Without becoming superfluous in an "I'm ok, you're ok, we're ok" manner, Martin challenges the reader to really search deep within her or himself to find God's grace in his or her life that will enable that person to become the saint they always have been and the God created each person to be. This is a very nice book. I await the publication of Martin's "Lourdes Journal."