Eyes on the Cross: A Guide for Contemplation

This book is great for anyone looking for a readable yet profound way to enter into spirituality. As the title says, it is a "guide" to contemplation. Instead of reading someone else's thoughts and experiences--however powerful and moving those can be--the style of this book easily leads the reader to reflect on his or her own life. Fr. Kennedy uses gospel passages, stories of people he has known (incarcerated youth, gang members, immigrants), and beautiful poetic descriptions of gospel scenes to invite the reader into a deep place of prayer. The setup makes it very easy to enter into the meditation, whether one spends a long period praying or is looking for a simple and quick method to squeeze prayer into a busy day. I've done both, and the effects go beyond just the prayer. Fr. Kennedy's meditations change the way I go through the day, since they open the heart and mind to find God in the process of living life, even ordinary daily life. The best feature of this book is that it leads so naturally to prayer and reflection, especially important if, like me, you're busy or struggle to find a method that works for you. I can't recommend it highly enough.

This book and Mike's methods of meditation continue to help the kids of juvenile hall, the prisoners of death row and prisoners all over the nation. It gives them spiritual healing.Iknow because I am one of those he healed, he was the presence of Jesus in physical form for me. My name is found when you turn to page 92. I was the only lost sheep that was able to leave the concrete and steel cells of the California correctional system.