Silence on Fire

Reading Silence on Fire is not an academic exercise. It is akin to having an intimate conversation with an exceedingly wise, caring, and candid spiritual adviser whose profound teachings will meaningfully change our lives. Father Shannon eloquently and patiently guides readers to deep insights concerning meditation, Awareness, Love, and God. He writes brilliantly about these subjects, with such clarity and understanding, that his warmth and Love of God literally seem to permeate the pages. This exceptional book is a timeless treasure for everyone, no matter what philosophy or religion we embrace, Western or Eastern, as the underlying message is Love and Joy for all humanity. Be forewarned that after you read Silence on Fire, you will want to devour every book that Father Shannon has authored and, thankfully(!), he is a prolific writer.

A reliable and excellent book. It helps the everyday person realize that deep relationship with God is everyone's call. Especially geared toward Catholics, but good for all Christians. Anyone who likes Merton should read this.

My confessor(priest)gave me a copy after confession. I read it, got my own copy, and gave him back his. This book gave me "the philosophy" in ways no other reads ever gave me. The difficult part of writing a book on contemplative prayer and life is that you have to capture the un-capturable and write about the un-writable. The book is sprinkled with anecdotes and stories that helped me gain insight into the philosophy and objectives (if you can say it has an objective). It contrasts Western versus Eastern thinking and how our driven culture stands in the way of living a contemplative life. This helped me drastically in my Christian walk.

I am a lay person, uneducated in spiritual writing, but to the sincere I can assure you that this little book will ROCK YOUR WORLD! Father Shannon uses the theme "I will walk in the presence of God in the land of the living". I had always thought that referred to the land of the Living God (i.e. someplace else- from where I am!) The author assures us that we are in the land of the living, that the desire to seek God comes from God loving us! The desire comes from God and with our assent returns to God. Fr. Shannon moves the reader gently along a path of realization from I exist because God loves me to I am a member of the Mystical body of Christ and God loves me as a son, to God is the hidden ground of love and there is a great silence in the world that burns with His love - with Himself! Jesus said"I have come to destroy the world by fire" -Fr. Shannon lifts the curtain and lets you see...The Fire!!! (FR. Shannon if you read this review -please forgive any inaccuracies - I am a fan!)

I have read a dozen books on Christocentric meditation, but this one is the best! If you want a rewarding spiritual life, not one that grows stale through mindless tradition or current fad, read this book!