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Volume 55, No.

2 / March 2010 A P U B L I C AT I O N O F
www.spiritualbookassoc.org S P I R I T U A L B O O K A S S O C I AT E S

FEATURED SELECTION
March 2010

COME HOME
A Prayer Journey to the Center Within
Marie Schwan, C.S.J.

T he image of “home” is a powerful spiritual theme with deep im-


plications in the gospels, particularly in difficult times and in an
increasingly online society. In Come Home, trusted spiritual director
Marie Schwan blends insights from centering prayer with Ignatian and
twelve-step spirituality, gently guiding readers to discover and em-
brace the wonder of God’s presence within them.
Schwan’s lifelong ministry has been devoted to spiritual guidance:
she has served at retreat centers; as formation director for her religious
community; and as an author whose expertise in centering prayer, Ig-
natian spirituality, and twelve-step programs has touched countless
people.

ISBN: 9781594712296 / 128 pages / $12.95

A PREVIEW OF THE APRIL SELECTION


WATER, WIND, EARTH, AND FIRE
The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements
Christine Valters Paintner
Noted spiritual guide and author Christine Valters Paintner offers a rich
exploration of the four elements—water, wind, earth, and fire—and sheds
light on how meaningful engagement with the natural world can enhance
the experience of Christian prayer.

ISBN: 9781933495224 / 160 pages / $14.95


GPS FOR THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

T hornton Wilder had this to say about home: “When


you’re safe at home, you wish you were having an adven-
ture; when you’re having an adventure, you wish you were
An open and willing heart: The book’s title is born of Sr.
Marie’s experience when she and other members of her New
Orleans community (the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet)
safe at home.” For the spiritual seeker, Come Home: A Prayer were forced to evacuate their homes during Hurricane Ka-
Journey to the Center Within is a marvelous guide and com- trina. In the aftermath, Sr. Marie grieved the loss of her home
panion. Embracing both the adventure and safety of the spiri- and all that was familiar to her. In that moment, she connected
tual journey, Sr. Marie Schwan’s gentle tone and instruction with the grief of all those who were displaced. As she reflected,
lead the reader to a deeper relationship with God. she prayed, “O God, your other name is home.”
Come Home develops some of the simple yet profound ba- “Our God is a God who calls us home to that place within
sics of the spiritual journey for the seeker: us that is at once our own heart and God’s own dwelling,”
have an open and willing heart; she writes. Just as the seeker longs for deeper connection to
God, “our God yearns for us.” Thus, even as life’s events may
give daily attention to our relationship with God; disrupt our comfort zone, an open heart will seek solace in
discover a place of safety to share this relationship; our God who is a constant in this sea of change.
be open to a dynamic relationship. Daily attention to our relationship with God: As with any
important relationship in our lives, we must spend time on a
regular basis with our beloved. Prayer is, in its purest form,
time spent with God. Our personal relationship with God is
nurtured in prayer, both individually and communally. Come
Home provides several suggestions for personal prayer—in-
cluding centering prayer and kything—with simple instruc-
tions. Our Church gives us many opportunities for communal
expression of our relationship with God, including liturgies,
sacraments, and observing the Sabbath day. These are essen-
tial to the centered seeker to know that we are “part of some-
thing bigger than ourselves.”
Discovering a place of safety to attend to this relation-
ship: James Fowler, in his seminal work The Stages of Faith,
describes human faith as “taking form in our earliest relation-
ships with those who provided care for us.” Sr. Marie’s teach-
ing builds on this idea as she acknowledges that many of us
carry scars from the wounds of past hurts. If a person grew
up in an abusive environment, for example, he or she may be
afraid to pursue a relationship with God. Sr. Marie offers the
seeker wonderful consolation when she asserts, “There is a
place deep within us where God dwells, a place where no man,
no woman, no angel, no demon can penetrate. There it is only
God and you.”
Centering Prayer is one way to discover this place, and to
return there. Sr. Marie suggests making a commitment to this
prayer, twice a day, for one month. “People who practice this
form of prayer on a regular, daily basis,” reports Sr. Marie,
“discover that their thinking is more clear and decisive, and
that they are more peaceful as they go about their day.” This
prayer will also heal our “uncenteredness” and impact our re-
lationships with others and the institutions in which we serve
and work.
Another powerful means to stay centered on a daily basis
is the practice of the awareness examen. Part of the Ignatian
spiritual tradition, the daily examen is an expression of grati-
tude, joy, repentance, and growth for the seeker. Sr. Marie
READER’S GROUP GUIDE
provides a wonderful process, steeped in human expression into our world, including her role as Mother of God and at
and experience, for this daily practice. Through it, instant con- the Pentecost event. She stepped out of the safe confines of
nections are made between the day’s events and our response her expected life and opened herself to be God’s instrument.
in faith to them. The seeker’s heart is opened to divine guid- As our first disciple, Mary’s unreserved participation in her
ance. Thus, this holy relationship with our Creator is manifest relationship with God is a model for all seekers.
more fully in our daily lives. We may wonder what Mary’s thoughts were as Gabriel vis-
A dynamic relationship: As the seeker explores the center ited her in the safety of her home, or as she traveled to see
within, he or she will be invited beyond the comfortable and her cousin Elizabeth. Did this young girl long for adventure
familiar. Our Creator God will challenge perceptions and be- before the act of tending a home consumed her life? Or did
haviors, and call us to live in ways we might not expect for she dream of her safe home, surrounded by love and care, as
ourselves. “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high she gave birth in the stable? In these ways, the seeker of today
are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your finds comfort in Mary’s story.
thoughts, says the Lord” Isaiah 55:9 (NAB). While always safe Whether new to the journey or further along the road, all
in the arms of a loving God, the seeker will still be free to ven- of us on a spiritual quest will alternate between adventure
ture into unexplored territory. and safety on our way to the precious center of our being. As
One powerful example of this dynamic relationship is fea- Thornton Wilder suggests, both are dimensions of this experi-
tured in Come Home’s reflection on Mary, the first to say “yes” ence we know as “home.” Fortunately, we have Come Home to
to a life centered in Christ. Sr. Marie beautifully describes the serve as a GPS for our souls!
many opportunities Mary had to bring the fullness of God

FOR GROUP ENRICHMENT

C ome Home: A Prayer Journey to the Center Within is rec-


ommended for prayer or faith sharing groups that have
been meeting for a while and have established a strong level of
discussion, end the meeting with prayers of gratitude and in-
tercession from group participants.
Here are some overall questions for your group’s consideration:
trust and confidentiality with one another. Weekly meetings
are recommended, or continue to follow the schedule already 1. How faithful am I to a schedule that includes daily prayer?
established by your group. 2. What are the distractions or obstacles that keep me from
If your group chooses weekly meetings, discuss two to three praying every day?
chapters at each meeting. Each chapter ends with a series of 3. How can we, as a group, support one another in praying
questions for further reflection, many of which will aid group daily?
conversation. At the beginning of each meeting, read a selec-
4. What changes have I seen in my life as a result of daily
tion from the scripture cited at the beginning of the corre-
prayer?
sponding chapter. Following the scripture reading and silent
reflection, take each chapter question in turn and discuss. In 5. Recall a time when you remained centered when dealing
the interest of time, focus on one or two questions in each with a person or situation that was uncentered.
chapter that particularly speak to the group. Following your

AN ACTIVITY FOR PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

C ome Home provides wonderful guidance and instruction


for a private retreat, either done on your own or with the
companionship of a spiritual director. The chapters are short
1. Am I ready to commit to a schedule of daily prayer? How
will I structure my day to accommodate this?
2. What benefits do I hope to experience with daily prayer?
and conversational in tone, so they’re easy to read on a daily What sacrifices must I make to ensure I’ll pray every day?
basis. The accompanying reflection questions, however, will
take a bit more time to complete, so you may choose to stretch 3. If you are already on a daily prayer schedule, how do you
the study of each chapter over several days or a week to fully think Come Home will enhance your experience?
experience the insights revealed by answering the reflection 4. Who are the people in your life whom you’d describe as
questions. “centered”? How can they support you as you experience
As you study and pray along with Sr. Marie, use a journal to Come Home?
reflect on the questions provided at the end of each chapter. At
the start of your retreat, here are a few questions to consider:
WEBSITES OF INTEREST

CONTEMPLATIVE OUTREACH
www.contemplativeoutreach.org
Contemplative Outreach is a spiritual network of individuals and small
faith communities committed to living the contemplative dimension of
the Gospel. Contemplative Outreach annually serves over 40,000 people
worldwide through training, resources, workshops, and publication of
Fr. Thomas Keating’s work and other resources that support the con-
templative life.

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/
CollaborativeMinistry/cmo-retreat.html
Creighton University’s Office of Collaborative Ministry hosts this free
online retreat for people who may not be able to take a traditional retreat
away from home due to time or financial constraints. The retreat is based
on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit
order of priests.

NEW CREATION WILDERNESS


www.newcreationwilderness.org
New Creation Wilderness offers programs in nature awareness, tradi-
tional wilderness skills, and contemplative Christian spirituality to help
people recognize and experience the healing, transforming presence of
God in nature. New Creation’s head instructor is Mark Kutolowski, an
Oblate of Saint Benedict (a lay person who follows the Rule of Benedict
and monastic spirituality while living and working in the outside world).

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