Mystical Hope: Trusting in the Mercy of God (Cloister Books)

Rating:
Summary: Metaphysical depth combined with spiritual practicality
Review: At a time when people are yearning for good news, Cynthia Bourgeault's new book invites us to find our way to the hope that does not disapoint or fail. In our usual way of looking at things, hope is tied to an outcome: "I hope I get this job" or "I hope my mother gets well." The Bible introduces us to a different kind of hope that has its source not in events but in the mercy of God, a lifeblood of compassion connecting our heart to God's heart and the heart of all creation. In five interwoven meditations, Mystical Hope shows us how to recognize this hope in our own lives, where it comes from, how to deepen it through prayer, and how to carry it into the world as a source of strength and renewal. About the author: Cynthia Bourgeault has studied and taught in a number of Benedictine monastaries in the United States and Canada. An Episcopal priest, she is well known as a retreat and conference leader, teacher of prayer, and writer on the spiritual life.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Teaching
Review: Cynthia Bourgeault points to the True Home of Presence that lies within the heart and life of the human person and all of creation. Cynthia's deep love for the Christian faith and journey inspired me to continue on with the practice of contemplative prayer and to continue on with the self giving process of practice. What I appreciated the most about this book is Cynthia's balance between keeping two feet on the ground while reaching for the stars. The section where she lifts the movie of "Babette's Feast" as an example of the fulfillment of God's restoration and love manifested in the fullness of time is brilliant. She is poetic without being whistfully romantic which likely has been fruit of her maturation living the life of a Episcopal hermit priest and her own faith filled daily practice. This reverent piece of work points to the ultimate truth, that if we yield the moments of human life to divine Mercy, we will be ultimately guided to the fullness of Grace. Such requires of the human person radical trust, as the person Jesus Christ models and makes visible for us the way of trust in the Paschal Mystery. This is an earthy, profound, substantive, and eloquent piece of work streaming forth the truths of the human challenge -- coming to an awareness of the true purpose of "God bearing" through contemplative prayer practice and the transformative process available to human persons in daily life.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Teaching
Review: Cynthia Bourgeault points to the True Home of Presence that lies within the heart and life of the human person and all of creation. Cynthia's deep love for the Christian faith and journey inspired me to continue on with the practice of contemplative prayer and to continue on with the self giving process of practice. What I appreciated the most about this book is Cynthia's balance between keeping two feet on the ground while reaching for the stars. The section where she lifts the movie of "Babette's Feast" as an example of the fulfillment of God's restoration and love manifested in the fullness of time is brilliant. She is poetic without being whistfully romantic which likely has been fruit of her maturation living the life of a Episcopal hermit priest and her own faith filled daily practice. This reverent piece of work points to the ultimate truth, that if we yield the moments of human life to divine Mercy, we will be ultimately guided to the fullness of Grace. Such requires of the human person radical trust, as the person Jesus Christ models and makes visible for us the way of trust in the Paschal Mystery. This is an earthy, profound, substantive, and eloquent piece of work streaming forth the truths of the human challenge -- coming to an awareness of the true purpose of "God bearing" through contemplative prayer practice and the transformative process available to human persons in daily life.

Rating:
Summary: Mystical Hope gives a sparkling Vision of Spiritual Hope!
Review: Simply to profit from reading two books by one unique author is Good News to me! It often happened with Sister Joan Chittister, Karen Armstrong, Sir Walter Brueggemann, John Claypool, Barbara Brown Taylor and William Sloan Coffin.

At least two things about Sister Cynthia's writing impress me: Her neatly awesome, appropriate quotations before each of her five chapters: One, "What you dare not hope for--that is what He gives you." (Frere Roger of Taize`Community); Two, Psalm 103:11--"We swim in the mercy as the endless sea." ; Three, "The Notion that God is absent is the fundamental illusion of the human condition." (Thomas Keating) Four, "In the middle of winter, I discovered in myself an invincible summer." (Albert Camus)

In the strongest Chapter Five "Hope and the Future" she employs powerful sub-titles. Then as "Inner and Outer" she writes keenly about "contemplative prayer" being equal to "piercing prayer" which she experienced in a deeply personal relationship with Snow Mass priest, Rafe as they followed Thomas Merton. Under her next sub-title she explores as "the visionary insights at the heart of Christian mysticism" emerging from Jacob Boehme, Merton, Julian of Norwich, Hildegard of Bingen and Barbara Brown Taylor! These examples of her smoothly flowing style capture my imagination and I continue to see this as her strongest book! Accolades to one superb Lady... Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood