Fully Awake and Truly Alive, Spiritual Practices to Nurture Your Soul, by Rev. Jane E. Venard. Skylight  Paths, 2013.

How wonderful to read that this book is in memory of Sister Louise Hageman OP!!!

In a world filled with technology, speed, and various traditions, Venard leads her readers to taking a slower pace and enjoying simple things of life. With many stories and anecdotes from real life, Venard offers exercises and meditations to practice just being still and noticing one's  breath. She gives times of joy  and frustrations, insights into various religious practices, step by step  ways to own one's body, and ways of being grateful for life day by day.

Venard invites her readers to be alive and awake to nurture one's soul. Her nine chapters covers these areas of the spiritual life: care of  the body,  rest, silence, solitude, letting go, community, hospitality, service, and the fruits of all these practices.  Each chapter has reflection questions and suggestions for practice of the various areas of life. The first chapter ends with suggestions for writing a letter to ones's body. When Venard suggested that practice to a retreatant, the person said, "I don't think I can write a  love letter, but I could write a thank-you note."

This book is highly recommended for spiritual directors and for anyone seeking a deeper meaning in one's life. Readers will find bountiful gifts and delightful surprises in each chapter.  The down-to-earth suggestions will help to bring zest to everyday life.  Action and insight will be found within easy access.

Based on St. Irenaeus's recommendation that "the glory of God is humans fully alive", readers are assured that Venard is inviting readers to  become  fearlessly alive and dancing with joy.

(Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this review.)                                                             



St. Rita of Cascia (1381-1457): May 22

Like Elizabeth Ann Seton, Rita of Cascia was a wife, mother, widow and member of a religious community. Her holiness was reflected in each phase of her life.

Born at Roccaporena in central Italy, Rita wanted to become a nun but was pressured at a young age into marrying a harsh and cruel man. During her 18-year marriage, she bore and raised two sons. After her husband was killed in a brawl and her sons had died, Rita tried to join the Augustinian nuns in Cascia. Unsuccessful at first because she was a widow, Rita eventually succeeded.

Over the years, her austerity, prayerfulness and charity became legendary. When she developed wounds on her forehead, people quickly associated them with the wounds from Christ's crown of thorns. She meditated frequently on Christ's passion. Her care for the sick nuns was especially loving. She also counseled lay people who came to her monastery.

Beatified in 1626, Rita was not canonized until 1900. She has acquired the reputation, together with St. Jude, as a saint of impossible cases. Many people visit her tomb each year.