Moment by Moment: A Retreat in Everyday Life - Softcover

Carol Ann Smith; Eugene F. Merz

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0877939454 ISBN 13: 9780877939450

Publisher: Ave Maria Press, 2000

Synopsis

Drawing on the classic retreat model, The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, Moment by Moment offers a new and inviting way to find God in our often busy and complex lives. In a series of 32 "Moments", the text guides the reader with thought-provoking questions, practical suggestions, and excerpts carefully chosen from scripture and The Spiritual Exercises. Its simple format can be used by an individual or by groups in a number of ways: as a way of making the Spiritual Exercises in daily life, as a guide for daily prayer, as a companion for reflection, or as suggested themes for a retreat. Drawing upon their extensive experience as spiritual directors, the authors write in their introduction, "This book offers a way to reflect and sift through one's multiple life experiences and to discover in them the leading thread of God's longing and desire to make us a holy people who are given in service to others." Anyone seeking spiritual growth will discover that Moment by Moment offers wise direction and fosters a holistic spirituality firmly rooted in the daily experience of God in one's life. University. She has written two other retreat guidebooks; Abundant Jubilee (1996) and Living Wells (1998) that were produced privately by Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Carol Ann Smith resides in Wauwatosa Wisconsin. Eugene F. Merz, SJ also ministers at the Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Marquette University. He has written one book; Pathway to God which was printed privately by Wisconsin Province of Society of Jesus, 1997. Eugene F. Merz resides in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

About this title

About the Author

Smith is Director of the Center for Ignation Spirituality at Marquette University.

Review

This book of prayer exercises, inspired by "The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola," seeks to "occasion a conversion of heart and mind so that a person may follow Jesus with greater faith, love and freedom." Each "moment" is intended to offer an intense experience that will bring the soul closer to God. At the same time, the authors are far from narrow scholastics; every exercise is designed to offer an opportunity for deep personal reflection.

The prayer exercises are structured in terms of a specific spiritual "desire," leading to an interrogation of Scripture, as well as of the self, about the best way to attain that desire (for example, the desire to "grow in the inner freedom needed to commit my life to God" or "to hear God's call when it comes and to be willing to respond generously.") What differentiates this lovely book from so many prayer guides is its attention to the difficulty of prayer, its understanding that to pray requires discipline and structure, that ecstatic communion only follows after long, hard concentration and labor, the readying of the soul for God.

(Beliefnet, Sept. 2000) --beliefnet

About this edition

• Publisher: Ave Maria Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0877939454
• ISBN 13: 9780877939450
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 96