Thursday, January 27, 2011

Simplicity, The Art of Living, by Richard Rohr

Rohr is a Franciscan priest, an internationally known spiritual leader, retreat master, speaker and the author of countless books, essays and articles on the spiritual life.  He has also written several books on the Sufi  Enneagram.  In 1971 he founded he New Jerusalem Community in Cincinnati, and later the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, of which he is presently the director.

This book is Rohr at his best.  It consists of talks and sermons he gave in 1990, in several cities in Germany.  The titles of the nine chapters reveal not only the scope of his subject matter but also the originality and “freshness” of thought and expression that permeates his writing and speaking.  The titles are:  God the Father—God the Mother?;  Community Life as a Challenge;  Getting Rid of the Church;  Christians and Political Commitment;  Contemplation –the Spiritual Challenge;  The Freedom of the Sons and Daughters of God;  What Is This “Women’s Stuff”?;  The Social and Political Vocation of Christians;  and Less Is More.   Each chapter ends with questions that his audience asks of him after each of his talks.

Each answer shows the depth of spirituality, wisdom, common sense  and knowledge of Church, Society, Scripture,  Humanity and any other topic  -- that is expressed  in whatever Richard Rohr writes or says.   You will find this book both enlightening and delightful.

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