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Have a Little Faith - A True Story
Mitch Albom
Hyperion, New York; 2009

FaithMitch Albom is the author of the international bestseller Tuesdays with Morrie.

Have a Little Faith debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list last year.

It is about two people, both leaders of communities, and their journeys of influence among their people.

It begins when the Rabbi asks Albom to do him the honour of delivering his eulogy.

In coming to understand the man about whom the eulogy will be delivered, the author explores the nature of faith, vocation, service, relationship and ministry.

He delves into his own faith: its strengths, limits and where it has taken him in his personal growth.

A second strand develops as the story unfolds.

A reformed drug dealer and convict who has become a Detroit pastor, is leading a poverty-stricken community, most of whom are homeless.

In a strange way, the author becomes involved in this Church community too; a community where the Church is very wobbly in its structure though not in its faith.

What strikes me most of all is the power of that something bigger than oneself; the generosity and intention against all odds. Perhaps it is more the case that because the odds -- real faith, as explored in this book -- can reach to the heart of the matter.

An easy book to read and to which to relate, Have a Little Faith may stir the embers of any low burning fires. It is in the Mt St Benedict Pennant Hills Library.

by Margaret Keanne SGS

READ A SHORT EXCERPT

The Resource of the Month is a regular feature on the Good Samaritan Website. Its purpose is to introduce new resources relevant to Good Samaritan Benedictine spirituality and way of life to our readers. If you would like to recommend a book, article, film or website please forward a 250 word review to Sr Bernardina Sontrop bsontrop@goodsams.org.au  

archives - Book Reviews

THE OXFORD BOOK OF AUSTRALIAN RELIGIOUS VERSE
edited by Kevin Hart
Oxford University Press, USA; 1996
Click Here

HEAVEN BEGINS WITHIN YOU:  Wisdom from the Desert Fathers
Anselm Gruen OSB  (translated by Peter Heinegg)
The Crossroad Publishing Company,  New York; 1999
Click Here

THE BREATH OF THE SOUL: Reflections on Prayer
By Joan Chittister OSB
Twenty Third Publications, USA; 2009
Click Here

A GUIDE TO THE TRUTH
– Saint Benedict’s Teaching on Humility
by Michael Casey OCSO
Liguori/Triumph Press; 1999
Click Here

FRIENDSHIP LIKE NO OTHER
Experiencing God’s Amazing Embrace
William A. Barry, SJ
Loyola Press, Chicago, USA; 2008
-Click Here

FRIEND OF THE SOUL: A Benedictine Spirituality of Work
Norvene Vest
Cowley Publications, USA; 1997
-Click Here

THE OBLATE LIFE
Gervase Holdaway OSB
Canterbury Press, Norwich, UK; 2008
- Click Here

MAKING ALL THINGS NEW
by Henri Nouwen
Gill and Macmillan, UK; 1981
- Click Here

THE WAY TO PARADOX -Spiritual Life as Taught by Meister Eckhart
by Cyprian Smith OSB
Darton Longman and Todd, UK; 2004
- Click Here

SAINT BENEDICT FOR THE LAITY
by Eric Dean
The Liturgical Press, USA; 1989
- Click Here

MAN OF BLESSING
by Carmen Acevedo Butcher
Paraclete Press, USA; 2006
- Click Here

HEART WHISPERS - Benedictine Wisdom for Today
by Elizabeth Canham
- Click Here

THE CRY OF THE PROPHET - A Call to Fullness of Life.
by Joan Chittister OSB
- Click Here

PEACE
The annual Benedictine Spirituality Lecture Series
- Click Here

40-Day Journey with Joan Chittister
Beverly Lanzetta, editor.
- Click Here

25 Windows into the Soul – Praying with the Psalms
Joan Chittister OSB, 2007, Benetvision USA.
- Click Here

Esther De Waal, Lost in Wonder, Rediscovering the Spiritual Art of Attentiveness
- Click Here

Norvene Vest, Gathered in the Word: Praying the Scripture in Small Groups
- Click Here

FINDING SANCTUARY - Monastic Steps for Every day Life by Christopher Jamison, Abbot of Worth Abbey. 2006, Weidenfield and Nicolson. UK.
- Click Here

 

Resource and Reading List

The Rule of St Benedict
Fry, T., RB80 In Latin and English, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1981

General Commentaries
Chittister, J., Wisdom Distilled from the Daily, San Francisco: Harper, 1991
- The Rule Of St Benedict: Insight for the Ages, New York: Crossroads, 1997
-In the Heart of the Temple, New York: Bluebridge, 2005
- 25 Windows into the Soul. Praying with the Psalms Benetvision 2007
De Waal, E., Seeking God: The Way of St Benedict, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1984, 2001
- A Life Giving Way, London: Geoffry Chapman, 1995
Drumm, D., Cherish Christ Above All, New York: Paulist Press, 1996
Holyhead, V., The Gift of St Benedict, Melbourne: John Garrett, 1995
Marrett-Crosby, A.,The Benedictine Handbook, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 2002
Norris, K., The Cloister Walk, New York: Riverhead Books, 1997
Swan, Laura Engaging Benedict. What the Rule can Teach us Today Indiana, Ave Maria Press 2005
Swan, Laura (ed) The Benedictine Tradition. Spirituality in History. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press 2007
Tomaine, J., St Bendict’s Toolbox: The Nuts and Bolts of Everyday Benedictine Living, USA: Morehouse, 2005
Vest, N., Preferring Christ: A Devotional Commentary on Rule of St Benedict, USA: Morehouse, 2004

On Prayer
Casey, M., The Art of Sacred Reading, Melbourne: Harper Collins, 1995
Merton, T., Seven Story Mountain, Harcourt- Brace, Javanovich, 1978
- New Seeds of Contemplation, New Directions, 1972
More Information on Thomas Merton is available at www.merton.org
Pennington, B., Lectio Divina: Reviewing the Ancient Practice of Praying the Scriptures, New York: Crossroads, 1998

On The Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Walsh, M., The Good Sams: The Sisters of the Good Samaritan, 1857-1969, Melbourne: John Garratt, 2001
Heininger, J (ed)., Journey to the Heart: Mater Dei, 50 Years and 50 Stories, Sydney: Sisters of the Good Samaritan, 2007

PRAYER SITES
http://www.taize.fr/en
http://www.ChristianMystics.com
http://www.pray.com.au
http://www.clubi.ie/shalom/lectio
http://www.wellsprings.org.uk
http://prayerwindows.com
http://www.humilitymatters.com
http://churchresources.info/pray
http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org

BENEDICTINE MONASTERIES
http://www.christdesert.org
http://www.bedegriffiths.com
http://www.benetvision.org
http://www.osb.org
http://www.stgertrudes.org/index.htm
http://www.thedome.org
http://www.jamberooabbey.org.au
http://www.benedictinesisters.org
http://www.walburga.org
http://www.eriebenedictines.org
http://www.usccb.org