The Abbey: A Story of Discovery - Softcover

Martin, James

3.78

1,264 ratings by Goodreads

9780062416940: The Abbey: A Story of Discovery

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062416944 ISBN 13: 9780062416940

Publisher: Harperluxe, 2015

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In the tradition of the spiritual classics The Shack and The Screwtape Letters comes a captivating and poignant debut novel from the revered Jesuit priest and New York Times bestselling author of Jesus and The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything.A divorced single mom, Anne can barely cope with life and struggles to make sense of the death of her young son.A former architect with a promising career, Mark works as a handyman and wonders how his life got off track.The abbot of the Abbey of Saints Philip and James, Father Paul sometimes questions whether he made the right decision in secluding himself so thoroughly from the world.At this Pennsylvania abbey, this unlikely trio will discover the answers they seek--a miracle of hope and understanding that bears witness to the power of God to bring healing and wholeness to our lives.Written with the compassion, insight, and warmth of his previous bestsellers--Jesus, Between Heaven and Mirth, and The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything--Father James Martin's debut novel is infused with deep spiritual wisdom, wry humor, and loving grace. Through his characters' struggles, questions, and crises, we see firsthand how God uses our worries, anger, doubts, prayers, failures, and longings to help us complete ourselves and feel wholly loved.

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Product Description:

A divorced single mother, Anne struggles to make sense of her son's death; a former architect, Mark works as a handyman and wonders how his life got off track; Abbot Father Paul sometimes questions how to best live a life that secludes him from the world.In his debut novel, James Martin, SJ, provides a window into how God works in the spiritual journeys of three very different people. Through the characters' struggles, we see firsthand how God uses our worries, questions, and even anger to help us become whole.

Review:

With wit and wisdom and elegant prose, Martin has written a powerfully moving novel about (among other things) how an unbeliever can journey from suffering into spiritual practice. How it happens in an eyeblink. Another triumph from one of our best scribblers working like a master in a new form.--Mary Karr, author of "Lit"

A sheer delight--funny, engaging, deep and moving. --Ron Hansen, author of "Mariette in Ecstasy""

More than a vivid portrait of a grieving mother; this tender novel shows us how, with simple words and acts, we ordinary, flawed human beings can help each other find our way to God. --Kathleen Norris, author of "The Cloister Walk""

Touching, funny and beautiful. A top pick! --"RT Book Reviews""

Compassionate, engaging with tender wit and wisdom, Martin offers an in-depth glimpse into committed religious life and how lay people can practice a devout faith amid doubt, anger and questioning. --Shelf Awareness"

A sheer delightfunny, engaging, deep and moving. --Ron Hansen, author of "Mariette in Ecstasy""

[A] warmly comforting tale...[Father Martin s] real strength is his pastoral sensibility-his compassion shines through the character of Father Paul. Like his fellow Jesuit Pope Francis, Martin is a persuasive evangelizer for a God, and church, of mercy. --"Publishers Weekly""

Martin s debut novel might be compared to Paulo Coehlo s popular fiction Martin s great achievement here is that the shows how [his characters are] able to have a mystical experience of God as a result of imaginative contemplation, and he succeeds in making it seem entirely natural. --The Tablet"

Father Martin s richly written tale gives us insight into the workings of a modern monastery and shows how God uses our worries, anger and doubts to help bring us to Him. --"Simple Grace" Magazine"

Martin brings his characteristic ease of personality into both the characters and the prose, quickly bringing readers comfortably into the story. He handles the most delicate and painful themes with a pastoral compassion that invites readers to find hope in their own struggles. --The Huffington Post"

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