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A Tree Full of Angels
The Benedictine tradition and practice of divine reading made accessible for everyone.
Author Biography: Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B., is a member of St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, AR. She directs retreats and workshops throughout the United States and is the author of A Tree Full of Angels and Seasons of Your Heart.
Unknown Binding
First published May 1, 1988
85 people are currently reading
495 people want to read
About the author
Macrina Wiederkehr
19 books55 followersMacrina Wiederkehr is an author and spiritual guide and a Benedictine monastic of St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She travels throughout the US and Canada as a retreat director. In her retreats seekers are guided through experiences of silence, contemplation, and faith sharing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 17, 2024
Simply delightful. It’s got practical lessons, beautiful prose, striking imagery, and convictions one after another. Everything you could want in a book, and to think that Macrina was able to keep it as brief as she did is a formidable feat. The lady is a fire cracker!
November 2, 2012
I picked this up because of the image of a treeful of angels, and it didn't disappoint me. It's filled with many poetic imagages, reflections, poems and stories of her experiences of the holy in her ordinary everyday life. A quote from Etty Hillesum a holocaust victim, "It still all comes down to the same thing. Life is beautiful. And I believe in God. And I want to be there right in the thick of what people call "horror" and still be able to say: Life is beautiful...." Beautiful quote made more meaningful to me because of the movie Life is Beautiful. I'll look for more books by this author.
February 12, 2014
I highly recommend this book. Beautiful!
November 25, 2014
Really needed this right now.
January 21, 2024
I would love to give this book a higher rating, but a few things gave me pause.
For one, there was questionable material: (1) pushing women leadership in the Church (2) mention of Satan’s ultimate conversion (3) the denunciation of anathemas and excommunications (so universalism?), founded on a misunderstanding of what anathemas are.
Secondly, the writing style was veering towards stream-of-consciousness in a way that’s probably difficult for many to get through. It is truly this woman’s heart on paper, making it choppy stylistically at times.
It’s also not what I expected, which made it harder to get into at first.
Overall, though, this book was full of so many blessed insights. I felt so understood by the author, and called to higher spiritual living. I will likely return to this book throughout my life. But I would only recommend this to a mature Christian who could take her words with a grain of salt.
For one, there was questionable material: (1) pushing women leadership in the Church (2) mention of Satan’s ultimate conversion (3) the denunciation of anathemas and excommunications (so universalism?), founded on a misunderstanding of what anathemas are.
Secondly, the writing style was veering towards stream-of-consciousness in a way that’s probably difficult for many to get through. It is truly this woman’s heart on paper, making it choppy stylistically at times.
It’s also not what I expected, which made it harder to get into at first.
Overall, though, this book was full of so many blessed insights. I felt so understood by the author, and called to higher spiritual living. I will likely return to this book throughout my life. But I would only recommend this to a mature Christian who could take her words with a grain of salt.
October 4, 2023
To begin, I read this collection during a silent retreat so it had my undivided attention (as it deserved). The wisdom of the author is palpable in these pages, not only for her life experience but for her self-awareness regarding her shortcomings and struggles. There are so many gorgeous gifts here; I fell in love with the honesty of the ordinary and the progression of the pieces. While valuable for anyone who is spiritually seeking, I think this journey is particularly relevant for anyone questioning their direction or hesitating to look within. Sr. Macrina takes the first tough step and proves that there can be so much beauty in the discomfort of the seeking. Highly recommended!!
February 16, 2025
I wish I could give it TEN STARS!
September 19, 2023
Kindred spirits, Macrina and me. Her humility far surpasses mine, however.
“Yearning for solitude, I have come to realize that I am yearning to be a person rather than an individualist. If I am a person, I am hidden with Christ in God. If I am an individualist, I am hidden only in my false self…”
“Come now, don’t be a cynic. Your heart was made for deep things….”
“My tears know more than I know. That’s why it’s so important to listen to them, to pray with them.”
There’s a lot more where that came from.
O God, deliver me from shallow living!
“Yearning for solitude, I have come to realize that I am yearning to be a person rather than an individualist. If I am a person, I am hidden with Christ in God. If I am an individualist, I am hidden only in my false self…”
“Come now, don’t be a cynic. Your heart was made for deep things….”
“My tears know more than I know. That’s why it’s so important to listen to them, to pray with them.”
There’s a lot more where that came from.
O God, deliver me from shallow living!
July 9, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, recommended by Sammi.
I have found I have an affinity for Catholic writers like Nouwen, Buechner, and now Macrina’s words.
I just appreciate the prayers and creativity in her writing. It’s funny I feel like I have a peculiar mix in myself of being drawn to a nomadic life full of travel and more of a monastic life (not full monastery) but one rooted in the same place.
I think I can just hope to be faithful when I find myself planted somewhere or if I find myself moving more often than not.
I have found I have an affinity for Catholic writers like Nouwen, Buechner, and now Macrina’s words.
I just appreciate the prayers and creativity in her writing. It’s funny I feel like I have a peculiar mix in myself of being drawn to a nomadic life full of travel and more of a monastic life (not full monastery) but one rooted in the same place.
I think I can just hope to be faithful when I find myself planted somewhere or if I find myself moving more often than not.
July 11, 2025
One of the most enlightening books I’ve ever read! A guidebook for those seeking holiness in the ordinary as well as the sacred. Powerful. I will re-read many times, I’m sure.
February 6, 2023
Highly recommend
March 10, 2018
The first half of this book is worth 5 stars regardless of how the rest turned out. Macrina writes with such joy and fullness that you can't help but get pulled in to the depths of intimacy with God that she experiences. The back end of this book is filled with letters and practices that can be very helpful if you aren't familiar with them. For me the second half wasn't nearly as compelling as the first half, but the first half is such a game changer I can't imagine an entire book like that.
Want to read
July 9, 2008our new roomie Tiffany let me borrow this book. It seems to be a continuation of the current catholic mystical writers such as Merton and Nouwen. I eat that stuff for breakfast like a big bowl of cereal.
November 2, 2017
This is a teaching book regarding spiritual reflection and prayer. You need to take time reading this book in a quiet place, undistracted. I liked most of the book but found chapter 8 difficult to get through. I am not a fan of journaling.
July 8, 2010
My best friend recommended this book to me and I'm so glad I read it! A feast for anyone who is contemplative at heart.
February 1, 2026
Reflections on “being present with quality”- I enjoyed this! The latter half felt a bit more rambly and random, but overall worth the read.
Words I liked:
“There is so much here on earth that can be the beginning of heaven for us”
“One special memory from childhood days lingers. It is the memory of all the turtles I saved from untimely death. Crossing the roads at their contemplative pace proved to be pure danger as the cars would go racing by. It seemed a noble deed to place them safely across the road. Whether the turtles appreciated my great care on their behalf I do not know, but it did make me feel a little like God. A savior and a protector! Are we not made in the image of God? It seems right to act the part.
Sometimes the illusion that we are busy and do not have time for such trifles sets in with adulthood. It is a pity, and I am less human and less holy for all my racing around, yet I race on.
There are moments, though, when I am blessed to remember heaven's rage and the angels' lost song. I forget, for a moment, about my great importance and busyness. I pull to the side of the road and carry God's turtle to safety. If we should think that God doesn't care about the life of that one turtle, then we really don't know God at all.
If God has such a heart for turtles and sparrows, robins and skylarks, I can faintly imagine the depth of heaven’s heartbeat for those of us who have been created in the divine image”
Words I liked:
“There is so much here on earth that can be the beginning of heaven for us”
“One special memory from childhood days lingers. It is the memory of all the turtles I saved from untimely death. Crossing the roads at their contemplative pace proved to be pure danger as the cars would go racing by. It seemed a noble deed to place them safely across the road. Whether the turtles appreciated my great care on their behalf I do not know, but it did make me feel a little like God. A savior and a protector! Are we not made in the image of God? It seems right to act the part.
Sometimes the illusion that we are busy and do not have time for such trifles sets in with adulthood. It is a pity, and I am less human and less holy for all my racing around, yet I race on.
There are moments, though, when I am blessed to remember heaven's rage and the angels' lost song. I forget, for a moment, about my great importance and busyness. I pull to the side of the road and carry God's turtle to safety. If we should think that God doesn't care about the life of that one turtle, then we really don't know God at all.
If God has such a heart for turtles and sparrows, robins and skylarks, I can faintly imagine the depth of heaven’s heartbeat for those of us who have been created in the divine image”
May 17, 2021
Honest review, this was just too far on the mystical side for me. Some great sentences and then it would trail off into free association and placing one’s self into various metaphorical situations. I need theology that makes God a more real presence in my life. Weird imagery I’m already too good at dreaming up on my own. Worth reading as it is short and pretty, and I don’t disagree with the basic premises but not very useful for me.
March 6, 2020
This woman's theology, spirituality, view of God and life is so similar to mine.
So thrilled to "meet another" who sees and thinks like I do.
My faith has been rekindled and inspired.
I wholeheartedly believe... a book can land in your life at the right time.
So thrilled to "meet another" who sees and thinks like I do.
My faith has been rekindled and inspired.
I wholeheartedly believe... a book can land in your life at the right time.
January 18, 2021
Another book recommended in a Bible study class. I struggled with this one and ended up skimming, which I am sure meant I got very little out of it. It was not what I was expecting and not what I need right now. Since it's considered a classic I'm sure others have appreciated it more.
November 7, 2023
I think there are parts of this book that are truly beautiful. The seeing the holy in the ordinary and seeing with wonder is very touching and instructional in seeing with a different lense. It is easy to read. I love the poetry that is throughout. May need another read.
January 21, 2025
This book came to me at exactly the right moment. Wiederkehr is overflowing with wisdom and has a unique eye for seeing the love of God in “ordinary” places. I will cherish her words for many years to come!
June 10, 2025
I struggled a bit with the first third of the book. But I read the letters while at Rockvale, sitting on the porch watching the sun burn through the fog and listening to the birds sing. I’ll never forget that feeling and these words.
September 25, 2017
A beautiful book filled with the love of God
April 16, 2018
I struggled to get through this book. There were wonderful “pearls of wisdom”, but the writing style was difficult for me.
June 9, 2018
A really pitiful book. Don't waste your time.
May 21, 2019
The Kindle version is filled with misspellings that I couldn’t get past. They ruined the book for me. Couldn’t they get someone who can spell for a proofreader? Sorry, it’s my issue.
September 17, 2019
Enjoyed this book very much. I will indeed refer to it again in the future.
March 21, 2021
3.5 stars
December 31, 2021
Have read this three or four times. Always enjoy revisiting it. Very inspiring.
November 6, 2022
Well done, lots to ponder here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews