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Modern Spiritual Masters
Richard Rohr: Essential Teachings on Love
Selected with an Introduction by Alicia von Stamwitz
“We do not wake up in this world calm and serene, having the luxury of choosing to act or not act. We wake up crying, on fire with desire, with madness. What we do with that madness is our spirituality.”—Ronald Rolheiser
Ronald Rolheiser, a Catholic priest and theologian, is one of the most popular and influential spiritual writers today. Through such bestselling books as The Holy Longing and Sacred Fire, as well as his syndicated column, “In Exile,” he has shown an ability to outline a healthy Christian spirituality that relates to the deep desires, anxieties, and hopes of ordinary people living in the world.
This collection of his essential writings, which draws in large part on his columns, first outlines the “holy longing” that underlies all spirituality. He then outlines the elements of a “generative,” or fruitful spiritual life, including prayer, suffering and death, love and justice, faith and doubt.
“We do not wake up in this world calm and serene, having the luxury of choosing to act or not act. We wake up crying, on fire with desire, with madness. What we do with that madness is our spirituality.”—Ronald Rolheiser
Ronald Rolheiser, a Catholic priest and theologian, is one of the most popular and influential spiritual writers today. Through such bestselling books as The Holy Longing and Sacred Fire, as well as his syndicated column, “In Exile,” he has shown an ability to outline a healthy Christian spirituality that relates to the deep desires, anxieties, and hopes of ordinary people living in the world.
This collection of his essential writings, which draws in large part on his columns, first outlines the “holy longing” that underlies all spirituality. He then outlines the elements of a “generative,” or fruitful spiritual life, including prayer, suffering and death, love and justice, faith and doubt.
263 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
153 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 20, 2019
I was introduced to Richard Rohr about a year ago when I listened to him as a guest on a Rob Bell podcast. I found out that Rob Bell had been influenced by many of Father Rohr's writings, which sparked my curiosity. I know Rob Bell has been labeled as a "heretic", but I wanted to know more about Bell's theology...which led to Rohr.
I have read a dozen books by Richard Rohr and listened to all of his YouTube lectures. This book is the most comprehensive of all his teachings, and the most personal. It is basically an autobiographical look at his spiritual development and how his understanding of scripture and teachings have touched lives all over the world.
If you are curious about this Franciscan Monk and his wisdom, this is the best book to read. Rohr is extremely intelligent, scripturally sound and a teacher of contemplative prayer. There is no "woo-woo" to be found here.
I have read a dozen books by Richard Rohr and listened to all of his YouTube lectures. This book is the most comprehensive of all his teachings, and the most personal. It is basically an autobiographical look at his spiritual development and how his understanding of scripture and teachings have touched lives all over the world.
If you are curious about this Franciscan Monk and his wisdom, this is the best book to read. Rohr is extremely intelligent, scripturally sound and a teacher of contemplative prayer. There is no "woo-woo" to be found here.
July 21, 2019
La espiritualidad activa, una de relación, de comunión. Richard Rohr es un franciscano que revoluciona o mejor dicho, evoluciona en las enseñanzas de los símbolos cristianos, los remueve desde los evangelios para darles un significado con el que nos mueve a SEGUIR a Jesús. El principio, el camino y el fin es el AMOR, todos participamos, nadie queda fuera,
“Never doubt that it is all about love at the end “
“Never doubt that it is all about love at the end “
August 25, 2022
Quotes:
God can only be experienced through friendship, not ideas
There is no such thing as an entirely unbiased position; the best we can do is own and be honest about our filters
The only happy people I have met are those who have found some way to serve
Love is at the core of all beings. When you know this, as Thomas Berry says, the world becomes “a communion of subjects more than a collection of objects”
Intimacy is another word for trustful, tender, and risky self-disclosure. None of us can go there without letting down our walls, manifesting our deeper self to another, and allowing the flow to happen.
Intimacy is the only gateway into the temple of human or divine love.
The word change normally refers to new beginnings. But transformation more often happens not when something new begins but when something old falls apart.
All physical shadows are created by a mixture of darkness and light, and this is the only spectrum of human vision. We cannot see inside of total light or total darkness.
God can only be experienced through friendship, not ideas
There is no such thing as an entirely unbiased position; the best we can do is own and be honest about our filters
The only happy people I have met are those who have found some way to serve
Love is at the core of all beings. When you know this, as Thomas Berry says, the world becomes “a communion of subjects more than a collection of objects”
Intimacy is another word for trustful, tender, and risky self-disclosure. None of us can go there without letting down our walls, manifesting our deeper self to another, and allowing the flow to happen.
Intimacy is the only gateway into the temple of human or divine love.
The word change normally refers to new beginnings. But transformation more often happens not when something new begins but when something old falls apart.
All physical shadows are created by a mixture of darkness and light, and this is the only spectrum of human vision. We cannot see inside of total light or total darkness.
May 22, 2025
A spectacular spiritual book. It has a lot to do with Christian Mysticism and what the true essence of Christianity really is. Richard Rohr teaches no garden-variety religion, this is one of direct experience, one of Love because at the end of the day love is all matters. I highly recommend this book or any of Richard Rohr’s books to any spiritual seekers, this guy is the real deal, at least to me. reading this had a profound effect on me !
February 3, 2023
Rohr has amazing things to say, and I appreciated the biographical elements and the timeline of the book. If you're familiar with Rohr's work, there won't be much new. But if you're new to Rohr, this is a good place to start.
November 27, 2018
Magnificent
One of the most relevant books I have ever read. It lead me far beyond the frontiers of my mind and heart, opening possibilities until now covered...
One of the most relevant books I have ever read. It lead me far beyond the frontiers of my mind and heart, opening possibilities until now covered...
December 29, 2018
This book has given me a lot to think about.
June 7, 2020
Great summary of a lot of Rohrs messages. Great to hear his life as well
November 14, 2021
Redemptive reading
Helpful summary of Fr. Rohr's teaching. Should be at the top of every bishop's reading list. Not for those who hold the Law of Love in contempt.
Helpful summary of Fr. Rohr's teaching. Should be at the top of every bishop's reading list. Not for those who hold the Law of Love in contempt.
June 9, 2024
Just the latest of the many Richard Rohr books I've read. Nice summary of his lifelong teachings on love.
July 27, 2024
A fresh approach to love grounded in good theology. Short essays by Father Rohr intermixed with biography of his life. Recommend!
April 6, 2025
263 p non-fiction
RR’s teachings about God and love that I used as devotional material.
RR’s teachings about God and love that I used as devotional material.
July 22, 2019
This is it! This is the book that tells all about love, God, Scripture... It is so full of blessed thought on God. I read it alone and then with a group. Some with less background in Rohr and theology had a little trouble understanding some of the terms. I recommended that they just keep reading because the thoughts will become more clear as you continue reading. Some in the group were a little confused at first by going back and forth between narrative and Rohr's writing but when they recognized the process there was no problem. The book is certainly well worth investing in a little effort to read. It is one that a person will likely return to over and over. Informative and inspirational for the spiritual journey.
June 6, 2018
For those unfamiliar with the work of Richard Rohr this might be a useful introduction. However, if you have read some of his books will find little new in this collection of excerpts from his writings. Given the book's format, it is more profitably read meditatively in smaller chunks. Having taken one of Rohr's online classes and viewed many of his videos on YouTube, I find him to be a more compelling speaker than writer.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews