Broken Body, Healing Spirit: Lectio Divina and Living with Illness

by Mary C. Earle

In the summer of 1995, Mary Earle returned from a vacation feeling refreshed and restored from her time away. A few days later, all that changed, when she was rushed to the emergency room with a case of acute and life-threatening pancreatitis. Being ill, she discovered, forces you to learn to live in whole new ways, ones often marked by limitation and fragility. As a priest and spiritual director, Earle began to explore ways in which her own prayer life might help her build a different relationship with her illness. Using the Benedictine practice of lectio divina, or sacred reading, she began to "read" her own illness, and discovered a way of befriending and helping to heal--if not cure--her body and her life. In Broken Body, Healing Spirit , Earle introduces this strategy to others who are hungry to find ways of living more fully despite chronic or serious illness or pain. Her practical, step-by-step approach to "reading the text of our illnesses," and learning to listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us will be of help to those who are currently suffering with disease or limitations, as well as to those who are caregivers and counselors.

Genres: Spirituality, Prayer, Nonfiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

Reviews

[Eli]

I've actively read this book, sometimes a page or a paragraph at a time, for nearly three months, in order to savor it. And it's been absolutely wonderful. Earle's writing voice is centered, kind and nourishing, making the act of reading this text prayerful in and of itself. But the way she embodies the technique of lectio divina - and opens the practice up to use uniquely within the experience of chronic illness - has transformed my experiences of illness and of prayer.

[Reina-Shay Broussard]

This is one of those books that could be read in a single sitting but probably shouldn’t be. Mary Earle teaches a method, a process, that needs to be practiced and applied to one’s prayer life. Even if one does read the book quickly, it would be wise to revisit the various practices presented in the book to experience the effect that the practices can have in one’s mind, heart, life.

[Kara]

This is a beautiful book for anyone going through a significant illness and seeking meditations to help process emotions and find peace with illness. Earle does use Christian language and a Christian framework, but her techniques could easily be used by a non-Christian as long as you are willing to read past those references.

[Cherry]

I adore this book. I enjoyed being reminded of the process of prayer called lectio divina. The idea of using that process and incorporating the body as the text was inspired. Reading the book and meditating on my body has helped me to be grateful for my body. I have been noticing the aches and pains of an aging body but Mary's book has helped me to focus on what's RIGHT about my body instead of on the few things that are not perfect.

Having recently met the author in person, I hear that same gentle, affirming voice on every page. I highly recommend this book.

[Lee Pfahler]

This was a great book for me to read mainly because I happened to read it around the time that I suffered a medical emergency and a so far undiagnosed illness which fortunately I have mostly recovered from. The lectio steps were helpful for me especially the suggestion to let other people pray for me when I was not able to.

[Kathy]

This book wasn't what I expected. It was interesting to read once, with a few insights for living with illness, but it isn't the kind of thing I would use as a guide.